<Chapter 16>
Things proceeded according to plan.
The very next morning after arriving at the Grand Temple, my story was plastered all over the newspapers.
I sat in the High Priest’s reception room, reviewing the newspapers with her.
「High Priest of the Maelta Religion Confirms Saintess’s Return: “Verification Process Complete”」
Every newspaper, from the front page to the last, was filled with stories about the Saintess.
It was that big of a deal.
「‘Gambling Saintess’ Dorothy Becomes ‘True Saintess’ with High Priest’s Recognition」
There were also articles that combined my past deeds with the current events.
It felt strange. Exhilarating and surreal. Is this what it feels like to be a celebrity?
Of course, I wasn’t satisfied with just the newspaper articles spreading.
「First Oracle in 16 Years Points to Saintess’s Return: High Priest Declares it Signifies ‘Empire’s Revival’」
「Oracle Expert Porot on the Dawn’s Blue Flame: ‘Revelation Regarding the High Priest’s Announcement of the Saintess’s Return Is Certain,’ ‘High Priest’s Declaration Is a Gift to Us’」
The top of the front page featured the High Priest’s recognition of my return, and the bottom featured an analysis of the divine revelation delivered at dawn.
‘The effect is good.’
I asked the gods to deliver a revelation at sunrise.
It was the first oracle in a very long time. The content of the oracle was simple.
『Today, our gift shall arrive by your side.』
The candles atop the altars in every temple across the empire burned blue, supporting my existence.
I was the perfect Saintess. I was quite satisfied with the production.
Of course, it was just a production. I folded the newspaper after skimming through the articles. The uniformity of the articles was absurd.
“Look at the articles. The citizens of the empire are welcoming the Saintess’s return. Aren’t you happy, Saintess?”
“Yes, I’m very happy.”
I nodded with a bright smile, and she smiled with great satisfaction.
‘She’s excited.’
Seriously.
I wasn’t a fool.
It was true that the newspaper articles were about the Saintess. But upon closer inspection, they were all subtly off the mark.
It was strange from the start that the headline of the first article on the front page emphasized the High Priest’s recognition more than the Saintess’s return.
As expected, the articles were filled with praises for the High Priest, such as ‘High Priest, the one who received the Saintess’s blessing,’ ‘Grand Temple Achieves Unprecedented Peace and Prosperity,’ ‘God’s Chosen High Priest, a Divine Messenger Who Will Go Down in History,’ and so on.
And that wasn’t all.
The High Priest, who had opposed my suggestion to announce it today, had sent a written interview to the newspapers, seemingly prepared beforehand.
‘The Empire’s Morning,’ the largest newspaper in the empire, published the interview, dedicating the entire second page to it.
The content of the interview was also a spectacle. Praising the High Priest’s achievements, highlighting the Saintess’s abilities, and subtly inserting the High Priest – the skills were exceptional.
It wasn’t unexpected, but I was slightly taken aback by the High Priest’s greed.
“Saintess, does… God deliver oracles… at your request?”
The High Priest, who had been observing me quietly, asked in a low voice. It seemed she was impressed by my use of the blue flames.
I nodded.
“Yes. I told them I wanted to make it known that I was undoubtedly the Saintess, and they readily agreed. They said it would be helpful since it’s the one thing that’s difficult to manipulate.”
“…God truly cherishes you.”
The High Priest smiled benevolently.
“I’m grateful for that.”
I returned the gesture with a gentle, Saintess-like smile.
[‘Why this insignificant and foolish girl?’]
Agatha recited the High Priest’s inner thoughts.
I had clearly stated in our first meeting that I could know anything I was curious about, but the High Priest seemed to think it didn’t extend to ‘reading minds in real time.’ Judging by her wicked thoughts.
[Dorothy, do I really have to tell you everything? Can’t I just summarize? It’s too base…]
Agatha said in a dejected voice. I firmly refused.
[I need to hear it exactly as it is to respond easily. The nuance changes with every word.]
[Alright…]
Hearing such wicked thoughts wasn’t pleasant for me either, but I had to do what I had to do.
I had to do this properly to escape this situation.
Anyway, I never thought ghosts would roam freely even within the temple. Of course, I did see one stuck to the ceiling in my room.
But this was the middle of the temple.
Aren’t ghosts supposed to dislike places like this? But why…
I had been trying to ignore the man who had been floating in the air and staring at me.
[It’s because of the corruption. The divine power within the temple has diminished significantly, so they’ve been barely managing to block these spirits, but sometimes… they miss wandering souls like that and let them in.]
The man had a pale face, hollow eyes, and a blank expression. The mark that looked like it was from a rope tied around his neck gave me chills.
The man, his head tilted to one side as if his neck was broken, kept staring at the High Priest.
It was a sight that fueled my determination to work harder.
“…Saintess!”
Just then, the High Priest’s clear voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Y-Yes?”
“Shall we go out?”
“What? Go out… where…?”
I was engrossed in Agatha’s explanation.
My reply to the High Priest’s call was scattered.
“Did you… not hear me?”
Listening to Agatha was beneficial and helpful, but having conversations in my head sometimes made me space out in front of people.
“Ah, that… I was just dazed, seeing the articles. For someone insignificant like me to have my name in the newspapers, and to be called the true Saintess…”
Seeing the High Priest’s slightly distorted expression at my apparent disregard for her words, I hurriedly brought up something to appease her.
“I won’t have to starve anymore, right?”
I immediately acted like a commoner girl overjoyed at escaping poverty.
“Hmm. That’s understandable.”
She was someone who looked down on those of low status and poverty, even if she didn’t show it openly. Showing a foolish and honest desire always worked on her.
“Thank you for understanding.”
I smiled like a shy girl. The High Priest withdrew her unpleasant gaze and returned to her holy demeanor, saying,
“Thanks to the articles and the blue flame this morning, it seems you already have followers chanting your name. They’re offering prayers of gratitude to the Grand Temple. Would you like to go out and greet them?”
[She wants you to show your face because it’s beneficial for her.]
“Yes, yes. Alright.”
For now, it was best to do as the High Priest asked. Well, I didn’t have any other choice anyway.
As befitting a newly discovered Saintess of commoner origin, I decided to wear simple clothes rather than fancy ones. I could shine brightly at the return ceremony later.
“Now, come this way.”
The High Priest gently led me. We climbed to a fairly high place within the temple and stood before a large door.
There was a large plaza in front of the Grand Temple. The Grand Temple had a balcony overlooking the plaza, allowing the High Priest to address the public.
This door led to that balcony. And I was going to stand there.
[Dorothy, there are so many people outside.]
[That many?]
[Yes. But everyone will love you, Dorothy, so don’t be nervous. Breathe, breathe!]
With Agatha’s encouragement, I stepped forward. I couldn’t feel nervous or anything because I hadn’t seen the people yet.
The door opened.
At the same time, a thunderous roar erupted like an explosion.
“Waaaaah!”
‘Oh my…!’
I stumbled, startled. I had never heard such a loud noise, or rather, experienced such cheers directed at me. The pressure was immense, and my heart pounded.
I cautiously stepped onto the balcony and leaned against the railing.
And then, I saw the world spread out before me.
There were… truly, incredibly, a massive number of people.
The people filling the vast plaza were shouting.
“Waaaaah!”
“It’s the Saintess, it’s the Saintess!”
“High Priest!”
“Ah, our noble one…!”
“Surely God sent her to help us!”
‘This is the kind of position I’m aiming for.’
An immense sense of pressure washed over me.
And among the cheers, I heard desperate voices crying, “Saintess, please help us!”
My heart clenched.
“Our… our baby is sick!”
I turned my head towards the hoarse voice.
A woman, clutching a baby in her arms and wailing, was wearing extremely shabby clothes. She held coins in her hand and stretched them towards me.
‘Those damned donations…’
She believed that if she donated, her baby would be healed. Even though God hadn’t received a single prayer from the temple.
The Emperor’s welfare policies, starting with the vagrant relief project and branching out in various directions, were just beginning.
This meant that the number of citizens in need of relief and aid was overwhelmingly greater than those who had already received it.
People’s faith couldn’t even reach God.
I clenched my fists at the thought.
[Agatha, are there any mentions of the High Priest among the cheers?]
[Yes. Quite a lot, actually.]
[Tell me.]
[‘Did you see the newspaper? The High Priest is a being loved by God. Good things are happening because she came to us.’]
[And?]
[‘She blessed us! Long live the High Priest!’ …Somehow, there seem to be more praises for the High Priest than cheers for you, Dorothy.]
[Did the High Priest plant people in the crowd?]
[Hmm. It’s difficult to read with so many people… but reading the High Priest’s mind, it seems there are shills among them.]
[Agatha, how much do you need to recover to use healing powers?]
[I’m… not sure.]
I couldn’t heal the woman with healing powers right now. What other way was there to show a miracle?
I waved to the people, but kept glancing at the woman.
Then, something came to mind.
‘This might make the High Priest dislike me.’
But since the High Priest had already announced the Saintess’s return using her own name, she wouldn’t be able to treat me carelessly.
What I was about to do was a small act of revenge for her greed, for plastering the newspapers with her name more than the Saintess’s.