Chapter 30
I don’t exactly dislike that you trust me.’
It’s just that it’s the first time so many people have put their complete faith in me, so I feel strangely embarrassed, I suppose.
Unable to bear the shining gazes of the believers, I hurriedly changed the subject.
“Ahem! Well then, shall we take down these curtains?!”
“Ahem, yes!”
“Alright, everyone! Let’s tear down those curtains our Saintess dislikes!”
“We’ll definitely, definitely follow what the Saintess says!”
Where did all those people who just muttered prayers and ignored anyone entering the prayer room go?
Hearing the now brightened believers’ teasing words, I let out a soft, bashful laugh.
After that, we all worked together to take down the dreary curtains, then bought some bread from nearby for a simple meal.
It seemed the believers were truly determined to blindly follow my every word, as they all chewed their food very earnestly and diligently.
Now, the spring sunlight streamed in smoothly, unobstructed.
During the meal, I pleasantly ignored the occasional sniffles I heard and added a few more instructions.
“Ah, right. From now on, distributing strange pamphlets is forbidden! And those drab robes are forbidden too!”
The obedient, “Yes,” that followed was filled with completely stuffy, nasal voices.
***
In the afternoon, I was scheduled to go out with Priest Hazel and the Sect Leader.
Thanks to removing the prayer room curtains, the sect had become a bit brighter, but there were still many things that needed to be changed.
Among them, the most urgent was…
“Our attire! Let’s change our attire first!”
To be honest, calling it ‘attire’ was ambiguous. It was just a hooded robe thrown over their shoulders.
A bigger problem than that was the color of the robes.
“It’s not quite green, not quite brown, and not quite black either… It’s such an off-putting color.”
It was a strange color that somehow evoked a sense of discomfort.
‘We definitely need to change this.’
Especially if we want to do missionary work!
“Uh, S-Saintess. But… we don’t have any money…….”
Just as I was clenching my fist, burning with passion, the Sect Leader cautiously spoke up.
But, did he think I had forgotten about that?
“Don’t worry! I have some.”
The donations I’ve received so far alone amount to a whopping 3,000 Florang.
I still had quite a few discount coupons usable at the Arte Store, so it would be fine to use about 2,000 in cash.
‘Considering the fees, it’d be about 1,000 Florang.’
That should be more than enough to change the sect’s attire, right?
And not just that?
‘I can even hire a maid to handle the believers’ grooming and styling!’
Of course, there were maids at the Duke’s residence and those who had joined my… missionary efforts(?), but I couldn’t ask them to take on extra work.
Also, the Duke’s maids were specialized in grooming and styling tailored for nobles like me.
“Saintess! Even so, the money…….”
“Ehehe. It’s fine, really.”
Money? Thanks to the status window, it came in even if I just breathed.
‘Look, even now.’
Ding.
[Arte has donated 520 Florang!]
[Just name the price. What’s the price? Don’t worry, Sect Leader, I’ll buy it with money now (｡•̀_-)✧]
Arte, who the Sect Leader couldn’t even see, was busy having fun, donating away and humming to herself.
Shaking my head as I looked at Arte, I opened the <Arte Store>.
‘But I have no idea how to withdraw Florang.’
There must be a specific command word.
Ding.
[A 1:1 inquiry has been received.]
[Answer: After specifying the desired amount, shout <Withdraw>! The Florang, minus the fee, will be transmitted to your specified location in the human world. ପ(｡ᵔ ⩊ ᵔ｡)ଓ]
[Total Donations Held: 3647 Florang.]
[Withdrawal Amount: 1020 Florang.]
[Currently Specified Location: None.]
[Would you like to specify a location?]
Swallowing a gasp at the prompt that appeared right before my eyes, I nodded.
‘Set the location to Randel’s carriage.’
Ding.
[Location has been set.]
[The transmission location can be changed at any time.]
[Remaining Donations Held: 1647 Florang.]
Looking at the remaining balance displayed before my eyes, I felt a bitter taste in my mouth for no reason.
‘Even seeing it again, a 49% fee is just too vicious.’
I should try to use the donated Florang primarily for buying items.
Trying to forget the 980 Florang taken as fees, I shook my head.
Just then, Priest Hazel looked at me with worried eyes.
“Saintess? Are you alright?”
“Ahaha, it’s nothing!”
But in their eyes, it seemed like it wasn’t ‘nothing’ at all.
The two of them whispered something to each other, then suddenly, “Hup!” They covered their mouths with both hands and started imagining all sorts of things.
“D-don’t tell me you’re going to make some sacrifice for our sect…….”
“What if you get kicked out because of this, Saintess?”
“Huh? What are you…?”
Where would I get kicked out from, and by whom?
“W-what if you’re planning to pawn your family’s jewels to save us?”
“Or sell a precious item filled with childhood memories—one that later plays a crucial role—”
“Sssigh. Priest Hazel. Sect Leader. Please snap out of it, this isn’t a novel.”
I firmly cut them off and made an ‘X’ with my arms.
As expected of people who believe in Lady Arte, their imaginations were just as rich.
‘I have no family jewels to speak of, nor any childhood memories worth mentioning.’
So please, don’t set up any strange flags!
‘Besides, even if I did dip into my personal wealth, selling a few of my gems would easily cover it.’
I was just refraining because I didn’t want my family to misunderstand…
But unaware of my honey-like situation, the two of them, especially the Sect Leader, wore dark expressions.
‘They’re so pure-hearted.’
“The sect’s matters are my matters too, right? And well… Lady Arte helps out well in this area too.”
“Gasp, even in financial matters?”
“Yes, well….”
Well, she spends money because she wants to chat with me, so it *is* help, right?
“So, you don’t need to worry about money anymore, okay?”
Grabbing both the Sect Leader and Priest Hazel, I pulled them outside.
“Now! Shall we go?”
Even if I spend every last Florang I’ve received so far, I’ll transform our sect into the most fantastic one!
***
We boarded the carriage where 1,000 Florang was safely stored and headed straight for the 3rd District.
We were going to the ‘Mermaid Boutique,’ a place whispered about among nobles.
Uniquely, this place not only made clothing but also had a maid specializing in grooming and styling stationed there, and her skills were said to be incredible.
‘Was her name Margaret?’
I was actually looking for someone who could professionally manage the believers’ appearances, not just ceremonial robes, so this was fortunate.
However, there was a hurdle.
Both the boutique’s Madam and Margaret showed reluctance.
“Your Ladyship. Even so, making vestments for a sect seems a bit difficult…….”
“Ahem, Your Ladyship. I also find sects…….”
I nodded graciously at the two, who were desperately trying to avoid my gaze.
‘That’s understandable. It’s fine.’
Of course, it’s only natural to feel uncomfortable, conscience-wise, with sect matters, especially for a sect that isn’t one of the Four Great Orders.
So, what I had prepared was this.
*Tap.*
“Madam, 500 Florang as an advance. Once the request is completed, I’ll pay another 500!”
“Gasp!”
“Margaret, 200 Florang as an advance. I’ll pay 150 Florang quarterly. How about it?”
It was money exceeding the industry average by two to three times. And the result was, of course…
“Just leave it to me, Your Ladyship! I’ll create outfits that will captivate everyone!”
“S-sects are love!”
An overwhelming success without needing any further words!
As expected, when you want to make the impossible possible, nothing works better than money.
Taking this chance, I had a brief discussion with the Madam and arranged for a sample set of the vestments the believers would wear.
Seeing this, Priest Hazel and the Sect Leader’s eyes grew as wide as saucers.
“Y-you mean to provide such attire to everyone?”
“Yes. This is the basic design. For the Sect Leader or me, there would be more decorations, of course?”
“Gasp!”
The Sect Leader, who had initially been hesitant when I suggested changing the attire, was now nowhere to be found.
‘He’s looking at the clothes as if honey is dripping from them.’
Seeing him happy like a child, a gentle smile spread across my face.
Of course, that didn’t mean…
“Saintess! This is truly… *Sniffle*!”
“Sigh, *sob*. Please don’t cry.”
“*Sob*! I, I thought… *Sniff*… I’d never wear such… *Sob*… wonderful clothes in my life… Waaah!”
“Now, let’s stop crying, shhh!”
“*Gulp*, shhh… *Sob*!”
I hadn’t expected him to burst into tears like a literal child.
I subtly handed the crying Sect Leader over to Hazel and slipped out of the boutique.
Since the negotiations ended earlier than expected, I thought about looking around the nearby artisan district.
‘We need a new statue of Lady Arte too.’
But like this, what could I do…
“Waaaaah!!! *Gulp*, *Hic*, Waaah!”
“Sect Leadeeeer! *Sob*, don’t cry, why, why are you crying! Waaaah!”
‘Why is Priest Hazel crying too…?’
I know crying is contagious, but could you please *stop*?
*Murmur, murmur.*
‘Everyone’s gathering around, thinking I bullied them!’
“Both of you, stop! Now now, let’s only think happy thoughts~ Okay?”
It would be better to postpone the artisan district for another time. I quickly hurried them into the carriage, patting their backs.
But what I didn’t know then was…
*Murmur, murmur.*
“…Cierra, you… I see.”
That someone had witnessed this absurd situation.
And what kind of mishap their sorrowful weeping would cause.
At that moment, I knew nothing.
