Chapter: 396
Noel Wentz, a priest of the Arts Church, had been bored to death hearing about Lucy Allen for the past few months.
The Apostle Prete, who worshipped the Goddess of Beauty and Art, was constantly singing praises for Lucy Allen, and priests and bishops who claimed to have seen Lucy through a crystal ball were making a fuss about wanting to meet her at least once. It was inevitable.
“Weren’t you there? Seriously!?”
“Wow. You’re totally wasting your life right now.”
“I still can’t forget that day. The Apostle even made a song to praise her!”
Lucy Allen had been out on another mission the day she contacted the Apostle, so she couldn’t understand her colleagues’ fuss.
What’s the big deal about a pretty person? There’s no way anyone could look more artistic than the Apostle.
Noel, who had only heard rumors about Lucy Allen and never seen her, looked at her colleagues who wanted to escape the church and go to the Allen Territory with disdain.
Even love-struck kids wouldn’t act like this, right?
Having suffered all sorts of hardships because of her lovesick colleagues, she soon developed one wish.
Just how pretty could that person be to make everyone act like this for months?!
I wish I could see her with my own eyes!
I want to confirm whether these crazy people are just acting or if she’s really that pretty!
Her wish came true in just a few days. Lucy Allen herself came to the church’s main base, where many in the Arts Church had been buzzing about her.
As soon as she heard the news, Noel burst outside and understood instantly why her colleagues had been making such a fuss once she saw Lucy emerge from the building where the teleportation device was installed.
If I saw an angel like that, I’d make a fuss too.
In fact, it would be strange if I didn’t.
How could the living artwork that was Lady Allen not inspire admiration in the people of the Arts Church?
Some were on their knees praying, some were wide-eyed as if they didn’t want to miss a moment, some burst into tears, while others mumbled to themselves as if grasping for inspiration.
As Lucy was looking around at the church members from behind the guards, she couldn’t help but chuckle and stepped forward, pushing the knights aside.
“Hey~ you older brothers and sisters. Isn’t it work time right now? Why is everyone gathered here? Are you guys a bunch of losers who throw away your lives?”
Her voice was like a heavenly melody filled with contempt and sarcasm. The members of the Arts Church were left speechless by her words.
Were they so shocked they could only listen? Lucy giggled as she continued.
“No? Or is it because you’re all pedophiles who like little girls and dropped everything to come here? That sounds kind of gross.”
Pushing past the guards, Lucy approached a priest who was kneeling and praying right in front of her and bent down to meet his gaze.
“Why are you pitifully crying, older brother?”
“W-well, it’s just…”
“Can’t you speak without stuttering? Are you just an old kid who’s grown up?”
“…Y-young Lady, you are just too beautiful…”
As the priest finally managed to express his thoughts, Lucy’s expression turned frosty.
Her brows furrowed, eyes indignant, and a look of disgust shimmering in her gaze.
“Hmm. So you’re a pervert who lusts after a girl who’s barely at waist height?”
“I-I’m not!”
“Really? Are you sure you didn’t have any weird thoughts? Can you boldly tell that to the crow you serve? Huh?”
“…”
“Ha ha ha! Look, you can’t say a thing. You disgusting little pervert. Just die. Bite your tongue and kill yourself for the world’s sake.”
Having spat out everything she wanted, Lucy felt relieved and lifted her head, only to unintentionally take a step back as she sensed the intense stares directed at her.
Having lived through countless hostilities, Lucy realized that the eyes directed at her now weren’t filled with malice.
What she saw in the eyes of the church members was entirely different from the looks directed at her by other nobles at the Academy.
It was akin to the type of looks she received from sloppy foxes and perverted apostles…
“Lady Allen!”
Lucy, bewildered by the unexpected situation, heard someone in the crowd call out.
“Don’t just reward that guy! Please consider me too!”
“Shut up! Next is my turn! I think I would receive an inspiration if I got cursed out by her!”
“Everyone be quiet! It’s obviously my turn to speak as the one who’s become a bishop!”
Startled by the madness spreading through the crowd, Lucy made a hiss sound and hid behind Karl.
The church members directed their hatred and bloodlust at Karl, but he merely puffed his shoulders in defiance, unafraid.
“Get lost! You trash! Doesn’t the lady feel scared?”
“Shut up and move aside!”
“Lady Allen! Please, just curse me out once!”
“I don’t mind if you say nothing, just look down on me with contempt!”
The frenzy in the church calmed down only after a considerable time, even after revealing the Apostle and Church Leader of the Arts Church.
*
“People are scary…”
Having barely escaped from the frenzy created by the perverts of the Arts Church, I sat on a sofa, pulling my legs up to calm my mind.
[Why did you feed the crazies, huh?]
“Who knew there would be so many lunatics!”
I won’t say it’s entirely my fault! I was the one who instigated it!
But how was I supposed to predict that everyone from the Arts Church would be as crazy as a perverted apostle?
I was hoping for something entirely different!
I thought I’d see someone furious and red-faced, but wouldn’t actually show their anger!
I wanted to get back at those perverts while playing around with those fools!
Why did it turn into me encountering lunatics asking to be stomped on?!
Was it such a big mistake to think the people of the Arts Church would be relatively normal!?
[Be careful next time. You had your guards with you this time, but who knows what’ll happen later?]
“Do you think I’d act like this if there wasn’t anyone to protect me?”
Of course, I’d only do it because I thought I could escape safely. I might be foolish, but I’m not that mindless.
[You’re not saying you won’t, are you?]
For a moment, I found myself at a loss for words at my grandfather’s comment.
‘…Um. Well, there might be circumstances where it can’t be helped, right?’
[Are there really situations that require you to stomp on someone’s dignity?]
“Why! Why not! It could happen!”
Reality can be more dramatic than fiction! Evaluating the feasibility with our meager imagination only leads to senseless moments!
Isn’t it nonsense that the Arts Church is filled with such perverts!?
If there are so many perverts wanting a curse, then maybe there’s a situation where I should curse them instead!
[Well, if you think so, I guess it is.]
“Grandpa! Keep that up, and I really will get mad?!”
[Is it wrong to understand? I just feel so wronged.]
“I swear you’re not taking this seriously!”
While I vociferously argued with my grandfather, a knock came at the door of the reception room.
Nodding to Erin, asking what to do, she signaled me to let her in.
As the perverted apostle entered the reception room, he slammed his head to the ground as soon as the door closed behind him.
“I’m really sorry, Lady Allen! Our church members committed a grave rudeness!”
I was about to unleash my frustration when I was taken aback and let my mouth hang open at the perverted apostle’s apology.
“It wasn’t intentional! Our people were just mesmerized by your beauty!”
“Do you really think that justifies their rudeness?”
I was still blinking in bewilderment when Karl, standing beside me, raised his voice sharply.
What’s up with him today? Usually, he quietly stands behind me unless I say something.
“Of course, I’m not trying to say that we were in the right! We will gladly pay the price for that! However…”
“Do you know how afraid our lady was just now? This is a clear issue!”
Hearing Karl’s furious voice made me realize why he was acting this way.
Now that my expressions can change freely, he was genuinely upset by how frightened I looked.
“Shoddy dog. Did I ever say you could bark at any time?”
He means well, but this isn’t the behavior I was wishing for. Acting on his own without me saying anything crosses the line.
“…U-uh, that is…”
“Shut it.”
“…”
“Our shoddy dog is too dumb to realize his actions are a nuisance, huh?”
“…I’m sorry.”
After shutting up the puppy, I turned my attention to the perverted apostle. He looked up dazedly at Karl, then hastily met my gaze.
“Perverted Apostle. Don’t waste my valuable time with nonsense. Just breathing here is disgusting; I want this sorted out quickly.”
“Understood!”
As if waiting for my cue, the perverted apostle jumped up and knelt beside me instead of sitting across from me.
The question “What are you doing?” almost slipped out, but I decided to ignore it as it would only tire me out.
“I didn’t come to this disgusting place because you fool’s plans are so pathetic and ridiculous.”
“…Are you referring to the purging plan?”
Upon hearing the perverted apostle’s question, I didn’t answer but looked over at Alsatine. He quickly understood my intention and stepped in between us to calmly explain the situation.
Initially filled with confusion, the perverted apostle’s face began to show seriousness as Alsatine continued.
“So, it’s highly likely to be a trap.”
“Yes. As you can see, the information is unusually accurate. It’s safe to assume they’ve been tipped off in advance.”
As the perverted apostle posed various questions to Alsatine, it didn’t take long for him to acknowledge that this plan shouldn’t be executed. The potential losses felt far too great.
“Thank you so much, Lady. Thanks to you, we can avoid unnecessary sacrifices.”
“No need for that. I just thought you were too pathetic and dumb to bear.”
“Still, that doesn’t change the fact that I am thankful. Please allow me to repay you after this is over.”
While I imagined what might be needed to explain things to the church members, I hummed a tune.
Now I’ve managed to block a trap laid by the Followers of the Evil God, and I’ve gotten a reason to ask the perverted apostle to teach Erin.
I just need to finish things up here and return to the Allen Territory.
Then I can rest until the academy reopens.
Because I used up too much mental strength today.
However, contrary to my expectations, I couldn’t leave the Arts Church right away.
“Lady Allen, I think I’m going to need your help a bit.”
The people of the Arts Church were crazier and more ridiculous than I had imagined.
Even after warning them it was a trap, they still shouted they were willing to crawl right into it.
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