Chapter 3

"Was my blessing appraisal a fake? That's why I came back to have it appraised again."

"Wha...!? Are you accusing my work!?"

"You appraised me as having no blessing. But as you can see, I can use a blessing."

I activated the blessing right there on the spot.

Of course, I didn't attack the priest.

Because the moment the priest saw my blessing, he collapsed.

"Ah! I'm going to be killed...! Guards! Guards!!!"

As the priest screamed, guards armed with weapons rushed in.

"This man is trying to cause trouble! Arrest him immediately!!"

The priest pointed at me with a trembling finger.

I didn't want to be misunderstood, so I had already deactivated the blessing before the guards arrived.

The guards, who saw me standing unarmed and the priest in a panic, looked uncertain.

"What are you hesitating about! Arrest that man immediately! You were hired to protect the priest, weren't you!?"

Intimidated by the priest's fierce tirade, the guards surrounded me.

"I just want to talk about the corruption in the blessing appraisal."

"Did you hear that, guards! There can't be any corruption in a blessing appraisal! This insolent man is here to insult the authority of the Akkarudo Temple! Just arresting him isn't enough. I give you permission. Dispose of him!"

Realizing that the priest would take responsibility, the guards no longer hesitated.

They attacked, trying to forcibly apprehend me.

I had no intention of fighting a meaningless battle here, but it seemed I had no choice but to defend myself.

One against fifteen.

"Yeti, if you want to use ice magic to immobilize multiple enemies, what method do you recommend?"

I asked Yeti, who was floating beside me.

The priest couldn't see Yeti at all.

—If I throw a ring of ice to sever their legs, they won't be able to move a step.

That's too violent...

"The guards aren't bad guys, so just immobilizing them should be enough."

—I see. Then using a supersonic blizzard would be best. It can knock them out instantly.

"Without putting their lives at risk?"

—Yes, sir.

"Got it. I'll try it."

I have the knowledge to activate a "supersonic blizzard."

—Don't forget to cover your own ears, sir.

"Right."

I covered my ears with both hands and visualized the magic in my mind.

I took a deep breath and exhaled a cold blast—

Whoosh—

Even with my ears covered, I felt a tingling sensation.

The guards and the priest, who heard the supersonic blizzard directly, fainted on the spot.

"Are they... still alive?"

—They're just unconscious.

That's a relief.

—I'm sorry, sir. ...I'm suddenly feeling very sleepy... zzz...

As he spoke, Yeti's snores began, and soon his presence faded away, and the snores stopped.

He wasn't completely gone.

He must have fallen asleep deep in my mind.

Maybe from using his power or from fatigue. I'll let him sleep.

"Alright... I'll leave the guards unconscious for now—"

I squatted in front of the fallen priest and lightly slapped his cheeks.

The priest's eyes snapped open.

The moment he saw me, his face turned pale.

He must have realized he was at a disadvantage.

"Ah, ah... Ah, please help me...!!"

The priest, who had suddenly changed his attitude, prostrated himself on the floor.

"I'm truly sorry! I didn't want to do it! But your brother-in-law insisted, and I couldn't refuse... Ah, how can I apologize...!!"

As the priest continued to cry out, I sighed—

"What's the commotion?"

◇◇◇

A voice, youthful yet full of dignity, echoed.

I turned around to see someone emerging from a door at the back of the temple.

The person was completely covered in a robe, so I couldn't see their face.

"Sir, Acting High Priest..."

The priest, still prostrated, mumbled.

Acting High Priest?

Though I couldn't see the face due to the robe, the young voice and small stature clearly indicated someone younger than me.

To hold the position of Acting High Priest at such a young age, they must be exceptionally skilled.

The girl glanced at the unconscious guards, then at me, and finally stopped her gaze on the priest.

"Th-there's a reason, Acting High Priest..."

The girl raised her hand to stop the priest's outburst.

She silently raised her staff, and its tip glowed for a moment before fading.

"Indeed. What a pitiful story. To let greed take over and be bribed... to lose the heart that should be dedicated to the gods..."

It seems the Acting High Priest used magic to see the sins committed by the corrupt priest.

With a gaze that seemed to see through everything, the Acting High Priest coldly looked at the priest.

The priest's face turned to despair, realizing he couldn't hide his sins.

"You, sir, I sincerely apologize for this. I will re-appraise your blessing in place of this man. The High Priest is currently absent, conducting morning prayers, so I will perform the re-appraisal."

"What!? No...! It's impossible for an Acting High Priest to appraise a commoner's blessing...! Only nobles should receive your appraisal...!"

"Silence."

"Ah...!"

"Your focus on status and position led to this foolish mistake."

The corrupt priest, who had colluded with my brother-in-law, trembled under the Acting High Priest's authority.

"Please, come with me. We'll conduct the re-appraisal in the back."

Unlike her cold tone with the corrupt priest, the Acting High Priest called me with a gentle voice.

I nodded and followed her.

As we entered the corridor leading to the inner chamber, the Acting High Priest turned to the pale-faced corrupt priest.

"We cannot keep someone who has sold their soul to evil in the temple. Pack your things and leave immediately."

"Aah, no...!"

As the corrupt priest collapsed to the floor, the door closed.

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