Gathering Wives with a System

Chapter 676: Shameless Lord Isaac, Despicable God Domain

Sarah POV

The group returned to the apartment they were staying in, and silence followed them inside. The atmosphere was heavy, with everyone thinking about what had happened in Isaac’s office, and no one seemed particularly willing to be the first to speak.

Daren finally lost his patience. ”We do not need him. Who does he think he is? Just because he has some strength, does that mean he can ask for whatever he wants? We are not giving him Sarah.”

”The rumors about his despicable personality were true,” Mira added with a displeased expression.

Sarah opened her mouth, intending to speak, but Reiner interrupted her before she could say anything. ”No, Sarah. We are not giving you to him.”

”Can you not see how so many powerful women seem to be lovestruck with him?” Reiner continued, his expression serious. ”There are even rumors that he possesses some kind of Incubus power, so I am not going to let you fall into his hands.”

”But he only asked me to join his religion,” Sarah muttered. She tightened her grip around her staff as she looked at the others.

”That is already enough of a reason to refuse. Goddess Witra has watched over our kingdom for centuries, and we finally presented a Saintess to her. If you leave now, it would be like spitting in the face of the Goddess who has protected our people for generations,” Klaus said.

His words made several members of the group nod in agreement. Sarah lowered her eyes. She understood their concerns, but something about the situation still bothered her because Isaac had not behaved toward her in the way everyone seemed to believe.

The group continued discussing the matter, but they could not reach a conclusion. Everyone had different concerns, and although Isaac’s strength had shocked them, his demand had created an entirely different problem.

Eventually, they decided to sleep for the night and discuss the matter again after they had rested. Sarah returned to her room without saying much.

Once she was certain that everyone else had fallen asleep, Sarah opened her eyes and reached into her spatial ring. She took out several items and carefully arranged them into a small altar before kneeling in front of it.

Sarah clasped her hands together and began to pray, calling upon the Goddess she had served for so many years. She remained silent for several moments before a faint screen flickered into existence before her eyes.

[Little One?]

”Goddess Witra,” Sarah whispered, and her eyes began to sting as she heard the familiar voice. The warmth behind those words was something she had become accustomed to over the years.

[What happened, Little One? Why did you call for me?]

The system conveyed the Goddess’s words, but Sarah could still feel the kindness behind them. She began explaining everything that had happened that day, from their meeting with Isaac to his display of power and, finally, his three conditions.

For a while, there was silence. Sarah waited patiently, knowing that Witra was considering everything she had just told her.

Then a line of text appeared.

[I do not mind if you leave.]

Sarah stared at the words. She had expected that answer, yet seeing it still left her with complicated emotions.

Unlike many other Gods and Goddesses, who rarely spoke directly to their followers, Witra had always been gentle with her. She was almost like an older sister to Sarah, and Sarah had confided many things in her over the years.

That was also why Sarah knew the truth about Goddess Witra. The Goddess was only a minor deity, and she did not possess enough power to solve every problem facing the kingdom.

Many people believed that the Gods simply wanted their followers to overcome their own difficulties. Sarah knew that was not entirely true, because some Gods did not care enough to interfere while others hid the limits of their power from their followers.

Witra had never done that with Sarah. She had always spoken honestly about what she could and could not accomplish, even when the truth was unpleasant.

Sarah sometimes wondered if that gentle nature was one of the reasons Witra had such little Faith. Many people wanted their Gods to be powerful and unquestionable, while Witra had never pretended to be something she was not.

Even knowing that, Sarah could not bring herself to see it as a weakness. She loved Witra precisely because of that kindness.

[Little One, I do not mind if you leave. However, you must be careful.]

Sarah’s eyes moved across the next line as it appeared.

[Isaac Hargraves might only be a budding god, but his God Domain...]

Sarah frowned. ”Is he really that dangerous? I did not feel as if he had any improper intentions toward me. In fact, it felt as though he looked at me the same way he looked at the other members of our team, rather than as someone who desired my body.”

She had always possessed a good intuition when it came to people, and that was one of the reasons she had not felt disgusted when Isaac made his demand.

[Normally, I would believe your intuition. However, as I said, his God Domain is a problem, and I believe your intuition may have failed you this time.]

Sarah’s expression became more serious. She had never heard Witra speak about someone in such a cautious manner before.

”What exactly is his God Domain? Why are you so concerned about it?” she asked, unable to suppress her curiosity any longer.

For several seconds, no answer appeared. Sarah remained kneeling before the altar, quietly waiting for Witra’s response.

Then the screen flickered again.

[...It is best if you do not know.]

[However, I will say it again. I do not mind if you leave my religion, Little One, but if you decide to join his, please be prepared... to lose your innocence.]

[Honestly, for that reason alone, I would recommend that you do not join his religion. But knowing what is happening, I will not blame you if you make that choice.]

Sarah lowered her head and looked at the small altar before her. She did not know what she would decide, but she knew that she needed to think carefully before making a choice that could affect not only herself, but also her kingdom and the Goddess she had served for years.

...

Isaac POV

Isaac felt his nose twitch. He frowned and rubbed it with the back of his hand. Was someone talking badly about him behind his back, and why else would his nose suddenly twitch like that?

He eventually ignored the strange feeling and continued eating. There were more important things to think about than an inexplicable twitch in his nose.

”So, let me get this straight. You told them that you want Sarah?” Avery asked. Since everyone else had already left, she was having dinner alone with Isaac while the dragon maids served them.

Isaac nodded as he picked up another piece of food. While they ate, he had been telling Avery about his meeting with the adventurers and explaining the conditions he had given them.

”Yes. I know it sounded like something I decided on impulsively, but I believe having a second Saintess is worth it,” Isaac said. He saw no particular problem with his decision, especially considering how useful another Saintess could be to his growing religious order.

Avery gave him a strange look. Her eyes seemed to be asking whether he genuinely did not see a problem with what he had done.

Isaac noticed her expression and raised an eyebrow. ”Are you worried about a potential conflict with the Kingdom of Veloria? Do not worry about that, because I will give them enough benefits that they will not mind giving up their Saintess.”

”That is not the problem here,” Avery said. She sounded almost tired as she tried to explain what Isaac had apparently failed to consider.

”Then what is?” Isaac asked.

Avery sighed softly. ”They must be thinking that you took a liking to her appearance and want to put your hands on her. Considering your reputation, I cannot really blame them for reaching that conclusion.”

Isaac, who had been about to put his next bite into his mouth, froze. His hand remained suspended for several seconds before he slowly lowered it.

He opened his mouth, closed it, and then stared at Avery with an expression of genuine disbelief.

”That cannot be right, can it? Why would I want to put my hands on her? How would they even come to that conclusion? Should they not think that I am trying to steal the Saintess? Please let them think I am trying to steal the Saintess,” Isaac said.

The final sentence was spoken more to himself than to Avery. Isaac would much rather be known as someone who stole a Saintess from a foreign kingdom than as some pervert who saw a woman he liked and immediately tried to get his hands on her.

Avery watched his expression and seemed to understand that he genuinely seemed worried by the misunderstanding. However, she had not finished explaining the problem, and there was still another part that Isaac had not considered.

”That is not all,” she said. Her tone made Isaac’s expression become even more cautious.

”There are more problems?” Isaac asked.

Avery nodded. ”Telling another Saintess that you want her right after Emily and others left can also be interpreted differently. Would that not make it seem as though you are trying to have some fun while the mistress’ are away?”

Isaac’s expression went blank. He remained silent for several seconds as the meaning of her words slowly sank in.

The idea had apparently never crossed his mind when he made the request. Now that Avery had explained it, however, he could immediately understand how someone else might interpret the situation.

”Moreover, I do not know about Emily and the others, but I do not think Alice is going to be very happy if she hears about this,” Avery said.

Isaac lowered his gaze toward his food. He stared at it without eating, his mind becoming increasingly troubled by the possible consequences of a decision that had seemed perfectly reasonable only a short while ago.

”...”

A terrible silence followed. Isaac had no answer to Avery’s explanation.

’Should I go back and tell them I want something else?’ he wondered.