Volume 6, Chapter 12 – The Cunning Fox

“Mary, stand over here a little.”

Yisi pulled Mary in front of her, trying to use her as a shield. But the two were standing far from the crowd, in a very conspicuous spot, and Mary was a head shorter than Yisi. Evelyn spotted them with just a casual glance.

A look like a cat toying with a mouse flashed across her face and was gone. Evelyn beckoned to a paladin, whispered something, and then walked slowly towards Yisi with the paladin.

I have a bad feeling about this.

But at this point, even if she tried to walk out, she would just be called out directly by Evelyn. And even if she did escape, it would make the next meeting with Evelyn awkward. Not only did she have her promise to Andrea, but she also needed to find out what Evelyn thought about her necklace being stolen. Although they hadn’t spoken, Yisi could tell from the side information that Evelyn had a very difficult personality.

—Just think about the expressions on the faces of the guards at the gate. The guards had guessed that the so-called novice priestess she had met was the next Pope, Evelyn. If Evelyn hadn’t done something to leave them with psychological trauma, the guards would never have been so nervous as to tremble.

Since I can’t avoid it, I might as well be open about it.

Yisi stopped hiding, raised her head, and looked directly at Evelyn.

Visibly, the corners of Evelyn’s mouth lifted slightly. Yisi could even hear what sounded like Evelyn saying “Hoh~”. As Evelyn suddenly walked towards Yisi, a murmur of whispers rippled through the hall, and Yisi felt countless gazes focus on her.

I should have waited for Camilla to wake up and let her bring Mary.

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“Is this your first time at the central temple?”

Evelyn, in her vibrant red dress, came to stand before Yisi. Her silver pigtails, which fell to her waist, shimmered with iridescent colors under the light from the stained-glass windows. Besides a gentle look, no other expression could be seen on her face. But that was only for those who didn’t know better. Standing before her was undoubtedly a seasoned, black-bellied fox. Yisi was sure of it.

Bowing her head slightly along with Mary, Yisi responded with proper etiquette.

“We are nobles from the Hels Kingdom. Because our parents believe in the Goddess, we have admired her since we were young and hoped to one day offer our prayers to the Goddess in the Holy City.”

She didn’t reveal too much personal information, yet she won the goodwill of the believers in the hall. The gazes directed at Yisi immediately changed from questioning to friendly.

“We are all children of the Goddess. There is no need to feel so formal.” Not choosing Yisi as her point of attack, Evelyn crouched down slightly, bringing her line of sight to the same level as Mary’s. “Can you tell me your name? Although I am nominally the next Pope of the Ymir Church, Evelyn Anna Ymir Shalu, I would rather become someone you can trust. I would be very happy if you could think of me as family or a friend.”

“I-Is that okay?”

Due to her status, Mary, who originally didn’t dare to look into Evelyn’s eyes, timidly placed her gaze on Evelyn’s face.

“Of course, it’s no problem.”

“I… My name is Mary.”

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“Mary, what a lovely name.”

With a very big-sisterly smile, Evelyn reached out to Mary, attempting to stroke her cheek. But Mary, who should have let her guard down, suddenly turned her head away and hid behind Yisi.

If Mary were human, Evelyn’s plan to close the distance might have succeeded. But Mary was a half-elf, a race ostracized by people. Her small, pointed ears were usually hidden by her long chestnut hair, which was why she looked human. Her half-elf status was one of the sources of Mary’s low self-esteem, so she would not allow Evelyn to make a move that might push her hair aside.

As for why Evelyn is deliberately getting close, if it’s not for the magic potion I mentioned, it must be to play a prank. I have to handle this perfectly and not give Evelyn any leverage. Who knows what she’ll use it to blackmail me with.

Patting Mary’s head, Yisi said with a wry smile—which was actually a stifled laugh.

“I’m very sorry, Lady Evelyn. My child is shy around strangers. I will be sure to discipline her properly when we get back.”

“I… I’m sorry…”

Mary apologized in a small voice from behind Yisi.

The corner of Evelyn’s mouth twitched imperceptibly, but she quickly returned to her affable smile as if nothing had happened.

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“It’s alright. I just wanted to perform a baptism for Mary on her first visit. Even without me, the same effect can be achieved by holding a holy seal from the church and offering a prayer to the statue, though the effect will be weaker. Well then, if you have any questions, you can ask the clergy of the church at any time. Whether poor or rich, the church treats all of the Goddess’s children equally.”

Facing Evelyn, Yisi bowed slightly.

“Thank you, Lady Evelyn.”

That should be the end of it. As a first encounter, I won.

Just as Yisi was thinking this, Evelyn suddenly half-covered her mouth and let out a small gasp.

“Oh my,” her undisguised voice drew the attention of all the believers, “Did you and little Mary encounter something on your way here? You are entangled in an ominous aura. A gloom of this degree… must be cleansed with holy water in the inner sanctum to be removed. Although it is a considerable expense, since it is for a compatriot who has come from afar, and also to become friends with little Mary, I will personally cover the cost. Of course, the purification ceremony will be conducted under my supervision, and the attendants assisting in the purification will all be nuns who have dedicated their bodies to the Goddess. There is no need for either of you to have any undue worries.”

Hearing that Yisi and Mary were entangled in an ominous aura, another murmur rippled through the hall, containing both sympathy and a desire to distance themselves from Yisi.

Only Yisi and Evelyn knew that there was no so-called ominous aura. This was Evelyn’s excuse to turn the tables.

This is why I hate the church. They fool people with this kind of thing that you can’t see or touch. Even if I wanted to expose it, there’s no way to start.

She couldn’t just cast [Holy Purification] on the spot to prove that she wasn’t tainted with anything unclean. If she did, these believers wouldn’t just want to stay away from her; they’d suspect that a true god had descended. The coverage of [Holy Purification] was at least half a city.

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Yisi deliberately put on a look of great alarm.

“How could we let Lady Evelyn do this herself! For such a small matter, I can just find another priest. We will take care of the cost ourselves.”

“No, an ominous aura of this degree cannot be purified by an ordinary priest. Now that His Holiness the Pope has taken the cardinals to the south, I am the only one in the entire temple with the ability to purify the darkness. If this ominousness is allowed to fester, it will not only threaten your and little Mary’s safety but may also spread to others. For the safety of the other people in the Holy City, I must help you.”

Tying me to the safety of the entire city. So cunning.

Yisi could already feel the wary gazes from others, including the paladins. If she didn’t use violence, there was absolutely no way to leave peacefully.

Evelyn’s speech did not end there. She took another step forward, coming extremely close to Yisi. At an angle where those around could not see, she leaned in and whispered into Yisi’s ear.

“Am I that scary? What’s wrong with leaving an opportunity for us to meet alone.”

“Take off your mask before asking others.”

If Evelyn hadn’t deceived her with a fake name, she might have trusted her. But she still didn’t know how Evelyn had managed to fool the Omniscient Map’s detection—the Evelyn she saw at that time was indeed named Shalu Ymir. She couldn’t give her complete trust, especially when she had Mary with her.

“I won’t let you go today, unless you can satisfy me.”