Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 735

735. The Child Who Wants Attention and the Child Who Just Wants to Live

Rembrary found it troublesome. He was supposed to hide his exceptional abilities for at least three years, but now he was being asked to display his divine power.

How could he have imagined that the adult priests would secretly read a letter from someone as young as him?

It was annoying, but it was their fault, so he couldn’t dwell on it.

“Okay.”

At Rembrary’s agreement, some of the priests stepped back.

Richew also moved closer, but he glanced at the other priests, not Rembrary. Richew was still pondering the ‘bad priest’ accusation Rembrary had made in his letter.

Many priests dismissed it as a childish curse, but Richew was suspicious of Niran, who had brought the Inquisitor to the children’s quarters.

If Niran was the ‘bad priest’ targeting him, as Rembrary claimed, Richew wouldn’t be surprised if there were others like him.

“Wow!”

Richew was jolted from his thoughts by the priests’ sudden exclamation. He saw their shadows stretching out, cast by a bright light. Wondering what was happening, Richew turned and gasped at the sight of a radiant glow emanating from behind the young prince’s head.

“What in the world is that?!”

Someone voiced Richew’s exact thoughts.

The child, once rumored to be an ominous prince, was now bathed in pure white light, appearing more sacred than anyone else.

The light surrounding him was unlike the harsh glare of a lamp. It resembled the intense afterimage you see when you close your eyes after staring at the sun, but with a substantial, even sparkle mixed in.

It was a truly beautiful light, worthy of praise.

“Isn’t that a halo?!”

Someone exclaimed. Richew agreed; ‘halo’ seemed like the closest description. Though, its essence felt different from mere light.

“Is that enough?”

When Rembrary extinguished the halo, he finally noticed Heather, the supervisor, standing nearby.

Rembrary looked around, but no one answered.

“Amazing,” Heather managed to say, finally breaking the silence.

“Isn’t it?” The child beamed, clearly proud of the compliment.

“Such a beautiful halo.”

“It really sparkles.”

“I wonder if Lord Redrin’s halo would shine like that if he appeared!”

The priests began chattering excitedly.

“Maybe Rembrary, Priest Richew’s charge, is the one who demonstrated high-ranking divine power?”

“That’s right. Rembrary is with Priest Richew, isn’t he?”

Richew glanced at Niran, who was smiling.

‘I should keep a closer watch on him,’ Richew thought, turning his gaze back to Rembrary.

Immediately after, Niran’s gaze met Richew’s.

Rembrary looked back at Heather and asked, “Is it okay now?”

Heather nodded.

Rembrary surveyed the surrounding priests, feeling a surge of pride.

He had worried about disobeying his mother’s instructions, but seeing everyone so amazed made his heart flutter.

‘Lord Redrin, did you see that? Everyone thinks Rembrary is great. You must be watching this.’

“Rembrary.”

At Heather’s prompting, Richew quickly approached and took Rembrary’s hand.

“Good job. Our Rembrary is really great. Now, let’s go in and get some sleep.”

As Rembrary followed Richew down the hallway, he suddenly remembered something and asked, “What about the letter?”

“We’ll write it tomorrow. You need to sleep now. Sleep early and wake up early to grow taller.”

“No, Priest. You have to sleep early and wake up *late* to grow taller.”

‘Is that so?’ Richew was momentarily swayed by the seemingly logical statement, but then sighed.

‘When I talk to this kid, I always get swept away.’

* * *

Richew led Rembrary to his room, watched him get into bed and pull up the blanket, then returned to the conference room.

The priests who had gathered to witness Rembrary’s divine power had returned to their seats, and the atmosphere was much calmer than before.

“Please, sit down,” Heather said, acknowledging Richew. Richew walked to his seat and sat down.

The conversation, briefly interrupted by Richew’s arrival, resumed before he could even fully settle into his chair.

“It’s impressive to see such divine power at that age. I’ll admit that.”

Richew straightened his clothes and glanced diagonally ahead. Gaieger, the second-in-command of the Florandia Temple, was speaking with a peculiar tone.

“But doesn’t everyone know? There’s no need to get overly excited. How many children have shown early promise with divine power, only to plateau and be crushed by the pressure?

Why do you think we set the age limit at ten? It’s because of children like this.”

Gaieger paused to ensure he had everyone’s attention, then stated firmly, “All we can be certain of is that Rembrary has no connection to demons and that he will definitely become a regular priest since he already possesses divine power.”

It wasn’t exactly enthusiastic, but Richew nodded. Gaieger’s words were pragmatic, if a bit harsh.

Heather frowned but nodded in agreement.

Next, a brown-haired regular priest raised his hand and spoke.

“I don’t believe Rembrary is the child who demonstrated high-ranking divine power during the test.”

Heather inquired, “Why is that?”

The brown-haired priest shrugged and replied, “It’s a pretty ability, but ultimately useless and insignificant, isn’t it, Heather? What practical purpose does that divine power serve? Maybe for events or festivals.”

Some of the priests looked displeased, so the brown-haired priest added, “Well, the child is very handsome, so he could play a significant role in persuading heretics and promoting the temple with his looks and charm.”

The blond-haired priest nodded in agreement.

“I also doubt that child possesses high-ranking divine power. Heather, perhaps you’re simply fortunate that Priest Richew has several talented children under his care.

Maybe that child’s divine power combined with another child’s to produce a high-ranking result.”

The other regular priests exchanged quiet glances. Listening to the explanation, it seemed plausible. Prince Rembrary’s ability was dazzling and beautiful, but all it proved was that the child was blessed by Lord Redrin and had no demonic ties.

“I heard that a child just turning ten at the Lumena Temple demonstrated high-ranking divine power *alone* this time. *That’s* what it should be like.”

The expressions of those gathered darkened at the red-haired regular priest’s words.

They had all heard the news. The Lumena Temple was holding a grand festival in celebration.

The highest-ranking priest there, filling in for the absent High Priest, had rushed to the temple where the child was as soon as he heard the news.

Perhaps the position of Redrin, the most powerful god, would be challenged this time.

Ordinary people didn’t commit to one god. If an exceptional High Priest emerged, Redrin’s followers would quickly flock to that god.

As the atmosphere grew somber, Heather sighed and said, “Okay. The important thing is that our Rembrary has no connection to demons. Let’s report this to the Grand Temple quietly, without causing too much commotion.”

* * *

Rabsus was led by the disciplinary priest to a place where he met ‘the highest one.’ She was the tallest woman he had ever seen.

Her long, tied-up black hair nearly reached her ankles.

“You will be the best of the best.”

The highest-ranking priest of the Lumena Temple placed her hand on Rabsus’s shoulder and said.

“How dare I…”

Rabsus muttered, terrified.

Since taking the divine power test a month ago, people’s attitudes toward him had changed so drastically that it was overwhelming. And now, suddenly, the highest-ranking priest appeared and said such things.

“Straighten your shoulders.”

The highest-ranking priest ordered sternly. She pushed Rabsus’s shoulders back, forcing him to stand up straight.

When the child stood with his chin up, the highest-ranking priest nodded and patted his back.

“Always maintain this posture. You must have pride in yourself. You will be the youngest High Priest.”

Rabsus’s eyes widened. He had simply been trying to use divine power like everyone else. But the youngest High Priest?

“Will I become the youngest High Priest of Lumena? But I don’t have the capacity for that…”

“Not just Lumena. You will be the youngest High Priest in *all* temples, all temples of other gods.”

The highest-ranking priest forcibly straightened Rabsus’s shoulders, which were reflexively slumping again.

“Straighten your shoulders!”

“!”

“The High Priest is a noble person who represents God. If you become the youngest High Priest, Lumena’s position will be elevated accordingly.

But if you, who will represent Lumena, are so shrunken, what will Lumena become?”

Rabsus was on the verge of tears. He had only come here because he loved Lumena.

“I can’t represent Lumena. I’m not that great of a person. I won’t be able to become a High Priest.”

As Rabsus burst into tears, the highest-ranking priest unexpectedly knelt before him. Meeting the eyes of the towering figure, Rabsus’s eyes widened. He felt like he was going to faint.

“You can’t become a great person? That’s impossible. You are already a great person.”

“I am…”

“No one has shown such remarkable results at your age. You are already the one and only best.”

“!”

* * *

Rembrary was both worried and secretly excited about what would happen now that his greatness had been revealed.

‘Lord Redrin, Lord Redrin. Everyone has recognized my brilliance. It seems people as brilliant as me are naturally smart, even when they try to hide it!’

But the next day, after washing, eating, singing, and returning to the classroom, Rembrary realized that nothing had changed.

Well, almost nothing.

“Do you really have divine power?”

Instead of avoiding Rembrary as usual, the children in the class began asking questions, one or two at a time.

“I heard your head sparkles?”

In the past, the children avoided Rembrary as if they would be cursed if they got too close. But now, some were openly giving him curious glances.

“That’s right.”

A little disappointed, Rembrary answered the children politely and focused on rewriting his letter.

– It would be better to leave out the part about the bad priest and the Inquisitor. Rembrary, your parents might worry if they see it.

Following Richew’s advice from the previous day, he significantly revised the letter’s contents.

But it was while he was diligently moving his pen that…

“Rembrary.”

Someone approached his desk and called his name. He looked up to see Lydal standing there.

Lydal glanced at the letter Rembrary was writing, then smiled kindly and suggested, “I’ll help you write a letter to your parents. They’ll be relieved to know you have a friend.”

“I don’t want to.”

“!”