Chapter 847 The Oasis City Where Water Costs 1 Silver Coin
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A tall and beautiful woman with a voluptuous and seductive body glanced at the large lines of filthy commoners that gathered around the Church of Springs. Her long blue hair waved by the wind, as her sharp sapphire-colored eyes looked at these people as if they were mere insects.
Wearing a series of white robes wrapped around her body, alongside dozens of golden accessories, rings, necklaces, and wristbands, she smiled, while drinking some fine wine.
"Another day, another bunch of useless commoners crying for water." She sighed. "Wouldn't it be about time our Goddess got rid of so much filth, I wonder?"
The people of Sapphire Temple gathered in front of the largest building in the city, the Temple of Springs to ask for water every day. This was because the Church of the Goddess of Water has been regulating the water from the Oasis ever since the last Lord was dethroned by the church itself.
Back then, people could get water from many wells, but now, the wells had been completely dried, and everyone had to come ask for water to the church itself, who closed all ways to get to the Oasis, tightly guarding the place with many guards and high-level paladins.
Of course, it was quite clear it was all a plot by the nobility, who had grown just as corrupted as the church. They happily gave water to anybody that came asking for it, yes…
For a price, that's it.
"Please, my child hasn't drank water in many days! Her head hurts and her lips are all dry! Please spare some water…!"
"Sorry, ma'am, but a cup of water is one silver coin."
"I-I don't have that much money! Nobody here does!"
"Get her out of here."
The blue-robbed priestess quickly called a Sapphire Paladin, as a tall, muscular man wearing blue armor stepped in, grabbing the famished woman away and throwing her into the streets.
BAAM!
"Agh…! M-My arm…! You're all so awful… Sniff… Why are you asking for money?! The oasis is said to be a gift of the goddess! It never dries out thanks to her magic! Why are you keeping it all for yourselves?!"
The woman screamed, only for the paladin to glare at her with eyes filled with disgust.
"The gift of the goddess is, naturally, for those she favors. Filthy commoners that have done nothing but be a nuisance to nobility and the church have no rights to the water. Earn your right to drink or die. Next time, I won't go easy on you."
The man walked away after saying those colds words, the woman felt defeated, yet nobody came to her help. She slowly stood back up, running back to her house to find her child famished, with dried lips, and barely breathing.
She has been feeding him whatever liquid she has found, but even now, they could barely afford some dried, stale bread she was paid for her work in the fields, or the grasses she often ate, which had a bit of water in them.
Fruits and the like were too rare and expensive… So people often drank blood from animals or giant bugs, though that only got them sick most of the time, and it was a last resort thing.
"D-Don't worry dear, I will give you something to drink… Mama will not… give up on you."
As the woman said those words, a few tears flowed from her eyes, which she gathered with a spoon and feed them to her child silently.
Around the church, the people kept bringing whatever pennies they had, being given a cup of water, half a cute, or somethings a few cups if they had a bit more wealth.
The money kept coming every day, the priests and paladins smiled, and the Saintess looked from afar, atop her Temple.
"Give us water!"
"Water is a right! You can't just not give us! Stop this!"
"We all work hard here to drink!"
"We're dying! Please help us!"
"W-We don't have any money…"
"Someone, please- Urgh!"
Of course, there were always protestants that would try to get water brute force. Those people would be dealt by the Paladins, who kicked them, punched them, and dragged them away.
This was a sight of almost every day, some found it rather unsightly, yet others were finding some amusement to it, especially the Priests.
Knock, knock!
Suddenly, the doors leading to the room of the blue-haired beauty were gently knocked by someone.
"Saintess Emilia."
The voice of an old man came through.
"Yes? You can come in."
Creaak…
The door opened to reveal a tired-looking white-haired man, wearing rather good-looking clothes, brown-skinned, and with emerald eyes.
"Oh, but if isn't the Ex-Lord, Sir? Is there something you need?"
The blue haired woman smiled back at him almost mockingly.
"Please stop this… I am imploring you!"
The man got himself on his knees, asking with all his soul for her to stop.
"Stop what?"
"Please stop asking the commoners for money in exchange of Water! Let the wells be filled again! The water of the Oasis is endless! You know that! So why are you denying them a gift that everyone can get?!"
"Sigh… So it was that what you were asking about. Once again, Ex-Lord, you see…"
Emilia slowly walked towards the pitiful man, gently lifting his chin.
"The water is a blessing of the goddess, and the goddess told me to not give it to filthy commoners without a price. This money goes directly to the maintenance of the city and the church. Even the nobles get a share." She laughed. "Why should I disobey her orders, which benefit us all for a better future?"
"It's inhumane… The goddess would never ask such a thing!" The Ex-Lord cried.
"So annoying. You squirm like a rat and speak like an insect, are you really nobility?" The Saintess laughed, kicking the man's face.
BAAAM!
"Urrgh…!"
The man pathetically rolled over the floor, bleeding from his nose, despite looking so gorgeous and delicate, the woman's Strength Stat was enough to crush his skull into pieces if she wanted, yet she was quite gentle with that kick.
"Go away, before I call the Paladins. And they won't be so gentle… Remember our deal. If you try this again, your family will pay for it." The Saintess said. "Got it~?"
And then, she gave him a gentle smile, filled with sarcasm.
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