Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 121 - 107: Aurianna’s indifference

"Do you know it’s a crime to steal the cake the church provides?!" Hotron yelled angrily.

Rolling her eyes with a hint of smugness, "Uh, excuse me? I happen to be the princess of this High Land, which means your handcuffs won’t work on me, buddy. I’m a child!" She scoffed, flashing an annoyingly smug grin.

Hotron wasn’t one to back down easily, so he retorted, "Who says I can’t arrest you? Seriously, you act way more mature than some grown-ups I know. You’re always causing me problems one way or the other!"

Aurianna’s response was just as sassy as ever. "Oh, really now? Are you seriously considering the audacity to arrest an absolutely adorable, cute, and innocent little angel like me?" With a swift bat of her eyelashes and an adorable face that could make even the grumpiest of souls melt, she had every single adult in the room wrapped around her little finger. They couldn’t resist her charm for a second. It was like an instant spell.

"You may be adorable and cute, but you are by no means innocent!" Hotron exclaimed, his face all flushed and smitten by Aurianna’s undeniable cuteness. However, he wasn’t about to back down and stood his ground, determined to enforce the rules of the church.

Aurianna, with an innocent pout on her face, couldn’t believe what she was hearing. "Seriously? How can you say that? Do I look like a child who would dare to hurt a soul?" she asked, trying to convince every one of her angelic nature.

Hotron wasn’t alone in his opinion, as the other church workers in the room joined in, nodding vigorously and shouting in unison, "Absolutely!"

Annoyed by their verdict, Aurianna let out an exasperated grunt. "Tch, you guys are such meanies," she grumbled, her cute face turning into a scowl.

The church workers present exchanged surprised glances, taken aback by the sudden shift in Aurianna’s demeanor. They couldn’t help but wonder, ’Wow, her tone changed so fast!’

Hotron, determined to uphold the sanctity of the situation, demanded, "You need to pray to the goddess and ask for forgiveness, you both!"

Kaede, realizing the severity of the situation, clasped his hands together and began to pray, "Goddess of beauty, I’m sorry, but the cake was too delicious." Just as he finished his apology, a book came flying out of nowhere, smacking him right on the head.

"Ouch!" Kaede hissed in pain, massaging his throbbing head. "What was that for, you old man?! And to make matters worse, you threw the Bible at me!" Kaede yelled, his brows furrowed as he glared at Hotron.

Hotron, with his arms defiantly crossed, raised his voice, "Your prayer wasn’t exactly brimming with sincerity, so I want you to go to the corner and spend some quality time with the holy scriptures!" Kaede reluctantly stood up and begrudgingly obeyed, muttering a few words under his breath as he made his way to the designated corner of the room. He plopped down on a chair, begrudgingly flipping through the pages of a pink bible.

Hotron, his arms firmly crossed, turned his attention to Aurianna. "Alright, Aurianna, it’s your turn now!" he demanded, the seriousness in his tone undeniable.

Aurianna, not one to back down easily, refused to budge. She crossed her arms and sat on the ground and snapped back, "I refuse! I don’t regret my actions one bit. When I set my mind on something, I stand by it, and I won’t apologize or pray for forgiveness. Besides, if you all hadn’t been hoarding the cake, none of this would have happened!" Her words were filled with a mix of anger and defiance.

Hotron, remaining calm despite Aurianna’s outburst, asked her a question that caught her off guard. "Aurianna, do you even know why we leave leftover cake?" he queried, raising an eyebrow with a hint of curiosity.

Aurianna raised an eyebrow in confusion, her tone filled with indifference. "To eat the rest?" she guessed, but Hotron quickly shook his head.

"No, Aurianna! We give the leftover cake to the commoners who are too afraid to step foot in the church, and to the poor and needy who barely have enough to eat," Hotron explained, hoping to make her understand.

Aurianna’s indifference and apathy remained unshaken. "Why should I care?" she asked, her voice dripping with indifference. "If they’re too afraid to come in, then they don’t deserve any cake," she scoffed, clearly unfazed by the consequences of her words. Hotron couldn’t help but feel taken aback by her callousness.

Surprised by Aurianna’s lack of understanding, Hotron revealed a truth that he hoped would make her reconsider her attitude. "Princess, they don’t enter because of you. It’s your actions that have made them afraid. You hold some responsibility in this matter," he divulged, hoping that this revelation would ignite a sense of remorse within her.

The room fell into a collective state of disbelief as Aurianna shamelessly retorted, "How is it my fault? Is it that my beauty is just too blinding for them to handle?" She struck a pose, holding her chin high and giving everyone a cute stare.

As they all processed her shameless behavior, the church workers couldn’t help but think in unison, ’Bruh... really?’

Hotron took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure amidst Aurianna’s blatant disregard. "No, it’s not about your beauty," he patiently clarified. "It’s the way you’ve been terrorizing them. Your actions have struck fear into their hearts, making them too afraid to come anywhere near the church whenever you’re around."

Aurianna, true to her nonchalant nature, simply shrugged with a hint of indifference. "Well, that’s not my problem," she declared, as if completely detached from any sense of responsibility or concern for the impact she had on others.

Hotron couldn’t hide his frustration as he pleaded, "Come on, Aurianna, have a little empathy!"

Aurianna, however, wasn’t willing to budge. She huffed and replied, "Empathy? Sorry, but I reserve that for people I actually like."

Hotron, determined to make her understand, posed a thought-provoking question, "Well, let me ask you this then: What makes us any different? Many of the church workers here come from commoner backgrounds, just like those you show no empathy towards. So, what sets us apart?"

’Because the church fought for me in my past life, when no one else would,’ the memory tugged at her heart, but she couldn’t bring herself to express those thoughts out loud. The idea seemed far-fetched, and she chuckled to herself, knowing they would likely think she was crazy.

Aurianna rose to her feet, her eyes locked with Hotron’s. "The reason I struggle with empathy is that I can’t stand highly ungrateful people," she declared with a fiery tone. "You do something good for them, and they still find a way to be dissatisfied and talk trash about you all behind your backs!"

Her frustration spilled over as she continued, "Do you know what they say about the church? Despite knowing the truth, they twist facts and concoct lies just for their own entertainment. All they seem capable of doing is gossiping and spreading unsightly rumors that have no basis in reality!"

Hotron, with a calm determination, met her outburst with a surprising question. "Do you think we don’t know?" he asked, catching Aurianna off guard. "We know," he affirmed. "This world can be unfair, full of hate, greed, and conflict. But if we can bring even a sliver of happiness and joy to some people, isn’t that worth it?"

Hotron didn’t hold back, sharing his thoughts with conviction. "Look, not everyone is ungrateful and we don’t do what we do to earn their gratitude. There are people out there who are suffering and could use a helping hand. Even if we don’t have much power, we can still make a difference by safeguarding the happiness of those around us and trying to keep the peace whenever possible."

Aurianna raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Peace? Seriously?" she retorted, a hint of amusement in her voice..

"If you look around you, this High Land. You believe there’s peace?" Aurianna’s words pierced the air like icicles, her voice dripping with bitterness and despair. The weight of her question settled heavily upon Hotron, casting a shadow of doubt over his beliefs.

As his thoughts wandered, Hotron’s attention was drawn to the bustling market, where two streams of cages confined individuals and slaves from diverse races. a chilling sight, evoking a deep sense of unease within him. The stark reality of beings reduced to mere commodities, their freedom and dignity stripped away, weighed heavily on his conscience.

His mind wandered further, contemplating the ongoing wars and the triumphant return of Sandeph’s knights, bearing the severed heads of significant leaders from smaller nations of different races. The decapitated heads presented as macabre trophies, and the undeniable price paid by countless innocent lives—all these filled him with an overwhelming sense of fury and disgust.

The resounding cheers from the citizens echoed through the air as the knights paraded through the streets, heads held high, their achievements celebrated. But for Hotron, the revelry was laced with bitter disdain. While the crowds reveled in the victory, he couldn’t suppress the surging anger within him.

Hotron clenched his teeth, his jaw rigid with pent-up frustration. The cheers that resounded in his ears were a stark reminder of the collective apathy and moral compromise that had taken root in society against other races and humans like themselves. While others saw victory and glory, he couldn’t help but see the cost—the shattered lives, the devastated families, and the perpetuation of a vicious cycle of violence.

Aurianna’s demeanor turned even colder, a hint of resignation in her eyes. "I’ve said enough. If I push it any further, my dear old dad might just chop off my head. So, I’ll take my leave now. Oh, and here’s a bag of ten magic coins. They are my payment for the cake," she said, dropping a shiny golden satchel into Hotron’s hands before striding away.