While My Mage Wife Grinds, I Power Up Idly-Chapter 21: The Evil Heretics Harmed Her

"How could a nun commit suicide by jumping off the church? How did she even get up there?"

"The sky has fallen, the demons have invaded the cathedral! What should we do?"

"Let's see how the Cultivator Guild handles this."

Outside the cathedral of the Holy Cultivator Guild branch, more and more citizens gathered.

There were even more people than on a typical Sunday service.

Whether they were devout believers, casual ones, or even atheists, curiosity led them to come together. They weren't interested in watching a person die; they just wanted to see how the Cultivator Guild would address the taboo suicide of a nun.

"...May our god watch over your soul, and guide it back to its place," Kidopriest continued to chant the sacred verses without pause. This wasn't just a prayer for the soul of the deceased; it was also a special magic used by the Cultivator Guild.

Under his spell, the dismembered body of the nun slowly began to reform. Like time rewinding, it was as if a shattered watermelon was slowly returning to its original form.

In no time, the nun's body was restored to a complete state, with even the intestines and blood that had spilled out returning to her body.

"Hurry up!" Kidopriest sighed in relief after completing the task, then immediately ordered the cleaning nun who was standing nearby, lost in thought.

The cleaning nun was startled by the command and quickly dropped her broom. She rushed to lift the nun's body and dragged it toward the side of the church, then proceeded to the back, disappearing from the crowd's view.

"Priest, we need to know the truth!"

From the steps outside the church, the citizens began to stir restlessly. They couldn't let this matter just be swept under the rug.

Although the nun's body was no longer visible, they refused to let the incident be forgotten so quickly.

"Priest, our god has granted us the right to know the truth! Please prove our right to the god!"

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"Priest, we must know the truth!"

"Priest, answer us!"

Faced with the rising tide of demands, Kidopriest's gaze locked onto several loud voices. Most of them were the citizens who usually didn't believe in the faith.

The devout worshippers, however, were clenching their hands, silently praying for the deceased nun.

Kidopriest took a couple of steps forward, taking a deep breath. The impact of a suicide in broad daylight was severely damaging.

If the Holy Cultivator Guild's headquarters learned of this, the entire branch would be thoroughly investigated from top to bottom.

But before that, he needed to calm the crowd; otherwise, losing the faith of the parishioners would be a serious crime.

"My dear people, I am deeply sorry that this has happened. Sister Mary was a very devout nun, and she worked tirelessly to spread the gospel of our god," the priest began, pausing for a moment before continuing. "However! The wicked heretics harmed her, planting dark seeds in her heart. Sister Mary did not lose; she defied the holy law to inspire our courage with her own actions... I confess, we have been too kind, following the guidance of our god and allowing the evil heretics to commit their crimes. They have hurt Sister Mary, and perhaps have unknowingly harmed you all as well..." Kidopriest paused again, his voice trembling with regret. "I confess, we should have awakened sooner, instead of only realizing this after Sister Mary's martyrdom. Therefore, from this day forward, the Cultivator Guild will organize an army to eradicate these heretics!"

Kidopriest's speech was eloquent, rising and falling in a manner that was nothing short of impassioned in front of the cathedral.

After his words, a large portion of the citizens' doubts were cleared, quickly transforming into hatred towards the heretics.

"Kidopriest is right! My daughter has been running a fever recently; it's the curse of the heretics!"

"That's right, oh my god, so this is the truth! No wonder I've been losing money recently!"

"Damn heretics, I'm sure the heretics were responsible for what happened to me last night, too!"

...

Not far away.

Ashu, upon hearing this, couldn't help but glance at Kidopriest again.

That priest was an expert at manipulation. Though his rhetoric was clichéd, he still managed to stabilize the situation in the shortest amount of time.

Using external hatred to deflect internal issues—this method had always been effective.

"Talk is easier than action."

"After all, there's no way to verify the dead. He can say whatever he wants."

Ashu and Anna looked on with disdain.

Soon.

A law enforcer pushed through the crowd and came forward to investigate.

The nun was a member of the Cultivator Guild but was also a citizen.

She was subject to the Guild's rules and also protected by the city's government.

The Cultivator Guild could condemn her actions and fabricate reasons for her suicide, but the law enforcers needed to investigate the case thoroughly.

"Everyone, no offense, but according to regulations, we need all of you who were present this morning to come with us."

There were many law enforcers this time, as it was during the morning rush.

Moreover, this was a sacred site, and a suicide here needed to be taken seriously.

Aside from the citizens, the nuns, priests, and congregation members present had to go along. This also included the two individuals who entered the church but were not part of the congregation.

A tall figure approached Ashu and Anna.

"Hey, you two. We meet again. Let's go, we need to talk," Kyle, facing away from the crowd and priests, gestured toward Ashu.

Ashu was puzzled but knew how to act in such a situation.

"Kyle, law enforcer, we're just as shocked as everyone else."

"Then let's go."

In this manner, Kyle, in his capacity as a law enforcer, took the two of them out of the public eye.

The cathedral wasn't far from the city hall. The two were led into a spacious courtyard, with a security office at the side.

Kyle led them to an interrogation room and locked the door before speaking.

"Don't take it the wrong way, young ones. I'm not suspecting you. I know you're a good person—at least, I feel like you are. So we're just going through the process. This is the quickest way to get you out of the public's eye."

"Thanks."

"Of course, if you have any clues to offer, I'm all ears."

Ashu didn't embellish anything and directly recounted what he had witnessed: "I came this morning to authenticate as a cultivator. I arrived early, and upon entering the church, I found Kidopriest and the nun praying. Kidopriest had already stood up to greet us, but the nun was still praying. She was trembling, and I could hear faint crying. Then Kidopriest went to get the authentication tools. We asked her if she needed help, but she didn't respond, and then she left. By the time the priest came back with something, she had already jumped off the building."

"Tell me your suspicions."

"Shouldn't it be your suspicions?" Ashu retorted.

Upon hearing this.

Kyle rubbed his rough hands over his face and spoke, "Have you ever suspected Kidopriest?"

Ashu had suspected him.

But he didn't say that. He trusted Anna's spiritual perception; the nun had been raped, and he suspected it was Kidopriest who had done it.

But he didn't say any of that. He had no proof. Making an unfounded accusation against a priest wasn't a good idea and could bring endless trouble upon himself.

Even though he had transitioned from a mortal to a cultivator, the gap between an individual and the Cultivator Guild was vast, and this small increase in his level was not nearly enough to bridge it.

Seeing that Ashu didn't respond.

Kyle sighed. "Would you like to hear what I think?"

Before Ashu or Anna could answer, Kyle began his recount.

"You know about the fire last night, right? After it was over, Kidopriest said he was heading back to the city, and I decided to follow. But no matter how fast I tried to move, I couldn't keep up with his pace. As soon as we entered the city, I lost track of him. It sounds strange, doesn't it? And it feels strange too. But it's just that—strange. It doesn't give anyone enough to accuse anyone of a crime. But with this latest incident, I strongly suspect Kidopriest." Kyle's sharp gaze turned to Ashu. "Because after his little speech, did you see the look in his eyes? It was one of disdain."

"I'm the stubborn one in our village, always resistant to teaching. Everyone knows that."

"No need to say more, young one. I know, I understand. Accusing a priest is far too dangerous for ordinary people," Kyle wanted to make a joke, but the thought of the nun who had died by suicide stopped him from smiling. "I must prioritize the safety of the citizens in my jurisdiction before investigating the case. Don't worry, I won't put you in danger. Think of this as a simple investigation. Oh, this is a simple investigation, isn't it?"

"Yes."

Ashu looked Kyle in the eyes and responded. Kyle held Ashu's gaze, as if trying to discern from his eyes whether the answer referred to the first question or the second.

"You know, in our line of work, you can't afford to suspect others too easily. Once you start suspecting, you can't stop. Either you solve the case or waste a lot of effort. Your questioning is done. Now it's time for us law enforcers to handle things. Go home, and the city hall will announce that you're clean."