Chapter 12
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 12
"Oh, and if possible, please seal off the entire Temple of the Sun God right now."
"...The Temple of the Sun God?"
Airic Dert, who had been sighing for some reason, questioned my sudden request.
"There isn't just one spy—Kento."
"Pardon?"
"There are more spies?"
Both Airic Dert and Sess looked visibly alarmed.
I felt somewhat sorry for continuously shocking the two of them, but unfortunately, it was the truth.
"Yes, but I'm afraid I don't know who they are or how many there might be."
This was genuine. If I had possessed this information with certainty, I would have earned their proper trust!
The original work simply glossed over this part vaguely. What a shame.
So I had no choice but to search them out one by one through legwork.
"Please leave the rooting out of spies to the High Priest and the Holy Knight Commander. I apologize for making such a request immediately upon your return, Holy Knight Commander."
I had briefly considered conducting the interrogation myself, as torture had become my specialty, but Airic Dert and Sess were both male lead candidates.
They would handle it thoroughly without my involvement, so I decided to simply trust them with it.
"Not at all. As Holy Knight Commander, it's naturally my duty. I'll conduct a thorough search, so please rest without worry. You don't look well."
Honestly, I wanted to spend the night merrily interrogating Kento alongside Sess....
"Then I'll leave it to you. We can discuss the rest tomorrow."
My mind was perfectly clear, but my body was on the verge of complete shutdown.
I couldn't fathom how Ordel Kiris had lived without exercising once—her stamina was absolutely abysmal.
This wouldn't do. I'd need to start basic physical conditioning soon.
"You seem to be having difficulty walking.... Allow me to escort you to your room."
Sess, who seemed ready to collapse with just one step, carefully grasped my arm and supported me.
"Oh my, then I'll take you up on that."
Was there any reason to refuse?
After bidding Airic Dert farewell until tomorrow, I leaned against Sess's sturdy shoulder and slowly made my way to the Bedroom.
* * *
The moment Ordel Kiris and Sess left, Airic Dert pressed his forehead in the Kitchen.
The headache that had accompanied him since the moment he accepted Ordel Kiris as the Priestess of the Temple of the Sun God had intensified over these past few days.
More precisely, since Ordel Kiris began displaying her sudden transformation. He still couldn't determine whether this was truly a good thing.
'...She said she deliberately didn't tell me because I couldn't fully trust her.'
And she spoke of deliberately putting herself in danger as if it were nothing.
But did she realize.
That those words meant she also didn't trust herself.
Why was Ordel Kiris's tone—as if she hadn't even expected his trust—so irritating.
Two years since Ordel Kiris entered the Temple of the Sun God.
In all that time, there had never been a single moment for them to trust one another.
So there was no reason trust should suddenly form, yet he couldn't understand why it felt so shocking now.
Airic Dert let out a dry chuckle.
"Ah, you're still here, I see."
Just then, Ses, who had brought Ordel Kiris to the Kitchen, returned once more.
Airic Dert seized the opportunity to ask something that had been nagging at him.
"Holy Knight Commander, why didn't you recognize the Holy Maiden? You've seen her more than once or twice."
Ses was a Sword Master with exceptional observational skills.
It seemed utterly strange that he hadn't recognized Ordel Kiris.
"Well, the Holy Maiden's appearance seemed so different from before. It was as if she had become a completely different person."
"Different, you say?"
"Yes. The last time I saw her before leaving the Temple of the Sun God, she certainly had a fierce expression. But now she seems so gentle that I couldn't believe it was the same person."
Ses recalled Ordel Kiris as she had been.
She always raised the corners of her eyes menacingly and wore a stubborn expression.
Her eyes, which gleamed with a strong yellow light, were sharp and cutting, warning everyone not to treat her carelessly.
But what was her appearance like when he saw her again after half a year?
Ses had never once seen Ordel Kiris with such a soft and gentle expression.
Even her eyes, which held a faint smile, seemed to glow with a golden hue reminiscent of honey rather than yellow.
With such a stark contrast, how could one think of her as the same person?
Rather, his keen eye for detail had caused this very confusion.
"It appears the Holy Maiden has undergone a significant change in her disposition recently. Her temperament seems to have shifted as well."
Airic Dert briefly explained what Ordel Kiris had accomplished at the Temple of the Sun God over the past few days.
From her request to improve the children's meals, to dining together in the Dining Hall, and even to the fact that she was the one who uncovered Kento's embezzlement this afternoon.
Ses was greatly astonished.
"The Holy Maiden has done remarkable work. I should have been the one to catch the embezzler... I apologize. It seems I've been away far too long."
"How could that be your fault alone? I'm the one at fault for not noticing the rats had been gnawing at the granary all this time."
Airic Dert offered a bitter smile.
With Ses absent, I should have been more vigilant in overseeing the Temple myself. This was entirely my mistake.
"And now is not the time to assign blame. We must apprehend all remaining conspirators before it's too late."
At Airic Dert's words, Ses's pale blue eyes darkened with resolve.
"You speak wisely, High Priest. As the Holy Maiden suggested, I shall issue a lockdown order immediately and summon everyone residing in the Temple of the Sun God."
"We must investigate every single person—priests, Holy Knights, and servants alike—without exception. Be careful not to frighten the children, but examine everyone thoroughly and carefully."
Investigating even the children might seem excessive, but this matter was directly tied to the safety of the Temple of the Sun God.
I could not afford to repeat the same mistake twice.
Ses nodded with grim determination.
"I shall be thorough."
"In the meantime, I will interrogate Kento. I'll extract a confession about his accomplices."
"Will you be alright doing this alone? I could take on that task instead."
At Ses's concern, Airic Dert shook his head firmly.
"The honor of the Temple of the Sun God is at stake. I won't be careless, so there's no need to worry."
Ses didn't press further and agreed immediately.
The two men sprang into action at once.
Ordel Kiris summoned the Holy Knights to assemble, while Airic Dert ventured alone into the deepest prison where Kento was confined.
A damp, foul stench—thick with moisture and decay—assaulted his nostrils.
Two Holy Knights whom Ordel Kiris trusted implicitly stood guard before Kento's solitary cell.
Since these two, whom Ordel Kiris had raised as her own, could never be spies, Airic Dert entered the prison with ease of mind.
Kento's limbs were bound by chains and shackles affixed to the wall.
"Kento. From this moment forward, you will answer my questions truthfully."
Airic Dert lifted a whip that had been prepared in one corner of the prison for interrogation.
Kento, who had been sneering dismissively, felt his eyes waver as he glimpsed the sharp thorns adorning the whip's end.
Did he think torture was forbidden in a temple devoted to the divine? How naive. It is precisely because this is a temple that such measures are permissible.
To strike down evil that has desecrated the name of the divine is not merely justified—it is inevitable.
"I must confess my mood is quite poor at the moment, so this will hurt considerably. I suggest you scream for quite some time, and when you truly cannot endure it any longer, confess everything. That may improve my disposition somewhat."
Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Kento began to shuffle backward hesitantly.
Yet in this enclosed space, there was nowhere for him to escape.
"Do not worry. You will not die. Fortunately for you, the deity I serve is the Sun God, who specializes in healing."
Torture, then heal. Interrogate, then heal again.
At the implication of this cycle's repetition, Kento's face drained of all color.
Yet Airic Dert's expression, as he gazed down upon him, remained utterly devoid of emotion.
Soon, agonized screams echoed through the prison.
* * *
The following morning.
Having each executed their duties flawlessly throughout the night, Airic Dert and Ordel Kiris encountered one another once more before the Saintess's Reception Room.
The faint scent of blood emanating from Airic Dert caused Ordel Kiris to furrow her brow.
"High Priest, there is a scent of blood...."
"Ah, how careless. I washed as thoroughly as I could, yet traces remain?"
"Yes. The Saintess likely would not notice, but in a confined space, it could be detected."
Airic Dert nodded at Ordel Kiris's counsel.
I should open the windows immediately upon entering. After all, Ordel Kiris takes considerable time to prepare herself.
'Ah, no—that is no longer the case.'
Once, Ordel Kiris had spent considerable time adorning herself in luxurious dresses and elaborate finery.
Yet suddenly transformed, she had ordered all her dresses disposed of.
And she had begun wearing the Saintess's vestments and simple garments she had once scarcely glanced at.
It was a stark testament to how truly she had changed.
Recalling Ordel Kiris's plea to trust her, Airic Dert felt his heart grow complicated, and he exhaled a weary sigh.
"Excuse me, High Priest. Holy Knight Commander."
At that moment, the Maid who had entered Ordel Kiris's Bedroom to announce their arrival returned with a bewildered expression.
"The... the Saintess is not in her Bedroom. The room is completely empty."
At this unexpected news she brought, both of them widened their eyes.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org