Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 100
The goddess spoke.
[The one lacking faith is leaving.]
“Yes, but I can’t hold him back. Everyone believes Irene is the Saintess.”
[It is unfortunate.]
“Still, the king of the west stayed, right? If I show my faith and persuade him, he will understand the goddess’s will.”
[That is why you are here.]
A small laugh from the goddess echoed.
[You are doing very well.]
“Truly?”
[Of course. Many priests are already learning the truth.]
“That’s right. They all believe in my sincerity.”
Ramiel answered with shining eyes.
[So, let’s keep trying.]
“Yes, my goddess.”
After meeting the goddess, the emptiness in her heart felt like it was filling up again. Yes, this was her rightful place.
‘I am the true Saintess.’
Roxon, the high priest, also agreed with Ramiel. It was unfortunate that High Priestess Grein wasn’t present, but she would meet her later.
‘I’ll persuade her then.’
Thinking this, Ramiel resumed her prayers.
Shah-Naz had contacted her, wanting to see her one last time, but she ignored it. It was not the right time to meet him now.
Shah-Naz is fond of her, but he lacks faith.
It would take time to fill that faith, and he would leave the center before then, so there was no need to waste energy.
[It is truly hard to maintain faith.]
“Still, I’m glad Sage stayed. He will soon recognize the right thing and serve the true one.”
[Of course.]
The goddess replied kindly and slowly distanced herself from Ramiel.
Upwards, further upwards. She ascended to the top of the temple and looked down.
The top floor of the temple was quite high, and from there, she could see the city stretched out far below. The pristine white buildings, spaced evenly, made the city look truly beautiful.
“Now it’s mine.”
The goddess, Camille, spoke with a smile.
What an enviable sight. How much she had longed for this.
She had craved it all the time she was trapped in darkness.
Born because of the goddess, Camille was nothing like her. Her nature, filled with greed, was the opposite of the benevolent goddess.
But she liked it that way. Sacrificing and helping did not suit her temperament.
“Really. How could there be a child so perfectly suited to my taste?”
Camille couldn’t contain her excitement and hummed a tune. The soft-hearted goddess had temporarily left the temple to follow the pitiful Saintess.
When Camille tried to seize the temple in that moment, Ramiel had caught her eye. She looked like an angel on the outside, but inside she was similar to Camille.
“Greedy.”
And that was good.
“I wonder how long this can be hidden.”
The goddess was currently distracted and not paying attention to this place, but soon she would notice something amiss.
Before then, Camille needed to turn as many people to her side as possible.
“Faith is power.”
When enough faith gathered, Camille could rise to the same position as the goddess.
She firmly believed in that.
* * *
Shah-Naz, having completed all preparations, left the center.
He was a bit worried about Sage, who was suffering from headaches, but he was a king and would manage well on his own.
‘The problem is me.’
Could he kneel before the Saintess again? Could he beg for a miracle?
Last time, with Sage’s leadership, they managed somehow, but this time he was alone. Burt and Garan were with him, but they would not be of much help.
Shah-Naz traveled for several days and reached the first village in the south.
However, he still couldn’t see the Saintess. She would be coming from another route.
After renting the only inn in the village, Shah-Naz washed up and went downstairs for a meal.
He enjoyed dining with his knights and intended to do so again.
At that moment, a bard entered the inn.
“Everyone, I’ve brought news!”
He entered enthusiastically but took a step back when he saw the area filled with burly people.
“Hey, Al.”
Spotting the familiar innkeeper, he sighed in relief.
“What’s going on?”
“The king rented out the entire inn. But the news, what’s that about?”
“Well,”
The bard whispered something into the innkeeper’s ear.