BUEC 34

chapter 34

“Tch, where did he go?!”

Yurian swept the Repentance Staff through the air as she searched the Grand Temple. Each time she completed a circle, the bamboo staff sliced through the wind with a vicious whistling sound.

Yurian’s mood was complicated. It was because of what Sol had said before she set out to find Villod.

“Lady Yuri, you are far too generous. Helping those people atone for their sins… If I were in your position, I would’ve let my enemies suffer as they are and fall straight into hell.”

Sol’s voice had been gentle as always, but there was a faint, unmistakable reproach mixed in. Still, his criticism missed an important point. She would indeed help them atone—but never because she forgave them, nor because she was magnanimous enough to forget the past.

Sol thinks too highly of me.

She would never be kind to them. There would be no touching story of unconditional love and mercy, no naïve, saintly forgiveness that led to enlightenment. The foundation of atonement was forcing people to face their sins exactly as they were. Yurian could never claim that such a path would make them happy.

Those lofty individuals had always lived in advantageous positions, enjoying everything as if it were only natural. They had lived that way from the very beginning. But what if they were made to realize that nothing in this world was ever guaranteed? Would they still be able to enjoy their so-called rights with the same innocent smiles?

If I wake those idiots up, it actually benefits me. The values of those who lead from above have to change before I can even begin to love this world.

In the end, as long as one reached the destination, the path didn’t matter. Yurian decided not to think too deeply about it. After all, the One above clearly agreed with her—otherwise, why would He sponsor her with a semi-automatic SS-rank weapon called the Repentance Staff?

With purpose in her stride, she walked forward, humming a work song.

“Ba-ba-ba~ Red flavor~ I’m dying of curiosity~ The perfect grip, the impact—that taste!”

“Uh—over there!”

Just as she exited the living quarters and entered the main hall of the Grand Temple, she felt a number of strange gazes fixed on her.

If they were hostile stares, she could ignore them as usual. But these looks carried an odd, lukewarm heat instead.

“Good afternoon, Lady Anderson. I hope you’re having a pleasant lunch.”

“—Looks like it might rain.”

A priest approached her as she instinctively went on guard. Even though her reply came out a bit sharp, he simply smiled and said he should prepare an umbrella. And yet, he made no move to step aside.

Seeing the man standing there with an innocent smile, as if nailed to the floor, Yurian felt a chill run down her spine and crab-walked sideways to slip past him.

“Lady Anderson, please take this path. I’ve swept it clean.”

“Where are you headed? Allow me to escort you.”

“Your knees must still hurt from kneeling on the cold stone floor during confession yesterday. I happen to have some excellent herbs—”

Once she passed the first priest, a second appeared. After the second, a third. Like cells dividing, their numbers kept increasing, eventually surrounding her as they pestered her without restraint.

They weren’t looking at her with open contempt like on her first day—but the subtly unhinged gleam in their eyes was terrifying in its own way.

“Enough of this! Can’t you see that Lady Anderson is uncomfortable? How can servants of the divine be so lacking in consideration, driven purely by personal desire?”

The frenzy finally came to a halt at someone’s stern rebuke.

From afar, a middle-aged man wearing garments distinct from those of ordinary priests walked toward Yurian. The priests parted before him like the Red Sea. Yurian recognized his attire—it belonged to the High Priest she had seen once before.

“Thank you. You really helped me out.”

Escorted by the High Priest, Yurian safely reached a quiet area. Was the rank of High Priest really that high? As they walked together, everyone looked on with subdued expressions, unable to approach. It was comfortable… yet somehow unsettling.

Come to think of it, how do all these people even know my name?

“Helping those in distress is only natural for a priest. But—are you truly grateful?”

“Huh? Ah—yes. Of course.”

As she bowed her head and let out a relieved sigh, the High Priest smiled gently, his eyes curving like crescent moons.

“Then may I ask one small favor?”

Even his voice was low and unhurried, exuding a dignified calm. He didn’t feel like a villain—but there was a powerful aura about him, like standing before a beast of prey.

Yet the moment the man with the voice as smooth and sweet as melted chocolate opened his eyes, Yurian realized she had grabbed hold of a completely rotten lifeline.

The look in his eyes as he stared at the sacred relic in her arms was utterly deranged.

“Just once—please strike me once with the holy relic. I beg you, please chastise my sins severely.”

“Eek! A fanatic!”

Yurian shoved the High Priest—who was old enough to be her father—with all her strength and bolted.

A beast of prey, my foot! Melted chocolate, my ass! She had momentarily forgotten that this temple was a den of unpaid, year-round-working religious fanatics.

She ran until her calves cramped, but everywhere she went—priests. Here, priests. There, priests. The entire place was a minefield.

“This way.”

“Don’t touch me!”

Cornered in a dead-end alley with no way forward, Yurian despaired.

A holy relic? Is that what they want? If I throw it, will they fight over it themselves?

Just as she was about to toss the bait to the beasts, utterly confused, a hand suddenly wrapped around her waist from somewhere.

Her body lifted into the air. Flailing, she opened her eyes—and instinctively felt relief at the familiar face before her.

“—Sir Gray Carbon?”

The one who had effortlessly pulled her up through the window was none other than Paladin Gray Carbon.

“You seemed to be in trouble. My apologies if this was an intrusion.”

“Where… where are we? And what is this heat?!”

But when she crossed through the window—

It was a paradise of shirtless men.

“B-b-b-b—!”

B-b-b—babble! Yurian’s face turned beet-red as incoherent sounds spilled from her mouth. The holy knights, who had been deeply focused on training, were just as startled to see her suddenly pop in through the window.

Before they could react properly, Gray slammed his wooden sword against the floor to draw attention.

“Everyone—Lady Anderson is embarrassed and has nowhere to look. Put your clothes on.”

At his reprimand, the knights snapped out of it and hurriedly pulled on their discarded garments. Their sweat-soaked, muscle-swollen bodies resisted being dressed; some struggled while others popped buttons.

These pure-hearted knights seemed tragically unaware that their flushed faces and heavy panting only made things more embarrassing.

“Um… you really don’t have to do that just because of me…”

Despite Yurian’s protest, Gray insisted that all knights put on outer garments and fasten their buttons all the way up to their necks.

Meanwhile, in the heat- and sweat-filled training hall, Gray alone remained impeccably neat. When Yurian stared at him in wonder, he seemed to misunderstand and smiled gently.

“I don’t sweat much, so it’s fine for me to stay dressed.”

“I—I didn’t say anything!”

“What exactly were you running from?”

When Yurian protested with an aggrieved look, Gray smoothly ignored it and changed the subject. Feeling oddly defeated, she sighed and played along.

“A pack of priests hunting holy relics—scarier than hyenas going after prey. Life in the temple is rough. I shouldn’t have agreed to stay.”