On the other side of the mirror, Columbina finished reading the diary and caught Sandrone’s glance toward the mirror, which carried a hint of transferred resentment.
“Uh…”
She rubbed her nose somewhat awkwardly.
It seemed, appeared, possibly…
that Sandrone’s bad luck really did have something to do with her?
At the very least, her own believer had dismantled the door, and she herself had eaten all the flavor out of the dinner.
“I should do something to compensate…”
Columbina thought to herself.
Looking at Sandrone’s financial situation, giving money directly would be the most practical.
But she didn’t have any of this world’s currency on hand.
She had plenty of Primogems, but with a 1 Primogem to 1 Gold Coin exchange rate, using Primogems to get money for Sandrone felt like a bit of a loss; after all, Primogems could be used for gacha pulls and self-improvement.
The best way would be to have her believers make a “voluntary contribution.”
She pulled up the [Believer Management] interface.
[Gray] (Casual Believer)
Status: Active.
Source of Faith: Moon Goddess (Pseudo).
Recent Activity: Obtained “Stardust” (lunar soil); suspected to be attempting to use it for Advancement preparations.
Emotions: Grateful, in awe, mixed with a hint of unease (worried about the price to pay).
[Barbara] (Fanatic)
Status: Active.
Source of Faith: Moon Goddess (New Moon Church).
Recent Activity: Completed an emergency rescue directive; performing daily duties as a Church of the Earth nun and secret prayers for the New Moon Church.
“Just knowing names and statuses isn’t enough.”
She muttered to herself, her finger unconsciously tapping her chin.
“If I’m going to solicit donations, I first need to see if the donors’ pockets are deep enough and if it’s convenient.”
With a thought, the mirror’s surface rippled like a stone thrown into water, and the image split into three clear sections, like three side-by-side surveillance monitors.
The top left was Barbara’s perspective, the top right was Gray’s, and the larger area at the bottom remained the real-time feed of Sandrone’s shack.
“Tsk, this really does feel a bit like being an old man in a security room.”
Columbina was amused by her own association and adjusted her sitting posture, preparing to begin her “Believer Observation Diary.”
The image swayed slightly with Barbara’s footsteps.
She was walking along a street paved with neat stone slabs, lined with rows of standing houses on both sides.
The gas streetlights were already lit, casting a dim yellow glow.
The houses were mostly three or four-story brick structures with small front yards or cast-iron balconies; though not exactly luxurious, they were neat and orderly, forming a sharp contrast with the dilapidated chaos of the area where Sandrone lived. New chapters come out on novelping(.)com first.
Occasionally, private carriages decorated with family crests drove by, and decently dressed gentlemen and ladies strolled under the streetlights.
“A middle-class neighborhood.
It seems the background the system arranged for Barbara is quite good.”
Columbina judged.
This was much better than Sandrone’s living environment; at least she didn’t have to worry about drafty doors and public toilets.
Barbara walked briskly into a house with a dark green door and a nameplate that read “Dr.
Page’s Residence.”
The scene inside made Columbina raise an eyebrow.
The foyer was covered with a Persian-style rug with intricate patterns but slightly worn edges; the walls were covered in warm-toned floral wallpaper, and an oil painting depicting a pastoral scene hung there.
The mahogany coat rack against the wall was of exquisite workmanship.
The room was warm, with embers still glowing in the fireplace, giving off a pleasant smell of firewood.
The overall effect wasn’t exactly opulent, but it exuded an air of substantial comfort everywhere.
A middle-aged man wearing a dark vest, his hair meticulously combed and his expression gentle, walked out from the inner room holding a newspaper.
“Barbara, you’re a bit later than usual today.
Was there a lot to do at the orphanage?” His voice carried concern.
“Sorry, Father.
After choir practice, I went to visit a…
fellow believer who wasn’t feeling well.”
Barbara took off her beret, her beige twin-tails falling naturally.
Her tone was light, skillfully concealing the truth.
“Was your surgery successful today?”
“It went well enough.
A dockworker’s appendicitis; luckily he was brought in just in time.”
The father—evidently a doctor—nodded, his gaze affectionate.
“There’s stew and bread left for you in the kitchen, go eat something.
Remember not to read too late.”
“Okay, Father!” Barbara replied obediently and headed for the kitchen.
Seeing this, Columbina had a good idea of the situation: Barbara’s family belonged to the typical middle class.
Her father was a respected doctor with a stable income, and their life was comfortable—certainly not the bottom-tier struggle where one had to worry about the next meal like Sandrone.
As a Novice Nun, although Barbara’s personal allowance was meager, her family was fully capable of providing support.
She had financial capacity to spare.
The room wasn’t large, but it was arranged warmly and neatly: a single bed with a white lace coverlet, a small bookshelf filled with books, a desk, and a small wooden cross hanging on the wall.
She sat at the desk and habitually took out the small mirror that served as the connection point, preparing for her daily secret prayer.
Just then, the mirror’s surface glowed with the moon-white Glimmer she was both familiar with and held in awe.
Barbara immediately straightened her back, her right hand instinctively making that unique New Moon hand sign.
She whispered respectfully, “Lord Moon Goddess, your loyal servant is here to listen.”
Columbina’s phantom image in the mirror nodded slightly, and an ethereal but relatively casual thought was transmitted: “Barbara, relax.
There is something I need you to look into.”
“Please give me your command!” Barbara’s eyes lit up; being directly assigned a task by the “Moon Goddess” made her feel deeply honored.
“The girl you helped today…
she is someone connected to me.”
Columbina chose her words carefully to make Barbara take it seriously.
“Her current situation is quite difficult.
Without exposing yourself or me, if possible, please look after her appropriately.
For example…
ensure she doesn’t run into problems due to hunger or illness.
Of course, your own safety and secrecy are paramount.”
“I understand, Lord Moon Goddess!”
Barbara nodded vigorously, a sense of mission appearing on her face.
“I will use the name of the Church of the Earth’s care for impoverished students to find an opportunity to approach her and provide some help.
I will definitely not arouse suspicion.”
“Very good.”
Columbina paused and took the opportunity to ask, “Additionally, my understanding of the current world is still shallow.
Tell me everything about this place.”
Although Barbara felt a hint of surprise that the “Moon Goddess” would ask about mundane common knowledge, her Fanatic’s mind automatically rationalized it:
This must be the Moon Goddess’s further inspection of the mortal world, or a prelude to some deep meaning.
She immediately answered seriously:
“To answer Lord Moon Goddess, we are in the Norton United Kingdom, ruled by His Majesty the respected King William IV.
The capital is located in the royal city of Buckingham in the south of the kingdom.
The city we are in now is one of the kingdom’s most important industrial centers and ports in the north, named Nuremberg.”
“Nuremberg…”