It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 33
“Lady Ilina.”
I turned fully toward her and spoke.
“Do you know why the kingdoms across the continent, including the Lubarque Empire, never take priests or holy knights as prisoners of war?”
“…What exactly are you trying to say?”
Ilina frowned, questioning me, but I ignored her and continued.
“It’s because we can pray for divine punishment upon heretics.”
I grabbed her arm in return, deliberately widening my eyes in an eerie manner.
“Woe unto those who witness miracles yet do not revere the divine. They shall never set foot in the sacred assembly of the Lord.”
Feigning the madness of a religious zealot, I watched as Ilina flinched and took an uneasy step back.
“Th-That’s not… I didn’t mean….”
Pale as a ghost, her eyes filled with fear.
In this world, gods existed. The miracles granted by their power were real.
And among them, ‘punishment’ was just as common a divine manifestation as ‘healing.’
…Of course, I had no intention of actually using it. But pressing her with this level of intensity would ensure she wouldn’t bother me again.
“It… it’s a misunderstanding….”
Only when I felt her trembling under my grip did I finally release her.
“Of course, it must be. You are, after all, the maid of the noble Lady Vivian of House Luanax. Surely, you are devout.”
Smiling warmly, as if I had never threatened her in the first place, I let go of her arm.
“I’ll hold off on reporting your ‘trophy’ remark to the temple for now.”
I had no real ties to the main temple, nor did I have any intention of exposing my abilities and burdening myself with both rights and obligations. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t use the threat.
“Whether it was a misunderstanding or not… I’ll be watching.”
If this ever escalated beyond mere irritation and turned into an actual threat to my safety, I wouldn’t be able to let it slide.
While Ilina and I were exchanging hushed words, it seemed Vivian had successfully persuaded Marchioness Hillis.
Supporting the older woman, she led her to one of the open exhibition rooms nearby.
Though not entirely empty, it was far less crowded than the outer hall.
Even so, as I had expected, the moment I finished treating the marchioness’s knee, several others approached, lamenting trivial symptoms as if they were grave illnesses, pleading for my aid.
Vivian, of course, responded with concerned murmurs.
“Oh my, that must be so difficult for you.”
“……”
I clasped my hands together and stared at Vivian, who was looking at me with expectant, pleading eyes.
Then, with a bright smile, I said,
“Of course, I should treat them.”
One by one, I began asking for names and symptoms.
At that moment, one of the noblewomen curiously asked,
“Why do you need our names?”
It was a reasonable question. After all, temple healers never asked for names during regular visits.
“It’s for temple records.”
“…Pardon? You’re… reporting this to the temple?”
“Yes, of course. The healing abilities of priests are gifts from the divine. Even minor miracles must be recorded and praised accordingly.”
The noblewomen exchanged uneasy glances.
“Oh… um… is that really necessary?”
“Wouldn’t it be better if this just stayed our little secret…?”
Of course, they’d be troubled.
If I reported today’s healings to the temple, they would have no choice but to make a donation. To maintain their dignity, the amount would have to befit their noble standing.
After all, weren’t they avoiding the temple in the first place to save a few gold coins?
For commoners in need, the temple sometimes accepted a single silver coin for high-tier divine healing, but when it came to nobles or royalty, they extracted as much as possible. Charity and outreach required funding, after all.
Even Lionel had made a jaw-dropping donation when he took me from the monastery. And on top of that, he still paid me separately.
If they want a freebie so badly, they might as well sell their dignity instead.
Maintaining my pleasant smile, I feigned complete ignorance.
“Oh? What do you mean? Surely, you’re not saying you don’t wish to offer praise to the divine…?”
“Oh, uh, heavens, no!”
“It’s just… my family might worry if they find out. I kept it a secret to avoid troubling them….”
“Aha, I see. I understand.”
Acknowledging them with an understanding nod, I prepared to begin treatment.
But one by one, more than half of them quietly slipped away, using various excuses.
Thanks to that, I only had to treat three additional noblewomen—those whose symptoms were severe enough that they were willing to endure the inevitable temple donation.
