Chapter 60
Moreover, Yurein no longer changed her hair color.
There was no need to hide that she was the illegitimate daughter of Tarbargen.
In fact, Yurein wanted the fact that she was a Tarbargen to become widely known.
Only then…
“The duke and Lampos won’t be able to eliminate me so easily.”
Since they valued bloodlines above all, they wouldn’t kill her outright.
But they might still kidnap and imprison her somewhere.
So Yurein needed to make it widely known that the illegitimate daughter of the Tarbargen family was the guide spoken of in rumors.
Rumors that would ripple through people’s minds, one after another.
Sometimes, the tongue is stronger than spear or sword.
In the meantime, the visit from the priests was truly good news for Yurein.
She hadn’t expected them to come so quickly.
“Please open the door now, Iyabon.”
“…Well, Yurein. I still can’t help but worry. Are you sure I don’t need to come in with you?”
Iyabon frowned, looking at Yurein with concern.
Seeing that, Yurein smiled brightly.
Then she lowered her voice and said,
“If anything goes wrong, the lord of the castle is also here.”
“Ugh… well, that’s true, but…”
After hesitating a few times, Iyabon finally opened the door.
Click. Click.
Yurein straightened her back and entered the room.
Immediately, someone waiting anxiously inside stood up quickly.
“Miss Yurein Tarbargen…”
Two priests were waiting in the reception room.
Yurein carefully observed them and was momentarily surprised.
One was a high-ranking priest, and the other seemed to be a junior priest.
Though a junior, the fact that they were personally accompanied by the high-ranking priest meant this person was likely being groomed as their successor.
The high-ranking priest was rarely seen outside the temple.
When Yurein had visited the Tarbargen estate, she occasionally went to the temple, but the high-ranking priest was seldom visible.
Yet here they were, coming personally to see her.
This meant the temple didn’t consider Yurein appearing as a “guide” just a simple rumor.
“I didn’t expect the temple to take this matter so seriously.”
Yurein was inwardly surprised but gave no outward sign.
She simply smiled politely at the priests.
When the elder priest bowed respectfully while addressing her, the young junior priest followed suit, composing himself.
Still, the junior priest couldn’t fully hide his excitement.
It was natural—this was the first appearance of a “second” guide since the deity had passed away.
A truly historic moment.
Of course it would make one nervous.
“The god has pitied the wretched and sent a new guide.”
Rumors like this were spreading quietly.
The junior priest wished this were true—and secretly believed it was.
Even if there was a possibility that Yurein wasn’t a guide, the junior priest didn’t feel the need to verify it.
According to the rumors, Yurein was truly… remarkable.
“Hello. I am Yurein Tarbargen.”
Yurein greeted them with a smile and then sat across from the priests.
Naturally, the priests took their seats as well.
In this empire, with no princess, no woman could be nobler than Yurein, the illegitimate daughter of a duke—by bloodline alone.
Of course, Aila was the most noble being as a guide.
“I am a humble servant serving the sole being of this world.”
“We, humble servants serving the sole being of this world, greet Miss Yurein Tarbargen,” the priests said in unison.
The junior priest’s cheeks were still flushed.
“Yurein, rumors about you are spreading widely,” the priest quickly got to the point.
A style of speaking unusual for high society—but Yurein found it convenient.
“So my rumors have stirred even the temple. I don’t like the idea of the temple’s ears being sullied by worldly matters.”
“No, how could you call it sullied…!”
The junior priest, startled by Yurein’s words, half-shouted before covering his mouth with his hands.
The high-ranking priest narrowed his eyes at the junior priest.
“Miss Yurein, I apologize. My apprentice is still young and has been impolite.”
The elder priest quickly apologized to Yurein.
Yurein was again inwardly surprised that the high-ranking priest apologized so readily but shook her head.
“No, it is a joy to know again that the temple is not separate from the world, and that the gods watch over us.”
“Ah…”
The junior priest slightly opened his mouth, but then, seeing the elder priest’s gaze, composed himself again.
Still, the blush remained on his cheeks, making Yurein smile inwardly.
She couldn’t smile openly, fearing the junior priest would get scolded.
“I was worried the temple would dismiss this as a lie. But rather…”
It seemed the temple did not fully believe the rumor that she was the second guide—but neither did they completely dismiss it.
Rather, they seemed cautious, thinking it might be true.
“…We are deeply grateful that Miss Yurein Tarbargen thinks so of us.”
“Thank you!”
The elder priest expressed his gratitude, and the junior priest quickly echoed it, smiling shyly as he stepped back slightly.
“Really cute…”
Seeing the innocent expression, Yurein couldn’t help but think so, then glanced at the elder priest, who cleared his throat a few times.
The elder priest seemed slightly uneasy about his apprentice’s behavior—but not excessively so.
“Today, you have come to visit me because of the rumor that I am a guide, correct?”
Yurein, realizing a conversation couldn’t begin otherwise, spoke first.
The elder priest’s eyes hardened.
Where moments ago he had seemed unsure how to react, now he radiated an untouchable aura.
“Yes, that is correct. Recently, rumors have spread from Parmahal that you, Miss Yurein, are the new guide—or rather, the second guide.”
“I see. I am well aware of this myself.”
How could she not be? Lately, it had become uncomfortable even to walk through the streets of Parmahal.
From children to the elderly, all would look at Yurein with reverence, and immediately lower their heads if she looked at them.
If the attention she received in a mercenary city was this intense, she could only imagine other cities.
“And while opinions within the temple differ, I personally do not think these rumors are baseless.”
“Then…”
They did not think it was a baseless rumor.
Did that mean they believed it to be true—or that they thought Yurein was spreading it maliciously?
“Which is it…”
Yurein smiled slightly and opened her mouth to continue.
The elder priest, visibly tense, stared straight at her.
“Oh my, priest. You truly believe the rumor. You may not believe the tale of me handling a mysterious blue bird, but at least you believe I am a ‘guide,’ correct?”
Yurein said this gently, smiling.
It wasn’t just the rumor that she was a guide that had spread.
In the stories, she had become a hero who rode a mysterious blue bird and saved Parmahal from crises.
Although she hadn’t revealed that she served the lord, people who had seen her riding the blue bird had assumed it was extraordinary.
By not revealing the bird as her lord, she had become a near-mythical figure.
A guide who descended from the sky and drove out the monsters that had invaded Parmahal.
People spoke of her with reverence, almost as if she were a goddess from legend.
In fame, Yurein surpassed even Aila.
When Yurein spoke with a joking smile, the elder priest’s face stiffened further.
“Hmm. Perhaps I’ve touched on something I shouldn’t have.”
