Chapter 94
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 94
"This wasn't supposed to happen."
Ricassa, who had volunteered to guide us, exhaled a heavy sigh with a darkened expression.
Now I understood why he had insisted on coming himself instead of letting Rosetta go.
"The Southern Region has always been under the Guardian Family's formidable protection, and they've conducted relief efforts regularly, so even the Slums weren't in terrible condition before...."
"Once they became preoccupied with containing the monsters, they had no capacity to invest effort here, and it became a lawless zone."
"Precisely. Of course, they haven't completely abandoned it, but they simply cannot maintain the level of care they once did."
Even for a duchy, continuous battles exhausting enough to drain their resources meant they couldn't manage the Slums as well.
Dealing with the constant influx of wounded and maintaining bonds with other families consumed considerable effort.
"Moreover, this area suffered monster damage too, making the situation even worse. The various families have sent physicians, but...."
Ricassa trailed off, releasing another sigh.
Even the nobility couldn't properly treat their knights due to shortages of priests and potions—how much worse must it be for the Slums?
The fact that these people were alive at all was a blessing.
"What should we do here?"
Seth, who had been quietly surveying the Slums, asked me.
That was my question too. I had no idea what to do here either.
The Spirit Death God only told me to come, without revealing what awaited me....
"...Let's start by treating the wounded."
Still, I couldn't do nothing.
We had work we could accomplish here, after all.
"Have the servants go door to door checking for the wounded, priests distribute potions to treat them, and Holy Knights help ensure no problems arise."
"Yes, understood!"
"Come this way. I'll assign each of you your respective areas."
Quick as a whip, Monica detailed everyone's tasks in accordance with my orders.
She even carefully deployed Ricassa's knights who had offered to help, assigning them appropriately.
She really was remarkably capable.
"Then we'll move immediately. Holy Knight Commander, High Priestess, we're counting on you."
Monica, who had bowed respectfully to Seth and me, departed busily with Victoria.
With Seth at my side and Jeremy watching from somewhere unseen, I could proceed with my work without worry.
"...It seems the High Priestess has separate business. Am I mistaken?"
Seth asked quietly once we were alone.
Eyes as deep as the ocean gazed at me with serene clarity.
"Well, that's true, but...."
"Is your business here connected to the Nashas?"
I looked at Seth with startled eyes.
His calm gaze told me he was already certain.
"Holy Knight Commander, you've become quite perceptive."
Our Seth usually lacked such intuition.
Thanks to that, Airic had been able to comfortably remain ignorant of my being a false High Priestess.
So you noticed that? That's impressive.
"...Am I really that oblivious?"
"That's not what I meant."
I chuckled at his dejected expression and patted his shoulder.
To be honest, it's more endearing than frustrating, but if I told him the truth, his face would burn red, so I'll keep quiet.
"I came here because of the High Priest."
"Then...."
"But I don't know why."
"What?"
"He just said I absolutely had to come here. He asked so earnestly that I came, but I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to do. Well, at least coming here was the right call."
With strangers suddenly rummaging about, the already tense atmosphere of this place grew even more chaotic.
Still, once treatment begins, things will settle down quickly.
And soon, those who are sick or injured will appear one by one seeking treatment.
Isn't that reason enough to be glad I came here?
"Only the Holy Knight Commander knows about this. It's a secret even from our High Priest Airic."
I pressed my index finger to my lips and whispered softly.
"The High Priest will be disappointed."
"No. He won't have time for that. Once he learns we've joined hands with the Eternal Death God Temple, he won't even think about secrets like this."
"What?"
Seth's eyes widened at my words.
"Joined hands? Us and the Eternal Death God Temple?"
"Yes. That's why Nashas came to find me. We happened to be at odds with the Sea God Faction and needed allies, so we accepted."
"The Eternal Death God is someone I can trust, but.... This is quite sudden."
Seth wore a bewildered expression.
I was shocked too, but he, who knows the Eternal Death God Temple well, must have been even more surprised.
Whether the Eternal Death God truly knows the original story's contents, whether they're the one who brought me to this world, why they told me to listen rather than Idella.
Once I achieve 40% divine power, I'll know everything soon.
The problem is the remaining one billion.... Where am I supposed to get this money?
Squeezing one billion out of Count Kiris seems impossible....
"High Priestess."
Just then, something dark dropped from the air onto the ground.
It was Jeremy.
"The Cali Duchy Knight Order is heading this way."
"Cali's?"
"Yeah. The Duke herself seems to be leading them."
Why is she coming here again...?
"The Crown Prince?"
"Didn't see him."
Then she's probably just here to inspect the Slums.
"Understood. Jeremy, would you patrol the Slums and check if there are any unusual problems?"
"Yes."
Sensing that more people were anxious than I'd anticipated, I asked Jeremy, and he readily vanished into thin air once more.
Seth and I made our way toward the entrance of the Slums. Sure enough, not long after, a group of people arrived.
Duke Cali was riding an enormous stallion.
The horse's muscles were so rippling and taut that it seemed like merely brushing against it would send you flying.
Indeed, Duke Cali rides nothing ordinary.
"Greetings, High Priestess. I heard you were in the Slums and came at once."
Cali dismounted and spoke immediately after her greeting.
I tilted my head slightly.
"Is there something you wished to tell me?"
"No. I've simply come to do what must be done."
As Cali gestured toward the back, knights and plainclothes individuals approached in unison.
"Physicians. Since you, a High Priestess from another region, are working so hard for the people of my domain, I cannot simply stand idle. I shall join you."
The moment Cali finished speaking, the knights and physicians scattered in all directions.
The people who had been startled by the Sun God Priesthood now brightened considerably at the appearance of the Guardian Family.
"Thank you for saving the lives of our people, High Priestess."
Cali bowed deeply to me.
A person who knows how to express gratitude—no wonder the Slums' inhabitants welcomed the Duchy Knight Order.
She truly is a good person.
"Actually, I had good news to share with you, Duke, so I'm fortunate to see you like this."
"Good news?"
"Yes. The Eternal Death God Temple has decided to open its doors."
"What?"
"It was decided just last night!"
"...Pardon?"
I announced cheerfully to the bewildered Cali.
"From now on, the Eternal Death God Temple will collaborate with the Southern Region to unite our efforts in holding back the desert monsters."
"How is that possible? Did you perhaps convince them, High Priestess?"
I shook my head.
I had made the request, but they too had been prepared to open their doors at any time, so strictly speaking, it wasn't persuasion.
"Until now, there were simply circumstances preventing it. They have always wished for the Southern Region's safety. So please don't reject them—work together with them instead."
"Ah..."
Cali covered her face with her hands.
Her lips trembled slightly beneath her palms.
She must have been carrying quite a burden, even if she didn't show it.
"Oh, and soon the Sea God Faction's potions will flood the Southern Region in large quantities. Of course, we'll be selling ours as well. The potion shortage is resolved, so you can rest easy!"
I delivered yet another piece of good news while the momentum was with me.
Cali lowered her hands and stared at me in bewilderment.
"So you're saying you've just... solved all of the Southern Region's problems by yourself?"
Wait? Is that how it turned out?
I laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of my head.
Cali regarded me with a most peculiar expression.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org