Chapter 81
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 81
* * *
"Welcome to the Flu Family."
The moment we passed through the Main Gate, Rosetta Flu, who shared the carriage with me, offered a warm greeting.
"The mansion is...."
I gasped in admiration at the sight of the estate visible through the carriage window.
A sand-colored building standing proudly beneath the dry, scorching sunlight.
The first floor, which opened up refreshingly to a height of two stories, was particularly striking.
While the buildings in the Western Region where the Sun God Grand Temple stood resembled Western European architecture, this place evoked images of Western Asia.
"It's beautiful."
Speaking with genuine sincerity, Rosetta's face softened beautifully.
"Oh, my husband is out front."
I turned my head toward where Rosetta was pointing.
A man with a somewhat rigid expression stood before the mansion's entrance.... Um....
"...Your husband, you say?"
"Yes!"
So that man was Rosetta's husband?
A frame as tall as Seth Noel, a build that appeared twice the size of the petite, delicate Rosetta, and a large scar etched across his face.
With such an imposing physique and that scar, one could only describe him as thoroughly intimidating.
Of course, one shouldn't judge people by appearance, but I genuinely couldn't deny that he seemed mismatched with Rosetta.
"Darling, I'm home. Has everything been well?"
The moment the carriage stopped, Rosetta was the first to descend, rushing toward her husband with quick steps. Her small hands gently caressed his cheek with concern.
"And you? Are you uninjured?"
Immediately, the intimidating expression melted away completely.
The man examining Rosetta's body with such care appeared remarkably tender.
Right, one truly shouldn't judge by appearance alone. I should reflect on that.
"I'm fine. The High Priestess took good care of me."
Rosetta, beaming with a bright smile, took her husband's hand and approached me.
"High Priestess, allow me to introduce you. This is my husband and the Count leading the Flu Family, Rickasa Flu. Darling, this is the High Priestess from the Sun God Grand Temple."
"Thank you for traveling such a great distance. I am Rickasa Flu. It is an honor to meet you."
"Pleased to meet you. I am Ordel Kiris, High Priestess of the Sun God Grand Temple."
Between his unkempt, coarse sand-colored hair, dark eyes gleamed with an unsettling intensity.
I could understand his gaze being different from when he looked at his wife....
But why does he look so menacing? As if regarding an adversary?
Was he reproaching me for arriving late while keeping his wife with me...?
Just as I was wondering what could possibly be the reason.
Thud!
Remarkably, Rickasa suddenly dropped to his knees before me!
"Please! Help us, High Priestess!"
The moment I opened my eyes wide, Rickasa Flu cried out loudly.
I stared at Rosetta with a bewildered expression. She too seemed startled, her eyes widening in surprise.
"D-Darling, wake up. The High Priestess is alarmed."
As Rosetta patted his back, Rickasa Flu immediately sprang to his feet. Then he bowed his head to me.
"My sincerest apologies. In my desperation, I've committed a grave discourtesy."
His fierce features were filled with solemn gravity.
"Please, come inside first. We've kept our guest standing outside far too long."
"Ah, yes. My apologies. I'll escort you at once. This way, please."
At Rosetta's gentle touch, Rickasa Flu guided us inside.
Something felt ominous from the very first day. I found myself deeply concerned about what lay ahead.
* * *
The moment Seth Noel and I entered the Reception Room under the couple's guidance, we learned the situation.
"So what you're saying is...."
I looked at the Flu couple seated across from me.
"While your wife was away in the Western Region, you launched another expedition into the Desert, and the casualties were severe?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Rickasa Flu answered with a face so grave it bordered on despair.
"While I was despairing over this, I heard that my wife was coming to the Southern Region with the High Priestess, and I cannot express how relieved I felt. Thank you truly."
Rickasa Flu bowed his head repeatedly.
The intense gaze directed at me wasn't hostility—it was desperate pleading for help.
If someone pleads that desperately twice, they'll completely disarm you....
"How severe are the casualties?"
"Half of the knights who went on the expedition were wounded. Some have minor injuries, but there are quite a few with serious wounds."
"W-We've launched several expeditions before, but we've never suffered damage this severe."
Rosetta's face had turned ashen pale, learning this truth only now that we'd arrived.
At least Rickasa Flu himself hadn't been injured—that much was a mercy.
"This was hardly the time to be leisurely enjoying tea."
I glanced up at Seth Noel, who stubbornly chose to stand behind me despite my invitation to sit beside me.
He nodded, affirming my words.
"Let's examine the wounded first."
"...Pardon?"
Rosetta, who had been comforting her anguished husband while her voice trembled, suddenly lifted her head.
Rickasa Flu did the same.
"These people need treatment. We have Sun God's priests specialized in healing right here—surely you weren't planning to simply abandon them?"
"Y-You mean to treat them right now?"
What an obvious thing to say.
"If we leave them be, the seriously wounded might die, and the lightly wounded could suffer worse injuries."
"Ah...."
"So guide us quickly. Before it gets any later."
At my words, Rosetta covered her mouth with both hands.
Tears began to well up in her eyes.
"Th-thank you. Thank you so much, High Priestess. I'll guide you right away!"
I sprang to my feet and threw open the Reception Room door. Then I issued orders to Monica and Victoria Lawrence, who had been waiting outside.
"There are wounded here. We need immediate treatment, so summon the priests."
"Yes, understood."
While the two of them rushed off, I headed to the Medical Ward with the couple.
"Since we're constantly deploying forces, we built a Medical Ward within the estate to treat the wounded."
"That's an excellent decision. Do you have many physicians then?"
"There's probably no region with as many skilled physicians as the Southern Region."
That made sense—with frequent battles against monsters, there would naturally be many wounded.
"However, one alchemist is worth ten physicians, and one priest is worth ten alchemists."
Rosetta added her explanation with a bitter expression.
"And while the Southern Region has many physicians, it's critically short on alchemists and priests. Alchemists don't want to work in dangerous places, and priests...."
"The Eternal Death God Temple doesn't move."
At my words, Rosetta nodded bitterly.
The Eternal Death God Temple was located in the Southern Region.
Yet there was only one reason Rosetta had traveled all the way to the distant Western Region begging to sell potions.
The Eternal Death God Temple had no interest in worldly affairs whatsoever.
The priests there simply refined their divine power within the temple, and only ventured outside when occasionally asked to console the spirits of the dead.
They were essentially no different from hermit monks cultivating the Way in the mountains.
"If only they had stepped forward, the situation would have been so much better...."
At Rosetta's murmur, the original story suddenly came to mind.
No matter how isolated the Eternal Death God Temple was, they hadn't remained locked away until the story's end.
When the monsters began their full rampage and the Southern Region's situation deteriorated rapidly, they broke out of the temple and fought the monsters.
True to the name "Eternal Death," they fought without regard for their own safety, and despite entering the battle latest, they suffered catastrophic losses.
It would be no exaggeration to say they were nearly annihilated.
Moreover, the Sea God Temple also fought alone without cooperating with others and ultimately destroyed itself, leaving only the Sun God Grand Temple standing by the story's end.
The Sea God Faction brought their fate upon themselves, so I couldn't even pity them....
But the Eternal Death God side was different. It seemed like I could maintain good relations with them, so maybe I should visit while I'm in the Southern Region?
"Here it is."
The Medical Ward was a single-story building constructed at one corner of the estate. But there was no time to admire the architecture.
"The smell of blood...."
Seth Noel, who was with me, grimaced.
The thick scent of blood hung in my nostrils too, but for Seth Noel, whose senses far surpassed mine, it must have been far more overwhelming.
We went straight inside.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org