Chapter 13
A high-ranking priest known as the “walking miracle.”
A child born with the greatest divine power in recorded history.
The fact that such a person was born not in another kingdom, but in the Aibem Empire, carried immense political significance.
His very existence proved the god’s blessing upon the empire.
Moreover, with his divine power, he could perform countless miracles.
At this level, Papier could have used his abilities to seize any position he desired.
But he didn’t.
Because he was far too… timid to do such a thing.
‘It’s embarrassing when people look at me!’
Yet, because of his extraordinary power, he drew attention wherever he went.
To Papier, that was a tragedy.
The more people gathered around him, the more introverted he became.
‘It’s overwhelming… I want to hide… I just want to lock myself away somewhere and read books alone.’
So that’s exactly what he did.
He avoided people as much as possible and shut himself away in the Grand Temple’s library, studying theology.
Because of that, despite his fame, very few people actually knew what he looked like.
However, his innate talent wouldn’t leave him alone.
On the day he was appointed a high priest, skipping numerous ranks, Papier’s mind went completely blank.
With a trembling voice, he pleaded with the High Priest.
“Hi-high priest? Your Grace, that position is far too much for me!”
“Papier, excessive humility is a flaw. If not you, then who else would be suited for this role?”
He wanted to cry.
But even after rising to a high position, his personality didn’t change.
Once he fulfilled his duties as a high priest, he would disappear again to places where no one could find him.
Reading alone, praying alone, baking bread.
He hardly ever engaged in personal conversations with anyone.‘As expected, I’m happiest when I’m alone.’
That was Papier—the high priest known as the empire’s walking miracle.
The moment Prodia heard what Papier had just said, her mind went blank.
‘What… did he just say?’
A date?
The man standing before her now was definitely the same priest she had met earlier.
But then… why?
He smiled softly with his eyes and asked again,
“Hmm? Why no answer? I said, let’s go on a date.”
Was that really something a high priest with such immense divine power should be saying?
Was he suspicious of the status window and followed her? Was he testing her?
Prodia’s thoughts spiraled in confusion.
At that moment, the hand wrapped around her waist tightened.
Startled, she tried to pull away.
But he didn’t let go easily.
“Careful.”
“Please let go of me.”
“You almost fell earlier. You might have hurt your ankle.”
“I’m fine.”
“Should I check to make sure?”
“…What?”
Suddenly, he lifted Prodia into his arms.
Shocked, she screamed.
“W-wait! Put me down!”
She dangled in his arms, struggling.
But he simply held her carefully and started walking somewhere.
Prodia was still in a daze.
‘Is this really the same priest from earlier?’
It was like he had become a completely different person.
He set her down on top of a nearby wall and took off her shoe.
Flustered, she reached out to snatch it back.
“Give that back!”Instead of answering, he placed the shoe down and examined her foot, clicking his tongue.
“See? It’s swollen. That must’ve hurt.”
Prodia glanced down.
He was right.
Her ankle was red and swollen where the shoe had rubbed against it.
“It’s not a serious injury, so I’m fine. More importantly, could you let me down now?”
“I will—if you agree to go on a date with me.”
“A date? Don’t be ridiculous. I need to go back.”
But he didn’t listen at all.
Instead, he gently cupped her foot in both hands.
“W-what are you doing—!”
Before she could stop him, he lowered his head and lightly kissed her wound.
Peck.
At that moment, Prodia completely snapped.
“KYAAAH!”
She screamed and kicked him hard in the chest.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
Caught off guard, he fell backward.
Crash!
“What the hell are you doing, you pervert?!”
Yet even as he rubbed the spot he’d been hit, he grinned.
“I disinfected it.”
“What?”
What nonsense.
But then—
‘Huh?’
Her ankle didn’t hurt anymore.
She looked down.
‘The wound is gone?’
The skin that had been scraped raw was now perfectly healed.
No swelling, no injury remained.
He stood back up, brushed off his clothes, and smiled brightly at her.
“Didn’t think you’d hate it that much. Sorry. But it doesn’t hurt anymore, right?”
But Prodia responded coldly.
“…Who are you?”
“Hm?”
“You’re completely different from before.”
At that, his eyes wavered slightly.
Then he slowly stood up.
“Did you meet Papier before you met me?”
“…What?”
“My name is Luca. What’s yours?”
‘Luca?’
Not Papier?
Though confused, Prodia answered calmly.
“…Prodia Duser.”
“Prodia. That’s a pretty name.”
Then he said firmly,
“Anyway, Prodia. That guy, Papier, is the fake. The real one… is me.”
Only then did Prodia realize his identity.
‘A split personality…!’
She steadied herself and asked,
“If I understand correctly… does that mean you, Luca, are the main personality?”
His eyes flickered again.
After a moment’s hesitation, his lips curled into a smile.
“Thought I only liked your face, but you’re smart too.”
This was unbelievable.
The empire’s walking miracle… had a split personality.
And the difference between them was extreme.
The gentle herbivore she met earlier had turned into—
‘The lamb of the chief god has become a wolf!’
His golden eyes had turned red.
And the way he looked at her—
Sweet… almost sticky.
Luca asked again,
“So, will you go on a date with me now?”
Prodia answered bluntly,
“Priests don’t date.”
“Then there’s no problem. I’m not a priest.”
“…What?”
“Papier is the priest. Not me.”
“Then how did you heal my injury?”
“That’s just an ability I was born with.”
He stepped closer.
“Why? Are you hurt somewhere else? Tell me—I’ll fix it.”
‘If Luca isn’t a priest… then does he not have divine power?’
If so, he shouldn’t be able to sense the status window.
Maybe she should check.
‘Status window.’
A new window appeared.
[Name: Luca (Papier)
Occupation: None (High Priest)
Dream: None
Stats: Divine Power (restricted), Healing (SSS)… Charm (S)]
‘The stats are swapped!’
It seemed that as Luca, he couldn’t properly use divine power, while Papier couldn’t use charm.
And as expected, Luca didn’t notice the status window at all.
‘Status window, next page.’
Ding!
[Quest partially completed!
You have found suitable candidates (2/?).]
‘Found the second candidate.’
But Prodia hesitated.
Recruit him?
Too risky.
A beloved miracle priest entering a royal marriage contest?
She’d get stoned in the streets.
She made her decision.
“I’m not hurt, and I’m not going on a date. So please let me down.”
But Luca persisted.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“…No.”
“Then how about me?”
She was reaching her limit.
Just as she considered kicking him again—
A purple flash burst from the ground.
‘That…?’
A black magic circle appeared.
Her eyes widened.
‘No way…’
But it was.
From the violet smoke, a familiar figure emerged.
‘Irtis?!’
Why was he here?!
He wasn’t supposed to use magic inside the temple!
And more importantly—
‘Wasn’t he in the middle of the oath ceremony?!’
Luca, still focused on Prodia, didn’t notice.
“Come on, just go out with me once—”
Before he could finish—
Irtis shot forward like lightning.
Only then did Luca turn.
“Who are—”
But instead of answering—
Irtis threw a powerful punch straight at Luca’s face.
