“Sorry, I’m sorry. I’m just so desperate… not for long, but could we pray together for just one minute…?”
Iris clasped her hands tightly, sweat pouring down her face.
She might look like a shameless devotee bothering a priest, but when it came to justice, what wouldn’t she do?
Lucael sighed softly, then gave a small nod and took her hands into his own.
Instantly, a status window appeared before Iris’s eyes.
[Search Results]
Lucael LV.??
[Skills Owned]
Super Speed Running LV.15
Stealth LV.12
Rapturous Song LV.30
Beast Transformation LV.20
Sharp Claws LV.30
Climbing LV.25
??
??
??
??
[Status]
Flustered / Agitated / Strange feeling
‘So he’s a priest, but he’s got combat abilities. Interesting. Judging by all those question marks, his level must be pretty high… As expected, I won’t be able to just take it from him easily.’
Seeing that he could use <Beast Transformation>, it seemed he was awakened in a way similar to a lycanthrope.
Trying to obtain a skill while holding his hand resulted in a message saying deeper contact was needed.
‘No choice then. There’s no way around close contact… unfortunate.’
His current status was flustered, agitated, and feeling odd. Thankfully, he didn’t seem displeased. Just then, a soft voice whispered in her ear.
“…Sister. Is that enough now?”
“Ah, yes, yes. That’s plenty. Thank you for praying for me, Priest Lucael.”
“Yes. The Enraka Goddess will soon hear your prayer.”
Lucael brushed the sleeve of his priestly robe, which covered even his knuckles, and spoke in a gentle tone.
His eyelashes, long and thick, cast a shadow that created an aura of quiet elegance.
Iris, staring blankly at his slowly blinking eyelashes, finally spoke cautiously.
Her pure heart burned with a desperate wish to get her grandmother out of this den of evil as soon as possible.
“Yes… so, about that—I want to pray often for employment blessings. Priest, would you… be willing to help me?”
“Ah….”
At the request to pray together, Lucael’s brows drew together neatly. He hesitated before answering.
It was rare for a priest to pray one-on-one with a follower, but it wasn’t unheard of.
However, it was the first time he’d been asked so straightforwardly by a newly registered believer.
He pondered and recalled his earlier conversation with Abellus—the mad scientist who seemed very interested in Iris.
Their temporary cooperation wasn’t motivated by money but by a desire to see the relic regain its full power.
The Enraka Church’s officials cared about the relic but weren’t as proactive in researching it as Abellus.
They were mostly concerned with internal power struggles within the sect.
The former High Priest and his small faction wanted to uncover the relic’s secrets but lacked the power to control the church.
The current leader, Reynerus, who greatly expanded the Enraka Church’s influence by using his son Johannes’s abilities, cared only about consolidating his own faction, not the relic.
Although Reynerus understood the relic’s great power, he didn’t grasp its full extent.
That’s why, despite the former High Priest emphasizing the relic’s importance, Reynerus showed no interest.
‘And he deliberately avoids looking into it because it makes him uneasy…’
Lucael thought of ‘that’ which existed in the deepest part of the Temple. Hidden from the outside world, it claimed to be a god.
Lucael had been to that secret chamber once or twice, and the presence had wickedly whispered that if Lucael recovered all the relics, it would grant Enraka Church immense power.
When asked, others said it was unknown whether that claim was true or false and advised not to dwell on it. It was a dubious tale.
Still, it was certainly an unusual presence. A figure made of black smoke crouched in the corner of the secret room seemed more like a malevolent spirit than a god.
Could something that couldn’t escape from its own chamber and was bound really be a god? Its identity was unknown, but its power was undeniable.
All priests chosen by it had awakened abilities. Lucael was one of them. The former High Priest’s foresight came from that power.
Furthermore, all those gifted individuals who tried to steal the ‘Goddess’s Crown’ stored in that secret room met miserable deaths.
It harmed no one in the church, empowered priests, and protected the relics. Because of this, the sect reluctantly protected it despite unease.
Even without gathering all relics, the Enraka Church’s influence had already greatly expanded.
So the non-powered leader had no interest in the relics, and the former High Priest had interest but no strength.
That was why Lucael secretly contacted Abellus, who wanted to study the relics. The skill Lucael used to sway followers was also based on the scripture.
The phrase ‘Love all’ appeared in the Enraka Scripture, just like in other religions.
‘Abellus seemed very interested in this woman… If I help her with prayers for employment, we might gain a lot of information Abellus wants.’
Lucael hadn’t told Abellus about Iris yet—not out of fear of how Abellus would use the information, but because he promised to show the relic if Abellus provided satisfactory intel.
Abellus said one of the Goddess’s relics was kept at the lab and would show it if Lucael visited.
Lucael didn’t trust Abellus, so he set the condition that the relic must be brought to the temple.
Abellus surprisingly agreed: if the info was good enough, he would bring the relic to the temple.
‘Didn’t seem like it, but Abellus must have really fallen for this woman. If so, why not just ask for her contact info directly? Guess he’s so buried in research he’s terrible at anything else.’
Lucael understood. Scholars and scientists often excel in their field but become clueless outside it.
Though taking the long way seemed unnecessary, not asking for contact info had given him a chance to see the relic firsthand. So it worked out.
In truth, Abellus wanted to kidnap Iris and imprison her in the lab, but Lucael had no idea. Abellus knew Iris saw him as a villain and wouldn’t easily be deceived.
So Abellus planned to make her think he couldn’t recognize her and use that misunderstanding to capture her in one go.
Brushing the blonde hair that had slipped onto his forehead back neatly, Lucael’s eyes widened as he replied,
“Very well. Ignoring those in need is not the way of a priest. If we pray together, the Goddess will soon grant your wish.”
“Lucael, thank you. To pray together every week, not just once—Enraka Goddess’s grace is truly endless.”
Despite a troubled look, Lucael gave a surprisingly willing response. Was it hard for a priest to refuse a new follower’s request?
‘No, she’s a villain. But why is she so kind… she must have some ulterior motive. Of course, we both do.’
The thought of having to steal his skills made Iris tense, swallowing nervously. Though a villain, he was still a priest.
She couldn’t be sure he’d fall for it easily. She could fail and end up humiliated. But she had to try.
That’s what being a hero was about. She’d let it go this time and begin seduction in earnest next week.
At that moment, Lucael rose and looked back at her.
“Shall we pray right away? It would be difficult to pray here… let’s go to the prayer room inside the Temple.”
“…Right now? Y-yeah. Let’s do it now.”
Though unprepared, she nodded and stood. Lucael seemed hesitant but then suggested a place where it would be just the two of them.
Iris was flustered but soon understood. The others at the tables were quietly studying the Scripture, so they couldn’t pray aloud here. Moving made sense.
They crossed a long corridor to where prayer rooms were lined up. Entering with Lucael, they found a small, cozy room.
It was perfect for quiet prayer, but to Iris, it looked like an ideal place for secret scheming.
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