TVPTL 37

Chapter 37

“Alright! I am Meria Dierdor…!”

The woman who was about to proudly announce her name suddenly staggered heavily. Two people from her party stopped her.

“W-Why! No, why! You have to accept the apology.”

“…Let’s go, let’s go.”

“Huh?”

From behind the two who were trying to drag the bewildered young lady away, I raised my voice.

“Where do you think you’re going without apologizing? If you spouted nonsense in front of the person involved, at least you should apologize.”

“Was it a false rumor?”

I quickly scanned the three people’s attire: squirrel and tree emblems, a book emblem, and a swan emblem.

I remembered.

If it was Duke Leandro, no matter how badly I spoke, he would understand perfectly.

“Or else, soon I’ll send invitations from the Duke Leandro family to all three of your houses.”

I propped my chin with my hand and laughed joyfully.

“Please do come. His Excellency, Duke Leandro, my fiancé, would love to see you.”

“Um.”

“Ms. Tekins!”

The two hurriedly raised their voices, but I sharply turned and finished climbing the stairs, slipping into the temple.

Hmph, they should tremble for months, scared about when that invitation — which they won’t even come to — will arrive.

‘I don’t even want to waste time accepting an apology.’

Entering the temple corridor, I looked around.

‘Let’s see.’

From those who came to pray, to those who came to donate or volunteer, to those who worked at the temple, and people seeking peace of mind.

The temple was packed with people for various reasons.

‘In ⟨Vacuum Flower⟩, the temple’s status wasn’t bad.’

Of course, there were a few times it almost collapsed because of greed, like in other novels.

But thanks to a few awakened high priests who acted first, it survived until now.

‘In short, it’s not a bad place.’

How many places collapse without admitting their mistakes or reflecting on their faults?

The prime example is the place I’m preparing to rob.

Compared to that, the temple admitted mistakes first and tried to fix them.

For example, they removed the threshold of the special prayer room that only nobles used.

And they helped people who lost jobs for various reasons to work at the temple.

‘Thanks to that, I’m comfortable.’

It’s easy to get in, right?

‘By the way.’

I stared down the corridor packed tightly with people.

How am I going to get through here?

Talk about bad timing.

There seemed to be some event at the temple today.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so crowded.

‘No way.’

After staring at the crowded corridor for a while, I shook my head.

If this keeps up, I’ll be stuck here till dawn.

Breakthrough!

Clack.

“…!”

Shhh-shhh!

It was a needless worry.

The moment I took a step, people parted like the parting of the Red Sea.

“That’s Lord Basel…”

“Shh! Didn’t you see those three people get wrecked in front of the temple just now?”

“Crazy dog, crazy dog.”

“If we get bitten, it’s our loss, so let’s avoid him.”

Well, it’s good.

The path got wider, and I don’t bump into anyone, so that’s really nice.

‘But the feeling is kind of complicated.’

Crazy dog, it’s our loss if bitten.

Words I had never heard in my entire life?

No, it was always full of people trying to bite me at least once.

‘Well, it’s more comfortable to be treated this way than to be treated like a pushover.’

Clack.

Shhh-shhh!

Clack.

Shhhh-shhhh!

Wherever I walked, people disappeared in an instant.

Hmm, comfortable.

“Good day, Ms. Tekins.”

Even though the temple was packed, I leisurely walked through a comfortable corridor.

A person in priest robes hurried from afar.

“I’m Niki, a senior priest.”

The priest’s eyes trembled nervously as they looked at me.

“But why have you come to the temple…?”

“Is the temple only for visits when there’s work? Can’t one visit for peace of mind or something like that?”

“Exactly!”

When I extended the end of my sentence with a slight bad mood, the priest immediately bowed.

“The temple is open to everyone at all times. But you, Ms. Tekins, haven’t visited since you were young…”

In short, ‘It’s worrying that you suddenly came. You’re not here to cause trouble, right?’

Especially since I caused a scene right after stepping down from the carriage, it must be even more worrisome.

‘Poor Ermia Tekins.’

In the world of ⟨Vacuum Flower⟩, going to the temple was a basic right like eating or drinking water.

But apparently, they hadn’t even protected such a basic right.

‘Well.’

I sighed lightly.

Those who beat and starved me wouldn’t have cared to protect that.

Besides, the less Ermia showed up at the temple, the easier it was to frame her as a villain.

“Were you perhaps offended—”

“No, rather—”

I waved my hand and looked at the priest.

“Could I meet with the person in charge of the temple’s finances?”

“Uh…”

The priest’s eyes rolled around nervously. Cold sweat dripped from their cheek.

“That’s me, but why?”

Good, quick.

I pulled out a pouch from my pocket and tossed it to the priest.

“…!”

The priest’s eyes widened as they checked inside.

Of course.

Inside was a huge amount of money enough to make even my hands tremble.

‘Calm down.’

I grabbed my trembling wrist firmly.

I had a bank balance where spending that amount wouldn’t even be noticeable.

If I didn’t spend all that savings, it would multiply several times.

I have to spend it, I really have to.

“Uh, uh, Ms. Tekins, this is…”

“It’s a donation.”

I opened my fan to cover my face. Otherwise, they might see me trembling.

“Please think of it as a small token from a heretical believer who has come after a long time.”

I smiled gently.

“I’ll visit often from now on, priest.”

“We are very grateful!”

Without hesitation, the priest bowed deeply.

They said the temple’s funds were drained due to the prolonged war, and it seemed true.

‘Well, they have to care for countless poor and find them jobs.’

No matter how much money they have, it must always feel insufficient.

“Please feel free to visit anytime as if it were your home!”

“Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll be off now.”

“Please take your time looking around!”

They put a lot of effort into it.

The priest stayed bowed until I turned and left the corridor.

‘Good.’

Now, time to find it.

I hurriedly moved around the temple, darting here and there.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Not here!

Not there.

Nothing, nothing, no, no, no, uh…

Huh?

‘Why isn’t it here?’

I wiped the sweat dripping down from how hard I had run and blinked.

Why really isn’t it here?

Why?

‘Did I miss something?’

Location? It’s the temple.

Time? Still fine.

‘I shouldn’t delay any longer.’

I came when the sun was overhead, but it was already starting to set.

Of course, I could come again tomorrow, but I wanted to finish quickly.

Because who knows when and where Beloa’s problem might flare up next.

What should I do?

“Hey, what are you going to do?!”

While I was lost in thought, a commotion broke out on one side of the garden.

“What exactly are you going to do about this?! Do you know how much this is worth?! Huh?!”

My headache was getting worse just from the man yelling loudly.

‘What on earth is going on?’