Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 6] Chapter 4

[Vol. 6] Chapter 4: The Village in the Mountains

“Exorcism talisman…”

The black-haired girl withdrew her hand from the talisman, deep in thought.

This power felt similar to “laws”. There seemed to be some powerful existence that could interfere with causality, establishing rules and using this method to protect all homes that bore such a talisman.

It didn’t seem to be just simple superstition or custom.

Not wasting much more time on the so-called exorcism talisman, Violet followed Zeng Zhuang’s lead and arrived at the most well-constructed house in the village. Even in the city, this house would be considered quite decent, made of wood and well-built.

“We’re here, we’re here, Fairy Lady! This is the Village Chief’s house. If anyone in this place is knowledgeable, it’s definitely Village Chief! After all, he studied in the big city and was a government official!”

“Every year, the Village Chief personally draws the exorcism talismans and hands them out to everyone. He’s the man to go to for anything!”

Laughing heartily, Zeng Zhuang stepped forward, knocking on the tightly shut door of the wooden house.

“Village Chief, Village Chief, are you home? I met an amazing fairy in the mountains! Come take a look!”

The customs here were quite simple and honest…

As she watched Zeng Zhuang shouting loudly at the door, Violet couldn’t help but think to herself.

Clearly, she had just dropped from the sky and told him she had come from afar with important matters to consult with someone knowledgeable in the area, hoping for some advice and recommendations. Yet Zeng Zhuang was so convinced that he eagerly volunteered to bring an unknown outsider into the village.

Considering his situation, Violet had originally wondered if this might be some kind of trap, but now, it seemed very unlikely.

The structure of the village was exceptionally simple. If they were the kind of people who would deceive a lone girl, they would definitely have set up a checkpoint at the entrance to prevent unidentified outsiders from entering and exposing their secrets.

It was only natural to have guards. The lack of even the most basic security likely meant the people here were truly simple and honest.

So far, the only thing that could be considered a form of “external defense” were the exorcism talismans posted on every household’s doors and windows.

It seemed that this [Ancient Spirit Realm] continent was generally peaceful and calm, or such humble folk wouldn’t exist here.

The loud knocking from Zeng Zhuang soon received a response.

“I’m coming, I’m coming! Stop knocking so hard! Are you trying to break the door? If you do, you’ll have to make a new one for me!”

Accompanied by complaints and grumbling, the door was opened from the inside with hurried footsteps.

“Hmm?”

…Is this the village chief?

To be honest, he was much younger than Violet had imagined.

He was a man in simple cloth clothes, looking no older than thirty, not quite middle-aged. His gray hair was tied up, with a traditional scholar’s hairpin securing it, as was common in some ancient cultures, using a cloth strip. His features weren’t exactly handsome, but they were clear and likable. One of those types who immediately made a good impression and was easy to get along with.

“Zeng Zhuang… it’s really you, huh? Why aren’t you out in the mountains at this hour? What’s going on now? Didn’t we say no small matters like fixing bamboo baskets for wild cats? I’m the village chief, not your nanny!”

The young man appeared to be busy with something, and he didn’t seem too pleased to be disturbed. He immediately turned his irritation toward the woodcutter, who had been knocking loudly on the door early in the morning.

However, it seemed he hadn’t quite caught what Zeng Zhuang had been shouting earlier.

Zeng Zhuang, on the other hand, seemed used to such scolding and wasn’t upset. He simply took off his conical hat, scratched his head in a simple manner, and laughed awkwardly.

“Ah haha… Village Chief, this isn’t a small matter this time! A fairy, a fairy from a distant place, has come to the village to visit! Look here!”

“What fairy? Why are you making up such stories…”

The village chief instinctively started to scold Zeng Zhuang again, but his voice immediately faltered when he saw the small, delicate figure standing behind him.

“Uh…!”

“……Hello?”

Seeing that the village chief suddenly stared blankly with wide eyes, only focusing on her, there was an awkward silence. After a moment, Violet could only try to greet him first.

Her greeting seemed to snap the young village chief out of his stupor. His expression stiffened, and he quickly took a step back, raising his hands in the standard gesture she had seen before from Mr. Dead Soul.

“Apologies, apologies! The young lady’s beauty is like that of a celestial being, and your demeanor is beyond compare. I lost my manners for a moment in my surprise, I hope the young lady will not hold it against me…”

“Eh… it’s fine.”

Wait a minute, wasn’t he speaking normally to Zeng Zhuang earlier? Why had he suddenly switched to such a formal, flowery tone?

Could this be some kind of hospitality?

Before Violet could respond, Zeng Zhuang burst into loud laughter.

“How is it, Village Chief? I told you this is a fairy! Look at her beauty, her aura, and her… uh, her figure. In short, this fairy must have flown down directly from the heavens!”

“Fly? Such a thing…”

After recovering a bit, the village chief nodded thoughtfully. Seeing that the black-haired girl didn’t seem to react, he gave her another modest bow, and his expression shifted to one of humility and respect, quite different from how he had treated Zeng Zhuang.

“You’re a guest from afar. In any case, please come in and have a chat. How about a cup of warm tea?”

“Mm, then I’ll accept, thank you.”

Without lingering on pleasantries, Violet nodded and decisively accepted the village chief’s invitation.

However, as soon as she stepped into the inner room, an awkward, somewhat comical argument broke out behind her.

“Huh? Village Chief, why can’t I go in and listen? I brought the fairy here, and she’s so beautiful! A lone man and a lone woman in the same room, what if you bully her!”

“What nonsense, who do you think I am…? Alright, Zeng Zhuang, stop making noise and disturbing people’s peace. Go do your own work, tonight is an important night, the preparations for the supplies can’t be delayed.”

“Huh?”

“Go now…”

“Sigh… fine, fine, Fairy, I’ll come find you later. Today is a good day, hehe!”

As Zeng Zhuang’s shouting grew fainter, the village chief closed the door, and the bright sunlight outside streamed into the room, illuminating the simple space that was still in the morning. He shook his head helplessly and sat down across from Violet.

“The country folk are unrefined, speaking bluntly. I hope I haven’t made you laugh, miss.”

“It’s fine. Actually, I don’t mind his personality. It’s refreshing when people speak frankly.”

The village chief was slightly taken aback, but the surprise didn’t last long. Seeing his guest settle in, he didn’t immediately sit at the desk filled with books, but instead tidied up the papers he had been working on, and then bowed respectfully again.

“May I ask, miss, are you from the capital?”

“Mm?”

The black-haired girl shifted her gaze from the dense, unreadable text and answered the question with one of her own.

“Are there people like me in the capital?”

Her response was essentially a denial.

The village chief appeared more astute than Zeng Zhuang, and after understanding Violet’ meaning, the slight tension on his face gave way to an expression of mild disappointment, which he quickly hid.

The priestess noticed this, but remained silent.

“Apologies, miss. I’ve actually never met anyone from the capital. I’ve only heard that in the city, there are often talented individuals in strange clothing who can fly through the skies, battle demons, and move as if they were immortals.”

“I saw that your attire was unusual, and Zeng Zhuang mentioned you fell from the sky, so I foolishly made assumptions. I hope you won’t mind.”

The scholar smiled and poured tea for the girl.

“I am Zeng Xianzhi, the village chief of Zengjia Village. May I ask for your name, miss?”