Anlis woke up in a daze, a dull ache throbbing in the back of her head.
‘I must be dead,’ she thought.
Before she even had a chance to level up, she had run headfirst into the final boss.
The Executive had told her that once she became a Hero, the nobility would grant her family tax exemptions.
Even though her death felt meaningless, at least she had lifted the burden of taxes from her parents’ shoulders, allowing them to live more comfortably from now on.
It made her life feel somewhat worthwhile.
‘Waah…’
‘That damn Corrupt Monarch. She’s a total cheater!’
‘Blocking the Beginner Village right at the start… that’s just too much!’
Anlis vaguely remembered that the damn perverted loli had also mentioned placing some strange curse on her.
Now that she was dead, the woman wouldn’t be able to get her way.
As she lay there with her eyes closed, lost in thought, a beam of light hit her eyelids. The light wasn’t blinding, but it helped clear her foggy brain.
She didn’t open her eyes immediately.
After death, one was supposed to go to the Heavenly Kingdom where the gods resided. If she was about to see them, she needed to compose herself and be solemn.
She just wondered what the Lady Goddess of the Heavenly Kingdom would think of a useless Hero who died in the Beginner Village.
Anlis peeked through a tiny slit in her eyes.
Not far away stood a petite girl—holy, gentle, and seemingly the embodiment of every beautiful word in existence.
She noticed the girl’s perfect legs, encased in a layer of tight black stockings.
‘Why is the Goddess a loli?’
“You’re awake?” the girl asked, her voice soft like a spring breeze.
“L-Lady Goddess…” Anlis stammered, her voice raspy.
Vylian paused, thinking this Hero didn’t seem particularly bright.
‘That’s fine.’
‘The dumber she is, the easier she’ll be to control.’
She immediately donned a soft smile and stepped lightly to the side of the bed. “While I’m happy you called me a Goddess, I’m actually just a lowly Nun of the Holy Order.”
“A… a Nun?”
Anlis finally saw that Vylian was wearing the standard habit of the Holy Order. She also realized she was currently in a very ordinary stone house.
The room was decorated in vibrant pink tones, filled with a sense of girlishness and the breath of everyday life.
“I… I’m not dead?”
“I found you alone, lying on a path in the outskirts,” Vylian replied.
“Thank you.”
After offering her thanks, Anlis’s face turned pale, and she nodded mechanically. One should feel happy after being saved, but at that moment, a tragic fact was racing through her mind.
If she wasn’t dead, did that mean the Corrupt Monarch had succeeded?
That was her biggest concern. The consequences that woman had described were the stuff of nightmares.
Anlis hurriedly ducked under the covers and lifted her shirt to look at her stomach. There, she saw a strange mark—a pink base with a heart shape in the center. Even a single glance at it felt suggestive and lewd.
It was the curse!
The curse that would make her… lewd!
‘It’s over, it’s over, it’s over!’
‘I’m completely doomed.’
‘Am I going to turn into a totally debauched person because of this?’
Vylian watched her frantic movements under the sheets and almost let a “trash” slip out of her mouth. No, she had to hold it in. She clenched her fingertips slightly and quickly feigned confusion and worry.
“What’s wrong? Why did you hide under the covers? Is there something wrong with your body?”
Anlis poked her head out from under the blanket, her eyes red as she teetered on the verge of tears.
She didn’t explain. How could she possibly say such a thing out loud? Having a lewd Power of Corruption planted inside her…
“It’s nothing.”
“Is it really nothing? Should I check on you?”
“No! I’m fine! I’m just… a little cold,” Anlis forced out an excuse, clutching the bedding tightly for fear that the other woman would actually try to examine her and discover the curse.
It was better if no one ever found out about such a shameful thing.
“A little cold?” Vylian responded gently, turning to bring over a bowl of hot soup.
“I made this radish chicken soup myself. Drink it while it’s hot; it’ll help ward off the chill.”
Steam rose from the bowl, carrying a delicious aroma. Anlis sat up and hesitantly took the bowl.
Feeling the warmth through her fingertips, her tensed heart relaxed slightly.
After such a terrible ordeal, who wouldn’t want a hot bowl of soup?
“Thank you. You’re truly a good person.”
The chicken soup was incredibly fresh and flavorful, but even so, Anlis couldn’t escape the shadow of the curse.
She would definitely find a way to break this Corruption Curse.
The Corrupt Monarch hadn’t killed her specifically because she wanted to watch her suffer.
Well, she would prove that even with such a shameful curse, she could make it to the end and defeat that perverted loli with her own two hands!
‘That damn Corrupt Monarch!’
‘I, Anlis Kachi, swear we cannot live under the same sky!’
‘The next time we meet will be the moment we settle this!’
As her determination took root, Anlis suddenly felt a weak surge of power through her body.
The firmer a Hero’s conviction, the more it could empower them. This was her foundation and her capital for revenge.
After finishing the soup, she handed the bowl back to Vylian with a sincere and serious gaze.
“Thank you, little Nun. I don’t have a cent on me right now, but I will surely repay you for saving my life in the future.”
Vylian smiled slightly as she took the bowl.
‘Look at that expression… It seems my disguise is perfect. This Hero hasn’t noticed a thing.’
‘Of course. How could a mere trash Hero see through a high-level disguise?’
“I am a Nun of the Holy Order. It is my duty to help others. I’m just happy I could be of assistance,” Vylian said, patting her chest lightly. Her gentle words struck a chord in Anlis’s heart.
Anlis felt another wave of emotion.
‘She’s so kind. And she’s so pretty and cute.’
‘This is what it means to be beautiful inside and out.’
‘Damn it, they’re both lolis, so why is that Demon King so evil?’
The contrast was staggering.
“Don’t worry, little Nun. I will definitely find a way to repay you.”
Vylian didn’t reply, simply maintaining her smile and pouting her lips slightly as if contemplating something.
Anlis threw off the covers and got out of bed, rubbing the back of her head which still hurt.
Instinctually, she called up her status panel.
This was a habit she had been told to maintain after becoming a Hero.
The god-given ability allowed her to see her physical condition clearly.
[Status Window]
Name: Anlis Kachi
Level: 4
Class: Hero
Tiny Hope: No matter how desperate the situation, a glimmer of hope will always remain.
Strength through Adversity: The more setbacks you face, the stronger you become.
Unwavering Will: Your powerful will and immortal convictions serve as the source of your strength.
Evil Bane: Your conviction allows your power to suppress concepts of evil.
Corruption Curse: At any given moment, your desires may be forcibly intensified.
Her level had increased, and the “Corruption Curse” entry had been added to her panel.
Sigh.
She closed the panel, not feeling too much despair.
One had to look forward.
While she felt helpless, she wouldn’t allow herself to be miserable. If she let a curse make her depressed, she would be too weak to be a Hero.
However, this exclusive Hero ability was quite useful.
The information was detailed, and it allowed her to see which direction she needed to work toward.
On a whim, she decided she wanted to see the information of the kind little Nun before her.
If she could see her traits, perhaps she could offer some advice for her future as a way of showing her gratitude.
With that thought, a string of information materialized in her eyes. It was blindingly stark.
[Status Window]
Name: Vylian Mimilusi
Level: 999
Class: Nun (Disguised)
Corrosive Will: You are the master of the concept of Corruption; all decadence in the world empowers you. You are the executor of the Corrosive Will.
“Wait… what?”