Chapter 48
That wasn't some sacred object.
It was a crystal that one of Julian's ancestors had discovered and donated to the temple, which glowed in response to Divine Power.
The temple had stuck the crystal on an old tree branch, disguised it as an ancient sacred object, and lured people with the claim that merely touching it would bring good fortune.
Everyone opened their wallets and made offerings to the temple in order to receive the light of good fortune.
The temple paid a portion of those profits to the Johannes family, so the Dukes Johannes had dutifully poured Divine Power into the crystal.
'Scammers.'
Like any religion, the Dephria Order hadn't been as corrupt as it was today from the very beginning.
What the Dephria Order preached was equality and freedom.
Their doctrine was that everyone should be able to enjoy pleasure without discrimination.
Of course, with the restriction that it shouldn't infringe on the freedom of others.
But as the Dephria Order became the state religion and the temple began to gain power, the restriction that 'one must not infringe on the freedom of others' gradually became a doctrine that remained only in the scriptures.
In the process of forcibly attracting believers, the doctrine of 'everyone without discrimination' also began to be omitted.
Now, all that remained for the Dephria Order was the pursuit of endless pleasure.
The temple was also focused solely on collecting offerings.
The temple was also the only entity in the empire that legally operated casinos.
Julian couldn't help but sneer at the popes' increasingly large physiques over the generations.
Priests and monks were chosen based on their appearance to suit the pope's tastes.
So much so that in foreign countries, the Dephria Order was ridiculed as 'the pope's harem.'
The reason why this shameless temple could still thrive as the state religion of the empire was due to the existence of fanatics and customs that had been passed down for many years.
It was difficult for the faith that had long permeated the empire to change overnight.
There had always been those who were angry at the temple's unreasonable series of events.
But they, too, willingly attended the Dephria Goddess's birthday or the carnivals hosted by the temple.
Under the name of tradition, the Dephria Order had been with the Rotandus Empire all along.
Julian knew very well how deeply rooted what he was trying to tear down was.
'No need to rush.'
He had to wait until people realized for themselves that it was a rotten root.
Julian smiled gently, recalling what he had planned.
"Then, I'll be going now. Croa, tell them to prepare the carriage."
At Julian's command, Croa bowed his head and quickly went outside. Croa didn't want to stay here any longer either.
The pope, who couldn't take his eyes off Leo, finally looked at Julian at his words.
"You've come after so long, why don't you stay a little longer?"
Desrachino's tone was dripping with regret. Of course, it was regret for Leo, not Julian.
Leo, sensing the situation, went to the door.
Desrachino reluctantly opened the door and escorted Leo and Julian to the entrance.
"By the way, when are you planning to marry? You should have an heir while you're still young."
Julian wondered why he hadn't mentioned it today.
Julian waved his hand at Desrachino's words, which were like a monthly event.
"You should work hard to have an heir, not me, Your Holiness. How many wives do you have, and you still don't have any children?"
"Eii..."
Desrachino's last words were drowned out by the clamorous shouts of the believers.
"Ooooh! Thank you, God!"
"Ah, no!"
Cheers and screams of despair mixed together from all directions.
The dice that predicted the day's fortune rolled incessantly, making a rattling sound.
Anyone could roll the dice by making a certain amount of offering.
The higher the number on the dice, the better the luck for that day.
Most of the believers rolling the dice were people who wanted to use the casino connected to the temple.
Their eyes were bloodshot as they threw money into the offering box until the highest number on the dice came out.
It was a color of eyes that didn't match the atmosphere inside the temple, which was filled with sacred white.
It was a familiar sight, but Julian frowned in displeasure. It was a place that always made him feel bad.
Just as Julian's party was about to reach the entrance, a priest ran towards them.
And he whispered quietly into Desrachino's ear, so quietly that Julian couldn't hear.
Desrachino, after hearing the priest's words, smiled so broadly that his mouth reached his ears, and hurriedly saw Leo off and rushed back into the temple.
Just because Julian didn't hear it directly didn't mean he couldn't hear it.
Julian called out to Leo in his mind.
Leo scratched his ear with his hind paw, as if annoyed, and said.
'Rebecca might be the Saintess.'
"Then, I will take out the sacred object."
Rebecca stared silently at the priest who was carefully taking out the sacred object.
It was a pendant with a transparent crystal embedded on top of a delicately carved gold piece.
It was an object that felt sacred at first glance.
The gathered employees stared at the sacred object with wide eyes.
The ritual to confirm the Saintess was simpler than expected. All that was needed was for the sacred object to emit light after coming into contact with it.
Unexpectedly, it wasn't uncommon to become a vessel for a Saintess or Saint.
People born with Divine Power appeared once or twice a month.
However, it wasn't easy to become a Saintess officially belonging to the temple.
First, one had to want to become a Saintess, second, one had to have a beautiful appearance, and lastly, one had to obtain permission from the messenger of God.
In particular, even if the first two conditions were met, it was most difficult to please Leo, the messenger of God.
Moreover, when one became a Saintess or Saint, there were many things to do as the official mascot of the temple.
There were few people who welcomed the honorary position, which was almost unpaid.
Still, a certificate of Divine Power was valid.
Having a Divine Power certificate was an advantageous condition when getting a job in a good family or going to the marriage market.
Therefore, the fact that one had the qualifications of a vessel of God was in itself a glorious thing.
Somehow, the maids had been busily giving her a bath since morning. But that didn't make the stench emitted by the Pustules disappear.
It seemed that Octavio had secretly brought in a priest while Zeppelin was out looking at the vineyard.
It was something that he would surely be furious about if he found out, but Octavio was looking at the priest's behavior with a pleased expression.
Rebecca couldn't understand why he was going this far.
Rebecca gave Octavio a questioning look.
Octavio felt Rebecca's gaze and slowly walked over. And he whispered in her ear as she sat in the chair.
"If you become a Saintess, you can get out of here. Isn't that why you spread the rumors? I will help you escape this place."
"……!"
In a way, it was like he was caring for Rebecca.
But Rebecca instantly read the vile intention hidden behind his kind smile.
Rebecca widened her eyes, which were filling with joy.
With his one word, the memories of her past life and her current memories were intertwined. Then, an unexpected conclusion was reached.
Ah. So that's why he...
To Octavio, Rebecca was a thorn in his side.
He wanted to control Zeppelin as he pleased, but Rebecca always stood in his way.
Rebecca didn't do anything.
But her very existence was an obstacle to Octavio.
Zeppelin often listened to Octavio's words, but if it was something Rebecca was involved in, he would quickly change his attitude.
So Octavio would want Rebecca to disappear.
Come to think of it, in her past life, she thought things were going too easily when she escaped from the Count's Residence.
At that time, she thought it was because Alicia had helped her, but Alicia was also being watched.
How could those two women dare to betray their master without any Hounds interfering?
Moreover, it was obvious that Rebecca would run away to the Liberta Poorhouse, but she wasn't caught.
Even the village she lived in after leaving the Poorhouse was a village near the Count's territory.
At that time, Rebecca was too busy making a living to act so carefully.
If the Hounds had wanted to, they could have found Rebecca at any time.
But quite some time had passed since she had given birth, yet Rebecca hadn't been caught.
It wasn't just luck.
It was because Octavio didn't want her to come back.
She was eventually discovered by Zeppelin, but that was probably because Alicia had given him a hint.
'Ha!'
Rebecca found this situation amusing.
Unintentionally, she and Octavio had the same intention, but unfortunately, she had no intention of obediently becoming a Saintess as he wished.
Rebecca would not run away now.
"This, this light is...!"
A dazzling light emanated from the pendant. It meant that tremendous Divine Power was latent within.
The priest suddenly prostrated himself at Rebecca's feet.
"S, Saintess!"
A sigh flowed from among the employees who were gathered to watch.
Rebecca, she was really a Saintess!
Rebecca was momentarily flustered by the bright light, but quickly understood when she saw Octavio smiling so wide that his mouth was about to tear.
'It's a manipulation.'
She didn't know he had the ability to manipulate even the sacred object.
Rebecca realized that Octavio's skills were unusual.
The fact that he was Zeppelin's right-hand man meant that he was that capable.
"What is all this nonsense?"
Zeppelin's shout was heard, pushing through the gathered employees.
Octavio frowned slightly at his agitated voice, then put on a gentle smile again.
Zeppelin looked back and forth between the brightly shining sacred object and the prostrated priest, then grabbed Octavio by the collar.
"Octavio! I told you not to do anything unnecessary!"
"I sent a letter saying that there was no need for you to come to the temple, but it seems I was too late. Since the priest has personally taken the trouble to come, I couldn't possibly turn him away..."
As he said that, Octavio smiled calmly. It was an attitude that wasn't afraid of Zeppelin's threats.
Zeppelin stared intently at Octavio, then released his hand.
Octavio straightened his ruined shirt collar and added.
"But look. It wasn't in vain. Look at the light of that sacred object! Lady Rebecca was truly a Saintess."
"It's a lie. There's no way. Tell me straight! Rebecca is really a Saintess?"
Zeppelin drew his sword and held it to the priest's neck.
The employees gasped.
No matter how much of a Zeppelin he was, aiming a weapon at a priest was clearly sacrilegious.
The priest trembled, but without abandoning his conviction, he opened his mouth.
"It is the truth. Since the sacred object has shown such an outstanding light, the Countess here is a vessel of God more outstanding than anyone else."
