Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 840

◈ 840. Aftermath

Ridal squeezed his eyes shut, focusing all his energy on the bowl.

He tried to recapture the sensation of channeling divine power, striving to purify the monster’s blood. “Just a little, a tiny bit… please!”

The priests, distressed, kept averting their eyes.

Ridal’s face was contorted, sweat beading on his forehead.

“There will be another chance in a few months,” the highest-ranking priest said, unable to watch any longer, and placed a hand on Ridal’s shoulder.

Ridal straightened up, tears welling as he looked at the highest-ranking priest.

The priests quietly slipped away, one by one.

Rembrary started to approach Ridal, but the secretary priest shook his head and pulled him away.

As he followed the priest out, the secretary priest quickly closed the door. Before it shut, Rembrary heard the sound of Ridal’s muffled crying.

* * *

‘Redrin, Redrin, can’t you take Ridal back?’

Rembrary, polishing a bell as big as his head, couldn’t contain himself any longer and asked Redrin.

Instead of an answer, the bell, which usually resonated beautifully, made a faint ‘ting’ sound.

‘Does that mean no?’

Again, the bell made a faint ‘ting’ sound.

‘Why not?’

Rembrary looked down at the bell, which appeared like any other ordinary bell used for prayers.

[That child has left me.]

This time, Redrin answered directly. Rembrary’s eyes widened, and he pressed his ear to the bell.

[I am not there.]

Rembrary looked up at the sky, his brow furrowed.

‘Redrin, you’re more inflexible than I thought.’

[This is a principle. I value principles.]

‘Who came up with that inflexible principle?’

[……]

Redrin nudged Lumena, who was doubled over with laughter, to the side and calmly tried to explain to Rembrary.

[Rembrary, this is a principle that applies to all gods. Even to you, whom I cherish.]

‘If I leave the temple, will you be upset with me too, Redrin?’

[Divine power is the power that priests wield. If you return to the secular world, of course, it must be withdrawn.]

‘Then what if I don’t go to the secular world but go to another temple? Like Lumena’s temple.’

Lumena, who had been listening quietly, quickly interjected.

[Then I’ll give it to you!]

[No matter how outstanding your qualities are, your divine power will disappear,] Redrin glared at Lumena, warning her silently so Rembrary wouldn’t hear.

[You’re being distracting. Go away and tend to your chickens.]

[If you’re distracted, I should stay here even more, shouldn’t I?]

[…….]

While Redrin and Lumena bickered, Rembrary pondered Redrin’s words.

On second thought, it made sense. He had become a priest after vowing to leave the secular world, and now he was considering breaking that vow.

If divine power remained even after repeatedly leaving and returning to the secular world, people might abandon the temple and return to the secular world, using divine power like magic to make money.

‘Thinking about it, I think you’re right, Redrin.’

Lumena clicked her tongue in disappointment when Rembrary readily agreed.

Redrin smiled contentedly.

Lumena slowly got up.

[I have to go. I need to take care of my children.]

‘But Redrin, Ridal is ten years old.’

Lumena sat back down.

[You said you were going to see your children?]

Redrin asked, annoyed, but Lumena stubbornly smiled.

‘Redrin, you must have made many choices when you were ten years old too, right?’

Rembrary patted the bell, tilting his head as if to ask if that wasn’t the case.

Lumena grinned and looked at Redrin with teasing eyes.

[Right?]

When Lumena mimicked Rembrary’s tone, Redrin’s angels hurriedly moved away.

[Rembrary, my kind child.]

Redrin ignored Lumena and called Rembrary affectionately.

[My child has a tender heart.]

‘Redrin, can’t you give Ridal another chance? Ridal said he was going to come back in a few years.’

[Just because he was thinking of coming back in a few years doesn’t negate the fact that he left the temple.]

‘Then you can’t give him a chance?’

[My child, aren’t you kind?]

Lumena bit her lip tightly as she watched Redrin trying to speak gently to the child.

‘Redrin, I’m a little angry right now. Let’s not talk for a while.’

[!]

Lumena couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Redrin was dumbfounded by the little human child’s announcement and let out a hollow laugh.

Seeing that expression, Lumena rolled around holding her stomach before finally calming down after a long time and taking her hands off her stomach.

[I’m glad you’re having fun.]

When Redrin smiled gently, Redrin’s angels distanced themselves even further.

Lumena also sensed the unusual atmosphere and managed her expression, saying, [The child is bold and cute. But Redrin, what are you so worried about? It’s just the words of a human child anyway.]

[……]

Redrin expressionlessly began to pick up clouds and move them to the side. Lumena stopped teasing and widened her eyes.

She should have just laughed it off like she would have. But Redrin seemed to be seriously contemplating it, which was even more perplexing.

[Redrin? You’re not seriously taking that human child’s words to heart, are you?]

[Of course not.]

Redrin belatedly answered and got up.

Lumena narrowed her eyes. Well, it didn’t seem that way.

* * *

The priest who had assigned Rembrary to clean the bell was speechless when he saw the bell returned covered in dirt.

“You… did you clean the bell, right?”

When the priest asked again, Rembrary held up the grimy rag.

“Of course.”

Then Rembrary noticed the highest-ranking priest passing by the office and entering the room, and he quickly ran towards him.

The priest was horrified and waved his hands, but Rembrary had already arrived in front of the highest-ranking priest.

“Your Eminence! I have something to ask!”

The highest-ranking priest went into the room and came back out, asking, “It’s Rembrary. Yes, what do you want to ask me?”

“Your Eminence, what happens if Ridal’s divine power doesn’t return?”

The highest-ranking priest gave a troubled smile.

Two days ago, Ridal had failed to demonstrate divine power and had not become a regular priest [a priest who has passed the initial trials and is officially recognized].

The highest-ranking priest and the other priests were all convinced that Ridal’s divine power would not return in the future.

But this was not something to say to the young Rembrary.

Rembrary considered Ridal a close friend, even going so far as to visit him and bring him back when he returned home.

“Well, maybe Ridal will live doing what he wants to do?”

“Then, Your Eminence, what happens if Ridal’s divine power returns?”

The highest-ranking priest smiled kindly. This question was easy to answer.

“It would be a good thing.”

And people would immediately whisper that Ridal was a candidate for high priest.

If Ridal, who had left the temple, received divine power from Redrin again, it would mean that Redrin’s affection for the child was that great.

“Is that all?”

Rembrary asked, disappointed.

“Is there anything else you need?”

The highest-ranking priest asked back in a warm voice.

“There is, but it’s not something Your Eminence can do.”

Rembrary shook his head and went outside.

* * *

“Did you hear? Only one novice priest became a regular priest in this exam. It was just Rembrary.”

“What? Really? How?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

“You mean Rembrary was the only one among the ten-year-olds?”

“No, Rembrary was the only one among all the novice priests.”

“Is that even possible…?”

The whispering voices swirled around him. Everyone was only talking about Rembrary.

Ridal had seen with his own eyes that he couldn’t use divine power, and he was so shocked that he couldn’t think straight.

Shamefully, tears had flowed from his eyes on the spot. The highest-ranking priest comforted him, but he couldn’t even remember what he had said.

Then he finally managed to calm down, but once he calmed down, this was all he heard from all directions.

It was a good thing and something to celebrate, but he couldn’t help but feel bitter. If he hadn’t left the temple… he could have rejoiced and shared the glory together.

* * *

The story that only one regular priest had emerged from the Redrin Temple this time also spread to other continents. The priests laughed as they talked about it.

Rabsus was also present while a priest who traveled frequently was telling the highest-ranking priest the story.

“It seems that the Redrin Temple has lost all its talent.”

Rabsus burst into laughter at the priest’s glib remark.

“Ah, there is another interpretation.”

“Another interpretation?”

“It is said that this happened because Redrin is too focused on the child who became a regular priest this time.”

The Lumena’s highest-ranking priest sneered coldly.

“That’s just an excuse. They have to hide that the temple is failing somehow.”

“That’s right. But since the other party is who they are, it seems that many people believe it.”

“Who became a regular priest?”

Rabsus’s hand, which was slicing grilled meat, stopped. Rabsus glanced at the highest-ranking priest.

The highest-ranking priest took a sip of wine and asked, “Rembrary?”

“I don’t know the name well. I think it was that name.”

“…….”

The highest-ranking priest frowned, and Rabsus also suddenly stopped eating, causing the priest who had told the story to become bewildered and ask, “Uh… what’s wrong? Did I make a mistake…?”

Rabsus started eating again, but his pace noticeably slowed down. His mouth felt dry, and he couldn’t taste anything.

He had slowly forgotten about that child while living apart, and now he didn’t even think about him anymore. Why did that name appear again?

“The Redrin Temple is also good at making a fuss. If that child is really favored by Redrin, he would have become a high priest right away, not a regular priest. Like our Rabsus.”

As the highest-ranking priest spoke coldly, Rabsus felt like a lump of meat was stuck in his throat.

“Ah, that’s not necessarily the case. In the Redrin Temple, there is an age limit for regular priests and an experience limit for high priests. You have to accumulate experience in various places for at least five years as a regular priest to be promoted to high priest.”

As the priest who had told the story left, Rabsus stealthily got up to follow.

“Rabsus.”

However, the highest-ranking priest called him first.

“Yes…?”

As Rabsus turned around listlessly, the highest-ranking priest put down his fork and said calmly, “Don’t be caught up.”

“!”

“You must become a high priest first. The youngest high priest.”

“There’s an age limit there. So he’ll be stuck there for a few years―”

“Redrin deliberately raised only that child to the position of regular priest. Do you know what I mean? He started openly pushing that child. It’s the same as declaring to everyone that he is his beloved child.”

“!”

This was the first time the highest-ranking priest had spoken so highly of Rembrary.

Hadn’t he always told him that he was below Rabsus and not to worry about him?

Rabsus was so nervous that he couldn’t breathe.

“You can’t let that child become incompetent. Then you have no choice but to be more outstanding. Go. Go and show that you are the real genius.”