Chapter 70: Let’s Manage the Church Together

“Sister Na Naya?”

“Huh, oh!”

Only when Cardinal Ji Jige grabbed her shoulder did Na Naya snap back from her daze.

She looked guiltily at the bishop.

“Something wrong?”

Ji Jige crouched, looking concerned.

“You seem off. Adventuring too tiring?”

Perfect excuse.

Na Naya nodded.

“A bit.”

Ji Jige sighed, helpless.

“Fine, I’ll repeat myself. Yanan’s chapel needs hands. With few nuns around, I want you two to help.”

“No way!”

Meng Linna protested.

“I’ll quit the church! Then you can’t order me!”

Ji Jige turned, giving Meng Linna a terrifying smile.

“Of course. But to protect church secrets, before your resignation, we’ll send you to the Tribunal for questioning.”

The “Tribunal” name alone made Meng Linna cave.

“Haha, just watching the chapel? If you’re begging, I guess I can agree.”

Na Naya eyed Meng Linna, puzzled.

What was she saying?

Ji Jige was a cardinal.

Daring to joke like that?

They must be close.

Ji Jige paused, then smiled.

“Glad to have your help.”

Meng Linna realized she’d gotten carried away.

She nodded reluctantly.

“Fine.”

When would she fix her misconceptions?

She’d lived twice, kept her memories.

But old relationships were gone.

She and Ji Jige weren’t drinking buddies anymore.

Just strangers.

And because of her, Na Naya, the Tribunal’s ice queen, became a duke-backed saintess candidate.

With Meng Linna’s agreement, Ji Jige turned to Na Naya.

“You?”

“No problem.”

As a saintess candidate, Na Naya had no reason to refuse.

Ji Jige smiled, satisfied.

“Good. I knew my most reliable nuns would agree.”

She approached Kelly and Stone Fang, hands clasped in apology.

“As I said, sorry. I’m borrowing your teammate for now.”

“Mm.”

Stone Fang and Kelly nodded.

This was church business.

Outsiders like them couldn’t interfere.

Ji Jige was just being polite—no real need to ask.

The trio entered the new chapel.

Buying the bar next door, it sat beside the guild.

Spacious enough.

Though small, it had all a chapel needed.

The confessional was the old bar counter, isolated from the main hall.

A goddess statue, hand on a giant cauldron, stood central.

Proclaiming the church’s faith to Yanan.

With a priest, sermons or prayers could happen under her.

But the empty chairs in the hall showed no visitors.

Ji Jige walked ahead, hand gliding over the podium.

“As you see, the chapel’s not started yet.”

“So.”

Meng Linna crossed her arms, looking up at Ji Jige on the podium.

“What do we do?”

“Nothing.”

Ji Jige spread her hands.

“Just watch the chapel. To better spread faith in Yanan, I need to head to Central Church for support. Until then, no need to proselytize.”

Meng Linna rolled her eyes.

“Wow, thanks. So we just sit here? No adventuring?”

“Not just sitting. If someone seeks help, assist these lost lambs.”

Better than sitting!

“Thanks.”

Meng Linna’s sarcasm dripped.

“Thanks, Great Bishop Ji. For letting a freelance nun experience monk life.”

Freelance nuns like Meng Linna lived freely outside church work.

Church jobs were stable and sought-after.

But dealing with pesky parishioners was a universal gripe.

No rank, just work?

Meng Linna wasn’t having it.

Ji Jige expected her lack of enthusiasm.

“Of course I won’t make you work for free. First, three days a week. The other four, adventure or vacation.

Second, priest-level pay. If you want to switch churches, I’ll write a personal recommendation.

Third, free dorms in the back. How’s that?”

Priests were one rank below regional bishops.

Such perks weren’t for ordinary folks.

With Yanan’s weak religious vibe, the workload should be light.

A dream job: good money, little work.

But Meng Linna played it cool.

“Whatever. I’m not in it for the perks. I’ll do it.”

Ji Jige smiled.

“Then I’ll cut your perks?”

“Then I’m out.”

Meng Linna’s face-change was veteran-level.

“Joking’s over.”

Ji Jige pulled out keys, handing them over.

“I need to rush to Central Church. This place is yours till then. Don’t disappoint me.”

“Of course.”

Na Naya nodded, snatching the keys first.

As a saintess candidate, her loyalty was unquestioned.

Meng Linna’s reliability shone in the evil fire god fight.

Together, they should manage.

Thinking so, Ji Jige left Yanan.