Chapter 14. The Trial of Three Days

The morning of the Grand Feast Day.

The Supreme Deity Order's Grand Temple was bustling in preparation for the three-day-long event.

Preparations were in full swing to welcome visitors attending the Feast Day worship services, which would continue from morning, to lunch, to evening.

Apprentice priests were decorating the temple pillars, and the official priests belonging to the Grand Temple were bringing out the sacred objects to be used in the morning worship.

“Brothers, may I ask for directions?”

Just when everyone was busy, someone spoke to them.

The priests, busy as they were, didn't think a visitor would have arrived so early and replied.

“Is this your first or second Feast Day? We’re short on hands, so please lend a hand.”

“How can I help?”

“My goodness, do I really have to spell it out for you? Just figure it out and do a good…?”

The priest, sensing something strange, looked at the person who had rolled up his sleeves and was helping carry the sacred objects next to him.

It was a face he had never seen before, but he couldn't fail to recognize who he was. After all, only the royals had golden eyes in this world.

“…Are you a Prince, by any chance?”

“Yes, I am.”

I smiled affably and continued to help, but the priests were so surprised that they waved their hands.

“Stop, please stop! How can someone so noble!”

I looked embarrassed at their refusal.

“I’m doing this because I want to. Can I not even for a moment?”

“Hah…”

A sound of admiration escaped the old priest's lips. Of all the royals he had seen while working as a priest at the Grand Temple, this was the first to have such character.

The priests naturally thought of one person who had recently been defending a certain prince.

'So this is the 8th Prince Brother Kirio was talking about!'

Right now, the order was heatedly debating whether the 8th Prince was a heretic or not.

They had also heard the rumors about the 8th Prince and had sometimes discussed the possibility of him being a heretic.

'If he were truly a heretic, could he touch the sacred objects so calmly?'

The priests thought simultaneously as they watched me continue to move the sacred objects.

Malevolent beings would lose their form or melt in terrible pain just by touching sacred objects imbued with divine power. But Radel looked perfectly fine.

'In the first place, can a heretic even break through the Grand Temple's barrier?'

A small temple might be different, but the divine barrier surrounding the largest Grand Temple in the Empire was incredibly strong. Most evil spirits couldn't even come near.

'Besides, a royal coming alone without any attendants or guards to help with menial tasks?'

Above all, my humble and modest attitude was enough to leave a deep impression on the priests.

Only after helping until the end did I ask for directions again.

“Brothers, where do I go to get to the prayer room?”

“The prayer room? Aren't you going to see the Archbishop?”

The priests' eyes widened.

It was customary for royals visiting the Grand Temple to have an audience with the Archbishop first.

Since they were the most noble in the Empire, it was considered proper etiquette for the highest person in the Grand Temple to greet them.

But I shook my head.

“I came only to offer a prayer.”

* * *

The news that the 8th Prince had come to the Grand Temple spread quickly.

And the rumor that he had immediately gone to the prayer room after helping the priests also spread.

By the time of the lunch worship service, everyone in the temple knew about me.

The reformist bishops who had come to the Grand Temple for the Feast Day snorted.

“It's for show. Isn't there somone who tipped off the 8th Prince to do that?”

“You mean Brother Kirio.”

“I heard Bishop Lambrado sent someone a few days ago.”

“So the 8th Prince doesn't know about the Trial of Three Days? Does that make sense?”

Half of them were those who doubted and disbelieved the 8th Prince.

“The 8th Prince is different from the rumors. He’s definitely different from the other royals.”

“I offered him lunch, but he refused, saying it would disrupt his prayer.”

“So he’s skipping lunch to focus on prayer?”

“The young priests these days should learn from him.”

The other half were those who were beginning to dispel their suspicions about the 8th Prince.

In any case, it was true that a change had begun to occur within the Grand Temple.

The Archbishop, upon receiving reports about me from the priests, smiled gently.

“What should we do? Shall we tell him clearly about the Trial of Three Days?”

“I wonder. Let's wait and see.”

The Feast Day had already begun.

This Feast Day, the first of the three Grand Feast Days held by the Supreme Deity Order in a year, was called the Feast Day of the ‘Thirsty Land.’

A very long time ago, the land had dried up.

Many people prayed for rain, but the heavens did not answer.

Then, a saint suddenly appeared and prayed for three days, and on the last day, the Nameless God answered, and the land was finally freed from its thirst.

The Archbishop's eyes turned to the cloudless sky.

“It seems the trial has already begun.”

“Pardon?”

“Send him the most faithful young brother.”

The priests, having served the Archbishop for a long time, could understand the meaning of his words. It meant to place eyes and ears on the 8th Prince.

* * *

I, the subject of the rumors, was holed up in the prayer room, focusing on the quest.

Next to me stood an apprentice holy knight, assigned by the priests who said I would need a guard.

At first, I wondered why I would need a guard while praying, but I let it go, assuming this was the kind of treatment other royals received when they came to the temple.

It was quite reassuring, in a way.

'It would be a big problem if someone tried to assassinate me while I'm praying, so this is good.'

I was satisfied because I could focus on the quest without any other distractions.

Although he had been looking at me with suspicious eyes ever since we were first introduced… considering the quest content mentioned unsavory rumors, this level of suspicion was mild.

But there was something more important to me right now.

About five hours had passed since I entered the prayer room and started praying.

However, not all five hours were reflected in the quest window.

Prayer to the Supreme Deity (2/48)

'Why isn't it going up?'

I had prayed for five hours, but only two hours were applied.

In fact, even the five hours wasn't accurate. I had refused the offer of lunch, so I was just guessing that it was past noon.

I had to find out what the problem was.

I tried different methods and found a way.

I couldn't just pretend to pray. It seemed the time only went up when I truly concentrated on praying.

'And I forgot there was a time limit.'

Condition: Pray for 48 hours within 3 days (Time limit 65/72)

I didn't know if the countdown started when I entered the prayer room or when I entered the Grand Temple, but anyway, I only had 65 hours left.

3 days?

Since I had to pray for 48 hours, I thought it would work if I prayed for 16 hours a day for 3 days.

But that wasn't it!

'At this rate, I'm screwed.'

I had to pray like crazy.

I had to pray except for the time I ate and slept.

Even then, it was a toss-up whether I would succeed.

My will burned fiercely.

* * *

The second day of the Feast Day.

There was no one in the Grand Temple who didn't know about the 8th Prince.

After the Feast Day worship service, the apprentice priests loitered around the prayer room for no reason. It was out of curiosity, hoping to catch a glimpse of the 8th Prince praying.

“Is His Highness the 8th Prince here?”

“No, I can't see him.”

It was difficult for ordinary people in the Empire to see royals.

People wondered if the royals' eyes were really golden and what their Abilities were like.

On top of that, a royal who prayed devoutly for two whole days! It was no wonder the curious apprentice priests were interested.

“But could the rumor that the 8th Prince is a heretic be true?”

“No way! Where is there a heretic who lives in a prayer room like this?”

They lowered their voices and peeked into the prayer room through a small window in the door.

Then they made eye contact with someone.

“Ugh!”

“Oh my!”

The apprentice priests were scared by the fearsome gaze and fell back from the door.

The apprentice holy knight who came out of the prayer room door quieted them.

“Shh.”

“G-Gusto! We were just passing by…”

“I understand. Go back the way you came.”

The apprentice priests knew the apprentice holy knight who was trying to shoo them away well. It was Gusto Zebro, who seemed like he wouldn't bleed a drop even if you stabbed him.

He was officially joining the Holy Knights this year and was a promising apprentice holy

knight in the order, famous for his outstanding skills and deep faith.

His stern personality was a bonus.

“But can't we just take one look?”

“No.”

Gusto, who succeeded in sending the apprentice priests away, sighed and returned to the prayer room.

The apprentice priests were better; sometimes even high-ranking priests would come. They were mostly those who wanted to have a meal with the 8th Prince, who was working hard at praying.

However, since last night, Radel had been sustaining himself with only bread and water in the prayer room, saying that even the time it took to move was a waste.

Even Gusto couldn't help but be surprised by that sight.

When he saw Radel, who had woken up even earlier than Gusto, who woke up at the crack of dawn, already in the prayer room, he felt a sense of desperation for some reason.

'To go to such lengths.'

Gusto didn't trust Radel.

It wasn't because of the rumors that he was a heretic. He didn't trust royals at all.

They wielded their Abilities as they pleased and treated their subordinates carelessly.

He had long been disappointed by their lack of gratitude to the Supreme Deity, despite being more blessed by God than anyone else.

Although there had been talk since yesterday that the 8th Prince was different, as a faithful servant of God, he tended to trust only what he saw and felt himself, rather than such rumors.

So yesterday, he had tried a few tests on Radel.

'I don't like it, but the Bishop was so insistent…'

First, he sprinkled holy water, pretending it was a mistake.

But Radel wasn't flustered.

'Brother, you must have known that I was losing my concentration in prayer. Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to come to my senses.'

It didn't work.

Next, he tested Radel's fatigue.

He offered a soft cushion to Radel, who had been praying for 12 hours.

'It's alright, Brother. The comfort of the body only serves to reduce concentration. I want to express my gratitude with my whole body to the Supreme Deity who saved my life.'

Radel didn't budge this time either.

In the end, Gusto had to resort to the most vicious test.

He conspicuously presented the highest quality tribute sent by the believers for the Feast Day in front of Radel. He was confident, knowing that Radel had been fasting for over half a day.

Could a royal who had never gone hungry in his life endure hunger?

'You should have it, Brother, rather than me. I am not worthy of eating such food. My prayers are still insufficient. O, Supreme Deity…'

But Radel overcame it.

To test Radel to the very end, Gusto even ate the food deliciously next to him. But as he tried to chew a fragrant green grape while watching the desperately praying Radel, he felt an indescribable feeling.

Now, who is the devil?

Gusto's conscience whispered.