Chapter 175: Surely We Can’t Stop the Holy See’s Benefits Just for a Bunch of Refugees, Right?

Translation by: Weebsread👹

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The cathedral in the City of Argos was hardly a grand sight.

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Beyond the modest prayer hall, makeshift storerooms and a crowded courtyard served as ad hoc depots for relief supplies. Further back, the clergy’s quarters filled out the rear of the complex—a far cry from the imposing sanctuaries of the Holy See’s heartland.

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Lin Wei extended his senses, tasting the mana that hung thick in the air. In an instant, he zeroed in on the study on the second floor.

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“Mr. Lin Wei… What were you saying just now?”

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Yalis had caught the edge of his muttered complaints—at least, she’d heard the sounds, though the meaning behind his words was tangled enough to elude her.

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“I was just considering the caliber of the clergy here,” Lin Wei replied, his tone light but edged with something sharper. “Are they merely dulled by years of comfort? Content to coast along, doing the bare minimum for the Holy See? Or are they, perhaps, quietly undermining Alicia’s divine decree—betraying the very faith they profess to serve?”

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He glanced at Yalis. “Let me put it another way—when you walked in and faced those clergy just now, how did you feel? Happy?”

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They still had a ways to go before reaching their destination, so Lin Wei saw no harm in explaining things to the Little Saintess.

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As he spoke, his mana swept out, enveloping the entire cathedral in an invisible tide—an act that would have chilled any true adept to the bone, had they sensed it. The transparent brilliance of his power rippled through every corner, mapping the presence of each soul and reflecting it back to his mind.

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Not even the sacred walls of Alicia’s cathedral could bar his will.

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“Of course I wasn’t happy!” Yalis blurted, surprised that Mr. Lin Wei had noticed her mood.

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She didn’t even need to think—the answer was instinctive, and a flicker of excitement lit her eyes at being so clearly understood.

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“And why is that?” Lin Wei pressed.

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“This… I’m not sure how to say it,” Yalis murmured, rubbing her brow. “It just felt… wrong. The atmosphere was strange. Stale. Like the place was dead inside.”

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She hesitated, her voice dropping to a whisper. “There’s a disaster going on outside, but everyone inside is just reading, praying—doing nothing. I know they can’t distribute supplies without funding, and the local Steward ordered them to wait, but… it still feels wrong. The Holy See’s clergy aren’t supposed to be like this.”

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After a pause, she added, “Even if it wasn’t their fault… If it were me, and I couldn’t get the supplies, I’d at least go out and help. At the very least, I’d use Holy Light to heal as many refugees as possible.”

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The refugees fleeing from the Northern Countries were most vulnerable to disease on the road. But that was easily addressed—a few Alchemists or Priests could purify a plague in a day.

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Yet, as they had passed through, it was obvious none of those specialists were stationed here. Not even as a precaution, despite the looming risk of an outbreak.

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“Exactly,” Lin Wei said. “There’s no life in them. No initiative, no spark. Even though they know the refugees are right outside the gates, they hide behind the Steward’s orders—afraid of being blamed if they act on their own, so they just idle away their days in the cathedral.”

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He shook his head. “If something goes wrong, it’s the Steward’s responsibility, not theirs. But by Alicia’s divine decree, the clergy should never turn their backs on the innocent. At the Holy See’s headquarters, this would never happen. Even the clergy in Lotai wouldn’t be this apathetic.”

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Lin Wei thought of Bishop Alec of Lotai—a recent acquaintance, but one whose actions he’d witnessed firsthand during his long stay in Aurens Town. He’d seen monks and nuns give up their holidays to heal villagers, and the stronger clergy band together with local adventurers to drive off monsters threatening distant farms.

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No one had to order them. It wasn’t an assigned mission. It was simply what the clergy of Alicia’s faith were meant to do—spread justice and light wherever they could.

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That was the ideal: to aid the weak, under the Holy See’s banner, wherever and whenever the need arose.

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But those people they’d just met...

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“Their faces were slack, not a trace of Alicia’s radiance about them. Outwardly, they’re still clergy, but inside, they’ve lost their faith in the Holy Light. No passion, no drive. If there’s work, they do it; if not, they sit like machines, zoning out in the cathedral. If Imperial nobles acted like this, fine. But the Holy See’s clergy? That’s a real problem.”

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Lin Wei’s voice turned cold. “The Holy See exists to embody justice and light. If even the clergy here are just going through the motions, what remains of that justice? That light?”

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Yalis’s eyes widened in realization. “That’s it! That’s exactly how I felt—I just couldn’t put it into words before. Thank you, Mr. Lin Wei!”

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Relief shone on her face. At last, someone had voiced the feelings she hadn’t been able to express.

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“So what do we do?” she asked. “Should I… should I give them a stern lecture?”

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She’d never needed to scold anyone before. But if Mr. Lin Wei required it, she’d summon the courage—just as Selena the Pope had done, back when she herself was still the Saintess.

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“If it’s only a matter of lost faith, then yes, you’ll have to scold them later,” Lin Wei said. “But as I said, I worry it’s more than laziness. What if the entire local clergy, from the Steward down, is rotten to the core?”

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His brow furrowed. “Shortages of supplies and funding are convenient excuses. But is that truly why the cathedral can’t send anyone to help the refugees? And now they’re off meeting with the city lord in secret… It makes you wonder what they’re really plotting.”

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A sudden, unpleasant thought flashed through Yalis’s mind: What if the clergy were colluding with the nobles, deliberately delaying relief efforts to profit from the crisis?

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Already, this first stop had shattered her expectations. Before leaving the Imperial Capital, she’d pictured a journey of adventure—rescuing oppressed commoners, being thanked with precious food; saving merchant caravans from monsters and earning grateful smiles and gold coins; camping under the stars with Mr. Lin Wei, exploring labyrinths and monster lairs, living out all sorts of thrilling exploits.

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Instead, their first real challenge was a local cathedral refusing to help, and perhaps conspiring with the nobility. The reality stung like a slap.

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“Don’t get discouraged, Yalis,” Lin Wei said gently. “A Saintess must face all kinds of things. Selena the Pope wanted you to see the world that never appears inside the Holy See’s walls.”

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He paused, then smiled. “Here, let me show you something. Don’t be alarmed.”

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Yalis’s eyes widened as a strange sensation swept over her mind, as if something had forcibly expanded her awareness.

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“What… what is this? I can see the whole cathedral—every room, every person inside!”

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She stood stunned. She’d never experienced anything like it. If she had this kind of power, she’d never have to worry about getting ambushed in a labyrinth again.

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Lin Wei smirked. “I maxed out my Scouting Skill long ago. Iresha’s reaction was just like yours when I shared my vision with her. I suppose this kind of ability is rare among humans—no wonder the noble daughters are always so surprised.”

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“For now, just stay quiet and listen,” he instructed.

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He focused his attention on the study. “Hmm… that one’s radiating Holy Light—must be the local Steward. And the one across from him is the city lord?”

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Lin Wei gently patted Yalis’s head, and together they watched the scene unfold.

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Voices, carried by mana, filled their minds.

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“Hahaha! Only you, Steward Doro, could come up with the idea of attracting merchant caravans to sell supplies, boosting the economy and bringing in fresh income for the city.”

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City Lord Tawatz, a man in his fifties with the bearing of a righteous official, regarded the Holy See’s Steward with open admiration. He would never have conceived such a scheme himself.

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“By drawing in traders, we can tax their goods and have them sell supplies to the refugees—so they’re the ones footing the bill for our relief effort. That’s not just good business; it’s smart governance.”

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Steward Doro sniffed. “You make it sound so mercenary, Lord City Lord. I prefer to think of it as spreading Alicia’s radiance. But yes, do make sure to raise the prices on essentials—especially food. Our residents deserve to make a little profit, don’t they?”

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Of course, the Holy See’s headquarters had ordered the cathedral to send relief and dispatch clergy to the scene. As the local Steward, Doro should have thrown himself into the task.

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But funding was a real problem for a border cathedral. After covering daily expenses, there was hardly anything left. Until the Holy See sent more support, his hands were tied.

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“Don’t worry,” Tawatz assured him. “I’ve already instructed my people. Not only will we solve the relief problem, we’ll make a tidy profit from those merchants. That’ll pay for repairs to my manor—and your cathedral as well.”

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He beamed, clearly pleased with himself. He knew the cathedral’s situation inside and out.

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“But… what if the Holy See actually sends inspectors?” he asked, lowering his voice. “Rumor has it the Imperial Capital’s about to launch a nationwide audit of tax exemptions. If they find out you’re dragging your feet on relief, you could be in trouble.”

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Doro waved him off. “So what? The Holy See isn’t going to fire me. I’ve got seniority, a spotless record, and no one to replace me. I’ll never make Bishop, but as long as I don’t cause trouble, they won’t demote me either. I earned my position the hard way—step by step, with no help from anyone. If I help the city’s economy along the way, what’s the harm? If I manage to squeeze a few extra benefits for the cathedral, is that so wrong?”

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He leaned back, sipping his tea. “The funding shortage isn’t something I made up. Ever since Selena the Pope took over, it’s been all austerity—cutting spending, tightening the purse strings. We can’t even get emergency grants, and now we’re not allowed to collect the usual tithes. What are we supposed to do? Surely they don’t expect us to divert the clergy’s welfare funds just to help those Northern Country refugees. No, we have to take matters into our own hands. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Selena the Pope.”

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He poured a cup of steaming red tea, grumbling the whole time.

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“Always with the cost controls. It’s like she has no idea how hard the clergy work. If we don’t get a few perks, are we supposed to live like commoners? What’s the point of serving Alicia’s light, then?”

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He smirked. “We’ve brought the townsfolk a nice profit, saved the cathedral money, and maybe even earned enough to renovate the place. Not even the Pope or the Archbishop could complain about that!”

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He paused, then added, “If the Archbishop hadn’t been wounded and gone into seclusion, the finances would never have gotten this tight in the first place.”

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Tawatz chuckled. “No wonder everyone calls Selena the Pope incompetent.”

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But as soon as the words left his mouth, a chill ran down his spine. He tried to brush it off—probably just fatigue. Still, the cathedral seemed unusually silent today.

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Wait… what was that look on Doro’s face?

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He had no time to ponder.

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Suddenly, Doro’s easygoing expression vanished. He shot to his feet, eyes wide with terror.

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A voice rang out—sharp, commanding, impossible to ignore.

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Even as city lord, Tawatz felt a cold dread crawl up his spine.

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“Who… who are you?!”