Chapter 137
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 137
【The Sun Crawling from Death is startled by the user's declaration. It urges them to reconsider, asking if they truly intend to leave the Temple of the Sun God.】
"Of course I have to leave."
What could be more uncomfortable than a true High Priestess and a fake one who destroyed the temple living together?
Even if Ordel is the past life of my closest friend, a mistake is still a mistake.
Since I'm the one inhabiting this body now, I must take responsibility for her wrongs.
"Besides, the people of the temple don't favor me either. They'll all be delighted when I leave."
Despite my considerable efforts, people still avoid me whenever they see me.
Of course, it's far better than when I first possessed this body, but I don't think the distance between us will narrow any further.
【The Soul Guide Traveler tells the user to do as they wish. They nod, saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder.】
【They suggest going to their own temple instead.】
Oh, that's not a bad idea.
Besides, Nashas already knows I'm a possessor.
Since I plan to continue fighting Evil even after leaving here, going to the Death God's Temple would be perfect.
"Phew, I almost ended up sleeping rough. Thank goodness."
I currently have six hundred gold remaining after donating four thousand four hundred gold from my original five thousand—merely sixty million won.
While not insignificant, it's woefully insufficient to survive alone in this unfamiliar world.
I'll need to increase my funds while staying at the Death God's Temple.
【The Soul Guide Traveler eagerly prepares to leave, saying they'll inform Nashas right away.】
"Ah, I won't be going right now."
There's somewhere I need to visit first before leaving the temple.
"Please awaken Idella tomorrow morning."
After finishing all my requests, I withdrew the divine power enveloping the room and stepped outside.
Before departing this place, there was one last thing I needed to do.
Knock, knock.
"Jeremy, are you awake?"
I knocked on Jeremy's door like a pathetic ex-boyfriend texting at two in the morning.
And it was literally two in the morning.
"High Priestess?"
Jeremy emerged with a startled expression.
"Weren't you sleeping?"
"No. Come in quickly."
Was this my first time entering Jeremy's room since the day I first gave it to him?
He was always by my side without me having to seek him out.
"I would have tidied up if I'd known you were coming, High Priestess."
Jeremy glanced at me nervously and swept the weapons scattered across the floor to the side with his foot.
Right, weapons.
Jeremy's room was completely occupied by an arsenal of arms.
"You certainly have quite a collection of weapons."
Short swords, longswords, spears, daggers, axes, and what in the world is that? A whip with barbs?
Is this a bedroom or an armory?
"Some are ones I've used before, some I've made myself, and I brought a few from the Temple Warehouse...."
Jeremy, who had been fidgeting nervously, suddenly scooped me up into his arms.
"It's dangerous, so let me carry you."
Perhaps because the men of this world carried me around so often, I was growing accustomed to it.
Jeremy carefully set me down on the only bed not occupied by weapons.
At least I seemed to sleep comfortably despite the chaos, which was a relief.
"But what brings you here at this hour?"
"There's something important I need to tell you."
I carefully wrapped my hand around Jeremy's as he sat beside me.
A scarred, calloused hand.
I had never once regretted saving this hand.
"I'm going to leave here soon."
"...What?"
Jeremy's eyes widened. The hand I held stiffened rigidly.
"Why? What happened? Do you have to go somewhere again?"
"It's not a temporary departure. I'm leaving here for good."
"What do you mean?"
"The truth is, I'm not a real Saint. I'm a fake one."
To him, who couldn't find words, I offered a simple explanation.
How I became a fake Saint due to Count Kiris's sinister intentions, how I had subtly condoned his deception in the past, and how I could no longer remain here now that I knew of the Count's vile purposes.
I added a few lies to the mix, but it was unavoidable if I wanted him to accept it.
"So I've decided to leave. I came to say goodbye."
I thought this would be enough for him to accept, but Jeremy grasped my hand firmly with a desperate expression.
"Why, why? No, I understand your situation. But why must we part? I want to follow you."
"You can't, Jeremy. You need to stay here. Protect the people in my stead."
"My duty is to protect you, not the Temple."
"You said you were grateful to me, didn't you? You said you'd repay the debt."
Jeremy's mouth reflexively closed.
I felt sorry for using this against him, but the Temple needed Jeremy with his divine power, so there was no choice.
I had to keep watch against the 'Evil' that was constantly targeting Idella.
"I'm sorry, Jeremy. I promised not to suppress your freedom, yet here I am making demands."
In the end, I was using him out of necessity, no different from those at the Grand Temple of Sea God.
That realization pained me deeply.
"...Don't apologize, Saint."
Yet Jeremy did not blame me.
"Don't apologize to me. You're not someone who owes me an apology."
Jeremy rubbed his cheek against my hand. Soft skin tickled my palm.
"I'll do as you wish."
"...Thank you, Jeremy."
"Don't thank me. I'm the one who should be grateful."
Tears glistened in Jeremy's pink eyes.
"But what if you miss the High Priestess?"
"Once I settle down somewhere, I'll write to you. Come see me then."
Only when I assured him it wasn't a permanent farewell did Jeremy nod, seemingly reassured.
Yet sorrow still lingered, and tears streamed down his cheeks once more.
Ah, I've made the child cry after all.
"And one more thing. Keep your divine power as it is for now."
"Why, why?"
Shock flickered across Jeremy's eyes, which had only just calmed.
"Don't worry. The divine power won't force your body to move like before. There will be many dangerous situations ahead, and that power will help you then."
I had already reached a compromise with the Sea God, so Jeremy would never be in danger like that again.
"...A curse can't possibly be helpful."
Jeremy looked quite displeased, but ultimately nodded in acceptance.
"I'm sorry for always asking unreasonable things of you."
"I told you not to apologize."
Jeremy pouted, pushing out his lips in displeasure.
"I'll miss the High Priestess terribly, but I'll endure it. You must write to me."
"Yes, I promise. I'm not hiding anywhere, so I'll definitely write."
"It's a promise."
Jeremy squeezed my hand tightly, then lowered his head and kissed the back of my hand.
"May your future always be filled with happiness."
It was such a tender blessing that my heart tingled.
I could only embrace Jeremy tightly in return.
* * *
A massive burst of light erupted from the Sun God Grand Temple around 8 a.m.
"High Priest, the divine statue...!"
The statue of the Sun God, still headless from lack of repairs.
A brilliant light resembling the sun began radiating from its entire form.
There was only one reason a divine statue would emit light.
A new priest had awakened upon receiving divine power.
For the first time since Monica, a new priest of light had awakened.
"High Priest! It's, it's Idella!"
At that moment, Monica shrieked and burst through the temple doors.
The figure she dragged along in bewilderment—Idella—was radiating the same light as the divine statue from her entire body.
Remarkably, the newly awakened priest was none other than Idella.
"My goodness. The light...."
Seth, standing beside Airic Dert, gasped at the light emanating from Idella.
The greater the amount of divine power one possessed, the more intense the light became.
And right now, a light so brilliant was pouring from Idella's entire body that it was difficult to open one's eyes.
At that level.... My God, surely not.
"...I must see the High Priestess at once."
Airic Dert, who had been frozen in place, bolted toward Ordel Kiris's bedroom.
It was only for a moment that I found it strange Ordel Kiris hadn't done her morning exercises today.
No matter how much I knocked on the bedroom door, no answer came back.
Something felt ominous.
"High Priest!"
So I flung the door open, forgetting even that I was supposed to wait for Monica.
"What is this rudeness.... Huh?"
Seth Noel, who had been trying to stop Airic Dert in shock, also froze upon seeing inside the room.
The bedroom was empty. And it was bitterly cold.
As if it had been vacant for quite some time already.
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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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