The Runaway Maid is Loved by the Archmage - Chapter 243

※ This book contains depictions of coercive/dubcon/noncon acts, violence, and immorality. Reader discretion is advised.

“This is something only a priest of Aiha can do. It’s not something a priest of another religion can do.”

At those words and Mana’s bowing head, everyone’s expression darkened. However, Rager’s expression remained calm.

“I can do it.”

At his calm words, Mana wore a puzzled expression. Rager’s eyes, which he suddenly looked at, were very serene.

“What’s the reason for your certainty?”

Jason, who had been watching from the side, said. It seemed even more puzzling because Rager was not originally the type to talk a lot. Rager slightly lowered his head at Jason’s words and looked at his hands. His white hair scattered messily. He had a calm expression, as if lost in thought. After some time, he finally spoke.

“Ever since I made a contract with Roina-nim… there has been a voice that I’ve gradually heard.”

“A voice?”

This time, Roina spoke. It was because she didn’t know the specifics of Rager’s changes after making the contract with her. She had thought he seemed more refined, peaceful, and stable than before, though.

“Yes. When I, who had lost my god, sought a god in prayer, when I meditated quietly, when I sought the truth of the world, there was a very small whispering voice each time. From some point on, I began to listen to that voice and try to communicate with it.”

A faint groan escaped from Mana’s side. He seemed doubtful, yet spoke in a cautious voice.

“A messenger…?”

Rager was silent for a moment as he looked at him, then continued to speak.

“I’m not sure if that’s the right term. But I now believe that that voice is the whisper of a god. If it’s about asking the goddess Aiha for permission, I think I can help.”

Mana fell into deep thought with a serious expression. Seeing that, Jason shouted, feeling frustrated.

“Explain what a messenger is or something! Think about the people listening.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Rager glance at him, as if realizing, and Mana opened his mouth in a careful voice.

“Among priests, there is a legend that there exists a being that connects all gods, and furthermore, humans and gods.”

“Is that what a messenger is?”

“That’s right.”

Mana paused for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts, and then continued the story.

“If what he says is true, and that is truly the voice of a god, then he is a messenger. However, it’s been almost a thousand years since a messenger appeared. We can’t be certain just by his words.”

Roina nodded in agreement. What he said was also correct. Even she couldn’t be certain about this matter. What on earth are the gods of this world? Beings that bound the Kailum Empire to the first emperor for a thousand years, and also made water spring up in a place like this. She was truly curious about their will.

“Even so, if you are truly a messenger, it’s true that the time will be dramatically reduced, so let’s try a conservative method. If that doesn’t work, I’ll perform the ritual alone, according to tradition.”

At Mana’s words, Rager simply nodded silently. Roina looked at Rager with slight worry, but he only seemed calm, as if he were doing something natural.

Not long after, Mana prepared a place in the middle of the Water Room to perform the ritual. Dressed in blue priestly robes, different from before, as a priest of Aiha, and arranging white tools on the altar, Mana looked more solemn and sacred than ever.

Roina suddenly recalled the Crown Prince at the New Year’s party. It was true that he was a man with a similarly beautiful appearance and gave off a very angelic impression, but he was very different from the current atmosphere.

In this quiet and solemn place, filled with respect for the gods, there seemed to be no room for anything impure to intrude.

Ah, so this is what a true priest of the gods is like. This was the first time Roina had actually seen a formal priest perform a true ritual in this world. Roina looked at Mana with a fresh perspective.