TVWRL Chapter 31
Chris spoke gently with a soft smile.
“Why are you suddenly curious about that?”
“I was wondering if perhaps there’s a shortage of people and Saintess Leona is having difficulties. It’s embarrassing to say this, but I drove out all the other candidates. So, I was worried that Saintess Leona might be showing some hesitation because there’s no one else to assist her. If that’s the case, it might be better to ask the candidates who left before me to assist Saintess Leona instead of relying on me.”
“Rather than that reason… As you know, Adeline, divine power is quite rare in this era. The number of people born with divine power is significantly decreasing, which is a concern for the church. Therefore, it’s only natural that there is interest in your divine power. Having the divine power to save dying people is something that is highly valued in the church.”
“But my divine power was temporary. It can only be explained as a stroke of luck. I can’t let a miraculous event that happened once dictate my entire life. This feels like violence inflicted upon me by the Order.”
Although Chris was a good person, I still had to be cautious because he was affiliated with the church and desperately hoped for my return.
Feeling guilty for his kindness, I had no choice but to prioritize my own life over anything else.
I hid my true feelings and asked my question indirectly.
“Will the people who were previously there not help? As you know, I have a terrible relationship with Saintess Leona. I absolutely do not want to be under her.”
Chris was aware of my dislike for Leona. So, I subtly mixed lies with truth to convey my message, as the most foolproof way to avoid detection is to base a lie on truth.
“Most of the previous candidates are still here, but I don’t know the details. I’m just a low-ranking priest who has barely managed to finish the training. I’m sorry that I can’t be of more help to you, Adeline.”
Feeling guilty for pressuring a kind person, I decided to use the celebration as an excuse to invite him to dinner.
“No, that’s not necessary. You don’t need to do that…”
Chris rubbed the back of his neck with an embarrassed expression but I noticed the slight smile at the corners of his mouth.
“Of course, we have to. You know that when a priest is officially appointed, it’s a tradition to have a celebration with their family. Since you don’t have a family, I’ll do it as your friend.”
Chris looked at me and smiled brightly. He then whispered softly.
“Thank you, Adeline.”
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Afterward, the temple was quiet for more than ten days with no movement.
Had the High Priest taken care of things?
I began to think it might be over, feeling relieved. I was surprised at how easily and neatly things had been resolved.
However, this peace was merely a smokescreen for the temple’s preparation for a counterattack and a backroom war.
While I was complacent, the temple made its presence known. It had issued an official statement regarding me.
[Recently, the Myaria church has been overlooking individuals who falsely claim to use the goddess’s name and exploit it for economic gain. The church had previously refrained from action, believing that those who used such power would correct themselves. However, the situation has reached a point where it can no longer be ignored.
Thus, the church has resolved to investigate the true nature of the false power to prevent further damage to the goddess’s honor.
Until the source of the power is revealed, citizens of the Kinsteria Empire are advised not to be swayed by false power. Strengthen your faith through prayer in the name of the goddess.
– The Myaria church -]
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
When I saw the statement, the term ‘witch hunt’ immediately came to mind. I thought about how innocent people were wrongly accused of being witches and killed in the Middle Ages. I felt afraid.
Moreover, the moment the statement was issued, my shop was suspended indefinitely. The suspension would last until the truth about the power was determined.
I felt like a prisoner with my hands and feet bound.
‘It seems that figuring out the nature of the power means they’re testing me, right?’
Like a prisoner who had become a guinea pig for experiments.
So far, it hadn’t been a formal test, so I had managed to hide my divine power with the necklace.
But I grew increasingly anxious about whether I could do the same in a formal test conducted by the Pope and Cardinals.
There was no way I could deceive those renowned for their divine power with just this necklace.
Moreover, I feared that the moment my divine power was detected, I might be dragged away to the temple without anyone noticing.
I had to prevent that at all costs.
I habitually reached for the necklace that suppressed my divine power.
‘This power is definitely magic.’
I couldn’t just sit back and wait.
After finishing the meal that Sarah had prepared and regaining my strength, I headed to the Magic Tower.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
“Lady Adeline!”
“It’s been a while, Paulian.”
“Did you come to see me?”
“Yes. I have something to discuss.”
Paulian made the most of his strikingly handsome face and smiled brightly.
“What an honor. To think Lady Adeline would come to see me first. We should declare today a festival day at the Magic Tower.”
As expected, this person was annoying. However, given the situation, I needed his help, so I gritted my teeth and tolerated it. I was in need, so my heart grew more forgiving.
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
After greeting him calmly, I turned my gaze to the view outside the window.
As the next head of the Magic Tower, Paulian’s office was right below the top floor. It was clear that once he became the head, he would occupy the top penthouse.
“The view is excellent.”
The Empire, seen from such heights, was peaceful and beautiful, just as I had read in novels.
Of course, I’m struggling fiercely while living within that environment.
Paulian handed me a cup of tea and sat down in front of me.
“I was planning to come and thank you anyway, but since you’ve come all this way, it seems Lady Adeline and I have some sort of connection.”
Paulian flashed a bright smile and winked at me.
‘Oops. I hope I didn’t misjudged him. He’s acting just like a character from a novel.’
I hid my discomfort and met his gaze.
“What’s the thanks for?”
“I recently got the proposal you gave me about magical copyright approved at the Continental Magic Tower meeting. It was unanimously agreed upon as a good solution. On behalf of the magical community, I pay my respects to Lady Adeline.”
“I’m glad it was helpful.”
“I don’t know how to repay this favor.”
Seeing the genuine gratitude in Paulian’s eyes gave me courage.
Although I had come to see him, I had been internally debating whether to reveal the truth to him.
I knew Paulian had a negative view of the temple.
However, there’s a difference between harboring resentment and engaging in actions that could make them enemies, so it was a dilemma.
Still, Paulian and I weren’t close enough to risk it…
But if he thought he owed me a favor, it was worth a try.
I planned to attack him if he didn’t listen, claiming that a nobleman who valued honor should repay a favor with enmity.
I looked directly at Paulian and spoke seriously.
“Paulian, do you truly believe you owe me a favor?”
“Absolutely.”
Paulian replied with the same seriousness, his expression reflecting the pride of a noble.
“In that case, please repay that favor in the way I want.”
“You must have a request. Of course, I will repay you in the way you want.”
I nodded slightly and looked at him with greater urgency than ever.
“Please help me.”
Paulian looked surprised by my desperation.
“Lady Adeline, feel free to ask for anything. What kind of help do you need?”
I still felt uneasy and needed some assurance.
“Can you make a promise of secrecy before that?”
“Of course. I will stake the honor of the Lint family and also make a magical oath of secrecy as the next head of the Magic Tower.”
Paulian pricked his finger with the end of the necklace he was wearing and let the blood sprinkle into the air.
“I, Paulian Lint, swear secrecy regarding all matters related to Adeline Senner. Should the secrecy be breached without agreement, my blood will become poison and attack me.”
His blood was enveloped in a bright light before returning to his body. It was a truly magical and astonishing sight.
I watched the magic being performed before me with awe.
“If I break the oath and reveal the secret without consent, poison will spread through my body. Does that assure you?”
Instead of answering, I removed the necklace and handed it to him.
The gem in the center of the necklace was cracked. It had been damaged after the recent incident.
Paulian took the necklace in his hand and examined it closely. His brows furrowed deeply, and his expression became troubled.
He murmured a spell quietly, and black smoke began to emanate from the necklace.
The atmosphere grew tense.
“Lady Adeline, you must answer honestly. Where did you obtain this?”
“It’s a necklace I’ve had since I was a child. It was a gift from the orphanage, but I don’t remember who gave it to me. It was just the most valuable thing I owned as a child, so I wore it every day with pride. It has become a cherished item for me now. I only recently discovered its power. The power to suppress divine energy—it’s magic, isn’t it?”
Paulian said with a serious expression,
“To be precise, it’s black magic.”
“Black magic?”
I had thought of it simply as a power that suppressed divine energy, but I didn’t expect it to be something so wicked. To think such a malevolent power was close by…
“Who could have given this to Lady Adeline?”
“I don’t know. I was too young…”
Paulian’s expression became even more serious.
“It might not just be a matter of memory. In any case, I will examine this necklace.”
