Chapter 81

“Do you have more to say?”

“How many low-grade potions does the Temple create in a month?”

“Around 300, I should think.”

“And if you used that divine power to create artifacts, you could make roughly 900, correct?”

“Well, I suppose so.”

“Potions can heal 300 people a month, but artifacts can protect 900. Which do you think the gods would prefer?”

Closo’s expression grew serious.

“The gods do not wish for us to be hurt and suffer. That is why they send guides, the priests, to protect us.”

“…”

“High Priest, will you still forsake your duty?”

Closo’s expression went blank. Soon, a hearty laugh echoed through the quiet temple.

“Is your tongue laced with thorns? I can’t possibly win when every word you speak is so painfully true.”

“My apologies. I can be a bit blunt.”

“Your words may be harsh, but they are true. A priest’s duty is to safely protect his flock and guide them to the gods. But how long will it take…”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Astell whispered softly.

“Because I have the perfect formula.”

Closo’s eyes widened.

“Truly?”

“I wouldn’t have come here if I wasn’t confident.”

“…What is it you need me to do?”

“We’ll need to create a prototype, so please dispatch one priest with divine power. I believe Sir Johan would be the perfect fit. What are your thoughts, High Priest?”

“Johan, you say?”

“I heard Sir Johan is the leading candidate to be the next High Priest, but that the other priests oppose him. Is it true the Temple is in an uproar over it?”

Closo’s eyes grew wide.

“Hah, you even know about that?”

“I happened to overhear.”

“Hoo, I’m so ashamed I can hardly lift my head. The world is in chaos, and they’re bickering over a mere position. Tsk, tsk, tsk…”

“There’s only one reason the opposition hasn’t died down even after Sir Johan was revealed to be a Hunter. It means there are other priests who have also awakened as Hunters.”

Closo let out a deep sigh.

“You see things clearly.”

“In a situation like this, what would happen if Sir Johan were to achieve something that no one could deny? Wouldn’t the other priests eventually have to accept him? They’d have no grounds to object.”

“…”

“Of course, this is only possible if you are truly considering Sir Johan as your successor.”

Closo gently lowered his gaze.

After a quiet moment, he finally spoke.

“That boy’s mind has been elsewhere lately, just muddying the waters of the Temple. This is for the best. Take him and work him to the bone.”

“Thank you.”

Closo stroked his beard as he stared intently at Astell.

“What is your true purpose, Princess? You surely didn’t appear just to remind me of a priest’s duty.”

“Once the product is officially created, please allow my guild to have exclusive distribution rights. I’ll give you half of the net profit.”

“What brazen thievery. You want half the profits just for distributing the goods?”

“But we’re covering the cost of materials and the research, are we not?”

“The most important component is divine power. What good is any of that without it?”

“Fine. How about 60:40?”

“Didn’t you say it yourself, Princess? Do you expect priests to live by eating dirt?”

“Then 70:30! I can’t go any higher than that. I can’t run a business at a loss, can I?”

“It’s a little less than I’d like, but a priest cannot be seen chasing money. Let’s do that.”

“You’re quite the negotiator. If we’d met elsewhere, I would have thought you a seasoned merchant, not a priest.”

“You’ll be in for a rude awakening if you underestimate a priest for not knowing the ways of the world. Well, you’re not a bad negotiator yourself, Princess. Though you still have a long way to go before you can match me. Hahaha.”

Closo laughed, looking extremely pleased.

He wore the innocent smile of a child who had just received a ‘well done’ stamp.

* * *

Johan ran to the High Priest’s office.

“High Priest!”

As he burst through the door, Closo, who was sipping wine, clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. I’m afraid the Princess has already left in her carriage.”

“Ah, no, I wasn’t here to see Lady Astell… I was just curious about what you two discussed.”

“As if.”

Closo snorted and pointed to a chair.

“The ceiling won’t collapse. Sit.”

“Um… what was Lady Astell like?”

“If you dropped her alone in a desert, she wouldn’t starve.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean she’s remarkably silver-tongued and tactful for her age. Not that she can compare to me, of course. Ahem!”

“Haha, she is quite well-spoken.”

“She has a pretty face, a good heart, and a sharp mind. Why on earth are the rumors about her so vicious?”

“Exactly! She’s completely different from the rumors, isn’t she? I told you she was a good person! Everyone just misunderstands her!”

Closo squinted, glaring at Johan.

“Anyone would think they were praising you. Are you that fond of her?”

“Yes!”

Johan, who had answered thunderously, jumped in surprise and frantically waved his hands.

“Huh? Ah, no! That’s not what I meant… I mean, she’s a v-very good person. Her character…”

Closo shook his head. With his face flushed beet red, he looked exactly like a greenhorn in the throes of his first love.

“I’m the one drinking the wine, so why is your face so red? It looks like it’s about to explode.”

“It’s just… a little warm in here.”

“Warm?… If you like her, you like her. Why can’t you just say it? It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“L-Like her! Absolutely not! A priest must distance himself from such worldly emotions!”

“Bullshit. Who are you to shun the desires that even the gods have permitted?”

“…”

Johan looked away, a sheepish expression on his face.

“You’ve been thinking only of the Princess lately, haven’t you?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if her face doesn’t appear in your mind when you pray, when you eat, and when you lie down to sleep.”

“…H-How did you know?”

“Think carefully about why you feel this way. About the true nature of that feeling.”

“…”

“Let me give you a piece of advice. Just because you awaken to worldly love doesn’t mean your faith in the gods will disappear. You stubborn fool.”

Despite his gruff exterior, Closo was inwardly celebrating.

He had told Astell that he had his eye on Johan as the next High Priest, but that wasn’t true.

Johan was too precious to become a priest.

It had been nearly twenty years since he had taken in and raised the newborn baby abandoned in front of the Temple.

To Closo, Johan was like a son.

That was why he had hoped Johan would grow up to live an ordinary life, not the arduous and lonely one of a priest.

He wanted him to meet someone he loved, have children, and live a sweet, happy life.

He desperately wanted Johan to enjoy the life that had been denied to him.

Unfortunately, however, this honest fool knew nothing but the gods.

While other paladins were busy going on dates and whatnot, Johan would be cooped up in his room reading scripture or practicing his swordsmanship.

How his heart burned with frustration every time he saw the boy praying alone in the vast, empty chapel.

‘After all the effort I put into raising him…’

To top it all off, he was even being mentioned as the next High Priest.

Unable to speak of his true feelings to anyone, Closo was burning up inside.

Was he doomed to watch Johan become a priest?

It was around then, just as he was about to accept it as fate and give up, that she appeared like a miracle.

The one and only being that Johan had ever shown interest in or cared about.

‘Mother Nute has finally answered my prayers.’

Having met Astell, Closo felt like he could break into a joyful dance right then and there.

‘She’s more than good enough to be my boy’s partner.’

Of course, as a paladin, Johan could only date for now, but what was the problem with that?

‘It’s not like he’d be the first or second paladin to quit. I can just kick him out when the time is right.’

Closo hid his inner thoughts and stroked his beard with a dignified air.

“Hmm, I hear the Princess is establishing a guild?”

Johan, who had been lost in deep thought, nodded.

“Yes.”

“Join it.”

In this situation, where he had these unidentifiable feelings for Astell? Johan bit his lip.

“I am a priest.”

“Does she not accept priests?”

“No, that’s not it, but…”

“She said she’s making an artifact that can detect Gates in advance. She needs a priest with divine power for the task. You will join the guild and help her.”

‘Stick right by her side so some other fool doesn’t snatch her away!’

Closo barely managed to swallow the words that rose to his throat.

Johan was clearly developing feelings for Astell.

‘That must be why the boy, who had never asked for anything in his life, pleaded with me multiple times.’

He just hadn’t realized his own feelings yet.

That was why Closo had accepted Astell’s request to dispatch Johan to her guild.

‘When a young man and woman are always together, it’s only natural for feelings to develop. Yes, that’s how it is.’

Astell was no easy target, but Closo had faith in Johan.

With heavenly looks that could make a demon repent and a character that would impress an angel, he had a good chance.

“It would be better to send another priest with stronger divine power… instead of me.”

That frustrating boy. Closo sighed inwardly but kept his expression stern.

“There are priests with stronger divine power than you, but there is no one who can protect the Princess from danger as well as you can.”

“…Is Lady Astell in danger?”

“Have you already forgotten the incident where Duke Ruthius was attacked in broad daylight? You brought her here yourself.”

“Ah!”

Johan shot to his feet.

“You know why the Temple formed its own order of knights. It is to protect those who are essential to the world.”

“In that case…”

“The Temple has determined that the Princess is a key figure who will save this world from ruin.”

History indeed showed cases where the Temple had protected specific individuals.

But those were only when there was a divine prophecy, when someone was confirmed as a saintess, or when the individual had formally requested the Temple’s protection. This case was different from the very beginning.

But if he didn’t do this, Johan would only continue to suppress his feelings.

Closo wanted to open a new path for Johan.

‘And it’s not entirely a lie that the Princess is an essential person to the world.’

After all, every living person is necessary for the world. Closo gripped Johan’s shoulders firmly.

“In the name of Mother Nute, protect the Princess.”

“Is that… really the only reason?”

“Of course not. But are you going to refuse?”

After a moment of hesitation, Johan slowly knelt. He then brought his forehead to the back of Closo’s hand.

“…In the name of Mother Nute.”

Closo quietly looked down at Johan, who was reverently accepting the command.