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There were several reasons. She respected Abbot Wilbert, who had raised her, and she loved the monastery.
She also loved the teachings of Eridrahan, which told her to respect people and treat them with love.
But it wasn't as if she had no other motives. For example, the desire for people like Priest Vera to actually like her.
‘Poor thing.’
‘Pitiful creature.’
‘What a nuisance.’
‘Isn't that girl getting in Abbot Wilbert's way?’
She had grown up in the monastery for twenty years, but some of the priests still refused to accept her as a member of the community.
They viewed Iris as either a nuisance or a pitiful orphan, and further, as a child who would eventually leave this place.
That was why Iris wanted to become a priest. She felt that if she did, they would treat her as one of their own.
When she heard she had to marry, it was true that she felt a suffocating tightness in her chest.
Part of her felt that, just as those people said, she didn't belong here. Yet, she also thought it was inevitable.
That was why, when Rahan told her she was 'no longer a priest,' she was surprised and unable to smile.
Iris simply wasn't ready to accept the situation yet.
But why was it?
“Iris, you! You acted so devout, claiming you wanted to be a priest!”
“I am devout, even now.”
Iris replied to Priest Vera, who was pointing a finger at her, in a tone calmer than before. Her eyes, however, remained wide and steady.
“I still serve Eridrahan. I simply cannot tolerate someone who claims I merely 'treated' the person who saved me from a magical beast.”
For some reason, she felt refreshed. Priest Vera, whose face was flushing red and blue, glared at her with narrowed eyes.
“Is that so? Then since you're no longer a priest, you should know this well. Treatment at the Healing Center requires an enormous amount of money.”
Iris was well aware of that. Furthermore, treating a massive wound like Rahan's was difficult for anyone other than a truly devout priest, making it even more expensive.
Hearing those words, Iris began to truly dislike Priest Vera.
It wasn't because of the money. She hated him for trying to crush her through other means rather than admitting his own mistake.
Iris replied coldly.
“Of course I know.”
‘To think I ever wanted to be liked by someone like this.’
Still angry, she rummaged through her clothes and pulled out a leather pouch. It was the money Rahan had given her, which she had kept preciously since then.
‘Keep this and buy whatever you want.’
‘I don't want anything.’
‘I don't know. I bet you do.’
Rahan had said that as he pressed twelve gold coins into Iris's hand.
Feeling tears suddenly well up, Iris bit her lip and took all the gold coins out of the pouch.
“Here, Priest Marid.”
“Iris. You could give it to me later.”
Priest Marid replied, glancing at Abbot Wilbert, who had been quietly observing the entire situation. But Iris shook her head.
“It seems Priest Vera wants to receive it right now.”
“So she says, Brother. May I take it?”
Naturally, Priest Marid and Priest Vera had a long and storied history of bad blood.
At Marid's mocking tone, Vera frowned. Regardless, Marid counted the gold coins ostentatiously.
“Let's see, one, two, three... My, there are twelve coins. Sister, the most expensive divine power treatment at our Healing Center is one gold coin.”
Originally, the monastery's treatment fees were much higher.
However, Abbot Wilbert had capped the most expensive treatment at one gold coin, stating, ‘Those who visit this remote place are, at most, peasants.’
Meanwhile, Iris wiped the tears that had wet her cheeks and replied.
“This is money I'm giving because the grace I've received from the monastery has been so great. Of course, I don't believe money can repay it all.”
As she spoke, she looked at Abbot Wilbert.
The congratulatory gift Iris had received from the Abbot was ten gold coins.
It might look like she was just returning it, but she felt it couldn't be helped. Regardless, Priest Vera snorted.
“They said she was the daughter of a noble house, but she's already been stained by the ways of the secular world.”
Of course, Iris did not back down.
“You speak as if you hoped I wasn't the daughter of a noble house so that I wouldn't be able to pay the treatment fee.”
“What?”
Priest Vera shouted.
“Do you know what they call it in the secular world when someone hands over excessive money while talking about 'grace' without a legitimate exchange? It's a bribe! Do you intend to soil Abbot Wilbert's reputation?”
“Enough.”
Finally, Abbot Wilbert, who had been watching in silence, spoke.
Cold sweat still clung to his wrinkled forehead from the effort of treating Rahan.
Only then did Iris feel sorry for Abbot Wilbert.
‘The Abbot is old, and I made him overexert himself...’
Not only that, she had shown herself fighting uglily with Priest Vera in front of Abbot Wilbert while trying to protect Rahan.
How disappointed must he be? Iris's shoulders slumped.
Looking at Iris and Priest Vera, Abbot Wilbert spoke again.
“Priest Vera. I am fine, so do not be too hard on Iris.”
“But, Abbot!”
“I know well that you are always busy managing the monastery's household. However, you are pushing a child whose husband is injured far too hard.”
“....”
Priest Vera fell silent. Abbot Wilbert then turned to Iris.
“Iris. I understand you were startled. However, Priest Vera is much older than you. Though you may be upset, apologize for being rude.”
“...I'm sorry.”
Iris bowed her head. Her resentment had not yet vanished, but she could not be angry with Abbot Wilbert. She must not.
Abbot Wilbert continued.
“And twelve gold coins is indeed excessive.”
“But, Abbot. You overexerted yourself. Besides...”
Iris hesitated, choosing her words carefully.
“The wheat fields will soon enter their fallow period, and I heard the potato fields are a problem.”
While Priest Vera's anger was unjustified, she could understand his urgency.
The monastery's vegetable garden was practically a precious food storehouse. Among them, potatoes were a vital crop responsible for the Wind Rock Monastery's food supply for the year.
First-time visitors would marvel only at the wheat fields in front of the monastery, but in truth, the potato fields were as large as the wheat fields.
And for such potato fields to have the blight.
“I also heard that food supply from the Duke Achen's territory is difficult because of me.”
The monastery's wheat fields would also enter their fallow period starting this summer. This meant the early summer harvest was the last.
If the Potato Blight spread, it was obvious that the food supply for the poor monastery would become extremely difficult.
“I hope this can be of some help to the monastery that has taken care of me.”
Iris and Abbot Wilbert had a light disagreement. However, he couldn't do anything about Iris, who insisted on helping.
Abbot Wilbert sighed deeply, but eventually, he had to give in to her.
“Since I cannot break your stubbornness, what can I do. Very well.”
“...Thank you.”
Priest Marid, who had been watching the situation, quickly tucked the gold coins into his robes.
Abbot Wilbert glanced at Marid and then spoke again.
“However, Priest Vera is also correct. Money without a price becomes a bribe.”
“Can't you think of it as the cost of raising me?”
“Iris.”
Abbot Wilbert smiled.
“You seem to have forgotten, but I am your adoptive father. Can a father receive a price for raising his daughter?”
“....”
Tears filled Iris's dried eyes once more.
Eventually, she let out a small sob and hugged Abbot Wilbert around the neck.
“Ho ho.”
Abbot Wilbert patted her back a couple of times.
“Marid. How long will Sir Norwich's injuries take to heal?”
“Ah, yes. The bleeding has stopped and the wounds have closed, but since his spine was nearly exposed and he lost a lot of blood... I believe he will need to recuperate for at least a month.”
“I see.”
Abbot Wilbert nodded and continued.
“Use the monastery's Sanctuary for a month.”
“Abbot!”
Priest Vera cried out in surprise.
“Shh. There is a patient.”
Abbot Wilbert gestured for Priest Vera to shut his mouth.
Priest Marid and Iris were equally surprised. To open the monastery's Sanctuary to an outsider.
The monastery's Sanctuary was a land said to be where Eridrahan had descended again.
Because divine power overflowed there, treatment would be easier, but for that very reason, not just anyone could enter.
“Iris is right. I saw the carcass of that magical beast. It was very large and dangerous. A beast that could bite through a knight's throat instantly... if it weren't for Sir Norwich, neither the monastery nor the village would be safe.”
“....”
“Iris. I hope your husband recovers safely.”
Iris buried her face in Abbot Wilbert's shoulder again, sobbing, “Heeing. Thank you.”
Tears fell, but for a different reason than before.
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