Home/How to Survive in a Good Small Guild/ch 92

Chapter 92

I sprinted across the Temple.

My breath came in ragged gasps, and I tasted blood in my throat, but I didn't stop.

Eventually, the sound of Aria chasing me faded. Still, I didn't slow down—she might have other tricks up her sleeve.

I'd learned firsthand that Aria had the kindest face in the Temple but was more cunning than anyone.

Even if I took her hand and pretended not to know later, she might still scheme against me. Using items imbued with the High Priest's Miracle, perhaps...

I had to find someone who could protect me before Aria could act.

Reaching the Temple's entrance, I saw High Priests and mid-level priests gathered in conversation.

"We need to summon the High Priest..."

"But we don't know his purpose—it could be dangerous."

"No, then we'll go out ourselves."

"I'll go."

The High Priests seemed inclined to go out on behalf of the High Priest. Seraphine, Etienne, and Matthias were arguing over who would get the credit.

"Where's Aria?"

"I don't know~."

The three High Priests except Aria were all gathered.

My weakened knees nearly gave way, but I managed to reach them.

And without hesitation, I grabbed Seraphine's arm.

"Pant, gasp... H-High Priestess Seraphine."

"How dare you."

Seraphine's eyes filled with anger as she looked at me.

"Presumptuous."

She seemed about to rebuke me for touching her without permission, but my words came faster.

"Take my hand."

"What?"

"I've secured a successful subject."

Leaning close to her face, I whispered.

"The, gasp, successful subject of the experiment... I know it. I've secured it..."

At those words, Seraphine's expression immediately changed.

She glanced at Matthias beside her, then gestured to Etienne.

"I have someone to judge. Etienne, come with me."

"Reaally? Okay!"

Etienne answered in his usual lighthearted voice. Matthias looked at Seraphine.

"You're giving up?"

"Yes, you go."

At Seraphine's words, the corner of Matthias's mouth curled up.

"I'll handle the Crown Prince."

I was worried about Cedrian facing Matthias alone, but first I had to get through my own crisis.

Seraphine led me into an empty office and locked the door. Etienne, smiling as if amused by it all, called out to me.

"Wow, you're a mid-level priest in Aria's faction. Are you betraying her?"

"...Yes."

Looking up at the two High Priests, I answered.

"I need to survive. To do that, I have no choice..."

"What does that mean?"

"High Priestess Seraphine."

I called her name, trying to hide my tension.

"There's a successful subject. Someone who was subjected to the High Priest's ability experiment, exposed to it for a long time, and as a result, lost their memory and changed personality... but gained a perfect understanding of the scripture. Someone who follows the Prophet's will better than anyone."

"Hmm?"

Etienne tilted his head.

"High Priestess Aria found the successful subject first and reported it to the High Priest. He'll soon become a High Priest. Before Aria and the new High Priest become a complete faction, you need to compete over that High Priest."

What I'd chosen was to create competition so Aria wouldn't monopolize me.

Especially since the rivalry between Aria and Seraphine was always fierce—the more they fought over me, the harder it would be for anyone to fully control me.

"A new High Priest? I haven't heard anything from the High Priest about that."

"Wait, didn't he call a meeting for next week? He said he'd announce something new there!"

"That's right. If that's true..."

Seraphine's blue eyes and Etienne's sky-blue eyes fixed on me.

"So where is this successful subject?"

"...Here."

I met their gaze without flinching.

"The successful subject of the experiment—Odrette Lavendel. Right here."

"...Ha!"

For a moment, Seraphine let out a rare laugh.

It wasn't a laugh of disbelief, but one filled with exhilaration and joy.

"Yes, that explains it. Your actions were very strange. Both Aria's and your success!"

"......"

"If you're the successful subject, everything makes sense."

"Wow, that's true. No wonder you showed such an exceptional performance in the mid-level promotion exam!"

"So why are you telling us this?"

"...Because I need to be used too."

I spoke honestly about my situation.

"Let's use each other. You two need me, and I don't want to fall into Aria's hands. So I'm asking you to take me away from her."

"Even though you'll end up in our hands?"

"......"

"Growing your own power in the meantime to escape won't work. We've worked at the Temple for a long time, and someone like you who became a High Priest so abruptly will never surpass us."

"I know."

That was exactly why I didn't even think about competing with them on equal footing.

In a Temple where the four High Priests' factions were already fully established, I couldn't suddenly build power and stand as their equal.

If becoming a High Priest was an unavoidable fate, what I needed now was a brief moment to prepare countermeasures. For that, I'd rather...

"Compete over me. Don't let me fall into Aria's hands."

Speaking from my chaotic mind, Seraphine extended her hand.

"Fine, Odrette Lavendel. We'll say this was your doing first—as the successful subject."

"...Yes."

"I'll gladly keep Aria in check over you. But you should also be clear about one thing..."

Our gazes met in the air.

"You'll eventually end up under me. And if you try to stab me in the back, my Judgment may come for you."

"...Yes."

I took Seraphine's hand.

In the end, I'd chosen Seraphine over Aria.

While Seraphine fought with Aria over me, I had to find a way out in that gap.

"Great! Aria will boast that she reported to the High Priest, but now Odrette is closer to us anyway!"

Etienne giggled.

"Once you become a High Priest soon, let's do well together, Odrette?"

"Yes."

As I answered Etienne, I let out an internal sigh of relief.

At least I'd avoided being bound only to Aria.

Since I'd struck first before Aria could announce that I was the successful subject, now the remaining task was...

---

"Matthias, why did the Crown Prince come?"

"Nothing major."

I watched Seraphine and Matthias talk.

"He said he secured evidence of the Temple's slush funds and came to confront us. We just need to cut off a few loose ends. I don't know how it leaked."

"Just for that? We can issue a statement saying he tried to suppress a religious institution without grounds!"

Etienne said cheerfully.

'...I'd passed information about the slush funds after becoming a mid-level priest. But I'd kept it because it alone wouldn't be enough to strike the Temple.'

Yet the Crown Prince had come alone, knowing he couldn't attack the Temple—he must have had an urgent reason to do so. For example...

"Odrette, are you leaving?"

"Yes, I'll head out."

"Hmm, okay. Since Odrette will soon become special anyway... Don't worry about it, Matthias! Oh, did you hear? This time at the Temple entrance..."

Matthias looked at me with puzzled eyes, but Etienne bounced around in front of him, diverting his attention.

Taking that chance, I slipped out of the Temple.

I ran through the winding alleys in front of the Temple as if being chased, until a hand grabbed me.

"...Mr. Rian!"

Cedrian, hidden in an alley, looked at me with an urgent expression.

"Ms. Odrette..."

"Why did you come all of a sudden? Sacrificing the slush fund issue to come here..."

"You know why, Ms. Odrette."

His demeanor was different from ever before.

"You know there's only one reason I came here."

"......"

"Odrette Lavendel, I 'swore' to myself that I would protect you. I felt that oath was in danger of being broken, so I rushed here to save you."

At that moment, I felt a sense of dissonance.

Why had Cedrian made that oath for me? He'd shown no interest in the original heroine, yet for me...

"Please don't make me break the oath I made to myself, Ms. Odrette."

Cedrian's voice sounded almost desperate.

"I want you to stop being in danger..."

Back   Next