Episode 80

“What does it say? Is it a love letter? You’ve already got someone chasing after you?”

 

Grandpa Gordon asked with a worried look as I stared blankly at the elegant handwriting, far too refined for a child.

“N-No, that’s not it…”

I stammered, caught off guard.

Then, suddenly, a crucial detail from the original story hit me like a lightning bolt.

‘The Second Prince… he didn’t show up!’

In the original plot, the female lead and the Second Prince were supposed to meet today.

It was the day before the goddess’s birthday, and the Second Prince participated in the volunteer event on behalf of the injured Crown Prince.

But he hadn’t shown up today.

The reason was clear.

‘Because I healed him a few days ago…?!’

But I hadn’t even fully healed him, only about halfway.

‘It couldn’t have been easy for him to come here in that condition…’

Besides, giving 100 Talents as compensation seemed way too much for the healing I provided.

Frantically, I looked around, trying to spot whoever had paid that absurd amount for the treatment.

But it was futile. There was no one in sight who could be the mysterious buyer.

‘If I’d known it was going to be like this, I would have just fully healed him…’

I sank into regret, my mind clouded with frustration. As I was wallowing in my thoughts, Grandpa nudged me again, his curiosity not yet satisfied.

“So, do you know this kid? Handsome fellow, is he?”

“Grandpa.”

“Hm?”

“I think the Crown Prince passed by…”

“What? Crown… what?”

I sighed deeply, leaving Grandpa’s confusion unanswered.

On one hand, I was relieved not to have encountered the foul-mouthed Second Prince, but on the other hand, I couldn’t shake the uncertainty creeping into my mind. Too many things were diverging from the original plot—the unexpected arrival of the Crown Prince, my encounter with Ismail… it felt like the story was veering off course in ways I couldn’t predict.

At that moment, an announcement from the stage interrupted my thoughts.

“Attention. The collection of Talents has been completed. We ask all guests and participants to return to their seats.”

The voice over the loudspeaker brought me back to the present.

“Let’s hurry back to our seats,” Grandpa said as he quickly packed away the remaining recovery potions.

“Okay!”

As I sat down, I carefully calculated the total Talents we had earned, including the ones the headmistress had confiscated. Meanwhile, I glanced toward the noble families, who were seated at lavishly prepared tables in front of the stage. In contrast, the orphanage children sat huddled under a shabby tent to the side of the stage.

Even the adults who had volunteered as helpers weren’t allowed to sit—they had to stand at the back of the tent.

‘I wonder if Duke Kallios and Edwin are sitting further in…’

From my vantage point, I couldn’t see them, which made me feel a little uneasy.

As I bit my lip, my gaze wandered to the tables of the nobles, adorned with cool water and decorative flowers. Then, I felt a strange sensation, as if someone was watching me.

When I glanced around, my eyes met hers.

White hair as pure as snow and dreamy violet eyes.

It was Diana.

She was sitting not far from where I was.

‘She looks exhausted.’

The front of her booth had been bustling with activity earlier, and now her complexion was as pale as her hair.

‘Let’s stay far away from her. I don’t want her fainting and then blaming it on me!’

I subtly shifted further away from her, imagining how easily such an incident could happen.

Just then, someone took the stage.

“Ahem.”

A figure in white robes stood up to speak.

“May the goddess’s blessing always be with you. I am Pope Montenus.”

It had been several months since I last saw the Pope, back when I stayed at the Duke’s estate.

The serene, white aura that surrounded him was still the same.

After my recent encounter with Ismail, who would become the next Pope, seeing the current Pope, whose life was nearing its end, felt oddly unsettling.

‘How did Ismail even become the Pope’s adopted son?’

As I pondered this, I watched the Pope’s deeply wrinkled face. But before I could linger on the thought, the Pope began his speech.

“First, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the noble families who took the time to participate in today’s volunteer activities. It is all in accordance with the will of the goddess that we are gathered here today, to share, to give, and to learn the lessons of kindness…”

I stifled a yawn and tried to endure the Pope’s long-winded speech.

“Ah, Ereia be praised!”

Finally, with a chorus of devout exclamations, the speech came to an end.

“Now, we shall begin selecting the child who has received the most of the goddess’s love today.”

At last, the time had come to choose the Saintess candidate.

“Magnus, High Priest.”

The Pope gestured toward the side of the stage.

A relatively young priest appeared, carrying something as he ascended the steps.

It was a large golden censer, ornately embossed, glimmering in the light.

This was the sacred relic used to convert gold coins into Talents.

The relic had two primary functions:

1. When Talents or gold coins were placed into the censer and incense was burned, it automatically counted the amount, like a calculator.

2. Gold coins could be burned, and after a few minutes, they would be transformed into Talents. The reverse could also be done.

It was said that this relic had been created long ago by a saint who had studied alchemy. Its purpose was to remind those who served the goddess not to be greedy.

Because of this, the temple always converted donations and offerings into Talents to prevent misuse.

Outside the temple, it was strictly forbidden to carry or use Talents.

‘Yeah, right. It’s just a way for them to hoard the donations and spend them as they please later,’ I grumbled to myself as the process continued.

“The first booth we will count is Mia’s, who performed the song,” the announcer declared.

Clink—!

The large censer’s lid was opened, and the Talents from the first booth were poured in.

Another priest lit a match and placed it atop the pile of Talents in the censer.

The lid of the censer closed once again.

Moments later, thin wisps of smoke began to rise from the small holes scattered around the censer.

At first, it seemed unremarkable, but then the smoke began to sway erratically, almost as if it were alive. The tendrils of smoke coiled and merged before dispersing again, and finally, they formed a distinct number in the air.

154

“Ooh…!”

“It never ceases to amaze…!”

People who had been watching in silence let out gasps of awe.

Even though I had witnessed this before in my past life, the spectacle felt fresh, and I found myself intrigued once again.

“Mia, 154 Talents,” the Pope announced quietly, and a priest standing behind him quickly jotted down the result on a large board.

The counting continued swiftly from there.

“Vincent, 368 Talents.”

“Sara, 212 Talents.”

One after another, the talents of children who had played instruments, danced, or painted were measured and recorded.

Finally, it was time.

“Diana, who used her healing powers to cure the sick.”

I watched the stage intently, tension gripping me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Diana. She, too, looked nervous.

‘Please…’

I had already healed the Crown Prince, which should have secured my position safely.

But Diana was the heroine. You never knew what kind of plot armor she might have in a critical moment.

Clink, clink, clink, clink—!

The amount of Talents pouring into the censer from Diana’s booth was greater than any other booth before hers.

“Wow, how much did she collect?”

“No kidding. I couldn’t even think about standing in line for her.”

“Well, of course, a Saintess candidate is different…”

The murmurs of astonishment rippled through the nobles who were watching.

“Wow…”

“Diana is amazing.”

“Does that mean she’s going to be the next Saintess?”

Even the orphanage children sitting beside me were whispering in awe.

Hearing their remarks only made my anxiety creep up further.

Click.

Finally, the Talents and the incense were poured into the censer, and the lid closed.

Moments later, a faint stream of smoke began to rise, swirling together before solidifying into a number.

770

“Diana, 770 Talents.”

Applause erupted among the nobles as soon as the Pope announced the result.

It was a record-breaking number.

‘She healed that many people?!’

I was stunned by the unexpected number. I had anticipated no more than 500 or 600 Talents at best.

And yet, there it was—770.

‘How is that even possible?’

Frowning, I stared at the count Diana had earned, then let out a small sigh of relief.

“Haa…”

In the end, it didn’t matter.

Even though the heroine’s plot armor had boosted her total far beyond what I had expected…

‘I still won.’

I could be certain now.

Just as the Pope, who had maintained an impassive expression throughout, was about to call the next contestant—

“Wait! Stop! This is outrageous!”

A thunderous voice suddenly echoed through the hall.

All eyes, including mine, snapped toward the source of the commotion.

It was a middle-aged man who had jumped to his feet, his face pale as he shouted.

“Your Holiness! There’s been a mistake! The numbers are wrong! According to the records, this can’t be right…!”

The Pope’s expression darkened as he warned the man.

“Marquis Barelotte, objections to the Talent count must be addressed after the event has concluded…”

“But there’s been a theft at Diana’s booth!”

Marquis Barelotte completely disregarded the Pope’s words, shouting at the top of his lungs.

“One hundred Talents are missing!”