Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: 15. The Corruption Value Has Risen Too Much... (3)
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“Ugh…. Eut….”
No voice came out. It was as if someone had shoved a stone into my mouth—words simply refused to burst forth. And when I forcibly tried to make a sound, a horrific scraping sensation clawed at my throat besides,
at this point, I even wondered if someone was actively suppressing my speech.
“Hngh…. Hn….”
Me, expelling hot breath—whether it was simple respiration or the heat spreading through my entire body—through my nose. I looked up at the woman staring down at me blankly, her body rigid with tension.
The mistress of the Holy Faith Church, Saintess Amaness.
One of the three goddesses who had carved out a world from an ashen wasteland of nothing but black and white—and even created life itself.
And above all else, a figure close to the main heroine of the “Satta” world.
But…. why so suddenly….
She was someone I was bound to meet eventually, but for that, the timing was far too soon. A character I shouldn't see for another year was standing right before my eyes—what in the world was going on?
Was I dreaming from the shock of collapsing just moments ago? But it didn't feel vague enough for a dream. Sensations too trivial to register in one were vividly assaulting my entire body. It wasn't reality, but it wasn't a dream either…. I felt trapped in some indescribable space.
Without someone whispering the truth directly into my ear, I couldn't even grasp the answer. My thoughts raced busily. As I struggled to parse the situation for a while, a beautiful voice resonated in my ear, carried on the air.
“Hmm…. I never imagined we'd meet like this…. Isaiah.”
A voice identical to the one from the game, without the slightest discrepancy. As she stepped forward with measured footfalls, small circular ripples bloomed on the previously empty floor, spreading outward into the endless white expanse.
“Hngh…. Hn….”
“Don't force yourself to speak. You couldn't utter a single word even if you tried. Just listen to what I have to say.”
Saintess Amaness spoke as if she already knew full well that I was rooted in place, instructing me to stay put. She drew right up to me, then knelt and stopped mere inches from my face.
“Eup….”
As she closed in, a subtle fragrance bloomed around her. A fresh scent like morning dew pierced my nostrils. It was utterly inhuman….
Overwhelmed by her presence, I could scarcely draw breath.
Only the pure white dress she wore swayed gently, like a chandelier in the breeze.
“Sorry about this….”
“…”
Saintess Amaness twirled her long cascade of platinum blonde hair around her finger, offering a casual apology without a care. Before I could even question the suddenness, she continued.
“I should've raised your Corruption Value more carefully, but I got curious about all sorts of things…. so I pushed it a bit too far.”
“…”
“Never thought it'd strain your body this badly.”
…?
Wait! What did she just say? Corruption Value?
The utterly unexpected words made my entire body go rigid. For an instant, I doubted my own ears, wondering if I'd misheard.
No way I misheard, right? C-Corruption Value?
I had no idea. No, it was only natural not to know.
Mentioning the Corruption Value meant the game's heroine was aware of the system—and that made no sense whatsoever.
“Why? Surprised? Didn't expect me to know about your Corruption Value, huh?”
Saintess Amaness giggled, dropping the term again like a confirmation killshot.
As if to assure me it was no auditory hallucination, she enunciated every syllable with deliberate emphasis.
“…”
What? How was any of this possible? Did that mean Amaness had known all along and was just toying with me?
A few short sentences left my head spinning like it might explode.
And then, the puzzle pieces began clicking into place, one by one.
For some reason, even as her own believer suffered, there had been an oddly complete lack of interference. She'd known from the start and feigned ignorance…. No, wait…. She was the one who'd done this to me all along….
No concrete proof, but the mere fact that she could manipulate my Corruption Value at will spawned dozens of hypotheses.
Did that make her the true mastermind behind everything? And here I was, oblivious, playing the part of the devout follower….
Ugh…. I had no clue.
This had to be a dream…. Nothing else could explain the situation.
“You look utterly betrayed. Must've hit you hard.”
She smirked teasingly at my complicated expression, then leaned in close, bringing her lips to my ear to whisper ever so softly.
“You should've come to me from the start…. Isaiah, this is all your karma catching up. You're just reaping what you sowed.”
Eh, karma?
What the hell did that even mean? If I could muster a proper protest, that'd be one thing, but my lips wouldn't budge an inch.
It felt like the words alone painted me as the villain…. What had I even done? What could I, stuck on the earthly plane, possibly do to her? I'd only suffered one unfair beating after another—no memory of harming a soul.
And now even those frame-job Corruption Value spikes were revealed to be her handiwork. Thinking back, I was plainly the victim here.
“Hmmm….”
Amaness let out a long nasal huff before lifting her head again. She grasped my chin next, turning it this way and that in appraisal, just like Bishop Lisa used to do to me.
“Still, it turned out pretty cute. It was iffy from afar, but up close? Right up my alley.”
Her gaze clung to me without release. The sudden arrival of the heroine Amaness was disorienting enough, and now she was casually dropping bombshells left and right—my brain overloaded to the point of blankness, thoughts grinding to a halt.
She inspected me thoroughly for a good while, starting from my body and moving every which way. Finally, having apparently seen her fill, she let out a groan and rose, steadying herself on her knee.
“If I had my way…. I'd ravish you just like those bitches did…. Sorry, but I'm short on time…. I was already on my last dregs of divine power, and saving your dying ass used up every last bit I had left.”
“…”
“Sigh…. I wanted to chat all nice and sticky since it's been so long, but looks like this is it.”
Hands clasped behind her back, Amaness took a step or two backward. As I watched, her form grew gradually translucent, then began fading away.
“Earlier, I cranked your Corruption Value too high, and it wrecked the circuits handling your Divine Power a little. It'll heal with time, but just to be safe, I've capped it at 35 for the time being.”
“…”
“Hehe…. Don't worry your pretty head. It'll unlock again in about a year…. Then we can meet once more. See you around, Isaiah.”
Having said her piece to her heart's content, she waved and vanished. Starting from her head, she dissolved into motes of light that scattered into the air. And just like that, I was left utterly alone in the vast expanse.
Eh…. What…. My eyes….
My vision blurred once more. My eyelids drooped heavy as if under anesthesia, and before long, consciousness sank back into deep slumber.
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“Ugh…. Uh….”
Hot sunlight pierced through the window, beaming straight into my eyes. I tossed and turned, desperate not to wake, but the deafening cicada chorus forced my eyes open on their own.
“Ah…. So tired….”
As time passed, my senses gradually sharpened. I rolled onto my side, and my hand brushed the soft texture of a blanket beneath it.
I lay there motionless for ages, killing time idly in that state. Eventually, boredom won out, and I barely managed to prop up my leaden upper body.
“This place….”
Marble floors and furniture that screamed luxury at a glance. Among everyone I knew, only one person lived in such opulence.
Bishop's room….
“Ha….”
I clutched my throbbing head and exhaled the gunk deep in my lungs.
Lately, I'd been waking up in places that weren't my own room far too often. This time was no exception—I'd been as cautious as could be, but the situation hadn't cooperated.
As I sorted through my muddled mind, I stared blankly at the ceiling for a spell.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
I turned toward the sound, and there stood Nun Rachel, arms laden with all sorts of things.
“Huh? Nun Rachel?”
“Huh? P-Priest…. Uhehe…. Priest!”
The moment she spotted me, tears welled up in her eyes. She dropped her burdens onto the floor with a clatter and threw herself at me without restraint.
Gah—
Shoes still on, she clambered onto the bed and crushed me in a fierce hug. Compressed against her meager chest, I teetered once more on the brink of oblivion.
“N-Nun…. I'm dying….”
She squeezed with enough force to burst a man. As soon as I complained of the pain, she eased up, sniffling as she buried her face in my chest instead.
“Hic…. Priest…. Hic…. You just collapsed out of nowhere…. Uhehe….”
Nun Rachel wailed, snot and tears flowing freely.
I spent a good while stroking her hair to calm her down. Only after some time did her tears finally subside.