I Will Buy Divine Power With Money! - Chapter 3

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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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She definitely had a gentle and warm impression like a spring breeze, but now that her expression disappeared, she looks incredibly cold.

Is this something shocking enough to show such a drastic change in expression?

“…You want to quit being a saint.”

I nodded my head vigorously.

And I rattled off the excuses I had thought up on my way here.

“After visiting the clan this time, I had various thoughts. This position doesn’t suit me.”

“…”

“Trying to force myself into clothes that don’t even fit caused me so much stress that I got angry often. That’s why I ended up being rude to the High Priest and everyone at the temple.”

I clasped my hands together toward Airik and bowed my head.

“I apologize for everything I’ve done so far. If it’s not enough, I’ll meet with each person individually and ask for forgiveness.”

Although I wasn’t the one who committed those acts, I could apologize as much as needed for a smooth escape from the original story.

Compared to bowing my head before the police chief who was blinded by performance and only caught subordinates like mice, this much was nothing.

“…Your words are too sudden, I’m flustered.”

“I didn’t know I would say such things either. But my mind won’t change again, so I hope you’ll understand my intentions.”

“I’m sorry, but I cannot accept the saint’s wishes. Please retract your words.”

I didn’t think he’d accept right away, but this is a more firm reaction than I expected?

“I’m not even a real saint anyway, so I’m not of much use, am I?”

“Saint.”

“Ah, is it perhaps because of the donations coming in from the Kiris Household?”

The Sun God’s Main Temple saw its number of believers decrease as the god’s power weakened, and naturally the donors disappeared as well.

Because of this, they’re currently almost entirely dependent on donations sent from the Kiris Household.

If I quit being a saint, the donations would be cut off too, so they wouldn’t be pleased.

“Don’t worry about that. We can keep my departure a secret. I can’t return to the clan for a while anyway.”

“It’s not just because of the donations. And wouldn’t that be no different from deceiving the Kiris Household?”

Why is he worried about such things?

“Aren’t the people who believe I’m a real saint being deceived just the same?”

Airik’s face hardened.

As if his heart had been pierced by a sharp awl.

“Rather than continuing to deceive good people because of me, wouldn’t it be more right to deceive Kiris who put forward a fake saint for the clan’s benefit?”

“…”

“If I help, it’s definitely possible. So please reconsider, High Priest.”

Despite my earnest request, Airik remained silent for a long time.

“Even so, it’s not allowed.”

After moving his lips several times, he soon gave a completely unwelcome answer.

“Don’t think strange thoughts. The place where the saint should be is right here.”

Airik stood up from his seat, looked at me with a hardened face, then took the empty bowl and left.

Is he angry? Did he feel bad because I hit too close to home?

But I wasn’t wrong either.

“The biggest problem would be the donations, so I thought if that was resolved, he’d let me go obediently.”

A fake saint who only causes trouble instead of being helpful – wouldn’t it be nice to take this opportunity to kick her out and live happily just receiving money?

Since Airik in the novel was a flexible person, I naturally thought he’d accept, so I didn’t expect him to refuse.

“But I’m not one to give up because of that.”

Who am I? I’m the embodiment of persistence who doesn’t even mind stakeouts to catch criminals – a violent crimes detective.

Let’s see who wins, you or me.

* * *

Airik left the saint’s bedroom and headed toward the dining room.

However, he couldn’t walk far before grimacing and leaning against the wall.

His gaze looking down at the tray in his hands was incredibly complex.

Originally, this kind of work wasn’t his job.

However, because the maids and attendants – young servants working at the temple – were so afraid of Ordel, her trivial errands became his responsibility.

Since accepting the fake saint’s existence was all his fault, Airik always obediently attended to her.

Perhaps pleased with such behavior, Ordel would smile with satisfaction and treat him even more like a servant.

‘But today…’

Today was different.

There wasn’t a trace of contempt in the eyes that looked at him.

Nor the anxiety of someone who seemed afraid they’d be cast out if they didn’t trample on others.

Rather, her two eyes were full of a confident light he’d never seen before.

“What could have happened?”

Just a few days.

When she left the temple, she got on the carriage with a face that said she was sick of this place, but in just a few days, she had completely changed as a person.

‘Is this Count Kiris’s doing?’

There was only one person who could make Ordel like that.

Only Count Kiris.

Could this be Count Kiris’s plan to test the main temple?

“High Priest!”

Airik, who had been thinking with a serious face, looked up at the sound of someone calling him.

Ditrihi Waren, his confidant and a high-ranking priest of the temple, was approaching.

Seeing that his usually sly and smooth face was hardened, he must have heard the news that Ordel had returned earlier than expected.

“This kind of thing again… Let me carry it.”

Ditrihi immediately snatched the tray Airik was holding.

He was one of the people who disliked Ordel for treating the High Priest like a servant.

Well, who in this temple would like Ordel anyway?

“High Priest, why are your clothes like that?”

Ditrihi’s face hardened when he belatedly noticed that Airik’s clothes, which should be pristine, were all wrinkled.

“Don’t tell me that person grabbed you by the collar?!”

It was certainly understandable to misunderstand.

“The saint collapsed as soon as she arrived, so they got wrinkled while I was supporting her.”

To be precise, Ordel had grabbed onto him and clung, but there was no malicious intent.

It was only desperate desire to live.

Yes, that’s how it should be.

Airik deliberately brushed away the memory of Ordel’s touch that kept coming to mind.

“…What? Who collapsed…?”

Ditrihi’s eyes widened. His water-colored pupils shook violently as if he couldn’t believe it.

“She seemed particularly hungry today.”

Only then did Ditrihi notice that all the bowls on the tray he had snatched were completely empty.

This was the first time Ordel, who always complained about the temple’s food, had cleaned her bowls so thoroughly.

“Since her physical condition isn’t good, she’ll probably be more sensitive than usual. Make sure the attendants don’t come near the saint’s bedroom for a while.”

At the words to protect the young children from Ordel, Ditrihi nodded vigorously.

“And one more thing. Keep an eye on the saint’s actions for a while.”

Perhaps it was an unexpected order, as Ditrihi’s eyes widened.

This was Airik who had left Ordel alone no matter what she did, even when she used the temple’s funds as she pleased.

“I’m not telling you to stop her actions. Just watch what she does. She’s not particularly quick-witted, so you won’t be caught.”

“Uh, yes. I understand.”

Though puzzled, Ditrihi didn’t refuse.

It was practically an order to spy on someone, but since he didn’t like the saint, it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable.

Watching such Ditrihi, Airik turned his gaze toward the window.

The sun they served was scattering brilliant light across the land today as well.

How would God view him, who had accepted the existence of a fake saint – an act tantamount to blasphemy – for the reason of preserving the main temple?

Even if divine punishment were to come, he could accept it gladly.

‘Rather than continuing to deceive good people because of me, wouldn’t it be more right to deceive Kiris who put forward a fake saint for the clan’s benefit?’

Ordel’s words had stuck in my chest like thorns, tormenting me with guilt.

I would rather have God punish me. Then I wouldn’t have to feel this pain anymore.

* * *

As soon as Airik left, I moved busily.

I had no intention of sitting quietly and waiting until he accepted.

Today’s goal was one thing.

Finding the slush fund that Ordel had hidden!

I diligently examined every corner of the room.

Under the bed, desk drawers, even checking for possible hidden compartments…

After searching for who knows how long.

Instead of finding the slush fund I was looking for, I soon came to one conclusion.

“This room is really luxurious.”

A spotlessly clean room without a speck of dust, extravagant decorations studded with jewels.

A bed large enough for five adults to lie on and furniture that looked expensive at first glance.

This bedroom, which seemed very spacious for one person to use, looked exactly like a rich person’s room.

“The Sun God’s Main Temple shouldn’t have money though.”

Recalling the novel’s setting, I looked around the room with a troubled expression.

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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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