Chapter 80

“What does it say? Is it a love letter? You’ve already got someone chasing after you?” Grandpa Gordon asked with a worried look as I stared blankly at the elegant handwriting, far too refined for a child.9dd587b102a05d1d

“N-No, that’s not it…”bd4be32debb9317b

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I stammered, caught off guard.09c5ca6b940eccc4

Then, suddenly, a 283c9a89db crucial detail from c3c80dfb7d the original story 933b36ede6 hit me like 839f3a07ea a lightning bolt.ad862ab937d06e46

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‘The Second Prince… he didn’t show up!’810c937d12c143b8

In the original plot, the 79a73542a4 female lead and the Second 889a8d9b3b Prince were supposed to meet 16f45fb12b today.82c67a1cfc4d9744

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It was the day 373a35312a before the goddess’s birthday, f4a25f6509 and the Second Prince 39ca00339c participated in the volunteer f1f818c852 event on behalf of ab91e18a68 the injured Crown Prince.7167250ae7c8254c

But he hadn’t shown b275ad2ff4 up today.59c6df146872dd64

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The reason was clear.82204a175c9daa2c

‘Because I healed him a few days ago…?!’3754858cde73f8ad

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But I hadn’t even fully e7f166d0a6 healed him, only about halfway.a55a0dbfac839742

‘It couldn’t have been easy for him to come here in that condition…’2b657c1d22bde679

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Besides, giving 100 469c77730c Talents as compensation c87255e812 seemed way too 6439f8babf much for the c324aed7eb healing I provided.8b2c8b140dd753a1

Frantically, I looked 8788284c8b around, trying to da5763921e spot whoever had 7daa917c35 paid that absurd a002f491e3 amount for the 64d0600465 treatment.1e7d3dbae7400de5

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But it was futile. There was no one 3be7609cf0 in sight who could 1c4de0742a be the mysterious buyer.1f6a73482764c974

‘If I’d known it was going to be like this, I would have just fully healed him…’649e837c07ab378a

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I sank into regret, my a812672eb4 mind clouded with frustration. As I was wallowing in 9c18e9dba2 my thoughts, Grandpa nudged me e4937af6c6 again, his curiosity not yet 4d0c290ba3 satisfied.5773558e2f7c7fc8

“So, do you know this kid? Handsome fellow, is he?”fadcc89766ca6c4d

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“Grandpa.”092e361b5fd3178c

“Hm?”b53298abba0d8f86

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“I think the Crown Prince passed by…”5bb11a69b27af17b

“What? Crown… what?”db289d8372a4ba85

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I sighed deeply, leaving Grandpa’s confusion unanswered.1a2e01540340b42e

On one hand, 856aacf8cf I was relieved 0e7f4f2892 not to have f470a4e04f encountered the foul-mouthed f475755cef Second Prince, but 44ca37b9d7 on the other 4949aa0013 hand, I couldn’t 5ebbdecff4 shake the uncertainty 6dfcc69e58 creeping into my da4f3d94fa mind. Too many things were diverging 28b5335057 from the original plot—the unexpected e34e54c084 arrival of the Crown Prince, 8004b72b97 my encounter with Ismail… it 346579c037 felt like the story was 0db1ffe4ad veering off course in ways f9e81bb618 I couldn’t predict.1e3d2e1bd0973914

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At that moment, an announcement 8ab874cf0c from the stage interrupted my 9ac184f9c4 thoughts.630c6d133cca7b70

“Attention. The collection of 80d28cc151 Talents has been 870be03e2e completed. We ask all 93c34f4579 guests and participants 114b6bf748 to return to 287d30c8cc their seats.”fe347913ad310e80

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The voice over the loudspeaker 4b658e09e7 brought me back to the 3c6b40fb6a present.41028f8c4e10ad11

“Let’s hurry back to our seats,” Grandpa said as he quickly packed away the remaining recovery potions.84d19296945d15b9

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“Okay!”37d8df3185f7db0e

As I sat down, b9ac843e5b I carefully calculated the a92e0fabd5 total Talents we had 6136334acf earned, including the ones d70bac3099 the headmistress had confiscated. Meanwhile, I glanced toward 44e7d5f373 the noble families, who e18cd79eab were seated at lavishly 1add28874b prepared tables in front dfd69db3f0 of the stage. In contrast, the orphanage 901f315d82 children sat huddled under 6799f3024f a shabby tent to e108518b08 the side of the 8eed26a7af stage.b39ffb5f4493987b

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Even the adults who had 8fc42f3801 volunteered as helpers weren’t allowed 77de684c56 to sit—they had to stand 4644c82aa8 at the back of the 889e40cbdf tent.b40c526d977455a4

‘I wonder if Duke Kallios and Edwin are sitting further in…’960532762f58d03e

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From my vantage point, I 1a326eacc7 couldn’t see them, which made 0000388324 me feel a little uneasy.61332e0ee9423aee

As I bit 71944c60dc my lip, my abeb3d57e4 gaze wandered to 4a0fdfc302 the tables of 147712dd1d the nobles, adorned e07a8acbda with cool water 6943a3834c and decorative flowers. Then, I felt a c6e833cee7 strange sensation, as if f33770529b someone was watching me.706be18c33ae28e1

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When I glanced around, my fb07d1606a eyes met hers.4dd668451105df81

White hair as pure b350f28651 as snow and dreamy 22673a71b5 violet eyes.409e12a5b8a616d9

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It was Diana.2d52a8856244da8b

She was sitting not far 1041e350f5 from where I was.f562345d1e388cac

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‘She looks exhausted.’952b398060945888

The front of her booth c0381b3f13 had been bustling with activity 65e3e1df1d earlier, and now her complexion 935898548f was as pale as her abd9a5833e hair.d11a7239b3b039ea

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‘Let’s stay far away from her. I don’t want her fainting 7a98b6a634 and then blaming it on be6085043e me!’e217959229cc76f9

I subtly shifted dd062c4ba8 further away from a597c05966 her, imagining how 37d4fe44d5 easily such an ddd70e3be7 incident could happen.b558e91d257dbb68

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Just then, someone 24da5fb484 took the stage.81caa3f4ffb8df2e

“Ahem.”f5c5e34182abd979

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A figure in a5171a4195 white robes stood 9a2ce361b3 up to speak.35978028f9363154

“May the goddess’s blessing always be with you. I am Pope Montenus.”f31353bb1f6f45df

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It had been d5be4f286e several months since 5d96a64083 I last saw dd4de5cf81 the Pope, back d8ebf28fd5 when I stayed d0b44f3905 at the Duke’s ab1e9b3ab3 estate.27e2dfb1e6325d66

The serene, white aura that 7d69b851e9 surrounded him was still the b34c29f8e4 same.f12666727f333161

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After my recent 30585fe84e encounter with Ismail, 47b6fa3589 who would become d948d4085f the next Pope, 5f62dfb476 seeing the current 25409d24d3 Pope, whose life f5a85186bd was nearing its 248e02098f end, felt oddly 5a5ae3ee2b unsettling.120318d88c2e648a

‘How did Ismail even become the Pope’s adopted son?’09eaf58bf0d6444d

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As I pondered 27826d76d5 this, I watched a019a7c295 the Pope’s deeply c0666202b3 wrinkled face. But before I could 6c704dc4f9 linger on the thought, ceeb56231e the Pope began his 527d79a37a speech.bec2408790a650f0

“First, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the noble families who took the time to participate in today’s volunteer activities. It is all 795c1954a4 in accordance with 07b74bb2fe the will of fb9416d8b7 the goddess that 29f0defa32 we are gathered 148b4c40ad here today, to b3d7851f54 share, to give, 6cf3259474 and to learn cc784d890b the lessons of 50af266ce8 kindness…”f5fe09a9b997a211

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I stifled a yawn and 784fd630cf tried to endure the Pope’s 1e678ecc77 long-winded speech.9af2bc230a1b5aa7

“Ah, Ereia be praised!”7db34273a0c89209

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Finally, with a 5612a20698 chorus of devout bbb0dc9bae exclamations, the speech 2cc8b6631c came to an 6d6f93efd4 end.00647f3b79bf6738

“Now, we shall begin selecting the child who has received the most of the goddess’s love today.”9fb2a97bf9029cba

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At last, the time had fe3f60aff6 come to choose the Saintess 15ff19443e candidate.6d7507f837f1014a

“Magnus, High Priest.”5202c716d148da3a

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The Pope gestured toward 6d96bca57e the side of the f85ae8a383 stage.60c18d66aef7c3c8

A relatively young 476529f1bb priest appeared, carrying e99583659c something as he 916bfc781a ascended the steps.97c85337264b25cb

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It was a large golden 6421532611 censer, ornately embossed, glimmering in 7784c732e2 the light.d6263877d68c4825

This was the sacred relic f35c1a6afe used to convert gold coins 9562a7a343 into Talents.9ab3f18be6e32b0e

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The relic had two 813275ce6e primary functions:7c5771d243f1c8bc

1. When Talents or 6da6af2407 gold coins were 8717c708db placed into the ea46ae9293 censer and incense 4daa582bfc was burned, it 47e1a80cb9 automatically counted the 63b0bb90c2 amount, like a c6d42fdcd1 calculator.bee484e766bae0c1

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2. Gold coins could be burned, 1785c8f7c8 and after a few minutes, db3159ecd9 they would be transformed into 2dc0250955 Talents. The reverse could 2a7bd9217a also be done.43533899ef32b1e9

It was said that this 44babaf6de relic had been created long d96c5356aa ago by a saint who bd7e368237 had studied alchemy. Its purpose was 234473afea to remind those e401796c61 who served the 0bb4e74ac8 goddess not to 527b9b89fa be greedy.ab0b551b700fc94b

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Because of this, the temple 814dafa12a always converted donations and offerings 5cb5be44ca into Talents to prevent misuse.a9e4eade25e4c0c4

Outside the temple, it was e2d7298c6f strictly forbidden to carry or 69dd90d77f use Talents.bdd011dfc0ee4cf6

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‘Yeah, right. It’s just a way 0666d7ea88 for them to hoard e57e517214 the donations and spend 859e0163f2 them as they please 4966c32776 later,’ I grumbled to c97dc3d7b5 myself as the process 50f4e261f6 continued.1854472d21da0f7f

“The first booth we will count is Mia’s, who performed the song,” the announcer declared.2f21ae26d5a8013c

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Clink—!b9167f548cbb112d

The large censer’s f34d5881fd lid was opened, f2a98d230f and the Talents 5f8f16a1cd from the first ddf3e6b242 booth were poured bb3a91c605 in.6888dd1bd2b94f5b

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Another priest lit 37622cf6a8 a match and 6158712951 placed it atop e9fcf4003b the pile of 1d4bfff762 Talents in the 182a968f57 censer.cfeb3c18d81a9dc9

The lid of the b7631f22fa censer closed once again.4abef581a20a4a9d

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Moments later, thin wisps of 016700d357 smoke began to rise from 07c4e4bb83 the small holes scattered around 06662f1090 the censer.123d67c09f1d7980

At first, it seemed 947d895392 unremarkable, but then the b82bb17422 smoke began to sway 7ac872ed1e erratically, almost as if 929127725b it were alive. The tendrils of 169f434b5e smoke coiled and 4a78d417b2 merged before dispersing 7e76f21e3e again, and finally, 54f9fe2bdf they formed a 6750ce75c6 distinct number in 776d0fbf6e the air.fc5e99980e172bf9

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154fb307cd989de3fbe

“Ooh…!”2607d3976ecbdd06

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“It never ceases to amaze…!”16a36a86421609a8

People who had been watching 50e73b4cea in silence let out gasps 39bb9dbcbc of awe.978e3fc294b0d2a9

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Even though I 983c73d807 had witnessed this 9902808142 before in my 89ab3555cb past life, the 8c20a1d987 spectacle felt fresh, a423101a88 and I found a3f06406df myself intrigued once 4d9fd17505 again.54d783642a9d9ff5

“Mia, 154 Talents,” the Pope announced quietly, and a priest standing behind him quickly jotted down the result on a large board.edab33711b8fdb02

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The counting continued swiftly from 92ac6b629a there.a0e2a9455bf501b7

“Vincent, 368 Talents.”e824dbfd838e8797

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“Sara, 212 Talents.”4c78389112cb0d86

One after another, the talents b55465811e of children who had played 76d6bfcd85 instruments, danced, or painted were a5a4f6dd98 measured and recorded.37aeb32a8c7d26c2

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Finally, it was time.60360c5e9bfecdfd

“Diana, who used her healing powers to cure the sick.”aa68b867199cb322

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I watched the d9eca97055 stage intently, tension cf6bdeeb0c gripping me.36f12b0674004ace

Out of the 347734bad4 corner of my edb5f02ab8 eye, I glanced ecea1fb80a at Diana. She, too, looked nervous.b6a3118521796730

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‘Please…’f79b01240b52b843

I had already a1a84911df healed the Crown 0481864dd8 Prince, which should 1ffa278f6a have secured my 7d4c9754c5 position safely.1b16f6ec76c6fdb4

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But Diana was the heroine. You never knew a89ae23628 what kind of cd60d2b11d plot armor she 10dd6e7f33 might have in 90cc1ae0a3 a critical moment.fee9a3e5db5d947d

Clink, clink, clink, clink—!2a7ec43e4af064cb

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The amount of Talents b94660716c pouring into the censer 0a9dba100c from Diana’s booth was ae3169a27b greater than any other 605ca9b094 booth before hers.ac0cc3708484c810

“Wow, how much did she collect?”2b6f0f24a257fcc0

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“No kidding. I couldn’t even think 610cc71e2d about standing in line 47e305c8d1 for her.”036d79d8134f2acb

“Well, of course, a Saintess candidate is different…”41bc39370a6b3626

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The murmurs of 4a48e00410 astonishment rippled through 40d224ffe4 the nobles who e280255f33 were watching.d8a773bb1b48b3dc

“Wow…”ce3a6800e48cb6b7

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“Diana is amazing.”0591f8886737f9b7

“Does that mean she’s going to be the next Saintess?”dee2c39aa43ce4a6

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Even the orphanage 0e341014b2 children sitting beside 2abfcbce5d me were whispering 86a262fc88 in awe.a1b7874ffda2e692

Hearing their remarks only made 904811f225 my anxiety creep up further.6f0e965a76fa6140

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Click.45feaa04a1124491

Finally, the Talents 7186eb8959 and the incense 585f670567 were poured into 3088a1a815 the censer, and 71a9300365 the lid closed.d414ac7289f199ec

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Moments later, a faint stream 67e5bfee66 of smoke began to rise, c2a55aa2b5 swirling together before solidifying into e87ebdedd3 a number.7fa8c60eeb4a1452

770b092872b32ac2342

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“Diana, 770 Talents.”b491f3e7e9ee4d39

Applause erupted among 9adbf071d4 the nobles as 173229acfd soon as the 269d025d6b Pope announced the a56defc64d result.4bba8337bbaef55f

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It was a record-breaking number.537d5fbf4e9c206b

‘She healed that many people?!’297af41d42ac10f2

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I was stunned by 8234392f98 the unexpected number. I had anticipated 8ca4cd74ce no more than 24e9325eff 500 or 600 462585b6c0 Talents at best.931154c5bb4cdc42

And yet, there it was—770.8ac704bd22e6bb26

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‘How is that even possible?’e8719cc5af141d65

Frowning, I stared at the 02d13db5b7 count Diana had earned, then 4b1a3803a4 let out a small sigh 2aa55bcc35 of relief.27f623c84fcbc996

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“Haa…”7ad14818edcb696c

In the end, 2c37228120 it didn’t matter.c563ade446aba881

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Even though the heroine’s 8c259e4d1c plot armor had boosted eb903df94c her total far beyond 7d5fd621ee what I had expected…ff4f9427cb09face

‘I still won.’e1495dd235f65d10

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I could be certain now.11525eac9da5595c

Just as the Pope, who f5d343b668 had maintained an impassive expression 7150a219e8 throughout, was about to call 8927f9692b the next contestant—9b0f1f40e2b4ef53

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“Wait! Stop! This is outrageous!”8799f2ecae3a18ac

A thunderous voice suddenly cd1e30c93a echoed through the hall.790cde7938e4148d

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All eyes, including mine, snapped 9762ca3d14 toward the source of the 46dfd69e90 commotion.1f4e0316b53f5c95

It was a middle-aged e8ea3201d9 man who had jumped d48f48b59a to his feet, his 3662bb376b face pale as he ce62345635 shouted.94b0568a75232b28

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“Your Holiness! There’s been a mistake! The numbers are wrong! According to the records, a02c4fc95a this can’t be right…!”93c45bfb6d0609b6

The Pope’s expression darkened 6d9ee7732c as he warned the bed0731567 man.e30a1b37aff61c81

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“Marquis Barelotte, objections to the Talent count must be addressed after the event has concluded…”29b16dbe17d544d0

“But there’s been a theft at Diana’s booth!”225ad6153a1a27c6

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Marquis Barelotte completely disregarded 4bfbb11492 the Pope’s words, shouting 17edf02da4 at the top of f413f94c1f his lungs.0fdbc1b9e623219a

“One hundred Talents are missing!”a31435a3c8786e39

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