I Will Buy Divine Power With Money! - Chapter 192
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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As expected, we’re drawing a lot of attention.
With each step Rute and I took together, more people turned to look at us.
Everyone who made eye contact with us had anxious expressions.
Following the attack incident at the hunting grounds, the Lunata family was found to have evidence of treason.
On top of that, Princess Bizra was named as the main perpetrator of the rebellion and imprisoned.
With one bad thing happening after another, it’s understandable that people would be anxious.
However, even in the midst of all this, there were some people who remained calm.
They were the dukes, of which there were only four in the entire empire.
“What brings these lazy bums all the way here?”
Rute looked up and down at the two men standing with Count Kali.
Duke Andres Aria and Duke Jose Aster.
These were the northern and eastern dukes I was seeing for the first time.
“It’s more surprising that you’re here than us. What business does someone with no interest in gods have at a holy festival?”
“You must not have heard yet. I’m a follower of the Sun God now.”
Duke Aster’s eyes widened at Rute’s words.
“You became a believer? Did you catch some fatal disease or something?”
How did he know?
He actually did catch a fatal disease and came to the Sun God’s Main Temple to survive, only to be deceived by a fraudulent Holy Maiden and become a believer.
“The Holy Maiden of the Sun God’s Main Temple is exceptionally outstanding, you see.”
At Rute’s words, the three dukes’ gazes turned to me.
“This person is the Holy Maiden? Come to think of it, High Priest Nashas mentioned that the Holy Maiden of the Sun God’s Main Temple is quite special.”
Duke Aster looked at me with admiring eyes.
“I’m not the Holy Maiden now though. Currently, Lady Idella is the Holy Maiden.”
“Can the Holy Maiden change that easily?”
“The Sun God is generous. Speaking of which, Count Kali. Don’t you still have any thoughts of becoming a follower of the Sun God?”
If it’s Carly, becoming an S-rank believer would be a sure thing.
“You still haven’t given up.”
“I don’t know the meaning of giving up. The Sun God’s Main Temple is always open, so if you change your mind, please feel free to knock on our door anytime.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Carly nodded with a smile.
At that sight, Duke Aster’s eyes went wide.
“Even Count Kali is considering registering as a believer…? The sun might start rising from the south as well as the west. What is all this about?”
“You sharply refused to register as a follower of the Sea God, but now you’re considering the Sun God who’s just barely reviving. I didn’t know you had such poor judgment, Count Kali.”
Duke Aria frowned as if displeased.
There’s someone else who should be displeased here.
Even if his children are the Holy Maiden and Holy Sage of the Sea God, still.
How dare he compare the Sun God with the Sea God?
【’Sun Risen from Death’ nods vigorously. He clicks his tongue, saying it’s very unpleasant to be compared with a god as ill-tempered as the ‘Raging Sea’.】
【’Raging Sea’ ignores ‘Sun Risen from Death’.】
Look at that.
Even the Sea God doesn’t claim to have a better personality than the Sun God.
【’Raging Sea’ looks at the user with incredulous eyes.】
I easily ignored the Sea God’s message.
More importantly, seeing the Sea God sending messages means the Holy Maiden and Holy Sage must be nearby.
The holy festival must be about to start soon.
I ignored Duke Aria who was passionately extolling the greatness of the Sea God and looked toward the altar where the holy festival would soon be held.
The altar was positioned atop densely stacked stone steps, perhaps to reach closer to the heavens where the gods reside.
“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress are entering!”
“His Highness the Crown Prince is entering!”
Just then, the loud cry of a servant rang out.
People who had been gathered in small groups whispering instantly returned to their designated places.
Rute and I also stood in the area assigned to the Shieri family.
Soon, three members of the royal family entered the garden.
Perhaps due to the mental anguish they suffered overnight, the Emperor and Empress’s faces were filled with worry.
“They look like they’ve aged ten more years.”
“Their niece, who was like a daughter to them, plotted treason. They must have been shocked.”
They only came out because the imperial citizens would be anxious if they didn’t offer sacrifices to the gods.
Right now, those two probably don’t even have the holy festival on their minds.
“I express my gratitude to all the distinguished guests who attended today’s holy festival.”
Crown Prince Feliks also had dark circles under his eyes, but he faithfully proceeded with the holy festival.
At that sight, I could feel the nobles’ anxiety subsiding somewhat.
If he manages to conclude the harvest festival well despite the chaos, perhaps he’ll inherit the throne sooner.
Just like in my previous life.
“Today’s holy festival will be a very special and meaningful event. Three gods have come to brighten the empire’s future once again, as dark clouds have temporarily visited us.”
Dark clouds.
At those words, not only the nobles but even the Emperor and Empress flinched.
To think he would make even an indirect reference to the rebellion involving a princess, no less.
It seems Feliks plans to cover up this incident with the appearance of the three main gods.
“The three main temples serving the three main gods will light fires for the holy festival. We hope our empire’s future will burn as brightly as today’s flames.”
The first holy festival hosted jointly by the three main temples.
Since the three main temples achieved harmony at a royal event, Feliks’s reputation will rise as well.
“…Hah.”
However, I couldn’t help but sigh.
At my deep sigh that rose from my core, Rute glanced at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“…That speech sounds very familiar.”
Of course it’s familiar.
I saw it through the original work!
Originally, that speech should have been given at next year’s holy festival, not this year’s.
Of course, the situation is different now.
The Sun God’s Main Temple, which had been on a winning streak since Idella’s awakening and finally succeeded in entering the capital before the harvest festival.
The Temple of the Sea God, which was trying to suppress them again by any means necessary.
Only these two temples participated in the holy festival.
The Shrine of the Annihilation God was still keeping to itself at that time.
The minor details are different, but that’s not important.
The problem is the incident that will occur during the holy festival that follows.
“…It would be good to prepare yourself mentally.”
I gripped tightly the lace handbag I had specially prepared for today.
I prepared it to accelerate the lace trend, but I wonder if people will even get a proper look at it.
“The Holy Maiden of the Sun God’s Main Temple is entering!”
“The Holy Maiden and Holy Sage of the Temple of the Sea God are entering!”
“The High Priest of the Shrine of the Annihilation God is entering!”
With the servant’s cry, the main figures from the three temples slowly entered.
The first person to appear was Idella wearing the crown of the sun.
Following her, Carmen and Dominic appeared with expressions like they had eaten shit, causing people to murmur.
“The Sun God’s Main Temple appeared before the Temple of the Sea God.”
“That must mean the royal family values the Sun God’s Main Temple more highly, right?”
Nashas entered last with assistance, but people’s gazes were fixed on Idella, Carmen, and Dominic.
Some people were also watching Andreas Aria’s reaction.
I glanced over and saw Duke Aria’s face had turned pale and rigid.
‘The Imperial Palace has decided to treat us with more respect.’
The fact that the Sun God’s divine power is absolutely necessary to achieve victory in the battle against demons must have played a major role.
The Temple of the Sea God has also lost the initiative to us, so they won’t be able to express their dissatisfaction.
“It’s a satisfying sight.”
Setting aside my worries for a moment, I enjoyed watching Idella stand before everyone and lead them.
“Don’t you feel regret? If things had gone as originally planned, that position would have been yours.”
Rute asked as he watched Idella climb the stairs step by step, receiving everyone’s attention.
Regret, huh.
“I don’t particularly like receiving people’s attention.”
During my detective days, every time I escorted criminals who had committed crimes serious enough to make the news, my face got filmed along with them.
The criminals had their faces covered, but my face was broadcast nationwide through all sorts of cameras.
Please protect detectives’ human rights too.
“So I feel both sorry for and grateful to Idella for receiving the attention in my place.”
After everything is over, that might become my position again.
But for now, I’m free, so that’s enough.
“This is trouble. If you become a duchess, you’ll receive a lot of attention…”
There he goes talking nonsense again…
I ignored Rute’s muttering.
Before long, Idella and the three others had climbed all the stairs and were standing before the altar.
“Idella, daughter of the Sun God, offers grain resembling the Sun’s rays to the Three Patron Deities.”
Idella, standing in the center, was the first to offer a bundle of well-ripened grain to the altar.
“Carmen and Dominic, daughter and son of the Sea God, offer seaweed grown with the Sea’s energy to the Three Patron Deities.”
Carmen and Dominic offered baskets full of seaweed to the altar.
“Nashas, faithful servant of the Eternal God, offers red meat in eternal rest to the Three Patron Deities.”
Nashas offered meat wrapped in paper to the altar.
Everyone stepped back, and Idella spread both arms wide.
“Children who have inherited the will of the Three Patron Deities earnestly pray. O Gods, please make this land forever abundant.”
Idella’s golden divine power enveloped the offerings on the altar.
Carmen and Dominic’s blue divine power, as well as Nashas’s black divine power, were added on top.
Everyone gasped at the mystical sight of gold, blue, and black light mixing together.
The person who first noticed the anomaly was Rute, who had been more vigilant of the surroundings than anyone else.
“Can only I see that?”
The moment I turned my head at Rute’s words, my eyes widened.
In the distance, pitch-black skies were rolling in.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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