How to Replace Dad 67
The high priest’s face twisted into a mask of pure fury.
*How dare he mock me with such childish tricks.*
I won’t stand for this.
“Open the doors.”
The senior priests hurried to comply, swinging them wide.
The high priest strode forward with purposeful steps, eyes locked on the intruders.
He would break their necks the instant they stepped inside.
That was his plan—until…
“Ah, I have been rewarded for my faith!”
“I want to show my friends who thought I was insane. Our saint…!”
“I’ve believed the high priest’s teachings for five years and joined the Dawn Church. I have faced the proof of divinity. Thank you. Thank you.”
The high priest and his senior priests froze in shock.
*What, what is this?*
*Why are the believers gathered together…!*
The saint—meaning Yustea—was surrounded by a dense crowd of believers.
The corridor had become so packed it felt ready to burst.
Yustea smiled brightly, holding the hand of a tiny old woman who was also grinning beside her.
“Grandma Mary has been in the church for a very long time, right? She introduced me to all of you.”
“Because the saint has proven her sanctity.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Thanks to the saint’s healing, I have no more worries.”
Why so cheerful.
Where are we that we should be cheerful.
The high priest was on the verge of suffocating from rage.
But with so many believers watching, he couldn’t attack casually.
Even trying to bring in soldiers was impossible.
The believers had formed a line in the corridor, so soldiers couldn’t enter.
*So the goal was to create a wall of humans.*
The high priest’s blood boiled, but he had no choice.
He couldn’t kill the saint in front of the believers.
The high priest gritted his teeth and nodded.
The high priests standing at the door stepped aside.
It meant to come in.
Yustea entered with only the Irregulars.
The moment she stepped inside, the high priest said coldly.
“Let’s hear what good news you’ve come to bring.”
Yustea walked briskly toward the high priest.
*Yeah. If I can recruit the saint, maybe I can turn the situation around.*
Is there anyone in the world who doesn’t like money?
What else can the Dawn Church do that Teresa Church can’t?
For a saint, the strict rules of Teresa Church might be better than the Dawn Church that makes all the money.
I’ll give them money.
Of course, the other side will have to play the role of advertising by receiving it.
The high priest smiled thinly.
“It seems like a deep conversation…”
As he was about to say, he stopped.
Yustea passed him and went toward another place.
In front of the high priest.
“Do you like tiramisu?”
“I’ve never tried it.”
“It’s a type of cake.”
“There are many kinds of cakes? You always give me the same thing.”
The high priest’s gaze turned to the high priest.
The high priest who had flinched regained his composure.
*This isn’t the time for that.*
“If we’re talking about conversation, you should talk to me.”
Yustea said while unwrapping the cake packaging.
“Why me when there’s a high priest?”
“How rude!”
“You gave me face in front of the believers. Isn’t this too much?”
“What…!”
“To someone like you.”
Yustea’s gaze, glancing at the high priest, was icy.
Just looking at it sent a chill down the spine.
The high priest’s face hardened.
*Is this really a fifteen-year-old girl?*
It was a strange oppressive feeling that tightened the throat.
There was something indescribable about that girl.
The high priest said with a pale face.
“I am the one who created this Dawn Church.”
“You’re the high priest. People gathered here believing in the high priest’s power as a miracle?”
“The high priest is also me…!”
The high priest’s voice rose.
The high priests hurriedly looked at the door and signaled.
Meaning that voices were leaking to the outside people.
The high priest gritted his teeth.
*That lowly bastard.*
As long as the believers are outside, he couldn’t do any harm.
Even shouting.
* * *
I handed a fork to Abel.
“I don’t know if it’s made in a hurry. It was fine for my mouth.”
“…”
Abel stared at the tiramisu.
Just as his hand was about to move, the high priest approached.
“Please don’t eat it. I don’t know what evil deeds you’ve done.”
Then Antonio snorted.
“Are you introducing yourself?”
“How dare you say that.”
“Believers gathered to seize all the wealth. Made them sick with overwork, and if they become useless, kill them cruelly. Where is there no evil corner here?”
The high priest’s fist trembled.
While this was happening, I stared blankly at Antonio.
The members also became rabbit-eyed.
“What? Why the leader… .”
“Exactly. The leader… .”
The members were surprised.
Probably the behind-the-scenes was ‘Why does he look so knowledgeable?’
Because Antonio knew the word ‘seize’.
I felt a bit emotional.
*Antonio… you studied hard… .*
Feeling like a mother watching her child’s first steps, I nodded and said “Yeah, yeah, you did well.”
Antonio had a proud expression.
The high priests turned their heads one by one, looking at me and Antonio.
It was an expression of “what kind of conversation is this?”
Only the high priest had a different expression.
He forced a smile at the corner of his mouth and laughed hollowly.
“Since I got that much comfort in my arms, I shouldn’t I receive some compensation?”
“Not my arms, but the high priest’s arms.”
When I said it cheerfully, the high priest’s face crumpled again.
“That’s…!”
As expected, the one who stimulates inferiority complex works well.
Those who put on a fake as real usually do.
“If you come out like this, there’s no deal.”
“Deal?”
“…Yes?”
“Since you seem to want to talk so much, I can’t refuse.”
I smiled brightly and said.
“This isn’t a deal, it’s a tribute.”
“What kind of nonsense is that.”
“A deal is when people of equal conditions do it.”
“What?”
“You can’t kill me because of the believers. If you kill me, you’ll be breaking your own faith. The Dawn Church will fall without faith.”
“…”
“Is that all? The soldiers led by my father, Kuarion, will come to kill you. Esgard will join too. Even if you escape by luck, next is the temple and the palace.”
“…”
“I’m the saint. You’re just a con artist.”
“…”
The high priest’s face boiled with anger.
His beard trembled, and the veins in his clenched fist bulged as if about to burst.
At that moment, I clapped my hands!
“So, tribute. It’s giving you a chance, me.”
“…A chance?”
“The opportunity to nurture it further since I couldn’t protect the precious Dawn Church.”
“Let’s get to the point.”
“Since I made money with you, if you pay tribute to me, as a superior, I can show generosity.”
The high priests exchanged glances with narrowed eyes.
They swallowed dry and asked.
“You mean you’ll overlook what we’ve done?”
“Yeah. By coming here, you’ll gain greater faith.”
The high priests’ expressions brightened.
They quickly said to the high priest.
“High priest… .”
“You don’t have to worry about your pride.”
The high priest sighed as if thinking.
But soon asked me.
“How much would satisfy you.”
“All the wealth I’ve earned so far.”
“…”
“!!!”
“?!”
Not only the high priest, but all the high priests opened their mouths in surprise.
The high priest shot up.
“Unbelievable! How did I earn that money! What have I achieved…!”
“Since I’ve been here, more people will gather. Earn more money faster. But is this a waste?”
“…”
“I said it again, you have no way. If this barrier breaks, Kuarion’s soldiers will pour in.”
“We have the high priest. If the high priest steps up…!”
“So I made tiramisu!”
When I shouted, the high priest flinched.
He looked to the side.
And found.
Abel, who had quickly finished two pieces of tiramisu and had a satisfied expression.
*Tiramisu is my favorite dessert.*
I saw it in the game.
How much Abel liked sweets.
Then the dialogues:
Baron's Knight Captain: "I'll stake my life to stop you!"
Baron's Knight Captain: "Comrades! Forgive me for leaving first! And bless me! This body has been offered for the homeland, so my soul is full of joy..."
[Abel quietly turns and starts walking away.]
Baron's Knight Captain: "You bastard! Where are you going!"
[Abel turns his head and looks at the Baron's Knight Captain.]
Abel: "Snack time."
Hmm. Even in the middle of battle, he managed snack time.
He really liked sweets.
"Next time I'll give you more. So don't interfere. Got it?"
Abel's eyes slowly turned to me.
It was a cold gaze like flowing water.
He said.
"How many will you give?"
"One plate."
"…Not bad."
The high priest’s mouth twitched like a goldfish.
It seemed he couldn’t believe it.
*But there’s no way.*
The reason Abel didn’t leave here is because of his rampage.
*Food* would prevent rampage, right.
And I clearly heard the man who looked like a goblin saying in the laboratory.
"Even so, is it okay… It’s not snack time yet…"
*I said it’s not snack time.*
Right now, there’s no reason for Abel to step in.
The high priest gritted his teeth.
But since there’s no way, he said while clutching his forehead.
"Very well. Instead, when gathering believers in the future, I will have to receive a personal seal."
"Stack all the wealth in the prayer hall. After confirming the wealth with my own eyes, use it."
"…Yes."
I got up from my seat.
And "Ah." I looked up.
"One more thing. I have to bring some people. For use in Kuarion."
"Even the believers?!"
"Include Rene without fail."
"…"
"What are you doing? Bring them immediately."
The high priest clenched his fist in humiliation.
But soon waved his hand to the high priest.
It meant to give in.
I was smiling broadly as I headed to the door with the Irregulars.
At that time, Abel’s voice was heard.
"Is tiramisu originally like this?"
I grabbed the door handle and answered.
"No. It’s my special."
With that, the conversation ended.
* * *
After Yustea and Abel left.
The high priest flipped the desk.
Bang—!
The desk overturned, and the things on it scattered.
"Damn it, damn it—!"
I couldn’t forget the humiliation of being tricked by a young girl.
Also the arrogant expression of Abel.
The high priest who was signaling said.
"Should we gather the wealth in the prayer hall?"
"Have to gather it. To show it to that girl, to get the personal seal. …And to handle it."
"Eh?"
The high priest who was startled opened his eyes wide.
"Since Esgard, the temple, and the palace will all come, right?"
"They won’t be able to. In the personal seal letter written by that girl, it will say ‘There is tremendous divinity in the Dawn Church.’"
Since the saint is lost, a substitute is needed.
If it’s in the Dawn Church, how can they attack?
"But if they don’t believe… ."
"After 10 years of preaching and still so naive. When do believers have faith?"
"At the moment they see a miracle."
Then another high priest gasped.
"You plan to use the high priest?"
"That’s too big-headed now. It’s time to replace."
"If so… ."
"Prepare the ."
The being created by using the know-how of making Abel, mobilizing all the forbidden magic and magic power accumulated over 10 years.
If they see it, no one in the world will doubt the divinity.
The high priest smiled wickedly.
*Come.*
At the moment the letter with the tempting wealth was written, the neck would roll on the ground.
After that, the Dawn Church became unusually busy.
They blocked the underground entrance of the believers, and piled up treasures, money, and various precious magic tools in the prayer hall.
The high priest who saw the gold and silver filling the prayer hall lifted the corner of his mouth.
"That girl’s eyes will roll."
"Whatever."
"Contact is."
"I sent a letter to the place told by the saint… no, the girl. I told them the promised time, so they’ll arrive at the castle soon."
At that moment.
One high priest ran in from the underground in a hurry.
"High priest! High priest—!"
The high priest let out a chuckle.
*The girl has arrived already.*
She would be excited with money in front.
"Yeah, bring the girl underground."
"It’s not the saint. It’s an ambush!"
How could that be!
The barrier from Carmen’s sacrifice magic hasn’t even been up for two days.
At least one more day before the barrier starts to weaken.
"Unbelievable! Who pierced the barrier opened with the sacrifice magic?"
"It’s the Irregulars—!"
What?
Irregulars?
The empire’s strongest assassin guild.
From the knight called the strongest to the ruler who wields power.
"Why are they invading the holy land!"
"We are protecting the saint! We came with her!"
The high priest took a deep breath.
In an instant, the situation was understood.
*Gotcha!*
I only said to gather the wealth to take it, but I never intended to protect the Dawn Church from the beginning.
He immediately went up to the ground and looked down at the foot of the mountain.
Three different flags were visible.
Blue owl flag.
Crimson dog flag.
Yellow snake flag.
"The man in front of the crimson dog flag… that man, isn’t that the one who was protecting the saint."
Antonio.
Always leading the Irregulars’ vanguard, a wild destroyer.
"Wipe them all out."
His eyes flashed with fierce killing intent.