Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 863

◈ 863. A Story I Hear for the First Time

Rembrary turned his head and frowned. The highest priest of Iira was kneeling on the floor.

Under everyone’s surprised gaze, he shouted.

“It’s me!”

No one spoke.

“What are you saying!”

Mary, pale as a sheet, hurriedly bent down to help the highest priest.

“I’m sorry, High Priestess.”

However, the highest priest resisted her help.

“Get up. Quickly.”

No matter how much Mary pulled, the highest priest remained kneeling, head bowed.

Mors, frowning, slowly walked towards him.

“It’s hard to believe you when you suddenly say it’s you.”

Despite his words, he grabbed the highest priest of Iira’s chin roughly and lifted it.

“Speak clearly, so I can understand.”

The highest priest’s lips trembled. Tears streamed down his cheeks.

“I… I was wrong, Mary. I committed a foolish act. It’s all my fault.”

“Just saying you’re sorry isn’t enough.”

Mors frowned. But before he could press the highest priest further, a thud sounded.

The High Priestess of Iira completely lost consciousness, hitting her head on the marble floor and collapsing.

“Mary!”

Mors let go of the highest priest and held her.

“Rembrary!”

Mors, seeing the blood flowing from Mary’s forehead, shouted to Rembrary.

As Rembrary approached and placed his hand on her forehead, Mary’s sunken forehead returned to normal, and the bleeding stopped.

At the same time, the smell of blood wafted from the side.

The highest priest of Iira was collapsing, spitting blood. He had attempted suicide.

Rembrary approached him and placed his hand on the highest priest’s neck.

The highest priest of Iira spat out more blood, his eyes clearing, and then he looked at Rembrary with resentful eyes.

“If you really joined hands with the demons…”

Mors, leaving the recovering High Priestess of Iira, grabbed the highest priest by the collar.

“Don’t even think about dying easily.”

* * *

Rembrary didn’t know what happened to the highest priest of Iira afterward.

“It’s not something for a child to see. Go back.”

Mors pushed Rembrary away, sending him back to his room.

“I’m not a child anymore.”

Rembrary retorted, but it was no use.

Two days later, Rembrary was eating a special meal from the Iira Temple in the dining hall.

“Rembrary.”

Mors approached.

“What happened? Did that person really join hands with the demons?”

Rembrary put down his fork and quickly asked.

As soon as he asked, sharp gazes came from all directions.

Mors clicked his tongue as Rembrary just stared blankly.

“I’ll tell you outside.”

“Then, will you wait for me while I finish eating?”

“No.”

Mors turned and strode away, so Rembrary reluctantly put down his fork and followed.

Only after they were away from the Iira priests did Mors speak.

“The highest priest of Iira was indeed a traitor.”

“Was there no one else below him involved?”

“You mean the high priest who supposedly worked with your paladin?”

Rembrary quickly nodded. Mors shook his head.

“No, there’s no confirmation of that yet.”

“Could it be they aren’t saying it?”

“Maybe. If so, they’ll say it later. The interrogation is still ongoing. The Lumena Temple said they’d send their best Inquisitor, too.”

“Why would they do that?”

“He claimed he didn’t know things would get this big.”

Rembrary looked disbelieving. Helping summon the Demon King and saying ‘he didn’t know things would get this big’—even someone who rose to the position of highest priest.

“That’s a lie.”

“Probably. But he’ll reveal his real purpose soon.”

“Can’t I interrogate him?”

“Uh, maybe in about ten years.”

Mors said nonchalantly and checked his watch.

“Why the watch? Are you going to tell me how many hours are left until ten years?”

“You calculate it. I’m going back to the Kamuel Temple now. I can’t leave our believers for too long. Anyway, four Demon King summoning passages have already been completed, and monsters are constantly appearing. What about you?”

Since even the Iira Temple wouldn’t entrust him with the interrogation of the highest priest, Rembrary also left the Iira Temple when Mors did.

Unexpectedly, the High Priestess of Iira followed them out to see them off.

Perhaps due to the shock of her closest aide’s betrayal, it seemed like half of her soul had disappeared in just a few days.

“See you later.”

Before getting on his horse, Mors hugged the High Priestess of Iira tightly and whispered something in a voice only they could hear.

Afterward, the Redrin paladins and the Kamuel paladins traveled together to the crossroads, where they said goodbye again.

* * *

Mary couldn’t sleep properly.

When she thought about what the people of this world would experience in a few years, when she thought about the highest priest suffering alone while carrying everyone’s secrets, she couldn’t breathe.

If she fell asleep, she was tormented by endless nightmares.

[That child’s sacrifice will not be in vain.]

Iira’s comfort wasn’t helpful. It was the first time since she became a priestess.

[Do not grieve, my child.]

“I don’t believe this is right, Iira.”

[What are you afraid of? Even if the world changes, all my children will be safe. Our world does not change. Only the surroundings change.]

* * *

After a long journey, Rembrary and his group returned to the Redrin Temple in the Southern Continent.

The highest priest and the secretary priests clicked their tongues as they received reports from Rembrary, Kentry, and Ridal.

After the report, the highest priest looked at the children and praised them.

“You all have really suffered a lot this time.”

The secretary priest shook his head.

“It’s amazing. I heard the High Priest of Kamuel was violent, but I thought the High Priestess of Iira was the complete opposite.”

Kentry quickly interjected.

“The High Priestess of Iira can’t know all the priests under her.”

The highest priest nodded.

“That’s right. We’ve had spies enter our temple, black magicians invade, and all sorts of things happen. The Iira priests must be having the hardest time right now, so we shouldn’t mock them because of this.”

“You are right.”

The secretary priest readily admitted and closed his mouth.

The atmosphere became dark for a moment.

The priests were swept up in a strange, difficult emotion.

Only after Ridal’s stomach rumbled did the highest priest suddenly come to his senses and pat the children’s shoulders.

“Go and get some rest. You can be lazy for three or four days.”

* * *

As soon as Rembrary washed up and lay down, he asked Redrin.

‘Redrin, do you think this incident was solely the work of the highest priest of Iira?’

[I should go visit Iira.]

‘Do gods visit each other too?’

[Sometimes. But I don’t have much interaction with Iira.]

‘What about Kamuel?’

[More than Iira.]

Rembrary stared blankly at the ceiling and whispered.

‘Will I ever be able to see you, Redrin? I want to see you too.’

Redrin chuckled softly.

[Of course, my child. I will wait for the day I see you again.]

Rembrary closed his eyes, listening to Redrin’s voice. In his dream, Rembrary smelled a strong rose scent and heard boisterous laughter.

Inside a large castle, Rembrary ran through the corridors, looking for someone. It was probably Redrin.

* * *

The next day, Rembrary rolled around in bed, half asleep, until almost lunchtime.

Then he suddenly sat up, surprised.

‘Redrin! I missed a meal. I shouldn’t have!’

Rembrary quickly washed up and went to the dining hall.

As he received a generous portion of meat for lunch and sat down, a passing priest smiled and asked.

“Why are you eating separately from Ridal today?”

Rembrary, who was cutting the meat, realized why he had overslept.

Come to think of it, why didn’t Ridal wake him up?

Rembrary thought it was strange for a moment, but soon concluded it wasn’t.

Until now, Ridal had only woken Rembrary up to have meals together. There was no reason to wake him up.

Even before, if he was busy, Ridal often ate alone.

So, it wasn’t strange that he didn’t wake him up.

However, after a week passed and it became difficult to see Ridal, Rembrary began to think something was strange.

“Kentry, Kentry.”

Rembrary called out to Kentry, who was passing by with a watering can.

“Have you seen Ridal?”

“Ridal? I see him almost every day. Why?”

“I haven’t seen him since the day after we got back.”

Kentry tilted his head, saying, “Really?” nonchalantly.

“Isn’t he busy? He’s always working hard at something. Since the day after he came back, he’s been meeting with the secretary priests and talking about something.”

“Really?”

Rembrary tilted his head and went to the highest priest.

A few more days passed.

However, Rembrary still couldn’t meet Ridal.

Even when meeting the secretary priest or the highest priest, Rembrary’s schedule subtly didn’t overlap with Ridal’s.

“Uh… did you guys fight or something?”

This time, even Kentry asked with a sullen face.

Rembrary went to Ridal’s room.

“What’s wrong?”

However, Ridal, whom he finally met, asked in a friendly voice as if nothing had happened.

“It’s been hard to see you. I was curious, so I came.”

As Rembrary spoke honestly, Ridal smiled happily.

“I’ve been busy.”

Rembrary nodded and went to his room. If he’s busy, I shouldn’t disturb him.

Even after that, there was no chance to see Ridal for a while, but Rembrary just thought Ridal was busy.

Then one day, the secretary priest said something strange to Rembrary.

“You’ve been with Ridal since the Florandia Temple, right?”

“Yes. Except when I went on a trip.”

“Then this is the first time you’re growing apart, right? That’s too bad.”

Rembrary, who was marking the areas with many monster appearances on the map, raised his head.

“Growing apart?”

Rembrary asked with a bright expression.

“Can I be an Inquisitor now?”

“Huh?”

The secretary priest looked at him, not understanding.

“What are you talking about?”

“Isn’t that what you were talking about?”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t it?”

“No, I was talking about Ridal moving to another temple. He’s going quite far. He’s going to the Western Continent.”

Rembrary stared blankly at the secretary priest.

The secretary priest’s eyes widened.

“Didn’t you know?”

Rembrary shook his head.

“I’m hearing it for the first time. When was it decided?”

“Not long ago. Yesterday.”

Rembrary looked at the map. His gaze turned to the Western Continent. It was quite far.

“I’m hearing it for the first time. He didn’t tell me.”