The Sun God is currently in such a dire situation that he must ask for help from a soul headed to heaven.
But would the Grand Temple, which was lacking in followers, have a lot of money?
It was unlikely. They are so desperately poor that they barely survive on the donations sent from the Kiris family.
And yet, the reason why Ordell’s bedroom is so lavish is because she has been squandering that donation money.
“It was a scene from the novel too, but I had forgotten about it.”
When I first saw the dressing room, I was so startled.
Not only were there all sorts of dresses by type, but they were all extravagantly luxurious.
Let’s give up on finding a slush fund.
If all the money was wasted on luxury, there’s no way there would be a slush fund.
Then, there is only one option left.
“Sell them.”
Sell all the decorations, dresses, jewelry, and other things in this room that are worth money.
Since I’m going to leave the Grand Temple anyway, I don’t need any of it.
And the money earned from selling them should be returned to the Grand Temple, well, at least some of it… right?
“It’s not even my money, so there’s no use fretting over it.”
I quickly wiped away a tear that had formed.
But then, since I don’t know the true value of these items, I need someone to take care of all this for me…
Whom should I entrust it to?
There’s no way that Ordell, who indulged in evil and luxury, would have a friend in the Grand Temple.
It would be difficult to entrust it to Airek without the risk of him skimming some secret funds for himself.
No choice then. I must start by listing items that can be liquidated.
If I want to survive in this world, I need to know the true market price of each item.
* * *
I’ve been organizing the list for hours without stepping outside.
It was only when I heard a knock on the door that I came to my senses.
Before I knew it, the paper I was holding had become terribly crumpled.
“Lady Saint, I’ve brought your dinner.”
“Please come in.”
“……”
“……?”
Why aren’t they coming in?
Just as I was wondering if I should get up and open the door myself, someone finally entered.
He was a good-looking man with curly red hair and beautiful aquamarine eyes.
With his looks, he was definitely not just an extra.
There is only one person in the Sun God’s Grand Temple with such an appearance.
A faithful retainer who would do anything for the high priest Airek and a priest indispensable to the Grand Temple.
It was definitely Dietrich Warren.
“Is there anything else you need?”
Oops, I must have stared too hard. Dietrich hates Ordell.
Not that anyone here likes Ordell in the first place.
“No, there’s nothing.”
I put down the list I was organizing and sat at the table.
The meal is almost identical to the lunch that Airek had brought.
But why is Dietrich not leaving and just standing next to me?
Moreover, he was even staring at me, making me very uncomfortable.
“Do you have something to say–”
“I’m just waiting for you to finish eating so I can clear your plate, so please do not mind me.”
Your gaze is too intense to ignore, though.
I tried to ignore him and take a big bite of bread.
“By the way, Lady Saint, may I ask why you’re suddenly using formal language?”
I almost bit my tongue instead of the bread!
As it turns out, the bad-tempered Ordell used to talk down to everyone.
Even to the Grand Temple’s high priest, Airek.
Airek didn’t ask and let it slide, but Dietrich is outright asking about it.
‘…But isn’t this a pretty good opportunity?’
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Dietrich hates Ordell the most in the Sun God’s Grand Temple.
It’s natural since Ordell constantly belittles and disrespects the high priest he is loyal to.
Even though he knows Ordell is the real saint, he doesn’t hide his dislike for her.
If so, wouldn’t Dietrich be happy if I said I was leaving the temple?
Maybe he would even help me and persuade Airek.
“I’ve had a change of heart lately.”
“…A change?”
“Yes. I have been immature and rude to you, priests. I am truly sorry.”
I rose from my seat, clasped my hands together respectfully, and bowed to Dietrich.
“Huh, what? What did you just say?”
Oh, he’s flustered, so flustered.
I mean, Eirik was surprised too, so how could Dietrich not be?
“I feel that the role of a saint does not suit me. That’s why I plan to leave soon after setting everything in order.”
Dietrich seemed startled by my sudden declaration, seeing how his face stiffened.
“The position of a saint is not one to be taken and vacated on a whim!”
“Then you don’t mind if I continue living here like this?”
“That’s–!”
He seems unable to say he wants me to stay, even though his mouth is torn open.
He really does hate Ordell.
“Of course, I don’t mean to leave right away. I plan to compensate for the damage I’ve done to the temple as much as I can.”
“Ha! What do you mean compensate?”
“I want to apologize to everyone. To all those who have been hurt because of me.”
Dietrich’s face grew even more confused.
But I am sincere. Completely sincere, without a shred of falsehood.
“And one more thing.”
I handed over the list of items I had spent all afternoon compiling to Dietrich.
“This is a list of my possessions. I would like you to sell everything on this list and liquidate them.”
Dietrich’s eyes nearly popped out of his head at the length of the list.
He looked dazed, like a man who had been hit in the back of the head repeatedly.
“I feel like I’ve been using the money of the Grand Temple’s funds too personally, so I would like to give it back to you.”
“No, but, this is…!”
“Ah! But leave this one out.”
I pointed to a dress at the very top of the list.
It was the one that looked like it would fetch me a lot of money if I sold it.
“This one I bought with pocket money saved up from my family over time. I would like the money from selling this to be returned to me.”
Of course, that’s a lie. How would I know what Ordell bought this with?
But if Dietrich turns over all the money to Airek, I’d be leaving penniless.
I feel guilty, but even if I have to bluff, I need to secure some funds.
Please don’t let Dietrich know the origin of this dress.
“And please let me know exactly how much you sold each item for. It would be better if you could compare it with the Grand Temple’s operational funds and give me the amounts. I want to see and reflect on how thoughtlessly I’ve been spending money.”
Though in truth, it was to get a grasp of the market prices and cost of living.
“Thank you in advance.”
I gave the list back to Dietrich, whose hands were shaking, and smiled faintly.
If this goes well, I can leave the temple without any guilt, along with the secret funds!
But until this point, I did not know.
That all my plans would be completely overturned in less than a day…
* * *
Dietrich came out of Ordell’s room with a dazed expression.
He stood still for a long time, unable to leave immediately.
What in the world just happened?
Did he really just have a conversation with Ordell?
“I can see why the High Priest suddenly asked me to keep an eye on her…”
He sensed it too. That the saint was acting weird.
No, it’s not just a matter of being strange.
When Ordell handed over the list, Dietrich wondered if she had been so ill that she had lost her mind.
With a troubled look, he glanced at the list and then headed to Airek’s bedroom to report.
“She said she wants to sell everything listed here…”
Airek looked at the list with a complicated gaze.
He had just come from the prayer room, where he had been praying for repentance over the guilt of setting up a fake saint, and the news Dietrich brought only added to his turmoil.
‘And she intends to return all the money from the sales to the temple.’
In fact, most of the things Ordell possessed were bought with the Grand Temple’s operational funds.
She claimed it was right for her to use and spend them because they were donations sent from the Kiris family.
The difference between having a Lady Saint who could hear the word of God and not having one was significant enough for the Grand Temple that they brought in a fake one despite the loss. But at that moment, he felt a sense of doubt about his decision.
And now she wants to repent and return it all.
What is she really thinking?
“Ah, she said she would not return this one item. She said it was bought with pocket money she saved up from her family, and she would like the money from this sale to be returned to her.”
Then Dietrich pointed to the top of the list.
Upon seeing it, Airek’s eyes widened.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
Thank you for reading!
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