The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 171
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When Roxelyn opened her eyes after suffering from a fever, the first thing she saw was an unfamiliar man.
“Nice to meet you for the first time, Lady Bellion.”
“…It really is the first time we’re meeting.”
Roxelyn answered with a somewhat reluctant expression as she looked at the man she was encountering for the first time, both in her past and present lives.
“I heard you weren’t feeling well, so I came to visit.”
“That’s considerate of you, but…”
Roxelyn narrowed her eyes, slowly scrutinizing the man with white hair standing before her.
He was dressed in a somewhat shabby-looking priest’s robe, an immaculately white fabric.
His appearance resembled that of a researcher who had been locked away in a lab for a long time, with his priest’s robe hanging loosely and his hair sticking up as if he had just woken up.
Dark circles were prominent under his eyes, and a sense of exhaustion seemed to emanate from his entire body.
With his white hair and pale gray irises, the man appeared completely washed out.
Except for his pitch-black pupils, there was hardly any trace of color on him.
The man, who had his long hair braided and draped over his robe, looked like a man in his thirties who was severely worn out from work.
A pale blue gemstone necklace hanging around his neck stood out conspicuously.
If it weren’t for the piercings in his lips and ears, Roxelyn would have thought he was a rather boring and plain-looking man.
“My appearance is a bit of a mess, but please understand.”
He spoke with a tired expression, laughing weakly.
“Duke Bellion sent a sudden message at dawn, threatening to cut off all support if you died…”
“…Ah.”
So, this man was also a victim of a harsh society.
Roxelyn thought for a moment.
“Do you know me by any chance?”
“Aren’t you a priest?”
“That’s correct.”
The man laughed lightly, scratching the back of his head, and then curved his lips into a round smile.
“I’m Irvon, the High Priest. Well, I’ve only been in the position for five years, so I’m still a rookie.”
Roxelyn paused.
High Priest Irvon.
Although she was seeing his face for the first time today, she had heard plenty of rumors about him.
“I see…”
Roxelyn responded indifferently to his weak voice with a nonchalant expression.
“Is it a trend these days for everyone to hide their true nature?”
She couldn’t understand why everyone she met seemed to be hiding who they really were.
‘The High Priest isn’t supposed to have this kind of personality.’
At Roxelyn’s words, the High Priest tilted his head and asked, “Pardon?” with a puzzled expression, before lowering his head with a somewhat gloomy look.
“You’re quite cold, Lady. I was forcibly awakened and brought here by the Duke’s knights in the middle of the night.”
“But you made quite a bit of money in return, didn’t you?”
“…Well, that’s true.”
The High Priest awkwardly laughed at Roxelyn’s cold remark.
In fact, this High Priest was one of the craziest people Roxelyn knew.
Although it wasn’t openly known yet, and people were still keeping it quiet, he was an addict.
An addict to what, you ask?
Gambling addiction.
Alcohol addiction.
Nicotine addiction.
Money addiction.
In short, he indulged in every vice possible.
The High Priest was supposed to be someone who received the greatest love from the gods and possessed the most exceptional healing Abyss. Unfortunately, this time, the High Priest was this man.
He was addicted to gambling, alcohol, and cigarettes.
To him, money was more important than women or honor.
And the High Priest… gambled with the funds meant for running the temple.
He had likely rushed here in the hope of getting some leftover scraps.
“How much did you lose this time to come rushing here in the middle of the night?”
“…I’ve heard rumors that you have a keen sense, and it seems like there’s nothing you don’t know.”
He scratched his disheveled hair with a subtle expression.
As Roxelyn silently stared at him with a gaze that suggested she was looking at a hopeless case, the High Priest, Irvon, hesitantly opened his mouth with a weary face.
“I lost a lot. I blew away half of the money that came in for temple operations this time…”
Of course he had.
This man was someone who would do anything for money, whether it was committing a crime or doing something good. He didn’t discriminate.
Conversely, if one individual had enough money, he’d be the epitome of loyalty towards that person.
He was a hedonist who valued his cash cow more than his own life, unlike Gerun, who pursued pleasure in a different way.
As long as you paid him well, he would use his abilities without hesitation, and if your wealth was solid, he would remain loyal.
In other words, he was a man you could make use of.
“Do you need money?”
“Naturally.”
“How much?”
“Hmm, quite a bit?”
What does ‘quite a bit’ even mean?
Roxelyn rubbed her chin.
Despite being such a worthless scoundrel, the reason this man could become the High Priest was, of course—
His exceptionally powerful healing abilities, unmatched by anyone else.
