After Nian left,
Talis was troubled.
“Vine...”
A way to create even a small gap, to tarnish his image.
He groaned and clicked his tongue.
Vine was a family so powerful that they were almost called a sacred family.
The people of the empire, who could only see an inch ahead, would defend them no matter what Vine did.
The people of the temple had become even more arrogant after being chosen by the Saintess, and they could not possibly like Vine, who had raised the pride of the Saintess they had secretly looked down on.
However, the people of the empire were different. Even if they committed some corruption, they would not curse Vine as long as it did not affect their real lives.
‘You took care of the monsters before the paladins?’
Talis, who clearly remembered the people of the empire who had been talking like that, ground his teeth.
They are foolish people who would clean up after Vine even if he danced with the devil!
Even Vine eventually destroyed the monsters for his own gain, and he was so stupid to praise them!
Talis bit his lip and fell into thought.
To catch Lady Alinica’s eye, hold the line in the temple, and live a good life, he had to somehow find Vine's gap and exploit it.
Even something very small would be fine.
As long as it was effective, as long as he could clearly become Vine’s troublemaker, Vine would pay attention to him.
But how?
“Huh?”
As Talis walked along, thinking like that, what caught his eye was none other than the path leading to the central altar.
It was originally a place that was supposed to be guarded by the holy knights in pure white, but Vine had been guarding it for some time.
“Come to think of it, you said Vine cleaned up the altar, right?”
According to what Talis had seen, it wasn’t something that was done by those who followed High Priest Alinica. It was something that was done alone by those who led Cladda, a rising power in the priesthood.
It seems that he ordered the altar to be cleaned up because he thought that the troops he had brought in would be more effective, but those who followed Alinica were not happy with the way it was done. How dare he entrust the important work of cleaning up the altar used for the opening ceremony to an outside party!
Talis was troubled.
“Vine...”
A way to create even a small gap, to tarnish his image.
He groaned and clicked his tongue.
Vine was a family so powerful that they were almost called a sacred family.
The people of the empire, who could only see an inch ahead, would defend them no matter what Vine did.
The people of the temple had become even more arrogant after being chosen by the Saintess, and they could not possibly like Vine, who had raised the pride of the Saintess they had secretly looked down on.
However, the people of the empire were different. Even if they committed some corruption, they would not curse Vine as long as it did not affect their real lives.
‘You took care of the monsters before the paladins?’
Talis, who clearly remembered the people of the empire who had been talking like that, ground his teeth.
They are foolish people who would clean up after Vine even if he danced with the devil!
Even Vine eventually destroyed the monsters for his own gain, and he was so stupid to praise them!
Talis bit his lip and fell into thought.
To catch Lady Alinica’s eye, hold the line in the temple, and live a good life, he had to somehow find Vine's gap and exploit it.
Even something very small would be fine.
As long as it was effective, as long as he could clearly become Vine’s troublemaker, Vine would pay attention to him.
But how?
“Huh?”
As Talis walked along, thinking like that, what caught his eye was none other than the path leading to the central altar.
It was originally a place that was supposed to be guarded by the holy knights in pure white, but Vine had been guarding it for some time.
“Come to think of it, you said Vine cleaned up the altar, right?”
According to what Talis had seen, it wasn’t something that was done by those who followed High Priest Alinica. It was something that was done alone by those who led Cladda, a rising power in the priesthood.
It seems that he ordered the altar to be cleaned up because he thought that the troops he had brought in would be more effective, but those who followed Alinica were not happy with the way it was done. How dare he entrust the important work of cleaning up the altar used for the opening ceremony to an outside party!
He kept his mouth shut so that the division in the temple would not be revealed on the outside, but many were secretly dissatisfied with it.
If he could find something lacking there...
Talis felt a light turn on in his head.
Wasn’t this a good opportunity to tarnish not only Cladda’s side but also Vine’s reputation?
He turned around and headed toward the central altar.
“?”
At first, the Vine people stared blankly at him from afar, but then they looked at him with puzzled expressions.
Then, when it seemed clear that he was approaching the altar, they gestured, thinking that he had taken the wrong path.
“There is only the central altar here. If you want to go to the main temple, you should take the right path.”
Talis shrugged at those words.
“I came here because I have business at the central altar.”
At those words, the Vine people looked at each other.
“The central altar cannot be opened until the opening ceremony.”
Then as if a possibility occurred to them, they asked,
“Did you come under another order?”
Should they say so?
If he sell the name of Cladda, would they let him take a quick look? It was a moment of hesitation.
Hwaak!
A slight breeze blew, and he suddenly felt goosebumps.
The hairs on his body stood on end, and it felt like he was standing in front of the mouth of an ominous monster, and Talis flinched.
“Knight?”
But all he could see before his eyes were two Vine knights looking at him with puzzled faces as if asking why.
No, behind them...
Whew.
Once again, as the wind blew, he could clearly feel it. Behind the door guarded by the Vine people, a sinister aura was creeping in from the path leading to the altar.
It was the moment when his eyes opened wide.
Something rose up from the back of his throat.
“Whew, whew!”
After spitting it out, Talis was shocked. What had come down his throat was a clump of pitch-black blood.
“This, this...”
But the energy that was turning his stomach only grew stronger. It was definitely coming in through the crack in the door.
“I’ll just take a look.”
He instinctively reached out to the door.
Naturally, the Vine people stopped him.
“No.”
“I said it’ll only take a moment!”
Talis shouted as he was repeatedly stopped.
“The altar must be kept sacred until the opening ceremony begins!”
“I’m a paladin, but you’re saying it’s not sacred? Huh?”
No matter how I look at it, I can’t feel any sacred energy!
The moment he was about to speak,
Paang!
His body released sacred power in response to the ominous energy that kept coming at him.
“!”
The surprised Vine man twisted his body to dodge. However, there was no way to block the energy that spread around like ripples in a lake.
And the reaction was immediate.
-Chiiik!
The concentrated sacred power that touched Vine’s body clashed with the magic and emitted pitch-black smoke.
Of course, Vine’s face distorted in pain.
“Huh?”
Talis’ body froze in surprise at that sight.
The two Vine knights also felt pain, and for a moment, they paused and looked at each other.
Why... are they reacting?
Talis thought stupidly. Then, something quickly connected in his head in an instant.
“That...!”
Talis unconsciously swung at the Vine knight. At that moment, the two Vine knights were facing each other.
They were recalling the orders they had received.
'Don't draw attention, it's annoying, so unless there's a big incident where your identity could be revealed, don't do anything.'
But if this wasn't a big incident where your identity could be revealed, then what?
"Do you think we've been caught?"
"I guess so."
If he could find something lacking there...
Talis felt a light turn on in his head.
Wasn’t this a good opportunity to tarnish not only Cladda’s side but also Vine’s reputation?
He turned around and headed toward the central altar.
“?”
At first, the Vine people stared blankly at him from afar, but then they looked at him with puzzled expressions.
Then, when it seemed clear that he was approaching the altar, they gestured, thinking that he had taken the wrong path.
“There is only the central altar here. If you want to go to the main temple, you should take the right path.”
Talis shrugged at those words.
“I came here because I have business at the central altar.”
At those words, the Vine people looked at each other.
“The central altar cannot be opened until the opening ceremony.”
Then as if a possibility occurred to them, they asked,
“Did you come under another order?”
Should they say so?
If he sell the name of Cladda, would they let him take a quick look? It was a moment of hesitation.
Hwaak!
A slight breeze blew, and he suddenly felt goosebumps.
The hairs on his body stood on end, and it felt like he was standing in front of the mouth of an ominous monster, and Talis flinched.
“Knight?”
But all he could see before his eyes were two Vine knights looking at him with puzzled faces as if asking why.
No, behind them...
Whew.
Once again, as the wind blew, he could clearly feel it. Behind the door guarded by the Vine people, a sinister aura was creeping in from the path leading to the altar.
It was the moment when his eyes opened wide.
Something rose up from the back of his throat.
“Whew, whew!”
After spitting it out, Talis was shocked. What had come down his throat was a clump of pitch-black blood.
“This, this...”
But the energy that was turning his stomach only grew stronger. It was definitely coming in through the crack in the door.
“I’ll just take a look.”
He instinctively reached out to the door.
Naturally, the Vine people stopped him.
“No.”
“I said it’ll only take a moment!”
Talis shouted as he was repeatedly stopped.
“The altar must be kept sacred until the opening ceremony begins!”
“I’m a paladin, but you’re saying it’s not sacred? Huh?”
No matter how I look at it, I can’t feel any sacred energy!
The moment he was about to speak,
Paang!
His body released sacred power in response to the ominous energy that kept coming at him.
“!”
The surprised Vine man twisted his body to dodge. However, there was no way to block the energy that spread around like ripples in a lake.
And the reaction was immediate.
-Chiiik!
The concentrated sacred power that touched Vine’s body clashed with the magic and emitted pitch-black smoke.
Of course, Vine’s face distorted in pain.
“Huh?”
Talis’ body froze in surprise at that sight.
The two Vine knights also felt pain, and for a moment, they paused and looked at each other.
Why... are they reacting?
Talis thought stupidly. Then, something quickly connected in his head in an instant.
“That...!”
Talis unconsciously swung at the Vine knight. At that moment, the two Vine knights were facing each other.
They were recalling the orders they had received.
'Don't draw attention, it's annoying, so unless there's a big incident where your identity could be revealed, don't do anything.'
But if this wasn't a big incident where your identity could be revealed, then what?
"Do you think we've been caught?"
"I guess so."
Their expressions changed terribly in an instant as they spoke.
Before the surprised Talis could even draw his sword, the back of his neck was grabbed. It was a speed that a human's reaction speed could never react at.
"You... dirty demons!"
Talis shouted and tried to unleash his holy power.
But before that.
Bam!
A fist slammed into his abdomen, and at the same time, a strong shock was applied to the back of his neck.
No matter how strong his holy power was, it was useless if he couldn't use it properly.
The knights looked at the sagging Talis and suddenly asked a question.
"But why did my lord let this guy live?"
In any case, from Vine’s perspective, this guy’s usefulness was already over when he stole the holy water. Then why not just deal with him then?
Another one answered.
“Humans always use things that seem useful. He must have thought that a corrupt force would approach him since he was a strong human being with no particular power.”
If they could figure out what this man was trying to do by forcibly invading the altar, it would be a great help in revealing how corrupt the priests had become after the opening ceremony.
“Let’s report.”
The knight gestured.
The day after the Saintess arrived, the sky was once again covered in light. The people were expecting that the light would finally return, but the next thing that colored the sky was a red light.
“What is that...?”
The people considered the red color more ominous than the black light.
The people even locked their windows and hid inside their houses.
And the priests were on high alert.
“The god is clearly angry.”
The high priestess Alinica asserted confidently.
Naturally, most of the priests could not understand.
“Didn’t we already catch the devil?”
And among those who looked at her strangely were Duke Belled of Vine and Saintess Beryl.
Of course, the two of them had already noticed the change, so there was no reason to be surprised.
Beryl now thought that she was acting naturally and well. And she liked that about herself.
And she felt so good about the strange bond between Vine and Belled growing stronger.
“I caught them, but isn’t it because there are still heretics and non-believers among us that you are so angry?”
Alinica said, not even looking up at the sky as if she felt sorry.
“I will pray for forgiveness. And I will tell you to search diligently to see if there are more heretics.”
Alinica clicked her tongue and bowed her head to Beryl.
“Will you lead the prayer?”
Beryl nodded slightly, knowing that refusing would only feel strange.
“I understand.”
“Thank you. Then...”
Alinica looked at the paladin next to her with shining eyes.
“You go find the heretics and weed them out. The opening ceremony is just around the corner, so hurry.”
The paladin bowed his head at those words. But while he was raising his head, Beryl clearly saw that the paladin was smiling.
“..."
They must have been going around saying they would weed out heretics, and they would drive out those who did not agree with them from the temple.
To somehow increase the chances of being noticed when the gates of heaven opened and the gods looked down on the human world.
Beryl turned her gaze to Belled as if she had not seen his face. Belled held her hand tightly as if comforting her.
It was strange to receive comfort from a devil amidst the dark greed of humans who believed themselves to be good.
“Oh, and.”
Alinica stopped turning and looked back at her.
When Beryl thought that her actions felt artificial, Alinica spoke to her with concern on her face.
“Saintess.”
“Yes.”
Although she did not know what she was going to say, it did not sound pleasant.
As she had guessed, Alinica said,
“After opening the gates of heaven, it would be best for you to step aside.”
Then she whispered a great secret to her.
“God sometimes tests us, so who knows what will happen when the gate opens?”
She said that she was deeply worried about her. However, to Beryl, who already knew their true feelings, it was nothing more than absurd words.
She barely managed to suppress a frown.
“I’ll consider it.”
Of course, she had no intention of backing down. After all, what would open would be the gates of hell.
Alinica made a slightly uncomfortable expression at Beryl’s words and left.
Click.
“...They’re gone.”
As Alinica and the knights she had accompanied left, the room became quiet in an instant.
Belled gently wrapped his arms around Beryl’s ear, feeling that way all over again.
As if he was washing her ears that had heard Alinica’s words.
Click.
Then he kissed her forehead.
“Forget those unpleasant words.”
And he whispered sweet words that made her melt.
“...Originally, I knew they were like that.”
It’s not that unpleasant. She wanted to say that, but she couldn’t help feeling offended. It was when Beryl had her mouth shut tightly.
What she thought was just a kiss touched the bridge of her nose, and then left behind a soft and hazy feeling.
Beryl, startled, stopped.
Still, it wasn’t inside the mansion, it was the temple.
“There’s no one.”
As he said that, Belled deliberately looked around, then kissed her deeply again.
“...!”
This time, it was a deep kiss that took her breath away, her lips, the inside of them.
“I received a report from Ronove. Talis has been dealt with, and there is no one with fatal divine power...”
He whispered in a low voice. Shadows seemed to fall on the long eyelashes of his slightly lowered eyes.
“It seems that due to the strife among the priests, only corrupt priests remain in the temple.”
He narrowed his eyes.
“Only those who are greedy remain in the temple to fight for power, while the others are sent to hunt monsters.”
He was a man who was generous with desire. However, he did not welcome those who considered their desires dirty and hid them while becoming even more greedy.
“Then...”
When Beryl quietly answered, Belled nodded.
“This is better. Those who entered the temple to protect humans will not die.”
Before the surprised Talis could even draw his sword, the back of his neck was grabbed. It was a speed that a human's reaction speed could never react at.
"You... dirty demons!"
Talis shouted and tried to unleash his holy power.
But before that.
Bam!
A fist slammed into his abdomen, and at the same time, a strong shock was applied to the back of his neck.
No matter how strong his holy power was, it was useless if he couldn't use it properly.
The knights looked at the sagging Talis and suddenly asked a question.
"But why did my lord let this guy live?"
In any case, from Vine’s perspective, this guy’s usefulness was already over when he stole the holy water. Then why not just deal with him then?
Another one answered.
“Humans always use things that seem useful. He must have thought that a corrupt force would approach him since he was a strong human being with no particular power.”
If they could figure out what this man was trying to do by forcibly invading the altar, it would be a great help in revealing how corrupt the priests had become after the opening ceremony.
“Let’s report.”
The knight gestured.
***
The day after the Saintess arrived, the sky was once again covered in light. The people were expecting that the light would finally return, but the next thing that colored the sky was a red light.
“What is that...?”
The people considered the red color more ominous than the black light.
The people even locked their windows and hid inside their houses.
And the priests were on high alert.
“The god is clearly angry.”
The high priestess Alinica asserted confidently.
Naturally, most of the priests could not understand.
“Didn’t we already catch the devil?”
And among those who looked at her strangely were Duke Belled of Vine and Saintess Beryl.
Of course, the two of them had already noticed the change, so there was no reason to be surprised.
Beryl now thought that she was acting naturally and well. And she liked that about herself.
And she felt so good about the strange bond between Vine and Belled growing stronger.
“I caught them, but isn’t it because there are still heretics and non-believers among us that you are so angry?”
Alinica said, not even looking up at the sky as if she felt sorry.
“I will pray for forgiveness. And I will tell you to search diligently to see if there are more heretics.”
Alinica clicked her tongue and bowed her head to Beryl.
“Will you lead the prayer?”
Beryl nodded slightly, knowing that refusing would only feel strange.
“I understand.”
“Thank you. Then...”
Alinica looked at the paladin next to her with shining eyes.
“You go find the heretics and weed them out. The opening ceremony is just around the corner, so hurry.”
The paladin bowed his head at those words. But while he was raising his head, Beryl clearly saw that the paladin was smiling.
“..."
They must have been going around saying they would weed out heretics, and they would drive out those who did not agree with them from the temple.
To somehow increase the chances of being noticed when the gates of heaven opened and the gods looked down on the human world.
Beryl turned her gaze to Belled as if she had not seen his face. Belled held her hand tightly as if comforting her.
It was strange to receive comfort from a devil amidst the dark greed of humans who believed themselves to be good.
“Oh, and.”
Alinica stopped turning and looked back at her.
When Beryl thought that her actions felt artificial, Alinica spoke to her with concern on her face.
“Saintess.”
“Yes.”
Although she did not know what she was going to say, it did not sound pleasant.
As she had guessed, Alinica said,
“After opening the gates of heaven, it would be best for you to step aside.”
Then she whispered a great secret to her.
“God sometimes tests us, so who knows what will happen when the gate opens?”
She said that she was deeply worried about her. However, to Beryl, who already knew their true feelings, it was nothing more than absurd words.
She barely managed to suppress a frown.
“I’ll consider it.”
Of course, she had no intention of backing down. After all, what would open would be the gates of hell.
Alinica made a slightly uncomfortable expression at Beryl’s words and left.
Click.
“...They’re gone.”
As Alinica and the knights she had accompanied left, the room became quiet in an instant.
Belled gently wrapped his arms around Beryl’s ear, feeling that way all over again.
As if he was washing her ears that had heard Alinica’s words.
Click.
Then he kissed her forehead.
“Forget those unpleasant words.”
And he whispered sweet words that made her melt.
“...Originally, I knew they were like that.”
It’s not that unpleasant. She wanted to say that, but she couldn’t help feeling offended. It was when Beryl had her mouth shut tightly.
What she thought was just a kiss touched the bridge of her nose, and then left behind a soft and hazy feeling.
Beryl, startled, stopped.
Still, it wasn’t inside the mansion, it was the temple.
“There’s no one.”
As he said that, Belled deliberately looked around, then kissed her deeply again.
“...!”
This time, it was a deep kiss that took her breath away, her lips, the inside of them.
“I received a report from Ronove. Talis has been dealt with, and there is no one with fatal divine power...”
He whispered in a low voice. Shadows seemed to fall on the long eyelashes of his slightly lowered eyes.
“It seems that due to the strife among the priests, only corrupt priests remain in the temple.”
He narrowed his eyes.
“Only those who are greedy remain in the temple to fight for power, while the others are sent to hunt monsters.”
He was a man who was generous with desire. However, he did not welcome those who considered their desires dirty and hid them while becoming even more greedy.
“Then...”
When Beryl quietly answered, Belled nodded.
“This is better. Those who entered the temple to protect humans will not die.”
No matter how corrupt the temple was, not all the priests and knights would have rotted and decayed.
However, what Beryl and Belled were trying to destroy was the entire temple.
Then, innocent people could be swept away.
Did he know that she cared about that fact?
Belled smiled lowly as Beryl looked up at him.
“Do you think I had no thoughts?”
His fingertips gently brushed her lower lip.
As expected, he knew all too well how to make her happy. She closed her eyes in his arms.
However, her worries did not completely disappear.
“Rumors will spread that the gates of hell have opened. Will the remaining priests be okay?”
If the opening ceremony is successfully carried out and goes as planned, all the corrupt priests in this world will disappear.
If the authority of the temple itself is shaken and the priests are rumored to be false. What about the priests who truly worked for humans?
Belled smiled at those words.
“I thought about that too, but let’s do this.”
He leaned in closer to her and spoke so that their noses were almost touching.
“We’re opening the gates of heaven.”
Beryl blinked at that.
“Yes?”
However, what Beryl and Belled were trying to destroy was the entire temple.
Then, innocent people could be swept away.
Did he know that she cared about that fact?
Belled smiled lowly as Beryl looked up at him.
“Do you think I had no thoughts?”
His fingertips gently brushed her lower lip.
As expected, he knew all too well how to make her happy. She closed her eyes in his arms.
However, her worries did not completely disappear.
“Rumors will spread that the gates of hell have opened. Will the remaining priests be okay?”
If the opening ceremony is successfully carried out and goes as planned, all the corrupt priests in this world will disappear.
If the authority of the temple itself is shaken and the priests are rumored to be false. What about the priests who truly worked for humans?
Belled smiled at those words.
“I thought about that too, but let’s do this.”
He leaned in closer to her and spoke so that their noses were almost touching.
“We’re opening the gates of heaven.”
Beryl blinked at that.
“Yes?”
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