Chapter 25
Light novel: Episode 25
Manhwa: Chapter 12
Dietrich had faithfully followed the Saintess’s orders to buy only the freshest and best ingredients, regardless of the cost.
Thanks to that, everyone living at the Sun God’s grand temple was able to enjoy a lavish feast for the first time in years.
“Is it really okay for us to eat like this…”
The servants and maids, who were not temple staff, looked uncertain as they gazed at the mountain of food laid out before them.
“Of course. If it weren’t for all of you, things would have been much harder for us. You’re the ones who truly deserve to enjoy this.”
Dietrich reassured them. And he meant every word.
The grand temple of the Sun God was so poor that it couldn’t even pay wages to its servants. They only provided room and board.
They had all accepted that arrangement from the beginning, but with such little compensation, it would have been understandable if they slacked off in their duties. Yet they always kept the temple spotless, as if it were their own home.
If it weren’t for them, the grand temple would likely be in an utterly unpresentable state by now.
“Well, i-in that case… I’ll gratefully dig in, even if it’s shameless of me.”
Only after Dietrich’s heartfelt words did the staff finally begin to eat. Some of them even teared up.
‘I used to think it would be enough if the temple could just survive without falling into ruin.’
Dietrich smiled bitterly as he watched them.
How many times had he had nightmares about the grand temple being destroyed during his generation?
Each time, he’d wake in a cold sweat and take a walk through the garden, unable to fall back asleep. Of course, those walks never made him feel better.
Especially when the sight of the garden under the silent moonlight was just as bleak.
But now, for the first time, he had a flicker of hope.
Now that Duke Lute Sieri had extended his hand to them, maybe… just maybe, something could change.
And the one who had made this happen was—
“Huh? Miss Hindel, why aren’t you eating anything?”
Dietrich’s steps halted as he was returning to his seat after checking in on the staff.
Among the other apprentice priests eagerly eating, Monica Hindel sat there alone, not touching a thing, staring blankly ahead.
She was the most promising among the apprentices, so it was only natural to worry.
“Do you perhaps not eat meat? If that’s the case, I can have something else brought for you.”
“Ah! No, not at all. I love meat. I was just… lost in thought for a moment.”
“All right then, take your time and enjoy.”
Dietrich smiled warmly at her reassurance and was just about to go on his way when—
“The Saintess has arrived.”
Victoria’s clear voice rang out across the noisy dining hall.
As if someone had given a signal, the chatter, the clinking of dishes, and even the sounds of chewing abruptly stopped.
Dietrich let out a small sigh in his heart.
It was Ordell who had extracted—no, collected—money from Duke Sieri under the pretext of a relic tax and ordered the feast to be prepared.
He still harbored suspicions toward her due to her sudden shift in behavior, but that didn’t mean he intended to dismiss her contributions. This entire feast was thanks to her.
Still, since no one else knew the full story, their reactions remained just like this.
“Wow, that smells amazing. I can’t remember the last time I caught the scent of grilled meat.”
Ordell entered the dining hall alongside Victoria.
She showed no concern for the awkward silence, taking her seat at the head of the table with a calm expression.
“Oh, did I stop everyone from eating? Don’t mind me. Please, go ahead and enjoy. You too, Lady Victoria, eat plenty.”
As Ordell sat down, Victoria gave a small nod and headed toward her own empty seat.
The two of them acted as if everything were completely normal but those watching were on edge.
Even Airek and Seth, seated on either side of her, seemed to be sneaking glances at her, unsure of how to act.
‘I guess I’ll have to step in.’
Dietrich realized he was the only one who could break the tension in the room right now.
He swallowed hard and strode forward confidently.
So he didn’t see it that behind him, Monica Hindel had her hands clamped over her mouth, eyes locked on Ordell.
Her blue eyes were sparkling far too brightly.
* * *
I had already sensed the awkward silence in the dining hall the moment I entered.
But honestly, I didn’t care all that much. More than that, it was the rich scent of meat surrounding me for the first time in ages that took priority.
“Priest Dietrich did an excellent job picking out the ingredients. This is seriously delicious.”
The piece of meat I ate as soon as I sat down was absolutely perfect.
I’m not exactly the sentimental type, but it felt like I could cry.
Truly, humans are meant to live on meat.
“I’m glad to hear that. I’ve actually been thinking of changing our supplier, and I suppose this place will be our go-to from now on.”
I nodded at Dietrich’s response.
“And we’ll also need to find a new head chef and sous-chef. Preferably someone who understands how to balance nutrition properly.”
The previous head chef, Kento, may have had some culinary skill, but he knew nothing about nutrition.
He only ever fussed over the meals of the irritable Ordell, while the rest of them were given broth so watery it barely had ingredients in it.
To make matters worse, he embezzled funds from the food budget and handed it straight over to Count Kiris.
“I’ve thought about that as well, but… it’s not easy since most qualified people are quite expensive.”
In other words, we don’t have the money to pay for them.
I really needed to find a way to resolve this fundamental issue soon.
Gesturing to Dietrich to focus on his own meal now, I turned my gaze toward Airek, who was seated on my left.
Unlike everyone else, who was so dazzled by the lavish spread that they were shoveling food into their mouths, he continued to eat with the same neat, composed demeanor.
“…Is there something you wish to say to me?”
Something I want to say? Oh, plenty.
“Why are you picking at your food like that? You’re tall and broad-shouldered to begin with so if you don’t eat properly, what’ll happen to your health? Eat that. And that too. Come on now, you’re already frail enough, you need to eat well if you want to grow strong.”
Cough.
My concerned words were followed by a chorus of coughing all around.
Seth was covering his mouth with his hand. His face had also gone bright red. He must’ve choked for real.
What’s with them? Was my concern that weird?
“…I’m eating just fine. And I’m not frail.”
“You collapsed earlier today over practically nothing. It’s all because you’re not getting enough protein. So come on, eat up. Meat tastes best while it’s still hot.”
I called over a servant and told them to grill more meat for the High Priest to eat.
“Saintess, really, I’m fin—”
“—You’re not, so eat lots and lots. And why aren’t you eating either, Captain?”
I snapped my head around to look at Seth, seated across from me.
“You’re way broader and more muscular than the High Priest, so you should be eating twice as much. Meat’s essential for knights, you know.”
More meat power for this one, too.
At my bold proclamation, I saw a few servants scrambling off into the kitchen.
I’m sorry for interrupting their meal, but the ones who work the hardest in this grand temple are Airek and Seth so it can’t be helped.
“S-Saintess, really, I’ve had enough to eat—”
“What do you mean enough? I’ll handle the money-making, so you two can eat without a care in the world. You’ve worked yourselves down to skin and bones. It’s heartbreaking.”
“But just now, you said I was big—”
“Your frame and your meat are separate things. Now come on, eat up.”
I alternated between patting Airek and Seth on the shoulder.
From somewhere, I could hear someone whispering something about how I looked like a grandmother fussing over her grandkids at the dinner table but I ignored it.
They’re not technically grandkids, but with my mental age, I’m definitely older than both Airek and Seth in spirit.
Besides, if these two stay healthy, my future stays bright so I have to make sure they’re well-fed.
“S-Saintess! The next batch of meat is ready.”
“Please set it here. Hmm, although… this doesn’t look like quite enough—”
“It’s more than enough!”
“It’s fine!”
When I said that I was dissatisfied at the mountain of meat, Airek and Seth shouted in unison from either side.
Of course, as a proud member of the rice-with-side-dishes nation from hell (i.e., Korea), I paid no attention and shouted for more meat.
Now this feels a little more satisfying.
* * *
“Ah, I’m so full. Did you eat well too, Lady Victoria?”
After the joyous meat feast, I returned to my room and patted my full belly.
“Of course. I can’t even remember the last time I had such a feast. All the Holy Knights were overjoyed as well.”
“That’s good to hear, ah, it’s a shame I couldn’t eat more.”
With Ordell’s garbage-tier stamina, her food intake was just as tragic.
All that meat was dancing in front of my eyes, but I couldn’t eat any more because my stomach felt like it was going to burst. It was so unfair, I could cry.
No wonder her stamina is garbage if she eats like this.
This won’t do. Just like with the workouts, I need to take drastic measures when it comes to food, too.
There’s no way I’m living the rest of my life pecking at crumbs like a bird.
Knock knock.
That was when someone came to see me. And the visitor Victoria announced was quite the surprise.
“Apprentice priestess Monica Hindel wishes to speak with the Saintess.”
Monica Hindel.
She was definitely one of the significant supporting characters that appeared in the original story.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
If there are any errors, whether it be grammatical, spelling, translation, or website-related issues, feel free to let me know. (´◡`) Anyway, thank you for reading!