Chapter: 264
“…What do you mean by that?”
Phoebe blinked at my suggestion of selling our dignity.
I get it. If it were someone else saying this, I would’ve rolled my eyes and called them crazy.
But this was something I absolutely had to explain.
The person we were going to meet, Isabel Artea, is a pervert obsessed with the divine. Even for Phoebe, the false saint of the Church of the Lord, this would definitely be a shock.
No matter how saintly Phoebe is, facing that pervert directly is bound to cause some serious mental trauma. I had to give her a heads-up so she could prepare herself.
And above all, in extreme circumstances, we might really have to sell our dignity together. It’s better to warn her upfront than to have her blame me later.
“Let’s just say she’s… a very strange person.”
“That disgusting fanatic is so far from normal. If she has divine connections, she might even lick a pit.”
“Miss Artea, you mean?”
“…Uh? Phoebe, no way.”
“Pathetic saint, do you know about that perverted fanatic?”
“Of course. She’s quite a benefactor to the Church of the Lord. I’ve run into her several times at formal events.”
Thinking back, that was true.
Isabel Artea has been closely associated with the Church for a long time. Where else would our knowledge of the various sacred artifacts she collects come from?
Through her immense wealth, she created a connection with the Church and acquired various sacred relics.
Naturally, she must have participated in many events and met Phoebe face to face.
“The Isabel Artea I know is such a dignified and relaxed person.”
“Are you serious?”
“Is that crazy woman?”
Dignified? Relaxed? Seriously, where could you even use those words to describe that pervert?
As I gave my serious response, Phoebe broke into an awkward smile.
Hmm. Are you saying Phoebe really hasn’t experienced anything unsavory? She seemed to have been eyeing me like she wanted to lock me away the moment she saw me.
Now that I think about it, I don’t recall any mention in the game’s story of Isabel doing anything to Phoebe.
Is it because Phoebe is a fake saint?
“Anyway, you mean we’re meeting Miss Artea to ask for something, right? I’ll do my best!”
With no clue about Isabel’s true nature, Phoebe firmly declared she would certainly help me. That pure, oblivious look is kind of heartwarming.
Sure, Phoebe. I won’t feel the need to explain reality to you.
After all, once you genuinely become a true saint, you’ll figure it out naturally.
When that moment comes, you’ll realize my warnings were indeed true.
*
Meeting Phoebe before heading to the Artea family was for various reasons.
Partly because Phoebe plays an important role in executing the plan I had in mind.
Partly because she’s the closest person to me.
And partly because she seems like someone who would readily listen to my requests.
Among those reasons was also the fact that she could help us gain easier access to the Artea family.
Just yesterday, I hastily dealt with the guards of the Artea family.
No matter how fond the head of the Artea family is of me, that feeling wouldn’t extend to the guards. There’s a possibility that yesterday’s commotion might happen again.
And there’s Phoebe. The face of the Church of the Lord, who has accumulated a lot of good deeds—she’s basically the idol of the continent!
No one could dare respond harshly when Phoebe greets them with a smile!
So, if Phoebe steps up, we could enter the Artea family without bloodshed!
Thinking that way, I intended to leave the guards in Phoebe’s capable hands before entering the Artea residence.
“Welcome! Young Lady Alrn!”
““Welcome!””
“We truly apologize for the inconvenience caused last time!”
““We’re sorry!””
My worries seemed extremely unnecessary at this point.
As soon as they laid their eyes on me, the guards at the entrance bowed their heads.
Isn’t this strange? Just yesterday, the guards were giving me such dirty looks when I left!
What on earth did Isabel do after I left?
I was curious but decided not to ask. There didn’t seem to be anything good in finding out.
With that warm welcome, we were immediately guided to the reception room of the Artea residence.
There was no wait time. Before Phoebe and I even got to sit down, Isabel Artea arrived.
“Welcome, Young Lady Alrn. It’s an honor to have you visit us again today.”
As she stepped into the room, Isabel Artea, exhibiting the dignity expected from a noble, attempted to give a courteous greeting, but her intentions fell flat.
Her neat outfit and graceful movements were fine, but her expression? Now, that was another story.
Her overly excited, almost melting smile was by no means a face befitting a noble—or any human, for that matter.
I could firmly declare: that was definitely the face of a pervert.
No wonder Phoebe looked so shocked and froze her smile.
“…Ah. You’re with the saintess. My apologies.”
After rambling on, Isabel noticed Phoebe beside me and hurriedly composed herself, taking her seat in front of us.
Her reaction toward Phoebe was definitely more normal.
Maybe it’s not the quantity of her divinity that matters but the quality wrapped inside.
…Damn. If that’s the case, I might have to be the one sacrificed in the worst-case scenario.
I’ll have to make sure we avoid that kind of situation.
After wrapping up the usual formalities, Isabel took a sip from the tea brought in by the attendants and examined our faces.
Then, as she set the teacup down, she directed her gaze at me.
“So, Young Lady, what brings you here today?”
“I need some necessary items.”
“I thought you’d have all the extravagant items in the world already, so why would you need anything more?”
“I wasn’t in need of anything apart from the slab.”
That was the case. Isabel had tried to tempt me with various goods, and I outright refused, stating I didn’t need anything.
But situations have changed. To save the Burrow territory.
To dispel the darkness lurking there.
To create another sun beneath that darkness.
I needed the various sacred artifacts in Isabel’s possession.
“The circumstances have changed.”
“Still, they seem too extravagant for you.”
“What kind of items could possibly be too extravagant for me?”
Instead of answering Isabel’s question, I pulled out a piece of paper from my bosom and handed it to her.
As she quietly examined the items written on the paper, Isabel froze for a moment and then, after a frustrated smile, began reading aloud.
“The Staff of Taurnati. A staff once used by an ancient saint. It has significant historical value and is rather pricey.”
The Staff of Taurnati.
No, historical value or anything like that means nothing to me.
There’s one thing that matters: This staff has a function that amplifies divinity once a day.
“Holy water created when the Lord descended. It’s considered a sacred artifact at the Church of the Lord, making it extremely difficult to obtain.”
That pathetic god might be a pervert trying to dress little girls like bunny girls, but hey, a lord is still a lord.
Anything touched by that guy becomes a top-notch catalyst.
In this case, it would perfectly connect my divine magic with Phoebe’s divine magic.
“The soil once resident in a holy site.”
This is going to be the foundation of the miracle I need to prepare.
“Powder made from angel wings.”
The powder that will adorn my creation.
“A holy sword consecrated over the past hundred years.”
The central piece of this entire miracle.
“And finally, the divine energy you gave me instead of the slab last time.”
The source of the miracle.
As I recited everything I noted down, Isabel placed the paper on the desk and let out a hollow laugh.
“All of them are truly precious items.”
Just as Isabel said, everything I listed was indeed worthy of being called sacred relics.
If I tried to buy them with money, I’d need hundreds of platinum coins!
“It’s true that I have money, but it’s impossible to have all these things in my possession, Young Lady.”
Sure, that’s correct. You can’t simply gather those items just because you’re loaded.
“You have them, don’t you?”
“Did you really come knowing this? Naive fanatic.”
But Isabel, you’re not just some rich person, are you?
You possess enough wealth to spare.
The power to access sacred relics as soon as they become available.
And an almost insane obsession with the sacred relics.
With all of this, you have everything I need.
Right?
You might fool other people, but not me.
Back when I was on my looting spree, I invaded your territory more times than I care to remember.
“Indeed. I cannot deceive you about sacred relics.”
Isabel nodded her head willingly, not denying my assertion.
“Yes. You are correct. All the items listed here are in my storeroom. However, as you know, each of these items is remarkably precious. No matter how good my intentions toward you are, I can’t just give them away as a favor.”
I know. Even if Isabel Artea is crazy about the divine, there’s a limit to that craziness.
At her core, she’s a merchant. There’s no way someone with such massive wealth would just donate it without any benefit.
“What do you intend to trade that stuff for?”
Even I wouldn’t ask someone to hand over items worth hundreds of platinum coins for nothing.
Naturally, Isabel would come up with a deal that would have her licking her lips.
It had to be a proposition that no one but me could think of or mention.
“I’ll give you the right to assist me.”
“Let’s trade the right to help me. How’s that? Doesn’t it sound like an irresistible deal for a perverted fanatic like you?”
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