Conquest Complete, So Why Is the Affection Dropping? - Chapter 8

“You are truly remarkable, Shin Joo!”

Upon returning to the temple, High Priest Largo came out to greet me with a bright smile. I’d seen him so rarely that I thought he was a temple totem, but there he was.

“Not only did you repair the collapsed wall, but you also surrounded it with a barrier. Now we can rest easy about demon beast invasions, ho ho.”

Though I had gone specifically to set up the barrier, the High Priest acted overly welcoming, like someone who had just heard about my achievements and rushed over.

I’ve never had a proper conversation with this person, so I don’t understand why he’s suddenly acting this way, but I decided to respond appropriately.

“It’s important to help the residents near the walls feel safe.”

“Indeed, your thoughtfulness is different.”

High Priest Largo led me to the inner chamber while smiling. No, is this a warehouse?

The spacious inner chamber was filled with stacked items like a warehouse, but everything was stored in splendid boxes, so it didn’t look dreary or messy like a typical storage room.

“The city’s residents were so moved by Shin Joo’s story that they brought all these gifts.”

“Um… What?”

I just returned from the outskirts today, so unless they have precognitive abilities, how did they prepare all these gifts?

“All of this is thanks to Shin Joo’s grace. And didn’t the Admiral achieve victory in the naval battle as well? It was possible because of divine blessing.”

“……”

Ah, I understand now.

Though I haven’t stayed at the temple long, I’m sort of their face, but the High Priest hasn’t had many encounters with me. We’ve never even had a private audience.

From how they always send priests and knights to prepare for Healing Time, and how I’m not allowed to leave the temple, I must be an essential existence to them. However, they weren’t treating me accordingly.

You could say they usually treat me like a stranger. Just look at how they left all my care to Hexion while washing their hands of responsibility. They needed my existence but had little interest in me as a person.

So why are they suddenly welcoming me, praising me, and presenting gifts?

It’s simple.

‘They’re trying to check the Admiral’s influence.’

Throughout the outer villages and all the way back to the temple, I heard citizens praising the Admiral. They say he drove away the enemy fleet with consecutive victories again. There’s no one more suitable to receive people’s love than a war hero.

‘So from the temple’s perspective, this must be uncomfortable.’

The temple is the heart of the Holy City, and they, who serve the Divine Master, should be the objects of citizens’ reverence and admiration, but that’s not the case.

Just when the Admiral’s popularity reached its peak among citizens due to his consecutive victories, I happened to go out to repair the wall and set up a barrier protecting the entire city. They must have decided that using me was the only way to draw people’s attention and popularity back to the temple.

Those gifts are surely props prepared to create an image of ‘the most beloved Divine Master in the Holy City.’

“High Priest. I’m quite tired from traveling far, so I’d like to rest today.”

“Oh, of course! You must rest, how precious you are, Shin Joo. We will carry out your orders in your stead, so don’t worry.”

“Pardon?”

What orders? I haven’t given any orders.

“We will invite the Admiral to the temple in your name.”

“Um, what?”

“You are God’s representative, aren’t you the one who grants our wishes?”

Oh… There’s a robber without a knife here too.

I didn’t want to learn this way that the so-called servants of God aren’t a group that obeys God, but rather a group that exploits God while maintaining just enough face to make us their servants.

‘If the Admiral, a national hero, visits the temple right after his victory, it would elevate the temple’s status – that’s why they want to use my name.’

The Admiral isn’t affiliated with the temple, so he won’t move just because the priests tell him to, but I’m different.

Shin Joo is practically a god, and it would be difficult to survive in this Holy City after defying Shin Joo’s orders. So they’re planning to use my name to order the Admiral around.

Whether in the past or present, in reality, or games, whether people or fictional characters, they truly tend to obsess over unnecessary things.

‘In this fantasy setting, it’s quite cliché for the temple to be the mastermind and axis of evil.’

But if they were going to trap the player in the temple, couldn’t they have avoided that cliché?

I want to tell them not to drag me into their power struggle, but since I’m not exactly opposed to meeting the Admiral, I feel awkward trying to stop them.

“Well… alright. Do as you wish.”

“As expected, Divine Master is so generous!”

High Priest Largo smiled brightly as if he had known my answer would be positive. I just smiled along.

Whatever. Let’s just go see this new character.

***

That morning, the atmosphere in the temple was unusual from the start.

Perhaps conscious of the Admiral’s popularity, the corridor leading to the prayer room was polished until it sparkled. It seemed to loudly proclaim to visitors, ‘See how welcoming we are? All those rumors about bad relations between the Admiral and the temple are lies.’

When I came down to the outdoor plaza, I saw holy knights lined up on both sides. Even their armor gleamed like mirrors as they stood perfectly straight, as though measured with a ruler.

Since they’re knights too, perhaps they didn’t want to appear inferior to the Admiral as warriors. Their eyes looked quite different from usual.

‘Ah. There’s Hexion.’

Perhaps because today was an official event unlike usual, Hexion stood among the holy knights instead of by my side.

How can someone maintain such a perfect posture? Though the sun wasn’t hot, the clear day must have been dazzling, yet his sculptured face showed no sign of discomfort.

While I was admiring my guardian knight from afar, I heard the deep sound of drums.

A tall figure appeared, walking between the lined-up knights.

‘So that’s the Admiral.’

White naval uniform with a cap, glimpses of blue hair underneath, and golden eyes that shone vividly even in the shadows.

The Admiral’s build was just as impressive as any of the other holy knights.

Though no one in the temple explained it to me since they only acknowledge internal temple rankings, I could tell just from his walk that he was someone accustomed to such situations. He showed no sign of tension despite being under everyone’s gaze.

‘Is this what they call the aura of nobility?’

Just walking, he exuded such a calm and elegant atmosphere that he looked more like an actor walking down a red carpet than a war hero.

“Greetings, Divine Master.”

Stopping two steps away from me, he placed one hand on his chest and bowed gracefully.

The movement was so natural and refined, like flowing water, that I forgot he was even greeting me and just stared blankly at him.

“I am Kaint, Guardian of the West and South. Glory to God, peace to the people.”

His voice was refreshing and gentle like falling water. He was truly like a prince straight out of a fairy tale.

“Ah, pleased to meet you. Admiral Kaint, congratulations on your victory.”

“It was only possible because Divine Master protected this place. On behalf of my comrades, I would like to offer a prayer of gratitude.”

Unlike his polite greeting, my voice betrayed my nervousness, which was embarrassing, but seeing Kaint’s smile made that feeling quickly disappear.

‘Heavens. How can someone smile like that?’

That smile should be photographed and designated as a national treasure. Even if the most evil demon appeared, one flash of that smile would surely exorcise it instantly.

“Divine Master.”

“Yes?”

A large hand wearing a white glove extended toward me.

“I would like to offer a prayer.”

“…Ah.”

Look at me. I must have been entranced by his beauty. I quickly focused my eyes and took Kaint’s hand.

“In place of God, in the name of Divine Master, blessings upon you.”

“Thank you for your benevolence.”

Kaint gave a clean thank you and slowly released my hand. That allowed me to look at his face more composedly.

Though his gentle expression masked it, his slightly upturned eyes gave him a somewhat sharp impression.

It was like a naturally rough and sharp rock smoothed by waves.

Despite his large frame, rather than exuding intimidation, he gave off an impression of quiet inner strength.