PUBW 39

Chapter 39

The moment I saw the man’s face, my mood plummeted into filth.

And on Colin’s face too, the fleeting hope vanished once more.

“It has been a long time, hasn’t it, High Priest.”

High Priest Taliam.

He was the one who, ever since the divine power verification, sent me letters every single day, and a man who kept Seth in check.

He was also the one who, under the pretense of treating my mother, extorted a mountain of money while telling the Order that my mother’s illness was my fault.

“Perhaps because you have awakened divine power, I see a noble moonlight shimmering around you like an aura.”

“Thank you.”

I had grown used to Chase’s irritating compliments, so I answered automatically.

“Yet every gift I sent you was returned. Did none of them please you?”

“I am here to see His Holiness the Pope. I should be on my way.”

“Is the Duchess faring well?”

My steps halted at Taliam’s words.

How dare he mention my mother.

I had never truly believed Taliam could save her. I had only wanted to believe. I had been desperate—desperate enough to cling to false hope.

But the day Taliam cursed me and abandoned my mother, our family’s wishes had been trampled into nothing.

“Oh my, it seems she is still unwell. Even though the lady’s sickness has passed to you, the Lord granted you divine power as a last chance. Allow me to help you.”

When I remained silent, Taliam grew smug.

Back then, I would have believed those words. I had thought it was all my fault.

“And how, exactly, will you help?”

My cold gaze pierced him. But he puffed his chest out proudly.

“As High Priest, I can guide you well. If you devote yourself fully to the Lord, just as you were healed, surely the Duchess will recover as well.”

Pray, he had told me before. Pray to God, since divine power hadn’t worked on my mother.

There was no devil apart from him.

Instead of embracing the weak in the name of God, he exploited their vulnerability for profit.

“High Priest, have you not devoted yourself fully to the Lord?”

Taliam’s face twisted.

“What are you implying?”

“Oh, or is it simply your preference? Since you can change styles so freely without effort?”

“What preference…?”

“Your hair.”

Taliam froze.

The priests who had followed him looked at me with horrified expressions.

“Today’s wig doesn’t suit you at all. Perhaps try praying harder—maybe you’ll even receive a revelation.”

When I was Sasha and fought with Artif, I realized something:

If you act and talk like an Academy student, it makes the opponent extremely furious!

“Lady!”

Taliam shouted, his face flushing red and pale by turns.

“Oh? Could it be that the mighty god Odros Himself cannot cure baldness? He can heal sickness, yet baldness is beyond Him…?”

Unable to bear his rage, Taliam stomped toward me—only to be stopped three steps away.

“She is a guest of His Holiness, High Priest. Please show respect.”

The holy knights Seth had sent with Colin blocked Taliam.

Meanwhile, the family knights who had been waiting by the carriage outside the temple drew their swords, ready to storm the place if need be.

“Your letters of threats and bribes, your pathetic gaslighting—none of it works on me anymore.”

Under the knights’ protection, I walked past Taliam unbothered.

A short distance away stood Seth.

“Your Holiness!”

I called out in relief, making Taliam turn his head.

Seth only sneered at him.

“It seems Taliam placed spies on Sharl-sharl.”

Once he had led me to the parlor, Seth poured me tea himself and said:

“Will he try to kill me?”

“If he believes his position is threatened, yes.”

Meaning that if I joined the Azdel Church and lent my support to Seth, Taliam’s influence would weaken.

That was why Seth was building power so furiously now—to protect me.

“Then I’ll trust you, Seth.”

Looking at the dark circles under Seth’s eyes, I said firmly.

“Sharl-sharl, you need not worry about a thing. This time, no matter what happens, I’ll protect you.”

“Do you want me to become a saintess again?”

Currently, the position of Saintess in the Azdel Church was vacant.

And the candidate favored by Taliam was a strong contender.

“No. Quite the opposite.”

I blinked at him in confusion, and he explained:

“Saintess Elluna sealed the Demon King into the Hero’s Sword, then disappeared with it. Since then, no one living on this earth has had the right to demand anything of you.”

“Then why do you want me to join?”

“There are many who would use you—not only the High Priest. Unless you choose a side, they’ll never stop targeting you.”

“So the temple is no different from politics.”

“If anything, it’s worse. To survive, we must first gain power. Which reminds me—how is your divine power training going?”

His sudden question made me flinch, and I averted my gaze.

The withered flower I had left on my desk was drooping more each day, nowhere near regaining life.

“Are you sure you were truly a Saintess? Even if the power wasn’t yours originally, this is strange.”

“I just need to learn the method. I defeated the Demon King, didn’t I? So teach me already.”

“Give me your hand.”

I placed my hand on his palm, frowning.

“But why do you always ask for my hand? The other priests can use divine power without touching anyone.”

“Divine power follows concentration. If your mind falters, it scatters everywhere. But if you’re in contact, it helps contain it.”

Concentration, huh. I stared intently at our joined hands.

“Hmm, nothing’s changing at all. Did you actually practice?”

“I practiced whenever I could!”

“Then you simply have no talent. A fake saintess after all… Sorry, don’t poke me.”

I had pressed my nails into his palm; I eased off.

“Maybe you’re the one who doesn’t know how to use it. Always blaming me.”

“You’re right. I don’t know. I searched the entire archive, but couldn’t find a single record of someone possessing divine power but unable to use it.”

“Sigh…”

What good was power I couldn’t use?

Maybe only Rika medicine could cure my mother. But then, what about Artif’s curse…?

As I worried, a gentle warmth spread through our clasped hands.

“How does that feel?”

“Warm… comforting.”

So this was Seth’s divine power.

Like a flowing stream, it spread from my fingertips throughout my body.

“Remember this flow, then mimic it. Contact, focus, memory.”

Even when I released his hand, the warmth lingered.

“Amazing. It never felt like this before.”

“Because you carry divine power, you can sense the flow.”

I flexed my fingers in awe.

“That’s enough for now. Actually, I had another reason for calling you here.”

From his inner pocket, Seth produced a vial and set it on the table.

“This is the Rika leaf I asked you to analyze, isn’t it?”

The very same leaf Artif had given me.

“First, tell me—you said you have little memory of your past life, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then you must know almost nothing about demons or the demon realm.”

“They’re restricted as forbidden texts. I only know what myths say—heroic tales and such.”

Seth tapped his finger rhythmically on the table, then spoke.

“I’m sorry to bring up painful memories, but do you know why Kinan died?”

His name made my chest ache.

The child demon who tricked me into friendship, whom I killed.

“It was because he absorbed Rika medicine.”

“Correct. Humans and demons are similar yet opposites. What is medicine for humans is poison for demons.”

“You’re saying this now because…?”

It was as if I’d been struck hard on the back of the head.

“This Rika leaf has been tainted by demonic energy. It has become a demon’s herb. For humans, that makes it a poison, not a cure.”

I had half-expected it. That was why I asked Seth to analyze it. And yet… it still hit hard.

“…”

“You said this Rika leaf was given to you by Duke Redmond, didn’t you?”