Our adorable Kyle.
With soft, black fur, round ears that perk up at the tips, and golden eyes that sparkle like wildflowers. How good does it feel to press down on those soft pink paw pads?
“Picking up Kyle was the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
I’ve heard a lot from other seniors about the benefits of having pets, but I never thought I would find solace in an animal.
“I’ll just take care of him until he can go back to his rightful place.”
With that in mind, I brushed Kyle’s fur every day. I also used my fingers to massage his face and played with him wholeheartedly with his favorite feather toy. And I fed him only his favorite foods for all three meals.
Every moment spent with Kyle is precious, and I didn’t want to waste any of it.
But.
“What the heck is going on?”
I shrugged and looked up at the man standing in front of me. His sculpted body was breathtaking. His long neck was covered by slightly tousled black hair.
The golden eyes that stared at me in terror traced a soft curve. With a charming smile, the man called out to me. His voice was as deep as melted chocolate.
“Ran.”
“Uh, I…”
My name isn’t Ran. Why are you calling me by my nickname without permission? No, but that’s not the problem.
“Who are you?!”
Can someone explain to me why the cat I was raising suddenly turned into a sexy man?
* * *
Like all workers, my work life was a daily struggle.
Of course, there was the peculiarity that my workplace was a Temple where ordinary people couldn’t even get a job, and my position was the Saintess, right below the Pope.
‘But still, I don’t know.’
I was now facing the battle of the century.
The battle of the emperor who wants to overthrow the pope and even the Temple under the protection of the Giver and put the whole world under his feet.
Before the war, Pope Encenino gave a grand speech to all the knights of the Holy See.
“Emperor Kailas cannot be left like this. If we do this, the rules of the world will be broken, and everyone will live in chaos.”
However, even the passionate sermon did not touch my heart. I tilted my head.
‘Is the emperor really such a bad person?’
Emperor Kailas.
A young man who killed his father and ascended to the throne at the young age of 20. The biggest reason why the Temple is trying to drive out Emperor Kailas is that he is a parricide.
‘But the previous emperor was very corrupt, coveted women, and imposed heavy taxes.’
On the contrary, the first thing Kailas did when he became emperor was to lower taxes and liberate the serf races, the elves and the faeries, who were slaves of the empire.
‘It’s a smart move. That way, naturally, the number of people who have to pay taxes will increase.’
And it was a policy that also coincided with the Giver’s teaching that all sentient beings are equal.
Anyway, for that reason, I was skeptical of this conflict between the empire and the Temple. Of course, I kept my mouth shut at the thought that it was not right for the opinions of the Temple to be divided in two.
As I listened to the Pope’s speech indifferently, Richard, the paladin who was standing next to me, poked me in the side.
“Please manage your expression, Saintess.”
“Ugh, is it that obvious?”
I shrugged at Richard’s words. Then, Richard replied with a smirk.
“Yeah. It seems like you’re about to yawn.”
Richard Perol. He was the most promising paladin in the Temple, and he was secretly admired by many imperial citizens for his beautiful golden hair and handsome appearance. He was also my childhood friend who grew up in the Temple since he was a child.
Richard kept his head straight and spoke to me skillfully.
“Anyway, you’re the second-in-command of the Temple. So you have to manage your expression well.”
“I know without you nagging me.”
I pouted my lips. The constant attention of countless eyes was as natural to me, the Saintess, as breathing.
I straightened my back and, staring intently at the Pope’s face, whispered to Richard.
“Are you against it too, Richard?”
At my question, Richard’s well-drawn eyebrows arched slightly.
“Why are you making such assumptions?”
“Well, you’re always arguing for the sake of arguing.”
“Are you trying to label me as a rebellious knight? …Well, it’s true, though.”
It turned out that Richard was also against this war with the Empire. I snickered. It was then that the Pope’s speech was nearing its end.
“In the name of our Lord, we shall triumph!”
“Waaah!”
Everyone clapped enthusiastically. I also clapped my hands politely.
Just as I was about to turn around after finishing the declaration, Pope Encenino called out to me.
“Cioranne.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
Pope Encenino had fine platinum hair and an angelically benevolent appearance. And just as he appeared, he was also a very meticulous person. The Pope smiled gently and said to me.
“You are at the very heart of this plan. You know that, don’t you?”
The Pope’s plan.
It was to trap the Emperor, who had lured them into war, into a trap.
‘That way, no one else will get involved.’
According to the Pope, the only target that the Empire had to eliminate was Emperor Kailas. To prevent the sacrifice of countless people in the process of eliminating him, they would trap the Emperor and have him meet his demise.
And the one who could create that trap was me, who had the greatest power in the temple.
“I understand.”
Pope Encenino put his hand on my shoulder and spoke in a soft voice.
“This is for the world. It is a holy and special work that only you, who was born with pure power, can do. You should be grateful that you have something to do for this task.”
The Pope paused for a moment and then added in a serious tone.
“And remember that this is also the will of the Giver whom we serve.”
At that moment, a clear yellow window popped up in front of my eyes with a whooshing sound.
[The ‘Dragon Trampler’ says that’s a lie.]
[The ‘Dragon Trampler’ says you shouldn’t be fooled.]
The window that I have been able to see since the moment I was born.
It was a message from the ‘Dragon Trampler’ that had just been given to me.
The reason why Pope Encenino was able to become the sole leader of the Temple at a young age was because he could hear the voice of the the Giver.
So I hid the fact that I could also read the the Giver’s will.
‘It’s better for the Temple to move with one heart and one mind.’
I didn’t want the public opinion of the Temple to be divided because of me. I volunteered to be used as a tool as a saintess.
‘But it’s still difficult in this situation.’
That is, when the Pope and the the Giver’s words differ.
I had been bowing my head for a while, but I couldn’t bear it and asked the Pope.
“Is there no other way than to kill the Emperor?”
“Cioranne.”
The Pope’s answer was firm.
“He has too radical ideas. He will surely bring this continent to ruins.”
“But still……”
I sighed inwardly. And bowed my head.
“I see.”
As I bowed my head, various windows appeared in front of my eyes and became a mess. It was a message from the Giver.
[The ‘Dragon Trampler’ says he will burst inside and die.]
[The ‘Dragon Trampler’ sighs and asks if I am enjoying this sight, watching him suffer, seeking glory.]
[The ‘Dragon Trampler’ makes a fuss again.]
I know what the Giver is saying. I smiled bitterly.
“Then, I can’t help it.”
For the peace of the continent, it is better for the saintess to show that she is of the same mind as the Pope. Even if it is not to my liking. I scratched my head.
* * *
Everything went as planned by the Pope. The emperor, unaware that he was falling into a trap, obediently followed the Pope’s lead towards the trap.
“Now is the time.”
I poured my strength into the formation that the Pope had drawn in advance. However, the words floating on the formation were strange.
<I curse you who are on the formation.>
“Curse?”
The corners of my mouth hardened.
“A curse? Why are you casting a curse?”
How can a servant of the Giver curse the Giver’s creation?
“I’m not trying to curse!”
However, the curse that had already been cast could not be stopped. I felt my strength being sucked into the formation helplessly.
I closed my eyes tightly.
“Please help me, the Giver! I don’t want this!”
But before the Giver could answer me…
<The curse has been established.>
At that moment, blood flowed from my lips. It was the side effect of using the Giver’s power for something against the Giver’s will.
The Giver who had been with me since the moment I was born spoke incessantly.
[“The ‘Dragon Trampler’ is stamping his feet in frustration.”]
[…….]
[“The ‘Dragon Trampler’ lets out a long sigh.”]
The message from the Giver stopped. Was even the Giver abandoning me? It was then that I made a weak smile.
An incongruous message popped up.
[Quest arrived.]
“Quest?”
It was a word I had never seen before in my life.
I looked at the window with blank eyes. It clearly looked like the message window that the Giver sends, but the harsh tone was different from the usual Giver.
[Quest – You, be my servant.
Please take care of this helpless creature who cannot do anything without your help.
Success – Curse lifted
Failure – Death from the backlash of the curse]
* * * *
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