The Bald Priest’s voice skill seemed better suited for bedtime than for attacking.
A voice that made you feel good just by hearing it—singing yourself a lullaby before sleep would be perfect.
No matter how good the Bald Priest’s skill was, Iris never felt the urge to steal it. But that priest over there was different.
She was utterly obsessed with his skill.
The reason was simple. The Bald Priest was ugly, but that priest was handsome.
Iris decided to register as a follower before heading home, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.
Thanks to Lukael’s skill, the pleasant sensation of walking on clouds lingered.
Glancing to her side, it seemed the grandmother and the other followers felt the same way.
This was truly wonderful.
For a moment, everyone was spaced out as if they had taken some indescribably good medicine.
The hymn ended, and it was time to collect the Offering Box donations.
“Put it in. You brought more money, right?”
“Let’s put this in too. Put everything in.”
“Is there a Cash Dispenser around? I only brought this much.”
The followers, still wrapped in bliss, didn’t hesitate to put large sums of money into the Offering Box.
Those who had complained about not having enough cash lined up at the Cash Dispenser set up near the church entrance, withdrew money, and diligently added it to the Offering Box.
Iris, just as dazed as everyone else, took out her wallet and emptied all the money inside.
At least, she had enough mental strength—more than the average person—to endure walking up to the Cash Dispenser.
Like the others, she watched the grandmother standing in front of the Cash Dispenser, withdrawing money to put into the Offering Box, and smiled dumbly.
‘Grandmother even withdrew money from the Cash Dispenser. She must have taken out more. After hearing that song, it’s only natural to empty her entire fortune… Wait a minute.’
Only after the Offering Box made a full round did her lost sense start to return.
Iris looked down at her empty wallet resting on her lap with a dazed expression.
She hurriedly checked around, but the dazed version of herself had taken all the money out and offered it.
Nothing left in the wallet, no matter how much she shook it.
‘Wow, I really got played. Those devilish Enraka Church bastards!’
Her brown eyes flared with anger.
She had thought it was a skill with a good effect and was enjoying it, but no—it was an evil charm skill.
When she came to her senses, she realized she had donated every last penny.
And that wasn’t all. The grandmother also withdrew money from the Cash Dispenser and put it into the Offering Box.
Other followers, to varying degrees, seemed to have donated huge amounts as well.
Looking at the long line still waiting at the Cash Dispenser proved it.
‘Hah, these guys really can’t be trusted. Why didn’t my Clay Pot skill activate? Was it because I subconsciously told it not to? Sigh, I should have let the Clay Pot skill activate! My money, and grandmother’s precious money! What should I do!’
She took back her earlier comment that this was just an ordinary religious event.
There were at least two priests here using skills powerful enough to hypnotize heroes.
And the cult leader’s son, a villain who could read minds, was here too.
It wasn’t a place to take lightly, and letting her guard down had been a fatal mistake.
As she struggled to suppress her rage, the service ended.
The followers, still unaware of what had just happened to them, left the chapel beaming.
Iris rolled her eyes carefully.
There were three people here she needed to watch closely—excluding the Bald Priest for now.
Abelus, Lukael, and the cult leader’s son, whether they were followers or not, had come to the service.
She had already planned to register as a follower before becoming holy, but now it was absolutely necessary.
She couldn’t just sit back and watch while the grandmother’s entire fortune was drained.
The same went for the other followers.
‘If I want to protect grandmother, I have to steal Lukael’s skill.’
With a determined gaze, Iris walked toward the entrance with her grandmother.
At the entrance was a desk for follower registration, and Lukael was there.
He looked at Iris and widened his navy blue eyes.
She had already thought he was a bit sly, but knowing he used skills made his smirk look even more mischievous.
He handed her the registration form and spoke in a low voice.
“Here to register as a follower?”
“Yes…”
Standing, Iris filled out the follower registration form with a pen.
It was just basic personal information, so it was finished quickly.
When she handed over the form, Lukael carefully skimmed through it and softly lifted the corners of his mouth.
“I look forward to seeing you often. Hmm, Miss Iris? Thanks to Miss Mary, I’ve been introduced to a fine sister.”
“Ha ha… Yes, priest. I look forward to it.”
Iris bowed her head, and Lukael asked in a gentle voice.
“Miss Iris, there’s a youth service this afternoon. Will you be attending?”
“Hmm, I’ll talk to grandmother first. The Archpriest’s sermon was impressive. And the hymn… your voice was really good.”
Iris spoke with a meaningful smile.
Though it was meant to sting, Lukael showed no sign of disturbance.
He smiled brightly and tilted his head.
“Ah, that’s the first time a sister has said that to me. Is it really so?”
“Yes…”
How could he be so shameless? All villains were like this.
Seeing that the Clay Pot skill didn’t activate, Lukael didn’t seem like a main villain from a comic.
Still, he was definitely a bad guy, enchanting followers to donate heavily.
Though she wanted to immediately grope his body and check his status screen, too many eyes were watching.
If she touched a holy priest all of a sudden, she’d only be seen as weird.
‘I’ll wait for my chance. I have to steal the charm skill.’
Though she witnessed the exploitation firsthand, there was nothing she could do without stealing the skill.
Iris was the only one who could see when the skill was being cast, and causing a scene here—this being basically the Enraka Church’s stronghold—would only make her look crazy.
If she was treated strangely, that would be the least of her worries.
If she tried to fight using skills, she might be surrounded by villains and lose her head.
She suppressed her anger, planning to wait for the right moment.
Then, a chill ran down her spine as Abelus came to stand beside her.
Startled, Iris stepped aside.
He flicked his finger and called out to Lukael.
“Lukael. Let’s have a talk.”
“Yes, Lord Abelus.”
Iris tried to act casual as she side-eyed the two.
Was Abelus a follower here? Or did he have some connection to the Enraka Church?
Seeing that her Clay Pot skill didn’t activate, it seemed this was a plotline not from the comic.
Lukael gave Iris a kind look and a subtle greeting before walking away with Abelus.
They were clearly about to have a secret conversation among villains.
‘I want to know what they’re talking about…’
But if she followed them, she’d only raise suspicion.
Suppressing her frustration again, Iris let out a heavy sigh.
At that moment, Abelus, who was about to leave, glanced back at her.
Startled, Iris turned around, unaware that Abelus was staring at her persistently.
‘That’s strange. Something’s…’
Abelus tilted his head sideways and slowly scanned Iris up and down.
For a moment, his violet eyes glittered strangely.
< Wondrous Perception > activates.
“Angel Girl? Ah, it’s Angel Girl.”
Abelus activated the skill < Wondrous Perception > he had recently acquired.
Perhaps because he always kept the Goddess’s Necklace close, he had recently succeeded in awakening an additional skill.
It wasn’t tested through Project X, but the Goddess’s relic had chosen him as one capable of wielding power.
The exhilaration of that day was still vividly etched in his mind.
He hadn’t told anyone that the Goddess’s relic had chosen him.
After all, he was planning to betray Company J.
Being born with the traits of a researcher, Abelus already had sharper perception than ordinary people.
But after awakening the passive skill < Wondrous Perception >, his already keen insight improved dramatically.
For example, recognizing empowered individuals who had lost their transformations, or spotting talent among ordinary people.
‘I never expected to find Angel Girl in such an unexpected place. I’d like to kidnap her right away, but there are too many eyes. Besides, she wouldn’t surrender easily… What should I do?’
Angel Girl’s usual form was far more attractive than he had imagined.
Her dark honey-colored eyes were large and wide, and her small nose and mouth gave her a cherry-like appearance that made you want to bite her cheek.
Of course, he still preferred her transformed Angel Girl form, but both appearances were his type to the point it was hard to choose.
Standing still in place, Abelus gave Lukael a questioning look.
“Lord Abelus?”
“That woman… Is she a follower here?”
Abelus nodded toward Iris with his chin.
Lukael tilted his head and pointed at Iris drinking water near the water purifier.
Abelus nodded again.
“Yes. She is a woman who completed follower registration today. Why do you ask?”
“I see. Hmm, I was hoping to get some information…”