Chapter 79

Alex and Duke Ruthius were lost in their own thoughts.

Sipping my tea, I asked casually.

“Johan, do you want to be a hero?”

“I have no interest in such things. I simply wish for the world to find peace again.”

“What if you had to trade your life for that peace? Would you still do it?”

“Ah… isn’t that a given?”

Johan replied, tilting his head.

It wasn’t a bluff. It was genuine, straight from the heart.

Johan was the type of person who believed his own life was a small price to pay to save the world.

‘He’s so good-natured. It makes me want to pat his head.’

If only his goals weren’t the complete opposite of mine.

“…You truly are a man of the cloth. I admire that.”

“I-It’s nothing, really.”

I watched his reddened cheeks as I lifted my teacup.

Back when I first met Johan, I had a thought.

That if a hero were to emerge to save the world, it would be him.

It was just a vague assumption back then, but hearing him now, it seems my judgment was quite accurate.

Johan is strong.

He’s ranked fourth, but that wasn’t set in stone. If he acquired just one solid ultimate skill, his rank could rise.

‘His insight is exceptional, too…’

To the point where he was contemplating how to end the apocalypse on his own while everyone else was focused on clearing gates.

And on top of that, he’s a cleric willing to readily sacrifice his life for others…

‘He has all the makings of a hero.’

I recalled the goals I had set for myself when I was first transmigrated.

1. The apocalypse must continue, no matter what.

2. Any Hunter who gets in the way trying to save the world will be quietly crushed.

Johan was an obstacle. One that ought to be removed before he became a real hindrance.

But…

‘Look at those puppy-dog eyes. How could I crush that?’

— Anonymous Constellation: But speaking of Johan. Doesn’t he look a lot like him?

— Anonymous Constellation: ???Who’s him?

— Anonymous Constellation: I mean Hong Gildong.

— Anonymous Constellation: Ohhh!!! I was thinking the same thing!!

— Anonymous Constellation: Whoa, now that you mention it, he does? Awesome!

The moment I shook my head, the chat window caught my eye.

‘Johan looks like who?’

I set down my teacup and studied Johan carefully.

The Constellations were right.

‘He really does look like him, doesn’t he?’

Johan bore a striking resemblance to Shinwoo after he had been transformed by the new medicine.

So much so that if Johan’s eyes and hair were black, I might have mistaken him for Shinwoo.

Come to think of it, Johan’s personality was similar to Shinwoo’s as well.

Of course, Shinwoo had become a little colder after taking the medicine, but his fundamental nature was as angelic as Johan’s.

‘Ah… so that must be why I’ve always had a soft spot for Johan.’

My personality is certainly persistent. To think I was missing Shinwoo even after losing my memories.

‘I have to keep him by my side, no matter what it takes.’

I can’t crush him, but I can’t let him run free either. So, I’ll keep him close and watch him.

To stop him from doing something stupid like saving the world… and so he won’t die a miserable death.

Johan fumbled with his cheek.

“Um… Astell, is there something on my face?”

“Yes, handsomeness.”

“…Haha.”

“Ugh, damn! I just got goosebumps!”

Johan laughed awkwardly, and Alex shuddered.

The tea time came to an end.

* * *

Around noon, I headed to the central temple with Johan. I was there to make a donation.

I stared intently at Johan. He hadn’t looked at me once since we’d gotten in the carriage.

“Johan, are you avoiding me by any chance?”

“What? No! Why would I ever do that?”

“Then why are you only looking out the window?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I’m not asking for an apology, I’m just curious. I’d like to become very good friends with you, Johan.”

It’ll make it easier to keep an eye on you.

Johan turned his head slightly. For some reason, his cheeks were a little flushed.

“If you’re hot, you can open the window.”

“That’s not it… Yes, I’ll… I’ll open it just a little.”

When he opened the window, a cool breeze flowed into the carriage.

I undid the braid that hung to one side and began rebraiding it.

As I tucked in the stray hairs that had come loose in the wind, I suddenly felt Johan’s gaze on me.

“Does it look strange?”

“No, it’s beauti—”

Johan stopped mid-sentence and clamped a hand over his mouth. The word had seemingly slipped out on its own.

“Hearing that from someone who’s truly beautiful makes me feel good. Even if it’s just an empty compliment, thank you.”

A blush spread across Johan’s already pink-tinged cheeks.

‘My Shinwoo used to blush in the cheeks first when he got embarrassed, too…’

It was so cute that I would deliberately tease him even more.

“It’s not.”

“What isn’t?”

“It’s not an empty compliment. Astell, you are more beautiful than anyone.”

“…”

— Anonymous Constellation: Damn! That paladin’s flirting game is killer!

— Anonymous Constellation: Go Johan, go!

— Anonymous Constellation: Ah… I’m not really into younger guys…

— Anonymous Constellation: Excuse me, Johan isn’t interested in you, okay?

[Mission: Flirt with Johan. (10,000 Points)]

[Accept] / [Decline]

Flirting? How do you even do that?

Surely it doesn’t mean I’m supposed to say, ‘Johan, baby, you’re the most beautiful person in the world.’

‘Decline.’

[Mission: Then at least go on a date with Johan. (100,000 Points)]

[Accept] / [Decline]

‘…Accept.’

My heart began to beat a little faster.

‘A date.’

This was my first date, in both my past and present lives. Even if it was just for points, it wasn’t something I could be completely indifferent about.

I forced a change of subject.

“Um, are you close with the High Priest?”

“The High Priest took me in when I was abandoned in front of the temple. He’s like a father to me.”

“So the High Priest refused to meet me even though his son asked him to.”

“…”

“Does he dislike me that much?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that. The temple is having some problems lately.”

“What kind of problems?”

“His Majesty has announced he will be imposing a religious tax on the temple. We barely get by on the offerings from the faithful… It’s a difficult situation.”

So this is his scheme to collect taxes and create success bonuses for the guild members.

“I can see why the High Priest is busy. But I heard he still makes time to meet with donors?”

“We need to raise the money for the tax right away… Are you disappointed?”

“He’s just doing what he must as the High Priest. Why are you apologizing?”

“I was worried it might seem too worldly.”

“Clerics are people, too. It’s only natural that people need money to live, and that’s not something to apologize for.”

“…Thank you for saying that.”

Despite Johan’s request, the High Priest had not agreed to meet with me.

To be honest, I had expected it would be difficult.

They say even the Emperor is not easy to meet, and I’m just a mere princess, after all.

‘Besides, my reputation isn’t exactly pristine.’

It would have been stranger if the High Priest had agreed to meet me without a proper reason.

It could lead to misunderstandings that the temple gives special treatment to the Ruthius family.

That’s why I came up with the idea of a large donation.

‘Since he sometimes meets with donors…’

The problem was, I had no idea how much I needed to donate to get a meeting with the High Priest.

“By any chance, do you know how much one has to donate to meet the High Priest?”

“There isn’t really a standard. There have been times when he refused to meet someone who donated an enormous sum, and other times when he met with a vagrant who offered a single coin.”

‘So he just does whatever he wants! Is he even that desperate for money?’

It was absurd, but there was nothing I could do. I was the one in need, after all.

“We’re here. Astell, shall we?”

Upon entering the temple, Johan led me to a special counter for donors.

It was a discreet space, surrounded by partitions, seemingly for anonymous donors.

Inside, there was nothing but a desk and two chairs.

“There’s no one here.”

“Ah, the attendant must have stepped away for a moment. I’ll go get them, so please have a seat.”

“Alright.”

The moment I sat down, I let out a deep sigh.

“Everyone, just how much do I have to give to meet the High Priest?”

— Anonymous Constellation: At least ten million.

— Anonymous Constellation: Nah, if it were me, I wouldn’t meet for just ten million. It’d have to be a hundred million.

— Anonymous Constellation: A hundred million for a meeting that’s only a few minutes, not even a few hours??? What happened to a priest’s conscience?

— Anonymous Constellation: Astell, the amount probably isn’t important. Just show your sincerity.

— Anonymous Constellation: Yeah, he said he even met with someone over a single coin, right?

‘Right, surely a man of the High Priest’s stature wouldn’t discriminate based on the donation amount.’

There must be some other standard.

If so, what kind of standard does the High Priest use to decide who he meets?