Salvation Through Delusion C40

Chapter 40

 

“He injured something far more important than his legs—his head. He lost hid memories, and now he fear meeting strangers.”

 

“I don’t believe I’m such an unfamiliar presence, am I? Otherwise, why would so many faithful followers who have never once met me wish to do so today?”

 

Then maybe they should go meet the people who actually want to see them. Solongo kept her expression polite, though she bowed apologetically.

 

“Lord Rue recently faced a monster and survived only by a miracle. I ask for your generous understanding, High Priest.”

 

“Generosity isn’t difficult. What I find difficult is understanding Lord Rue’s behavior at the auction today.”

 

Ah, so she’s not going to let this go, huh?

 

If it were anyone else from the temple, I’d know what she wanted—a larger “donation,” easy enough to handle. But this woman wasn’t one to be swayed by money. Then why was she so desperate to see Rue…?

 

Click.

 

The door burst open. A pale-faced priest stumbled inside, whispering something urgently to the High Priest—but one word in particular caught Solongo’s sharp ears.

 

“…Lord Rue suddenly barged in—”

 

Barged in? Where?!

 

Was I planning a one-man invasion? I clicked my tongue when I saw the group of priests now blocking my path, stopping as my gaze landed on the elderly woman at their head.

 

She was thin and white-haired, her sharp features making her look strict, though her eyes burned with the intensity of someone half her age.

 

“What is the meaning of this?”

 

Her voice rang out, and she moved to stand beside the thief. One glance was enough to tell who was who.

 

Great. She brought a parent to the parent-teacher meeting.

 

So Gollum No. 1 had gone running off to fetch backup—his terrifying guardian. The “parent” glared at me, voice cold and commanding.

 

“Release my disciple’s hand this instant. Now!”

 

Even as her voice thundered across the room, I didn’t let go of the thief’s wrist. Thankfully, I wasn’t alone.

 

“Please, calm yourself, High Priest Cheki, and hear the situation first,” Solongo intervened, stepping between us. Then she turned to me, eyes silently asking, What happened?

 

I’d been waiting for that question.

 

“This man stole the Tear of the Demon King.”

 

Every gaze snapped to the thief—and then, almost as one, they turned toward the table.

The black diamond sat right there in its case.

 

All eyes shifted again—to me.

And in Cheki’s eyes, fury began to burn.

 

“I was told Lord Rue suffered memory loss. But has he also lost his sight?”

 

The High Priest’s rebuke was aimed at Solongo. I stepped forward, but she raised a hand to stop me and calmly replied,

 

“No, despite the accident, Lord Rue’s vision is perfectly fine. Surely that, too, is thanks to the divine beast’s blessing.”

 

“Then why accuse my disciple when the jewel sits clearly before us?”

 

Solongo glanced at the gem, then looked to me.

 

“I’m sure Lord Rue has a good reason.”

 

“Then let’s hear this reason. But first, release my disciple’s hand!”

 

The High Priest’s glare dripped with disgust, as though I were a stain polluting sacred ground. But I didn’t care how filthy she thought I was—my grip stayed firm.

 

“You,” I said to the thief, “why don’t you say it yourself?”

 

“Watch your tone, Lord Rue,” Cheki snapped sharply. “My disciple serves as acting High Priest in this temple. You have no right to address him so casually.”

 

Oh, so that’s your excuse for stealing?

 

I smirked and nodded toward the thief.

 

“As long as the evidence is in this hand, I won’t let go.”

 

Solongo frowned slightly. “Evidence?”

 

“This person’s holding the real diamond. The one on the table is fake.”

 

The expressions that followed were glorious. Gollum No. 1 and the other priests exchanged panicked glances, their eyes darting away.

 

The thief, pale as a ghost, still managed to keep a calm face. But the one I really focused on was the High Priest herself.

 

Her face didn’t change at all. And from that steadiness, I realized—

She wasn’t just an accomplice. She might be the mastermind.

 

“If you want me to let go, High Priest,” I said coldly, “order your disciple to open his hand.”

 

Displeasure flickered in her eyes, undercut by the same revulsion she’d shown earlier.

That disgust wasn’t just for me—it was for the Adeye family, who “corrupted” the temple with their donations.

Still, the way she looked at me made it clear: she wanted to scream, How dare you lay hands on my disciple!

 

I shifted my gaze to the thief, still hiding behind his master’s robes with lips clamped shut.

 

Mo, I thought, is a High Priest’s disciple higher in rank than me?

 

[Not in temple hierarchy terms. However, without personal data on the individual, further ranking is inconclusive.]

 

Good enough. That means I can act however I damn well please.

 

Decision made, I used my other hand and pried the thief’s fingers open.

 

“What do you think you’re doing?! Release him at once! Remove that man from Ariona immediately!”

 

Cheki’s roar filled the room, and several priests rushed forward to stop me. My own guards moved at once to block them, tension erupting into chaos—until everything abruptly stopped.

 

Because I’d opened the thief’s hand.

 

Inside it gleamed the black diamond.

 

A gasp echoed somewhere in the room, soft but clear.

Then silence.

 

Everyone froze, like a painting brought to life and then trapped mid-motion.

The air itself felt heavy with shock and unspoken dread.

 

I was the only one unaffected. Calmly, I plucked the gem from the thief’s palm.

 

“Put it down,” the High Priest ordered sharply.

 

“Even after seeing this?” I retorted.

 

“That’s the gem I gave to Ariona.”

 

…Excuse me, what?

 

“I received a jewel identical to the Tear of the Demon King not long ago and gifted it to my disciple.”

 

And she didn’t stop there.

 

“My disciple must have merely been comparing the two for study. Now, hand it over.”

 

She even extended her hand, imperious and unflinching. Her gaze, once intimidating, now looked merely obstinate.

 

“So, you’re claiming this isn’t the Tear of the Demon King?” I asked.

 

“That’s correct.”

 

“Look closely before you answer.”

 

Displeasure twisted her features, but instead of shouting, she dropped her gaze, glancing briefly at the gem in my hand.

 

“Yes. That’s not the Tear of the Demon King.”

 

My jaw tensed as I fought the urge to laugh. Pure and righteous High Priest, huh? Sure. The kind who steals through her own disciple.

 

“And how can you be so sure?”

 

“Because I personally gave it to my disciple. And how can you be so sure it is real?”

 

Now I really had to fight back a laugh.

Lady, please. I can literally hear the gem talking.

 

[Hey, Impotent Human, what’s happening? Why are there so many filthy people here?]

 

The diamond vibrated with anxiety in my hand.

Of course, I couldn’t exactly explain that, so I just smiled instead.

 

“Because I’m obsessed with gems. Once I’ve touched one, I can recognize it even a hundred years later.”

 

Her eyes filled with contempt, but I ignored her and turned to someone else—the only person here who could actually tell the difference.

 

Gollum No. 1.

 

“Priest,” I said evenly, “you examined it closely enough to bid at the auction. You can tell them apart, can’t you? Which one is the real Tear of the Demon King?”

 

The man flinched, refusing to meet my eyes.

 

“The one in its original place is genuine,” he murmured.

 

“You’re certain?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

At his answer, the High Priest extended her hand again.

 

“Then return it.”

 

But I tightened my grip on the gem and stepped back.

 

“My, I never realized the righteous High Priest had such a fondness for jewels. I thought you detested anything from the Adeye family, especially gifts. Yet here you are, defending a diamond with such devotion.”

 

Displeasure flashed across her face.

 

“If a gift is offered without ill intent, I accept it gladly.”

 

I nearly laughed out loud. That jab about Adeye’s “ill-intentioned offerings” was obvious.

Still, I wasn’t the only one who didn’t take it lightly.

 

“This gem may not be a holy relic,” Solongo said, stepping forward, “but judging by its size and quality, it’s worth a small fortune. How can you be so sure it was offered without ill intent?”

 

The High Priest’s frown deepened.