I Level Up With In-app Purchases

I Raise With In-app Purchases – 20

EP.20 The Saintess Knocks on the General Store’s Door (3)

“It must have been quite a shock.”

She pouts her lips and looks down at the floor.

Fidgeting with her hands, she repeats his words to herself in her mind.

‘It must have been quite a shock.’

…It’s kind.

She can’t say the tone was gentle, but she couldn’t ignore that he was worried about her.

‘Does he really want to make me his wife?’

He wouldn’t make such an offer to just anyone.

And isn’t he the one who said he would sell a ‘relic’ to have her?

‘I’m not worth exchanging for a relic…’

Perhaps he is the person who values her the most in this world right now.

No, he is the only one.

“I wanted to ask the sister why they do… such things for preaching. But when I was in front of her, I couldn’t speak. I also realized that everyone interested in preaching was after my body. I started to see things I hadn’t noticed before.”

“You must have had a lot on your mind.”

“When others spoke ill of the church, I sincerely defended it, saying it wasn’t like that. But now I don’t think I can do that anymore. It makes me so sad.”

Why do they do such things and make people speak ill of the church?

People already dislike and feel uncomfortable with it being labelled a cult.

She thinks she need to show those who look at them with suspicion.

They are definitely not a cult.

Their church is a place with good people who strive for the happiness of others.

“But I don’t understand why they do such things and ruin the image of the church. I thought they were good people…! The sisters don’t realize how much their selfish actions impact the church. I guess I have to tell them, right?”

She didn’t like to speak harshly.

But for the sake of the church’s proper future, it was necessary to correct what was wrong.

“I don’t think it will change just because you say something.”

He seemed concerned about her struggles and expressed a negative view.

But she clenched her fists in determination and said,

“I have to persuade them well! From what I see, if you do well in preaching, they give you a reward. I think that’s why things got so twisted. I’m going to set things right.”

She felt that if he supported her, she would gain strength.

“If I can persuade the sisters to stop doing such things, people will understand and stop having the wrong idea.”

Preaching activities will have to be put on hold for the time being, unfortunately.

As regrettable as it is, right now it’s more important to sort out the mess inside.

The overheated competition in preaching has led to this disaster, so it seems necessary to report the situation to the higher-ups in the church.

She had a feeling that if such things were happening here, it wouldn’t be any different elsewhere.

“Can I really persuade the sisters?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

He remained nonchalant.

He was angry before, but now he acted as if it had nothing to do with him.

She felt a bit hurt by his indifference, but took comfort in the fact that he hadn’t told her not to do it.

“I will make the church right.”

If she succeeded, then the way the other sisters looked at her would change.

The fact that she was sometimes detested by the sisters for reasons unknown to her was occasionally heartbreaking and difficult.

But she couldn’t muster the courage to ask them why.

‘I can’t ignore this problem out of fear. I must be brave for the sake of the church.’

Fran believed that her actions were for the good of the church, without a doubt.

Sadly, it didn’t take long for that belief to be shattered.

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Fran knew that it wasn’t appropriate to persuade people in a crowded place.

So, she discreetly called a sister to the counseling room to talk.

“What is it? You said you had something to tell me?”

“Sister, may I ask how you have been conducting your preaching?”

The sister’s face showed a flicker of panic at Fran’s question.

“Why do you ask that?”

“I know that your preaching score is very high. Of course, if it’s because of your excellent abilities, I would be happy for you. But it seems to me there might be another reason why your activity score is so high.”

“What are you talking about? Are you suggesting there’s some other reason? I find this offensive. Are you doubting me?”

If you’re selling your body to preach, that’s wrong, the church wouldn’t approve, such preaching gives a bad image to others, and so on.

Fran delivered the persuasive speech she had prepared.

She hoped that by saying this, the sister would come to her senses.

“Are you mocking me as a whore who sells herself?! What makes you so pure that you’re making such a fuss?!!”

– Bang! –

Unfortunately, her hopes were not realized.

The sister reacted with anger to Fran’s persuasion, showing hostility instead.

Most people feel ashamed when their wrongdoings are pointed out.

So Fran understood why the sister became angry after hearing her advice.

It’s hard to hear criticism.

“Sister, I fully understand why you’re angry after hearing this so suddenly. But I hope you know that I’m saying this for your sake. Your body is precious.”

“My body is precious, you say? Do you even know what you’re talking about?”

“I’ve been too inattentive until now. I’m sorry. But now that I know, I want to correct what’s wrong.”

Fran had no intention of giving up on the sister just because of this hostility.

Even if she was pushed away, she would continue to show interest and effort to persuade.

She didn’t think such an issue could be resolved with just a few words.

“Haven’t you been saying that you would do anything for the church?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then why is it wrong to use your body for preaching if it’s for the church? I’m just using my body for the church.”

“This isn’t for the church.”

“It increases the number of followers. The people I bring in make donations to the church, right? That donation money provides food and clothing for the sisters. Are you telling us to stop? If we stop using our bodies for preaching, who will provide food and clothes?”

The sister challenged Fran with a look full of hostility, as if daring her to argue back.

And sadly, the sister’s words silenced Fran’s righteous objections.

If they stopped using their bodies for preaching, who would make donations for the church?

For Fran, who had never earned money, it was a practical issue she couldn’t argue against.

“See? You don’t have a solution either. Do you want the church to fail because of your petty morals?”

“If we preach properly, the donations will come in correctly. Continuing the church in this way is meaningless.”

It was a stronger rebuttal than expected.

Fran tried to persuade with sound arguments, even though she couldn’t hide her dismay.

“Hmph! If the other sisters stop, I’ll stop too. But if they continue? Then I’ll continue as well. So don’t bother trying to persuade me, go persuade the other sisters. Got it?”

“…Yes.”

For now, she took comfort in the promise that the sister would stop if the others did.

She was confident that by persuading them one by one, she could achieve a good outcome.

“What have you been doing lately?”

“Sister Miyu?”

As Fran was contemplating whom to call to the counseling room for persuasion today, she was taken aback by Sister Miyu’s words.

“What have you been doing?”

“Uh… Have you heard about what I’ve been doing?”

“Because of you, there’s been quite a commotion lately.”

Fran thought that Sister Miyu might be more understanding.

Wasn’t she kind and caring to everyone, even showing affection and generosity to her?

“I’m sorry for causing you concern.”

“How did you find out? The way the sisters have been preaching. No one would have taught you that.”

“You knew about it too, Sister Miyu!”

“Of course, I know. How could I not?”

“You’re not doing it too, are you, Sister Miyu?!”

Fran was shocked, having believed that Sister Miyu would never be involved in such things.

“Do you think I’m any different from the others?”

“Couldn’t you preach without doing that, Sister Miyu?”

“Ha… It’s not good to talk about this here, come with me.”

Sister Miyu looked around and decided it wasn’t safe, so she led Fran to the counseling room.

After closing the door, Sister Miyu let out a deep sigh.

“I didn’t want to tell you. I thought you might react this way. But as I suspected, you found out. How did you come to know? Who told you?”

“It wasn’t like that.”

Fran didn’t hide anything and shared her experience with Sister Miyu.

“I made a mistake and offended a noble. He tried to take me away, but I managed to escape by saying I was an academy student. Since then, the way people look at me has changed. And people who didn’t act that way before started to harass me.”

“They must have misunderstood, thinking you were taken advantage of by the noble.”

Sister Miyu pressed her palm against her forehead.

“I’ve been thinking that might be the case.”

“Those bastards. They were just waiting for an opportunity. They were scared to be the first to touch you since you’re an academy student, so they were hoping someone else would start.”

It’s always harder the first time, but easier the second.

Those who were waiting for Fran to lose her virginity started to blatantly target her body.

“And they told me. The sisters…”

That they were preaching in an inappropriate manner.

“So, you’re going around telling the sisters to stop because it’s wrong?”

“Yes. Preaching in such a way is not right. And if we continue to preach like this, other people will only view our church in a negative light.”

To confidently tell those who point fingers at our church that we are not what they think, the sisters need to change first.

This was the conclusion reached by Fran, who genuinely cares and worries about the church.

And she thought Sister Miyu would agree with her thoughts.

“Don’t do it.”

“Huh?”

But that thin thread of belief was easily broken.