I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 131

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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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#131

 

Thanks to Leilah’s efforts, the Temple’s shameful secrets were exposed to the world in their entirety.

 

Kalian seized this opportunity to properly root out the corruption, issuing search warrants for all temples around the capital.

 

The sudden searches threw the temples into complete chaos.

 

The temples tried desperately to hide their stains by any means necessary, but it was useless.

 

The search teams Kalian sent were like ghosts, finding all their shameful secrets, and in just one day, ten temples were thoroughly ransacked.

 

There were more temples that had committed sins than those that hadn’t.

 

The crimes committed by the temples numbered over ten, including child abuse, embezzlement, and fraud.

 

Kalian was furious and not only cut off all funding but also arrested everyone involved, regardless of the severity of their crimes.

 

The dark and filthy spaces were filled with people dressed in pristine white clothes.

 

Journalists competed to write articles about this incident.

 

[The True Face of Priests Wearing Angels’ Masks.]

 

[Are They Servants of God or Servants of the Devil.]

 

Every headline was sensational. The journalists embellished what they saw and heard to churn out articles.

 

Newspapers sold like hotcakes, recording the highest sales ever. The entire Empire was stirred up as if kindling had been thrown into a fire.

 

“I knew it! Those bastards!”

 

“To think they’d do such things to children when they have nothing better to do. Damn, ptui.”

 

“They’ll receive divine punishment. Heaven will never let this slide!”

 

People unanimously pointed fingers at the temples and cursed them.

 

The temples’ once-lofty authority crashed to the ground overnight.

 

The next day, the Papacy expressed regret about this situation through the Pope’s representative.

 

They added that this incident had nothing to do with the Papacy, that the involved priests could be dealt with according to the Empire’s laws.

 

They also added that they would no longer oppose the establishment of orphanages.

 

“Are they trying to cut off their tail?”

 

Kalian openly scoffed when he heard this news.

 

Leilah and Ber agreed with Kalian’s words.

 

And rightfully so, since the Papacy regularly received reports from temples and sent inspectors.

 

There was no way they could have been unaware of such enormous facts.

 

If he really pressed them about whether they truly didn’t know, he might find something, but Kalian decided not to do so.

 

“Right now, saving the children takes priority over wrestling with the Papacy. Let’s focus on that.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

Leilah and Ber moved quickly according to Kalian’s will.

 

The number of children rescued from the temples approached three digits.

 

Since the orphanage building was still incomplete, they designated a temporary building and moved all the children there.

 

Kalian ordered the orphanage building to be completed within a week.

 

Day and night, the sounds of hammering and sawing filled the streets.

 

“We need people to take care of the children.”

 

After resolving the orphanage establishment issue, another problem emerged.

 

Namely, they hadn’t yet selected people to care for the children.

 

Since it was a matter requiring careful consideration, they had planned to take their time and investigate slowly.

 

However, with the sudden need to protect children, they immediately needed people to care for them.

 

As well as a general manager to oversee those people.

 

“For now, let’s recruit volunteers from among the commoners to fill the positions.”

 

“If we just fill positions without a general manager decided yet, problems are likely to arise.”

 

Ber immediately pointed out the issue.

 

“If problems arise like that, the Papacy will immediately try to tear us apart.”

 

“Baron Delrond is right. The Papacy is holding a serious grudge over this incident, so we shouldn’t give them any unnecessary openings.”

 

When even Leilah stepped forward to say it was a bad idea, Kalian swallowed his irritation.

 

“Then what do you suggest we do? Surely you’re not saying we should leave the children neglected like that until we find trustworthy people?”

 

Of course that wasn’t it, but since there was no other clear solution, Leilah fell into deep thought.

 

If nothing else, a general manager was absolutely necessary.

 

‘The general manager really needs to be someone truly trustworthy.’

 

The children currently under protection were children wounded in many ways.

 

They needed someone who would warmly embrace such children and care for them with responsibility.

 

As Leilah pondered whether such a person existed, she suddenly thought of someone.

 

Hands that were unusually rough for a mid-level priest.

 

“I am a faithful servant who serves God. Not a servant who serves the temple, but a servant who serves God.”

 

Unwavering, upright eyes and earnest gaze.

 

“Please save the pitiful children. I beg of you.”

 

A body trembling with sorrow and tears that seemed genuine.

 

That person might be possible.

 

Leilah’s eyes sparkled.

 

“It seems you’ve had a good idea.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Kalian smiled at her confident answer.

 

“Then can I entrust this matter to you?”

 

Leilah politely clasped her hands and bowed.

 

“I will strive to meet your expectations.”

 

* * *

 

The sun had set long ago and the moon had risen in the pitch-black night sky.

 

It was already time to have finished work and be wrapping up the day, but instead of going home, I visited the underground prison.

 

The soldiers guarding the prison seemed to have received prior notice, as they stepped aside without a word upon seeing my face.

 

The underground prison divided prisoners by floors according to the severity of their crimes.

 

The first basement level housed prisoners with relatively minor crimes.

 

And the lowest level, the fourth basement, mainly held those with serious crimes or death row inmates.

 

The place I headed to was the first basement level prison.

 

The underground prison was packed with prisoners. They were all wearing pristine white clothes, creating an unsettling feeling.

 

As I walked along checking the faces of the people with bowed heads one by one, I stopped when I found the person I wanted.

 

“Adrina Priest.”

 

When I called her name, red hair swayed.

 

Adrina Priest, who had been sitting listlessly with a clearly exhausted expression, was startled upon discovering me and quickly stood up.

 

“Baron Aster.”

 

When the other people in the same cell were also surprised and tried to stand up, I waved my hand.

 

I hadn’t come to this place at such a late hour to receive greetings from them.

 

“How are you feeling?”

 

Adrina Priest answered with a bitter smile.

 

“I’m fine. I was just brought here, after all.”

 

Deep underground, interrogations were taking place, but that was mainly for people with serious crimes.

 

People like Adrina Priest, whose crimes were minor or who had confessed early, weren’t interrogated.

 

Still, she would be punished. Even if the crime was minor, the fact that she had committed a crime remained unchanged.

 

“The crime of negligence.”

 

I looked at her wavering deep red eyes and said.

 

“Adrina Priest, this is the sin you have committed.”

 

The sin of turning a blind eye and standing by while knowing everything, though she didn’t directly abuse or participate in the crimes.

 

It was a sin committed by most of the priests confined on the first floor, aside from Adrina Priest.

 

The temple seemed open but was actually a very closed-off space.

 

Among the priests’ regulations was one that absolutely forbade revealing anything that happened inside the temple to the outside.

 

Because of this, Adrina Priest and several others had remained silent and stood by, even though they knew it was wrong.

 

At least Adrina Priest had continuously tried to help the children.

 

Because of this, she fell out of favor with the other priests and had to take on all sorts of menial tasks despite being a mid-level priest.

 

This was why her hands were particularly swollen and scarred.

 

“I know you did your best to help the children, but that doesn’t make the sin you committed disappear.”

 

Adrina Priest dropped her head dejectedly. Her shoulders sagged powerlessly.

 

“You will be punished according to the sin you committed.”

 

“I will gladly accept whatever punishment.”

 

Adrina Priest respectfully clasped her hands together at her chest and spoke humbly.

 

“As a servant who swore to follow God’s will for life, yet dared to go against that will by remaining silent and standing by, I will gladly accept the punishment.”

 

“You might have to remove your priest’s robes. Would that be alright?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Adrina Priest answered without the slightest hesitation.

 

“Removing my priest’s robes doesn’t mean I won’t uphold God’s will.”

 

Upright faith. This was what I had hoped for.

 

“Good. I will tell you the punishment that has been decreed for you.”

 

At my words, Adrina Priest respectfully knelt and bowed her head.

 

“Adrina Priest.”

 

I continued while looking down at her short hair.

 

“From now on, I appoint you as the director of the first childcare institution to be operated by the Empire.”

 

“…!”

 

Adrina Priest looked up in shock. Her pupils were dilated to their limit.

 

“What did you just say….”

 

“I said I’m appointing you as the director of the Empire’s childcare institution.”

 

“Me?”

 

Adrina Priest covered her mouth with both hands in shock.

 

Whether her legs had given out, she collapsed onto the spot and muttered as if talking to herself.

 

“Why would you give such an important position to a sinner like me….”

 

“For the rest of your life, you will never be able to leave the orphanage. That is your punishment.”

 

Adrina Priest looked at me with trembling eyes.

 

“Become the director and spend your life caring for children as atonement.”

 

At first glance, it seemed like I was giving a reward rather than punishment, but this was strictly a punishment.

 

A punishment that imposed enormous responsibility, making her atone for life.

 

“Can you do it?”

 

Tears welled up in her widened eyes. As she nodded, tears flowed down her cheeks.

 

“Of course I will. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to atone, Baron.”

 

“The person you should thank is not me, but His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

I smiled and held out a white handkerchief toward her.

 

“Everything was decided by His Majesty. I only came to convey his will.”

 

I wanted to place it directly in her hand, but the gaps between the bars were too small.

 

Instead, I pushed only the handkerchief through, and Adrina Priest received it with trembling hands.

 

“From now on, you will bear both His Majesty’s and God’s will simultaneously.”

 

Adrina Priest’s gaze fell on the Empire’s emblem embroidered on the handkerchief.

 

“Please always keep that fact in mind.”

 

Adrina Priest gripped the handkerchief tightly and nodded firmly.

 

“Yes, I will remember.”

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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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