Why level up in isekai, when you can hack your way through

Chapter 18 - What Remains in Shadows

[Six Hours Later]

All the villagers were cured and resurrected except the ones who had already been buried six days ago. I talked to one of the villagers who told me the complete story of how everything began. It started eight days ago when a mysterious person came in looking for directions to the Forest of Rogrendria. He called himself one of the Heroes of Livenia but had a very shoddy nature. Even so, the villagers did not know the directions and were displeased by his behavior so they respectfully told him to get out.

There was a heated exchange of words but villagers clearly didn't want to do any business with him. So when he left he said something along the lines, "I'll get my revenge for this humiliation."

But then two days later, a few people began getting sick and died within an hour. And so the villager elder who had some wisdom immediately sent out one of the village's warriors to Emeraldorr with a hefty amount of gold coins (It was the savings of the entire village).

But even the Elder had succumbed and perished and eventually the Village's population had been reduced from 1200 to 800 just in 4 days.

(Still, the High Priest's escorts had arrived much earlier than expected. Also, could the culprit be actually the mystery hero of Livenia?)

...

Returning to the present, many people were shocked to see those who had stopped breathing come back. But I ended up telling a story saying, "it is an ancient technique I've learned which purges the Bloodirflu from the body and starts beating the human heart once again."

It was a blatant lie, but knowing how our group helped them they believed it easily including the soldiers and the High Priest.

Everyone thanked us and even soldiers appreciated us, but then the High Priest approached us.

"Kazuki-dono! Isabelle-dono! Forgive my arrogance and lack of faith. I have shown you great disrespect as the High Priest of Emeraldorr," the priest said, bowing low, his voice laced with regret."

(Huh? I thought for sure he would've left silently or would come back with something like, "This isn't over! I'll get my revenge for this humiliation," but... no.)

Instead, he continued saying, "I was blinded by the teachings of Grand Cathedral, Anything that strayed from the records or didn't match the facts provided by them... I considered them as meaningless."

"But Kazuki-dono and Isabelle-dono you've shown me that there are many things unknown about this world and threats that always loom upon us. It's a shame that we couldn't find the one behind all of this but I'm grateful for everything you've done, you even gave me and the soldiers the Potions (Divine Blessings) after everything that happened."

"No one will ever believe what happened in this village but I've seen your brilliance first-hand, how you saved this village from a world-ending plague."

Hearing him say things like this made me realize that maybe he wasn't such a bad dude after all, so I said to him, "It's alright High Priest, sir."

But then he replied saying, "Kazuki-dono you can call me Ludwig."

I responded, "Alright Ludwig-san but I have a favor to ask of you."

"Yes, what is it Kazuki-dono?" He said in an eager and respectful tone.

I told him, "Ludwig-san, could you please inform the soldiers and villagers that the disease wasn't exactly the Black Calamity but something similar in nature? We don't want to draw unnecessary attention or rumors about us. We also need to leave for Emeraldorr soon."

He hesitated for a moment, then responded, "Kazuki-dono, but why? If you were to share the cure, you could save countless lives, gain fame and wealth, and earn the respect of the Grand Cathedral and even Goddess Livenia-sama."