Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Episode 33
"She is the Holy Maiden. Mind your manners."
Aiden spoke those words while bowing his head.
Deril couldn't believe his ears. But seeing Aiden's demeanor, he quickly snapped back to reality.
Upon closer inspection, the figure before him was far too delicate to be mistaken for a man. Deril's eyes widened. The fact that this beautiful youth was the Holy Maiden felt like the sky itself had collapsed upon him.
In this world, the Holy Maiden was a figure as exalted as royalty—someone commoners dared not even look at directly, let alone speak to. What Deril had just done was blasphemy punishable by death.
He immediately dropped to his knees.
"This lowly one failed to recognize Your Holiness and committed an unforgivable offense. I shall atone with my life."
Of course, he had no intention of actually dying. It was merely the expected response.
Yuriel was visibly flustered. The look in Deril's eyes earlier had been unmistakably bold—an expression she had never encountered before.
But Yuriel's character was as renowned for its kindness as her beauty was for its radiance. Had Deril acted this way toward any other Holy Maiden, he might have truly met his end. This time, luck was on his side.
Yuriel took a deep breath, steadying her racing heart.
Then, in a gentle voice, she spoke.
"Please rise. If we executed everyone for such reasons, who would remain alive?"
She glanced at Aiden with a faint smile.
"Wouldn't you agree, Sir Aiden?"
The subtle barb in her words pricked at him. Or perhaps he was imagining it.
Aiden cleared his throat softly.
"The scriptures say mercy bestowed returns tenfold. For now, let's not stand here—come inside."
At Aiden's signal, Yuron swiftly guided the Holy Maiden in.
Yuriel settled demurely onto the sofa. Aiden took a seat opposite her, while Sain and Yona discreetly withdrew.
"You must have endured much hardship on your long journey."
Yuriel shook her head slowly.
"It was an unfamiliar experience, but not entirely unpleasant."
She meant it. Until now, Yuriel had spent her days confined either to her family's estate in Sachilia or the church. Her ventures beyond those walls could be counted on one hand.
She even felt a faint thrill from the transgression.
"Your words put my mind at ease. Though, what excuse did you give for your absence?"
A bitter smile touched her lips.
"...They believe I've entered the Rite of Devotion."
The Rite of Devotion was a ceremony where one sequestered themselves in a prayer chamber for anywhere from a week to a month, repeating prayers without pause.
No eating, no sleeping, no visitors. Even bodily needs had to be attended to within that cramped, sealed room.
It was a practice undertaken by saints and priests to heighten their divine power.
"I'm truly wicked, aren't I?"
In a way, Yuriel's actions bordered on sacrilege.
Even now, the pang of guilt gnawed at her chest.
But Yuriel couldn't shake the doubts Aiden had planted in her.
How could a paladin who didn't believe in the gods wield divine power?
And was Vacheksar truly an omnipotent being?
The latter, in truth, was a question Yuriel had long harbored.
Just as in the original story. Early on, Yuriel struggled with religious conflict but suppressed her disbelief through self-conditioning.
Yet, by the latter half, when all truths came to light, the faith she had built through rationalizations crumbled.
Holy Maiden Yuriel was a character who lost her faith.
And a woman broken by the burden of her "Eyes of Truth."
Aiden had to alter that trajectory. The Holy Maiden was indispensable to his plans—he couldn't allow her to shatter.
Early on, before Yuriel could fully condition herself.
Before the backlash of greater revelations could destroy her.
Aiden intended to dismantle her faith entirely.
He shook his head at her self-reproaching question.
"The Rite of Devotion is pointless to begin with. You've no reason to feel guilty for using it as an excuse. You did well."
What meaning was there in praying for days within a sealed chamber? Was a church that peddled saints' excrement as holy relics truly sane?
The very belief that divinity could be attained through such means was superstition. Divine power wasn't acquired that way.
Yuriel's expression froze in shock at Aiden's blunt words.
"...S-Sir Aiden?"
Now he was outright denying the Vacheksar faith.
"I can speak this way because I can show you tangible proof."
He was confident he could shatter the Holy Maiden's faith within days.
Yuriel's stiff expression softened slightly.
"You'd better."
She had come here prepared to abandon everything. If Aiden failed to provide convincing evidence, she intended to renounce her position as Holy Maiden.
She couldn't bear the thought of deceiving everyone while doubting the gods herself.
Even if Aiden's words held truth, remaining as Holy Maiden would be untenable. Her heart was a tangled mess.
Aiden nodded toward the window, where the blue sea stretched endlessly.
"The answers you seek are out there. You'll be coming with me."
Yuriel stared blankly at him, uncomprehending.
Aiden gestured to Yona, who had been watching the Holy Maiden from a distance.
She approached and sat facing them. Aiden took a moment to organize his thoughts before explaining slowly.
Yona's true nature, the civilization of Atlantis, the mermaids' secrets, their next steps—he laid it all out methodically.
By the time Aiden finished speaking, Yuriel had cycled through every possible expression.
Finally, after verifying Yona's scales, she was left speechless with shock.
What emotions could a woman who witnessed her kin being devoured every moment possibly harbor? Did she even have emotions left?
Any words of comfort felt like a sin.
Yuriel's eyes reddened.
Yuron shed tears, while Yona hung her head low, hiding her face.
The sound of stifled sobs intermittently filled the room.
Aiden turned his gaze back to the window. Deril approached, swallowing hard.
"Thank you for stopping me, my lord."
Had he eaten mermaid flesh, he might have lost his sanity entirely.
Aiden remained silent, lost in thought.
Soon, the entire empire would learn the truth. Once people realized they had been consuming their own kind, the fallout would be inevitable. Some might lose their minds.
Of course, that didn't mean the truth could be buried.
He could only hope the backlash wouldn't be too severe.
Three would head toward the Babon Strait: Aiden, Yona, and Yuriel. With such a small group, a large ship wasn't necessary. Though the mermaids were aggressive during their mating season, Yona's presence would prevent them from attacking.
Thus, a single rowboat would suffice.
But a small vessel drifting on the sea during such perilous times would draw attention. So Aiden waited at the inn until dusk.
Yuriel, perhaps due to her affable nature, had already blended seamlessly with the group.
Everyone except Aiden listened intently as Deril and Yuron regaled them with endless adventure tales.
"Our lord didn't even flinch before that bastard Arhan, I tell ya! Yuron, you weren't there, were you? Hah! This so-called squire—can you even lift a holy shield now?"
"O-Of course! I can even run while carrying it!"
"Seems the report about you passing the Trial of the Great Hero was true after all."
"Indeed! Holy Maiden, we even have proof here!"
Yupe snoozed peacefully. Yuriel barely resisted the urge to pet him, knowing well the nature of divine beasts—loyal only to their masters.
Deril suddenly clapped his hands as if remembering something.
"Ah, if it's not too presumptuous, may I ask one more thing?"
"By all means."
"That, uh... paladin from the north. His name was definitely Ty—"
"Sir Tyrun?"
"Yes, yes. That's the one. What became of him?"
A shadow of sorrow crossed Yuriel's face.
"He was dismissed. Rumor has it the Inquisition's deputy chief executed him without trial, but I don't know the details."
It seemed Zeras had handled the matter personally upon receiving Aiden's letter. A far better outcome than execution.
As their conversation continued, dusk began to settle outside.
The time to depart approached. Aiden gathered the group.
After reminding Deril and Yuron of their rendezvous time, he prepared to leave.
Yuriel and Yona changed into more practical attire and followed him out.
"My lord, please take care."
"Don't worry about us—return safely."
"Paladin, I'll take good care of Yupe."
Yupe whined pitifully, tethered to his leash. They had decided he was still too young to take into the depths.
"Right. See you in a few days."
Aiden acknowledged their farewells and stepped outside.
They headed straight for the small dock beside Ilyas' harbor.
Under the thick veil of night, moonlight spilled onto the sea, casting a faint glow. Gentle waves rocked the rowboat.
Aiden pulled the rope tethering the boat to the dock. The vessel cut through the water as it drew near.
"Board first."
Tension flickered across Yuriel's face. If Aiden's words held truth, what they were about to do would be worthy of scripture.
A pivotal moment where the halted records of holy texts would resume.
It felt surreal. She knew all too well what it meant to leave even a single line in history.
Aiden steadied her as she stepped onto the boat.
"Don't be nervous."
Yuriel couldn't fathom this man. How could he remain so composed? She privately agreed with the saying that those born with the essence of heroes were fundamentally different.
Yona boarded next, and Aiden took the oars.
"We depart now. Hold on tight."
The rowboat carved through the water, gradually picking up speed. As momentum built, Yuriel and Yona grew puzzled.
Only after a moment did they understand why he had warned them.
The boat surged forward as if propelled by an artifact, skimming across the surface.
Had Aiden rowed this hard from the start, the oars would have snapped—but with this propulsion, it didn't matter.
Yona wondered if Aiden was even human.
His arms moved faster than the eye could follow, yet his expression remained utterly serene.
A bizarre harmony.
As the boat raced across the sea, Yuriel wore an exhilarated expression. Spray soaked her body.
Her chest felt strangely unburdened.
The city behind them faded into the distance. When they reached the open sea, Yona called out.
"It's near here!"
The descent current's location. Aiden released the oars. The boat gradually slowed.
Soon, it halted, and a hauntingly beautiful melody drifted across the water.
Yuriel instinctively perked her ears. The sound grew closer—a voice enchanting enough to ensnare anyone.
Pale faces emerged from the water one by one. Hollow, translucent eyes blinked. Drenched hair draped over the surface like a veil.
They closed in from all sides, staring at Aiden.
Wanderers of the vast sea, why such haste? The waters are cold—won't you let us warm you before you go?
Yona pleaded desperately.
"P-Please don't kill them! I'll calm them down."
Aiden nodded.