𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝟓: 𝐋𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲
ㅤ
“Leading Saint Lulumia, ever since you took office, we have been receiving reports of decreasing protection from the Land God Kai. National declines in the output of spiritual springs due to the depletion of these springs. Protests from various influential nobles and merchants, the increase of monsters near the border, chaos within the church due to scandals involving the saints—these are all situations caused by actions based on your personal desires and are inappropriate for a Leading Saint. In the name of High Priest Mauricio, we demand the dismissal of Leading Saint Lulumia.”
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Even though she was being sternly denounced from the altar, Lulumia was standing coolly.
From behind her, a priest of the Lulumia faction raises his voice loudly.
They are priests who want to be young and innovative.
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“With all due respect, we challenge High Priest Mauricio’s assertions. To begin with, Leading Saint Lulumia took office hastily. She has been actively working to repair the damage that occurred during the previous Leading Saint’s term, and we would argue that it is a fallacy to judge these as actions based on personal desires.”
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The priest, gripping his passionate fist, argues.
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“Wasn’t it the previous Leading Saint, Charlene, who was disrupting order by initiating reforms? For example, the abolition of the traditional free saint dispatch service can be said to be a major blunder. On the other hand, since her inauguration, Leading Saint Lulumia has been striving to protect the original authority of the church. It is wrong to condemn her.”
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A priest of the High Priest faction retorts.
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“During the previous Leading Saint’s term, there were no issues with the output of the spiritual springs, and profits were increasing even with the abolition of the free saints dispatch service. While claiming to return to the old regime, there are many unexplainable actions taken by Leading Saint Lulumia such as her frequent outings and gatherings. There are also suspicions of off-the-book records for hospitality expenses――”
“Who was Charlene Hiraes to begin with, without taking responsibility for a concrete explanation――”
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The two generations of factions clashed with vehement arguments.
In the center of it all, Lulumia, with a cool expression, was looking at High Priest Mauricio.
There was a reason for her attitude, even though she was being condemned.
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“. . . . . .High Priest Mauricio.”
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When everyone fell silent, Lulumia finally spoke.
In her gentle and beautiful voice, she softly questioned the High Priest.
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“I am the one who was appointed amidst the confusion as a successor to the sudden ‘return’ of the [Summoned Saint from Another World]. It would be easy to condemn my powerlessness as I am still dealing with the aftermath of the previous holder’s term after just a few months of taking office. . . . . .But if you condemn me, who else can fulfill this role?”
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The High Priest faction remains silent.
Yes. All the capable saints have been crushed, and in the state where the [Origin of Charlene] is grasped as a weakness of the High Priest faction, there is no choice but to choose Lulumia.
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“Moreover. . . . . .if you claim to speak for God’s anger, should you not ignore the corruption brought about by “her” as the Leading Saint? I believe that’s what you should be concerned about.”
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The members of the High Priest faction grimace at Lulumia’s statement.
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“What an audacious remark. . . . . .”
“Know your place, Leading Saint Lulumia!”
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However, the High Priest and his close associates can only look down at Lulumia with bitter faces.
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Only the High Priest and a few others know that Charlene came from the outskirts.
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The contamination that Charlene was killed in the Saint’s dormitory.
The contamination that Charlene is originally a woman of low birth.
The weakness that the High Priest faction elevated Charlene, concealing her origin.
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In the end, the High Priest could not stand up to Lulumia any further. The council finally agreed to continue with Lulumia as the Leading Saint.
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After the council, Lulumia was walking with a smug face, but turned pale when she saw the person waiting for her in the corridor.
It was her real father――Duke Horsewood, the Prime Minister, who had also participated in the council.
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“Otou-sama. . . . . .”
“. . . . . .Come to the dining hall.”
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With just those words, Lulumia felt a cold sweat running down her spine.
Her hands were shaking.
Her life was completely in her father’s hands.
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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Inside the dining hall of the Duke Horsewood estate, the silence was so profound that even breathing echoed.
At the end of a long table covered with a stark white tablecloth, Duke Horsewood, the head of the house, moved his knife. Facing him, Lulumia was not seated diagonally opposite him, but rather at the end of the table, even further to the left. As the child of a concubine, Lulumia was not granted the right to dine across from her father.
Appetizer, fish, meat. Though she chewed whatever was served, Lulumia tasted nothing.
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“What’s going on?”
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Her father suddenly broke the silence.
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“Two months have already passed since you were given your time. The struggle to control the church’s influence and to retire the high priest on grounds of ill health seems to be going badly. Are you saying that my flexibility is insufficient?”
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――It’s only been two months, Otou-sama. Don’t rush.
But she couldn’t say that.
Even though she could be firm with the high priest, using his weakness, Charlene, as a shield, Lulumia was powerless before her father, who was her backing. Told to show results quickly, she was at a loss for a response.
She had to avoid being discarded.
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Her hand trembled. In order not to make a sound with her knife, Lulumia lifted her cutlery off the plate and replied,
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“That’s not the case at all. . . . . .little by little, results are coming. The high priest faction has yet to find a leading saint more competent than me, and I am steadily increasing my influence. Please wait a little longer, Otou-sama.”
“A rotten fruit can’t be given more time, Lulumia.”
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After a lengthy silence, her father spoke quietly.
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“I didn’t put you, a concubine’s child, in the inappropriate position of Duke’s daughter because I trust you. It’s a grace period until your commodity value decreases. . . . . .If you can’t show results by the time you’re 18, you’ll be married off to a neighbouring country and given a life as a spy as planned.”
“I understand. I will deliver better results to you, Otou-sama, than becoming a spy in a neighbouring country.”
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After that, her father didn’t utter a word.
Amidst the oppressive silence, Lulumia simply swallowed her meal. Even when her stomach acid threatened to rise, she pushed it back with water.
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After finishing his meal, her father left.
As if their charge had disappeared, all the servants also left, leaving only Lulumia.
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In the most luxurious dining hall in the country, Lulumia put down her cutlery.
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“I am. . . . . .”
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Among the assortment of fruits left as a dessert after the meal, there was one particularly large orange.
Its vivid colour reminded her of the hateful, inferior calico cat’s eyes――In a fit of rage, Lulumia seized the orange.
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“I’m different from you. I’m the Duke’s daughter.”
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Driven by her feelings, she smashed the orange on the tablecloth.
The bright orange juice, like droplets of blood, soiled the stark white tablecloth and Lulumia’s saintly attire.
Gritting her teeth, Lulumia cursed the woman who had died, escaping like a victor.
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“I will. . . not fall like you. I won’t die a gruesome death, scattering my innards. I’m Duke Horsewood’s daughter. As a Duke’s daughter, I’ll take everything I want, including the position of the leading saint. . . . . .”
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Lulumia licked the fruit juice staining her hand.
The sharp, mocking sour taste made Lulumia’s tongue tingle.
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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Night.
Even when the spring dried up, the bathing in the cathedral of the leading saint remained the same. For Lulumia, it wasn’t bad to have a place where she could be alone, so she continued, even if the water was dried up.
The inside of the cathedral with high ceilings was entirely adorned with magnificent mosaic tiles. The spout-like place in a high position was dry, and below it, water was laid out.
In the spout, there is a rusted long stick at an angle. It’s said to be a sacred relic of the first leading saint, but to Lulumia, it looked nothing more than a dirty stick.
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Overlooking the large bathtub, Lulumia shrugs her shoulders.
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“It’s a lot of trouble to fill it with hot water.”
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By the way, the maids of the saint have changed to new faces. The original maids were all spies of the high priest faction, sent to check the dryness of the spring without being discovered by Lulumia.
She offer prayers just for the form, of course, nothing happens.
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“. . . . . .There’s no such thing as God.”
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Lulumia relaxed her body and sank into the bath, looking up at the ceiling.
A white giant snake was drawn on the ceiling. It is said that the Land God Kai originally has the form of a glowing serpent god―such things were only likening the water pillar of the spiritual spring to a snake.
“There’s no such thing as Kami-sama. If Kami-sama existed, he wouldn’t forgive a superficial saint. There’s no way I, who have discarded such a foolish thing as chastity, can use the saint’s unique ability.”
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There’s no faith in Lulumia. If there were a god in this world as the church advertises, punishment would have fallen on many people long ago.
The high priest who fabricates the saint of another world.
Lulumia, who continues to be the leading saint under the guise of a virgin.
Even her father, who makes up the reason for invading the neighboring country, is the same.
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“But I do cherish God. Because there is faith, I have been given the opportunity.”
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After the killing of Charlene, security in the dormitory of the saints has been strengthened.
Due to the consideration of the second prince, who is studying abroad, several members of the Knights, who he nominated, became affiliated with the Order of Holy Knights as new guards for Lulumia.
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The fact that an outsider becomes a member of the Holy Knights is unusual, and there has been some confusion as some disgruntled knights have left. However, Lulumia was grateful for the support. There are rumors that the Holy Knights were responsible for killing Charlene, and Lulumia, who is resented by the High Priest faction, can rely on the support of outsiders. They listen to what Lulumia says without hesitation, willingly lend a hand in dealing with traitors, and it has been a great help.
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“The second prince and I might get along.”
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Lulumia thought of the younger second prince with short hair and masculine traits. She typically dislikes concubines, but being his concubine might result in somewhat better treatment.
Much better than the mentally ill first prince.
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“When he returns home temporarily, I definitely want to meet him.”
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Lulumia whispered with hope in her chest.
And surprisingly soon, in a surprising form, Lulumia’s hope would come true.
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The king has become prone to poor health.
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