Chapter 80: Heretic? – 1

Chapter 80: Heretic? – 1

“Basically, we limit sales to one per person.”

“There was a limit?”

“It’s because so many people are looking for them, you know.”

“…I see?”

Saying that, she quickly and meticulously examined the potions I had made.

…The warmth that traveled up her hand was clearly His power, no doubt.

However, there was also a somewhat artificial feeling at the same time… which was a bit strange.

“Just one of each, please.”

“Ah, yes! Here you go!”

At her words, the employee next to the girl who seemed to be the owner quickly popped out and started packaging.

…She seemed like a quite devoted employee.

Of course, Claudia didn’t seem to think so.

“…By the way, how did that employee end up working here?”

“……It wasn’t intentional, but we officially signed a contract, so don’t worry.”

“Is that so? It’s just that there are so many cases of children walking on the streets being kidnapped and exploited, you know.”

That uniquely irritating voice.

…Normally, her voice, though low for a woman, was comfortable, but it was almost baffling how it could become so sharp.

However, one thing was certain: it was quite difficult to maintain composure while listening to that voice for a long time.

It was a voice that taught you what it meant to be annoyingly sarcastic.

Therefore, Claudia, having said that, quietly waited for the reaction of the girl standing before her.

Of course, judging by her distinctively colored eyes, which were still calm, it seemed this conversation would continue a bit longer…

“That’s not it! Boss-nim pays well, and she even gave me this potion for free to heal my sick mother!”

And that reaction came not from the shop owner, whom Claudia was glaring at fiercely… but from the employee next to her.

…The child’s expression was quite familiar.

It was the expression of those who had gained enlightenment, a new opportunity, or life through His grace.

For all she knew, this child seemed convinced that she had received a blessing from the girl before their eyes.

“I apologize. It seems I’ve become a bit sharp-edged from traveling such a long distance.”

“Huh…?”

“What are you doing, Claudia? You should apologize quickly. Oh, and I’ll buy two of these. One per person.”

“Alright. That’ll be 80 silver coins in total.”

…At those words, I momentarily doubted my ears.

‘Trace of God’ is by no means a cheap item. No, to begin with, even if you have a lot of money, the amount exported outside the Holy Kingdom is extremely small, making it difficult to obtain in the first place.

But, only 40 silver coins each?

Even the healing from a rookie cleric who just joined the church would cost more than that.

And, at the same time, a suspicion entered my mind.

‘…There was definitely a slight artificial feeling in this ‘Trace of God.’ So, could it be a fake…?’

It was a hypothesis close to impossible… but depending on who was behind that girl, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

Other gods, or beings equivalent to gods, could certainly create artificial ‘Trace of God.’

…Come to think of it, how did she even figure out how to make such a potion?

‘She doesn’t seem evil… Is she being used?’

The girl before our eyes was by no means evil.

She didn’t seem to be motivated by money, and judging by the employee’s reaction, she didn’t seem to be exploiting anyone.

There was a subtle sense of wariness towards us, but that feeling had largely disappeared now.

Most importantly… she felt distinctly different from other evil people.

Those who lead others’ fates to ruin and consume them for their own benefit inevitably give off such a feeling.

Whether it was a blessing from God or an innate ability, I didn’t know… but through it, I could filter out most evil people.

…However, for some reason, I also got that feeling from high-ranking clergy members, excluding the Archbishops, so it didn’t seem 100% accurate.

Anyway, in that sense, this girl didn’t give off any such feeling at all.

…Rather, she gave off a very unfamiliar yet warm feeling.

From someone who had sent another’s life to ruin, a sinister and gloomy feeling would emanate… but from her, there was a faint but opposite feeling of warmth and comfort.

However, the ‘Trace of God’ used as the raw material for this potion was by no means purely His power.

No, the more I looked, the more it seemed like an artificial creation, made by some being imitating His power.

…The chilling thing was that its performance was perfectly identical.

‘If so, did the being who created this fake ‘Trace of God’ impersonate ‘Him’? And this girl believes it’s real?’

It was a plausible assumption.

After all, a girl who seemed ordinary, apart from her distinctive hair and eye color and her uniquely cute and pretty appearance, couldn’t possibly have such abilities.

It was also strange for such a girl to make such a potion without any backing.

“Um, can I ask one thing before we pay?”

“…If it’s about the price being too cheap or whatever, then no. I have no intention of raising it. I think it’s quite reasonable.”

“No, it’s not that… The ingredients in these potions seem to be ‘Trace of God,’ and I was wondering where you obtained them.”

At those words, the girl, who had looked at me with a momentary surprise, nodded lightly and opened her mouth.

As if it were nothing, very casually.

“That’s right. I didn’t think you’d recognize it, you know. This is a stamina potion made using ‘Trace of God.’ As for the source of the ingredients, I have a regular supplier.”

“…A supplier, you say.”

“You wouldn’t ask me to tell you even that, would you? It’s a trade secret, you know.”

And with the girl’s answer, the suspicion grew stronger.

…But what kind of being would bother to impersonate Him and do such a thing?

‘…But apart from that, she’s very…’

Whether intentional or not, her tone and expressions had subtly changed compared to when we first entered.

Instead of a stiff expression, a cute and innocent one floated on her face.

Most of all, for some unknown reason, I felt a desire to protect and cherish her.

If I had to find a similar expression, it would probably be ‘enchanted.’

…The scary thing was that even after realizing it, those thoughts didn’t disappear.

Perhaps this was the girl’s primal charm and power.

‘…What on earth am I thinking, me…? Anyway, it seems I’ll have to seek wisdom from His Holiness the Pope regarding this matter.’

After tentatively reaching a conclusion, I left the shop with Claudia, who was observing the potion, which the girl called ‘potion,’ with sharp eyes.

Of course, I paid the price properly.

As I was about to leave the shop, the voice of the girl who sold the potions was heard from behind.

…In a voice similar yet different from before.

“Here, you’ve definitely received it, and I hope you’ll visit again, ‘Unnie’?”

“…Unnie?”

“I have a feeling we’ll see each other often. And being close to you gives me a warm feeling, making me wonder if this is what it’s like to have an older sister, you know.”

The girl’s eyes, as she said that, were quite mysterious.

It was a pure yet captivating feeling.

However, it wasn’t a violent emotion like love; it was just a natural attraction.

…There was magic in the world that forcibly made one fall in love, but this didn’t seem to be that kind either.

‘The atmosphere is similar yet subtly different.’

I also had the simultaneous feeling that if a fox demon that deliberately enchanted people became human, it would be like this.

A charm that makes you fall for it, even knowing it’s a demon.

Of course, comparing a malevolent demon to a human is rude in itself… but I did get that feeling when she emphasized ‘Unnie.’

‘…She subtly keeps lingering in my memory. Was it because I felt like I had to protect her?’

Just as people consider me, the Saintess, someone to be protected, I also consider people to be someone I must protect.

…However, since I am also human, there are naturally those whom I particularly want to protect more.

……The problem is that this ‘heretic’-presumed girl is falling into the category of those whom I particularly want to protect more.

I, who had been momentarily dazed, regained my senses after Claudia came out of the shop and spoke to me.

“Did you find anything out?”

“…I do have one thought.”

“Yeah, I thought so. You don’t show it on the outside, but you seem to be thinking quite deeply, don’t you?”

“…It’s going to be a long story, so I’ll tell you on the way.”

***

“…It seems to have worked well, doesn’t it?”

“It seems so? By the way, you’re quite the player, Boss-nim…”

“It’s, it’s my first time?! Doing something like this on purpose… And it’ll be the last!”

*Indeed, when you deliberately used your ‘Bewitching Fox’ trait a little at the end, the Saintess’s eyes looking at you did change a bit.*

…Well, anyway, it seems I managed to butter up the Saintess as planned. She didn’t seem to see me as evil or a heretic, at least.

In other words, most of the headaches caused by that damned Holy Kingdom were now gone.

……Though I had to suffer from shame as a result.

If I had met her as the Saintess, I could have treated her to various things and done actions that the Saintess character would like…

But she happened to come in disguise, so I couldn’t do that openly, and even if I had tried, she would have refused.

Therefore, I tried my best to make up for it with words and actions…

Since what the Saintess liked, surprisingly, was someone who seemed ‘in need of protection,’ I spoke a little more delicately than usual, but in the end, there was no reaction, so I borrowed some power from my trait.

……Only the lesson that I should never do such a thing again remained.

It was a day where I learned the lesson that I would absolutely never! deliberately borrow the power of my trait again.