Chapter 18
“You’re the High Priest?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why do you look like that?”
“Like what.”
If I described it out loud, I felt like I’d get arrested.
I looked at the man in front of me.
Smooth silver hair, pale and delicate features, dense eyelashes the same shade as his hair.
And eyes that completely shattered that holy impression—full-on delinquent eyes.
‘The type who pretends he only likes you while secretly cheating with 180 people behind your back.’
And this guy is the High Priest?
‘Unbelievable.’
The High Priest.
The owner of the Great Temple that stands shoulder to shoulder with the Imperial Palace in District 1, the head of the Church, the only person in this era who can hear the voice of God.
His name was… Cassian, I think.
He rarely showed up in public, so I’d heard that only a few high nobles even knew his face.
Was that because of his looks?
In case believers had sinful thoughts after seeing his face?
“Yeah, whatever. That’s fine.”
The High Priest being extremely handsome wasn’t important right now. I tapped my foot and crossed my arms.
“Why did you hide your identity and spy on me?”
“Because I don’t trust you?”
Cassian copied me and crossed his arms too.
“I did receive an oracle telling me to make you the Saint of Magic, sure. But that doesn’t mean your talent or personality has been verified.”
“If I let you roam free, you could make mistakes or cause incidents. Of course I had to make sure.”
“And you needed to hide your identity for that?”
“I was afraid you’d whine and ask me for help if you knew who I was.”
“…….”
Look at that attitude. Unbelievable.
“For someone who says that, you helped me a lot.”
“I didn’t help you. I helped the dog.”
“I’m not a do—”
Tofu’s protest was ignored.
Cassian looked down at me, lips curling into a sly grin. He shrugged and spoke in a maddening tone.
“Anyway, sorry for getting caught. I apologize.”
“…….”
“Let’s work together from now on.”
A big hand suddenly stretched out toward me.
‘I can’t put it into exact words, but…’
This man was extremely unlikable.
“What? Not taking it?”
When I finally took his faintly twitching hand, he closed his fingers around mine with surprising strength. Unlike their smooth shape, his palms were hardened with calluses. They were also a bit cold.
‘Wait… are priests allowed to hold hands with women?’
“We can get married.”
Cassian said it as if reading my thoughts.
“The clergy of the Church can all marry and have children. They just can’t date.”
“How do you get married if you can’t date?”
“You’re only allowed to love one person in your entire life. And you marry that person.”
“Oh.”
“It’s basic knowledge. Didn’t know that? Your faith is lacking.”
“It’s basic to church people.”
I don’t believe in God.
“What has God ever done for me that I should know about priests’ personal lives?”
“He gives you a salary. The Saint of Magic salary.”
“That’s compensation for my work, okay?”
Anyone listening would think I just laze around and get free money. I glared at him, but Cassian only smiled.
Then he tugged lightly on the hand he was holding, pulling me closer, and whispered into my ear:
“Be careful.”
“Of what.”
“The Ingrid Trading Company is backed by many noble families and is known for repaying their debts generously. Do you really think they were the only ones benefiting from their crimes?”
“…….”
“Because of this incident, some people might hold a grudge and start searching for the Saint of Magic.”
“…….”
Cassian looked down at me, deepening the smile on his lips.
“Saint of Magic.”
“What.”
“If you fail the mission and get caught, I’m going to pretend I don’t know you.”
“…….”
“No matter what danger you’re in, you’ll have to get out by yourself. The Temple will deny your existence and won’t send any help.”
“…….”
“Even if you’re thrown in prison, we’ll never come save you.”
Now I was certain.
This man was deeply unlikable.
‘Is he cursing me to get caught or what.’
So annoying!
“That’s a useless worry.”
I pulled his hand toward me this time.
I hadn’t even used that much strength, but Cassian was pulled forward easily. I stared into his sky-blue eyes.
“I’m not planning to ask you for help anyway.”
“Yeah? Good.”
“Yeah. Because relying on a flimsy guy like you would be a waste of time. Escaping on my own would be faster.”
“Who are you calling flimsy—”
Crunch!
“Aaagh!”
“Heh.”
See? Flimsy.
I released Cassian’s hand after squeezing it with all my might.
Red marks instantly appeared on his fingers. It must’ve really hurt, because his eyes even watered as he repeatedly opened and closed his hand. I mimicked his annoying smirk.
“I’ll let the lying part go with just this.”
“‘Just this’? My hand almost broke—!”
“Not my fault you’re flimsy.”
“…Fine. Then, sturdy Miss Seraphina, Saint of Magic.”
“What.”
“You have another mission.”
“Again?!”
“So you want me to choose which person to help?”
“Yes.”
“This is part of the ‘verification process’ too?”
“Mm-hm.”
I looked between the three documents Cassian handed me and his face.
‘I could say I’ll think about it and tell him tonight, but… somehow that feels like losing.’
I really didn’t want to say anything weak to this jerk. Because he was annoying.
Imagining myself bonking Cassian on the head with a toy hammer, I skimmed the documents.
Three different people, each with their personal details and a short summary of a recent incident.
-
A newlywed couple in District 15.
A city guard came asking whether they stole the neighbor’s chicken. During the quarrel, the husband was badly injured. They complained, but the guards dismissed them, saying they were “only doing their job.” -
A currently top-star actor in the capital.
Recently spotted arguing with a journalist in a hat shop.
Before the incident, that journalist supposedly bragged at his teahouse that “the actor is finished.” -
An heir whose parents recently passed.
Due to ambiguities in the will, their uncle wrongfully took their jewels.
—Whom will you help?
“Number 2.”
“Why?”
“In case 1, it only says the husband was injured. There’s nothing saying they didn’t steal the chicken.”
If they hadn’t stolen anything and were wrongly accused, wouldn’t “We’re innocent!” have been their first reaction?
“And case 3—what they need is a good lawyer, not me. There’s nothing I can do.”
Even if I stole the jewels back and returned them, the uncle would just report it to the guards.
“Number 2… I don’t know the full story, but at least it looks like there’s something I can actually do.”
I handed the documents back.
Was I correct? I checked Cassian’s reaction, but he neither confirmed nor denied it.
He just clapped his hands lightly with a faint grin.
“Good. Then our Saint of Magic will personally go find out what trouble this Miss Rozena is in, right?”
“Rozena is the actor’s name?”
“You didn’t know? She’s the most popular actor right now.”
“Do I look like I have time to go watch performances?”
I work all day in the atelier and chase criminals at night. I glared at him.
“True.”
“I forgot our Saint is busy.” Cassian said in some tone I couldn’t interpret—mocking or serious—as he casually sat on the box I’d knocked him into earlier.
He crossed his legs and laced his fingers over his knee. The movement was smooth and elegant.
‘Annoyingly elegant.’
No manners, extremely annoying.
‘Wait… I’ve been casually speaking informally to the High Priest this whole time.’
Isn’t the High Priest basically the same rank as a duke?
Actually, I think I heard he was originally the youngest son of a ducal family with succession rights…
Whatever. Who cares.
Cassian explained:
“Rozena is an actress who appeared like a comet recently. Her acting and looks made her quickly famous. Last year, even His Majesty the Emperor personally attended her performance.”
“Oh.”
“Soon, a new play starring her will premiere at the Opera Sernier.”
Every citizen knows performing there is the highest honor an actor can achieve.
“But.”
“But?”
“As the documents say, a certain journalist has been harassing her lately. I don’t know the details, but it seems she has some secret she absolutely can’t let be exposed.”
“…….”
“I want you to find out what trouble she’s in and help resolve it.”
Ugh…
“But Cassian.”
“Yeah?”
“How do you know Rozena is the victim and the journalist is the perpetrator?”
