HRNGDS 37

~Chapter 37~

The High Priest sighed with a troubled look on his face.

After a brief pause, he spoke to Hadin.

“If we still can’t find the Saint this time…”

“No, High Priest. We’ll find her this time for sure,”

Hadin replied firmly.

“There’s never been a High Priest without a Saint. I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“That’s true, isn’t it?”

“Yes. So the Saint will appear—unless God Prad has abandoned us.”

Hearing Hadin say that only made the High Priest feel more useless. Maybe Prad didn’t like him. Maybe that’s why He hadn’t spoken again.

The High Priest quietly admitted:

“Hadin… the more I think about it, if no Saint appears again this time… I should step down as High Priest.”

A look of pity crossed Hadin’s face. Then, carefully, he asked:

“Then who would become the next High Priest…?”

Drowning in his own helplessness, the High Priest muttered:

“Anyone would do, really. Judging by how things are going now… you’re probably the best candidate.”

He gave a faint smile. Someone like Hadin would make a far better High Priest than him.

‘Maybe this is what God Prad wants.’

Maybe failing to find the Saint was just a sign that he should hand the job over to Hadin.

As the High Priest rationalized all this in his mind, Hadin’s lips curled into a thin, cold smile.

‘Why would I go to the North? I’m going to be the next High Priest.’

He had heard recently that Ivelina had been humiliated in the North.

Apparently, she acted the same way around Delphina as she did back at the academy.

‘What an idiot.’

If he had gone to the North, he wouldn’t have made such a dumb mistake.

‘To belittle Delphina, I’d first have to be in a higher position than her.’

That meant he wouldn’t meet Delphina again until after he had taken over as High Priest.

‘Too bad, Delphina. We won’t get to “play” like we used to for a while.’

He remembered the banquet at the academy. He had been the one who spilled wine on her dress.

Delphina normally kept a straight face despite the bullying from students.

But that day… she had looked crushed. He had never forgotten that expression of despair.

‘That face… that feeling… I want to see it again.’

Hadin blinked slowly, full of anticipation.

‘What will this year’s banquet be like?’

He had no intention of sending a priest to help the Grand Madam in the North.

She was too troublesome. Letting her die from the poison would be convenient for the nobles’ faction anyway.

He had already heard from Ivelina that the Grand Madam and Delphina were close.

‘If Delphina can’t save her… will she fall into despair again?’

Hadin smiled darkly.

✦ ✦ ✦

Delphina was preparing to leave for the capital. She wasn’t rushed.

There was still plenty of time before the Autumn Banquet, even if she left at a normal pace.

‘But why is He acting so frustrated this morning?’

She looked up at the system message that appeared before her eyes:

<God Prad squeezes his eyes shut at the sight of a terrible “sweet potato” development.>

Lately, the system had been showing her some very weird things—Prad’s strange complaints and reactions.

<God Prad is upset that he cannot speak to his son who’s digging himself into a hole. He longs for a believer who can fix this frustrating plotline.>

Delphina sighed.

‘Maybe I’m not great at communicating after all.’

She had come to realize that the system messages she saw were linked to her awakening communication with the god.

But she hadn’t expected Prad to be so… chatty.

<God Prad watches Delphina anxiously and goes quiet.>

‘At least I know You’re frustrated. But what exactly is the problem?’

Then a new system alert popped up:

<Urgent Quest Triggered! Save the Believer of Prad.>
A believer of Prad is in danger. Save them.
This is a timed quest.

Reward: A priest capable of curing the Grand Madam’s poison.
Failure: No priest will be found. The <Save Aris> quest will also fail.

Tip: For details, ask God Prad directly.

Delphina stared, dumbfounded.

‘Wait—what? Are You serious right now?’

She was supposed to head to the capital to find a priest. But if she failed this emergency quest, she wouldn’t even get the priest?

<God Prad says he’s frustrated too, but can’t explain more due to “causal interference.”>

‘So this is a forced quest. I have to complete it.’

Delphina asked Prad:

‘What am I supposed to do? The quest is so vague.’

<God Prad says: Just get going. There’s no time. Hurry.>

‘You can’t tell me more because of that “causal law” again?’

<God Prad confirms in silence.>

After finishing her divine “conversation,” Delphina went to find Elcayan.

“Elcayan, could we get to the capital as quickly as possible?”

“May I ask why?”

Delphina nodded nervously. She couldn’t tell him a god had spoken to her—that would sound crazy.

Blushing slightly, she said:

“I’ve never really enjoyed a proper banquet before. I want time to prepare.”

“…”

“Also… I thought maybe we could spend some time together before the engagement ceremony.”

Elcayan mumbled:

“You want to… spend time with me?”

“Yes. We barely got any time alone in the North, and there are always so many eyes around…”

“…”

“Even if it’s a contract relationship, it’s still a relationship. It should look convincing, so I thought we could spend some time together now and then.”

Delphina realized what she’d said wasn’t very convincing.

‘This isn’t strong enough… I need a better excuse. He’s busy—I can’t expect him to say yes just for that.’

But before she could think of another reason, Elcayan started working through the papers on his desk at lightning speed.

“It’s not a difficult request. Just give me a moment to finish this.”

“Elcayan?”

He coughed lightly and said:

“Let’s go. If we travel with minimal staff, it won’t take long.”

Then he quietly added:

“As you said, we’re engaged. It makes sense to spend time together.”

✦ ✦ ✦

Once Elcayan made up his mind, everything moved fast.

By the next day, the travel group was finalized.

Delphina looked around at the people gathered to send them off—most of the estate was there.

She turned to Calyx and asked:

“Sir Calyx, are you sure just the three of us is enough?”

Calyx, holding a horsewhip and wearing a straw hat, raised one arm proudly. His muscles flexed.

“Trust me, Lady Delphina. If we want to travel fast with a small team, this is the best way.”

The group heading to the capital had only three people:

• Delphina

• Elcayan

• Calyx

‘Coachman Calyx, Knight Calyx, Cook Assistant Calyx…’

Amazingly, Calyx could do all those roles—and do them at the highest level.