Chapter 48: The Indulgence of Vivian

“Saintess, my life feels utterly bleak. My wife scorns my incompetence, and my children resent my attempts to guide them.”

“Yet, I have toiled diligently my entire life, working tirelessly at the blacksmith’s shop. Everything I’ve done, I did for them.”

“So why, then, do I feel such agony? What wrong have I truly committed?”

Within the darkened church, its curtains tightly drawn, a coarsely dressed man knelt before Vivian. She stood elevated on the platform, looking down as he tearfully poured out the depression and pain festering in his heart.

This was a regular practice of the Holy See. Supplicants would confess their deepest sorrows to the Saintess, seeking guidance, or repent their past sins, hoping for her absolution to ease their guilt.

Perhaps, for the previous Saintess, who had performed this duty for so long, such matters were handled with effortless grace. However, the blacksmith, now confiding his woes to the golden-haired loli before him, felt an inexplicable, profound distance from her.

Vivian gazed indifferently at the man kneeling on the floor. After a moment, she slowly descended the platform, approached the blacksmith, and then, with a look of disdain, looked down at him.

“John, your greatest mistake is your insufficient faith in the Divine One and the Holy See!” she declared in a cold voice.

“This… no, that can’t be, Saintess. I attend prayers at the Holy See every week, and I never miss an event at the church near my home. My… my faith in the Divine One is witnessed by the heavens, I—”

“Everything you’ve mentioned is merely what ordinary people *should* do!”

Before the blacksmith could finish, Vivian sharply interrupted him. The man was instantly startled into silence. After a long pause, Vivian let out another cold laugh, then continued.

“Your wife and children are not wrong; you are indeed a good-for-nothing. The root of all your unhappiness stems solely from a lack of money. If you had wealth, would your wife still accuse you of being useless? Would your children dare to defy your discipline?”

These words from the golden-haired loli were undoubtedly another stab to John’s chest. He immediately began to gasp for air, kneeling in a daze, utterly lost. After a moment, Vivian scoffed dismissively, then shook her head.

“But tell me, John, have you ever considered why you lack money? You’ve spent your entire life cooped up in that blacksmith’s shop, toiling desperately, yet only earning enough to feed your family. This is fate!”

“The scriptures say the Divine One will spread blessings to Their believers, but how much is spread depends entirely on you. If you were truly devout, various pies would fall from the sky, and countless avenues for earning money would appear directly before you.”

“You wouldn’t even have to do anything to acquire immeasurable wealth. So… it’s clear, you are not devout. You are sinful!”

“I… I am sinful…”

Under the golden-haired loli’s gradual psychological manipulation, the blacksmith’s mental defenses quickly began to crumble. His body trembled incessantly.

Finally, the woman, who seemed like a demon before him, slowly pulled a piece of parchment from her pocket and tossed it in front of John.

“Yes… you are sinful! But… it’s alright. There is now an opportunity before you, John. This is the Holy See’s newly issued indulgence. One indulgence, for only one hundred thousand dinars.”

“As long as you purchase this indulgence, all your past sins will be wiped clean! The Divine One’s blessings will soon descend upon you.”

After intimidating him, Vivian offered a faint smile, revealing a gentle and adorable expression. Her eyes curved as she winked at the blacksmith.

“By then, all your troubles will vanish. Your wife will adore you, your children will worship you. You could even marry more wives and live a carefree noble life, holding vast sums of money. All this, simply because you bought this Holy See-certified indulgence today!”

“I… I… I’ll buy it, I’ll buy it!!!”

The blacksmith, on the verge of collapse, finally snatched the almost worthless piece of parchment before him. He clutched it in his palm as if it were a priceless treasure.

Though one hundred thousand dinars was virtually all his savings, what did it matter? To atone for his sins, to live a noble life, no matter the cost, even if he had to sell everything he owned, he would grasp this last hope.

After all… the woman before him was a Saintess. How could the Saintess possibly lie? How could she…

****

Watching the man cry loudly on the floor, clutching the piece of parchment she had casually picked up, Vivian rolled her eyes in disgust.

‘Why is he crying? Get the money first, you idiot!’

The golden-haired loli almost wanted to kick the blacksmith right then and there. A kick to the stomach would send him flying several meters, otherwise, the fellow probably wouldn’t remember to hand over the money.

Just as Vivian was about to demand payment, suddenly… hurried footsteps echoed from the main doors of the central cathedral. Vivian turned her head towards the entrance.

There, she saw her personal nun attendant, Jennelle—the same one involved in the Holy Light Scepter incident—rushing in, waving a piece of paper in her hand.

“Lady Vivian, something’s wrong, something’s wrong…”

“Tsk…”

Vivian was exasperated by the woman. A moment later, as soon as Jennelle reached her side, Vivian frowned deeply and whispered angrily at her.

“What’s wrong? Why are you in such a hurry! How many times have I told you, when something happens, stay calm, calm!”

She then glanced at the kneeling blacksmith, signaling Jennelle with her eyes. There was an outsider present; she shouldn’t blurt out anything unless it was truly urgent!

‘She’s delaying me from collecting my money!’

“Uh… but…”

Jennelle understood Vivian’s meaning, but the situation was genuinely urgent. If she didn’t speak now, Vivian would surely be angry with her later when she found out.

So, after a moment, she bit her lower lip in distress, then spoke.

“But… Lady Vivian, this recent incident is truly very…”

“Tsk…”

At this, the golden-haired loli realized that Jennelle genuinely had an urgent matter. After a moment, Vivian, somewhat annoyed, turned her head away.

She then spoke softly to the blacksmith, “John, you may leave now. Go gather the money, then bring it to me tomorrow. Remember, you must hand it to me personally, otherwise… that indulgence will be useless to you. Do you understand?”

“Ah… yes, Saintess, I will gather the money immediately!”

With that, the blacksmith scrambled to his feet. He clutched the indulgence tightly to his chest and hastily stumbled out of the room.

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