Chapter 44
“Even the precious candies were flung to the ground, and some even tried to start physical fights.
It was something I had anticipated from the start, and the number wasn’t as high as I thought, but the bitterness was unavoidable.
Ding-a-ling.
[Artega lets out a deep sigh and washes her face with dry hands.]
[I’m sorry…]
Artega, who had been quietly watching the situation until now, spoke a sorrowful word.
‘It’s good that we realize it now.’
I didn’t offer comfort as usual. After all, if Artega had stepped out into the world proactively, this wouldn’t have happened.
‘Artega-nim. We will work harder.’
Seeing the devotees who never lost their bright smiles even while hearing curses, I reflected on my own hesitance and felt ashamed.
‘Everyone is working so hard, someone called a Saintess can’t just stand here blankly like this!’
I clenched my fists tightly and confidently approached the people. Some people, flustered by my sudden boldness, quickly let their guard down when they saw Tetet in my arms.
Really, I was so grateful to Tetet…
‘What would I have done without Tetet?’
My worried self from yesterday, debating over Tetet, seemed truly laughable now.
“Hello!”
With the biggest smile I could muster, I approached the people. Among them, some avoided me, while others nodded blankly. I took a deep breath, infused my voice with divine power, and boldly opened my mouth towards them.
“Do you happen to know Artega-nim?”
You don’t? Then shall we get to know her now? Our sect isn’t such a bad place, you know!
“Meow.”
When my energy dipped in the middle, Tetet meowed softly in agreement.
Thus, the first proselytizing activity, started in a bit of a haphazard way, turned out to be quite successful.
***
The eventful proselytizing activities continued daily after that.
Even on rainy days, we went out into the streets. We didn’t dance separately since the ground was slippery, but we steadily gave out candies.
‘After all, pain seems to have healed yesterday but comes again today.’
Thanks to circulating the commoner districts daily and spreading word of the Artega sect, perhaps.
As the proselytizing went on for over a month, people slowly began to show interest in us.
Especially. Even those who used to scowl and grimace at us began to grumble and offer somewhat proper greetings.
“Tsk, you’re here again, again!”
“We’ve been letting it slide so far, but if you cause any strange disturbances, you’ll be in deep trouble!”
Although it was a threatening tone, it was a much more amiable attitude compared to the beginning when they tried to call the guards and fight.
“Yes, yes, understood. Ah, would you like to take some candy again today?”
“Hmph, give me one!”
Moreover, when offered candy like this, they would accept it as if they couldn’t help it.
Perhaps they grew fond from seeing the same faces every time. Or maybe, having benefited greatly from the candies, they secretly acknowledged the Artega sect internally.
Whichever it was, a positive perception seemed to be seeping in, which felt rewarding.
Now, we could go to the spot we had cleared to sing and sing our song.
Baba-bam, bam—!
A familiar song flowed from the phonograph, and simultaneously, an oval-shaped audience formed around us.
The street vendor who had just been clicking his tongue earlier subtly took the front row and started shrugging his shoulders, humming along to the song!
‘Huhu… You can’t escape this song, can you?’
It’s not called a ‘forbidden song’ for nothing.
The more you listen, it doesn’t get tiresome but lingers in your head, right?
Moreover, in this world, aside from festivals, there isn’t much popular culture for the empire’s citizens to enjoy.
So, they inevitably fall for such exciting songs and can’t help but eagerly wait for the proselytizing sessions.
‘Hehe, it’s really me. I planned the strategy very well!’
Apart from this, something else gradually changed as the month passed. It was our sect devotees.
To conclude, everyone became skilled at proselytizing. Yes, they became skilled, but…
“Excuse me, ma’am! Your fine hand caught my eye.”
“Huh? Oh my. When did you see that?”
“Well, it just came into view as I was looking with interest? Haha. Ah, this is nothing special, just candy. It will help with your injury.”
Whoosh!
A devotee with neatly brushed brown hair laughed refreshingly. A faint glow emanated around him.
It wasn’t an illusion.
‘Hmm, it was worth buying the item.’
I had used the halo item on the devotees.
Lately, Margaret has been passionate about dressing up the devotees, saying there’s a charm to it, and that synergy worked together.
“Ye…yes, I’ll definitely eat it.”
“Thank you. See you next time, ma’am.”
“Yes, next time too!”
Thus, it became common for passersby on the street to be captivated by the devotees’ looks rather than by the healing candies.
‘What are they thinking, increasing their flirting skills like this?!’
Nowadays, people come to the sect not to believe in Artega-nim but to see the devotees…
Perhaps because of this, I’ve had many concerns about proselytizing lately.
It would be nice if there was an opportunity to widely spread Artega-nim’s ‘abilities’ to people.
‘As if such a thing would just fall from the sky…’
I shook my head side to side and trudged down the street. I planned to head back to the sect a bit early today.
“Hey, heard the news? That border battle commission posted at the mercenary guild. They say the Crown Prince is also deploying.”
“What? Ah, damn. That commission’s taken! Someone like me would be sent to the afterlife in an instant if I went.”
“They’re gathering all the medics too! Looking at how things are turning, there’ll be a lot of casualties.”
‘…Huh?’
It seems like such a thing really did fall from the sky…?
‘Well, the battlefield is originally the place where healing abilities can be utilized best.’
Medics would probably stay in the barracks. Also, my heart stirred at the mention of the Crown Prince going.
‘Raven doesn’t die there.’
From what I remember, he suffers a critical injury but the battle ultimately ends with the Imperial army’s victory.
‘There are some aspects that are problematic, but…’
“Hmm, it might be okay. I wonder if they’d accept even a Saintess as a medic.”
My footsteps, which had gradually slowed to listen to the mercenaries’ talk, now came to a complete stop.
At that moment.
The brightly shining sunlight was blocked by something, and a large shadow fell in front of me.
I seemed to have unintentionally blocked the path of the person in front. I was about to apologize when.
“Haa, there’s no way they’d accept you.”
A voice filled with exhaustion preemptively reached my ears.
A voice that was soft yet strangely sharp instantly brought one person to mind.
“High Priest Shane?”
Why is the High Priest in District 11…?
‘Did he fall asleep standing up?’
I was dumbfounded by the sudden appearance. I blinked my eyes open and shut, looking at him in front of me.
His long, flowing blue hair was neatly brushed back, and he was wearing glasses, unlike usual.
The green eyes visible beyond the thin lenses were, as felt from his voice, steeped in fatigue.
‘It doesn’t seem like a dream…’
My round eyes gradually narrowed. Seeing me like this, he clicked his tongue and pressed firmly between his eyebrows.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it would be best to give up on the idea of going to the battlefield immediately. Especially if the Crown Prince is your goal.”
A different emotion crept into his eyes. It was a look of pitying me.
‘Why does that person always pick on me?’
He always has to pour cold water on someone trying to gather their resolve and work hard. That look provoked a surge of defiance in me.
But before I could open my mouth, he coldly shot out first.
“Lady, don’t misunderstand. You are merely the Saintess of a ‘sect’. It means there is nothing you, a lady, can do.”
His gaze, matching his words, was cold enough to freeze.
It wasn’t a look of contempt like before, yet my mouth wouldn’t move.
“Even if the Lady possesses proper abilities, it’s the same. Do you think someone like you, who has spent her whole life in a comfortable monastery, can go to such a place?”
“……”
“From my perspective, it would be fortunate if you could even set foot on the battlefield. So, give up on your delusions.”
“……”
“You can’t become a Saintess like Lady Yezel anymore.”
After spitting out all those words, he finally let out a heavy sigh.
A brief silence followed. I couldn’t offer any rebuttal to him.
It wasn’t that his words hurt me.
Rather…
