A month had passed since I received the token from the Demon God of Pride.

During that time, I had trained in the Mana Method every day without fail in the garden.

As a result.

【 Arsene Adel 】

: Race - [ Half Demon ]

: Tendency - [ Chaos ]

: Talent - [ Position Exchange ‘Ⅱ’ ]

: Trait - [ Interest ] [ Absorption ] [ Killing Intent ] [ Darkness ] [ Mana Manipulation ] [ Eye of Arrogance ]

: Mana - [ 341 ⇒ 972 ]

My mana had increased threefold compared to my previous maximum.

This was an incredible amount.

It was all thanks to the Trait 'Interest' showing interest and 'Absorption' allowing me to focus on my training.

Even though I had only trained for a month, I had shown this much growth. If I were to continue for a few more years...

'I can't sense it.'

If I were to compare just the amount of mana, I might even surpass the children of the Six Houses.

I couldn't be sure since I was still in the early stages of my training, but it wasn't impossible.

'If it's this much.'

Suddenly, a plan for the future came to mind.

If I combined the amount of mana I had now with Adel's talent, I would be able to conquer 'that secret relm.'

There was only a month left before I entered Sytan.

So I had to gain enough strength, and this was the perfect opportunity.

By conquering that secret relm, I would be able to obtain useful artifacts.

'And at the same time, I can gather offerings for the Demon God.'

A month was enough.

It would be difficult to expect the same rate of mana increase as now.

But even so, I would gain at least 500 more in the near future.

In addition to that, there was also the token that the Demon God had given me.

I looked down at my wrist and stared at the three lines drawn on it.

'I don't know why the Demon God gave me this token.'

But it would give me the same effect as having three extra lives.

Then there was only one problem.

Swish.

I stopped thinking for a moment and turned my body around.

And I put on a friendly smile.

"Good morning."

“……!”

Rene flinched and straightened her posture.

She had been like this ever since I received the token from the Demon God.

I guess I should be satisfied that she wasn't avoiding me like before.

'I think I know what she's misunderstanding.

It was clear that Rene had overheard my conversation with the Demon God and uttered the word "priest."

I knew the meaning behind that word, so I couldn't help but chuckle.

Priest.

In human terms, it was similar to a saintess.

Each of the Seven Deadly Sins' clans had a temple where they worshipped the Demon God.

In the temple, there was a figure who could communicate directly with the deity, and in the Demon Realm, they were called priests.

Naturally, each clan had their own deity, so there were several priests.

However, that didn't mean that priests were common.

'Since it's the Seven Deadly Sins, there would be exactly seven, right?'

One for each temple.

There were a total of seven priests.

Even the clan leaders who represented the Seven Deadly Sins couldn't communicate directly with the Demon God, so their treatment was understandable.

Crete, who could kill me with just a flick of his finger, couldn't talk to the Demon God either.

That's why I had realized long ago that the fact that I had spoken to the Demon God was a huge deal.

After all, I was the one who had created the setting where beings who could communicate with the deity were extremely rare.

'But I didn't think I'd be mistaken for a priest…….'

In the Demon Realm, the status of a priest was similar to that of the clan leaders of the Seven Deadly Sins.

It was almost on par with Crete, so it was no wonder that Rene was taken aback when he mistook me for a priest.

I decided not to correct Rene's misunderstanding and let it be.

It would be troublesome if it got out that I wasn't a priest despite having spoken to the Demon God.

Also.

Priests never showed their faces unless they were clan leaders.

They were truly veiled beings.

Since Rene wouldn't become a clan leader, she would never meet a real priest in her life.

There might be exceptions, but that was a problem for later…….

Still, there was one thing that bothered me.

What if Rene told Crete about the situation?

However, it turned out to be a needless worry.

Rene hadn't said anything about the possibility of me being a priest for a month.

'In the first place, she doesn't know what I talked about with the Demon God.'

Like the blood of the traitor that the Demon God had brought up.

Or what kind of karma I had…….

Rene didn't know a single thing about the conversation between me and the Demon God.

That's why she was reacting as if I was definitely a priest.

'It doesn't feel good.'

I stared at Rene, who seemed to be nervous.

If Rene treated me like a superior when I was just an escort like now, it was obvious that bad rumors would spread within the clan.

And that rumor will surely reach Crete...

It seems that I'm already being misunderstood as a spy for the Seven Deadly Sins, so I don't know what other misunderstandings might arise.

I have to prevent that.

"Miss."

I spoke in a gentle voice.

Rene turned her head and looked at me.

"Yes..."

Rene answered my call respectfully in a small voice.

I stared at Rene's behavior and pondered.

And I became certain.

Rene thinks I'm a priest.

I had no way of knowing all of Rene's thoughts, but it was evident in her gestures.

I will use that to my advantage in the future, but it's still impossible as long as Crete's surveillance is in place.

That's why.

I have to resolve this situation in a natural way.

"I think I know what you're thinking..."

Vague words.

And-.

I brought my index finger to my lips.

"Treat me the same way you did before."

"......!!"

Rene's eyes widened.

An expression that contained the conviction that her hypothesis was correct and an attempt to grasp the meaning of my words.

I said no more and closed my mouth.

It didn't matter what Rene imagined.

If only I could get through the current situation.

All of these actions were for the plan that would unfold in the future.

Rene hesitated for a moment.

"But..."

"Relax. Relax."

I told Rene to relax and gave her a slight smile.

Then Rene continued as if she understood.

"Then... Bring me some water."

"......?"

"I'm tired from training."

I froze for a moment as I watched Rene brush her short hair back.

Rene looked at me and said in a resentful tone.

"You told me to relax."

I was speechless at her shameless and confident attitude.

But what can I do? I have to do it.

I wondered if I was getting too good at acting and took a step forward dejectedly.

To get water for Rene...