Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Half-Lidded Traitor - 3
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"Nice to meet you. I'm Saintess Angela. I've been waiting for you to arrive for so long."
"…."
A girl in a white dress with pink hair. She impassively wiped the blood from her cheek with a gloved white hand. The blood left on her pale skin was chilling, like a dark stain spreading across her vision.
But the blood soon seeped away.
"!"
'The blood soaked in?'
And Angela's eyes.
Her two eyes glowed crimson from the shadows of the dim temple. Those large pupils held no hesitation of a thief caught red-handed, no emptiness of a killer after the deed.
Certainty.
The certainty that she had foreseen this moment someday.
"…."
'They say a pretty actress playing a psycho is even scarier. Seems true.'
After barely surviving the Great Catastrophe,
this was a bizarre chaos utterly unlike war.
The urge to just drop everything and rest welled up.
'I'm the lord. Since I've already decided to come, I need to gather some intel.'
His sense of responsibility made his head ache, and he let out a sigh.
"Hoo—."
His hands and feet grew cold.
Judging by the atmosphere alone, it was practically a horror movie. If Niva and Aslan hadn't been with him, it would've taken ages to regain his sanity.
At least the saintess, the old man, and Abel standing before them weren't making a move? As he slowly scanned the surroundings, various details came into view.
A massive statue of the Goddess of the Earth gently petting a 'serpent.' The seating arrangement of the dead pope and six archbishops looked like an inquisition hearing gathered to reprimand someone.
And right in front of them,
a single thorny potted plant radiating an ominous aura.
'Never seen that plant before, but I don't want to get anywhere near it.'
"…."
If not for the bloodstains and the red spear,
it looked like a setup for ambushing an invited guest.
'The invitee is obviously me. Too many suspicious points to ignore just because it feels off. Albert and Abel met me just yesterday, yet this place is already all set up.'
As he weighed various possibilities in his mind, Niva whispered. She was already holding his hand, her other on Aslan's back as he held his shield.
"…Let's head back."
"Hold on."
"What?"
"Let's at least hear their reason."
"It's dangerous."
"They still don't know about Warp. Best to gather as much info as possible while they don't know our escape route."
"…."
The one shielding them with his shield.
Aslan, eyes fixed ahead, whispered as well.
"I agree with the lord."
"You too?"
"Yes, just a little. Just a bit more… Let's hear them out. No matter what attack comes, I can defend us."
"Hoo, damn it. If things get any weirder, we're warping out immediately."
"Yes, we'll leave it to your judgment, Lady Niva."
And so, they huddled close, watching the situation intently.
-Aaaah—!
A scream echoed through the dim temple.
Albert, who had been wailing nonstop, scrambled on all fours, fondling the pope's rolling head and silver crown. Then he screamed again.
"Uwaaah—! H-Heretic! Heretics!"
"…."
"You Heresy Inquisition bastards, the most faithful ones betray us! Kairos! Abel! Angela! You're all traitors! Traaaaitors—!! How could you—!!"
Albert pointed accusingly at the old man, the youth, and the girl, cursing them. Then Saintess Angela approached. She truly looked apologetic.
"I'm sorry, Bishop Albert. But Archbishop Paul of the Pilgrimage Office is safe. First, let me explain the situation to the Savior…."
"Ugh, aaaah! Stay away!"
He bellowed, jumping to his feet.
"Witch… cursed sorceress! May the Goddess of the Earth curse you forever—!! Swallow the mud of sin and suffer eternally!! We never should've accepted a ominous saintess like you—!!"
"Bishop Albert…."
Albert clutched the pope's head and crown dearly, backing away. He slipped several times in the pooled blood but barely regained his balance.
Then he bolted past them and fled.
-Assemble everyone! The saintess and Heresy Inquisition have rebelled! Mobilize all forces of the sanctuaryyy—!
His voice faded into the distance,
and silence fell in the temple.
'If they're not bothered, they've probably already aligned with the military.'
To confirm his thought,
no urgent footsteps followed Albert's shouts.
"…."
"…."
"…."
"…."
He spoke up.
"Quite the noisy greeting. Saintess."
"!"
Angela gazed sadly at Albert's retreating figure before turning back to him. She gripped her skirt hem and bowed gracefully.
"Thank you for the respect. Allow me to greet you once more. I am Angela, priest of the Heresy Inquisition and Saintess of the Holy Land."
"I see. Then explain why you invited me here."
"…."
Angela looked at him with slightly surprised eyes.
"You're not rattled? I was planning to take it slow and talk."
"…."
He was rattled.
The pope's succession ceremony by the saintess was already over, out of nowhere.
He said,
"The hierarchy here seems sorted already. You're the top authority now, Saintess."
"Correct. With His Holiness, rank one, and the five archbishops turned to silent fallen leaves, I officially hold the greatest authority."
Failure is betrayal,
but success is revolution.
The successful rebel, the saintess bearing the flag of revolution, said,
"We first heard of the Savior last night. The moment we learned you'd accepted the invitation, we prepared to receive you immediately."
"Was it Priest Abel who informed you?"
"Yes."
How?
…he was about to ask.
Flutter!
A white pigeon flew into the dim temple. It softly landed on Abel's shoulder. Its red eyes gleamed as it quietly preened its white feathers.
-Coo coo
A deflating coo.
It seemed like an ordinary pigeon tamed in some dubious way.
"…."
'Carrier pigeon, huh.'
Apparently, Abel had written a letter about him last night from Windmill Village in advance. Based on that, they'd debated heatedly through the night.
'The saintess must've used the strongest argument in that debate.'
A far more intuitive and forceful method than boring, pedantic persuasion…. He wondered what kind of debate it was if the saintess resorted to 'Then die!'
He asked,
"And that's where the disagreement arose?"
"Yes. His Holiness and the five archbishops… unanimously decided to use the 'Thorn of Final Dominion' to exploit the Savior's ability, 'Blessing of the Earth.'"
"Thorn of Dominion?"
The name alone sent chills down his spine.
Angela gazed at the thorny potted plant and said,
"Yes. The moment it pricks, it burrows into the target's heart, turning them into a puppet that obeys commands—a forbidden plant."
"…."
"They planned to deceive the Savior by claiming the plant held the Goddess's blessing, then control him… That was their conclusion."
"…."
"For the Earth's continuance, silent fallen leaves were necessary, they said."
"…."
Words failed him.
'Did they think I'd touch that willingly?'
No.
To begin with….
what the hell was this group?
'Not some rural small business—how does a group survive with such shoddy unity and blatant malice?'
Angela turned back.
"Those in favor: His Holiness and the five archbishops. Opposed: myself, Archbishop Kairos of the Heresy Inquisition, and finally Archbishop Paul of the Pilgrimage Office."
"Why did you oppose?"
"…."
She gazed at the Holy Land where the morning sun rose from the temple's shadows. From afar, it was invisible, but cracks riddled the white, beautiful stone buildings everywhere.
And inside, emaciated people clutched pink flowers, offering prayers.
-Cough, cough….
-Ugh…. Save us….
-So… hungry.
As if faith alone were the only answer.
"…."
'A place gathered only with people who have nowhere else to turn.'
Angela said, looking at them,
"I believe… this method has reached its limit."
"The Holy Land?"
"Yes."
She continued quietly.
"And I as well."
"…."
For some reason,
that single phrase carried a faint whiff of blood. Was it imagination?
'She's been resolved for quite a while.'
With that, she pulled out a cloth tied like a white waist sash and blindfolded her eyes. She draped her abundant pink hair over like a hood—then stepped forward.
As Angela approached, Aslan gritted his teeth, faintly emanating golden energy.
Clank!
"…."
"…."
But.
Angela didn't come close to them, stopping at a distance and heading outside. Blindfolded with cloth and hood over her eyes and hair, she turned back.
A full smile on her lips again.
Angela gestured in the air. Red particles dispersed from her gloved hand toward the distant hill.
Shhh—
Niva swallowed beside him.
"Th-that. It's all blood. The blood of the dead archbishops behind is decreasing bit by bit."
"!"
He looked inside the temple. Sure enough, as Niva said, the blood was misting into fog and scattering back to the saintess's hand.
And the flying blood
soon clung to the white flowers dotting the hill.
Shhh—
The white flowers, absorbing the faint red energy, gradually turned pink. The change spread dozens of meters around.
'They should be red originally, but the concentration's too low, making them pink flowers?'
As the Holy Land's people staggered to gather the flowers, he finally understood how this place operated.
🌸 STATUS 🌸 【Angela (24)】 【Last Saintess of the Holy Land / Priest】 🌺 [Legendary] Blessing of Flowers: Converts life force into blessings. 🩸 [Heroic] Bloodsucking: Controls the flow of blood. 🙏 [Special] Faith: Increases devotion. The blindfolded Angela said,
"Welcome, Savior. To the last flower holy land, where we fertilize each other by devouring our fallen leaves—Gades Vanea."
"…."
He asked,
"What exactly made you trust me enough… to start all this the moment you heard I have the 'Blessing of the Earth'?"
"According to the goddess's teachings, divine abilities aren't granted to those who neglect people. I believed if not now, the people's suffering would continue under His Holiness and the archbishops' greed."
He asked again.
"What do you want from me?"
"Share the Blessing of the Earth with us."
"And if I refuse?"
"We will only continue to plead."
"What do you plan to do going forward?"
"Continue living and praying within this holy land. But we wish to live on clean water and food, not blood and blessings."
Angela answered quietly.
"The way we earn trust is by keeping our word."
"…."
"Rather than clinging to invisible hope, we chose to bow to a visible person. The Goddess of the Earth taught us to live for life, not doctrine."
"…."
"And…."
"?"
She smiled as she spoke.
"I'm a little tired. Of being dragged into disputes among seven factions in a village of 300 souls."
"…."
He didn't answer immediately. But neither Angela, Kairos, nor Abel pressed him. So he said he'd leave to make a proper judgment.
'Not sure if the saintess's words are all true yet. Could just be justifying her revolution.'
Angela nodded.
"Then take the Thorn of Dominion with you, Savior."
"I won't use it."
"Better to destroy it then. With that around, we'll never earn your trust."
"…."
Even those words felt suspicious. But he fully encased the Thorn of Dominion in holy stone, then burst flames inside like cremation.
Rumble—!
It looked like a small gravestone had appeared in the temple.
Hearing that,
the old man, Kairos, who had kept silent till now, asked Abel beside him. Unlike Angela and Abel, with his eyes covered, he truly seemed blind.
"Is the Thorn of Dominion fully destroyed?"
"Yes, the Savior encased it in stone, then burned it completely without even ashes scattering."
"What's in front of it?"
"The dried corpses of His Holiness and the five archbishops we executed. All seated in their places."
"I see…. Take me there."
Supported by Abel, the old man prayed before the stone. Coincidentally, right in front of the Earth Goddess statue petting the serpent, like an altar.
"Please—look mercifully upon our choice."
Behind him,
Abel and Angela joined in prayer.
But….
The 52nd floor's main quest did not complete.
With that sight as the last, they returned to Windmill Village.
"…."
"…."
"…."
Blazing noon.
Climbers and NPCs approached them reappearing in the village center. But he, Aslan, and Niva couldn't easily speak.
He said first,
"Let's connect the road for now."
"The road?"
"Yes. Past Windmill Village lies the plain with Gades Vanea at the heart of the seven forests. Connect to there first and scout the path to the next floor."
"…."
Niva, Aslan, and Sword Empress nodded.
And just before returning to their posts.
Aslan stood blankly before the office, then turned and bowed to him.
"I'm sorry. Things got complicated because of me."
"No."
He shook his head.
"It was my choice. Go rest easy."
"…."
He bowed and left.
Creak—
The door closed.
"…."
He stared out the window at the windmill slowly turning in the autumn breeze, mulling his thoughts.
'All to survive—.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And three days later, the road reached the plain.
Through that road,
they sent food to the holy land Gades Vanea.