The Fortune-Teller Saintess - Chapter 83

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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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“What are you talking about?”

When I asked in surprise, Lucian sighed and said.

“There’s been friction with the residents of Trivia Village.”

“Friction?”

“We were preparing to camp when the villagers came running out, shouting for us to return to the Temple.”

I frowned at Lucian’s words.

This was troublesome. Not only was there a problem with the missionary event being canceled, but if that happened, we wouldn’t be able to find the sculptor named Moriel in the village.

‘That can’t happen. This is the only lead we’ve managed to get.’

I eventually walked toward the direction of the commotion. Lucian silently followed behind me.

“We have no intention of letting people from the Temple into our village. So please leave!”

“Please calm down first and listen to what we have to say…”

When I reached the village entrance, Dale was dealing with the villagers. But even he seemed overwhelmed, as I could see him breaking out in a cold sweat.

I quietly approached from the side to help him.

“Your Grace.”

“Ah! Holy Lady Ellia, you’re back.”

“Holy Lady?”

The villagers hesitated at Dale’s words.

I took a deep breath and spoke with a slight smile.

“I am Holy Lady Ellia from the Temple. I’ve come to help Trivia Village.”

“You’re here to help our village?”

“Ha!”

Laughter erupted among them.

Especially the old man standing at the front showed a contemptuous expression.

“Even a passing dog would laugh. The Temple helping us? Now of all times?”

“Is this perhaps because of the disaster that struck the village in the past?”

“You know well indeed!”

The old man who had been laughing spoke with a growling tone.

“When the landslide struck our village, no one helped us! We had to overcome the disaster with our own strength. Only after the village was restored did the Temple appear, shamelessly telling us that God would watch over us…!”

‘Hmm, I would have been angry too.’

To people already filled with distrust toward the world because of the disaster, throwing words like ‘God will help you!’ would have made anyone angry.

Understanding their feelings, I carefully bowed my head.

“I’m sorry.”

“…?!”

“Holy Lady Ellia?”

Not only the villagers but also Dale were surprised by my action.

Raising my head again, I spoke to the villagers with an awkward expression.

“It seems we failed to understand the villagers’ feelings at that time. Though I wasn’t personally involved, I apologize on behalf of the Temple. So please withdraw your anger just a little.”

The villagers stirred at my apology. However, the old man at the front remained firm.

He stared at me intently, then turned his head away sharply.

“Hmph! Even with an apology, we won’t let you into the village…”

“Village Chief!”

Just then, urgent footsteps could be heard from behind. When I turned my head, my eyes widened.

Duke, who had been waiting nearby, was coming this way with Nein.

‘No, why bring Nein at this timing!’

Whether I was shocked or not, Duke hurried to the old man. Then, breathing heavily, he said.

“Village Chief, please don’t do this and let them in.”

“Duke? What are you suddenly saying!”

‘So this person was the Village Chief.’

No wonder his presence was extraordinary.

While I was looking at them, Duke glanced at me and spoke to the Village Chief.

“The Holy Lady helped me. She’s trustworthy.”

“The Temple’s Holy Lady… helped you?”

The Village Chief looked back and forth between me and Duke with wide eyes. From his reaction, it seemed he already knew Duke was a mage.

Then Duke gave me a meaningful look. Reading the meaning in that intense gaze, I nodded without thinking.

“Y-yes. I helped Duke. Here.”

I gave Duke the high-grade monster core I had taken from my luggage earlier.

Duke received it with delight and said to the Village Chief.

“The Holy Lady gave me this to help the village. With this, I can activate the village protection device I mentioned before!”

“Hmm, hmm…”

The Village Chief glanced at me and pondered for a long time. I watched his expression with nervous eyes.

After a moment, the Village Chief, who seemed to have finished deliberating, finally spoke.

“Only the Holy Lady may enter the village. The rest cannot.”

“…!”

I turned to look at Dale with a delighted expression. Then I flinched.

Dale had grabbed my shoulder with an intense gaze.

“Holy Lady Ellia, I am very proud of you.”

“Th-thank you?”

“Please use your power to enlighten the villagers!”

“Uh…”

That seems impossible.

But Dale’s gaze was so intense that I ended up nodding without thinking.

***

In the end, I had to enter the village alone.

No, to be precise, I was alone among the Temple people. There was one more companion beside me who wasn’t affiliated with the Temple.

It wasn’t Robelina or Lucian. Both of them weren’t allowed to enter the village because they were Temple people.

The two were reluctant to send me alone, and the one who stepped forward was…

“The stares are piercing. Should I just destroy everything.”

…none other than Nein.

‘Of all people.’

I sighed involuntarily at the sight of Nein already thinking about destroying the village.

But what was even more troublesome was my own heart.

Thump thump-

How long had it been since I entered the village with Nein, and my heart was already racing.

Feeling my palms getting sweaty from nervousness, I screamed internally.

‘Why does it have to be Nein. Why Nein of all people!’

There’s Lucian and many other men, so why did I have to fall for Nein.

‘What’s so good about that crazy bastard!’

“What are you spacing out about?”

Just then, Nein suddenly brought his face close.

Facing his beauty at such close distance, I froze completely.

‘…Come to think of it, maybe there is a reason I fell for him?’

“Holy Lady?”

“N-nothing.”

I quickly walked forward to hide my possibly reddened face. I could hear Nein’s footsteps following behind me.

Perhaps annoyed by my quick pace, Nein asked bluntly from behind.

“Where are you going in such a hurry?”

“Did you forget already? We need to find Moriel, the sculptor who made this statue. That’s why we came all the way here.”

I showed Nein the sculpture I had brought along.

Then Nein asked bluntly.

“Do you know where he is?”

“We’ll have to look for him from now on. It’s not a big village, so if we ask the villagers, wouldn’t they know?”

“Yeah right.”

Nein lifted one corner of his mouth and chuckled.

At that sight, I felt both frustrated and strangely competitive.

“What will you do if I find him?”

“I’ll be the Holy Lady’s lifelong slave.”

“Fine. Just wait and see.”

I confidently walked over to the village residents gathered nearby.

“Excuse me, I’d like to ask something…”

“Ahem!”

Before I could even finish speaking, the villagers cleared their throats and scattered. It was at a speed reminiscent of a swarm of ants facing a threat.

Blinking my eyes, I caught another resident who happened to be passing by.

“Excuse me! I’d like to ask you something!”

“Nothing to do with me.”

He glared at me with contemptuous eyes and disappeared with those firm words.

I stood there dumbfounded and eventually trudged back to Nein’s side.

“See? I told you they wouldn’t tell you.”

“Shut up.”

Just as Nein said, the villagers wouldn’t tell me anything. Or they openly avoided me.

They let us into the village, but I could clearly feel their intention not to welcome us beyond that.

‘Even if it’s not a big village, searching the entire village by myself would be difficult.’

As I fell into thought, Nein, who had been staring at me, spoke up.

“Why doesn’t the Holy Lady think about utilizing the abilities she has?”

“Huh? Oh, you mean the Sacred Relic?”

Was he telling me to divine the direction like before to find him?

That’s what I thought, but Nein shook his head.

Then he placed one hand over his chest and grinned.

“I mean the connection called me.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, there was one of Nein’s spells that came to mind.

The magic he used to find Rowen using her belongings.

When I recalled that, a bright smile naturally burst forth.

“That’s right! With your magic, Nein…! Huh? But the sculpture’s owner was Rowen, is that okay?”

“The person who made it is also an owner. I’ll handle that part, so give it here.”

I nodded and handed the sculpture over to Nein.

Nein, holding the sculpture in his hand, gradually drew up his magical power and cast the spell.

Then, like before, magical power stretched out from the sculpture like threads, guiding us somewhere.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

I was following Nein when I paused.

The villagers I had approached earlier were having a conversation with some hooded outsider.

Seeing that made me feel inexplicably spiteful.

“When I asked them, they made openly disgusted faces.”

“Holy Lady, hurry up.”

“I’m coming.”

I glanced over there once more and then followed Nein.

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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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