Chapter 141
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I Will Purchase Divine Power with Money
Chapter 141
I explained the situation simply.
Count Kiris had pushed me, someone with barely a thread of divine power due to his greed, into the role of a fake High Priestess, and the Sun God Grand Temple had accepted the proposal with tears in their eyes because they needed donations.
"Among those at the Grand Temple, only the High Priest knows that I'm a fake."
"No, wait...."
"But now everyone will understand. A real High Priestess has appeared."
By now, they must be throwing a celebration at the Sun God Grand Temple to welcome the arrival of a new High Priestess worthy of the temple.
Phew, I'm glad I didn't stay there any longer.
As a fake, I would have only drawn scornful glances for daring to remain.
"W-wait a moment. I can't quite process this.... The High Priestess is fake? Fake, you say? And a real one has appeared? When? Today? Right now?"
Lute seemed too shocked to gather her thoughts.
Of course she'd be angry—I'd hidden something this significant.
"Since I'm not the High Priestess, please just call me Ordel. I'm truly sorry for not telling you until now."
I apologized first, then answered Lute's questions.
"The real High Priestess appeared this morning. My business succeeded and I earned a great deal of money, so the real one appeared as well. Since a fake like me is no longer needed, I left the Grand Temple."
"You left? The Grand Temple? And the High Priest and Holy Knight Commander simply accepted this?"
"Of course—there was no reason to ask for permission. Well, I didn't tell them directly; I left a letter instead."
It would have been difficult for them to ask me to leave.
This way, things won't be awkward for anyone.
"You left after writing just one letter...."
"Now that the burdensome person has gone, they'll all forget about me and live well. They even have a real High Priestess to care for them now."
"...."
Lute gazed at me intently. Her expression suggested she had much to say.
"I'm truly sorry for deceiving you, Duke."
I apologized again and bowed deeply.
If she demanded I kneel in contrition, I was prepared to do so.
"I understand if you're angry with me. But if I may offer one defense: my efforts to ease your suffering were sincere."
After all, his pain had truly vanished.
Beyond that, I needed to tell him that what he possessed wasn't a sacred relic of light, but a divine artifact....
Perhaps it would be better to mention that after I create a divine artifact exclusively for Lute?
I also need to return the divine artifact to the Grand Temple.
The reason I came to meet Lute immediately after leaving the Grand Temple was precisely because of the divine artifact.
"That concludes what I wished to say. Please do with me as you see fit."
"...."
I thought I'd grown quite familiar with Lute by now.
But facing those hardened eyes made me somewhat uneasy.
I knew all too well how frightening he could be when angry.
How long had this heavy silence persisted?
He raised his hand with a swift motion.
It's coming!
I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut.
Since Lute wielded mana and sword energy with such ease, getting hit by her would hurt like hell, wouldn't it?
Thank goodness I could heal myself.
"...?"
But no matter how long I waited, I felt no pain.
I cautiously opened my eyes.
Lute stood frozen with her hand extended toward me.
No matter how I looked at it, that wasn't a striking pose.
"...What? Did you really think I was going to hit you?"
So she had no intention of doing so after all.
I laughed awkwardly.
"Well, what I did was practically a form of deception...."
"So you'd just accept it if I hit you?"
"If I've done wrong, I should pay the price."
Lute let out a hollow laugh and swept her hair back roughly.
Wow, she's really angry.
"I didn't know you enjoyed getting hit."
"I didn't say I enjoyed it. I said I'd accept it."
"For someone admitting fault, you certainly have a lot to say."
"Yes, I'm sorry."
I clasped my hands together again and bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
Before someone as temperamental as Lute, the best strategy was simply to stay silent and bow.
"Tsk."
At that moment, Lute clicked her tongue and snapped her fingers. Her mana swept across my body once.
The dust that had accumulated all over me from riding a horse for so long and fighting monsters vanished completely.
My skin and hair felt refreshingly clean.
A cleansing spell? So she really hadn't intended to hit me.
"...I have one question."
"Yes, go ahead."
Feeling even more apologetic, I continued bowing obsequiously.
"If you're a fake High Priestess, how did you recognize my condition when even the High Priest couldn't, and how did you use a blessing to ease my suffering?"
"...."
"This time, it would be better not to lie."
After all, coming here to confess lies only to tell more lies would be rather pathetic, wouldn't it?
Besides, this was a question I'd already anticipated.
"Despite being a fake High Priestess, the Sun God blessed me with certain abilities."
It was an absurd story, and I wasn't sure she'd believe it outright, but since she was the one who told me not to lie, it was what it was.
Whether she believed it or not was her decision.
"To be precise, I made a deal. In exchange for reviving the Temple of the Sun God, which was falling into ruin, I received divine power from the Sun God. I mentioned this before, didn't I? My divine power grows stronger as time passes."
"Could it be that...."
"Yes. It's all thanks to this transaction. A fake High Priestess making a deal with a god—it may be hard to believe, but this is the truth. I can swear by the name of the Sun God."
【The 'Sun Crawling from Death' nods emphatically.】
I wish Lute could have seen this message too. What a shame.
"Then the reason you've been hoarding money so desperately all this time was...?"
"To grow the Temple of the Sun God and make offerings to the Sun God. That's why I'm now completely broke...."
I've offered nearly four billion won to the Sun God, and all that remains for me now is sixty million won.
Even thinking about it again, it's far too tragic.
"Since it's such an important matter, I haven't told anyone until now. You're the first, Duke. So I hope you'll keep this secret for me?"
"What happens if I don't?"
"I'll die."
If Evil learns of this, it will come straight to kill me first.
"If you wish for my death, please just kill me with your own hands."
If I fall into Evil's hands, I'm certain I'll be tortured horribly before dying.
I absolutely hate that. I'd much rather be cleanly cut down by Lute's blade.
"You're asking me to kill you?"
"Of course, not killing me and keeping the secret would be best."
Ju Hyun-jin sacrificed her life to save me—I can't face her if I die this quickly.
My goal for this life is to live until I'm old and gray.
"...."
Lute squeezed her eyes shut and began breathing heavily.
Ah, she seems even angrier than before.
I shrank back, unable to speak, only stealing glances at her expression.
"...High Priestess, or rather, I'll think about what to do with Ordel. Don't go anywhere—stay here until I make up my mind."
"Here?"
"Yes. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight. So don't think of going anywhere else—just stay here quietly."
Lute spoke through gritted teeth, then roughly pushed aside the tent flap and strode out into the night.
It was the first time I'd ever seen her so angry.
"This is bad."
After deceiving her for so long, she has every right to be furious.
I let out a heavy sigh.
I still need to give her a sacred relic exclusive to Lute, but I'm not sure if she'll accept it willingly.
* * *
Lute strode away from the tent with long, purposeful steps.
The confused knights of the Duke's House quickly averted their eyes upon seeing his unusually fierce expression.
Yuri Polton in particular fled faster than anyone else the moment he caught sight of Lute's face.
After walking far beyond the military camp, Lute could no longer contain the mounting rage and punched a tree in front of him.
Crack! Splinter!
The tree, unable to withstand the force of a Sword Master who had achieved mastery, snapped in half with a loud sound.
Even after breaking the unfortunate tree, Lute's anger remained unabated as he breathed heavily for a long time.
The image of Ordel Kiris shutting her eyes tight, bracing herself for the blow, refused to leave my mind.
Not only was she willing to accept it without resistance, but what else?
If I wanted to kill her, she was telling me to go ahead?
"How could you say such a thing?"
Whether Ordel Kiris was a false High Priestess or not—honestly, I didn't care.
I was simply taken aback.
But then she says I can hit her if I'm angry? That she'd even understand if I killed her?
Did she really think I would do that?
Me?
...How could I possibly kill you.
"I can't even bring myself to lay a finger on you, let alone strike you."
Damn it.
Lute Sheary buried her face in her hands and sank to the floor.
It seemed certain that I wouldn't sleep a single moment tonight.
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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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