Chapter 158: Don’t Worry, Secretary—You Were NTR’d Long Ago!

Translation by: Weebsread👹

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Holy Church City.

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Dawn’s first light spilled softly over the city, bathing its spires and marble courtyards in a gentle golden glow—the unwavering radiance of Alicia, ever-present in this sacred land.

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By this hour, the nuns in the prayer hall had long since succumbed to sleep. Only a few Judgement Knights remained on patrol, their armor glinting faintly as they passed beneath the tranquil sky. The city itself lay shrouded in a hush as serene as the world beyond its walls.

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“I can’t sleep…”

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Secretary Rennie sat alone on a bench by the fountain, lost in the pale morning light. She was fully dressed, her posture as neat as always, but her mind wandered restlessly.

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Ever since the evil god’s influence had been completely purged from her body, she’d felt a surge of vitality these past two days. Even her Level, which had inched upward at a maddeningly slow pace before, now seemed to be advancing with new momentum.

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So that’s what it was—the stagnation, the constant fatigue. All of it had been the evil god’s interference.

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Now, this—this was the true Secretary Rennie.

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Still, if she was honest with herself, she had to admit: in a certain sense, it was Lin Wei who had saved her.

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“He actually had the nerve to spin me as a hero who bravely infiltrated the enemy’s lair, only to fall to the evil god’s corruption…”

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“Goddess Alicia above… There’s no way anyone would believe a story like that.”

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Rennie pressed her fingers to her brow, troubled. Yet if not for that excuse, she would have been cast out of the Holy See by now. Worse, her disgrace would have splashed mud on Her Holiness’s reputation—and if that happened, the responsibility would be hers alone!

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No… I can’t let Her Holiness be criticized because of me.

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If telling such a brazen lie meant incurring Alicia’s wrath, so be it. Let all the punishment fall on her, as long as it meant shielding Her Holiness Selena.

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As long as I can support Selena, I—Secretary Rennie—can endure anything!

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“Even if Lin Wei comes charging in and NTRs me, I can take it!”

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“Yo… Morning, Secretary.”

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The sudden greeting snapped Rennie out of her resolve. She spun around, startled, and found Lin Wei—the very man she’d just been cursing—standing at her side, seemingly out of nowhere.

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“What was that about NTR just now?”

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Lin Wei raised an eyebrow, puzzled. He’d only recognized her by her silhouette, but now, hearing the muttering, he couldn’t help but think this woman was drifting into dangerous mental territory.

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“It’s nothing, just talking to myself,” Rennie said, trying to brush it off. Then she blinked in surprise. “Wait—Adventurer Lin Wei? You’re already back at the Holy See?”

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“Didn’t Her Holiness say you’d gone to the City-State of Brook for business? Weren’t you supposed to be gone for several days?”

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She hadn’t seen the Secretary since returning to the Holy See to visit her family—no doubt Rennie hadn’t heard the latest news. Lin Wei didn’t mind clarifying, seeing her look of genuine surprise.

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“I finished early. Already found the evidence against Duke Ous.”

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“And since you’re here, can I ask you for a favor?”

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He’d been planning to head straight to the Office of the Holy Oracle, but running into her now made things easier.

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Rennie blinked, curiosity flickering in her eyes, as Lin Wei produced a prepared letter and handed it over.

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“Could you take this to Peri, the intern at the Office of the Holy Oracle? Tell her to write up a report exactly as detailed here and get it published first thing this morning.”

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“And for that village near the Wall of the Border—Gram Village, I think? It’s in Duke Ous’s fief. Find out which Holy See branch is closest.”

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“Have them rush to print and distribute newspapers there, free of charge. I want this news to reach every corner of the Wall within two hours!”

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It was a tight deadline, but not impossible.

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Rennie accepted the letter, her expression turning serious. Selena had already made her stance clear on the Ous affair, and the newspapers had proven effective in shaping public opinion before. Whatever was in this letter would surely bolster Her Holiness’s reputation.

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Still, the urgency of the task piqued her curiosity.

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“If you want, you can read it now,” Lin Wei offered, noticing her interest. “No problem. But just so you know, this is important. Whether Selena can turn things around might depend on this, so get the word out fast.”

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If she read it now, she’d be better prepared for what came next. Besides, of all people, Veya only trusted Rennie.

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No matter what came up, these sorts of tasks would fall to her anyway.

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“Understood! Leave it to me!”

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It was for Her Holiness—and it was important!

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If it was this urgent, leaving it to an intern just felt wrong. Rennie drew a deep breath, straightened her posture, and slipped seamlessly into work mode.

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“Peri probably won’t arrive for another two hours. If we wait for her, we’ll miss the window. I know the Office’s routines inside and out—let me take care of it.”

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“Uh… really?” Lin Wei hesitated, just for a moment. He’d chosen Peri himself, but compared to her, the Secretary was clearly more reliable.

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He shrugged. “Fine by me. As long as I see the news everywhere in two hours, I’m satisfied.”

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“Make sure you read ahead and prepare—time’s tight, and I’ve got other things to handle.”

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“One more thing… The Tribunal is this way, right?”

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It was. But what business did Lin Wei have at the Tribunal at this hour?

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“That’s right, but the Tribunal is always under Commander Meilin’s authority. She hates outsiders interfering—don’t go provoking Lady Meilin over some petty matter!”

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“Don’t worry. Commander Meilin already knows… Anyway, just focus on your task.”

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“Whatever happens next, don’t get involved. I’m heading out.”

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His tone was so grave that Rennie found herself even more focused. If that was how it was, she wouldn’t ask any more questions and would get straight to work. She’d find out what Lin Wei was up to soon enough.

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“Hmm… I should probably preview this report…”

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She glanced toward the Office of the Holy Oracle, its windows faintly aglow in the dim morning.

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Lost in thought, Secretary Rennie strolled down the gravel path. But as she unrolled the letter and read its contents, even her always-composed demeanor shattered. Her hands trembled violently, eyes widening, her whole body frozen in shock.

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“Colluding with the Cult of the Evil God, embezzling Frontline Supplies, butcher of fief villagers—Duke Ous of the Empire.”

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“Executed on the spot while resisting Judgment and attempting to flee?”

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“Wait—what?!”

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He wasn’t even dead yet, and the report was already written?

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Now she truly understood what Lin Wei was planning!