Chapter 87
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 87
"Money, money, is it...."
Felix Rohan Carnus, who had been staring intently at me while I ate, let out a light laugh.
"Clean and straightforward. I shall certainly pay."
"As expected of the Crown Prince. You certainly have a generous spirit."
I clapped my hands together and turned my gaze toward Duke Kali.
Unlike Felix Rohan Carnus, who was shaking his head in disbelief, she regarded me with an expression utterly devoid of emotion.
Her blank face even seemed to carry a certain ferocity.
Hmm. Did she feel disappointed that I asked so brazenly for money?
But there's nothing I can do about it. I can't very well explain why I need the funds.
Just because I favor her doesn't mean she must favor me in return.
"Will you refuse, Duke?"
Pressing the matter, Cali, who had been silent until then, finally opened her mouth.
"No. I shall pay as well."
"A wise choice."
"Then the amount would be...."
"Have no concern. I shall calculate the proper sum and inform you accordingly."
Thanks to the delicacies, my tongue was delighted, my belly was full, and I'd even extracted money—I was truly, immensely happy.
As I dabbed the corners of my mouth and smiled contentedly, both Felix Rohan Carnus's hollow laugh and Duke Kali's enigmatic gaze reached me.
Whether they approved or not, thinking of how many more estates I still needed to visit, I continued my meal.
One must eat to maintain one's strength.
* * *
"What do you make of it?"
After Ordel Kiris had left the room following the meal.
Felix Rohan Carnus asked Cali.
In his eyes, as he slowly swirled the wine-filled glass, a faint disappointment lingered.
"Money.... Yes, money is certainly appealing. Clean and simple. Yet to demand it so openly...."
Even the Sea God Faction, which greedily amasses wealth, does not reveal its true nature so blatantly to the Imperial Family or the duchies.
They at least know how to maintain face and propriety, yet the High Priestess of the Sun God possessed none of that.
"I hear the Sun God Grand Temple nearly collapsed before barely recovering. That's why the High Priestess is like that, I suppose."
A bitter expression flashed across Felix Rohan Carnus's eyes.
It was nothing more than a desperate struggle for survival, yet it was truly lamentable that the daughter of a god, who ought to be noble, was so utterly materialistic.
"It's unavoidable since it's necessary, but this time the Southern Region will exact a steep price."
To Felix Rohan Carnus's words, Cali offered no response whatsoever.
Felix Rohan Carnus seemed to interpret her silence as assent.... But was it?
'Is the High Priestess truly someone who cares only for money?'
Cali's answer was no.
She quietly gazed down at the paper Ordel Kiris had left behind, upon which was written the sum the Duchy must pay.
For someone merely obsessed with money, the amount written on the paper was far too reasonable.
Today's invoice from the Cali Duchy was meticulously detailed—every potion consumed, every priest's ability borrowed, all accounted for with precision.
Though she wielded the wealth of a duchy and could have demanded exorbitant compensation, she had not.
That restraint left a peculiar impression on me.
In truth, Cali had never been fond of the temples.
The Death God's Temple, established in the Southern Region long before the Empire's founding, had done nothing but console the souls of those who perished in the desert—offering no material aid whatsoever.
The Sea God Temple coerced those seeking resident priests into either massive donations or implicit conversion to their faith.
So it was only natural that she'd grown weary of temples altogether.
Yet the Sun God Grand Temple was different.
They did demand payment, much like the Sea God Faction, but only for what they had actually provided.
They never turned anyone away, nor did they pressure anyone into devotion.
That had impressed her deeply.
The Crown Prince, who had never heard a single plea nor faced any coercion, seemed oblivious to such distinctions.
"You intend to visit the High Priestess and the Southern Region?"
Felix, moistening his lips with wine, nodded.
"Indeed. My heart trembles already wondering what they'll demand of me."
Though Felix grumbled, Cali—having obtained her desired answer—ceased listening to his complaints.
She simply continued staring at the seat where Ordel Kiris had been, her gaze intense and utterly devoid of warmth.
* * *
After resting adequately at the Cali Duchy, we resumed our journey.
We had lingered only because of the duchy's status; from the next estate onward, I intended to treat and depart swiftly.
Yet...
"Our party has grown, hasn't it?"
I stared in bewilderment at Duke Cali, who stood confidently beside Felix.
Her attire was far too obviously travel wear for a mere courtesy visit.
"For some reason, the Duke expressed a desire to accompany us."
Felix laughed awkwardly. He hadn't anticipated this either, it seemed.
"Is that acceptable?"
"Well... there's no reason it shouldn't be."
Since there was no need for secrecy, I nodded my assent.
"Then let us depart. We'll visit the nearest family first."
"Very well."
I nodded and boarded the carriage.
Though only Cali had joined us, the atmosphere inside was entirely different from when it had been just Felix and me.
It was because of Cali's gaze—fixed upon me with unwavering intensity.
"..."
Seated beside Felix, she remained silent throughout the journey, her eyes never leaving me.
I would be lying if I said her piercing stare didn't unsettle me...
She didn't seem to have anything particular to say, yet I doubted she'd stop even if I asked her to.
I decided to let it be. My face wouldn't wear away from being looked at.
It wasn't unbearably uncomfortable, so I'd simply let her look as she pleased.
The carriage came to a halt after running for quite some time through that peculiar atmosphere.
"I'll get out first."
The first to flee the carriage was Felix Rohan Carnus.
He seemed even less able to bear this awkward air than I was. Though it was I who nearly had my eyes pierced through.
"High Priestess. I have something urgent to tell you."
As I descended from the carriage, Monica approached me.
Seeing her subtle eye gesture, it appeared Jeremy had returned.
"May I trouble you for a moment? It won't take long."
"Of course."
Having politely requested permission, I immediately went to Monica.
Once we stepped away from where the others were, Monica withdrew a map from her bosom.
"He said he sensed it in three locations total. But it was weaker than when he first detected it, so he said it's uncertain at best."
Monica deliberately avoided direct terminology.
Even if we'd stepped away slightly, there were monsters capable of easily hearing voices at this distance.
I nodded and immediately unfolded the map.
Monica pointed out my current location and the places Jeremy had marked.
Fortunately, it seemed there were no casualties from high-ranking monsters at our current destination.
But the next location we would visit was marked.
"As I said, if there are any wounded from high-ranking monsters at any estate, don't treat them immediately—inform me first."
"Yes, understood."
She nodded at once.
I returned the map to Monica and made my way back to where I'd been.
Roughly three families, then.
Fortunately, I wouldn't run short on the potions I'd brought.
Had Jeremy not gathered this information beforehand, I would have needed to carefully calculate and ration the remaining potions.
My boy, well done. I should find out if there's a good cookie shop nearby.
* * *
Including the Cali Duchy, I visited a total of eight families.
The faces of the priests who had expended so much divine power were filled with exhaustion—it was truly pitiful.
I'll make sure to give them a generous bonus.
"You've all worked hard today."
On the way back after the final treatment.
I didn't refuse Felix Rohan Carnus's offer to escort me to the Flu Family Estate.
While not as comfortable as Lute Sheary's carriage, the Crown Prince's was certainly pleasant enough.
Though truthfully, I did very little.
"It's fine. We're fortunate to have arrived in the Southern Region at such a timely moment."
Had we departed later, or had I simply given Rosetta potions and sent her off alone, countless people would have perished.
"But there is one thing I'm curious about."
At Felix Rohan Carnus's words, I nodded.
"Yes, please tell me."
"I hear the High Priestess personally treated the Flu Family's wounded, yet elsewhere they've relied solely on potions. Is there a reason for this distinction?"
Indeed.
Across nine noble houses, including the Flu Family, five warriors had suffered injuries from high-tier magical beasts.
Yet excluding the Flu Family's Knight Commander, I had not personally healed a single one of them.
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