Chapter 110

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“Please follow me, Saintess.”

Within the Grand Temple, everyone addressed me as “Saintess.”

I still couldn’t get used to the title. Every time I heard it, something felt off.

As I walked after the priest guiding us, I discreetly took in the interior of the temple.

Unlike the Imperial Palace, which was drenched in lavish ornamentation, this place was restrained to the point of austerity.

Everything was white—so white it practically screamed holy.

“We have arrived. The High Priest is waiting for you inside.”

Before long, we reached what looked like a small chapel.

It didn’t seem to be a space open to ordinary worshippers. More likely, it was a private prayer chamber reserved for high-ranking clergy.

The High Priest was already kneeling within.

At first, I assumed he was praying to the statues of the Three Goddesses.

But as I stepped closer, I realized—

He was kneeling with his back to the statues.

Facing me.

“…!”

Caught completely off guard, I froze awkwardly in place.

‘W-What is this supposed to be?’

Just then, the High Priest slowly lifted his head.

His eyes… were covered with a white blindfold.

‘Don’t tell me… he can’t see…?’

And yet, somehow, it felt as though his gaze was fixed precisely on me.

A moment later, two streams of tears slid down his cheeks.

‘Huh—…’

I barely had time to flinch in shock.

The High Priest suddenly bowed low, striking his forehead against the stone floor in full prostration.

Not once.

Ten times.

“W-Wait a moment!”

Unable to just stand there and watch, I hurried over and stopped him.

“Please, don’t do that—get up…!”

He hesitated briefly, then let out a quiet sigh before rising to his feet.

Standing now, I realized he was shorter than me. About 157 centimeters, maybe? Smaller than average.

“I cannot defy the Saintess’s words. I will comply.”

His voice, when he spoke again, was strikingly unusual.

Youthful… and strangely androgynous.

Now that I looked closely, his appearance made it just as difficult to tell whether he was a man or a woman.

“Allow me to introduce myself, Saintess. I am Hamartolon, High Priest of the Parakai Church. I have long awaited your arrival.”

“Ah… yes. It’s my first time meeting you. I’m Muriel.”

I offered an awkward smile as I returned the greeting.

That was when my eyes caught the gray letters embroidered across his white blindfold.

[ἁμαρτωλόν]

‘Ancient script….’

What did it mean?

“Saintess, you likely do not yet fully understand yourself.”

The High Priest spoke gently, his posture impeccably respectful. I didn’t deny it.

“That’s true. Being called a saintess still feels… unfamiliar.”

He smiled faintly at my words.

“There is no need for doubt. Lady Muriel, you are unmistakably the Saintess blessed by the Three Goddesses.”

“I-Is that so? Haha…”

I averted my gaze with an embarrassed laugh.

Was the system god who blessed me really the Three Goddesses of the Parakai Church?

What if it was some alien entity pretending to be them—or something demonic?

‘Well… I do have divine power. So it’s probably fine, right?’

“Saintess, would you step a little closer?”

Standing directly before the statues of the Three Goddesses, the High Priest gestured.

Shaking off my wandering thoughts, I nodded and approached.

Lycian did not follow. He remained where he was, silently watching me.

“The clearest way for you to gain certainty about yourself, Saintess, is to hear the voice of God.”

“The voice of God…?”

“Yes. I will step back. Simply gaze upon the statues. The Goddess will answer you.”

‘Oh no….’

At this sudden verification process(?), I swallowed nervously.

What if God didn’t respond?

‘What if the system god turns out to be something heretical… I might get exorcised on the spot!’

My hands trembled as I clasped them tightly together.

Then, timidly, I lifted my eyes toward the statues of the Three Goddesses, bathed in gentle sunlight.

‘God…?’

Though there were three, they were a single divine entity in trinity.

In ancient times, there had been temples devoted to other gods, but now the Parakai Church held dominance.

‘If it’s true that you are blessing me… would you answer me?’

But no sound came.

And just as I began to wonder whether I was about to be exorcised after all—

The system abruptly displayed a familiar message.

‘Huh?’

It felt like they’d been silently watching and finally jumped in out of impatience.

After a brief hesitation, I reached out and touched the statue.

And then—

“…!”

My vision flooded with blinding light.

‘W-What is this?’

I stiffened in shock when voices—bright with delight—rang out.

“She’s here, she’s here!”

“We finally get to meet her!”

“Welcome, child.”

I blinked several times until my vision cleared.

And then I saw them.

“…!”

Three enormous figures.

‘Eek!’

“Oh dear. I think we frightened her by being too big.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t hurt you….”

“That won’t do. Let’s shrink!”

The three colossal goddesses rapidly deflated like balloons losing air.

“Hmm, is this better?”

“Not scary anymore…?”

“Sorry for startling you.”

Only then could I properly see them. Before, they’d been so massive I could only make out fragments of their forms.

‘Three of them… The Parakai Three Goddesses?’

That had to be it. The moment I touched their statue, I was brought here.

‘Unbelievable. I’m actually meeting gods!’

The Three Goddesses… radiated something far beyond mere beauty.

Their hair colors were all different. Pitch black, gray, and white.

Their irises matched their hair.

‘…They look like a gradient together.’

The irreverent thought popped into my head before I hastily shoved it aside.

Was I out of my mind?

‘But… where am I?’

The space felt untethered from the physical laws of reality.

Had only my consciousness been transported here?

I stared down at my semi-transparent hand.

“Don’t just stand there—come over here~ I’ll give you something tasty!”

Excuse me?

The white-haired goddess was luring me with food.

Like tempting a cat with a squeeze treat.

‘W-What is happening.’

Flustered but obedient, I cautiously stepped closer.

The moment I did, all three goddesses wore identical expressions of she’s so cute I could die.

As soon as I was within reach, the white-haired goddess threw her arms around me and hugged me tight.

“…!”

“Oh my~ You’re just too adorable and pitiful. Should we just keep you here with us instead of sending you back to the human world?”

N-No, that’s a bit…!

There’s a sly, adorable fox waiting for me down there…!

“That won’t do. This child has ties to the human world.”

The black-haired goddess gently intervened. When our eyes met, she smiled and introduced herself.

“I am Atropos. You made good use of the replica of my shears, didn’t you?”

“Ah…!”

So she was the owner of the ‘Fate Distortion’ shears!

Warm gratitude surged up inside me. Thanks to those shears, I had escaped a fate where I was meant to die young.

And I was someone who repaid my debts.

I immediately bent at the waist toward Goddess Atropos.

“Thank you so much for the shears!”

She reached out and stroked my head, a faint smile curving her lips.

Just then, the white-haired goddess cut in eagerly.

“I’m Clotho! Here, eat this!”

She handed me some kind of snack. I accepted it without thinking.

Soft and pillowy—something between bread and rice cake.

The moment I took a bite, an astonishing effect occurred.

‘…Jackpot.’

That was just one bite—and it went up by 48?!