Chapter 12: A Loophole Discovered

The Benediction’s Secret

“No, it’s a beautifully written text. The calligraphy and sentences are exquisite.”
‘Why aren’t my words being changed?’

“I’m glad it was worth asking a renowned scribe from the Temple of Justice.”

I took a deep breath to calm my confused mind.

The gods’ curse that alters my speech and actions isn’t just about filtering my curses.

It changes everything from simple greetings to carefully considered decisions.

But it doesn’t always activate.

Pure exclamations or onomatopoeia come out fine.

What’s the standard here?

‘Hey, can’t you tell me?’

No god answered.

Of course, they wouldn’t just spill it.

Stingy jerks.

I looked down at the benediction again.

The elegant handwriting caught my eye.

Did they need to go this far for something only I’d read?

Still, it gave me a clue about the curse, so I was grateful for that.

‘Hope my guess is right.’

I took a pen and revised part of the benediction.

Then I read the rest aloud.

“…May it rise again across the realm. With your aid, this place is a fortress against injustice, another temple guarding justice. I will now live for myself. In gratitude for the justice established here, we offer the most precious of what we’ve gained. May the most valuable be savored by you, the next be used for those by your side, and the rest be shared with the poor and sick, so that what remains for us is faith and justice.”

It works.

Even inserting a sentence only I’d understand, it reads as is.

So I can read written text as it’s written?

Now that I think about it, I never read anything aloud at the temple.

Prayers came out automatically when I spoke freely, so I just used key phrases and said whatever.

Ugh, so frustrating.

If I’d read properly just once, I’d have noticed this loophole sooner.

[The God of Entertainment says you should’ve done it right from the start instead of always scheming.]

Shut up.

As I stared at the benediction, Theodore signaled me with a glance.

“Any parts you’d like to revise?”

“No, it’s fine. This should work for both the benediction and the oath.”
‘Not the time to worry about that.’

I smiled brightly, and Theodore stood gracefully.

“I’ve taken too much of your time, Saintess. Just read the benediction and oath well on the stage tomorrow. It’s my first time hosting someone as esteemed as you, so I got a bit greedy. My apologies.”

Oh, really?

Just read the benediction and oath?

Then send me the script instead of dragging me here!

Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Theodore approached slowly.

“Shall I escort you, Saintess?”

“I’ll join you, Saintess.”

Before Theodore finished, Orphe stood too.

Oh, it’s getting intense.

The academy’s top free agent—me—is the prize in their little contest, and it’s quite a show.

Theodore, still with his friendly face, spoke to Orphe.

“No, you stay. We still have much to discuss.”

“Hm, what’s the point if Your Highness isn’t here?”

The staff member, caught off guard by Orphe’s question, stammered.

“Uh, well, I, um…”

“Fine, fine. You’re relentless. Stop bullying my people and let’s go.”

Not even hiding he’s taking sides now?

Pushed by their bickering, I fled the study room.

A Noisy Escort

I should’ve gone alone.

Listening to them squabble beside me was draining what little patience I had.

I ended up half-running ahead.

Of course, my short strides meant they caught up quickly…

We reached the fork to the male and female dorms.

“Wow, talking with the Saintess got us here already.”

With me? More like 90% bickering with Orphe.

How do you argue for twenty minutes about who’s the greatest knight?

No, wait, I get it.

I could debate all day about the strongest Three Kingdoms general.

My pick’s Guan Yu.

So cool with his long beard and Blue Dragon Crescent Blade.

Lately, I’ve seen slander about him blowing on hot wine or slapping Ma Liang for not calling 33 in a game, but say that to my face, and my mace, “Iron No. 7,” will crush your skull.

…Not that anyone here knows Guan Yu.

Maybe Orphe?

But I’d have to reveal I’m a transmigrator, and I don’t know if that’s possible.

“Take care, Saintess. Hero, you should go too.”

The prince turned with a farewell.

…?

Why’s Orphe still here?

Before I could wonder, he stepped closer.

“Saintess, a word.”

Without waiting for permission, he leaned toward my ear.

That absurd dream from the Temple of Dreams flashed back, and I froze.

He whispered softly.

“Beware the prince. He’s a lion with a snake’s heart. Get too close, and you might get burned.”

‘Ugh, I thought it was something else.’

Talk about a letdown.

I know, you jerk.

I also know you set the dorm on fire to get him.

Thinking my stiffness was due to his warning, Orphe bowed apologetically.

From a distance, the prince’s voice rang out.

“What’s that? Talking smack about me?”

“Yup.”

Orphe bowed to me again and followed the prince.

Ugh, so confusing.

A Missed Opportunity

Back at the dorm, Fifirel hit me with shocking news.

“The bathhouse… is already closed?”
‘I haven’t bathed yet.’

“Yeah, they said it closes at 9 p.m.”

The wall clock showed past 10:30 p.m.

Damn that prince, how much have I lost because of him?

My first girls’ bathhouse experience?! The squealing bonding with Fifirel?!

‘Seriously, what does Fifirel eat to have such a huge chest?’

‘Oh, Saintess… that’s sensitive, eek…!’

‘Hehe, your words say no, but your body’s honest, huh? Oh, already so wet…’

Give me back my event scene!!!

[The God of Justice says you read the benediction so earnestly yet have no shame.]

I have no regrets in my life!

Thankfully, there’s a small shower stall in the bathroom.

Without it, I’d have been stuck feeling grimy from today’s sweat.

Shaaaa…

Warm water washes over me.

Nothing beats a hot shower to end the day.

In my past life as a tough guy, I’d shower in cold water, but since my body’s a woman now, it’s fine, right?

I can’t give up this cozy warmth.

While washing my hair, my hand brushed my ear, reminding me of Orphe’s earlier action.

Whispering in a stranger’s ear like that?

No wonder women fall for him.

With that plot-armored face and low whisper, what woman wouldn’t swoon?

Scary, oblivious harem builder!

I decided to raise my guard around Orphe one level.

I dried off with the bath towel.

Wearing white panties and a bra, I pulled out my only luxury— a black negligee—from the laundry basket.

I can’t sleep in a rough linen undertunic.

The negligee, a gift I begged Bishop Dominic to buy, is now my precious sleepwear.

I’ve gotten used to it.

It feels like just yesterday I was flustered by my new body.

Human adaptability is wild.

I stepped out of the bathroom.

Fifirel, lounging on her bed, shot up.

Her massive Eden twins jiggled freely.

The bathhouse loss hurts so much…

“Turn off the light?”

“Sorry, can we leave it on a bit longer?”
‘Hold on, my chest.’

Fifirel nodded and lay back down.

I don’t need long to test my theory, so she’ll understand.

I sat at the small desk by my bed.

Spreading out the blank parchment I’d asked Theodore for, I took out a pen and wrote.

Then I read it softly.

“Lucky me.”

Oh, it works.

Next.

“How beautiful is one who never loses their smile.”
‘Bro, this guy’s grinning.’

Hm.

It’s not just any written text I can read?

I slowly read my sentences.

I found a pattern in what I could read.

Ordinary sentences without curses or vulgarity.

And no words that’d identify me as an Earthling.

Even a clean sentence like “I’m Junyoung Lee from Anyang, Gyeonggi-do” comes out differently if spoken.

It seems they arranged it so I can read problem-free sentences as written.

Am I a genius for figuring this out?

Mom always said I could’ve gone to Seoul National if I’d studied…

“Ahem, ahem. Done with your business?”

Oops, got too absorbed.

The clock showed over thirty minutes had passed.

“Sorry, I’ll finish up soon.”
‘Just wait.’

One last possibility.

If this works, my freedom expands significantly.

I read the new sentence at the bottom of the parchment.

“Yellowbuywant.”

It works.

It actually works?

Unable to contain my excitement, I read it again, savoring it.

“Yellowbuywant.”

I repeated it over and over.

“Yellowbuywant! Yellowbuywant!”

“Isidora, you want yellow clothes or something?”

“Yes, yellowbuywant!”

A sentence fine on its own but problematic when read.

A mondegreen trick using pronunciation.

Crafting similar sentences isn’t easy, but the fact it works is huge.

[The God of Beauty is flustered.]

Hehe, God of Beauty, yellowbuywant!

[The God of Beauty says one more time, and they’ll revoke my appearance buff.]

The God of Beauty gave me a semi-permanent beauty buff instead of gacha powers.

No way, that’s not fair.

Being a cute girl is the bare minimum for a TS!

You brought me here, so take responsibility!

…But that’s a bit scary, so I’ll ease up.

I turned off the light and lay in bed, chanting the magic phrase in my head.

Yellowbuywant.