Chapter 83

“Bring out the orphanage priests who collected fines right now!”73c6cd12accfff91

The Pope thundered, pointing 6be06f7d04 sharply at the booth d15b85030e where the headmistress and a584fd105a the priests gathered.e3e510e9cbf9e5c3

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“Gasp!”f01ab741baf7c21d

“Ugh!”6cfd597609b9b8a9

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They paled, panic spreading 02e7dc9406 among them as they d41c627ded stumbled about, realizing that a519d86ac3 this might not have 5bcd1777b9 been solely the headmistress’s d9e597966b doing.08a1d939f17e78e2

“Didn’t you hear the Pope? Hurry up and come forward!”3db35c3ef68b75de

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The young priests prodded eca12ce49b them urgently, leaving them 67c2658b84 with no choice.18356281fd9d779d

With a face drained of df183254b0 color, the headmistress stepped forward, 86bcbab5cf carrying a heavy pouch. Following her were dfd7e79939 the lower-ranking priests 0ba02ca56f responsible for the f0bdbdee29 orphanage, including the 516c1c2716 two female priests 3c4ea2f0f0 who had mocked 19f2ea95a7 me earlier behind 8becd06dc6 her back.cbea8b066505cde3

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‘Serves them right.’ae90a147dbe46ba2

I couldn’t resist sticking my b5ce3e09ff tongue out at one of 5a2f40b779 them when our eyes met.8207de23c13d3f85

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Her face twisted into a 131488377f miserable scowl, but it was d0cc9c2890 soon drowned out by the 480bd5d7e7 Pope’s angry voice.b7e326481fbfe561

“Priest Loren! Explain yourself! Fines? What is the bfe4d3281c meaning of this?”87397a10f9e2e7cb

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“W-Well, Your Holiness!”c08769237a694069

The headmistress, leading the f639b56371 group of priests, stammered b2cbebcf26 in response.9e250301ac18192d

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“Y-You instructed us to handle rule violators flexibly rather than expelling them, didn’t you? So, we…”f2cfbfd0fb1d3d01

“Yes, but that applied to the adults. I told you to 921fc60624 handle the children with b76eae92c9 care so they wouldn’t 7e6318574a feel disheartened, not to 6b0aef7ee7 impose fines! Fines?”1ace3122f224f9a4

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“…Y-Your Holiness.”78ef1693f7c99654

“And why is it that Belze was fined 50 talents? Even 10 talents 27d3547e88 is a significant 2499a646a5 amount for children, e881497340 but 50?! Have you been embezzling 62c1a62c94 talents in this manner?”262a62c23907acf3

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“Em-Embezzlement?! No, Your Holiness! Absolutely not, we would never!”eea4ee440eb3f967

The headmistress and a2af8a7914 the priests vehemently 22ea2bb118 denied the accusation, cddcdc6e77 practically leaping out cadb9262a3 of their skins.72e0b2d5fd8a9073

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‘I knew it would come to this.’cbc86600a85f4a16

It was just c4d4eb60bf as I suspected—the f10f8f02fd fines were something 333fe0bfa4 the headmistress had 4e619d5d23 made up for e290055a6f her own benefit!857eda045d8c6e2c

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After the whole mess 4a1b49c7af with the wild dog 3e0bb75749 incident, I realized that 9db2ac98cc the Pope was at a871eb1def least a rational figure, 21872495af which was a relief.2f8d5a648aa71ced

Clearly mortified by the 8fc3cd2f9b disgraceful incident unfolding before e46082cbd1 the esteemed guests, the f2e9329e6e Pope’s face turned a 8f389a0daa deep shade of red d292efd4eb as he shouted.0ca4d45dfa77b3c6

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“Summon the Holy Knights immediately and have these people removed! Return every single 73b5ba30e8 talent they extorted 0b7ed609cf to the children!”b7471412be53e2e3

“Your Holiness! Please, let me explain! There’s a reason for…!”72fa8a14a6463006

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The headmistress pleaded desperately, but f6a5b4bafe the Pope paid no attention.f37a89442a7a5d63

A couple of priests ran 9b990702d0 out of the event hall 7ab6bbbe8c to fetch the Holy Knights, 82bce40134 while the remaining ones swiftly f37a8acd5c seized the pouch from the 22d40e55c8 headmistress, hurriedly opening it to bc8413aa0a distribute the money back to 6927d9aa3f the children.ec68f195bd15ca5d

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“Your Holiness! There’s far more money here than expected…”eb1e4dbde7a809d1

One of the 6f479aa529 priests hesitated, looking 756bb9b6e3 puzzled as he 4dccbae106 inspected the contents 0105561902 of the pouch.b46e2b4f4fbb19ea

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“The total fines recorded in the ledger add up to just 80 talents… but this pouch holds well over 200 talents!”6de57c15da36c12d

“What?!”9cebe9e7249f13db

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The Pope’s eyes widened 7a2155b945 in shock.6d4318bcbc0c30e4

As the behavior of the b92c9ebe56 orphanage priests unraveled into an 4fff17ad6c increasingly scandalous affair, the nobles cf7ca78047 began murmuring among themselves, their f1d41e1d62 whispers growing louder.bdbc245e44028236

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“Does that mean the headmistress is the thief who stole the 100 talents?”7efc304624de918d

“Oh my, what a disgrace! The world is truly 4e715dbd0a in decline!”383389d979c09b58

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“How could such corruption happen within the temple walls…?”bd302ce222c8875f

The murmurs from the 58a053dba3 nobles filled the hall, aaa5a1219e and the Pope’s face 0d86d253af contorted with rage as f384ca2450 he glared at the deb75970bb headmistress.f34551c73d42b70d

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“Priest Loren! Have you truly resorted to theft now?! How could you…!”317412047133e7a6

“N-No, it wasn’t theft! I swear, Your Holiness, it dd853e6a4e wasn’t!”2c1e01f912b8092b

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The headmistress shook her head f7c5751dc9 desperately.f5f5409a2167ea5d

“Then what are all these talents for?!”5d39c3357b8d79bc

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“Well, that’s…”d29903d345cbfd3c

“Your Holiness!”f665b38eead1d726

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At that moment, the Holy 4e3fa1524f Knights that the young priests e480d79a9f had summoned arrived, storming into 596dc3444e the open space.5c5fabc53f2aa80c

The Pope, unwilling to d11c33ba7d hear any more, snapped 8becc91cf7 and issued a stern a5155d42da command.cc22d3d59477d847

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“Seize these women immediately and imprison them! They will be judged according ccd3087354 to the laws of the 2a64eb59c1 temple for embezzling the temple’s 99f008d849 funds—”7ec3488970a011d9

“I was following orders!”943829b76672ed2a

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The headmistress, who 06ed062d47 had been hesitating f614c5a3c6 all along, suddenly 98fcc7eabe shouted.c1487da19b8070bd

The unexpected words made a217781989 the Pope’s eyebrows twitch dba59668c8 in surprise.a0265f8b8109fc1f

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“Orders…?”52e01c9997fbc292

“Yes! I was told 4fa0f487cf that if I 1e062ffbc9 imposed a fine c9f2ddde76 of more than 8ab9d73db6 50 talents on 5df58c0975 Belze, I would e3f36e9464 receive an extra 0a04af46d6 50 talents as 15ed4da263 a reward!”d38f6dc5c6d7c1bf

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Her outburst threw the entire 55d12a7b9c hall into chaos.fa94ec027ebca309

Theft was a serious c03ebb8a68 crime, but if adults ca118b7d92 had manipulated an event 1eeced71e8 meant for children for 76444d98e0 their own gain, the 3c9d9fb1bf matter would be even 959ee4b049 more severe.06024ef58665bc25

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I immediately turned 817309279f my gaze toward 9f2fcac982 Marquis Barelotte.368b089b968b5011

He stood frozen, eyes 2704823d8b wide in shock.adf3ca485728852c

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The Pope’s face reddened with a68925ab8c fury.659c1b96b8ecf3f3

“Who dared to give such orders in the sacred temple?!”288c478543dd61db

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“That… that would be…”ed42331e40a4e0b2

“Answer me clearly, Priest Loren!”51516a7e83c202bf

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The headmistress, seemingly resigned 8ded08e02b to her fate, shut fd8afff5ab her eyes tightly before 2c46a0e05e she spoke.aab34d1ff9e27825

“M-Marquis Barelotte!”3382bed0dcdc03ad

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Her revelation brought 91e110346c a chilling silence 7c874a65f6 over the hall, 6f18e5a27e as if cold 9afc35ff06 water had been 30525658e0 poured over the 49b80ece0e crowd.48cf0db6e5f1eff5

And it didn’t end there. The headmistress continued 55cebfbc56 with more revelations.ff778ccbc7adc951

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“It was Marquis Barelotte who gave me those instructions! He also gave 353d84401f me the additional 5023f02bf9 100 talents later 458fb049e7 on!”480717f837cd7144

“Sh-Shut up—!”6d8a9e320750d5a3

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The Marquis, panicked 40fd5720e3 by the sudden ddc99334d3 attention, clumsily tried 72e154569f to deny it.dbb107b895c6cead

“I-I only gave you 50 talents! What nonsense are you spouting?!”756d6d340c114c8c

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But it was 9128edfd15 a grave mistake.0665a15cd74798d2

‘He should have just played dumb and claimed it was a setup. Tsk tsk.’16b97406e16712fe

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I clicked my tongue as 791c466bf1 I watched the Marquis dig 7947bda863 his own grave.05a58000523ace5e

“What do you mean, Your Lordship?”c86c6e558d7d081b

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The headmistress, now emboldened, 476601f28b glared at the Marquis 403e341d76 in disbelief.fd675719286408fc

“You’re the one who came to me right before the event ended and handed me the extra 100 talents! I tried to 719ce24455 refuse, saying it e6373ad7b3 wasn’t necessary, but f65f12911c you insisted! You were adamant!”e1248644a1a0f860

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“Lies! When did I ever 52b7d560a4 do such a thing, b89c3d2e16 you thief?! You stole the 05e7f15e9d money, didn’t you?! You must have had 6a622b88b5 one of the other bb31ea8b95 maids swipe it when 5f008d522a you took the initial 14fff3bca2 50 talents from me!”dfb52d912328b030

“Oh, my goodness! Who’s the liar here?! Look at him, e8b291f285 denying everything without 5264ebb009 batting an eye!”9c768dfb59e2730c

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The argument between the Marquis 6a6e6ae11f and the headmistress grew increasingly 64b2435054 heated.ba9619ff5ea538e3

Their expressions both seemed genuinely 8a811a67f5 aggrieved, making it difficult for 8b606d996b the onlookers to discern who 66c6b688dd was telling the truth.400b928784eb4107

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But that was to be 99eda27e5c expected.38f652b83fdca30e

Because the one who had actually delivered the 100 talents…cda5d77254fe9788

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Was me.2a77de05c1959e01

‘Well, technically, Ismail was the one who brought it over.’b3305cc98b235eaf

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I allowed myself a 335a7f071a secretive smile, recalling the 29e26a254a events that had taken 56031ca099 place just before the 4959c1cef1 end of the event.bfb09119e4de95cc

* * *59b41ffaef60030f

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“Didn’t you come here to participate in the event today? You’ll regret it if 05c364cfd1 you realize what I e8e728f312 can do.”b5865bc5ef0149d6

“I can make you a Saintess.”a0bac7cbc40604f0

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“So, listen to me, Belze.”fd346ee406685f24

That was what d644384f93 Ismail said to 2636b0f97a me, looking straight 2dde584cff into my eyes.007dad3acf373029

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As his words echoed 16e7201e4d in my mind, almost d3e5fe28ff as if he was 62131ce363 whispering right into my 5e90c6dd43 ear, a sudden flash c69dc83886 of bright light filled 5a98c9d597 my vision.6d129f70f68d6ce7

Flash!661db128c0e787ab

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The light faded, and 4b5eab4452 when my vision cleared, 3f6098769e Ismail was standing right 3a5d6ea9ff in front of me.ac4431512e865a19

“So, are you going to do what I say now?”be897b67f1e1242d

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He held my shoulders b7d1b87044 gently, asking in a 27aad92dbe soft tone.a88785396f0a20ff

‘He’s used his power.’63ba0994da32f440

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I quickly realized 64eb20938c that he had f7d4412b57 done something to 4861ca9a3b me. But much to his disappointment, 4a9dce6c89 I felt no difference in 3c367e7a65 my body.f9baf6d78d6a746d

I immediately slapped his 6507a05b60 hands away and gave 8df23f64d0 him a firm shove fe6f0ab7f9 with both hands.582c3c93ae9403b2

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“No way! Why should I cb45132041 do what you 733a1b2498 say? I have somewhere to bb6e0a7a0a be, so move!”d3321a06c825ca0e

“Oof! Wh-What…!”03d82ec5ecdbbbef

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He stumbled back from ba6636e0a5 the unexpected push, barely f78f94bba4 managing to regain his 5dfb152cb9 balance, and stared at 455e525df9 me in shock.6631383bd6b8fbfa

“Why… why isn’t my power working?”5e9fd3e7c705887b

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“Hey! Why are you ac578f7be6 using your power 971cd01e4e like it’s nothing? You’re such a bad kid!”6d2f705fb70fda43

“…You treated me without asking, too.”189bb0c056ca4fcc

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“I was going to leave you, but you begged me to save you!”9db5f6d1e8034ca9

“…”5806535fe8539bb2

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Ismail, unable to respond, aa654aa78f hung his head, looking 9387e30f57 dejected.3609213195acd3c0

I glared at 9b6ce4c46a him before issuing e21e1f64c5 a warning.786205a4b108850f

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“I’m leaving! If you try to 7f5437733f stop me again, you’re 5254a79299 dead! I’ll tell everything to Grandpa 50d0fad7f9 Gordon!”24746f4fe06bf818

As I turned to 28138a48d4 leave, Ismail called out a30c6a8280 desperately.792ff8c10d88fd59

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“I-I wasn’t using it with bad intentions!”edacc005d0b73c77

“…”800bff464d027400

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“I told you, I wanted to repay you. I was just trying to help you…”d348b3eaebaeddae

“…”f6c5d9ec41f4d3c6

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“I wasn’t lying when I said I could make you a Saintess! I can make sure you earn a lot of talents! Or… I could make Diana’s talents decrease instead?”a7a2d08c39d4d160

I paused mid-step at his 45f9022303 last words.bcede35188a3b539

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I didn’t care about 40876a811b earning more talents. I had already made fec4dc1270 plenty with my own 96a0721235 abilities.f6cffe3527b2db7f

But the idea of adjusting Diana’s talent count… that was tempting.dc68a10020edece9

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“…How?”930fff4d40a57510

I glanced back 71766b8c61 at him, and 1c9fa32062 Ismail, looking a 010c557d44 bit nervous, replied.b73cd823c24ca669

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“Well… I can control people.”ee8c5bac2248b62d

“Control?”43fe66162d4f0e7f

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“Yeah. Only for a short time, but… if they hear my voice, they do what I tell them. Earlier, I even made one of the guys who hit me wet himself in front of everyone.”2919cc4759370b44

“Ew, gross…!”c24f8201b0bf1d9f

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Control powers? It was a startling revelation!eea22bf6d411436e

As I looked at Ismail 43842a3c3b with wide eyes, an idea 4029691932 suddenly struck me.bade2ac1beecfe02

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“Then… will you do what I tell you?”0de2f7c84cf31c6c

“What are you going to ask me to do…?”d4d81230c7f42ff4

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“So, like, if you go to Diana’s booth, there’s this really ugly, fat guy called Barellutte.”265224786b47912a

“His name’s Barellutte?”6560f6dc6b4379cd

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“No, it’s Barellotte!”51afaa887a454ed8

“Barell… lotte?”f4f8770d06f47d88

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“No! Barell! Lotte! Looootte!”416e0f87397549c8

“…”1cb1ac7b3346fe81

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It seemed like c132124939 I had a 0aef26de39 plan in mind, 991e14afc9 and the gears 0fa7103834 in my head e8fc8d7527 started turning as fc378ae8e0 I considered how 48c5c39a58 to turn this f67d0486f3 situation to my bb4f092315 advantage.a5027f587efefe2d