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Chapter 70
And so, here I am now.
I woke up the coachman, who had been sleeping soundly, and made him drive the carriage to the Temple of Pateles.
In doing so, I apparently violated a worker’s rest period and forced unfair night labor, resulting in my infamy stat rising by 10 and karma by 1…
‘Let’s not think about it. Thinking just adds stress.’
Anyway.
Even though I was doing my best to remain calm as we headed toward the Temple of Pateles, why did the journey itself have to be filled with trials and tribulations?
“Huuu… sob, sob! It’s so late at night… it’s dangerous, sob…”
First of all, having Sophie’s crying as my background music was already tormenting enough.
Of course, I hadn’t wanted her to come along. It’s like she had some kind of sensor installed—she immediately figured out I was heading out alone and clung to me.
“You’re a minor! What are you doing following me at this hour? Night labor is strictly forbidden!”
“Huh? Oh, miss, what are you talking about? I’m thirty this year…”
The fact that Sophie wasn’t a minor but was actually thirty years old came as a shocking revelation.
In any case… normally, I would’ve shaken her off somehow, but I couldn’t today. I had a gut feeling that waiting until morning would be too late.
“Miss, we’ve arrived.”
At the sleepy voice of the coachman, I hurriedly jumped out of the carriage, notorious for its horrible ride.
“Ah, Miss! That’s dangerous!”
Sophie gasped and ran after me without missing a beat.
And so, we entered the Temple of Pateles, which, being early dawn, should’ve been quiet—
“What the…? Why are there so many people?”
It wasn’t quiet at all. The temple was packed with devotees here for early morning prayer.
‘This is insane…’
Whether in real life or in-game, deeply religious people really are the same.
I briefly thought my plan to approach the offering priest, Kerak, quietly had failed—but I soon changed my mind.
With this many people, it might actually be easier to slip through.
“Miss, did you… perhaps come to pray?”
Sophie’s hopeful voice rang out behind me, and I gently shoved her into the crowd of worshippers with a warm hand.
“Uh? Miss? Miss…!”
“Stay there. I’ve got business elsewhere!”
Despite her desperate calls, I had no choice but to ignore her. I needed to see Kerak immediately.
‘I need a pardon. ASAP.’
My worries about karma could be easily solved with a single pardon.
But the reason I was so sensitive about karma was because pardons have a usage limit.
Sigh… honestly, I didn’t think I’d need another one this soon.
‘Still, better than walking around with sky-high karma.’
If your infamy or karma gets too high, even entering the temple becomes difficult. They’ll block you right at the entrance.
Today, the holy knight at the entrance only looked at me suspiciously but didn’t take any action.
But once your karma exceeds 200, they start doing background checks…
So right now—this razor-thin moment—was the perfect time.
Avoiding the people heading to the prayer hall, I quietly made my way toward the offering chest where Kerak was.
Kerak, whose face was now quite familiar to me, was nodding off in front of the offering box.
‘…Why did he even become a priest?’
Was it for money?
With his talent for extortion, he could’ve made more at a shop.
I approached Kerak, my mind full of such very reasonable questions.
“Excuse me.”
When I tapped his shoulder—
“…? Oho! Devotee!”
His eyes instantly lit up as if he hadn’t just been asleep seconds ago.
“It’s been a while. What brings you here at this hour? Ah! Could it be you’ve come to prove your faith?”
“Prove my faith,” he says…
Calling extortion that is seriously pushing it. But I forced a smile and nodded.
“Ah, yes. Haha…”
“Then I shall gladly accept your noble heart.”
Kerak said solemnly. I immediately pulled out 5,000 dalings from my pocket and dropped it into the offering box.
Now that the wallet was open, it was time to get to business.
I whispered to Kerak in a low voice.
“You know… I need that thing.”
“Ah, you mean that? Hmm, hmm…”
“…?”
What’s with the weird atmosphere?
As I looked at him, confused, Kerak scratched his head awkwardly and said,
“Paper and ink prices have gone up recently…”
“What?”
“To get the thing you want, it’ll cost you 50,000 dalings, devotee. Hohoho.”
That’s way too expensive!
My karma level isn’t even that bad—why this price hike?
Just as I was growing suspicious, a system message popped up.
[SYSTEM]
The worldly ‘Offering Priest Kerak’ can estimate a devotee’s general financial status just by their clothing!
‘Offering Priest Kerak’ has concluded that you—infamous villainess of the Bregenz Empire—are extremely wealthy!
Be happy and accept it!
+5 Gullibility
…So I came to get rid of a problem and instead added another.
But I couldn’t exactly deny that the robe I was wearing was a top-tier custom piece from Florence’s Boutique.
Fighting back tears, I handed over an additional 45,000 dalings.
‘It’s okay. I’m fine…’
Even though I had major expenses lately, I still had some leftover money from selling magic stones…
After obtaining the pardon through tears, I ripped it apart furiously.
Riiiip—
[SYSTEM]
You’ve used a ‘Pardon’ issued by the Temple of Pateles. Choose your effect:
-
Reduce Karma by 100
-
Gain 24-hour immunity from all curses
I immediately chose the karma reduction.
· Karma: 61/999 (100↓)
Phew, it’s over…
Now I should just find Sophie and head home.
“Hey, you.”
Just then, a voice called out from behind.
“Eek!”
Kerak’s face turned ghostly pale.
He leaned in close to me, whispering frantically in a lowered voice.
“Don’t ever mention the pardon. If we get caught, we’re both going to Temple court. Got it?”
He quickly snatched the torn parchment from my hand and stepped back.
He tried to look calm, as though nothing had happened…
‘Your hands are shaking, I can see that.’
Who the hell could it be?
I turned my head, confusion written all over my face.
“…….”
Shit. I’m screwed.
I quickly turned my head back and racked my brain, desperately trying to figure out how to get out of this.
Because the person I saw was…
· Ernst Heine
Age: 25
Occupation: Captain of the Holy Knights
Titles: Shield of Protection, Iron-Blooded Inquisitor
The one person I absolutely never wanted to run into.
‘Is this real life?’
Why, of all places, did I have to run into him here?
Why? Why?? WHY???
My internal screams echoed through my chest, but reality didn’t change at all.
“Devotee, may I have a word?”
His soft voice made it impossible for me to feign ignorance and flee.
As I turned my body, feeling like my legs were creaking unnaturally, I responded stiffly.
“Uh… w-what is it?”
Ernst’s silver eyes widened slightly, as if surprised.
The way those clear, beautiful eyes seemed to look past just my face filled me with dread.
‘Don’t tell me… can he feel my infamy?’
What if I get dragged away and forced to kneel for 3,000 prayers a day?
Recalling the horror stories from other players who were tortured under the guise of “faith training” by Ernst, I was filled with fear.
At this moment, not even Ernst’s godlike handsome face, mysterious silver hair, or perfect nose meant anything.
I just prayed desperately that those red lips wouldn’t say: “Devotee, to the Secret Chamber, please.”
“Devotee.”
At last, Ernst spoke elegantly.
“Y-yes…?”
Thump, thump, thump.
My heart pounded like mad.
I was scared the sound might be audible outside.
And then, finally, he asked:
“Are you a good person… or an evil one?”
“…?”
What… what kind of question is that?
