I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 145

CHAPTER 145

<I can’t believe I’ve been taken advantage of like this twice!!! Ughhh!!>

Fuming with genuine anger, Detmé clenched her fists and muttered to herself.

“…..”

How insignificant.

No, for now, she was just a shining twig, deity or not.

Her anger was about as useful as a tree twig that could be used as a substitute lamp on a night.

“Heh.”

Detmé’s fury was irrelevant.

The high priest, placing the relic twig on a cozy-looking cushion, simply smiled.

“It seems Goddess Detmé is angered by those who are dishonest.”

<That’s not it!!>

“Goddess Detmé is renowned among the gods for being just.”

<Well, yes, but!!>

“Indeed, you are Goddess Detmé.”

<…….>

Detmé let out a sigh and shook the twig in frustration, abandoning the futile accusations.

Oh dear, oh dear.

I stifled a laugh.

‘Seriously, don’t lose your cool. You know I’m the only one who can hear Detmé’s testimony without all the usual rituals, right?’

It took quite a process for humans to hear a god’s voice.

First, a relic was needed, then a significant ritual, followed by earnest prayers while holding the relic.

In urgent cases, a god might directly intervene, but that was almost reserved for major disasters.

<You really…>

The trembling twig seemed to hear me.

Still, it seemed more resilient than when it was a mere ear of wheat.

<How can you make such a big deal out of a delayed gift? Are you that entitled to devour me like this?!>

‘So, you should have given it sooner.’

Surprisingly, Detmé had yet to deliver the promised gift from our last encounter.

Well, I didn’t expect much.

Maybe after I died a few more times, she’d remember and hand it over.

But her gift-holding was rather remarkable.

That’s why I went digging.

Still visiting the relic that’s half stuck in the backyard every day.

“Oh, I’m going to die like this. Deron, please take me away!!”

“What good am I if I can’t even protect one family member!”

“If Detmé had given the gift on time…! If there had been a divine gift!!”

I sobbed.

Detmé, who had a conscience larger than mine.

<What… what can I do to help…?>

Did she ask that?

Isn’t this what they call ‘bringing calamity upon oneself’?

‘Detmé promised to help first!’

<I didn’t know I had to fully embrace the relic!>

Detmé couldn’t even rattle the twig. It was tougher than expected.

<How much weaker do I get each time I descend upon a relic, oh my!>

‘Well, you’re just gaining a fresh coat of feathers.’

For lower-tier deities, attaching to a relic a couple of times wouldn’t strain their powers.

Playfully letting it out might release more power.

<…….>

Seemingly touched by the core of the argument, Detmé fell silent.

I took the opportunity to address the murmuring crowd again.

“In the temple, they don’t usually perform these checks, however.”

I closed my eyes.

“I prayed earnestly and heard Goddess Detmé’s voice.”

I slowly opened my eyes and smiled brightly. 

t was the same smile from five years ago when I deceived the Temple of Detmé.

“The voice that said she would help me.”

Clap, clap, clap!

The reactions split into two groups.

“Of course it’s Her Highness Lottie!”

“If there were a saint, wouldn’t it be someone like this?”

The priests, already captivated, seemed ready to applaud whatever I said.

“No, that… um…”

I wanted to retort sharply.

The hesitant nobles settled back, taken by the warm yet somewhat sacred atmosphere between us and the priests.

Even the council president seemed stunned.

He wiped his external glasses, then refocused, and twisted his neck.

That didn’t change the visible figures.

“…….”

Marquis Floyd’s face turned a shade of pale.

It wasn’t a matter of concern.

‘Temples are much more trustworthy than wizards from other countries, you know.’

And there are even believers here?

“I have a question!”

Bang! Marquis Floyd rose to his feet, striking the ground roughly with his staff.

“Originally, the temple did not engage in paternity tests or similar matters. So, even if we conduct a test now, wouldn’t the certainty be insufficient?”

“Heh, Marquis Floyd’s point is valid.” 

The high priest nodded with a pleasant smile.

“In our temple, we do not engage in such matters. To be precise, we cannot perform them.”

It was a world without the concept of divine power mentioned in novels.

Although the power of gods existed, the priests who followed them did not possess any special abilities.

They merely listened to the voice of the gods and followed their commands.

“But the Gods are different.”

The priests’ eyes, closed as they smiled warmly, opened.

“The Gods are omnipotent and can do everything. Have you also seen the miracles they created?”

“I also know that I am a loyal follower of the Goddess Detmé. But I doubt that such power would work for something like this-.”

“Now.”

The priest’s statement sliced Marquis Floyd’s words.

Staring boldly, the priest looked at Marquis Floyd.

“Are you ignoring Detmé’s power?”

Filled with experience, the voice caused Marquis Floyd to cower.

“When did I say that?”

He lowered his tail immediately.

Of course.

‘Denying the existence of a god here is not just an enemy of the temple.’

It also turns the people around you against you.

There has been a temple to Detmé for more years than I can remember.

They trusted Detmé more than other gods, and a large number of people followed her.

Of course, nobles who followed Stella were ardent believers.

“Ugh.”

Behold.

Until just now, the Count who was previously enthusiastically supporting Marquis Floyd now seemed to be sending him a displeased glance.

“But the question remains.”

Perhaps embarrassed to simply withdraw, Marquis Floyd made a final attempt.

“I don’t deny that the goddess Detmé is omniscient. However, I am curious whether the Goddess has come here.”

Marquis Floyd glanced at me.

Am I being underestimated?

“I am not questioning Her Highness Princess Lottie’s faith… However, claiming that the Goddess has come in response to her prayer seems a bit far-fetched.”

“She has come.”

Once again, the high priest swiftly cut off Marquis Floyd with a smile.

“However, hasn’t it been a rule of the temple not to bring relics out? Doing so would violate the temple’s regulations, as relics are considered sacred items.”

This time, it was someone else who raised the question.

The high priest nodded gravely.

“Yes, indeed, it goes against the temple’s rules to move relics to places other than the temple. After all, they are holy objects.”

They surely wouldn’t suspect me, the one who placed the relic in the middle of the vegetable garden.

“There was an occasion in the past when Detmé directly spoke to Princess Lottie.”

Suddenly, a statement from the high priest caught my attention, pricking at a nonexistent conscience.

If I wasn’t mistaken, he was referring to the incident from five years ago.

‘Why mention that here?’

They wouldn’t accuse anyone of stealing relics here or say such things.

But even mentioning that incident had no benefit for the high priest.

It was akin to poison.

“And Princess Lottie made that voice into our banner and greatly assisted our temple.”

Yet the confessional priest’s face was radiant.

There was no regret or lingering emotion on his face.

“So we will assist Her Highness Princess Lottie this time.”

The high priest half-turned towards me.

His face was filled with the usual gentle smile.

“Isn’t that the duty of those who receive help?”

I pursed my lips, then closed my eyes in acknowledgment.

“Thank you, high priest.”

He smiled.

Then he looked towards the Emperor, the Empress Consort, and Leonard.

“Would the three of you please come down?”

The Emperor silently nodded and escorted the Empress down to the platform.

Leonard followed behind.

The three stood before the high priest, who said something, and the relic began to glow.

“Isn’t that right?”

A conversation I had with Her Majesty the Empress Consort a few days before the council meeting suddenly came to mind.

“Is Brother Leonard truly the son of His Majesty the Emperor?”

It was something that needed to be confirmed.

Even if it was the truth, it needed to be verified again.

Detmé would not tell a lie; she would only tell the truth.

The Empress Consort nodded in response to my question.

“That’s the truth.”

And she laughed through tears.

“The only time I ever touched Clian was when he died.”

“…….”

I looked at the Empress Consort, who was bowing her head towards the glowing relic and felt my throat tighten.

Paahh!!

A tremendous light emanated from the relic, enveloping the three individuals.

And soon, a conclusion was reached.

“The Goddess has spoken.”

The chief priest smiled faintly.

“Prince Leonard is indeed the son of both of you.”

Now is the time for retaliation, you damned Marquis.