The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 40
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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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Chapter 40
“You can’t disappear on your own like that. You have no idea how worried I was.”
Lea grabbed my shoulders and warned me several times.
I felt a bit wronged since I hadn’t intended for that to happen, but I obediently nodded and said in a shrinking voice, “I’m sowwy…”
“Inside the Temple, you must absolutely, absolutely never be alone, okay?”
“Yes!”
“Good, then let’s go in.”
Lea opened the carriage door for me.
In front of the carriage, Priests wearing beige hooded robes with golden cords around their waists stood in formation.
The young man standing at the front approached me.
“It’s my pleasure to meet you, Young Lady. I am Urso, who oversees the Third Temple of the Northwest.”
“Hello.”
“You must be tired from riding in the carriage until sunset. Today you should rest and recover from your journey, and tomorrow when someone comes from the Central Temple, you’ll re-verify your Divine Power with me.”
“Yes.”
Fortunately, it seems they’re not verifying it today.
‘Before then, I need to somehow prepare to create an error in the Divine Power verification.’
Based on what happened at the castle recently, my Divine Power is at least at the level of a Priest directly under the Pope.
‘If this gets out, the Temple will dance the samba while desperately trying to take me away.’
But since such a commotion already happened at Dubbled Castle, I can’t pretend to be a Divine Power pauper like before.
So I had to show a level that was as ordinary as possible. A level where they’d think it’s nice that my Divine Power increased, but not worth taking me away even if it means confronting Dubbled.
‘The problem is how to create an error in the verification.’
Just as I was pondering this, Urso spoke.
“Let’s go. We’ve prepared a meal.”
Urso walked ahead and guided me.
The Page from Dubbled who followed me let out a small “Wow…” as he looked around the interior of the Temple.
It would be natural for him to be amazed since this was his first time seeing the inside of a Temple.
The only place ordinary people can enter is the chapel built in front of the Temple.
This was because people without Divine Power were strictly restricted from entering the Temple interior.
‘Ah, it’s been a while since I smelled the Temple’s incense.’
It feels very familiar. Until my second life, I practically lived in the Temple.
The Page excitedly whispered to the Servant.
“What do they eat in the Temple?”
“I don’t know for sure, but it must be something amazing.”
“We can eat it too, right?”
“The Temple’s principle is not to discriminate based on class.”
I looked at them with pitying eyes as they got all excited.
‘I doubt it….’
Sure enough, their expectations crumbled the moment they entered the dining room.
The place was full of vegetables, and the occasional meat and fish reeked with a foul smell.
‘I knew this would happen.’
The Temple avoids taking life.
They don’t kill living things to eat them, but consume what dies naturally.
As a result, the quality of ingredients is the lowest, so you shouldn’t expect delicious food.
“Come, please sit.”
Urso sat in the highest seat, and I sat in the seat across from him.
After that, the priests and Dubbled people took their seats.
Before starting the meal, we all offered brief thanks to God who provided the food, then picked up our forks.
The Dubbled people also began eating.
“Ugh….”
The page’s face turned ashen after tasting the food.
‘See, I told you it was tasteless.’
Dubbled was overflowing with money and generous even with the employees’ meals, so this would be even more torturous for them.
I had also developed refined tastes in Dubbled, so could I endure a Temple meal after so long?
With a worried expression, I scooped up some fish soup and put it in my mouth.
‘Huh?’
This is edible?
For this level of fishy smell, this is quite excellent for Temple food.
Since I was hungry and the food was tasty, I finished an entire bowl of soup.
“It seems to suit your taste. How fortunate.”
Urso chuckled heartily.
* * *
In the pitch-black night when everyone was asleep.
Lea, who had been tending to my bedside, left the room carrying an empty water cup.
As soon as the door closed with a soft thud, I, who had been pretending to sleep with my eyes tightly shut, sat up.
[Going out? Didn’t you promise not to be alone without the maid?]
‘This is the only chance I have to extract the gems Bune mentioned.’
If I don’t grant his wish, Bune won’t disappear. Then my Divine Power will keep leaking continuously, and eventually I’ll become a madman.
Bune’s abilities aren’t particularly helpful enough to risk such danger….
I hurriedly tried to appease Bune.
[Of course! People who miss their dead parents, lovers, friends, or children try so hard to summon me.]
‘That’s right. I don’t have any dead people I miss.’
To begin with, it would be more accurate to say I don’t have anyone worth missing at all.
Aside from his special abilities, the demon’s only advantage was using my latent power.
However, since I was still young and inexperienced, unable to properly use even 10% of my latent abilities, he was quite helpful in that regard.
[If I manifest, I can protect Little One too.]
‘Manifestation? You mean becoming human?’
[That too, but I can exert more powerful strength in my true form.]
‘Human form isn’t your true body?’
[Most humans are so weak that just seeing a demon’s true form drives them insane. Human Form is the appearance used when making contracts with humans. Usually, other demons’ true forms are frightening and terrible for humans to look at. But I am beautiful even to human eyes.]
He spoke with pride.
Hearing that, curiosity welled up in me.
‘Then show me too.’
[Alright. If I use about 90% of Little One’s Divine Power—]
I quickly corrected myself.
‘On second thought, I don’t think I need to see it.’
Ninety percent?
I was already struggling to maintain Bune, and with 90%, I’d go crazy in less than half a day.
Bune went [Little One…] and became dejected again.
I carefully left the Shrine and headed to the Chapel. During the meal, I had heard that Bune’s wish, the 【Goddess’s Tears】, was displayed there.
Paladins were guarding in front of the Chapel.
‘Bune, use a barrier to make me invisible.’
Soon an Activation Seal appeared on the back of my hand.
I carefully approached the Paladins. Just in case I got caught, I was thinking I should pretend to be sleepwalking.
But the Paladins didn’t notice me.
‘Good, success.’
The interior I snuck into was as quiet as a mouse.
I saw the Glass Case under the Platform and ran toward it with pattering steps.
It was much taller than me, so I grabbed the edge and stood on my tiptoes.
Almost hanging from it, I strained to poke my head out and caught a glimpse of the sapphire sparkling prettily in the moonlight.
‘This?’
[Yes! This is it!]
Bune said with great joy.
I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out the wire I had prepared in advance. Back in my Beggar Gang days, there was no place I couldn’t break into with this one tool.
‘First I need to pick the lock, then disable the Sacred Barrier…’
That’s when it happened.
Clank, the sound of a door opening could be heard. I was startled and quickly crouched down under a chair.
I could see burgundy loafers that high-ranking priests wear.
‘This is bad.’
Just because I had deployed a barrier didn’t mean everyone couldn’t see me.
People with strong Divine Power could see beings within barriers.
In other words, if it was a high-ranking priest, there was a high chance they would notice the barrier and spot me.
‘Bune!’
[Yes, Little One.]
‘Manifest in human form.’
[Huh?]
‘Draw their attention so they don’t notice me!’
A gust of wind blew in through the window. As soon as the curtain fluttered wildly, I felt warmth on my shoulder. Bune had manifested in human form.
I moved my lips silently to say “Let’s go.”
If we were caught entering the chapel at this hour, we’d be thrown in prison first thing.
If Bune got captured, I’d have to release his manifestation and bring him back.
As he stood up from under the chair, the priest’s feet stopped abruptly.
But then.
“You came from Dori Farm.”
Rather than being surprised, he said something strange.
‘Urso’s voice?’
He strode over and stopped in front of Bune.
“You’re quite the looker, just as I heard.”
He seemed to have mistaken the very pure and beautiful-looking Bune for a woman.
I suppose it was possible in such a dark place.
I might have made the same mistake if not for that pillar of fire from before.
“You brought the money, I assume. If you disappoint me again this time, your father’s farm will be shut down today.”
What?
‘So he’s been extorting money from the residents to live in luxury.’
That would explain why the temple food was surprisingly delicious, unlike what you’d expect.
They prepared it similar to other temples to show the Dubbled people, but since they usually used good ingredients, it might have gotten mixed into our food.
I slightly raised my head and stole a glance at Urso.
He approached Bune closely and slyly extended his chubby hand.
And then.
‘Gasp!’
He grabbed and groped the buttocks.
“Your father must be in a hurry. To see him send his daughter, whom he said he couldn’t bear to part with, to deliver money to me.”
Grease dripped down his grinning face.
Bune stared intently at Urso who was groping the demon’s buttocks.
So was Urso, who touched a demon’s buttocks, unlucky or lucky?
I was so dumbfounded that I even had such absurd thoughts.
One thing was certain: that crazy bastard was a pervert who deserved to be beaten to death.
Bune’s gaze slid down to Urso’s hand gripping his buttocks, then back up to his greasy, glistening face.
“Why? Are you already so excited you can’t contain yourself?”
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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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