CHAPTER 99…………………………….
Of course, contrary to that composed face, Esther was wrapped snugly in a blanket embroidered with a cute baby bear and clutching a yellow mug tightly.
“Does it matter if God gave it to me or a stray dog did? If it’s given to me, it’s mine, isn’t it? Or what, Grandpa Priest—if someone gives you money, do you say, ‘Oh, this is holy money given to me, I can’t use it’? Is that what you do?”
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Do you truly believe God’s power and your money carry the same weight?”
“Yup.”
Esther replied while sipping milk filled generously with honey. Her firm answer left the old priest speechless.
From the way his eyes rolled around, it was clear even he was at a loss for words in the face of Esther’s brazen response.
“……”
“Well, the world runs on money and power anyway.”
Everyone’s eyes widened and turned sharply toward Esther.
“Gasp, but wait—I’ve got money, power, and even strength?!”
Of course, none of it really belonged to her—it was all the Eggbert family’s. But since she was the heir now, there was no reason to feel guilty about it.
Ah, well—the strength part was hers.
“What do you have?”
“Priest Kardem! What on earth is this blasphemous child saying? This is absolutely—”
“Hey, why are you yelling at my uncle while talking to me? Can’t you fight me yourself?”
Esther stood up and kicked the priest square in the shin.
“Ugh—!”
The old priest crumpled to the floor and began rolling around in pain. Esther’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Grandpa Priest, are you okay? How could you get hurt by a kick from a cute little girl like me… I’m just a kid compared to you…”
She looked gloomily down at her small foot.
Of course, I did use Strength Enhancement magic.
But since no one noticed, it didn’t matter.
And indeed, everyone just stared in shock—no one ran over to help the priest.
After all, it was odd enough that a grown man was making such a fuss after being kicked by a tiny ten-year-old girl.
If the other priests rushed to help him and asked if he was all right, that would have made him look even more pathetic.
“Grandpa Priest, does it hurt?”
Esther bent down and grinned mischievously as she asked softly.
The old priest, eyes watering from pain, barely lifted his head.
The ache was so sharp it felt like a bone might’ve cracked—it was hard to believe it came from a child’s kick.
He couldn’t even move his leg.
“Ah… ugh…”
Esther stretched her hand toward the groaning priest.
“W-What are you—”
“Ten Thousand Mylon!”
Esther beamed as she said it, and only then did the other priests begin to shuffle nervously toward her.
“W-Wait…! No matter what, this is unacceptable! What kind of—”
Esther tilted her head.
“Hey, who are you?”
“What?”
“Who are you to speak down to me? Are you higher-ranked than me? Richer? Stronger? More powerful?”
The young priest froze under her sharp, dictatorial tone.
Even though she was just a small girl—someone he could easily overpower physically—he couldn’t open his mouth.
“I just mean… it’s unjust. Giving money to someone on their deathbed is—”
“This Grandpa Priest isn’t dying, though, right?”
Esther nudged the groaning priest’s arm with her foot.
“Grandpa Priest, you dead?”
“What kind of upbringing could produce such a—!”
“Gasp! Did you just say I’m uneducated? You’re insulting my grandma and grandpa, aren’t you? Oh no, I have to tell them.”
The priest’s face went pale.
“A-And I’ll tell Daddy too!”
He finally realized which family the child belonged to.
“…Uncle?”
The young priest muttered under his breath.
His face turned from pale to deathly blue as he glanced between Kardem and Esther.
“It can’t be…”
Everyone in the temple knew that Priest Kardem and the Holy Knight Commander Kaelos were brothers. Kardem idolized Kaelos and followed him everywhere.
But if Kardem was gentle, Kaelos was anything but. He had both power and a formidable personality—and the Eggbert family’s infamy was known throughout the entire empire.
Could this child be… from the Eggbert family?
Just then, a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache and a stiff demeanor pushed through the crowd.
He took in the situation at a glance and then looked at Esther, laughing derisively.
“Ah, so this must be the illegitimate child who never even made it onto the family register.”
“…What?”
“What, haven’t you heard? The bastard child the Holy Knight Commander abandoned. I came to see what kind of brat was causing a ruckus—turns out she’s as poorly raised as they said.”
So this girl…
An unregistered bastard, abandoned even by her father, the Holy Knight Commander?
The priests, momentarily relaxing, were startled again when Esther lifted her head to look at the man.
Judging by his armor and insignia, he seemed to be of noble or managerial rank.
“Well, birds of a feather, as they say. Seems the bastards are having a little chat among themselves.”
Esther’s eyes went wide.
—Ross!
—Yes, Master?
—Can you check the info on the guy standing in front of me?
—Of course! I can access personal data too.
—Then tell me everything. Down to how many hairs he’s got on his butt.
A moment later, a well-groomed squirrel with an acorn in its mouth scampered up her arm and perched on her shoulder.
As faint magic flowed from Ross’s tiny paws, a long strip of parchment unfurled before Esther’s eyes.
[Rustian Pellington]
Age: 44, Height: 168cm (wears lifts)
Head of the Pellington Marquis family. Has nothing but money.
His family runs a trading company; he believes there’s nothing money can’t buy.
Has two sons and one daughter—all arrogant spendthrifts.
He suffers constantly cleaning up after their endless scandals—assault, arson, and even murder, all covered up with bribes.
Though he’s already filthy rich, his greed drives him into illegal trades: smuggling toxic herbs, drugs, and weapons.
Recently began dealing with pirates and dabbling in narcotics. Now even considering the slave trade.
In short, a villain among villains!
Your judgment may be required.
(Oh, and he also has hemorrhoids.)
The parchment seemed to be getting weirder by the second, and Esther’s face twisted slightly.
“Birds of a feather indeed!” she said brightly.
“Mister, it says here you’re a bad person!”
“This brat’s insane,” he sneered, clicking his tongue.
“Uncle! He’s trading drugs with pirates! Uncle, what’s a drug?”
The moment she said that, Rustian Pellington’s face froze.
“What nonsense are you—”
“Gasp! And his son’s a murderer!”
“…What did you just say, little niece?” Kardem’s face hardened.
“I don’t know! Just now, a light came down from the sky, and… ah, it’s so bright…”
Esther covered her eyes with her palms and buried her face in Kardem’s chest.
“Someone’s talking in my head…”
“Talking in your—ah.”
Kardem suddenly remembered—Esther had the divine qualities of a saint. He turned to Rustian Pellington with an expression of pure disgust.
“Uncle…! I see children locked in cages… sobbing… begging to be saved… They’re being sold to pirates…”
Esther’s voice trembled as she let her knees buckle, pretending to stagger. Kardem caught her in his arms and stepped back.
“You’re insane.”
“N-No—you’re the ones who are insane! How dare you accuse a nobleman—!”
“Do you even know who this child is?”
“Who? Just some uneducated bastard brat! And a liar, too!”
At that, the expression of the old priest—who was being healed nearby—hardened.
Every priest had heard the rumors: of a sudden divine descent, a new sacred relic, and a child saint.
Kaelos Eggbert had once drawn his sword and threatened to sever anyone’s head from their body if they dared to speak of it. Even the Pope had tacitly allowed it, so no one could defy Kaelos’s tyranny.
There had even been whispers that the saint called Kaelos “Father.”
And in that instant, every priest in the hall had the same chilling thought—
“If that girl really is the Saint…”
A shiver ran down everyone’s spine.
