The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 77

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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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After a long while, I arrived at the temple panting heavily and immediately returned the sacred ring first.

 

I whispered to the priestess who was inspecting it for any external damage.

 

“I have an appointment with Cardinal Crescenziano today. Where should I go?”

 

“Ah, you must be the sister? I’ll guide you to His Eminence the Cardinal’s office!”

 

Was it just my imagination that her eyes changed when I mentioned having an appointment with the Cardinal?

 

I looked around as I followed the priestess, who had suddenly become formal and respectful after being businesslike.

 

‘Wow, there are so many lilacs in bloom. They smell wonderful.’

 

As I sniffed around, the priestess headed deeper and deeper into the temple.

 

To think his office was located this deep in the center—I was newly reminded of just how high-ranking a Cardinal really was.

 

‘Come to think of it, he’s second only to the Pope, right? Is it really okay for me to meet such a person dressed so casually…?’

 

I should have worn something neater!

 

I brushed off my sleeves that had gotten grimy from sanding and casually asked.

 

“Excuse me, Priestess. What kind of person is the Cardinal?”

 

The priestess whipped around to stare at me.

 

Was that a look saying ‘You came here without knowing that?’

 

Feeling guilty, I waved my hands.

 

“I just wanted to ask if there are any points I should be careful about so I don’t make any mistakes. I didn’t mean anything else…”

 

“His Eminence Cardinal Crescenziano is the World Tree’s faithful servant who works harder than anyone else for the Temple of the World Tree, and can be called a light of this age who embraces priests and believers with mercy and understanding!”

 

Oh my, this priestess…

 

‘She was overwhelmed by her feelings when talking about the Cardinal.’

 

That silence must have been to gather momentum.

 

The priestess, who had been expounding on the Cardinal’s achievements with shining eyes, clasped her hands together.

 

“Sometimes sharp as a blade, sometimes benevolent! Just seeing his face deepens one’s faith in the World Tree, ah…”

 

Does he resemble a tree?

 

I scratched the back of my neck while recalling the Cardinal who had been wearing his hood pulled up, when the priestess slyly approached.

 

“You must understand what a glorious opportunity a private audience with the Cardinal is, Sister?”

 

“Ah, yes…”

 

“Normally, he spends his days in his office with nothing but prayer and training. Except for sleeping time, it’s fair to say he lives entirely for this temple.”

 

“I-I see. He’s an amazing person.”

 

“So even though you have an appointment, if the Cardinal happens to be asleep, I’m sorry but you’ll have to return.”

 

“Huh, but it’s an appointment. If we just wake him up a little…”

 

The priestess’s eyes widened.

 

“The Cardinal’s sleep cannot be disturbed! It’s his only rest time!”

 

She spoke so firmly that I found myself nodding reflexively.

 

Then the priestess cleared her throat.

 

“Ahem, I apologize. Anyway, please understand, Sister.”

 

“Yes, well, I suppose so.”

 

She seemed quite disciplined—probably a priestess who hadn’t been ordained long ago.

 

The priestess who had arrived at the office took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

 

“Your Eminence, a visitor has come…”

 

Click.

 

Before she could even finish speaking, the door opened.

 

The Cardinal welcomed me with a gentle smile. Of course, this time too he was wearing his hood, so only his lips were visible.

 

As I was about to enter, the priestess fidgeted beside me, apparently happy to meet the Cardinal she admired.

 

“I’ll prepare some refreshments! And if there’s anything you need me for, I’ll wait in front of the door so you can call me right away…”

 

[No, there’s nothing to call you for. When the time comes, the guest will leave on their own, so attend to your sacred duties.]

 

“What? B-but…”

 

[Well then, have a good evening.]

 

The Cardinal shut the door firmly and gestured toward a chair.

 

“…I was hoping to hear His Eminence’s voice with this opportunity…”

 

The dejected priestess’s voice faded away.

 

But his voice?

 

The Cardinal doesn’t speak anyway, so how could she hear his voice?

 

‘Maybe he’s not originally unable to speak, but recently started a vow of silence?’

 

As I was thinking, a teacup was pushed toward me.

 

[Please drink, Sister. I’m not sure if it will suit your taste.]

 

Coincidentally, the tea food placed with the teacup was blueberry cake.

 

I smiled awkwardly and bowed slightly in greeting.

 

“Hello, Your Eminence. I’m Elisha.”

 

[Why so formal? Cardinal or Crescenziano would be sufficient. I’d appreciate it if you’d note that I prefer the latter.]

 

As befitting someone of high rank.

 

He seemed to give me a choice, but his recommendation to call him by name was quite natural, wasn’t it?

 

In any case, since I’m not even a believer, it would be awkward to keep saying ‘Cardinal,’ so I decided to follow his suggestion.

 

“Then I’ll call you Crescenziano. Thank you for meeting me even at this late hour, so about that…”

 

[Yes, since it’s late, shall we get straight to the point? Good.]

 

‘I’ve felt this since last time, but I like how refreshingly direct he is.’

 

[You asked about methods to cure mana poisoning, right? In the case of ordinary people, if you distance yourself from the cause—mana stones or magical tools—it heals naturally. Mana stone mine workers recovered completely after just a day or two of rest.]

 

The Cardinal, who had handed me a document summarizing case studies, rested his chin on his hand.

 

[But you probably didn’t come to ask about ordinary cases. If it’s unusual cases… well. There would be cases of people with holy power being poisoned by mana, or cases of poisoning by black magic rather than ordinary mana. That’s what you’re curious about, right?]

 

Black magic poisoning?

 

This was an opportunity to find a way to heal not only Ailren but also Chloe.

 

‘Could there be other methods besides purifying with the pure mana of premium mana stones?’

 

Since premium mana stones were impossible to obtain, I needed to hear about other methods if they existed.

 

As I brightened and leaned closer, the Cardinal’s lips visible under his hood curved up slightly.

 

[First, cases of people with holy power—priests or knights—getting mana poisoning aren’t common. They’re people who live virtuously, right? It’s not easy for such people to make enemies filled with malice.]

 

That’s true.

 

Malice aside, it would be difficult to make enemies who would even think of committing magical terrorism against priests or knights.

 

Most mana would clash with holy power and disappear anyway.

 

[But while it’s uncommon, there are cases that have been healed. It can be purified with the World Tree’s holy power.]

 

“What do you mean by the World Tree’s holy power?”

 

[Either receiving help from sacred relics or holy water, or staying at the temple and consistently receiving blessings from priests. One of those two.]

 

It was the method I had expected.

 

However, it was also a method that couldn’t be used for Ailren.

 

While holy relics or holy water could be used, there was a risk of Crodil discovering his suffering, and receiving treatment at the temple also carried the risk of information leaking to Crodil.

 

“Isn’t there another way?”

 

[There isn’t. Everyone who tried to find other methods died.]

 

I paused and stared intently at the Cardinal’s written words.

 

[There were people who hid their condition because they felt ashamed and humiliated about being poisoned by magic despite being priestesses. They probably hoped for natural healing. But I told you, didn’t I? Such people have enemies full of malice.]

 

The Cardinal was right.

 

As long as Crodil kept his eyes wide open watching Ailren, he could be exposed to another danger.

 

Because there were limits to deceiving with the hourglass.

 

As I was thinking while reading the Cardinal’s words, a question suddenly occurred to me.

 

“Um, then how do you receive the priestesses’ blessing? From what you’re saying, it doesn’t seem like a method using holy relics or holy water.”

 

If it were simply sprinkling holy water, I thought he wouldn’t have mentioned it separately.

 

When I pointed this out, the Cardinal paused for a moment. He seemed surprised.

 

After hesitating, he slowly wrote.

 

The answer I looked at expectantly was.

 

[That’s a trade secret.]

 

I felt completely deflated.

 

Is it okay to use the word “trade” in a temple…?

 

“Don’t tell me you’re paying me back for calling the relic appraisal method a trade secret?”

 

[Haha, you caught me. But people don’t usually ask so directly, do they?]

 

His sense of humor seemed unique as always.

 

The Cardinal, who had been laughing for a while at whatever he found funny, shrugged his shoulders.

 

[I was joking. The priestesses’ blessing is just a fancy way of saying it.]

 

“Then what is it?”

 

[Simply put, it’s sharing. The burden of my brothers and sisters.]

 

Then that means?

 

“…The poisoned person’s magic power is taken bit by bit by other priestesses?”

 

[That’s right. Like a magnet attracting iron filings, we forcibly draw the magic power and purify it.]

 

“Since the transferred magic power is relatively small in amount, it gets destroyed by the priestesses’ holy power.”

 

[Exactly. Although there’s a risk of suffering from magic power that couldn’t be fully purified, we priestesses have willingly agreed to bear that discomfort. After removing the object causing the poisoning, combining holy water use with the priestesses’ blessing speeds up the healing.]

 

“What exactly is the pain caused by magic power?”

 

[It varies by person, but it’s things like feeling unwell or suffering from headaches. That much is bearable.]

 

As I was thinking, I suddenly realized something.

 

Ailren had mentioned in passing.

 

“…I’ve improved slightly since visiting your pawnshop.”

 

What if his words weren’t just polite conversation?

 

What if he was really getting better little by little?

 

Then, could the reason I felt tired whenever I met Ailren be…?

 

“I’m asking just in case, but is sharing magic power only possible for people with holy power?”

 

‘Do I have holy power?!’

 

Could I possibly have a hidden power?

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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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