I Will Buy Divine Power With Money! - Chapter 183
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
* * *
Did the Sun God’s Main Temple group also just come out?
Glancing over, they all seemed quite shocked by my appearance.
Still, they were tactful enough not to show it openly.
I gave them a slight smile to indicate I was fine, then looked at the imperial family.
The Emperor with his half-grayed red hair and teal eyes.
And the elegant Empress with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Even Crown Prince Feliks standing beside them.
All three were looking at us with stern expressions.
“…We’ll need to hear explanations one by one.”
The Empress spoke first.
“I know Count Kiris as the father of former Holy Maiden Ortel Kiris. How did he come into conflict with the Sun God’s Main Temple?”
Though the Empress looked directly at me, I didn’t answer.
“This is not a private dispute.”
Idella needed to step forward here.
She thoroughly kept her promise to protect me.
Truly thankfully.
“Count Kiris’s goal was to destroy the Sun God’s Main Temple from the beginning. When Lady Ortel learned this fact belatedly, she turned her back on the Count and devoted all her strength to reviving the temple.”
Idella glared fiercely at the kneeling Joseph Kiris.
“The Count was originally our enemy.”
“His goal was to destroy the temple? For what reason?”
“We were unable to discover that. We only know that he harbors such deep resentment that he would try to kill me, the new Holy Maiden, directly.”
Idella stepped forward and shouted.
“So please allow the Sun God’s Main Temple to investigate this man directly.”
Though it was in the form of a request, the Imperial Palace couldn’t refuse.
The Sun God’s Main Temple had shown respect for them by seeking the Imperial Palace’s permission first, even though the Holy Maiden had been attacked.
If they refused in front of everyone despite this, it would be tantamount to declaring hostility not just against us, but against all the grand temples.
They wouldn’t weigh one Count’s life against the trust of three grand temples.
“The Imperial Palace will accept the Sun God’s Main Temple’s request.”
As expected. The answer I had hoped for came back.
“However, since the Imperial Palace also requires clear evidence, we will dispatch an imperial investigator to the interrogation of the Count.”
“That is only natural. We are grateful for His Majesty the Emperor’s consideration.”
Since this was an expected demand, Idella immediately accepted the proposal.
Now it was our turn to explain.
“…Is it true that Jesi Lunata attacked the Siery family?”
The Emperor openly showed an expression of being troubled.
The Lunata twin Counts were no less than advisors to the Crown Prince and Princess.
They couldn’t be easily discarded like Count Kiris.
“The word ‘attack’ is misleading.”
Trisha glared at Jesi while grinding her teeth.
“Because she openly tried to kill my husband and me.”
“The Count isn’t a fool either – you’re saying she tried to kill you two alone?”
“I didn’t say she was alone. There are corpses of enemies we dealt with around where the battle took place, so send knights to verify.”
The Empress, whose face hardened at the mention of corpses, raised her hand.
Feliks immediately gave orders to the imperial knights, but…
Oh no, I can’t let them go like this.
“Wait a moment. Sorry, but could those two knights in the back stay behind?”
Everyone looked bewildered at my request.
I know it’s absurd too.
But those two definitely had dark stains, though small ones.
If I sent them together, it was obvious what mischief they’d cause, so I absolutely couldn’t let them go.
“In the name of Duke Rute Siery, I request that those knights not be sent.”
Fortunately, Rute immediately took my side.
Having someone nearby who believes whatever I say is truly reassuring.
“…Duke, you will need to provide a detailed explanation about this matter later.”
Though the Empress frowned as if displeased, it seemed difficult to refuse Rute’s request when he had even invoked his name, so she eventually nodded.
Please don’t be too upset.
This is all for your sake.
“There are too many watching eyes here. Since His Majesty wouldn’t want unnecessary rumors spreading either, I’d like to move to a quieter place.”
“Follow me.”
The Emperor also seemed to think Rute’s request was reasonable and nodded.
I gave a slight smile to Idella, Airic, and Seth who were looking at us with concern, then entered the Imperial Tent with the Siery family.
“Now that all the knights have been dismissed, explain. Did Count Lunata really try to kill you?”
At the Emperor’s words, Trisha pulled out a note from her bosom.
“This is the note that called my husband and me to the cabin. When we went there, Her Highness the Princess was there.”
“Bizra was?”
Not expecting Bizra’s name to come up here, the Emperor’s face hardened fiercely.
“You didn’t lay a hand on Bizra, did you?”
Bizra was the Emperor’s only niece.
It was already famous that the Emperor cherished the only blood relative his brother had left behind.
That was also why no one in the original story noticed that Bizra was a minion of ‘Evil’.
…Well, now I even question whether Bizra is really a subordinate of ‘Evil’.
Jesi Lunata called Bizra her master, but really?
How can you believe an enemy’s words at face value?
“Of course not. Her Highness left first – hasn’t she returned yet?”
At Trisha’s words, the Emperor urgently ordered Feliks.
“Go check if Bizra returned safely. If she hasn’t come back, find her; if she has, bring her here.”
“…Understood.”
Feliks glanced at us and Jesi writhing on the ground, then left the tent.
“I’ve been concerned since earlier – why is Count Lunata acting like that?”
The Empress frowned while looking at Jesi Lunata, whom Rute had dragged along.
She was still screaming and struggling.
“If you’re tormenting her with magic, stop it. The Count’s charges haven’t been proven yet.”
“I’m not tormenting her.”
Rute smiled brightly and pointed to the shackles on Jesi’s wrists.
“The Count simply cannot endure the sacred energy of those shackles.”
“What does that mean?”
“Let me explain from the beginning. First, this note.”
Trisha unfolded the note.
“I debated whether to show this or not, but if we don’t reveal it, you two won’t believe us, so I’ll present it as evidence.”
The note with Rute’s secret written on it.
The three members of the Siery family had decided to willingly reveal this note to the Imperial Palace.
Actually, Trisha and Mikhail had agonized until the last moment, but Rute, the person involved, pushed for it.
‘Thanks to the holy relic, I don’t feel pain now. And someday Ordel will cure my illness, so it’s fine. The illness is no longer my weakness.’
I couldn’t forget Rute’s eyes as he looked straight at me while saying those words.
“The Duke’s… illness?”
The Emperor and Empress who confirmed the note widened their eyes.
“Are you saying Duke Siery is ill?”
“It’s a family secret we’ve never told anyone until now. But this note contained information about Rute’s illness, so you can imagine how shocked we were.”
Trisha glared at the trembling Jesi while grinding her teeth.
“I wondered what bastard was threatening my son with his illness and rushed over, but I never expected to see Her Highness the Princess and Jessi Lunata there.”
“But Her Highness the Princess said she knew nothing about it.”
Rute continued, picking up on Trisha’s words.
“Since we couldn’t interrogate Her Highness, we demanded custody of Jessi Lunata, and the gracious Princess readily granted our request.”
Rute smiled brightly as he trampled on Jesi’s back as she lay prostrate on the floor.
“After interrogation, we discovered that Jessi Lunata was indeed the one who sent the note, and is highly connected to my illness.”
“Count, is there really a connection? But he never said a single word to us about the Duke’s illness!”
“The fact that Jessi Lunata is suffering right now is proof of that.”
Rute lifted up Jesi’s arm.
Her wrist, bound in pure white shackles, was continuously turning black and burning.
“These shackles contain the Sun God’s divine power. So why is the Count suffering so much?”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“Isn’t it strange? The Sun God’s divine power specializes in healing, that is, purification, yet she’s suffering like this.”
The Emperor and Empress lost their words and stared at Jesi.
Suspicion began to creep into their confused eyes as well.
“There’s only one type of being in this world that’s so vulnerable to divine power.”
“…”
“Demons.”
The Emperor and Empress’s eyes widened.
“Doesn’t Jessi Lunata’s current state look similar to a demon being purified by divine power?”
I laughed inwardly at Rute’s words.
How fortunate that the black stains remained on Jessi Lunata’s body.
Thanks to that, I could clearly show the two of them.
That there exists a power of ‘Evil’ that opposes the power of ‘God’.
In the end, it served as nothing less than proof that there are forces of ‘Evil’ threatening this world.
How truly grateful.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————