The Sub-Heroine's Butler Is a Vicious and Innocent Idiot

10. Temple of Trials (1)

“…Head Monk. Why did you accept a lay disciple during the Trial of Flames?”

Late at night, the grim-faced man named Choji sought out the Head Monk.

The Head Monk was admiring the lotus blossoms blooming in the Lotus Pond behind the Temple.

Though Choji spoke in a tone that sounded almost accusatory, he didn’t regret it.

‘This is clearly a violation of the Temple’s rules.’

The Trial of Flames, held between July and August, lasted for one month.

During that period, the Temple of Trials strictly prohibited the entry of lay disciples.

This was both a tradition and a rule passed down since the Temple’s founding.

And yet, the Head Monk had broken that rule…

He had accepted a sudden nighttime intruder as a lay disciple during the Trial of Flames.

For Choji, who had been at the Temple a long time and held its rules in high regard, this was unacceptable.

“…Is the space magic circle to the Temple still active?”

The Head Monk, eyes still fixed on the lotus blossoms, spoke.

Though his gaze never left the flowers, Choji knew the question was directed at him.

“The magic circle that connects the Mountain Base to the Temple? Isn’t that always deactivated once the Trial of Flames begins? It’s part of the ritual itself.”

The Trial of Flames came only once a year.

During this period, all lay disciples endured fire-related trials as part of the sacred rite.

Those who withstood all ten stages of the trial were granted the Flame Insignia, along with due honor and praise.

Of course, no one had ever completed all ten stages.

Even so, at the start of each year’s trial, the Temple held a solemn ceremony and deactivated the Magic Circle linking the Temple to the outside world.

It was meant to create a solemn and untouchable space where none could easily enter or leave.

As this passed through Choji’s mind, a spark went off in his head.

‘—But how the hell did that kid get up here?’

The Temple of Trials was located atop a mountain so tall, clouds kissed its peak.

Though there were stairs, no one ever tried to climb them.

‘The Stairway to the Temple opens only to those who have been chosen.’

As the legends say, ordinary people couldn’t even set foot on those steps.

Could it be, then…

“You’re saying that… that little brat climbed those stairs?”

“Indeed.”

Choji couldn’t help but be shocked.

Chosen by the Temple? That punk?

“…He must’ve used some kind of trick. I’ll question him myself—”

“No need for that.”

The Head Monk’s voice remained gentle.

He didn’t scold Choji—rather, it was as if he were soothing him.

“The stairs were there because he wished to climb. He simply walked the path placed before him.”

“But it’s still a breach of our rules, isn’t it?”

“If the Temple chose him, then who are we, as mere men, to cast him out?”

With a gentle smile, that was all the Head Monk said.

Choji found that kindness frustrating.

There was only one way to be chosen by the Temple:

One had to possess a heart burning with Flame-like Devotion.

And that brat had such a heart? Something even Choji hadn’t attained?

No way.

He was certain of it.

The boy must’ve tricked even the Head Monk with some sly deception.

‘Did he say someone at home is dying of an incurable illness? Fine. Let’s see him prove that flame in his heart.’

With that determination, Choji left the Head Monk’s side, vowing to test the boy himself.

***

“Can I begin the trials starting today?”

“…Yes.”

At dawn, Choji came to my room.

It seemed he’d been assigned to oversee the new recruit—me.

Maybe he’d been scolded the night before—his face was darker than usual, and his already grim expression looked even more scrunched up.

After a simple breakfast, he brought me to a massive temple.

‘Such intense heat…’

Despite the Temple being cool and breezy atop a mountain, stepping inside felt like walking into a forge.

Looking around, I saw a wide open space like a gymnasium.

“Ughhh… Monk, monk! Please, have mercy!”

“Trial complete. Rest for a bit and try again.”

I saw monks with shaved heads wearing Monk Robes, and lay disciples, like me, with regular hair but also in robes.

Each monk and lay disciple formed a pair, maintaining distance as they conducted the trials.

From the looks of it, the monks cast magic for the trial, and the lay disciples endured it.

“From today, you begin your trials. They won’t be easy. If it becomes too much, speak up immediately. We’ve had people die from pushing too far. Since it’s your first day, I’ll give you the first-stage trial.”

Choji, having found an empty spot, abruptly explained the rules.

It was similar to what I’d seen in the game, so I just nodded along.

Maybe my casual attitude annoyed him—his eyebrow twitched.

Still, he handed me an orb.

“Hold this orb, and the trial will begin shortly. The trial won’t cause physical harm. It’s all illusion and pain, nothing more—”

“Okay, please start.”

“…Brats like you sometimes cry even during the first trial. If you want to quit—”

“No, please begin.”

Choji scowled at me with displeasure, but I ignored it.

I closed my eyes. Nearby, I could hear him chanting sutras.

I felt a faint flow of mana around me.

‘It’s starting…’

Calming my nerves, I recalled the trial events from the game Party to Savior.

In the game, the Temple of Trials functioned like an event stage.

There were ten stages in total, and each was a simple endurance test against consistent DoT (damage over time) effects.

Of course, the higher stages became impossible to survive without high stats, so it was more of a late-game challenge.

But what I wanted was the reward for clearing the tenth stage.

My average stats were E-tier—practically useless—but I’d prepped a trick based on game knowledge.

Still, the first trial Choji gave me… I needed to pass it without flinching.

I didn’t have time.

‘…What is this?’

The orb in my left hand started to heat up.

It went from a cold, metallic surface to something far beyond warm—blazing hot.

Like grabbing the handle of a pot fresh off the stove.

In short, it was fucking hot.

‘The hell—this is the first-stage trial?!’

I wanted to get through it without a twitch, but… I couldn’t.

I grimaced hard, enduring the searing pain pulsing from my hand.

But I didn’t let go of the orb.

There was only one reason.

‘Arlot goes through worse pain than this every day.’

The pain of Frost Syndrome is among the most unbearable known to man.

And Eral de Arlot endured it dozens of times a day.

The burning pain in my palms didn’t even compare.

Thud—!

Instead, I gripped the orb tighter with both hands.

The heat scorched my other hand too, and now both screamed in agony.

My brain was yelling at me to drop the damned thing—but I couldn’t.

This was just the beginning.

In the game, you only needed to survive the DoT effect.

But in reality, it meant real, tangible pain.

I might have a trick to survive the tenth trial, but pain couldn’t be bypassed with tricks.

So I had to get used to it.

If I couldn’t handle the first stage, there was no point trying for the tenth.

If I gave up here—

Everything I’d done to get here would be wasted. I’d never save Arlot from her illness.

Sssssss…

My eyes were shut, but I could feel it.

The cursed orb kept getting hotter.

It felt like my hands were steaming, like the skin was melting away.

The sensation of gripping the orb was still vivid, and my hallucinations began to spiral.

‘When will it end…’

Time stretched like taffy. There was no end in sight.

People say you learn the value of a second doing planks.

This trial—no, this torture—was even worse. Every second was hell.

“…This is insane.”

“W-What is this…?”

“You should really stop now…”

I heard murmurs around me.

I’d heard the trials might trigger hallucinations. Were these auditory hallucinations too?

‘…I really want to open my eyes.’

The tone of the voices—like something was wrong—made me wonder if the trial had gone awry.

Like… maybe my hands were actually on fire.

The temptation to open my eyes came quicker than I expected.

“…Enough. Stop.”

Someone suddenly snatched the orb from my hands.

I groaned at the lingering burn and opened my eyes…

Everyone in the temple was staring at me.

“…?”

What? Did I do something wrong?

As I looked around, I saw the orb in Choji’s hand—marked with a symbol.

—4th-Stage Trial—

…Choji had given me the fourth-stage trial, even though he claimed it was the first.