Ch.522522. Awakening as a Priest (2)

Tasha is currently a very special person within the baronial household.

Not only did the head of the family, myself and Sione, personally bring her siblings, but we’ve also placed young Tasha—who had never studied academics or administration and was picking pockets to feed her siblings—in charge of healing those suffering from war trauma and even improving the slums.

‘And they said that without Tasha, things wouldn’t be running as smoothly as they are now.’

The mercenaries and poor who had fallen into despair call her “Priestess” and willingly grant her requests. Even the mercenary I helped before volunteers to escort Tasha whenever she goes out.

Thanks to her impeccable performance in the role I gave her and the resulting circumstances, Lord Benner and other vassals have come to appreciate Tasha in their own way.

And now she has brought help to me as well. I immediately appointed Tasha as a priestess.

「I appoint ‘Tasha’ as the first priestess chosen by the Proxy.」

「From now on, she will be the first priestess and a seeker, destined to lead many believers.」

The first priestess and a seeker.

I know that Sione’s bloodline still carries the divinity and power of the first Count.

There must be a reason why Tasha was specifically called the “first.”

‘Let’s set that aside for now.’

For someone who supposedly awakened Divine Power, there was no warm light enveloping her body.

Just as I was beginning to wonder if everything was working properly—the situation seemed so ordinary compared to the fancy words shown in the Status Window—Tasha finally showed a different reaction.

“Ah—”

A small exclamation.

She must have felt something descend upon her silently.

Tasha, who had been chattering non-stop about how studious her siblings were and how learning to read would greatly benefit the baronial house, suddenly fell silent.

“This is…?”

She carefully placed her hand over her chest, seemingly feeling the intangible power newly flowing through her.

Because her talent had been hindered by her poor environment, preventing her from developing any proficiency with Mana, the newly arrived energy seemed to affect her more strongly.

“Tasha.”

“Ah…! I’m sorry, Baron! I suddenly felt a strange energy—”

Confused by the unfamiliar sensation, she looked up at me with an expression of utter bewilderment, as if worried she might have contracted some fatal disease.

Her face showed the same panic as when she was caught trying to steal my money.

“I heard that people in the slums call you a priestess. Now that you’ve awakened Divine Power, you’ve become a real priestess, haven’t you?”

“So this is Divine Power…”

“How does it feel to awaken Divine Power?”

“Hmm… I think the priests at the temple said Divine Power feels like a warm energy.”

Tasha took a moment to collect herself and gently closed her eyes.

Even though I hadn’t awakened Divine Power long ago myself, it wasn’t for nothing that I was called the Proxy.

‘It’s truly fascinating.’

Unlike with priests of other religions where I couldn’t sense anything at all.

I felt certain I could perceive everything about Tasha’s Divine Power—from its magnitude to how it flowed—if I wanted to.

As Tasha instinctively prodded at her Divine Power, she continued speaking.

“Rather than saying this power is warm, it feels incredibly solid and strong. Like what I’ve learned… um, it feels like something that allows you to rely on it and move forward?”

“You’re sharper than I expected.”

“Wait a moment, Baron. Does that mean this Divine Power—”

“Tasha, I think what you’re thinking is correct.”

“…!”

Tasha was so shocked her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

It’s a bit disappointing that her body didn’t burst with light when she awakened Divine Power, but this reaction makes up for it.

Tasha seemed to already understand that what she was learning from the scholars was by no means ordinary religious studies. Her reaction suggested she never imagined she would awaken Divine Power herself.

“If the temple finds out about this…!”

She clearly knew how uncooperative the temple could be toward unrecognized religions, or how they might raise their maces against those they deemed followers of false gods.

“Baron, what should I do…! If the temple discovers this, they might punish me as a seed of heresy!”

Rather than being excited about awakening Divine Power, she was worried about being hunted as a witch.

Perhaps due to her long life in the slums, she felt crisis awareness more readily than pure joy.

So, to make it easier for Tasha and me to work together in the future, I revealed one of my cards to her. After all, this was something that not only Sione but also Ainel and Siabel already knew well. Besides, Tasha, having awakened the same Divine Power, would eventually notice it even if I didn’t tell her.

“Tasha, calm down for a moment and give me your hand.”

“…My hand?”

Though anxious, Tasha eventually offered her hand.

I channeled Divine Power while holding her hand, and in response, Tasha stared at me with wide, surprised eyes.

「The role of seeker bestowed upon the first priestess resonates with you.」

「’Tasha’ has discerned your identity.」

Indeed, this wasn’t just any title but the grand title of Proxy.

Well, even I haven’t had any major conflicts with the temple, and I’ve received healing blessings from priests just fine. Without those, I would have died several times over.

And true to her sharp nature, she seemed to understand my intentions immediately. To reassure the now calm Tasha, I continued:

“Don’t worry about the temple. I’ll be your official guardian.”

“When you say you’ll be my guardian, Baron…”

“It means the baronial house will fully protect you from now on.”

When I said I would be her guardian, Tasha’s eyes began to sparkle intensely.

‘Guardian…!’

Being a guardian was no simple matter.

For Tasha, it meant I would become like a spiritual parent to her.

Unlike her unfortunate siblings, Tasha had received abundant love from her family in the past. She understood well the stability and devotion that parents provide.

Even after losing them to tragedy, she had continued to carry the sorrow of that loss.

‘…I was just a beggar who stole from others.’

Though she wouldn’t receive the Carpel surname as merely a ward, she would be treated almost like his daughter.

Faced with the unusual kindness and fortune that had been showered upon her, Tasha experienced a whirlwind of emotions, acceptance, and realizations in her mind.

Afterward, with a serene expression, she slowly spoke:

“…You must have sensed this ‘destiny’ from the moment you showed kindness to a little beggar girl from the back alleys, Baron?”

I responded with silence to Tasha’s suddenly changed demeanor.

Tasha was only drawn deeper into the fact that the man before her was both God’s Proxy and had volunteered to become her father.

Feeling that her late parents’ words—that continuing to give even in difficult times would someday be rewarded—were not wrong, and sensing that her current life was the final blessing they had left her:

“I think I know what I need to do from now on.”

Her sense of indebtedness to the Baron transformed into faith and respect.

Standing at the crossroads of whether her current judgment would lead to fanaticism or a path toward moderate belief and self-enlightenment,

Tasha suppressed her desire to call him father and spoke with a voice full of vigor:

“I’ll work hard to repay the kindness you’ve shown me, Baron!”

However, completely failing to notice the seed of fanaticism hidden in her voice, I simply replied:

“You’re already doing well enough. Just keep it up.”

* * *

“So it seems the Baron has decided to become my guardian.”

“Well, Tasha, you’re taking care of your siblings while helping tremendously with the estate. Our Ray must have taken a liking to you.”

“Hehe… I think I’m fortunate. All I knew how to do before was steal.”

“Change happens gradually. I used to… do nothing but read books in my room.”

While the Baron played with her siblings as promised,

Tasha, using the conversation about becoming her guardian as a pretext, arranged a separate meeting with Sione.

Since awakening her Divine Power, she could sense that special power from Sione too—very faint but peculiar. Captivated by Sione’s comforting energy, Tasha subtly guided the conversation:

“Ray said he’d be your guardian, right? Since it’s my husband’s decision… I was wondering if there’s anything I could help with. I should help a lot too.”

“…What do you mean?”

“You see, Tasha, you’re more deeply connected to our county than you think. So, I thought it would be good if I became your guardian too. Um… how would you feel about me becoming your guardian as well?”

“…!”

Having received a successful answer:

“I’d love that!”

Tasha beamed with happiness, having successfully accepted Sione as a mother figure.

* * *

“First Princess Adelheid, listen.”

“I am listening, Your Majesty.”

“Can you swear to our ancestors that what you just said is the absolute truth, without a single error?”

“Of course.”

At the Queen’s question, Adelheid curled her lips upward with confidence.

“Two knights of the Master who are setting an exemplary standard while fulfilling their vassal duties better than anyone else in the current generation of the kingdom.”

A recent letter had given her enough power to directly suppress Amelie.

“Baron Carpel and his wife have expressed their support for my opinion.”

As she bowed her head toward the Queen and glanced at Amelie’s expression:

“I only ask that Your Majesty consider and respect the wishes of these two loyal subjects in deciding on this delegation proposal.”

Amelie’s expression was frigid, as if she would have bitten her lips in frustration had they not been in the Queen’s presence.