Chapter 133
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I'll Purchase Divine Power with Money
Chapter 133
There's still half a year before the original story begins.
And yet I can already awaken Idella?
【The Sun Crawling from Death says it's because the user has allowed them to recover their strength much faster.】
Ah, that's right. Unlike the original story, the Sun God now has me as an ally.
I'll admit, it's a bit bewildering....
"Isn't it better if she can awaken sooner?"
What this world needs isn't a temporary High Priestess like me, but a true, genuine Saint.
And since Idella is already here, there's no reason to delay further.
Wow, I'm so glad I brought Idella back from the Southern Region.
【The Sun Crawling from Death asks if this is truly alright.】
"What do you mean? Ah, you mean my cover as a fake Saint being exposed?"
That's unavoidable. I was prepared for it from the start.
"It's fine. I can't refuse to awaken Idella just because of that."
My main concern is whether the people of the Temple of the Sun God will be angry and disappointed that I deceived them.
Still, once a true Saint appears, everyone will quickly forget about someone like me.
The person this world needs is Idella, not me.
"But what happens to my power once Idella becomes the Saint?"
I don't mind losing my status as a temporary High Priestess, but I can't afford to lose my divine power and skills as well.
【The Sun Crawling from Death says you can continue using both your divine power and skills, and you can still dedicate them to the deity as you do now to grow your divine power, so there's nothing to worry about.】
What are you talking about? I'm not dedicating anything anymore.
From now on, I'm saving money for myself!
Since I can continue using my divine power, there shouldn't be any major problems surviving in this harsh world.
"Let's do it a few days from now, not right away."
Everyone's already in chaos over the unexpected appearance of sacred stones, and if a true Saint appears on top of that, they might actually faint.
Plus, there's the Saint of the Sea God, who isn't exactly on good terms with us.
Whether it's dedication, heavenly secrets, or Idella's awakening—first, I need to organize the current situation.
【The Sun Crawling from Death says they respect the choice of the Saint they directly selected.】
"A true Saint will appear soon, so how much longer will you call me that? Let's just unify it as 'user' from now on."
And make sure to tell the other deities too.
I've been embarrassed enough hearing "Saint" all this time anyway.
"I'll sort everything out within a week, so please wait a little longer."
First, I need to hurry and get rid of Dominic, who I've already squeezed dry.
But the next morning, an unexpected person announced they would leave the Temple of the Sun God even before Dominic.
It was Lute Sheary.
"You have an urgent matter?"
This person who clung to this place as if it were her own home and showed no signs of leaving—what's going on?
And it's not even 7 AM yet.
"Yes, there's an issue in my territory.... For most matters, I would have just sent Yuri, but I think I need to go and check it out myself."
Lute's face was clouded with irritation as she exhaled a long sigh.
It wasn't the frustration of being dragged away against her will, but rather the annoyance of a troublesome matter arising.
"If the Duke needs to go personally, it must be quite a serious situation."
"Precisely—it's something that needs to be resolved before it becomes even more serious. If not for this, I'd be glued to the High Priestess's side. What a shame."
"You've already been attached to her for several days now."
From the Count Kiris Estate until now, returning to the Sun God Grand Temple.
Despite already spending several days together, I felt no inconvenience or sense of being a burden whatsoever.
That was surely thanks to Lute always considering my comfort.
"Is there nothing I can help with?"
"Then would you cast a blessing on me?"
Lute bowed her head toward me.
A necklace hanging around her neck was faintly visible through the slightly parted collar of her shirt.
"It's getting a bit precarious."
I see. About five days left then?
It would be impossible to return to the Grand Temple again to receive a blessing.
"If not for this matter, I would have stayed here until the day you received the blessing."
"Do you like it here that much?"
I undid one more button of Lute's shirt while looking up at her.
Her loosely opened silver-gray eyes were close to mine.
It's strange. At first, she was filled with nothing but wariness....
Now it had completely crumbled away.
My reflection in those eyes, devoid of any caution, looked somewhat unfamiliar.
"Yes, I do. The High Priestess is here, and the sacred power of the Sun God puts my mind at ease."
"...."
Would you say the same if you knew I was a contract High Priestess?
You wouldn't be angry. After all, thanks to me, Lute's suffering has been alleviated.
But I'm not confident you'd look at me with such unguarded eyes as you do now.
If that gaze were to turn cold, I think I'd feel a little regretful.
"High Priestess?"
As I simply gazed at her, Lute tilted her head in puzzlement.
I grasped the sacred charm hanging around her neck.
"My sacred power has grown considerably stronger lately. So the blessing duration has been extended."
"Extended, you say?"
"Yes. I'll know the exact duration once I try it...."
Then Lute wrapped her hand around mine.
"Meeting only once a month is already heartbreaking, and now you're saying it's been extended?"
That statement doesn't quite make sense, does it?
"We've already met twice this month, and we've been together for nearly ten days now."
"This time is a special circumstance. It's not normally like this."
Lute's face grew pouty.
"Our High Priestess only seeks me out when she needs something. If the blessing period extends, she'll seek me out even less."
"There you go saying strange things again."
Once she discovers I'm a fake High Priestess, she won't want to see me anyway.
"Really? You'll still come find me even if the blessing period extends?"
"If you wish it, I will."
I shrugged and infused divine power into the sacred object. A soft golden radiance seeped into it.
"Of course I wish it."
At Lute's subtle murmur, I widened my eyes and looked up at her.
Standing closer than before as she held the sacred object, she smiled gently.
I found myself holding my breath without even realizing it.
My grip on the sacred object tightened involuntarily.
【Divine power has increased, extending the blessing period.】
【Blessing validity period: 100 days】
Just then, the system window suddenly appeared, blocking Lute's face from view.
Thank goodness. If that system window hadn't appeared, things could have gotten awkward.
"The blessing is complete. The validity period is a full 100 days."
I quickly released the sacred object and stepped back three paces.
"...."
But Lute gazed at me with a regretful expression.
"Shouldn't you help me button up if you undid them?"
...No, that's not something to regret about. Why is she protesting like that?
"No, I won't."
At my firm refusal, Lute grumbled and straightened her collar herself.
"Still, 100 days is quite unwelcome."
"You'll come whenever you feel like it anyway, regardless of the date."
Just as you always have.
"Even so, I'm disappointed. A month already felt long, and now I have to wait 100 days. Though I do enjoy receiving blessings from the High Priestess."
"...."
"Because I can feel that you care for me, this moment makes my heart race every time."
Since I truly do care for Lute when I bestow the blessing, I can't deny it.
"Well, there's nothing to be done. I can't stop the High Priestess's divine power from growing stronger, nor do I wish to. I simply have to endure it."
Lute shrugged.
"But don't forget. I truly love receiving blessings from the High Priestess."
Lute's face was so radiant when she said that, my chest ached slightly.
Perhaps today would be the last blessing I'd ever give her.
Of course, even as she turned to leave after her farewell, I couldn't bring myself to say those words.
* * *
"The moment I stepped outside the Temple of the Sun God, my body felt heavy."
In the carriage, Lute gazed quietly out the window at the Temple of the Sun God receding into the distance.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
Yuri, seated across from me, asked in surprise.
"It's just a feeling."
How could anything be amiss? I possessed a sacred relic imbued with Ordel's blessing.
Moreover, the remnants of that blessing lingered within my own body.
Her blessing felt like walking through a vast meadow bathed in scorching sunlight.
Serene and gentle, yet intensely powerful above all else.
It was nothing short of Ordel's very essence, which made this sensation truly wonderful.
Yet I could only experience it once every hundred days going forward?
I could only sigh.
"By the way, is that news actually true?"
Lute Sheary, who had been gazing at the Temple of the Sun God—now reduced to the size of a fingernail—turned to look at Yuri at those words.
"Demons in the Western Region?"
It was precisely because of those demons that Lute Sheary had left Ordel's side.
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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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