DYBA 20

Chapter 20

The initial conversation was clearly frustrating and bleak, flowing only between the sect leader and me.

The sect’s total assets are only 50 florins? Isn’t that just barely avoiding bankruptcy?!

When I asked how things had gotten to this point, the sect leader’s answer was a bit strange.

“Our sect was originally in District 26, but we used up all our money moving to District 22 this time, Saintess…”

“No, even so.”

I’ve never been interested in real estate, so I didn’t know the details.

But District 22 is close to the slums, so property prices shouldn’t be high.

*’Especially since this is a semi-basement, even more so.’*

“How much did you spend?”

“…6,000 florins.”

“Excuse me? Si-six thousand?!”

Do you think that makes any sense?!

6,000 florins is an amount a commoner would have to work for a full 20 years to earn.

And he said he spent it all just to move to District 22?

Then, it suddenly hit me.
*’Don’t tell me…!’*

The face of a swindler flashed through my mind.

“Th-that, by any chance… was it a scam? Did a William help you?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. He found this semi-basement too. Also, thanks to him speaking well to the owner, we can freely use the empty upper building or the walls. Haha.”

The sect leader added that, having served only the god his whole life, he had no knowledge in such matters, so he entrusted it to him.

“Ah…”

Seeing the sect leader’s awkward laugh was the finishing touch, and a sigh escaped me automatically.

It would have been better to have no knowledge and get ripped off by a real estate agent.

*Dding.*

[Arte-nim has donated 1 florin!]
[I heard the price for a semi-basement in District 22 is 180 florins… and this building is a shunned abandoned building, so it’s 99 florins… o(；△；)o]

To make matters worse, Arte’s suddenly appearing status window turned my stomach upside down.

It was so absurd that I even completely forgot my complaints about the item.

“Ha, Sect Leader… Arte-nim says the price here is 99 florins. And it’s an abandoned building. Ha, haha.”

“Eh? Th-that can’t be!”

“Yes, it can. Sect Leader, you’ve been scammed…”

By that damned swindler, William or whatever his name is!

*’Is… is me being the Saintess here really the best choice?’*

A sense of doubt suddenly crept in.

All I’ve seen since arriving is a swindler who tried to buy an elf as a sacrifice for some scheme, and a sect leader whose money and heart were stolen by that same swindler.

I knew painfully well that it was too late for regrets now, but I couldn’t help but lament.

“Ugh.”

As a throbbing headache pressed against my temples, I habitually pressed them firmly and racked my brain.

*’Let’s give up on the hope of getting the 6,000 florins back from the swindler for now.’*

If I mobilized the ducal house’s military power, I could find him. But it would take a long time.

Furthermore, it wasn’t even certain if the swindler still had the 6,000 florins on him.

*’For now, I’ll have to manage somehow with my own money.’*

If I sold the luxuries stashed away in my room, I could raise some funds.

“This can’t, this can’t be. William, to me… to me, how could he… Ahh.”

“Sect Leader, stay strong. It’s possible to get scammed, you know. It’s good that you found out now.”

Even while my headache was worsening, I diligently comforted the sect leader with a hand imbued with divine power.

I can say with certainty that this wasn’t the sect leader’s fault. It was the fault of the bastard who scammed him.

*’I hope he doesn’t take it too hard.’*

The sect leader, resembling Arte, had a mentality weaker than a cookie.

Oh well. I have no choice but to comfort him even harder.

Just then.

Hazel, who had been quietly listening to our conversation until now, timidly raised her hand.

“Um, Saintess? I have no intention of returning to Luhrd…”

What in the world is this?

“Huh? Why, why?”

At this unexpected declaration, my eyes widened round without me realizing.

Well, that’s because elves are a race famous for not leaving Luhrd throughout their 400-year lifespans.

Of course, there might be exceptions, but I didn’t think this particular elf, Hazel, would be one.

Having become a ‘slave’, a terrible fate, dragged around by humans, and nearly dying as a sacrifice, I thought she’d want to return as soon as possible.

“Ah, my journey was originally to leave Luhrd. I was caught by slave traders not long after setting out, but I still want to stay longer on the continent.”

… I have things to look for.

Hazel added in a small voice. It was clear she had a story she couldn’t tell us.

Instead of probing for details, I simply gave a small nod.

“I see. But it must be quite difficult to stay in the Empire…”

I wasn’t criticizing her choice, but with slave traders being so prevalent, I was worried about Hazel’s safety afterwards.

While I was pondering if there was a way to help, Hazel came out with an unexpected suggestion.

“That’s why, you see, Saintess. May I join your sect?”

Huh?

“*Our* sect??”

No, why, when there’s Grid, the ‘God of Earth and Charity’?

Due to their racial characteristics, all elves believe only in God Grid.

They can’t help it, because Grid, uniquely, exists in their country in the form of the World Tree.

How could they not believe when a god has taken root in their country, protecting the continent?

“We have the Grid religion in our capital too, Ms. Hazel.”

Thinking she might believe the Grid religion only existed in the elves’ continent, Luhrd, I explained.

But Hazel shook her head and firmly expressed her resolve.

“No. I want to join the Saintess’s sect.”

“Uh-ye?”

*’Really, why on earth?’*

This is the sect where a swindler runs rampant, and the sect leader naively fell for it and tried to offer you as a sacrifice?

“The Saintess saved me! When I was healed by your divine power, it was the first time I felt saved! So, so… I want to join the sect.”

“But—”

“Besides, both the Sect Leader and the Saintess offered me a sincere apology, didn’t you? That alone was enough to move my heart!”

*’Ugh.’*

I couldn’t bring myself to tell Hazel, whose eyes were sparkling excessively, that it was a case of causing the problem and then offering the solution.

Moreover, the sect leader next to me suddenly burst into tears and grabbed Hazel’s hand!

*”Sniff,* Ms. Hazel… Not only did you forgive us, but you want to join our sect! I’m touched by that sentiment, *sob!* I will, I will truly treat you well!”

“Sect Leader!”

“Priest Hazel!”

…Good grief. Since when was Ms. Hazel a ‘Priest’?

Soon, the two hugged each other and cried *sob sob*.

Hazel said she knew from the start that the sect leader wasn’t a bad person, *boo hoo*.

The sect leader said he would let her pray without getting a drop of water on her hands, *boo hoo*.

*’Can’t I tell her to go to the Grid religion even now?’*

They became inseparable in 10 seconds; it felt wrong to separate them.

And so, I ended up nodding at Hazel’s joining.

“Alright. If Ms. Hazel is fine with it, then I guess it’s okay…”

“Thank you, Saintess! I will work hard to contribute to the sect from now on! Ah, but what did you say the god’s name was?”

I mean, how can you join without even knowing that!

But the sect leader didn’t mind such trivial details. He just laughed, “Hahaat,” and explained, “It’s Arte-nim!”

*’Is… is this right?’*

Is this the kind of world view where easygoing people become the world’s strongest, where only such people survive?

*’Sigh, I don’t know anymore.’*

What’s good is good. If I think too hard, my headache just gets worse.

I watched the two hugging and laughing heartily and swallowed a wry smile.

“Ooh, as expected of Arte-nim! Under Arte-nim’s gaze, all things in the world find peace—”

“……”

Of course, even that smile quickly vanished due to the faint, insane prayers of the believers that reached my ears.

Only then did I subtly turn around and scrutinize the believers through the door crack.

They were all wearing black robes pulled down low, perhaps imitating the statue of Arte, so their faces weren’t properly visible.

The only thing I could vaguely see was their disheveled hair.

Seeing how their praying hands were all bone-dry, it seemed they had abandoned even the basics of food, clothing, and shelter to devote themselves solely to prayer.

*’Reform is definitely necessary.’*

And right now, at this moment!

I swung my body around to face the sect leader. Perhaps sensing my blazing eyes, he looked at me, blinking with a “Huh?” expression.

“Sect Leader.”

“Y-yes? What is it, Saintess?”

“Sect Leader, do you think this situation is normal?”

It wasn’t meant as an accusation, but the sect leader stiffened nervously and clasped his hands together.

“Uh, uhh… I-it’s very wrong, isn’t it?”

“Right? Starting with trying to offer a human sacrifice.”

I really wasn’t trying to pick a fight, but I crossed my arms. The sect leader’s shoulders slumped.

“Y-yes. Saintess, I truly will never, ever do it again! No matter what happens!”

“Yeees, you shouldn’t even dream about it, right?”