Chapter 90
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I will purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 90
"...What?"
"Honestly, aren't you curious? Whether we'll obstruct or allow the believers suffering from potion shortages to be helped."
I continued speaking as I watched Jun's bewildered expression, as if he hadn't anticipated this at all.
"If we do obstruct them, what choice will the believers make after witnessing firsthand the healing power of our priestesses and the efficacy of potions?"
Jun fell silent.
At his reaction, I pulled my lips into a smile.
"I'm truly curious to see how the Sea God Faction will respond."
* * *
The Grand Temple of the Sea God.
Crash!
A deafening sound erupted from the Saint's Bedroom.
The Maids and Apprentice Priestesses who had been waiting fled the bedroom with ashen faces.
However, there was one who could not leave.
It was the priestess in charge of liaison with the Southern Region.
"What did you just say?"
The priestess, trembling as she lay prostrate on the floor, flinched at the cold voice that fell from above her head.
Every time their merciless Saint spoke in such a tone, she felt overwhelming terror.
"T-the Sun God Grand Temple displayed healing power in the Southern Region...."
Crash!
A large vase flew past the trembling priestess and shattered.
Shards of porcelain scattered across her entire body along with water, yet she couldn't even scream.
This was not the moment for screams—she needed to convey the situation.
"...The Sun God's Saint herself went there directly."
"The Saint herself moved, so why didn't we know about this until now?"
Carmen clenched her fist as she asked.
After the failed abduction attempt, being extorted by the Sun God faction, and even Jeremy's disappearance, the Grand Temple of the Sea God had been listening intently to every move of the Sun God's side.
Perhaps, unlikely as it was, but still perhaps—was Jeremy still there somewhere?
Even the Sea God himself, who would inform them of the situation before they could ask if something happened to Jeremy, said nothing now. This was all they could do.
Though the Sun God Grand Temple's vigilance had intensified afterward, and without an ability user like Jeremy, they couldn't monitor from nearby....
Still, they should have known she went all the way to the Southern Region, not just moved within the Western Region!
"Duke Lute Sheary is blocking all information from the Western Region, so we only learned of the Saint's activities after she arrived in the Southern Region."
"Damn Lute Sheary!"
Carmen ground her teeth and kicked the couch.
The sofa flew lightly like a ball and crashed into a corner of the room with a thunderous sound.
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't understand why he was helping the Sun God faction.
"B-but...."
Carmen, roughly sweeping back her disheveled hair, glared at the priestess with flickering eyes at her voice.
"Do you have more to say?"
At the Saint's angry voice, the priestess squeezed her eyes shut.
She knew that speaking would only fuel her rage further, but she had no choice but to tell her.
"It appears the Sun God faction is preparing to launch a full-scale potion business in the Southern Region as well! Most of the families who received treatment are welcoming it!"
The priestess cried out in a rush, keeping her eyes tightly closed as she awaited her punishment.
But no matter how long she waited, no shout came from above her head, nor even the sound of something breaking.
Only the sharp sound of a tongue clicking echoed through the air.
"Fine, if those fools have any sense, they'd naturally expand their business."
Carmen muttered irritably and flopped down onto the intact sofa.
She had already anticipated this the moment she heard they were starting a potion business.
With the Lumen Merchant Guild backing them, there was no way they'd stop at just controlling the Western Region.
"Tell the faithful in the Southern Region that anyone who purchases the Sun God's potions will forfeit every privilege we've granted them."
"Yes, yes! I understand!"
"And increase the potion shipments we send to the Southern Region."
"Yes...?"
The priestess who had been prostrate slowly lifted her head.
They had deliberately controlled supply until now—why the sudden change?
"If we sell less, only they'll profit. But if our potions are there alongside theirs? Who in their right mind would buy from some nameless Sun God?"
There was no way that would happen.
Carmen let out a scoff.
In a direct confrontation, there was no way she could lose to the Sun God, who had long faded from people's memories.
"If you understand, move. If you're late this time, I won't forgive you."
"I shall obey your command!"
The priestess, who had struck her forehead against the floor with a thud, hurried away in a panic.
At her clumsy behavior, Carmen clicked her tongue.
"Every move they make is absolutely infuriating."
This was all because of Lute Sheary.
If it weren't for her, the Sun God Grand Temple would never have grown to this extent.
What was lacking in the Grand Temple of Sea God that they chose those crumbling fools over us?
"If only Jeremy were here, I could have found out everything."
Carmen brought her hand down on the sofa's armrest.
The armrest, unable to withstand the force, cracked and shattered completely.
Where on earth had Jeremy gone?
Saint Dominic was searching after the Sea God stopped responding, but there had been no results.
Without that useful ability, everything was so frustrating.
If she could just catch him, she'd place tracking spells all over his body.
Carmen ground her teeth.
* * *
"Saint."
I turned from the window where I had been gazing out at the view as I heard Jeremy's voice.
Jeremy was approaching with cookie crumbs smeared all over his face.
"Does it taste good?"
"Yeah, it's really delicious."
Jeremy clutched the box of cookies I was holding close to his chest.
Jun had bought them for him a few days ago, and he seemed to love them so much that he refused to let them out of his arms.
He loved them so much that when I bought him about twenty boxes, he even flashed a happy smile.
To think I'd see a smile I'd never witnessed even with gold coins—all thanks to cookies.
"How many have you eaten today?"
Jeremy, who had been crunching on another cookie, froze at my question.
"You didn't forget our promise to eat only one box a day, did you?"
I'd given him strict instructions to eat only one box daily, otherwise he'd devour all twenty in a single day.
"Oh, I didn't forget."
Jeremy answered with a dejected expression. Fortunately, it seemed he hadn't broken the promise yet.
"Good job. Our Jeremy keeps his promises so well."
Jeremy gazed at the remaining five cookies with a sorrowful face, then squeezed his eyes shut and closed the box lid.
He must be planning to finish them later tonight.
"But what are you doing standing there, High Priestess?"
At his question, I turned my gaze back toward the window.
Beyond the sprawling city, a flat horizon came into view.
That was the habitat of monsters and the Desert where 'Evil' had coiled up.
"I thought I might see something from here."
Was 'Evil' truly moving faster because of me than in the original story?
Were those black blemishes covering Lute Sheary's body caused by 'Evil'?
...And when exactly would those who followed 'Evil' begin their serious movements?
"...Though there's no way I can tell just by looking."
I let out a bitter laugh and stroked Jeremy's hair as he tilted his head in confusion.
"High Priestess!"
Just then, Jun knocked urgently on the door.
At my signal, Jeremy quickly slipped out the window.
Only then did I let Jun inside.
"Urgent news. The Grand Temple of Sea God has made a move."
Faster than expected.
"As predicted, the Sea God's followers have threatened that his followers shouldn't even think about buying the Sun God's potions. They've even said they'll revoke all the privileges they've been giving if anyone is caught."
"Well, those petty fools would naturally do that."
"But that's not all."
Jun, having caught his breath, continued with a serious expression.
"The volume of Sea God potions entering the Southern Region has increased. It's at least tripled."
Ah. My entire body responded to those words with a tremor.
My lips parted involuntarily, beyond my control.
At my reaction, Jun's eyes widened.
"...High Priestess, why are you smiling right now?"
I touched my lips. My mouth corners were indeed turned upward.
Why wouldn't I smile? Because what I truly desired had come to pass.
The Sea God Faction's reaction—entirely predictable, entirely as expected—drew a hearty laugh from me.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org