Chapter 124
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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I'll Purchase Divine Power with Money
Chapter 124
"Ugh, cough, gasp...."
Lute's eyes trembled violently as she hastily cradled Ordel in her arms.
Ordel's complexion had been poor ever since arriving at the Count's Residence, but now it was incomparably grave.
Her face had turned not merely pale but a sickly blue, spattered with droplets of blood.
The hand covering her mouth was drenched in vomit, and her arms—once pristine and unmarred—were now a grotesque mess of blood.
What should I do? How can I help her?
Ordel seemed unwilling to show her current state to anyone, so I'd even kept the Holy Knights away, but should I summon the Holy Knight Commander now?
Yet what difference would that make?
Both of them were Holy Knights, so their healing power would be weaker than the High Priestess's.
"High Priestess, High Priestess...."
For now, Lute began emergency measures.
She raised Ordel's upper body so the blood still flowing from her mouth wouldn't obstruct her breathing, and helped her expectorate properly.
In the process, Lute herself became soaked in blood, but she paid it no mind whatsoever.
"D-Duke...."
Then Ordel called out to him with difficulty. Lute's face contorted in anguish as she immediately grasped her hand.
"High Priestess, are you alright? Should I give you a potion?"
"No, it's useless...."
Lute, who had been about to uncork a bottle immediately, sighed at the labored response.
Then what could I possibly do for her?
Despite possessing power, martial strength, and wealth alike, all I could offer Ordel now was merely to wipe away her blood.
Ordel had saved me from terrible suffering, yet I had nothing to give her in return.
That reality was utterly devastating.
"C-Come closer...."
Then Ordel reached out her other hand, trembling violently.
Lute immediately pulled her closer into a tighter embrace.
With her cheek resting against his shoulder, she gazed intently at the area around his neck.
"Ah."
That's right. There was one thing that could help her more than a potion.
Click.
Lute immediately lowered his head and placed the sacred relic hanging around his neck into Ordel's hand.
"Haaah!"
At that very moment, Ordel's eyes clenched shut. Slowly, ever so gradually, color began returning to her complexion.
The blood she'd been vomiting ceased flowing.
Damn it, Sun God. Thank you.
For the first time in his life, Lute offered gratitude to the divine. He was even grateful for the illness that had plagued him his entire life.
Thanks to it, he now possessed this sacred relic imbued with healing power at this crucial moment.
Seeing Ordel's condition visibly improve, Lute squeezed his eyes shut and held her even more tightly.
It was truly a blessing.
"...."
Which is why he didn't notice.
Ordel's eyes, nestled against Lute's broad frame, were trembling as though an earthquake had struck.
* * *
What... what in the world is happening?
I rolled my eyes wildly while cradled in Lute's arms.
How had things spiraled into this situation?
I'd simply intended to use Blessing on a potion in the most ordinary way.
But the moment the sacred power burst from my fingertips and dissolved into the potion.
A warning chime like tinnitus erupted, and my vision flooded with system windows.
【Warning! Warning! Warning!】
【A High Priestess-exclusive skill has been used in a space dominated by powerful darkness!】
【The dark energy dwelling in this space collides with the user's body!】
【Current sacred power is insufficient to neutralize the collision. Please prepare yourself mentally for the coming impact!】
Mental preparation—not mere readiness, but mental preparation.
The moment I was startled by this unfamiliar message, I felt with my entire body why the system had issued such a warning.
"Ugh! Hack, cough!"
Along with pain as though my insides were turning to pulp, blood began pouring from my mouth in quantities incomparable to anything I'd experienced before.
Even when I'd lifted the Sea God's curse from Jeremy—no, this was far worse than that.
I'm losing it. Should I call Victoria?
No, if I do that, everyone will be watching every time I use Blessing on a potion from now on!
Then what do I do?
'High Priestess?'
Even as I coughed up blood in desperation, my mind was racing.
The door burst open of its own accord, and I heard Lute's familiar voice.
The relief I felt in that moment was indescribable.
With the one person who would protect my secret to the end, I relaxed and let my body go limp.
How long had it been since I'd found stability by borrowing the power of the divine artifact hanging around his neck?
【The user's condition has stabilized thanks to the effects of the divine artifact Aurora.】
【If the user moves excessively, consciousness may be forcibly severed for protective purposes, so exercise caution.】
Now that I could finally breathe easily, I looked at Lute.
"...."
His face was twisted far too severely.
There was no point in telling him my condition wasn't that serious—his expression made it clear he wouldn't believe it.
Why didn't the Sun God warn me about this beforehand and prevent this mess?
【'Sun Crawling from Death' is quite flustered, saying even the true god didn't expect this.】
【Communication and Inventory are user-exclusive skills so they're fine, but Blessing is a High Priestess skill and apparently shouldn't be used.】
【Since this is the first time this has happened, it wasn't anticipated, and the user is bowing their head in apology.】
Apologize with money.
【'Sun Crawling from Death' is avoiding the user's gaze with the intent to evade responsibility.】
【Sun Crawling from Death insists that this is absolutely not shirking responsibility, and points an accusing finger at the poor system's word choice.】
Is now really the time to argue with the system?
Lute, frozen and at a loss, what am I supposed to do about her?
"Well, first...."
"If you're going to say it's not as bad as I think and that everything's fine, then just stay quiet."
"...."
I closed my mouth again, abandoning my attempt to calm her down.
How does she know me so well?
But honestly, I'm really fine right now. Even the system acknowledged....
Throb.
"Ugh."
What's this? Suddenly a sharp, muscle-tearing pain in my lower abdomen.... It's worse than menstrual cramps?
Wasn't the collision supposed to be over?
【Sun Crawling from Death comes rushing back in a panic.】
【It sighs, explaining that the divine object only provided temporary relief—Evil's aura is still attacking the user.】
【Sun Crawling from Death strongly urges the High Priestess it chose to leave this estate immediately.】
【It warns that if she doesn't, she won't be able to withstand the continued collision and her consciousness will be forcibly shut down.】
I have to agree—that does seem like the best option. If I'm not careful, I could be exposed to Evil itself.
"Duke Sheary."
I immediately grabbed Lute and spoke.
"We need to leave right now. Tell everyone to pack their things. As soon as preparations are done, we depart for the Temple of the Sun God."
"Now that's something I like to hear."
Lute's face, rigid with worry, relaxed just slightly.
My relief was short-lived, though.
"While you're preparing, I want the High Priestess to hold onto this."
I was startled by the sight of him reaching to remove the divine object hanging around his neck.
"What are you doing! Don't take it off!"
"You hold it. I'll be fine with potions. And I'll pay for the potions, so this isn't embezzlement."
Lute reached toward the potion stained with my blessing.
Afraid he'd simply remove the necklace and drink the potion if I let him, I instinctively swatted his hand to stop him.
Crack!
"...."
At the sharp friction sound that spread across his hand, Lute's mouth fell open as he stared at me.
"Did you just hit me...?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I was just panicking."
Flustered by his wounded expression, I grabbed his hand with both of mine and rubbed it gently.
"In any case, it's not a good idea for you to remove the divine object right now."
Lute was able to stay in Count's Residence, saturated with Evil's aura, without any problems precisely because of this divine object. What would happen if it disappeared?
Evil's stain would erupt again as if it had been waiting, and he might instantly become a slave to Evil.
That would be far worse than me coughing up blood and collapsing again!
"I've calmed down considerably, and as long as I don't move violently, there's no risk of it worsening. So don't even think about removing it—not for a second. Nothing good will come of it, I promise you that."
"...."
I pressed down firmly on the sacred object to keep it in place, and Lute gazed down at me with an unreadable expression.
For a moment, I wondered if it was dissatisfaction at my refusal to accept her words, when she spoke.
"That's strange. Your objection seems far too forceful to be merely concern for my body."
"...."
"Why? Is there some reason I absolutely cannot remove this sacred object here?"
This perceptive woman.
At Lute's sharp observation, I let out a bitter smile.
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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