Chapter 05
“Ma…gic?”
The entire bridge, bathed in pure white light, began to feel pleasantly cool.
“Magic? This is the power of the gods! Divine power!”
At my words, the girl pouted and shouted back.
Divine power.
The power of the gods that exists in this world. Only those with unwavering faith or those born blessed by the gods could use this mysterious power.
Just like wizards who can wield magic, only a few people in the world possessed divine power, and anyone who did was treated with extraordinary respect by both the state and the temples.
It was like when the noble families came to the orphanage to adopt me once they found out I had mana. Seeing divine power actually manifest before my eyes was a first.
When the girl moved her hands away from my legs, the light disappeared.
“How’s it feel? Can you move your legs?”
When I moved them at her words, the muscles that had been trembling felt refreshed, as if they’d received a massage. Not only that, but my previously limp body also felt invigorated.
“Wow, I feel great!”
Just moments ago, I had been too weak to move, yet now strength returned to my body.
To think that such a quick effect could be achieved in just about five minutes… now I understood why priests using divine power were treated so highly in this world.
As I rose to my feet, the girl gave a bright smile.
“Hehe, thank goodness. I almost got scolded by the Apostle.”
‘Apostle?’
I was about to ask who that was when…
Rumble…
With vitality surging through my body, my stomach growled loudly, demanding food. Divine power apparently couldn’t satisfy hunger.
Rumble.
Hearing my stomach repeatedly voice its opinion, the girl’s eyes widened.
“You… you’re hungry?”
Of course. My legs had been weak because my stomach was empty.
When I nodded, the girl’s face lit up with a sudden realization.
“Ah! You haven’t eaten breakfast yet, that’s why you’re hungry! Right… I didn’t realize that!”
Muttering to herself, she looked at me with determination.
“Wait here! I’ll bring you some food!”
Food? I just needed to go back to my room… But before I could say anything, the girl dashed down the corridor.
“She’s fast…”
In just a few seconds, she became a tiny dot at the end of the hallway, vanishing from sight.
“Is it because of divine power…?”
I murmured to myself, left alone in the empty hallway.
Now that my body was fine, I could return to my room, but I hesitated, remembering the girl’s instruction to wait.
From nearby came the sound of many footsteps—people approaching.
Standing there, lost in thought about whether I should follow the girl’s orders, I realized they were getting quite close.
“Are the prospective priests ready for induction?”
“Yes, everyone is waiting in the auditorium.”
“Make sure no weeds slip through.”
From around the corner, priests in robes appeared.
They were carrying stacks of documents, looking busy, and I made eye contact with the man at the front. His priest’s robe was far more elaborate and high-quality than the others following behind.
Clearly, his rank was higher.
When he met my gaze, his eyes, which usually squinted upward, widened in surprise.
“Ah… no! Why is this one here?”
At his words, everyone around turned to look at me, their expressions stiffening.
What? Did I do something wrong?
Before I could react, a dark blue-haired man standing next to a very thin man began shouting at me.
“Hey! The bell rang, what are you standing there for?”
I had no idea what was happening, so I just froze.
Seeing my reaction, the man’s face flushed crimson.
“I-I’m sorry… sorry, Temio!”
The dark blue-haired man, who had been apologizing to the skinny man, clenched his fists, stomped forward, and roughly grabbed my shoulder.
“Let’s go to the auditorium.”
Being pushed, I unconsciously joined the line of murmuring priests.
“W-Wait a second!”
The girl had told me to wait…!
But before I could protest, the man bumped my head against his hand.
Stars danced before my eyes.
“Ouch!”
Rubbing my aching head, the man snapped impatiently.
“Walk! What are you doing here? Don’t you know there’s an induction exam today?”
Induction exam? What’s that?
Still clueless, I could only be led along.
Rubbing my head, I arrived at the auditorium: a tall, white marble hall.
Inside were several priests and children my age, lined up in rows. Unlike the chubby children who had chattered about breakfast earlier, these children were all extremely thin, reminiscent of the orphans from my old orphanage.
“Is the weeding done?”
The skinny man spoke to a priest with messy hair standing near the children.
“May the glory of the gods be with you!”
The messy-haired priest bowed deeply, startled, then stood back up and continued.
“Yes, Lord Temio! These children have been thoroughly tested through four rounds and verified.”
Temio, as he was called, surveyed the children with satisfaction.
“Hmm, quite a few are blessed by the gods this year.”
The twenty or so children lowered their heads when Temio’s gaze landed on them.
“But make sure you manage them properly! Even though the bell rang, one child was standing dumbly in the hallway, so we brought them here. Are you neglecting their law studies too?”
Temio muttered lowly, pointing at me.
The priests around me bowed repeatedly in panic.
“Apologies, Lord Temio! Apologies!”
The dark blue-haired man snorted and pushed me toward the line of children.
“Stand over there.”
Shoved forward, I hesitantly took my place at the very end.
“Then let’s begin the final test.”
At Temio’s words, the messy-haired priest nodded to another priest by the wall.
One of the priests brought a white crystal orb to Temio and knelt.
“You, at the front. Come here.”
Temio called a small child at the front of the line.
Hesitant, the child approached Temio and placed their hand on the crystal orb. The moment their hand touched it, the orb glowed brightly.
“Ah, so full of divine blessing.”
Temio smiled, patting the child’s head.
When the child removed their hand, the light vanished immediately.
“Next.”
Another child, trembling, approached Temio.
“Place your hand.”
The child, eyes squeezed shut, placed their hand on the orb. The crystal flickered repeatedly.
Temio’s face stiffened.
“Hmm… uncertain.”
He stroked his remaining beard thoughtfully.
The child widened their eyes and clung to Temio.
“O-Oh! Please, let me try again! I’m nervous, that’s why!”
Despite the child’s plea, Temio only continued stroking his beard, tilting his head.
“Child, this is the Terina Church, where only those with divine power may reside. Those without power or wisdom must return home.”
The child panicked, kneeling, tears streaming as they begged.
“Please… one more chance, Lord Priest!”
Temio finally gave a faint smile.
“Very well. I will grant you one more chance out of pity.”
The child’s hand returned to the orb, which now shone brightly.
“Passed!”
The child beamed with joy.
“P-Passed! I passed!”
They wiped their tears of joy repeatedly.
What is this…? Their reaction was like passing a major life test.
I tapped the shoulder of the boy nervously waiting in front.
“Um…”
“What?”
The boy turned sharply, surprised to meet my gaze.
“What’s it about?”
“Why is that kid so happy?”
Pointing at the ecstatic child, the boy tilted his head.
“Don’t you know? They became a priest of the Terina Church.”
“Terina Church… priest?”
“Yes. After passing the divine power verification test, they’ll be a priest. They won’t go hungry again, and they can work with high-ranking people—how could they not be happy?”
Hearing the boy’s blunt explanation, I recalled something I’d learned back at the orphanage.
The Terina Church was the continent’s largest religion and even the state religion of the empire.
Priests with strong divine power, backed by the royal family and noble houses, dominated the church. It was the wealthiest religion in the land, but those without divine power were strictly forbidden from living there.
Ordinary people without divine power could visit only for worship or treatment. Unlike other religions that cared for the poor or orphans, the Terina Church excluded the powerless entirely.
And me? A penniless orphan with no money for donations or treatments.
Divine power…? There’s no way I have any.
The body I had possessed had once belonged to a villainess destined to become a great mage, summoning demons from another world to flood the continent with blood. There’s no way a villainess’s body would have divine power. Yet the Terina Church allowed only those with wealth, influence, or divine power to enter and reside.
Could it be… that the villainess in me actually had divine power?
While I pondered, all the children in front had completed the test, and it was finally my turn.
“You. Begin the test.”
Temio’s gaze fell on me.
Eh, I don’t know… But considering they’ve been treating me here for three months, I must have at least a little divine power.
Hesitant, I approached the crystal orb and placed my hand on it.
