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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: A Golden Opportunity
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Thanks to Monica, who explained why the two were angry, I now understood the whole situation.
“I heard you helped my daughter when she was struck. Thank you.”
“…I was rude, not knowing that. I apologize.”
Mrs. Hindel and the Count bowed their heads, their faces grave.
And I… was bewildered.
That apprentice priestess from back then… was Monica?
Her face had been covered by her hands, and her hair was a mess, so I hadn't gotten a good look at her.
No wonder she’d taken such a strange liking to me ever since she came asking to be a handmaiden. This was why.
“…No. The incident was caused by someone from my family, so I should be the one apologizing. I'm sorry your precious daughter was hurt.”
I chose to apologize instead of confessing the truth.
I’ll have to apologize to Monica separately later.
“Not at all. But according to Monica, you are not on good terms with the Kiris family, Saintess…”
It wasn't something I needed to hide, so I affirmed it.
“That's right. I'm currently in a situation where I can't cut ties with them because of their donations.”
“We will solve that for you!”
“…Pardon?”
“We will give you double the donation that the Kiris family provides. So don't worry, and let's use this opportunity to sever those ties completely!”
My goodness. A precious gold nugget had truly rolled its way into this shabby Grand Temple.
Honestly, if I could have my way, I would have grabbed both their hands, told them I was counting on them, and laughed heartily.
If it weren't for just one problem.
“I appreciate the offer, but unfortunately, it seems difficult for now.”
“But why?”
“Because I'm Count Kiris's adopted daughter. Until I am legally separated from the family, it will be quite difficult.”
Even if the Grand Temple was a place of extraterritoriality, I couldn't just erase a name registered in the imperial peerage.
To sever ties completely, I needed to resolve that first.
“I see.”
Count Hindel looked crestfallen. The gaze he'd first given me, as if I were a kidnapper, was nowhere to be seen.
“Don't worry. I…”
How old is Ordel right now? If it's one year before the original story begins…
【The current age of ‘Ordel Kiris’ is 21.】
“…”
I knew she was young, but I’ve become more than ten years younger.
It’s a relief she’s at least an adult.
“…I'm not of an age that requires a legal guardian, so I should be able to break away without much trouble.”
I'm an adopted daughter, not a biological one, and I have the clear status of the Grand Temple's Saintess. There shouldn't be any difficulties.
If it proves difficult, I can just ask Lute for help.
“I will pray for your swift escape, Saintess. And separate from that, we would still like to offer a donation. This is the temple where our daughter resides, and we also wish to express our gratitude for your help.”
“If you offer, I will not refuse. I'm not in a position to be concerned with propriety. The donation will be used entirely for the renovation of the Grand Temple.”
I earnestly appealed that I wouldn't waste it on frivolous things and would use it to completely overhaul this gloomy Grand Temple.
I'll show them a transformed Grand Temple.
The couple wore satisfied expressions.
“In that case, have you considered becoming followers of the Sun God, along with your daughter?”
With the misunderstanding about the Sun God's Grand Temple cleared up, their permission for Monica to stay here granted, and the promise of a donation, I seized the opportunity and made the proposal immediately.
I feel like a proselytizer, but let's ignore that.
“Oh, yes! Since you're here, you should register as followers before you leave!”
Monica, my reliable supporter, also expressed a fervent welcome.
“The Sun God is such a wonderful being. He cherishes his children with such warmth and tenderness. I hope you, Mother and Father, can feel this gentleness too!”
“…”
The Sun God I know and the Sun God Monica knows seem to be completely different beings.
A god who arbitrarily kidnaps a soul on its way to heaven, forces it to possess the body of a villain, and on top of that, makes it work and even extorts money from it is… warm? Cherishes tenderly…?
Instead of only cherishing your priests, why don't you cherish the Saintess you forcibly chose, too?
“Followers…”
The couple glanced at each other. It seemed becoming followers of a single temple was a bit burdensome.
Especially since the Great Sea God's influence is so strong right now.
So I put on a bit of an act.
“As the Saintess, I am still affiliated with the Kiris family… Even with your generous donation, it will be difficult to escape their influence immediately.”
I intentionally put on a bitter expression. Monica, seemingly unaware it was an act, looked at me with such pity from the side that I felt a little sorry.
“However, if you two become followers, you'll have a clear relationship with the Sun God's Grand Temple, which will allow you to exert your influence much more easily.”
Their eyes began to waver. The atmosphere suggested they were about to be swayed, so I pulled out my trump card.
“For your information, Duke Lute Ciel is also one of our followers.”
“What? He is?”
Indeed, the effect of Lute Ciel's name was tremendous. The couple immediately looked hooked.
“The reason he's doing business with us now is also thanks to the connection we formed when he became a follower.”
“I thought he decided to do business with us after recognizing the special healing power of the Sun God's divine power. So that wasn't it.”
The couple looked at each other. After exchanging a brief glance, they readily nodded.
“Our daughter has said she will live her entire life as a priestess of the Sun God, so there's no reason to refuse. Besides, if we're lucky, we might be able to form a connection with Duke Ciel.”
A rather worldly reason was included, but Lute Ciel's name carried too much weight to criticize it.
There's a reason I used his name as my trump card.
Getting ahold of Lute was truly the best decision of my reincarnated life.
I'll have to treat him well from now on. Lute is our Grand Temple's number one follower.
“Then let's proceed with the follower registration right away.”
As they say, strike while the iron is hot. I registered the two of them in the divine records without delay.
【Two B-rank followers have been registered under the Sun God.】
【The user's Divine Power has increased by 0.1%.】
And along with two new followers, I also gained some precious Divine Power.
I gave Monica, who had done such a wonderful job, a tight hug.
* * *
Since the poor Grand Temple didn't have a single proper guest room for the Hindels to stay in, the couple decided to spend the night in a nearby village.
I gladly gave Monica a special day off to be with them.
She should at least spend one night with the parents she hadn't seen in half a year.
Seeing Count Hindel's face, smiling from ear to ear, I knew it was the right choice.
“The Count and his wife seem to truly love their daughter. They were a nice family to see.”
“I agree.”
Late at night, Victoria, who was by my side in Monica's absence, nodded.
“I was surprised by how different the atmosphere was from my family.”
“Why is that, Victoria?”
“My parents would have chased after me with swords to catch me for running away.”
“…Swords?”
“Yes. And after a 'spar' that was really just discipline, they would have dragged me away unconscious.”
What the, that's terrifying.
Victoria is so sensible, but her parents are a bit…?
“Are your parents knights as well?”
“They're mercenaries. The two of them run a mercenary company together.”
“…”
Not just mercenaries, but a husband-and-wife team of mercenary captains.
I see. Victoria's enviable muscular build and prominent frame were genetic.
“That's why they were very displeased when I awakened divine power and became a holy knight. They wanted me to inherit the mercenary company.”
So mercenary companies are family businesses, too.
“Hmm. I can't say I agree with them.”
“Pardon?”
“You're better suited to be a knight than a mercenary. Especially a holy knight—that's your true calling.”
I'm not just saying that because I'm close to Victoria.
I bet if you asked anyone on the street, they'd say you were a holy knight, even if they were doing a somersault.
“I don't know your parents well, but I bet they think the same thing. After all, people with such strong personalities ended up respecting your choice, didn't they?”
The Sun God's Grand Temple doesn't force you to become a follower just because you've awakened divine power.
That's something those brats from the ill-mannered Great Sea God's temple would do. Here, we respect an individual's will.
Victoria also had the right to refuse, yet she ultimately became a holy knight and is now protecting the Saintess.
If her supposedly ill-tempered parents had truly been against it, they would have stopped her even if it meant breaking her legs, but they didn't. Doesn't that mean they approved?
“…Thank you for saying that.”
Victoria, who had widened her eyes in surprise, soon smiled.
It was a shy yet joyful smile.
When it was time for bed, Victoria turned off the light, said goodnight, and left the bedroom.
Her heavy footsteps gradually faded away.
So much happened today.
It was more relaxed than my days as a detective, yet somehow felt just as packed. I closed my eyes, reflecting on the day.
And then, I snapped them open again.
*BEEEEEP!*
A loud alarm blared in my ears—no, in my head.
【Warning!】
【Warning!】
【Automatic warning system activated.】
【The AI system notifies the user. A follower of another god has currently infiltrated the Grand Temple.】
【The intruder is approaching the user. Please be cautious of your safety.】
Who the hell is it?
