Chapter 145
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I'll Purchase Divine Power with Money
Chapter 145
The Dining Hall of the Sheary Duchy Mansion was as resplendent as the estate itself.
A long table like something from a film, candelabras wrought of gold, and a dazzling chandelier suspended from the ceiling.
The problem was that Lute Sheary had given me the head of the table—the seat of honor that naturally belonged to the master of the house.
It was truly burdensome, and I wondered why she would go so far, but it paled in comparison to what she said next.
"You're saying I should pretend I stepped down from my position as High Priestess of my own accord, rather than leaving the Temple of the Sun God because I'm a fake? What on earth does that mean?"
Who would ever willingly relinquish a position bestowed by the divine?
"What will you do if the Sun God Grand Temple later accuses you of lying? I don't care what happens to me, but I won't have your honor tarnished as well, you understand?"
"Just call me Lute. There's no one else here anyway."
So the reason she had everyone withdraw except for the food was because of how I addressed her?
Was a name really that important right now?
"Of course, Lute."
Though it certainly mattered to Lute.
When I obliged, Lute smiled at me with radiant joy.
"Finally, you're calling me by my name. It feels so good to be called by our names. It feels like we've become closer."
Just because I called her by her name, and she's smiling like that.
This makes it impossible to refuse her anything.
"You're worried the Sun God Grand Temple will expose the truth? Well, do you really think the people there would be so petty, in Ordel's opinion?"
". . . ."
I thought of High Priest Airic Dert.
Gentle and kind, the one who had done his best even when the old me was causing trouble—if it were him . . . .
"They absolutely won't. Look at how the Temple of the Sun God has been revived. If they had any shame, they should overlook a little white lie like this."
I hesitated at Lute's words.
"Shame? The old Temple of the Sun God suffered greatly because of me . . . . I only restored everything as an apology."
"In the end, you've already paid your debt, Ordel. More than enough, even. So now we're even, with no lingering grudges between us."
That was true.
"Thanks to you, I've revived the potion business that was my long-cherished dream, so I'll overlook this benevolent lie."
Certainly, if I know Airic Dert, that's what he would do.
Our Temple people are fundamentally different from those shameless Sea God cultists.
"Besides, if rumors spread that you're a fake High Priestess, people will point fingers at me for being foolish enough to be deceived by a fake and not only conclude business deals but even become a believer. Are you really okay with that?"
Lute looked at me with a trembling expression.
What nonsense.
What madman would call Lute Sheary a fool?
Everyone knows she's someone whose pointing fingers would be burned to ash without hesitation.
"Fine, I understand."
Still, I nodded obediently.
No one would dare insult her, but it wouldn't be good for Lute either way.
"Thank you for everything."
I've received so much from Lute.
The Temple of the Sun God's revival would have taken far longer without Lute Sheary's assistance.
Not only did I readily forgive him for the day I was deceived, but I even invited him to the Sheary Duchy Mansion and treated him with utmost generosity.
And now he's even offering to spread false rumors on my behalf to protect my honor.
How could I possibly repay such kindness?
"I'm penniless, so I can't offer anything in return."
"Now that you mention it, you said you donated everything to the Sun God."
Lute Sheary looked at me with pity.
That's right—that's what saddens me most.
The Sun God really did strip me clean.
【'Sun Crawling from Death' clears his throat and quietly turns his head away.】
"Still, thanks to donating all that money, I was able to gain abilities unlike those of others."
"That's remarkable. I've never heard of such a thing being possible."
Of course not—this is something only I can do, having come from another world.
Though honestly, I'm not proud of it at all.
"Anyway, there's a reason I told only you this secret, Duke—ah, I mean Lute."
Seeing his eyebrows droop at being called by title instead of name, I hastily corrected myself.
Then he immediately smiled, pleased.
"A secret just between us two. I like that. So why did you tell only me?"
"To repay your kindness, I'll craft you a custom sacred artifact."
Lute Sheary's eyes widened.
"You can craft sacred artifacts even without being a High Priestess? Especially one that alleviates my pain.... Honestly, I thought it was impossible."
"It's possible. Sacred artifact crafting isn't exclusively a High Priestess's domain."
A priest with sufficiently strong divine power can craft them just as well.
Of course, my ability came from donating money to the Sun God.
At least the skill is worth what I paid for it—otherwise I would have given up long ago and thrown in the towel.
"By the way, the mace I used yesterday when killing monsters was also crafted by me personally."
"Ah, now that you mention it...."
Lute Sheary stroked his chin, his eyes studying me intently.
"Regardless, your abilities are far too unusual and precious. Ordel Kiris, are you really a fake High Priestess?"
"That's what I'm telling you."
To be precise, Ordel Kiris was originally a fake High Priestess, and after I possessed her body, I became a contract-based High Priestess.
Of course, that ends now that Idella has awakened.
"In any case, crafting sacred artifacts is all I can offer you right now, so let me do that first."
"Any gift for me would be wonderful."
Lute Sheary, who had been gazing at me quietly, nodded.
"Should I make it the same form as before—a necklace?"
"Can I choose the form I want?"
"It depends on what it is.... What did you have in mind?"
"A ring."
A ring?
I reflexively looked at Lute's fingers.
Remarkably large hands for a man, with perfectly straight fingers that seemed ideal for wearing rings—yet only a single ring adorned them.
A family ring on the left index finger.
"Do you like rings?"
It seemed he had never worn anything other than that family ring.
"Wearing rings might be inconvenient when wielding a sword."
"Since I'm right-handed, wearing one on my left hand is fine. Is there a problem?"
I glanced vaguely into the air.
【'Sun Crawling from Death' says it's technically possible, but his intentions are impure, so it won't work—and bites his nails in frustration.】
【'Sun Crawling from Death' tells the innocent system to skip the unnecessary commentary and points an accusing finger at it.】
I didn't understand what was being said, but in any case, it seemed it was possible.
"If you wish, I'll have it made into a ring. Then the size would be...."
"My finger circumference is 6.2 centimeters."
"...?"
Someone who rarely wears rings certainly knows their measurements well.
"Understood. I'll prepare it to fit."
"Yes, I shall wait patiently."
At his unexpectedly demure words, an involuntary laugh escaped me.
Demure. It was a word that didn't suit Lute at all, yet somehow his face made it work.
In any case, being with Lute meant there was never a dull moment.
* * *
Karnus—the sole empire on the Continent, renowned for its formidable military might and wealth.
In the Reception Room of Empress Sophia Roan Carnus, who had elevated the empire to its golden age alongside the current Emperor, mother and son faced each other.
"It is truly regrettable that you could not personally resolve the Southern Region matter."
The moment the Empress dismissed all the attendants and guards, she rebuked her son, Crown Prince Felix.
"No matter how unrivaled you are, there is a clear difference between mere loyalty and loyalty to a Crown Prince who actually resolves matters."
Ever since hearing Felix's report upon his return from the Southern Region, the Empress had frequently sighed with regret.
All the more so because she knew her son's abilities were exceptional.
"It cannot be helped. Besides, even if I had resolved it, I doubt I could have done so as perfectly as that High Priestess."
Felix burst into hearty laughter.
The Empress, observing her son—who inherited her beauty so completely that his name was renowned even now—nodded in acknowledgment.
"Indeed. The Spirit Death God and the Grand Temple of Sea God do not move easily even at the Imperial Family's command."
Though the present age saw the Imperial authority stronger than the temples, not all temples knelt to imperial power.
For they knelt only to the divine.
Yet now, the High Priestess of the Sun God—a name so forgotten that even the Empress could scarcely recall it—had moved both of them. How could one not be astonished?
"The High Priestess of the Sun God. What was her name again?"
The Empress asked Felix.
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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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