Chapter 9

Unlike a week ago when he arrived, Wyoneal frowned upon seeing a crowd gathered in the park.

"What's going on?"

As he approached, he noticed that the people were holding vegetables and fruits in their hands, piled up like mountains. He thought it might be a market, but it didn't seem to be the case.

Watching the people carry their crops back to the slums, Wyoneal found Alm sitting on a bench in the empty lot, looking tired and breathing heavily.

"Alm"

"Wh-what?"

When Wyoneal called out, Alm jumped up from the bench.

"Is, is there something you need...?"

"Don't be afraid. I just came to see what's happening."

As he calmed the trembling Alm, Wyoneal looked around the empty lot and tilted his head.

"Are you giving food to the poor?"

Thinking it was unlikely, he asked, and Alm nodded hesitantly, making trees sprout in front of Wyoneal. A peach fell from one of the trees into Wyoneal's hand, and the tree shrank back into the ground, leaving no trace.

Wyoneal looked at the plump, juicy fruit in his hand and was convinced that Alm had the favor of the goddess of abundance.

"Are you growing trees here every day and distributing crops?"

When Alm nodded, Wyoneal fell silent with a troubled expression.

Alm, who no longer wanted to be involved with the royal family, wondered why the fifth prince was visiting and felt uncomfortable.

After a while, Wyoneal spoke again.

"If you're giving it away for free, it's better to stop. It's not good for you or the residents of the slums."

Alm blinked.

What is he talking about? The residents of the slums, who barely have enough to eat, are grateful for the crops Alm provides. If they can eat their fill, isn't that enough?

Noticing Alm's dissatisfied expression, Wyoneal sighed.

"You're trying to help people, and that's a wonderful and compassionate act. But you're still young and haven't seen enough of the world."

Wyoneal looked Alm straight in the eye and said,

"People shouldn't get used to being given things. You'll understand soon enough."

With that, Wyoneal turned and left. Watching his retreating back, Alm puffed out his cheeks.

***

Alm can't leave the great temple.

Every day, he tries to finish his work quickly and head to the slums, but he is consistently stopped by the holy maidens and holy knights.

He doesn't understand why.

"Why are you guys hindering me!? I'm a priest and the seventh prince!"

Johannes punched the table.

Why do the priests have to stop him from going to meet the holy maiden?

When Johannes tries to go to Alm, the three holy maidens, including Kysara, use light magic to stop him, and the holy knights block his way with traps and barricades.

Johannes thinks they are fighting the wrong enemy, but unfortunately, everyone is doing their best to stop him.

"Damn... I need to get Alm back soon!"

"Why don't you just give up?"

"Don't be ridiculous! I can't afford to lose Alm's power!"

The guard knight sighed in exasperation at Johannes' words.

"As long as you treat her like a tool, no one wants you to meet her."

Johannes turned around at the knight's words.

(Treated like a tool...?)

Do they all think that? That Johannes treats Alm like a tool.

(That's ridiculous.)

Johannes has always recognized Alm's power and needed her more than anyone else.

But his actions made it look like he was using her up.

Thinking it was ridiculous, Johannes suddenly felt uneasy.

What if Alm herself thought that? What if she thought she was being overused and taken advantage of by Johannes.

"No, no. That can't be..."

Johannes shook his head to dispel the ominous thoughts.

"Anyway, this country needs Alm. So..."

"If that's the case, why don't you send another priest? Any priest other than you, like Aureo or Fanel, could go to meet Alm."

Hearing the knight's suggestion, Johannes fell silent.

As the knight said, he could ask another priest in the great temple to go and meet Alm. He knew that, but...

"...No. I'll go to meet Alm."

For some reason, he didn't want to.

The other priests didn't know Alm's true worth. Since he recognized her the most, he believed he was the only one who could bring her back.

Johannes convinced himself of this.