“And one more thing. It’s fine for you to attend the Enraka Church, but I’d prefer if you didn’t donate any money there. Grandmothers’ money is precious, after all.”
What if they thought I was being arrogant?
If the grandmothers were even more entranced by Enraka than expected, some might get upset.
Just as Iris anxiously waited for their reply, one grandmother burst into a clear smile.
With bright eyes, she grabbed Iris’s hand and shook it vigorously.
“That’s right, that’s right. Why didn’t I think of that before? Why was I donating to that church? I must have been possessed by a ghost. I don’t understand it at all.”
“…I know, right? I don’t even know why I did it. I gave a pretty hefty donation, and I even told the priest in charge that I’d come to the Central Temple often from now on. I don’t know what came over me.”
“Exactly. As Iris said, our money is precious. We shouldn’t be going to the Enraka Church anymore. If Iris just sings for us often, there’s no reason for us to come all the way from the village to hear Priest Lucael’s hymns!”
Iris looked around at the grandmothers with a relieved expression.
Thanks to her efforts, the grandmothers had broken free from Lucael’s bewitching skill.
Her goal was to stop them from donating, but she hadn’t expected them to say they wouldn’t even go to the church anymore.
The effort to seduce Priest Lucael had truly paid off.
To drive the point home, Iris continued speaking, having just come up with a brilliant idea.
“Deciding not to go to church is a wise choice. And there’s no need to trouble yourselves coming all the way from the village. From now on, I’ll video call you once a week on the weekend and sing for you.”
“Sounds good. Listening to Iris’s songs is far more valuable than going to a church that extorts donations.”
“I like that too.”
The grandmother friends readily accepted Iris’s proposal.
One grandmother nodded and looked at Iris with a proud expression.
Having friends from the village who all liked her felt like flying in the sky.
Once again, Iris glanced over the grandmothers and took a jab at the Enraka Church.
“But absolutely, don’t ever go back to the Enraka Church. They seem to be squeezing way too much out of donations. It’s a bad place!”
“That’s right, it’s a bad place!”
“I want to ask for a refund of my donations!”
“That wouldn’t be bad either…”
Iris, agreeing, suddenly hesitated.
What if they asked for a refund and got caught again by the bewitching skill?
That would only complicate things.
There were probably other gifted individuals within the cult besides Priest Lucael.
It wasn’t feasible to take away each person’s skill every time.
Iris waved her hands and stopped the conversation.
“Haha… What’s already been given can’t be helped. I think it’s best to just cut off visits.”
“Hmm, I guess that’s true. Well, anyway, Iris really is a blessing.”
“Grandma Merry really did well to have such a granddaughter!”
The small studio apartment echoed with the grandmothers’ lively laughter.
Iris’s mouth curved into a wide smile.
Thanks to the invincible ‘Absorbing Spirit Art’, the matter was resolved so easily.
If not for that, Iris would have been agonizing for a long time watching the grandmothers and their friends getting fleeced by the Enraka Church.
‘This isn’t bad at all. I’m killing two birds with one stone. Maybe I should steal a little skill from Raika when I meet her too?’
***
A few days later, at the Enraka Church’s Central Temple.
After the weekday service ended, worshippers trickled out in small groups.
In the middle of them stood Lucael, a troubled expression clouding his face.
‘Why is this happening?’
He had prepared the hymn as usual and tried to use his skill, but something was off.
When using magic, he usually felt drained, but this time, there was no sensation at all.
Unlike Iris, who could see her Status Panel, he used his skill based on feeling, like other gifted individuals.
That familiar sensation that accompanied his skill usage had vanished.
If that were all, he might have thought his senses were dull temporarily, but the real problem was the reaction of the worshippers.
Just last weekend, after his singing, the congregation had responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, rushing to the cash registers to donate.
This time, no one reacted.
Though the congregation still smiled faintly while listening to his well-sung hymns, none were entranced or dazed as usual.
Lucael stood there stunned.
A worshipper who had heard his hymns several times approached him.
“Priest Lucael, are you not feeling well today? Your voice sounds different than usual.”
“Huh? Ah… I guess so. I didn’t sleep well last night.”
Different voice?
He hurriedly raised his head to meet the worshipper’s gaze.
Normally, the skill would have clouded their eyes, but their gaze was clear and sharp.
Shocked, Lucael pressed his hand to his smooth forehead and swayed slightly.
“You should go home early and rest. May the Goddess of Enraka bless you.”
Judging that his condition was poor, the worshipper bowed lightly and stepped back.
Lucael bit his lip tightly and headed to his office.
He staggered several times from the shock before reaching it.
In truth, he felt fine.
He had slept soundly the previous night.
And even when he wasn’t feeling well, he had never been unable to use his skill.
‘What’s wrong?’
Why was this happening?
He recalled the moments after singing the hymn.
A few high-ranking priests, aware of his abilities, had shown visible surprise after noticing the worshippers’ different reactions.
Though no one had openly questioned him yet, if this happened again, the high priests would undoubtedly interrogate him.
The skill <Rapturous Song> had been gained after encountering ‘that’ in the secret chamber.
If that power disappeared, he might not be expelled from the cult, but his standing would certainly weaken.
‘Is something wrong with my body…? Hoo, it’s too soon to jump to conclusions. I should check if other skills are still okay.’
A short while later, Lucael tested his skills in the courtyard behind the temple, where laypeople were forbidden.
Casting the <Beastification> skill, fur sprouted on his face, and he soon transformed into a black panther.
To be precise, he took the form of a black panther anthro standing on two legs.
He then tried using a skill while beastified and was shocked again.
He could feel his strength was diminished.
Growing anxious, he downed a mana potion, reverted <Beastification>, and attempted <Rapturous Song> once more.
But he felt nothing, and nothing happened.
This bewitching skill had the effect of entrancing even the caster, so the oddity was quickly apparent.
After several more attempts, Lucael’s face drained of color.
Kneeling on one knee, he bit his lips hard.
Why?
At that moment, memories of a heated moment with Iris came to mind.
‘Could it be… divine punishment? No, that can’t be. That skill wasn’t a blessing from the Goddess of Enraka…’
Though what he did with Iris was improper for a priest, there was no way the goddess would punish him.
His mind spun in confusion.
He had faithfully followed doctrine — except for his affair with Iris.
Was this really divine retribution?
This ability was a supernatural power, closer to religion than science.
If it really was divine punishment, then what should he do…?
Lucael’s head began throbbing.
In fact, his suspicion was somewhat correct.
It wasn’t divine punishment, but he lost the skill because he had sex with Iris.
Lucael, dazed, trudged away from the courtyard.
His broad shoulders slumped in a way unfamiliar to those who knew him.
He was a man who had lost his skill, his virginity, and everything else.
***
Iris was completely unaware that Priest Lucael had lost his skill far earlier than expected, as she diligently carried out her duties.
She defeated monsters and cleansed the city streets of villains.
As a result, she reached Level 38.
With each level, her skills had developed significantly.
Several offensive skills became faster and more agile.
The best news of all was that the grotesque <Fit in the Pocket> and <Pincer Attack> had moved from the chastity belt to her bracelet.
‘I don’t have to store food between my legs anymore. I don’t have to see those horrifying pincers popping out from there… Whew, good job, me.’
With a proud smile, Iris patted her crotch and opened her Status Panel.
LV.38 Chastity Belt Hanger
[Owned Skills]
Alarm LV.22
Speed of Light Running LV.7
Stealth LV.8
<Ancient Chastity Belt>
Shed Fur through Shield LV.10
Light-Speed Spring LV.6
Let Me See Your Back LV.15
Sturdy Spider Web LV.10
Burning Groin LV.9
Chastity Belt Clone LV.5
Ecstatic Song of the Chastity Belt LV.2
<Ancient Bracelet>
Whip Swing LV.13
Let Me See Your Back LV.15
Pincer Attack LV.10
Fit in the Pocket LV.10
[Support Skills]
Rainbow Repayment Sprayer LV.9
Cursed Light Sprayer LV.9
[Special Skills]
Smash the Skull
Perception
[Status]
Pride / Joy / Happiness
‘Kuh, when did I get this strong? The stronger I get, the greedier I become…’