Noah contacted me saying that the letter was delivered well. And a few days later, I also received Kyleâs reply that he would stop by the temple.
âIf itâs an enemy that needs to be eliminated anyway, it wouldnât be a bad idea for allies to properly unite.â
Iâve also had some good news about my efforts recently.
It seemed like I had properly drawn a sword from the Deviamon Guild and aimed it at the Empress. Talking about sensitive information about them like that, thereâs no way they can leave the Empress alone.
âItâs a success in alienation techniques.â
And with the information of the Thiefâs Guild that I had obtained through Noah, I was able to capture the assassin who infiltrated the temple and attacked Daisy, and was able to obtain evidence of Albertoâs motive.
Noahâs work was really great.
He got his revenge on Alberto.
I went out for a walk in the yard with a light heart.
First of all, since the first step has been completed, I thought Iâd pay attention to something else for a while. I borrowed Daisyâs ordinary clothes and dressed lightly.
Daisy was tasked with making an egg nest.
Ciel seems to be competitive with the egg, and he keeps trying to bless me while I am petting the egg.
I dug into the slightly gloomy corner I had seen before. And after walking for about 10 minutes, I reached the ruins I had discovered before.
There werenât only places that were managed in the vast temple.
There were buildings that looked like abandoned warehouses, and there were also those where only ashes were left.
The place in front of me was a small garden. Yet the flowers were all dug up, and the grass was yellow and all dried up. In terms of square footage, itâs a space of two or three square meters.
The reason I came here was to test my abilities that had manifested last time.
The immense power I saw when I purged the rocks of the hunting ground with Kyle.
After taking the pendant off for a moment, I closed my eyes and placed my hand on the dry soil.
The effectiveness of the sacred power has been proven many times. I saved dying animals, and I saved dying people.
Then what about plants?
I felt a huge surge of sacred power and poured it on the ground.
Like a liquid going into an empty barrel, it gurgled and got absorbed into the ground.
And when my eyes were opened, I unconsciously opened my mouth.
âOh my God.â
As expected, the fraudulent ability seemed to be true. The ground before my eyes, which was full of dry grass, became a flower garden.
Perhaps the seeds that had fallen on the ground bloomed in a short time. The sacred power heals animals and people, and grows plants.
âA flower shop would be fine.â
The more diverse the industry, the better. I imagined my building owner + self-employed life and admired my abilities.
As the red sun was setting, I walked down the corridor with Daisy to the outdoor terrace. Because Reihausd asked me to have dinner together today.
The moment the door was opened, Reihausd, in a white uniform, stood up.
His blonde hair swayed slightly in the gentle breeze, and his golden eyes gleamed red in the sunset light.
A choker that didnât match his uniform, I stared at it for a moment.
[The God of Art, Mond, looks at Reihausd with a pleased expression.]
[The God of Benevolence, Oman, is very fond of his choker.]
On the table covered with white cloth, the temple dishes were spread out, which was a little too simple to be called a dinner party.
âDid you wait long?â
âNo.â
As I sat down, he did too.
After a short greeting, I picked up a spoon and tasted the soup. It was a flavorful crab meat soup that felt hot and warm.
A sound of violin was heard from somewhere. Perhaps the priests are playing in the garden?
After looking out of the terrace with my eyes for a moment, Reihausdâs voice came into my ear.
âThere will be no more blasphemous rumors.â
Daisyâs neck has definitely become stiff these days. Now, the voices criticizing me, inside and outside the temple, seemed to have diminished.
Last time, I clearly showed holy power in front of people with the Holy Sphere.
âI see.â
However, I wasnât at peace either. I feel like my place isnât mine.
âOf course, there were distrustful priests who spoke impure words even after they saw your holy power.â
He said as he cut the meat with a knife.
âYou wonât feel uncomfortable now that thereâs no more.â
Suddenly, my gaze shifted to the handle of the scabbard of the long sword, which was always attached to his waist.
Who would have imagined that the High Priest with such an angelic appearance had relentless hands.
As I remembered how Annie ended, the back of my neck suddenly became cold.
He chewed the meat and salad with his red lips. As the popping adamâs apple shook, the choker shook as well.
I looked at him as if I was possessed for a moment, then continued eating.
âItâs something I didnât ask, but suddenly Iâm curious.â
His voice was heard again.
âWhen did your holy power begin to manifest?â
It was a difficult moment with a question I didnât really want to answer, but I tried to keep my composure. And I opened my mouth to him with an expressionless face.
âIt hasnât been long.â
Someday I will have to answer that.
âAnd the reason I hid it from Reihausd isâ¦â
I even once cheated on the Holy Sphere by purchasing a pendant that hides holy power.
âI did develop my holy power, but I didnât think I was going to be a real saintess.â
At my words, he was staring at me silently.
I spoke in a calm tone.
âThat thought remains the same to this day.â
Then I lifted my fork again and ate the salad.
Reihausd didnât hold the tableware for a long time and opened his lips.
âTo think that you still think of yourself as a fake saintess even though you have holy power.â
His low voice rang in my ears.
One obviously may think that it doesnât make sense. Yet his answer was unexpected.
âOf course thereâs a reason why I think so.â
âAnd you wonât tell me why.â
A heavy gaze was felt, but I didnât respond. And after a while, I heard the sound of him raising his knife again.
Slice, the meat was being cut. The choker started shaking again.
He opened his mouth again.
âThank you for being honest. Ariel.â
Suddenly, the sound of his voice made my throat tingle.
What was Reihausd thinking at this moment, I wondered.
I raised my head and looked at his face.
âBut apart from being grateful.â
The cold, golden eyes were staring at me. His red lips are sweet and his voice is resolute.
âI have no intention of letting you go.â
His eyes were full of obsession, as if I was entangled.
âWhen you were a fake saintess with no holy power, and now, nothing has changed.â
His lips formed a smile. It was a beautiful face, yet I felt a subtle creep.
âThis is your home. Ariel.â
I hurriedly looked down from him and drank from the wine glass. The sour grape scent lingered on the tip of my nose for a long time.
He reached out his long finger and touched the choker.
âIt means youâre the owner of this temple. And Iâm yourâ¦â
Suddenly, a strong wind blew, shaking the plants on the terrace, and scattering the words formed at the end of his words so that I couldnât hear them.
Like a beast that will bite him if it gets abandoned by its master, he stares at me for a long while, then picks up the tableware and continues to eat.
[The God of Benevolence, Oman, reduces the price of the lash to 250 franc.]
Ah, thatâs enough.
Itâs enough to only breed the demon egg.
I overcame Reihausdâs obsessive gaze and continued to eat. Every time the choker shook, my hand automatically flinched. I think it would have been more preferable for him to be in captivity mode.
Rather than those blazing gold eyes begging for things to do with him.
âAh, yes. Is it all ready for tomorrow?â
I brought up a recent issue to turn the conversation topic around.
At my words, Reihausd closed his lips for a moment, thought for a moment, then pulled out his words.
âIâm going to ask you once again, but do you really want to go?â
I nodded.
âStill, itâs His Imperial Majestyâs personal letter.â
Reihausd said with a firm gaze at my words.
âThere are good parts of your change, yet also disadvantages.â
âPlease prepare well for tomorrow. Sir Reihausd.â
The Emperor sent me a letter requesting a visit to confirm whether what in the Empressâ womb was a real baby.
âThe chosen Empress needs Godsâ blessing.â
In a plausible phrase.
The trap I had set was finally responding.