The Mad Priest of the Slums

“Welcome”

As I stepped into the banquet hall, Benjamin, seated at the head of the table, welcomed me.

As soon as I sat down, the servants entered one by one, placing appetizing dishes on the table as if they had been waiting for this moment.

They say food that looks good also tastes good.

The pasta, loaded with basil, was visually appealing, and its aroma gently teased my nose, stimulating my appetite.

“You must have heard the gist of it on your way here, so let’s go over the rest while we eat.”

“Sounds good.”

At Benjamin’s suggestion, I took a light bite of the pasta in front of me.

The perfectly cooked, firm noodles were infused with the fragrant basil, creating a rich, savory flavor with every chew.

Ting!

A female servant, who had approached unnoticed, poured me a glass of the lemon champagne I had tasted at lunch. As I took a sip, the crisp bubbles and refreshing citrus notes washed away the lingering basil flavor in my mouth.

“So, you do know how to enjoy yourself.”

I must have been too absorbed in savoring the meal without realizing it.

“I am human, after all.”

“That, you are.”

Benjamin chuckled, tugging at his mustache out of habit.

“As you might have heard, I’ve secured a building that meets the conditions you set.”

“Honestly, I’m a little impressed by how fast you handled it.”

“Trust in business comes from swift payment, after all.”

“A statement I can’t argue with.”

Most frustrations in work come from feeling underpaid for the effort invested.

“And about the security personnel you requested.”

I listened attentively as I twirled another forkful of pasta.

“If it were up to me, I’d assign you the secretary who assisted you earlier today. Unfortunately, she’s far too competent.”

“She did seem exceptionally sharp.”

“Haha, you caught on right away. Though, she does have a habit of handling things a little too rigidly.”

Despite his words, Benjamin’s expression showed nothing but admiration for her.

“Compared to her, they might be lacking, but I’ve gathered a capable team—at least, enough to hold their heads high in District 12.”

“I don’t see much room for complaints on my end.”

“None at all.”

He laughed heartily, his cheeks shaking.

Contrary to my first impression, he seemed to be a man who laughed quite often.

“Do you need anything else?”

“No, this is more than enough.”

For merely offering some information, I had secured a building and temporary bodyguards. Asking for more would just be greedy—though Benjamin didn’t seem to see it that way.

“When do you plan to leave?”

“Tonight.”

“That’s quick.”

“Not as quick as you, Benjamin.”

“Haha…”

His expression momentarily drifted into the past, followed by a bittersweet smile and a slow shake of his head.

That marked the end of our conversation. We finished the meal in silence.

**

“My name is John.”

“I’m Jaime.”

After the meal, Benjamin had to leave for another engagement, and his secretary introduced me to my new security personnel.

“We’ll do our best.”

John, a white man of slightly below-average height.

“Give me any orders, and I’ll handle them.”

Jaime, a strikingly healthy-looking Latina woman.

At first glance, Jaime, who was taller than me, seemed more reliable.

“While they’re guarding you, consider them your people. Give them orders as needed.”

Snap!

At the secretary’s glance, John and Jaime stiffened, standing at attention with their chins raised.

Their faces were filled with tension and apprehension, making their power dynamic evident.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes.”

There was no reason to delay. With nothing but my own body to carry, I could leave immediately.

“I’ll see you off to the front.”

It seemed unnecessary, but I didn’t refuse. It wasn’t just a simple courtesy—she likely wanted to make a statement to John, Jaime, and the remaining staff about how Benjamin viewed me.

“Until we meet again, stay safe.”

“You too, Secretary.”

“…Yes.”

As I bid farewell from the partially lowered car window, she offered a faint, amused smile and nodded lightly.

“Departing now.”

John, in the driver’s seat, spoke up, and I responded by rolling up the window.

As he stepped on the accelerator, the sedan smoothly pulled away from the mansion grounds.

The further we got, the more the surrounding lights faded.

Soon, we entered District 14, where the vanished lights returned.

Despite the late hour, the district remained surprisingly lively, unlike the slums it was rumored to be.

“Excuse me, sir?”

Jaime, seated beside me, hesitated before swallowing nervously.

“I know this may be out of line, but the food in District 12 isn’t something someone like you should eat. I’d recommend picking up something from here for tomorrow.”

She was right—it was presumptuous.

Taste is subjective, and though I enjoy good food, my standards aren’t particularly high.

If the secretary had been in Jaime’s position, would she have said the same thing? I doubted it. She would have mentioned it before I even left the mansion.

I flashed a polite, practiced smile in response.

“……!!”

Jaime, a tall, confident woman, immediately straightened her posture and snapped her head forward.

I glanced at the rearview mirror—John’s rigid face made it clear he wouldn’t dare turn around unless I called his name.

“I’ll be fine. If you two need food, feel free to pick some up for yourselves.”

“No, sir!”

“I’m fine as well!”

John pressed the accelerator slightly, while a bead of sweat trickled down Jaime’s temple.

Had she simply asked if I minded, my opinion of her might have improved.

Silence fell over us as we continued toward District 12.

Thud.

Shortly after entering District 12, the car jolted as if it had run over something.

“We’re almost there, sir. Please bear with it a little longer.”

John kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror, carefully gauging my reaction. I gave him a slight nod.

Unlike the bright, bustling District 14, District 12 was engulfed in darkness.

Only the dim moonlight and the faint glow seeping through closed curtains hinted that people still lived here.

The car slowed before stopping entirely.

Two men guarding the entrance to a three-story building approached and opened the car door without a word.

Stepping out, I took a deep breath, curious about the air of a drug den—only to find it disappointingly ordinary.

More pressing was the faint red streak trailing behind the car’s tires, as if we had rolled over a crate of tomatoes.

“Sir?”

“Let’s go inside.”

Done with my observations, I ascended the stairs to the second floor with Jaime.

“The second floor is the office, while the third will serve as your living quarters.”

The second floor bore clear signs of recent occupancy.

“Did you kill them?”

“No. We relocated them to a similar-priced district.”

“I see.”

Either way wouldn’t have mattered much, but the latter was better for appearances.

‘This space will do just fine.’

With only a few beds and a reception area needed, I decided to leave the office as it was.

As I climbed to the third floor, I asked Jaime,

“Where will you and John be staying?”

“John will guard you during the day, and I’ll take the night shift. We’ll rest at our original lodgings when off duty.”

“I see.”

There was no need to invite them to stay here, then.

“Is that why John didn’t accompany us up?”

“Yes.”

I nodded and opened the door to the third floor.

“Oh.”

“……!!”

As I let out a small exclamation of admiration, Jamie, who had been following behind me, seemed to mistake it for a sign of trouble and swiftly rushed forward, pulling me into her embrace.

Her grip was quite strong, but thanks to the wonders of human anatomy—specifically, the soft cushion of her chest—the impact wasn’t too jarring. The faint scent of coffee, whether from her natural scent or perfume, was also quite pleasant.

“Uh, um… ah…”

After securing me in her arms and assessing the situation, Jamie finally realized what I had been looking at in admiration. She stammered in embarrassment.

Since my face was buried in her chest, my vision was obstructed, so I lightly patted whatever part of her body my hand could reach.

Flinch!

Wherever my hand had landed, the sensation was unexpectedly firm yet supple. Jamie, still holding me, instinctively tensed before quickly letting me go.

“I-I’m so sorry!”

“It’s fine.”

As she bent at a perfect right angle to apologize, I gave her shoulder a light pat before stepping inside.

“Let’s just go in.”

“Y-yes…”

Looking visibly dejected, Jamie quickly followed me inside. Together, we took in the sight of the walls, plastered with obscene posters and nude photographs of women.

“First things first—let’s clean this place up.”