In the basement, Sidrion couldnt even drink a sip of water. It was only right when he was about to go insane from all the screaming and cursing that he was able to escape from the basement.

And so, Sidrions role in the temple didnt change, and the days passed by the way they always did.

Priest, is it true? Is it true that if I pray to God, I will be able to live?

Yes, its true. If your faith is sincere, you will

Youre just like my deceased elder brother, Priest.

My elder brother said that too. That if I earnestly believe that I will live, then I really will.

My parents would be very sad if even I were to die, right? I hope I live. I really want to live.

Will I really be able to live?

God does not turn away from the ones who pray with all their sincerity.

The child died.

The childs parents had sold off all their assets and even accumulated debt so that they could give donations to the temple in order to save their child.

After the child died, the parents were forbidden from entering the temple. One day, they had protested in front of the temple, crying. They were chased away with weapons.

The latest_epi_sodes are on_the . website.

Not long after, there was news that the parents had taken their own lives in front of their childs grave.

That day, Sidrion couldnt eat anything. He vomited everything that he forced himself to eat.

He couldnt sleep properly either. He became skin and bones. Thanks to that, he was able to take a break from meeting the believers until he was once again pleasant to the eyes.

***

Wait, hold on, Yelena cut Sidrion off. Her head was spinning.

The temple did such things? And yet people still believed in the temple and went there to pray?

To this day, the ill and their families were still going to the temple to pray and give tithe.

Not every sick person who came to the temple died, Sidrion replied calmly.

On some occasions, even those who were terminally ill were miraculously cured. Then, of course, those miracles were attributed to the temple, even if it wasnt their doing.

Wow.

It was only one per every hundred, but that was enough for people who were desperate for anything to gather at the temple.

Yelena closed her mouth.

She hadnt thought that the temple was totally pure and upright. She had even heard people speak of the temples corruption, but

I didnt think itd be this bad.

The latest_epi_sodes are on_the . website.

Sidrion looked at Yelenas hardened expression and slowly continued speaking.

It was two years later when I first met Kaywhin.

***

Some more time had passed, and Sidrion was now 17. Around the time he reached adulthood, the temple was in crisis.

The temples status is not what it was in the past.

We have been afflicted with disasters like droughts and floods, we dont hold rituals for God

Nobles are starting to doubt the temples role.

Those sly little nobles. I knew it the moment they started getting uncomfortable that we enjoy the same privileges as them

We need to take action

Ironically, the nations longstanding peace was bad for the temple.

The temple leaders put their heads together. The Elder Priest gave his opinion.

How about this?

Priest Bekah, do you have a plan?

You all know of Duke Mayhard. The one with all those rumors about being cursed by the devil.

We know of him, yes, but what about him?

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We shall reveal those rumors to be true and hold a ceremony to drive out the demon.

Hmm?

After we find proof that Duke Mayhard was cursed by the devil and make it known to the world, we will make a tradition of holding ceremonies to eradicate the devil so that another devils scapegoat like Duke Mayhard doesnt appear.

Youre suggesting we show the temples abilities in that manner, I see. Its not a bad idea, but how will we find the proof?

If we search thoroughly enough, wont we eventually find something suspicious? If there isnt anything, we can always make something up.

Would Duke Mayhard stay still?

And if he doesnt? Its only been a year since his family died and he suddenly inherited the duke title. Hes a kid who hasnt even reached 20 years of age.

Hm

One lone kid is no match for the temple. Dont you agree, Chief Priest?

All right. Well go with Priest Bekahs idea. Well have Sidrion do it.

Sidrion was sent to the fief as soon as he was ready.

The mission he was tasked with was simple: follow Duke Mayhard around and find something suspicious. If there really wasnt anything

They told me to get hurt.

Sidrion would have to sustain an injury in a place with many witnesses. Then, the temple would claim that he had been hit by the force of the devil.

Sidrion scoffed as he made his way to the fief.

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What a worthless mission.

Note: Hi everyone! A few people asked what chapter 7 meant in a recently translated chapter. Thats the chapter number for the e-book version of this novel. E-books are typically longer and usually authors combines multiple chapters of a regular chapter-by-chapter novel into one e-book chapter. ^^

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