Dietrich faithfully carried out the Saintess’s order to buy everything fresh and high-quality, regardless of cost.
Thanks to that, everyone living in the Sun God’s Grand Temple was able to enjoy a feast for the first time in years.
“Is it really okay for us to eat like this…?”
The servants and maids, who weren’t priests, looked awkwardly at the mountain of food piled in front of them.
“Of course it is. Without you all, we wouldn’t have been able to manage anything. You’re the ones who truly deserve to eat all of this.”
Dietrich reassured them. And he meant it.
Because the Grand Temple of the Sun God was so impoverished, it couldn’t afford to pay wages and only provided food and lodging to the staff.
They had all joined with that understanding, and since they received so little, it wouldn’t have been surprising if they slacked off. But instead, they always cleaned and maintained the temple as if it were their own home.
If not for them, the Grand Temple would’ve been in an utterly deplorable state by now.
“Th-then, we’ll eat gratefully, without shame.”
It was only after Dietrich’s sincere words that the servants began eating. Some even had tears welling in their eyes.
‘I used to think it’d be good enough if the Grand Temple didn’t completely collapse.’
Dietrich smiled bitterly as he looked at them.
How many times had he dreamed of the Grand Temple falling to ruin in his lifetime?
Each time, he couldn’t sleep and would rise to wander the garden. Of course, it never helped his mood.
Because under the silent moonlight, the state of the garden was just as bleak.
But now, for the first time, hope stirred in him.
With Duke Ruthe Sheary’s involvement, maybe things really would change.
And the person who had made it happen was—
“Huh? Miss Hindel, why aren’t you eating anything?”
Dietrich stopped in his tracks as he was returning to his seat after reassuring the staff.
Among the other apprentice priests who were eating with gusto, Monica Hindel sat motionless, not eating a bite.
As the most promising among the apprentices, she was someone to be concerned about.
“Do you not eat meat? If so, I’ll have something else brought to you.”
“Ah! No, that’s not it. I love meat. I was just… thinking for a moment.”
“All right, then take your time.”
Dietrich gave a gentle smile at her reply and turned to leave—
“The Saintess has arrived!”
Victoria’s booming voice rang through the noisy dining hall.
As if someone had given a signal, the noisy chatter, the clinking of dishes, the sound of chewing—everything fell silent.
Dietrich sighed inwardly.
It had been Ordell who suggested ext—no, collecting—a relic tax from Duke Sheary and used that money to buy food.
There were still doubts about Ordell’s sudden change in behavior, but that didn’t mean her achievements should be denied. This was entirely thanks to her.
However, because others didn’t know the full story, their reactions remained tense.
“Wow, smells amazing. How long’s it been since I last smelled grilled meat?”
Ordell entered the dining hall with Victoria at her side.
She sat calmly at the head of the table, completely unbothered by the awkward silence.
“Oh, did I interrupt your meal? Don’t mind me—please, everyone, go on eating. You too, Sir Victoria, enjoy your food.”
As Ordell sat, Victoria gave a polite nod and headed to her own seat.
The two of them acted nonchalantly, but everyone else looked visibly uneasy.
Even Irik and Seth, sitting on either side of her, were sneaking glances her way.
‘I guess it has to be me.’
Only he could break the tension right now.
Dietrich swallowed nervously and stepped forward with confidence.
And so, he didn’t see what was happening behind him—Monica Hindel was covering her mouth with both hands, staring at Ordell.
Her blue eyes sparkled too brightly.
* * *
I had felt the uncomfortable silence as soon as I entered the dining hall.
But it didn’t really bother me. More importantly, I was overwhelmed by the long-missed scent of sizzling meat.
“Priest Dietrich really picked excellent ingredients. This is absolutely delicious.”
The piece of meat I ate as soon as I sat down was divine.
I’m not the sentimental type, but I seriously felt like crying.
Yes, humans are meant to live on meat.
“I’m glad to hear that. I was actually considering changing suppliers—now I definitely will.”
I nodded at Dietrich’s reply.
“And we’ll need a new head chef and sous chef too. Preferably someone who understands nutritional balance.”
The previous head chef, Kento, had some talent for flavor but knew absolutely nothing about nutrition.
He only took care to serve decent food to the irritable Ordell, and gave the others soup without a single solid ingredient.
He even embezzled the food budget and handed it over to Count Kiris.
“I’ve considered it as well… but most qualified people are hard to come by.”
Which meant there was no budget to pay them.
I really needed to find a way to fix that fundamental issue soon.
I gestured for Dietrich to continue eating, then turned my gaze to Irik sitting on my left.
Unlike everyone else who was stuffing themselves, dazzled by the luxurious spread, he was eating with his usual composure.
“……Do you have something to say to me?”
Something to say? Oh, plenty.
“Why are you eating so daintily? You’re a tall and broad man—you should be eating much more. You won’t stay healthy like that. Have some of this too, and that one. Geez, weak people need to eat more to build strength.”
Cough.
My sincere concern triggered coughs from several people around us.
Seth was also covering his mouth, his face red from choking.
Why are they reacting like this? Is my concern weird?
“……I’m eating quite well. And I’m not weak.”
“You collapsed over practically nothing earlier today. That’s from a protein deficiency. You need to eat a lot more. Meat tastes best when it’s hot, you know.”
I called over a servant and told them to bring more grilled meat for the High Priest.
“Saintess, really, I’m—”
“—not fine, so eat a lot. Captain of the Holy Knights, why aren’t you eating either?”
I turned to face Seth, who was sitting across from me.
“You’re even bigger than the High Priest and have more muscle, so you need to eat twice as much. Meat is vital for knights, you know.”
Another meat recruit.
As I raised my voice, a few servants hurried off to the kitchen.
Sorry for interrupting the meal, but Irik and Seth do most of the work around here, so this is unavoidable.
“S-Saintess, I’m already eating plenty…”
“Plenty, my foot. I’ll work hard to earn the money, so you two don’t worry about a thing and just eat to your heart’s content. You’ve worked yourselves to the bone—literally. It’s pitiful.”
“You just said I was big…”
“Bone structure and flesh are different things. So eat up.”
I alternated between patting Irik and Seth on the shoulders.
Someone muttered in the background that I looked like a grandmother fussing over her grandchildren, but I ignored it.
They’re not quite grandchild-age, but mentally, I’m definitely older than both Irik and Seth.
Besides, their health means my future. I have to feed them well.
“Saintess! More meat has arrived.”
“Set it down here. Hmm, but this still looks a little lacking…”
“It’s enough!”
“It’s more than enough!”
Both Irik and Seth shouted simultaneously from either side when I eyed the mountain of meat and voiced my dissatisfaction.
But I, a true Korean from the rice-and-side-dishes hellscape, didn’t listen and called for more meat.
Now this is more like it.
* * *
“Ah, I’m so full. Did you enjoy it too, Sir Victoria?”
After the joyful meat feast, I returned to my room and gave my full belly a satisfied pat.
“Of course. I can’t remember the last time I ate so well. All the Holy Knights were delighted.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Ah, I wish I could’ve eaten more.”
Ordell’s stamina was garbage, and so was her appetite.
The meat was right there in front of me, but my stomach was about to burst. It was torture.
No wonder her stamina sucks—she eats like a bird.
This won’t do. I need a radical solution for my meal portions too, just like with exercise.
I can’t live the rest of my life eating crumbs.
Knock knock.
Then someone came to visit. Victoria announced the visitor—and it was a very unexpected person.
“Apprentice priestess Monica Hindel requests to see the Saintess.”
Monica Hindel.
A clearly significant supporting character from the original novel.