~Chapter 34~
It had been five years since Charlet became a priest at Zilte Temple.
He worked hard to appear more honest and pure than anyone.
He thought the best way to show faith in God was to never look corrupt in front of Him.
But—
“[Charlet. If you work for the temple, I’ll recommend you as vice-high priest.]”
Vice-High Priest Clay cared about making the temple bigger. He made connections with nobles, got big donations, and wore luxury items to show off.
Some priests criticized him, but Clay didn’t care.
At first, Charlet didn’t like Clay’s actions, but after witnessing Clay’s incredible holy power, he started to listen to him.
With power like that, maybe what Clay wants is what God wants…
Charlet started to chase only two things:
the glory of the temple, and power.
Little by little, he became just like Clay.
He began to hate commoners the most, since they never donated. He came up with a trick to squeeze money from them—
he would demand money in God’s name.
“The Third Confession Room.”
To show results, he volunteered to manage the Third Confession Room.
He listened to commoners’ worries, gave them simple advice, and took their money.
This was so much easier than dealing with nobles in the First Confession Room, where he had to be careful not to upset them or risk losing donations.
The Third Confession Room suited him better. He could be rude if he wanted, and didn’t have to fake a smile.
“Tsk. Who does she think she is, pretending to know about corruption? Ridiculous.”
He was annoyed about the woman who had just come.
She had talked about priests’ corruption like she knew everything. It made him angry.
He almost wanted to pull back the curtain and yell at her face.
But he did like how she paid the two gold coins without arguing.
“I don’t know what a commoner like her is thinking, but I’ll let it go this time. Next time, I won’t.”
Charlet muttered as he pocketed the gold.
“If she reports seeing corruption, it could be a big problem… I need to be careful.”
He thought about following the woman to stop her from revealing any secrets.
“I need to make sure she keeps quiet.”
“What did you just say?”
“Hiii!”
Suddenly, a sharp voice came from right in front of him. Charlet jumped in fear.
“W-who… are you?”
“You don’t need to know. Repeat what you just said.”
A man in a robe blocked Charlet from escaping. Charlet, terrified, fell to the ground.
“I didn’t say anything! And who are you, barging into the holy confession room—”
“All talk, huh?”
The man’s presence was so frightening that Charlet could hardly breathe.
What… What is this murderous feeling?
Charlet’s body trembled, and his blood turned cold.
“If you want to live, confess the truth. What did the woman say? And… who do you think you’re insulting?”
“U-uh…!”
Charlet felt like he’d die if he didn’t answer.
“Talk…”
The man’s killing aura faded when Charlet finally forced himself to speak.
“So?”
“Huff… I’ll tell you everything.”
Charlet confessed everything to the man, trembling and leaving nothing out.
“…So I took 2 gold coins. What I said earlier was a mistake. I’m sorry!”
Charlet bowed to the floor, begging.
The man smiled coldly.
“Be glad I’m not killing you. But all your corruption will be revealed.”
“No, please! Anything but that…”
Charlet grabbed the man’s ankle and pleaded.
If the truth got out, his life as a priest was over. He could even be punished by imperial law.
“Unless you want to die?”
“…No, sir.”
Charlet just wanted to live.
“Then get lost.”
The man said one last thing with a cold, expressionless face.
“Watch your mouth.”
“…Yes, sir!”
“Lady, are you back?”
“Yes. Lady Cecilia, I have something important to tell you. Will you come with me?”
Astia took the puzzled Cecilia to a quiet place.
When they arrived in an empty garden, Astia took out the small magic box that could record sound.
“Please listen to this.”
Click—
As she turned it on, the priest’s voice began to play.
“Welcome, sister.”
At first, the voice was gentle, but it grew harsher as the recording went on.
“…If you keep talking nonsense, I won’t let it go!”
Everything that happened in the Third Confession Room was recorded.
At first, Cecilia didn’t understand, but when she heard Astia’s voice, she listened closely.
As the recording played, Cecilia’s expression changed again and again. In the end, she frowned, and her face turned red.
Click.
Astia turned off the box. Cecilia asked in a voice full of emotion,
“…Who did this?”
“Actually, I tried to enter the First Confession Room with you, but I saw a priest in the Third Confession Room taking money from a commoner.”
Astia trembled a little, looking shocked.
“It turns out the priests were taking advantage of commoners…”
“How could this happen…?”
Cecilia was speechless.
“I believed in Zilte Temple… but it was all a lie.”
“They treat nobles well just to get more donations.”
“That’s not right. Priests shouldn’t do that…”
“I was shocked, too. I couldn’t believe it.”
“We have to report this. If we do nothing, more people will be hurt.”
“Wait, Lady Cecilia.”
Astia stopped Cecilia, who looked like she was about to run off.
“We have to stay calm. If news leaks out, they might destroy the evidence.”
Astia told herself to stay calm.
She guessed the priest she met in the hallway would already tell Vice-High Priest Clay about the corruption. Clay would do anything to cover it up if the whole temple was at risk.
“So what do we do? We need more evidence…”
“I already have it.”
Astia smiled, holding up the magic box for Cecilia to see.
Cecilia sighed in relief and thanked Astia.
“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I would have kept believing Zilte Temple was pure. I trusted Vice-High Priest Clay, but… I can’t forgive the priests for stealing from people.”
Astia remembered how Cecilia wanted to make the world a better place.
Because Cecilia was someone who would fight for justice, Astia smiled.
“Let’s fix things this time.”
“Yes! I’m happy to help.”
Astia was glad to be on the same side as Cecilia.
As they walked toward the temple exit, they heard a loud noise.
“Hmm? Is something going on?”
“Maybe.”
They turned to see a priest shouting at nothing, terrified.
“I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die, monster! If you’re going to kill me, show your face and do it!”
The priest twisted and shouted like a madman.
The voice sounded familiar—Astia thought it was the priest from the Third Confession Room.
“I think that’s the priest.”
“…Really?”
“But why is he acting like that…?”
His eyes were bloodshot.
“Mom, what’s wrong with the priest?”
“I don’t know. Why is he acting like that…?”
People in the crowd whispered, and Astia noticed a man in a robe walking through them.
He glanced at Astia, then quickly walked past her.
“…Who was that?”
