For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 42
I decided to try my hand at a good deed that I hadn’t done before, a bit of unnecessary meddling. With one small act of kindness, the boy wouldn’t have to go hungry today.
“Hey.”
I bent down in front of the boy, casting a shadow over his small head. His dull, brown eyes slowly turned toward me.
“Can you run an errand for me?”
“…Yes!”
At the word ‘errand’, the boy’s eyes, which had seemed ready to fade away at any moment, sparkled with a glimmer of hope.
“Can you guide me to the temple?”
The boy instinctively looked beyond the bridge. I knew, too. Once you cross this bridge, turn right at the hideous three-story building, and the temple will be there.
Even though I knew, I pretended not to and asked the boy for the favor. The boy, who had been rolling his eyes, quickly nodded.
It was a desperate nod, as if he couldn’t afford to miss out on such an easy errand.
“Yes! I’ll take you there right away!”
The boy’s steps, as he walked ahead, seemed oddly cheerful. Was it because I gave him such an easy task?
That small, chocolate-colored head might already be contemplating what to eat today.
Following behind him, I chuckled quietly to myself, and before long, we arrived at the temple entrance.
“Here we are!”
“Thank you.”
I wiped the dirt from the boy’s cheek and asked how much he wanted for the errand. After hesitating for a moment, the boy finally answered slowly.
“10 copper, Miss.”
“10 copper?”
I only asked because his voice was so quiet, but the boy shrank even more and quickly corrected himself.
“Even 5 copper is fine…”
Ah, so he was trying to overcharge me.
Although it was a clumsy attempt, I handed the clever little boy 1 silver coin. A small gesture of sympathy for a child who had no choice but to learn to lie in order to survive in this harsh world.
“Huh? 1 silver is too much…”
“I’ve got another errand for you. How about that?”
“What kind of…?”
“Help me find someone.”
***
The temple was bustling with worshipers and priests. It was even busier than the market I had just passed through.
I’d heard that this was the largest temple in the Lubrun Empire, so I suppose it made sense.
I wandered around, peeking here and there, until I came across a large statue of an angel.
‘What was this angel’s name again…?’
“Lady Natasia, I’ve come to see you again today!”
A child who appeared out of nowhere clasped their hands together in front of the statue, and it was only then that I remembered the angel’s name.
Natasia, the angel worshiped like a god by the people of the empire. Occasionally, she would descend and perform miracles.
I stared at the angel’s face, with her long hair flowing down to the floor, then turned away.
I didn’t believe in angels or gods, nor did I feel like greeting an angel worshiped by priests who demanded ridiculous donations from their followers and extorted contributions from nobles.
“Excuse me. I’m here to make a donation.”
I grabbed a passing priest and muttered something about wanting to go to heaven.
The priest, who had been hurrying along with a look of irritation, suddenly broke into a gentle smile.
‘A corrupt priest, I see.’
The priest looked me up and down and then scowled. It was obvious why—what kind of donation could a commoner dressed like this possibly make?
I lowered my voice, threateningly, as I addressed the priest, whose expression I could read as clearly as a book.
“Take me to the donation room for the high-ranking nobles.”
For a moment, the priest’s face lit up with surprise. It wasn’t strange that a commoner who seemed so insignificant would shock him by claiming to make a large donation.
“Y-Yes! Of course! Right this way!”
As I followed the obsequious priest, who was now bowing and sucking up as he led me to the donation room, I couldn’t help but glare at the back of his head.
I really didn’t like this temple.
The place the priest led me to was absolutely dripping in money.
The donation room, in stark contrast to the pristine white building of the temple, was lavish and extravagant, as if it had been smeared with gold and jewels.
The opulence was so overwhelming that it hurt my eyes, and I couldn’t help but grimace.
A plump priest came running up to me, pressing his fingers to his lips and placing his hand over his chest in a formal priestly greeting.
“Greetings, worshiper. I hear you’ve come to make a generous donation to our temple!”
“Yes, well…”
“Allow me to guide you through the donation process.”
“I don’t have time for small talk.”
I forced a smile, which had been threatening to freeze over, and pulled out the money pouch I had kept hidden, tossing it onto the table.
“1,000 gold.”
…Gasp.
When the priest opened the heavy pouch, his expression immediately changed, his eyes now filled with admiration as he looked at me.
I stared straight at the corrupt priest, lifting my chin.
“I’m looking to hire a novice priest to accompany me on my travels.”
“Not just a regular priest, but a novice priest?”
“Yes. His name is Ariel. He has long silver hair.”
Ariel. He was the first traveling companion I had chosen.
