“...What do you mean by that?”
Feiby blinked at my statement about needing to sell our dignity.
I understand. If someone else had said this, I would have responded that it was crazy talk.
However, this was something I absolutely had to convey.
The person we are about to visit, Isabel Arteia, is a pervert obsessed with the deity's holiness. Even Feiby, the saint of the deity's church, would likely react similarly to me.
No matter how much of a saint she is, standing in front of that pervert would undoubtedly cause significant psychological damage. I should prepare her mind in advance.
And more importantly, in case of emergency, we might genuinely have to sell our dignity. I need to tell her in advance to avoid any resentment.
‘That person is, well, quite strange.’
“That disgusting fanatic is far from normal. If it has holiness, they would even lick a pit.”
“Are you referring to Lady Arteia?”
‘...Huh? Feiby. Don’t tell me...’
“Pathetic saint. Do you know about that perverted fanatic?”
“I do. They are someone who provides a lot of support to the deity's church. I’ve encountered them several times at official events.”
Now that I think about it, that’s true.
Isabel Arteia has been closely related to the deity's church for a long time. Where else would the information about all the holy artifacts she purchases come from?
She has built a connection with the church through her enormous wealth and uses it to buy various sacred relics.
Naturally, she would have participated in various events during that process and would have crossed paths with Feiby.
“I know Lady Arteia as someone full of grace and poise.”
‘That person?!’
“That crazy woman?!”
Grace? Poise? What on earth allows one to describe that pervert with such words?
As I stared at her seriously, Feiby gave an awkward smile.
Hmm. Does this mean she truly didn’t do anything to Feiby? The one who looked at her as if wanting to imprison her the moment they met?
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Now that I think about it, there was no mention of Isabel doing anything to Feiby in the game’s story.
Is it because Feiby is a false saint?
“Anyway, you’re saying you want to meet Lady Arteia to make a request, right? I will do my best.”
Feiby, who doesn’t know Isabel’s true nature, clenched her hands tightly and promised to be of assistance. Her innocent demeanor was quite pleasing.
Yes, Feiby. I won’t bother explaining the reality to you.
Soon enough, you’ll naturally understand when you become the true saint.
When that time comes, you will see that what I said was indeed true.
There were various reasons for meeting Feiby before visiting the Arteia family.
One reason was that she would play an important role in executing the plan I had in mind.
Another was that she was the closest person to me.
Additionally, she seemed likely to help me.
And among those many reasons, there was also the reason that she would make it easier to enter the Arteia family.
Yesterday, I had smashed the guards of the Arteia family.
No matter how much the head of the Arteia family has a somewhat favorable view of me, that sentiment likely doesn’t extend to the guards. Perhaps there could be another scuffle like yesterday’s.
That’s where Feiby comes in. As the face of the deity’s church, and someone who has done good deeds in numerous places, she is truly an idol of the continent!
When Feiby smiles and speaks, there’s no one who could give a harsh response!
So, if Feiby takes the front, we could enter the Arteia family without bloodshed!
Having thought this, I intended to let Feiby deal with the guards before entering the Arteia family.
“Welcome! Lady Alrn!”
““Welcome!””
“We truly caused a huge trouble last time. We apologize!”
““We are sorry!””
It seems my worries were quite unnecessary.
Seeing the guards bow their heads upon seeing my face at the entrance was evidence of that.
Is it strange? Just yesterday, when I left, the guards were glaring at me, wasn’t it?
What on earth did Isabel do after I left yesterday?
I’m curious, but let’s not ask. There’s likely nothing good to find out.
Thus, we were welcomed into the Arteia family and were immediately guided to the reception room.
There was no waiting time. Before the carriage brought by the attendants was even ready, the head of the Arteia family appeared.
“Welcome, Lady Alrn. It is an immense honor that you have visited once again today.”
Isabel Arteia, who entered the room, attempted to offer a dignified greeting, as befits a noble, but her intention did not come through properly.
Her neat attire and graceful movements were fine, but the problem lay in her expression.
The overly excited smile that looked ready to melt was definitely not an expression fit for a noble—or a human, for that matter.
I can say with certainty that it was the face of a clear pervert.
No wonder Feiby looked shocked and froze her smile.
“...Ah. The saintess is also here. I apologize.”
After rambling on to me, Isabel quickly tidied her expression upon noticing Feiby beside me, then took her place before us.
Clearly, her reaction was normal when facing Feiby.
It’s not the amount of holiness that matters, but rather the quality of the holiness contained within.
...Damn it. If it continues like this, I’ll have no choice but to offer myself as a sacrifice.
There’s no helping it. I must make sure that such a situation doesn’t come to pass.
After finishing the ceremonial greetings, Isabel took a sip of the tea brought by the attendants and examined my and Feiby’s faces.
Then, as she placed her cup on the table, she turned her gaze toward me.
“So, Lady. What brings you here today?”
‘I need some necessary items.’
“It seems there are more extravagant items for a pathetic fanatic like you. I’m here to take them.”
“You said there were no items needed aside from the tablet, didn’t you?”
That’s right. I had told Isabel that I didn’t need anything as she tried to sway me with various items.
However, the situation has changed. To save the Burrow territory.
To defeat the darkness lurking there.
To let another sun rise beneath that darkness.
I needed the various sacred artifacts that Isabel possessed.
‘The situation has changed.’
“But no matter how I think about it, those items seem extravagant for you.”
“What items could possibly be too extravagant?”
Instead of answering Isabel’s question, I took out a piece of paper from my pocket and handed it to her.
As Isabel quietly examined what was written on the paper, she momentarily froze before forcing a smile and began to read the items listed.
“The Staff of Taornati. It is a staff used by one of the ancient saints. It’s a very expensive item due to its high historical value.”
The Staff of Taornati.
The historical value and all that mean nothing to me.
The only thing that matters is that this staff has the ability to amplify holiness once a day.
“When the deity descended, this holy water was created. It is treated as a sacred artifact by the deity’s church, making it extremely difficult to obtain.”
That pathetic deity may be a pervert who dresses little girls as bunny girls, but a deity is still a deity.
Anything touched by him becomes an elite catalyst.
In this instance, it will serve to seamlessly connect my holy magic with Feiby’s holy magic.
“The soil that used to reside in the sacred ground.”
This soil will serve as the foundation for the miracle I will prepare.
“Powder made from angel wings.”
The powder that will paint over it.
“A holy sword consecrated for the past 100 years.”
This sword will serve as the center of all these miracles.
“And finally, the power of the deity that you gave me instead of the tablet last time.”
The power that will become the source of the miracle.
After listing everything I had written down, Isabel set the paper on the desk and let out a hollow laugh.
“They are all precious items, aren’t they?”
As Isabel said, each item I had written down was more than worthy of being called a sacred artifact.
If I were to attempt to buy all of those with money, wouldn’t I need hundreds of platinum coins?
“I do have a lot of money, but it’s hard to possess all of this, my lady.”
Yeah. That’s right. Those items cannot be obtained just by having a lot of money.
‘But you have them, don’t you?’
“Yeah? I figured it all out, you pathetic fanatic.”
But Isabel, you’re not just someone with a lot of money, are you?
You possess enough wealth.
The power to access any sacred artifact the moment it comes onto the market.
And an obsession bordering on madness for sacred artifacts.
With all that, you have everything.
Right?
You can fool others, but you can’t fool me.
When I was busy with looting play in the game, I’ve pillaged your territory countless times.
“Indeed. You can’t deceive me regarding sacred artifacts.”
Isabel did not deny my words and nodded readily.
“Yes. You are correct. All the items listed here are in my storage. However, as you know, each of these items is extremely precious. No matter how good my feelings toward you are, I can’t just give them to you out of goodwill.”
I understand too. Even if Isabel Arteia is a person obsessed with holiness, there are limits to it.
Her fundamental nature is that of a merchant. There’s no way she would donate that vast wealth to a place with no benefit.
“What do you intend to trade for those items?”
No matter how shameless I am, I won’t go as far as to ask her to simply hand over items worth hundreds of platinum coins.
Of course, Isabel has likely brought some conditions that would make her drool.
Something that no one else could think of, let alone present.
‘The right to help me.’
“I’ll give you the right to help me. How about that? Isn’t that an enticing condition for a pathetic fanatic like you?”