Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 761

761. It’s Not Like I’m Playing Alone

The highest-ranking priestess of Lumena tore up the letter she had completed about two-thirds of the way.

The finely shredded pieces of the letter all fell into the small trash can placed on the desk.

“Why are you doing that?”

The secretary priest, who was attending to her side, asked, puzzled.

“You said you had something to tell High Priest Redrin, didn’t you?”

“I did.”

The highest-ranking priestess of Lumena’s gaze reflexively turned to her side.

The great wound that had brought her to the brink of death no longer remained, not even as a slight pain.

“I’ve changed my mind.”

The highest-ranking priestess of Lumena pressed the ink from the feather pen onto a cloth to wipe it off, and then stood up.

After confirming that the large wound had healed without a single scar, she pondered and pondered.

After days of contemplation, the highest-ranking priestess of Lumena suspected the young apprentice priest Rembrary.

When healing the wound, that apprentice priest had directed light with divine power and prayed for her.

The highest-ranking priestess of Lumena did not know which of these actions had produced this result.

Perhaps it was not that child but someone else who had healed her. Nothing was certain.

Still, the highest-ranking priestess of Lumena had been trying to tell High Priest Redrin that Rembrary might have healed her.

If they had known about the child’s talent at the Redrin Temple, they would have called the child immediately without calling a doctor.

The fact that they hadn’t meant that they didn’t know about the child’s ability either.

Such powerful healing ability. The child might be a genius.

But after writing almost the entire letter, she changed her mind.

If the child really had healing abilities, that child would be the most noticed.

Not only the priests but everyone in the world would pay attention to that child.

Rumors that had briefly circulated when the child was young, and were already dying down, would naturally be regarded as baseless rumors to slander the child.

But in the process, Rapsus, who had the qualifications to become the youngest high priest, might be overshadowed by that child’s name.

‘If they recognize the child’s talent on their own, there is nothing we can do about it here.’ she thought. ‘But if not, wouldn’t it be okay to tell them this news after Rapsus becomes the youngest high priest?’

* * *

“You want to become a holy knight, not an apprentice priest?”

At that moment. Young Ardor visited the nearby Lumena Temple with his parents.

The priest wore a troubled expression.

“Why, is there a problem?” the father asked worriedly.

After promising to send him to the temple, Ardor had been running around like a crazy colt even in the middle of the night, excited.

If he couldn’t go to the temple, the child would be deeply heartbroken as much as he had been excited.

“There are no qualifications required to become an apprentice priest. Most often they come when they are young, but even the elderly can become apprentice priests.”

“Then why are you doing this…”

“That’s the thing about apprentice priests. To become a holy knight, you have to take a test.”

“Yes?!”

The father and mother jumped as if they had heard that Ardor was going to be kicked out.

The priest smiled and waved his hand.

“It’s not that difficult of a test. It’s okay if you only know the basics. After all, holy knights are a military group.”

Anyone could become an apprentice priest, but to become a regular priest, you needed at least a little divine power.

On the other hand, not everyone could become an apprentice holy knight, but once you got in, you could become a holy knight even if you didn’t have divine power.

Since holy knights were the ones who protected the priests and the temple, martial arts skills were prioritized over divine power.

“Do you just want to be a priest?” the mother asked worriedly.

“No! I don’t want to!” Ardor answered excitedly.

The father was worried that Ardor might not know what a test was.

“The date for the apprentice holy knight test is coming up soon… Shall I tell you the location?” the priest asked.

Ardor’s parents looked at their jumping son with concern and answered.

“Yes, thank you.”

* * *

There was no child under Rishue who didn’t know that Lydal had started avoiding Rembrary.

Rishue was concerned that Lydal might be hurt if Lydal’s popularity shifted to Rembrary because of this.

However, the children who followed Lydal hated Rembrary even more.

What those children liked was the dignified and kind Lydal, not the Lydal who was better than others.

The children liked Lydal, not someone with great divine power, and they thought Lydal was even more amazing because Lydal’s divine power was great.

The children who followed Lydal did not believe the rumor that ‘Lydal might not have high priest-level divine power’.

They didn’t believe the rumor that ‘Rembrary might be the one with high priest-level divine power’ even more.

“If Lydal doesn’t have much divine power and Rembrary has a lot, it’s all Rembrary’s fault.”

“Rembrary is bullying Lydal, so Lydal is having a hard time and his divine power is decreasing.”

“Lydal’s divine power decreased, so Rembrary got stronger. I heard the adult priests talking.”

“Rembrary keeps bullying Lydal, so Lydal had no choice but to give him his divine power. I think I heard that too.”

“But it’s not like Lydal doesn’t have high priest-level abilities. Lydal didn’t even participate that day.”

The children gathered together and whispered.

The children were convinced that if Lydal’s skills decreased and Rembrary’s skills increased, it would all be Rembrary’s fault.

Rembrary didn’t care what the children were whispering.

Rembrary could just sit on the stairs alone during breaks and look at the sky as before.

Lydal no longer came to play cards, but that was a very minor thing in life.

‘Redrin. Can I only use the feather when looking for monsters? You always just give and don’t explain, so I’m really frustrated. But it’s okay. You listen to everything I say. You like Rembrary the best, right?’

Rembrary had no time to be bored just talking to Redrin.

Redrin didn’t speak directly, but he answered in his own way when Rembrary told all sorts of stories.

Today, as if answering Rembrary’s words, the sunlight flickered strangely more than once.

‘I like you the best too, Redrin!’

Rembrary looked up at the sky and smiled happily.

[That child is getting used to playing alone.] Lumena clicked her tongue as she watched the scene with Redrin.

[I am here.] Redrin said, but Lumena did not agree.

[What good is it if the same humans are not with him?]

Kentry left the children playing ball alone to get a drink of water.

But before going to the cafeteria, Kentry found Rembrary and stopped.

Kentry hid behind a pillar and looked at Rembrary.

Rembrary was resting his hands on his knees and staring blankly at the sky.

Kentry hesitated for a moment whether to talk to Rembrary.

Then Kentry found another child staring down at Rembrary from the second-floor veranda.

It wasn’t an apprentice priest in the same class. As if sensing the gaze, the child immediately turned his head and went inside.

‘What?’

When Kentry looked back at Rembrary, Rembrary had already disappeared.

Kentry shook his head and went to the cafeteria to get a drink of water.

* * *

“Rembrary. Rembrary!”

It was after finishing the day, taking a shower, and taking a walk before going to bed.

When Rembrary turned around, he saw a boy who looked two or three years older than him standing there. He was also wearing an apprentice priest uniform.

“Who are you?”

When Rembrary asked, the boy approached and introduced himself.

“I’m Wider.”

“I’m Rembrary.”

When Rembrary answered, the child smiled brightly and shook his head.

“I know. I called your name.”

“But why?”

“I heard you defeat monsters and might have very high divine power?”

The child, who identified himself as Wider, asked with a gentle smile and took out a candy from his pocket and held it out.

“What is it?”

“I’ll give this to you.”

Rembrary took the candy and unwrapped it. The candy tasted very sweet.

“It tastes like apple.”

When Rembrary shouted excitedly, Wider laughed along.

“I’m also from Libulen. I’m really proud that you’re doing so well here.”

“Me too.”

“Let’s play together when you’re bored. I heard the kids in your class only care about that carrot-like kid and bully you for no reason?”

Rembrary didn’t immediately understand who the carrot was. And Rembrary had never been bullied by children.

“No one is bullying me?”

When Rembrary asked, Wider said in an angry voice.

“That Lydal or whatever is treating you like a ghost. I saw you alone in the playground. Sorry. I was on the second floor at the time, so I could see the playground at a glance.”

“I wasn’t bullied. I’m having a good time. It’s just that I don’t have anyone to play cards with. But Redrin said he would learn to play cards and play with me.”

Rembrary told the truth, but Wider didn’t seem to believe it.

“Let’s play ball together. I’m in Priest Rose’s class.”

“Rembrary!” Rishue’s voice calling Rembrary was heard.

When Rembrary turned around, Rishue was only sticking his head out into the hallway.

“It’s time to sleep!” Rishue shouted again.

“I’m going.” Rembrary waved to Wider and quickly ran to Rishue.

* * *

The next day. Rembrary received the playing cards that his sister had sent by mail.

The toy he had received before was prohibited from being brought in, but the cards seemed to be allowed.

When the children were playing in the playground, Rembrary walked to the stairs where he was always alone and spread out the cards.

The cards were all plated with pure gold, so they shone brightly.

‘Redrin. I brought the cards. You’ll play with me, right? I’ll explain the rules to you.’

Rembrary laid out the cards and diligently explained the rules to Redrin.

‘You do this like this, memorize it like this, and if you flip it over like this, it becomes like this… or not? Then you do it like this… you do it like this. Do you understand?’

Lumena and Redrin poked their heads out and tried their best to interpret Rembrary’s explanation.

[Do you understand?] When Lumena asked, Redrin shook his head.

Rembrary finished the difficult explanation and asked proudly.

‘Redrin. Do you understand? You’re so smart, you’ll understand everything after listening to the explanation once, right?’

Lumena clicked her tongue and patted Redrin on the back.

[Smart Redrin. Quickly interpret those rules and tell them to me, who is less smart.]

Redrin was nibbling on the clouds when he threw them at the highest-ranking priestess of Lumena.

When a downpour fell on the head of the highest-ranking priestess of Lumena while she was giving a speech, Lumena became angry and hit Redrin on the back.

[What are you doing!]

[I sprinkled water so that your child’s personality would grow.]

[Develop your own personality! Who is talking about whose personality!]

The two gods were bickering among themselves and forgot that Rembrary had flipped over the cards and was waiting for Redrin’s turn.

Rembrary was flustered when no signal came when Redrin had to match the cards and looked up at the sky.

At that time. A hand with long, beautiful fingers appeared and flipped over a card.

Rembrary looked up.