Chapter 24
A clear tear tracked down my face.
“I will provide you with the temple’s carriage. You may choose your destination. I have personally blessed you with the waters of the sacred spring, so you will be protected from malevolent forces for a while.”
‘The most malevolent forces in my life right now are the Crown Prince, the Duke’s son, the next Count, and that self-made Baron.’ ‘No, that’s not the point right now.’
“W-wait a minute, High Priest. I’m grateful, but aren’t you agreeing too readily? This could cause friction with the Imperial Family.”
“Then should I not help you?”
“No! Please help me!”
“Very well. I will help you.”
‘Is the High Priest toying with me?’
A large hand settled on my head, still reeling in confusion.
“Sit down, and I will explain.”
As I sat, the High Priest dipped his hand back into the blessed spring. His low voice resonated softly within the sanctuary, carved from a massive block of marble.
“Adelina, I can help you escape. However, you will inevitably return before long.”
‘What? This is scary. He’s offering help, but it sounds like a curse.’
Seeing my frozen expression, the High Priest offered another gentle smile.
“I can see the countless threads that extend from every human.”
“Threads of causality…”
“Indeed. Threads of causality. Adelina, you possess no divine power, but having lived in the temple for so long, you understand the basics of priestly divine power, correct?”
The High Priest suddenly launched into a theological lecture.
“I have a rudimentary understanding.”
“Good. Your studies haven’t been in vain. Indeed, even without divine power, you’ve been diligent in your studies of demonic creatures and the theory of divine power since you were young.”
Since my diligence stemmed from entirely personal reasons, his praise felt a little embarrassing.
“For some, divine power manifests as healing, for others, as precognition. And the Gods have granted me a slightly broader perspective than most.”
He paused, looking directly at me.
“The golden threads extending from the Imperial Family form the pillars that support the empire, and the pure white threads extending from the three heroes who defeated the Demon King are like a comforting bonfire for the people. And you…”
I gulped. To be mentioned right after the empire’s and the world’s pillars of strength and light…
The High Priest paused again, his gaze deep and searching.
“Your threads are a beautiful tapestry of short, fragmented strands, meticulously woven together in a multitude of colors.”
“Excuse me?”
“Let’s see.”
A large, damp hand, radiating a soft light, caressed my cheek. It was a gentle touch.
“Several threads of causality that should have been severed short… and several knots, skillfully and tightly tied, connecting them.”
The mention of threads that should have been severed sent a chill down my spine. My untimely death in my past life. My untimely death that should have occurred in this life, too. Were these threads that should have been severed short referring to my lifespan?
“You are a person of strength, Adelina. I don’t mean physical strength. Your will to live, your vitality, is remarkably strong.”
“….”
“However, the knots you’ve tied with that strength, the intertwined threads… there are rather a lot of them. You’ve woven threads that shouldn’t have been connected, using your own will, so those knots are exceptionally tight.”
“Are you saying…?”
“Consider this: cutting a single thread is easy. But if you twist a hundred threads together and tie a knot, will it be so easily severed with a single snip?”
I stared at the High Priest, speechless.
‘So I dug my own grave?’
‘Because I meddled where I shouldn’t have and haven’t died yet, things have become this tangled?’
“Don’t make that face. Such a desolate expression on someone so young… it’s disheartening for an old man to see.”
Clicking his tongue, the High Priest took my hand in his.
“The Gods created humanity and granted them free will. Your will, too, is the will of the Gods.”
“….”
“So, do as you wish. If you want to run, then run. However…”
That ominous pause usually precedes something even more unsettling…
“The stronger your will, the stronger the will of those connected to you. Furthermore…”
The High Priest’s lips tightened slightly. I clenched my fist beneath his hand.
“The threads of causality… they are a curious thing. A single, thin strand can sometimes become a world-shattering typhoon. You may consider yourself insignificant, but remember, even a speck of dust is part of the grand design of the world.”
‘This definitely feels like a curse. He says he’ll help me escape, but that’s not what he’s implying.’
“And I will take care of your divine registry.”
“Excuse me?”
“You can no longer be a priest.”
His polite words made my face burn. Priests take a vow of chastity and are registered in the divine registry. If they cause a scandal or lose their chastity, they are stripped of their priesthood. Of course, many priests discreetly engage in illicit activities, but that only works if they aren’t caught.
Having been seen in such a compromising position by the High Priest, my situation was irretrievable.
Frustration flared, knowing Clovis’s scheme had worked.
“That wasn’t something I wanted either!”
“That is true.”
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