How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 38

 

“Ah, Miss Karen. How are you?”

 

She was an apprentice priest who was taking theology classes with me.

 

“Good morning, are you on your way to pray to Astarte again today?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“That’s curious, because I would have thought you’d be praying to Nanna, given your friendship with Her Eminence Enheduane.”

 

“That’s because I’m from the Euphrates Kingdom.”

 

The people of the Euphrates Kingdom are said to be descended from Astarte, the goddess of fertility, and therefore generally worship her.

 

While there was freedom of religion, Astarte was the designated state religion, and the only temple in the capital was Astarte’s, so unless favored by another deity, such as Selene, it was customary to worship Astarte.

 

“Ah! I see.”

 

Karen seemed easily convinced.

 

‘Actually, I avoid Nanna because she was the goddess who favored Selene.’ 

 

Of course, praying to the gods doesn’t give anyone access to them, and if they wanted to harm me, something bad would have happened, but for some reason I was reluctant.

 

So I went to the temple of Astarte and said my morning prayers.

 

“I’m going to pray to Nanna, so I’ll go this way.”

 

“Okay. I’ll see you in class later.”

 

After a quick greeting, I headed straight to the Temple of Astarte.

 

‘It’s a bit inconvenient to have to go through the center.’ 

 

I was currently in the Nanna Temple, which was managed by Enheduane, but in a broader sense, I was in the center of the Holy Land, the heart of the Sacred Realm.

 

Officially known as the Great Temple, or ‘Sanctuary’ as the people of the Holy Land reverently referred to it, the structure was unusual.

 

With the Papal Palace, where the Pope resides, at its center, the seven ruling gods’ temples were spaced at regular intervals, with no paths leading from one to the next, only through the Papal Palace.

 

‘It is said to be an adaptation of the ancient Pantheon.’ 

 

Pantheon means a temple of all the gods in ancient times.

 

Before the Holy Land was founded, the Pantheon, a neutral zone that belonged to no nation, was the largest temple on the continent and the only place where all seven ruling deities could be worshiped.

 

Originally, all seven ruling deities could be worshiped at once in the building that currently houses the Vatican, but as the Holy Land was built around the Pantheon, space became scarce. 

 

So, new temples were built for each of the seven ruling deities.

 

The connection to the Holy Land means that the seven ruling deities would meet in the center, just like in the Pantheon…

 

‘…Did she say… or didn’t she? I can’t tell.’ 

 

I think it was explained in the History of the Holy Kingdoms class I’m currently taking, but I didn’t remember much of it as I had only skimmed it.

 

‘This place is amazing every time I see it.’

 

The central location of the Papal Palace was a stark departure from the architecture of the Euphrates Kingdom.

 

While the Euphrates’ royal castles and noble houses resembled the medieval buildings you’d expect to see in a fantasy webcomic, the Papal Palace was something else entirely.

 

It was made entirely of white marble, from the floor to the columns to the ceiling, and curiously, there were no seams.

 

It’s as if it was hewn out of a giant stone.

 

‘Well, I’m not an architect, so there’s no way to tell if it’s even marble.’

 

For reference, apprentice priests were trained in this two-story building right next to the Papal Palace, with the women’s wing to the west and the men’s wing to the east.

 

‘It’s not like they’re forbidden to have relationships or marry, but I’m assuming they’re kept separate because it’s such a passionate age?’

 

I didn’t ask because it was written as a matter of course, so I just assumed it.

 

Anyway.

 

After prayers, we went to the cafeteria and were served a well-balanced menu with a good mix of food like a school lunch.

 

‘Honestly, I thought I’d never eat meat in the temple.’

 

Due to the influence of my previous life, religious groups are stereotyped as being worldly and ascetic, withdrawing from pleasure.

 

However, in my experience, religion on this side of the world seems to be more lenient.

 

People could eat meat and get married.

 

Instead, I was told that if I married, I would lose my promotion.

 

To be in charge of a temple, a high priest, or even the pope, one must remain chaste.

 

Paladins were an exception.

 

They were fewer than priests because they had to excel in both divine power and swordsmanship.

 

As a result, paladins were allowed to marry and be promoted.

 

‘Well, neither of those things matter to me.’

 

Because I’m not going to marry a paladin, and I’m not going to be promoted to a priest!

 

As I cleared the table and exited the dining hall, a girl who resembled a dandelion ran up to me, waving her arms wildly.

 

“Sister Laura, you’re home early.”

 

I replied, smoothing down her windblown hair.

 

“My eyes popped open early today.”

 

“Oh, is it very messy?”

 

“No. A little…”

 

Just as I’m about to tell her that it’s okay, she smiles embarrassed.

 

“Nishana, why are you running all of a sudden!”

 

Another girl rushes over, gasping for breath.

 

“I saw Sister Laura and I just ran without thinking, I’m sorry.”

 

“Good morning, Lady Syris.”

 

“Ah, Sister Laura, how are you?”

 

Seeing me, Syris cleared her throat and greeted me calmly.

 

“Sister Laura, did you pray to Astarte again today?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“How diligent!”

 

“Yes. I’ve been compared to Nishana, who sleeps so much in the morning that she won’t stir unless I wake her up.”

 

“Well, at least she wakes up quickly when you do!”

 

I glance over at the two close friends, who are bickering about something unrelated.

 

“You guys are in high spirits today.”

 

“Sister Karen!”

 

Karen, whom I had met before morning prayers, joined in.

 

As I walked with them to the classroom, I thought to myself.

 

‘It’s such a blessing to be able to enjoy a peaceful daily routine.’ 

 

When Yves and I first made plans to go to the monastery, I never imagined that I would be able to live such a fulfilling life.

 

Monasteries, called asylums for nobles, were usually places where nobles with mental or character problems were confined.

 

At the time, I couldn’t afford to drink cold or hot water, so I decided to put up with some discomfort and go to the monastery.

 

Any deviation from the original was frowned upon.

 

But to my surprise, Enheduane was kind enough to allow me to stay in the temple and train with the apprentice priests.

 

Thanks to her, I am now able to spend my time in this blissful place.

 

‘Besides, I love that no one knows the original Laura!’

 

My notoriety has already spread among the apprentices, though word travels faster than the wind.

 

They’re being trained in the religion, so they seem to have a strong tendency to judge things with their own eyes.

 

This was evident in the way Karen, Nishana, and Syris immediately took me under their protection.

 

Soon after, I arrived at the classroom, and the kids who had arrived first were chattering away.

 

“Did you hear? We’re getting a new paladin today, a very handsome one!”

 

“At this time of year? That’s interesting.”

 

“Well, it could be. We had an apprentice priest from another country arrive a few days ago.”

 

Of course, not everyone was as favorable.

 

‘People are the same everywhere.’

 

Even among the apprentices, there were cliques.

 

‘No, no. I wouldn’t call it a faction.’

 

Like the nobles, they weren’t divided by politics, but simply by personalities. It was more like what you’d see in a classroom in middle or high school.

 

The kids who were diligent in their studies and the kids who were interested in something other than studying would cluster together.

 

‘The kids who don’t like me are mostly secular.’

 

The secularists were a name I’d made up.

 

They were the ones who were more interested in worldly pursuits than becoming priests, and dreamed of marrying paladins or noblemen.

 

And the ones who cared for me were called the Faithful.

 

They were studying hard for high clerical positions, and they had a great deal of respect for both Enheduane and the current Pope.

 

Perhaps it’s because there are not many women in the clergy.

 

The current Pope, in particular, was the most popular among the women because she was the first female pope.

 

‘Enheduane was in a similar vein.’

 

That’s why the kids from the Faithful Faction were quite fond of me.

 

“Never mind, Miss Laura.”

 

Karen consoled me, glaring at the girls who’d been snide.

 

‘It’s perfectly fine.’

 

It was cute compared to what I’d been subjected to in the social circles of the Euphrates Kingdom.

 

‘They didn’t frame me by making things up where none existed, and they were just making fun of what I said.’ 

 

Besides, it’s not like I was in danger of losing my life because of their ridicule, so I honestly didn’t care.

 

Instead, I was just grateful to Karen for supporting me.

 

“Thank you for your concern.”

 

Karen’s stiff expression softened as I smiled gratefully.

 

“You seem to be doing fine, but if anything happens, please let me know.”

 

“Me too! I’ll help in any way I can!”

 

“Wouldn’t it be most helpful for Nishana to stay still?”

 

“It’s just that Syris doesn’t realize how useful I am yet.”

 

“You’ve been with her for five years, and she doesn’t know?”

 

“No!”

 

The classmates were still talking when the teacher walked in.

 

“Please take your seats, everyone.”

 

It was an incredibly peaceful start to the day.

 

💫

 

After lunch with the girls, I was about to head to my afternoon class when a priestess came to me.

 

“Miss Laura, His Highness Enheduane wants to see you.”

 

“Right now?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I’d been meeting with Enheduane once a week to research the divine patterns, but today was a day without an appointment.

 

‘What’s going on?’