ABSVW~12

Chapter 12

The other vassals who had received grace tried to signal Viscount Scattie to stop, but he showed no intention of closing his mouth. As if he had something to rely on.

“By any chance, the patron priest isn’t that little child, is she? Our Sladeyche needs someone useful… someone who cannot even use divine power is a bit…”

Viscount Scattie stroked his beard and looked toward the Duke.

It was obvious he was trying to push me out.

Just as I thought.

He’s definitely connected to the temple.

Maybe even to Rimié.

But he only knows one side of the story.

I relaxed my stiff expression and smiled brightly.

“It’s not me.”

“Pardon?”

“I can use it.”

Unfortunately, in my past life I hadn’t been able to use divine power.

But…

That doesn’t mean it’s only for healing.

* * *

They’ve never seen this before, have they?

I gathered divine power in my hands. Light gathered brilliantly, and everyone—including the Duke—focused on it.

Then I released it upward like fireworks.

The divine power burst beautifully in the air.

People gasped in admiration.

From the middle of the story onward, I had learned to use divine power. But I still wasn’t very skilled, so I had come up with this method.

Divine Starlight!

It was simply gathering divine energy and releasing it in bursts.

But to anyone watching, it looked like a miraculous celestial display.

Of course, everyone believed it was Rimié’s technique—but in reality, it was something only I could do, because I had an absurd amount of divine power.

As shimmering light fell like stars, awe spread across the room.

Except for Viscount Scattie.

I smiled at him brightly.

Performance beats a hundred speeches of manipulation, old man.

Since I hadn’t needed to use divine power before, I hadn’t trained it—but it had fully recovered.

Silence filled the room as everyone stared.

Then someone finally spoke.

“My… what divine brilliance…”

“This is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in my life.”

One after another, the vassals agreed.

Those who didn’t… were either completely entranced by the divine power or—

Viscount Scattie.

He looked flustered, but quickly composed himself.

“Hm… impressive divine power. However, from what I understand—”

Old man, you really still don’t get it…

I suddenly sat down on the floor.

Then I looked up with teary eyes.

“I… I can’t hold more power… I’ll fall…”

I glanced up at Scattie through my lashes.

Would they really force a child who’s about to collapse to use more divine power?

Adults can never beat a child.

Viscount Scattie looked down at me with a stiff face.

The Duke approached and lifted me into his arms.

“That is enough.”

And with those words, the game ended.

In the end, Scattie awkwardly smiled and stepped back, muttering that he must have been mistaken.

The meeting continued, and naturally I was recognized by the vassals as a priest.

* * *

After the meeting ended, I was drawing in my sketchbook back in my room.

“Oh my, what is this? Hmm… an ugly person?”

“No. Demon.”

More accurately, it was Viscount Scattie—but “ugly person” wasn’t wrong either.

Judy, who had taken my answer as confirmation, happily brought a macaron to her mouth.

“Oh~ now that I look closely, it really is a demon~ Baby priest, say ah~”

“Ah~”

I happily munched the chocolate macaron.

Now what was Scattie’s role again…?

I drew Rimié next to him.

“What is this? A ghost lady?”

“No. Also a demon.”

Rimié had once brought Scattie to me.

She said they couldn’t just watch Sladeyche act recklessly—they had to intervene themselves.

He had brought temple secrets to them, leaked confidential meeting information, and even embezzled funds from the ducal house through forged accounts.

He sabotaged Sladeyche from the inside.

He’s even worse than I remembered.

In the original story, this was framed as “refreshing justice,” resolving Sladeyche’s supposed incompetence…

But now that I was under Sladeyche’s protection, that version was unacceptable.

“Oh my. Becca.”

At Judy’s voice, I turned around with my crayons still in hand.

A calm-looking maid stood beside Sophia.

Sophia, looking relaxed, introduced her.

“Baby priest, this is Becca. She’s been newly assigned.”

So she was newly assigned.

I guess I’ve become an important guest now.

I bowed my head.

“Hello.”

“Greetings, Priest-nim. My name is Becca.”

She seemed quite composed. Unlike Sophia and Judy, who couldn’t hide their excitement whenever I spoke.

“Becca was originally assigned earlier, but she often works outside, so she couldn’t greet you before. From now on, she will serve only you.”

As I tilted my head, Becca placed a hand over her waist and bowed slightly.

“My skills are humble, but I used to train at the practice grounds with Sophia—”

Sophia quickly poked her, sweating nervously.

Right… she used to hide that she was a former mace-wielding knight.

I already knew.

No helping it then.

I clasped my hands and smiled brightly.

“This is a secret, but Nana likes knights more than priests. They’re cool.”

“C-cool?”

“Yeah. Like knights in stories—saving princesses like this!”

I mimicked swinging a mace. Sophia gasped dramatically.

“I quit being a knight because there was no one left to beat, but maybe I should become a knight again—”

“But Nana likes having Sophia next to her more.”

At that, Sophia covered her mouth and hugged me tightly. My cheeks squished like a bun.

“Aaaaah! Then I’ll stay by your side forever!”

“F-forever?”

I panicked and flailed my arms.

Becca watched quietly with a faint, bitter smile.

What is that expression?

Before I could think further, her communication stone flashed.

“It’s a signal from the training grounds.”

Sophia nodded.

Becca bowed.

“I will finish my remaining duties and return.”

She walked away.

I watched her back quietly.

“Becca’s job… what is it?”

“She mainly organizes weapons.”

Weapons…?

I kept watching until she disappeared down the corridor.

* * *

Becca didn’t seem to notice if anyone followed her.

So she’s not the one…?

Her steps quickened, and I hurried after her.

“What do you think you’re doing!”

She had arrived at the training grounds where servants sorted weapons.

One servant held his stomach, while others sneered at Becca.

“Lady maid, why don’t you just stick to your usual work? It’s not like you can stop us anyway.”

Becca trembled.

Is that injured servant someone she knows?

The injured servant slowly lifted his head. He looked very similar to Becca.

So it was true—she really couldn’t stop them.

There was definitely something behind this. Something related to that incident.

I stepped forward.

“P-Priest-nim?”

The servants quickly knelt.

They were probably about to twist the story.

“It was just discipline—”

As expected.

I ignored them completely and walked up to the abused servant.

Then I whispered just one thing.

“Quickly… knock over weapons.”

At my words, the servant—who resembled Becca—hesitated, then nodded.

He suddenly tripped deliberately.

Crash—!

Weapons scattered everywhere.

“Damn it! Useless brat! You want more punishment?”

Yes, yes. Perfect.

Now say more.

I quickly rubbed my eyes until they turned red.

And just as planned—

Voices arrived.

“What is going on here?”

Sladeyche knights.

Before anyone could explain, I dropped to the ground crying.

“It hurts… it hurts… I’m scared of being hit more…”