Volume 6, Chapter 26 – The Unanswered Prayer

With the help of the foundry platform, Yisi quickly made a pair for each of her companions and for Andrea, who had returned to the Blood Clan’s territory. The reason she didn’t make many was because she wanted to let her companions try them on first. Although she made them according to the sizes she had on hand—due to practical issues, her companions’ clothes and other daily necessities were all stored with her—there would inevitably be some errors in handmade products. It was better to listen to their feedback before increasing the quantity.

Now, the people Yisi had gathered were trying on the long boots in the room.

Like a child who had just gotten a new toy, Mary kept looking at her new shoes from left to right.

“They’re much warmer than ordinary shoes, and it’s like stepping on a mushroom.”

A hint of doubt in her voice, Edith’s tone rose a notch.

“Stepping on a mushroom?”

“That’s right. Back in Celtic City, we would sometimes find a type of mushroom in the forest called ‘umbrella shroom’. If we happened to come across one, we could carry it back and eat it for a whole half a month. It’s very big, and it won’t break even if several of us step on it together.”

Did she bite her tongue? Mary said ‘umbrella shroom’ instead of ‘umbrella mushroom’.

Refina, who had also noticed this, voiced Yisi’s question.

“Umbrella shroom? Not umbrella mushroom?”

With a look of trying hard to recall the reason, Mary touched her lips with her index finger like a little girl, her eyes gazing at the ceiling.

“According to the older sisters who were slaves with me, it’s because some mutated umbrella shrooms can talk like humans. And when humans make a promise with it, like meeting again in a week, it always waits until the second or third day to arrive, so it became ‘umbrella shroom’. There also seems to be a legend about it, saying that the umbrella shroom was originally called the umbrella mushroom, but because a long, long time ago, it broke its promise with the forest princess, the forest princess changed its name in a fit of anger, and so it became what it is now.”

“Just something to fool children.”

Losing interest, Edith waved her hand.

Although she felt that something was a little strange, Yisi didn’t pay much attention to it. Even if there really was a forest princess, she would have long since disappeared in the river of time.

After trying them on for a while, Tiffany took off the long boots, looking not so happy.

“I’m not used to them.”

“The long boots might be too heavy for you, Tiffany,” like Mary, Tiffany never wore long boots. Yisi looked at Camilla. “What about you, Refina and Camilla? Do they not fit well anywhere?”

Refina gave her practical thoughts.

“This is the first time I’ve tried such soft boots. Although I thought they might be made from tanned animal hide, animal hide shouldn’t be this wear-resistant. It feels like they will never wear out. Lady Yisi always manages to come up with new and strange things.”

“Well… it’s nothing special.”

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It’s just borrowing the wisdom of my predecessors.

“These long boots would definitely be very popular even in the royal court. It feels like I’m receiving the treatment of a king.”

As if she really felt honored, Camilla half-squatted down, her fingertips occasionally brushing over the surface of the shoe, as if to feel the sensation feedback on her skin.

Camilla’s exaggerated joke made Yisi smile.

“If that’s really the case, all the princesses in the continent would envy you, Camilla. You’ve become a princess yourself.”

“In that case, Onee-sama would be a knight—no, a prince. A prince riding on a dragon.”

Not riding on a white horse, but a dragon? As expected of another world.

Quickly regaining her serious expression, her gaze fell on the extra pair of long boots in the room. Camilla asked tentatively.

“Onee-sama, are these long boots samples for Fran and Shinku?”

“Mm, I want to make some first and give them to Shinku and Fran to see the market response. If they are very popular, I’ll bring the production method along with the black slimes to Margaret.”

“That would require expanding the scale. Although Fran and Shinku just got a batch of helpers not long ago, to produce both distilled liquor and long boots at the same time, they would need at least two large workshops.”

“I have the same thought. And raising slimes is also a problem. Many people see them as dangerous monsters and will be resistant.”

If there were a production line, it wouldn’t matter even if there were only a few of them like Shinku and Fran. However, this world was still in an era where everything was done by hand. It was unrealistic to change the production model, so they could only expand the scale and recruit more people, truly turning Margaret into a brand name, not just the name of a tavern.

As for how to implement this, she might as well go find Fran. After so much training, and being born into a noble family that was involved in business, Fran had much more experience in this area than she did. It was better for her to be the one who provided the ideas rather than the one who actually carried them out.

Even though I’ve already said that I’m giving Margaret to Fran and the others as their new home, I feel like a behind-the-scenes boss now…

Just as Yisi was thinking this, a hurried knock suddenly came from outside the room. Compared to the landlady’s gentle rhythm, the current knocking was clearly a bit impatient, reminding one of a staff member handling procedures.

The people in the room immediately stopped what they were doing, especially Mary. If Mary had beast ears on her head, they would surely be pricked up high right now. Yisi had a premonition that the church’s cruel treatment of the Fallen had not yet disappeared from Mary’s mind.

Yisi first gestured downwards to her companions, signaling them not to be nervous, then walked to the door.

“We are not available to see anyone right now.”

“The church’s—”

“Step aside.”

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Before the man could finish his righteous words, a not-so-familiar female voice interrupted the paladin’s speech. An unexpected dispute occurred outside the door.

“Lady Evelyn, as the next Pope, you don’t need to personally—”

“Are you trying to disobey my orders?”

“…I understand.”

The man’s voice was full of apology. After that, Evelyn knocked on the door with even more force.

“Didn’t you ask me to pass a message for you before? His Holiness has agreed to grant you an audience. Open the door quickly.”

So it was for this matter.

Yisi couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. She had almost thought that the church had used some unknown method to track her down as the saboteur who had broken into the church’s underground last night.

Shrugging her shoulders at her companions with a relaxed expression, Yisi turned the doorknob. Only Evelyn and one of her guards were standing at the door. Besides them, there were no other people who looked like paladins around.

“I have fulfilled your request. You should give me a reply now.”

As she spoke, Evelyn, with her green eyes that looked as if she were always thinking of some mischief and her silver pigtails, walked into the room. However, when she caught sight of Camilla, Mary, Tiffany, Edith, and Refina in the room, her unrestrained expression instantly stiffened.

If she wasn’t mistaken, in order to maintain the sacred status of the church in the hearts of the believers, the current Pope must have demanded that Evelyn, as the next Pope, not show a casual demeanor in front of outsiders.

As for the wings behind Edith and Refina, due to the wall and their clothes blocking the view, neither Evelyn nor the paladin would have noticed.

An idea came to mind. Yisi put on a serious expression and asked.

“Is Lady Evelyn alright? You don’t look well.”

Evelyn, who had come back to her senses, immediately glared at Yisi. The fierce look in her eyes made Yisi think that if the occasion were right, Evelyn would definitely step on her foot.

That expression only lasted for a moment. Evelyn quickly responded with an impeccable smile. Her affable and trustworthy appearance was like that of a goddess who had descended to the mortal world.

“I’m fine. Did you see something wrong, Yisi?”

“Is that so? I thought I heard the sound of a man and a woman arguing outside the door just now. It seems I heard wrong.” Once again, Evelyn shot Yisi a fierce glare. If she teased her any further, Evelyn might really retaliate. Yisi stifled a laugh and changed the subject. “What is it that you’ve come for, Lady Evelyn?”

“Who is this woman? She has a disgusting smell.”

Before Evelyn could speak, Edith frowned and walked to Yisi’s side. As if she really disliked the smell on Evelyn, she covered her nose with her sleeve. Of course, the smell here did not mean that Evelyn actually had an odor, but rather the aura of the light element on her. As a member of the Ymir Church, Evelyn was a magic caster who was proficient in light and holy magic, with a level close to Andrea’s.

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“You also have a foul smell on you that I detest.”

That was the lingering smell of blood that a vampire could not get rid of.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Yisi quickly stepped in to mediate and made introductions for the two.

“This is a family member who came with me to the Ymir Territory to seek refuge with relatives, and also my younger sister, Loiswell Yahn. This is Evelyn Anna Ymir Shalu, who will become the 24th Pope of the Ymir Church in the future. The reason Lady Evelyn is looking for me is because of a promise I made with her before.”

“A promise? What promise?”

“Mary and I have always admired the current Pope, His Holiness Julius. So we wanted to take this opportunity to meet His Holiness. When we went to the central temple yesterday, we happened to meet Lady Evelyn, so we tried to ask her for a favor, hoping to be granted an audience with His Holiness.”

Disliking Yisi’s tone, Edith pouted, a look of disgust flashing in her azure eyes. She waved her hand as if shooing away a fly and turned to walk into the room.

“Do as you wish.”

“Mary, come here.”

“Yes~”

After saying goodbye to her companions, Yisi took Mary with her, left the inn, and walked out onto the clean and bright streets of Mitters Bayer.

Perhaps because of the commotion last night, there was a strange atmosphere in the streets. The peaceful air was mixed with people’s quiet discussions. Groups of three or five could be seen everywhere, discussing and pointing at the Tower of Ymir. In addition, the number of people praying on the streets had doubled since yesterday. People were constantly muttering praises to the gods, as if this would prevent the gods from sending down any more punishment.

Noticing something unexpected, Yisi first tilted her head, then took a step forward and walked to a position shoulder-to-shoulder with Evelyn.

“Why aren’t their prayers working?”

Yesterday, when the believers prayed, a golden light would emerge from their holy relics. But now, no matter how the believers prayed, there was no sign of the light appearing.

Evelyn raised her eyebrows inconspicuously.

“Not working? What do you mean?”

“The golden light from the holy relics. Isn’t prayer for miracles?”

“Prayer is an act of turning one’s heart to the Goddess, not for a reward. The holy relic you mentioned should be the ‘Goddess’s Consolation’. The light emitted by the holy relic, like my ability, can eliminate the negative emotions in their hearts. It’s just that there is a difference in strength. When people’s negative emotions exceed a certain limit, the effect of the holy relic is very limited.”

“Then why haven’t their prayers been answered with the ‘Goddess’s Consolation’?”

“Because their faith in the Goddess is not devout enough.”

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Although she said that, Evelyn looked up at the Tower of Ymir in the center of the city. The tower, which had lost its light, was like a dead object.

“What if Evelyn’s or the Pope’s prayers don’t work either?”

“That’s not possible.”

“What if we try?”

“As the most faithful believer of the Goddess, I will not waver in my faith, and naturally I will not do anything meaningless.”

It sounded like a prepared speech. There might be other hidden reasons—such as the Tower of Ymir being destroyed—but since she had not yet gained her complete trust, Evelyn would not tell her.

The negotiations with the Pope had already broken down. Yisi had no idea what to do next. But she couldn’t just leave the Fallen as they were. It was for the countless Fallen who were suffering, and also for Mary and Shinku and the others. Although they had returned to a normal life with her help, their status as Fallen was still a lingering shadow in their hearts. As long as the lowly status of the Fallen did not change, their inner sense of inferiority would never disappear.

Even if it’s for Mary’s sake, I have to make the church bow its head…

This method of making them bow their heads had to be clever enough. Using her own powerful strength to make the church submit was the worst strategy. If the church’s devotion to the Goddess was similar to Pepe’s stubbornness for the name Loiswell, even if she put a knife to the entire church’s neck, the church would never bow its head. In that case, she would have to face the embarrassing situation of either really carrying out a bloodbath of the church or admitting defeat to the church. Judging from the fearless demeanor of those knights, this possibility was very likely to happen.

As for where to start with this clever method, Yisi’s eyes shifted slightly, glancing at Evelyn. She buried a plan in her heart, slowed her pace, and returned to Mary’s side, stroking Mary’s chestnut-colored hair.

The destruction of a huge structure often begins with internal decay.

Like a kitten being scratched on the neck by its owner, Mary’s purple eyes narrowed into a slit, enjoying Yisi’s caress as if in a trance.

“We’re here.”

The paladin’s announcement ended Yisi’s thoughts. It was only then that Yisi realized that her fingers were completely buried in Mary’s chestnut-colored hair. If Mary hadn’t been covering her ears, her race would have definitely been exposed.

I was thinking about too many things and for a moment forgot about what was worth paying attention to right now.

Yisi withdrew her hand with a graceful movement and straightened Mary’s hair. Evelyn also turned around at this time, a rare serious look on her face.

“Don’t be too casual when you see Julius. That guy seems easy to talk to, but he’s a very stubborn person. If Yisi insults the church or the Goddess, he will definitely burn you as a heretic.”

“I know.”

Nodding, Yisi and Mary followed Evelyn into the church.

I hope this Pope doesn’t have something like a sixth sense and immediately identify me as last night’s intruder.