Chapter 40
40
"You mustn't disappear on your own. You don't know how worried I was."
Leah grabbed my shoulders and warned me several times.
I didn't mean to, so I felt a bit wronged, but I obediently nodded and said in a meek voice, "I'm sowwy……."
"Never, ever be alone inside the Temple, okay?"
"Okay!"
"Good, then let's go in."
Leah opened the carriage door for me.
In front of the carriage, Priests wearing beige hooded robes with gold cords around their waists were lined up.
The young man standing at the very front approached me.
"Nice to meet you, Little Miss. I am Urso, in charge of the Third Temple of the Northwest."
"Hello."
"You must be tired from riding in the carriage until sunset. Rest well today, and tomorrow, when someone from the Central Temple arrives, you will re-verify your Divine Power with me."
"Yes."
Thankfully, it seems I won't be verified right away.
'Before that, I need to prepare to create an error in the Divine Power verification somehow.'
Judging from what happened in 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 be dancing the samba and trying their hardest to take me away.'
But after the commotion at Dubled Castle, I can't pretend to be a Divine Power beggar like before.
So, I had to show a level that was as ordinary as possible. It's fortunate that my Divine Power has increased, but not to the extent that they would take me away even if it meant going against Dubled.
'The problem is, how do I create an error in the verification?'
Just as I was pondering, Urso said.
"Let's go. We have prepared a meal."
Urso walked ahead, guiding me.
Dubled's Catalyst, who had followed me, exclaimed softly, "Wow……," looking around the inside of the Temple.
It must be fascinating since it's their first time seeing the inside of the Temple.
The only place that 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.
'Ah, the incense smell of the Temple, it's been a while.'
It feels very familiar. I practically lived in the Temple until my second life.
The Catalyst whispered excitedly to the servant.
"What do they eat at the Temple?"
"I don't know, but they must eat something amazing."
"We can eat it too, right?"
"The Temple's principle is not to discriminate by rank."
I looked at them, who were so excited, with pitiful eyes.
'I don't think so…….'
As expected, their expectations were shattered as soon as they entered the dining hall.
It was full of weeds, and the meat and fish that were occasionally there reeked of unpleasant odors.
'I knew it.'
The Temple refrains from killing.
They don't eat living things that have been caught, but rather things that have died naturally.
As a result, the quality of the ingredients is the worst, so you shouldn't expect delicious food.
"Come, please sit down."
Urso sat at the head seat, and I sat at the head seat opposite him.
After that, the Priests and the Dubled people took their seats.
Before starting the meal, we all offered a short prayer of thanks to the God who had granted us food, and then picked up our forks.
The Dubled people also began to eat.
"Ugh……."
The Catalyst's face turned ashen after tasting the food.
'I told you, it's not good.'
Dubled has so much money that they are generous with the meals of their employees, so it must be even more difficult for them.
My taste buds have also become refined in Dubled, so can I endure the Temple meal after so long?
With a worried face, I scooped up some fish soup and put it in my mouth.
'Huh?'
It's edible?
With this level of unpleasant odor, it's very good for a Temple meal.
I was hungry, and the food was delicious, so I finished the whole bowl of soup.
"It seems to suit your taste. I'm glad,"
Urso chuckled.
\*
A dark night when everyone was asleep.
Leah, who had been watching over my sleep, picked up the empty water cup and left the room.
As soon as the door closed with a soft thud, I, who had been pretending to be asleep with my eyes tightly closed, got up.
[Are you going out? Didn't you promise not to be alone with the maid?]
'This is the only chance I have to get the jewel Bune mentioned.'
If I don't grant the wish, Bune won't disappear. Then my Divine Power will continue to leak out, and eventually, I'll go crazy.
Bune's ability isn't particularly helpful enough to take such a risk…….
[Leah…….]
Bune called me sadly.
'No, I mean, it's like that for me. There must be a lot of people who want Bune's ability!'
I hurriedly soothed Bune.
[Of course! People who miss their dead parents, lovers, friends, or children will try and try to summon me.]
'That's right. I don't have any dead people I miss.'
It would be more accurate to say that there aren't any people to miss in the first place.
Except for the Special Ability he possesses, the demon's only advantage is using my latent power.
However, I am still young and immature, so I can't properly use even 10% of my latent abilities, so in that respect, it's true that he is helpful.
[I can protect Leah if I manifest.]
'Manifest? You mean become a person?'
[That's also true, but I exert more powerful force in my true form.]
'The human form isn't your true form?'
[Most humans are too weak, so just seeing the demon's true form drives them crazy. The human form is the form used when making a contract with humans. Usually, the true forms of other demons are scary and terrible for humans to see. But I am beautiful even to humans.]
He said proudly.
Hearing that, I was filled with curiosity.
'Then show me too.'
[Okay. If I draw about 90% of Leah's Divine Power-]
I quickly corrected myself.
'Come to think of it, I don't think I need to see it.'
90%?
It's already hard enough to maintain Bune, so if it's 90%, I'll go crazy in less than half a day.
Bune became gloomy again, [Leah…….].
I carefully left the Temple and headed to the chapel. While eating, I heard that <Tears of the God>, which is Bune's wish, was on display there.
Holy Knights were guarding the front of the chapel.
'Bune, use the Barrier to make my appearance invisible.'
Soon, the Catalyst appeared on the back of my hand.
I headed slightly towards the Holy Knights. Just in case, I was thinking of pretending to be sleepwalking if I got caught.
But the Holy Knights didn't notice me.
'Good, it's a success.'
The inside, which I entered stealthily, was as quiet as a mouse.
I saw the glass case under the platform and ran towards it.
It was much taller than my height, so I grabbed the edge and stood on tiptoe.
Almost hanging on, I stretched my neck with a grunt, and a sapphire that sparkled beautifully in the moonlight was faintly visible.
'Is this it?'
[Yes! That's it!]
Bune said very happily.
I rummaged through my pocket and took out the wire I had prepared in advance. During my beggar days, there was no place I couldn't break into with just this.
'First, I need to unlock the lock and release the Divine Barrier…….'
That's when it happened.
The sound of the door opening came. I was startled and quickly lowered my body under the chair.
I can see loafers in the claret color worn by high-ranking Priests.
'This is bad.'
Just because I cast a Barrier doesn't mean everyone can't see me.
People with strong Divine Power could see the existence inside the Barrier.
In other words, if it's a high-ranking Priest, there's a high probability that they'll notice the Barrier and confirm me.
'Bune!'
[Yes, Leah.]
'Manifest in human form.'
[Huh?]
'Attract attention so they don't notice me!'
A whirlwind blew in through the window. As soon as the curtains fluttered wildly, I felt warmth on my shoulder. Bune had manifested in human form.
I mouthed, "Leave."
If I get caught entering the chapel at this time, I'll be locked up in the prison first.
If Bune gets locked up, I'll have to release the manifestation again and bring him back.
As he got up from under the chair, the Priest's feet stopped abruptly.
But.
"Did you come from Dori Farm?"
Instead of being surprised, he says something strange.
'Urso's voice?'
He strode closer and stopped in front of Bune.
"You are quite the beauty, as I've heard."
He seemed to have mistaken Bune, who was very innocent and handsome, for a woman.
If you see him in such a dark place, it's possible.
I might have been mistaken too if it hadn't been for the Pillar of Light the other day.
"Did you bring the money? If you disappoint me this time too, your father's farm will be closed today."
What?
'He extorted money from the residents and lived in luxury.'
Then it makes sense that the Temple food was unusually delicious.
They prepared it similarly to other Temples to show it to the Dubled people, but since they usually used such good ingredients, it might have been mixed into our food.
I slightly raised my head and peeked at Urso.
He approached Bune closely and slyly extended his plump, fleshy hand.
And then.
'Gasp!'
He grabbed and groped his butt.
"Your father must have been desperate. To send me the daughter he said he couldn't send and deliver the money."
His smiling face was dripping with greasy shine.
Bune stared blankly at Urso, who was groping his butt.
Then, is Urso, who touched the demon's butt, unlucky or lucky?
I was so dumbfounded that I even had such absurd thoughts.
One thing is clear, that crazy bastard is a pervert who deserves to be beaten to death.
Bune's gaze slid down from his butt to Urso's hand, which was grabbing it, and then back up to his greasy, shiny face.
"Why? Are you already so excited that you can't stand it?"
