Chapter 15
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 15
* * *
"...."
Yet I never anticipated something like this.
The visitor to the Temple of the Sun God was a retainer of Count Kiris.
I assumed a nobleman bearing a title would naturally be escorted directly to my reception room.
But when I heard they were still at the entrance of the Temple of the Sun God, I wondered what had happened....
"S-sob, I'm s-so sorry...."
An Apprentice Priestess kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down her face as she apologized, surrounded protectively by several Holy Knights.
Before them stood a man dressed impeccably from head to toe.
His blue eyes, framed by a monocle, were brimming with contempt.
Seeing the Apprentice Priestess bearing what was clearly a handprint, I realized the maid who had informed me of the situation wasn't frightened solely because of me.
"What exactly is happening here?"
As I approached them with the question, the gathered people flinched and stepped back.
The man, who had been grinding his teeth in anger, contorted his face upon seeing me.
"Ah, you've finally arrived, Miss Kiris."
Miss Kiris?
Hearing this title for the first time since possessing this body, the corners of my mouth twitched upward.
"It seems the cathedral fails to properly educate its inferiors, so I took it upon myself to provide some instruction."
"Instruction?"
"They failed to recognize the greatness of Count Kiris and dared to keep me standing here. Without the Count's patronage, this Temple of the Sun God would have collapsed long ago."
A chilling silence descended upon the gathering at his disrespectful words.
No matter how much we rely on the Count's donations to barely survive, this is the Temple of the Sun God, where we serve the deity more closely than anyone else.
That remark was certainly overstepping.
"Miss Kiris, what do you think the Count would say if he learned of this? He's instructing you to provide proper education from today onward."
The man thrust his chin up and declared confidently.
Airic Dert and Sess, who had rushed over belatedly, also stiffened their expressions.
Yet the man showed no alarm upon seeing the two of them.
Rather, he looked directly at me as though asking what mere underlings like them could possibly do about it, and made his demand.
"Now then, escort me inside at once. Standing here is making my legs ache."
"This bastard...."
At his brazen manner of ordering me about as though I were his servant, Victoria, standing behind me, gripped her sword. The air around her grew menacing, as though she would cleave him in two at a single command.
Instead of granting her permission to take his head, I stepped forward.
"You certainly have interesting things to say. So...."
"...."
"So... who are you again?"
Damn it. I wanted to say something cool, but I blanked on his name.
Only protagonists like Airic Dert or Sess could recognize someone just from their appearance, but how was I supposed to remember every little retainer of Count Kiris?
"What was your name again?"
What choice did I have? Bracing myself for embarrassment, I asked—and from somewhere came a sound like "pfft!" as if someone were desperately stifling laughter.
Airic Dert had grabbed Sess's shoulder beside him, his face buried in his hands as his entire body trembled.
Sess was visibly clenching his teeth.
At the antics of these two, the nobleman's face flushed crimson with mortification.
Yes, even I had to admit that was rather harsh.
"How could you not know the name of the Count's own aide...!"
"How am I supposed to remember every trivial detail like that?"
"Trivial detail?!"
"What, is your name so expensive that you keep whining about it? Who exactly are you?"
"I-I'm Baron William Gale!"
It was the Apprentice Priestess, still kneeling, who supplied the name instead of the man.
"Oh my, thank you for telling me. By the way, it does look like a proper hit—are you in pain? Someone please take the Apprentice Priestess and have her treated."
At my words, one of the priestesses hurried over and helped the Apprentice Priestess to her feet.
But her face was so tear-stained and young, wasn't it? This bastard hit someone so young? Was he in his right mind?
"Striking a child so severely in the Temple of the Sun God. I'm not sure who needs the education. So, Baron Grail, was it?"
"It's Gale! I came on the Count's orders, and the fault lies with that one for failing to recognize me and blocking my way, demanding permission!"
"So you hit someone, and when I asked why, it turns out you did something perfectly reasonable? What's wrong with Baron Grail's character?"
"It's Gale! How is that something reasonable...!"
"We didn't invite you. If an uninvited guest forces their way in, of course we have to stop them."
William Gale flinched. It was clear he hadn't expected me to say such a thing—his expression was one of disbelief.
It was rather amusing, really.
"Whoever you are, whoever's orders you're following. If you want to enter this place, you must obtain permission from me, the High Priestess, or the Holy Knight Commander. That's your position in the Temple of the Sun God."
"..."
"Understood, Baron Gane?"
William Gale bristled again, but this time he didn't bother to correct his name.
Yes, by now he should be catching on.
That I had no intention of calling the name of this wretch who'd caused a disturbance in the Temple of the Sun God correctly.
"I'd like nothing more than to throw you out... but it seems you have something to say, so I'll give you a chance. Either leave now, or come in quietly. I won't stop you—choose for yourself."
I strode inside without waiting for his answer.
Airic Dert and Sess didn't follow me; they remained in place, watching William Gale intently.
All trace of amusement had vanished from both their faces.
I left them there and headed to my room with Victoria.
After all, William Gale's choice was already predetermined.
* * *
As I'd anticipated, William Gale didn't leave; he remained in the Cathedral, barely suppressing his shame.
Victoria informed me that Airic Dert and Sess were with him.
So what was I doing now?
"Ah, I feel refreshed after washing! There's nothing quite like a bath after working up a sweat."
Since I'd perspired from my morning exercises, of course I needed to bathe!
Thanks to the groundwater, I didn't have to worry about the cost of water and could use as much as I pleased—what a blessing that was.
"As usual, a proper massage would help me shake off the fatigue completely. It's a shame I can't offer you that service because of this uninvited guest."
Victoria sighed as she dried my wet hair.
Had it been about four days? Ever since Victoria opened her heart to me, she'd begun giving me massages after my workouts and baths.
Thanks to her exceptional massage skills—befitting a Holy Knight—I'd been thoroughly pampered every single day.
"I'm disappointed too. But since the High Priestess and Holy Knight Commander must remain with the Baron, I should take my leave now."
I changed into my priestess robes and entered the reception room connected to my bedroom.
And I couldn't help but laugh.
The confident demeanor William Gale had displayed when he first arrived at the Temple of the Sun God was nowhere to be found.
He looked completely overwhelmed by the presence of Airic Dert and Sess sitting across from him.
"It seems the High Priestess and Holy Knight Commander kept you from feeling lonely with their company."
Gale's eyes flashed with indignation at my remark, but I ignored him and took my seat at the head of the table.
"You two may leave now."
Just as I'd instructed them days earlier, I casually dropped the hint to both men.
Now all I needed was for them to put up a token resistance before departing...
"That's impossible. We cannot leave you alone with this rude scoundrel—we have no idea what he might do to you, my lady."
"I agree entirely. How could we possibly leave you unattended with someone so crude as to resort to violence? Absolutely not."
...but their reaction was far more intense than I'd anticipated.
Watching Gale's face flush crimson wasn't entirely unpleasant, though.
The two of them continued to provoke Gale with a few more barbs before finally sighing in apparent defeat and leaving the room.
I hadn't realized even the typically rigid Sess could act so convincingly—Airic Dert I could understand.
"Ordel Kiris. Have you lost your mind?"
The moment we were alone, he threw a question at me that deviated not an inch from my expectations.
He'd abandoned the formal "Miss Kiris" and was calling my name roughly.
So this was his logic—Airic Dert and Sess, who possessed the strongest divine power in the Temple of the Sun God, were frightening, but I was nothing to fear?
"What do you think Count Kiris would say if he learned of your current behavior?"
"He'd be angry."
"What, what?"
"But it's you who'll have to bear that anger when you return and report to him—not me. I have no intention of leaving this place, not even a single step."
I laughed openly at him.
"Did you think mentioning the Count would make me immediately kneel and beg for forgiveness? Wake up. That will never happen."
"Ordel Kiris!"
"Come to think of it, I've been acting far too meek this whole time. There was really no reason for it. After all, I'm a Holy Priestess now."
At my words, Gale slammed his fist on the table.
The sound was so weak it wasn't even remotely intimidating.
"How dare you, a fake priestess who owes her position solely to the Count's favor!"
"You're right, I am fake. But that's a secret, isn't it?"
A fake priestess.
If this were exposed, who would suffer greater consequences—me or Count Kiris?
"If it became known that I'm a fake priestess, I'd merely face some embarrassment. But Count Kiris, who elevated his adopted daughter to the position of priestess out of a desire for power—would he escape with nothing more than shame?"
I made certain he understood the precarious position they both occupied.
"Baron Gale. The one compromised by the false saint isn't me—it's Count Kiris. It's you and your people who should be trembling to keep this fact hidden."
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org