The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 132

Chapter 17. Fake: Butt Bully

The Saintess doesn’t want to go to the Holy Kingdom.

This was unexpected.

“Why?”

“Because… I secretly ran away from the Holy Kingdom.”

Merian’s explanation was as follows:

From a young age, she possessed immense divine power.

But she couldn’t control it.

The moment it was discovered that she was special, soldiers would come and take her away.

“Many sisters were dragged to the cathedral.”

Any young woman who could use even a little divine power was invariably taken.

Only a very few were released.

They were only released when they exhibited minimal divine power.

Girls who wielded above-average divine power never returned.

“Is it unknown what happened to the forcibly arrested women?”

“Yes. Once they’re taken, they disappear. We don’t talk about it among ourselves.”

Merian’s divine power was at a level that overflowed like a wave. She confessed that she had been hiding her entire life.

Then one day.

A problem occurred.

Merian’s best friend was seriously injured, so she used her divine power to heal her.

The problem was that the divine power she emitted during the healing process was incredibly sacred.

Neighbors who witnessed this began to whisper, and someone, eyeing the reward money, reported Merian to the cathedral.

“Oh dear.”

“Fortunately, with the help of an acquaintance, I escaped before the soldiers arrived.”

Having nowhere to stay, Merian cut her hair and dressed as a man.

Then, she hid in the crevices of a northbound carriage leaving the Holy Kingdom.

After much hardship, she arrived in Gallanah.

She still couldn’t relax.

There were agents of the Holy Kingdom even in foreign countries, and the moment she emitted divine power, priests or paladins could come looking for her.

Therefore, the only job she could choose was an adventurer, where she could earn money while hiding her identity.

I was dumbfounded to hear that she had registered and was making a meager living by doing odd jobs worth one point [a very low-paying task].

It was a pitiful life to hear about.

What sin did this girl commit?

“The Holy Kingdom has many problems.”

It’s even worse than the Empire or the Kingdom.

There were many trash nobles here who treated commoners and common people like toys or slaves.

The Hilton family was like that right away.

On the other hand, the Bellanus Holy Kingdom felt different. It seemed like the entire country was going crazy, not just individual territories.

But they can’t even revolt.

Because everything is ‘God’s’ will.

With that one phrase, illogicality becomes miraculous logic.

“Merian, have you ever seen the Saintess?”

“Are you talking about Replie?”

“Yes.”

“I saw her once from a distance.”

“What was she like?”

Merian’s face filled with fear when the story of Saintess Replie came up.

“That’s…”

“Tell me. I’m listening.”

“It’s blasphemous, so it’s difficult to say.”

“You still don’t know me. I don’t care if you curse Bellanus right now.”

“Don’t do that! Bellanus is a truly beautiful and warm person!”

Oh, right.

This girl was a Saintess.

I almost committed a rudeness.

“Anyway, I’m curious about Replie. What was your impression of the woman you saw?”

“That’s… that’s…”

“Tell me your honest feelings.”

After hesitating for a long time, Merian opened her mouth in a barely audible voice.

“She seemed… fake.”

“Really?”

“I don’t know either. That’s just how I felt. She wasn’t sacred at all. Rather, she was sinister.”

Merian is a Saintess certified by the system.

Just as a Druid’s senses are accurate in nature, her senses are the most reliable in this field.

“Was it similar to the Guardian of the Beast Forest?”

“No. I can’t express it exactly, but it’s worse.”

“In what way?”

“The smell she gives off… The stench from her was so bad that even the smell of poop would feel fragrant.”

Merian’s eyes welled up with tears.

“Am I bad? Bellanus always says it’s okay, but for some reason, I feel like I’m a bad person.”

Ordinary people can’t even talk to Bellanus like a friend.

Merian seems to need to realize how special she is.

After a long time, I persuaded Merian.

She barely realized that she was special.

She still denied the word Saintess.

“That can’t be.”

“The devil told you that you are a Saintess.”

“It’s just the whisper of an evil being.”

“I also think you are a Saintess.”

“That can never be.”

“Immense divine power flows through your body. It’s impossible unless you’re a Saintess.”

“I’m close to Bellanus, so she gave me some grace.”

“You can’t usually get that close, you know?”

Anyway, I succeeded in getting Merian to return to the Bellanus Holy Kingdom.

“Really? If I go with you, will you help the sisters who were taken to the cathedral?”

“Of course. You saw clearly how strong my power is in the Beast Forest. I will get them out of the cathedral.”

In fact, I can just ignore Merian.

My purpose is to search for and secure the Golden Branch.

Helping the Saintess is out of the question.

Still, I decided to help her.

The Druid’s intuition is shouting that I have to help her.

Besides, I had a debt to repay.

Didn’t the Saintess accuse me of being possessed by a demon at the last betrothal ceremony?

If I hadn’t been able to face Paladin Johann at that time, it would have been a bad ending.

I can’t stand being in debt, so I felt like I had to give her some payback to feel better.

* * *

Bellanus Holy Kingdom.

Immigration checkpoint.

In front of the huge gate, many people were standing in an orderly manner.

Everyone was hoping to enter the country.

Unlike the Empire or the Kingdom, no one was talking loudly.

The strict and rigid atmosphere was typical of the Holy Kingdom.

The person standing in front of the gate was a priest.

His bald spot was visible on his plump body as he waddled.

End-stage hair loss. There was no hope.

Perhaps that’s why he greeted immigration applicants with a scowl on his face.

“Praise Bellanus!”

“Praise Bellanus!”

“Brother, what brings you here?”

“I came to sell local specialties to the Holy Kingdom.”

The merchant, bowing 90 degrees, clasped his hands together and begged.

The priest’s lips twisted as he looked at the merchant.

‘What a bug [insignificant person].’

It’s the only moment he finds self-esteem as his pride falls out along with his hair.

“May I search the carriage?”

“Of course!”

The priest nodded.

Two soldiers in white armor went into the carriage and rummaged through the luggage.

The merchant seemed to have no thoughts.

He seemed to think he would pass the inspection, of course.

But the world doesn’t work that simply.

“What is this!?”

What the soldier brought out were tobacco leaves.

It was a leaf that could be used to grow tobacco, which is popular in the Calon Empire these days.

The merchant’s face turned pale in an instant at the unexpected appearance of tobacco leaves.

“What on earth is going on…”

“Haha! It’s truly regrettable. Didn’t you know that our Holy Kingdom strictly prohibits tobacco?”

“No! I’m just a peddler who came to sell tangerines. Why would tobacco leaves suddenly come out?”

“That’s something only Bellanus knows. Brother, you cannot enter the Holy Kingdom.”

The merchant fell to his knees.

“Please, just give me a break. There are ten baskets of tangerines. I worked hard all year round to farm them. If I can’t sell them to the Holy Kingdom, I have to go to the Empire, but they’ll all rot on the way.”

The priest, looking down at the teary-eyed merchant, had a sly smile on his face.

“This is troublesome.”

“Please, is there anything you can do?”

“Well… everyone makes mistakes. Bellanus always emphasizes forgiveness and tolerance.”

He subtly opens the way to live.

At the same time, he made a circle with his thumb and index finger on one hand [a gesture indicating money].

What it means is clear.

Only then did the merchant realize.

That there were no tobacco leaves in his carriage in the first place.

It was just that this mess happened because he didn’t pay the money he had to pay.

‘The priests who serve God are doing things that are so petty.’

The merchant, trembling, took out a pouch from his chest and handed it to the priest.

The priest snatched the pouch like lightning.

Even after that, he remained unmoved.

“Priest, why… I made a token of my sincerity, didn’t I?”

“Well, Bellanus is still hungry.”

“You’re such a robber!!”

“Hey, do you have time to argue with me like this? The tangerines will rot in the meantime.”

In the end, the merchant was allowed to enter the country after being extorted a large sum of money.

The merchant would barely make a profit even if he sold all the tangerines.

Still, it was a desperate measure to prevent even greater losses.

The priest’s tyranny continued after that.

Merchants were extorted huge sums of money, and even ordinary people had to bribe to get permission.

The priest, fiddling with his sparse hair, smiled as he looked at his bulging pockets.

‘This is the taste [feeling].’

Everyone bows down to him.

He felt pleasure inside.

He wanted to torment them even more.

He wanted to clearly imprint in the bugs’ heads how influential he was.

“Huh?”

This immigration applicant was a woman.

Female immigration applicants are rare in the Holy Kingdom.

Especially young people.

The priest’s eyes flickered with lust.

“Sister, what brings you here?”

“I want to go to the Holonium Grand Cathedral.”

Sometimes there are such devout believers.

Cases where Bellanus believers living abroad come for pilgrimage.

It was a case that the priest liked very much.

“Sister, the Holy Land is not allowed to just anyone. It is only possible for those who Bellanus has allowed.”

“The church I attended said that anyone can face Bellanus in Holonium.”

“You’re mistaken. It is a blessing granted only to those who truly yearn for God. Sister, please go back.”

“I walked all the way here for a year. It’s too sad to go back without even meeting Bellanus.”

She took the bait.

The priest’s lips twisted again.

“Originally, it’s not allowed, but since your situation is so pitiful, I’ll make a special exception if I receive a small price.”

The priest’s dirty fingers wriggled and approached the woman’s body.

Only then did the woman realize what the priest wanted and was shocked.

“How can a priest who serves God do this!?”

“Go back if you don’t like it.”

The woman trembled with shame.

If she can’t even make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, she will have wasted two years of round trip.

In the end, she stood still.

“Hehehe, you should have done that from the start.”

The priest’s ugly hand got closer to the woman.

Just before his fingertips touched her buttocks.

A hand that flew in from somewhere grabbed the priest’s wrist.

“Huh?”

A shadow fell on the priest’s face.

He raised his head and jumped in surprise.

A tall man with a beard and dark skin was smiling brightly in front of him.

It was Henon disguised as Khan.

Henon exuded an intangible aura, and just facing him made him breathless and weak in the knees.

“If you’re going to touch someone, touch mine.”

The priest’s hand was forcibly directed towards the man’s butt.

“No! I don’t want to!”

“It’s okay. Mine is softer than you think.”

A butt filled with muscles.

It was terribly hard.

The priest wanted to go home and wash his hands right away.

Of course, the first thing to do is to deal with the crazy thug who suddenly broke in.

“Who are you! Who are you to dare to commit such rudeness in Bellanus’s territory?”

“Just an ordinary adventurer.”

“Adventurer?”

Sparks flew from the priest’s eyes.

The nonsense he just committed was something that even a noble could not fix.

If he’s a wandering adventurer, no one will care even if he’s killed without anyone knowing.

Before that, just check the grade just in case.

“The Holy Kingdom can only enter adventurers with a Gold grade pass or higher. Are you a Gold grade adventurer?”

“I’m not.”

From Platinum, it becomes a little troublesome.

Because they have considerable skills.

Still, it’s okay.

The paladins standing behind him are enough to solve it.

“Are you a Platinum grade adventurer?”

“No.”

The mysterious adventurer shakes his head.

At this point, the priest became a little uneasy.

From Diamond grade, they are tremendous experts, and instructions have been issued separately from the headquarters of the Order to treat them with respect.

“Could it be… are you Diamond…?”

Please no. Please no.

“No.”

The priest’s face lit up.

He’s not Gold, Platinum, or Diamond.

Then it’s either Bronze or Silver.

In other words, it means he’s just a show-off with a flashy appearance.

He felt like he wouldn’t be relieved until he broke his limbs and saw him kneeling and begging.

“Catch that guy and make him kneel in front of me.”

Two paladins and ten soldiers standing behind him rushed at him.

The priest fiddled with his mustache.

Before long, that guy will be begging for mercy with tears and snot.

That’s what he believed.

Before the knights and a dozen soldiers couldn’t last even a minute and all collapsed.

“What!”

He couldn’t even see what happened. He opened and closed his eyes for a moment, and the situation was over.

Henon, who had already arrived right in front of him.

The frightened priest screamed as he stepped back.

“You crossed the line. Bellanus will never forgive you… Keheok!!”

The priest, grabbed by the collar, floated into the air.

Only then did the priest look properly at the eyes of the rampaging adventurer for the first time.

His eyes were full of crazy madness.

That guy had no intention of stopping.

“How dare you… a Bronze Silver grade adventurer… you’re dead now. The paladins will not forgive you.”

“It’s been strange since a while ago, why are you calling me Bronze Silver?”

“You said you’re not Gold, Platinum, or Diamond. Then what else would there be besides Bronze Silver?”

“You have a very simple way of thinking.”

The man took out a grade pass from his pocket.

The color of the grade pass with the engraved emblem was purple.

It was a color of seal that the priest had never seen before while his hair was growing and falling out.

But he knew it from rumors.

What that grade pass meant.

He just couldn’t believe it.

“Could it be… Orichalcon [The highest adventurer rank]…”

“I’m curious. Will the Holy Kingdom favor an ordinary priest who just guards the immigration checkpoint, or will they favor an Orichalcon adventurer, one of the few on the continent? Let’s test it out.”

“I, I was wrong!”

“It’s already too late.”

A feast of overwhelming violence.

His vision flashed and a dizzying pain washed over him.

Only then did the priest realize that he had messed with the wrong person.