Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Hero Party and the Saintess
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Lucia Western, the second daughter of the renowned demon-hunting Western family. Parnel, the youngest archmage who had been hailed as a genius of the Magic Tower.
And then, the genius among geniuses acknowledged by all. The hero of this era, chosen by the Three Main Gods, Yurinel Rackphonsia.
The newest member to join this trio's party was the saintess who served the Earth Goddess, Lady Nemi.
Aridel and the Nemi Church's archbishop who attended her, Leuenheim.
"We pay our respects to the Goddess's proxy."
Even Parnel and Lucia, whose heads felt heavy, bowed in greeting. Inside the carriage, a woman dressed in a habit that covered her entire body gently shook her head.
"You'll all be comrades from now on, after all."
She was the saintess of this era, personally appointed by the Earth Goddess Lady Nemi herself.
Aridel, one of the three saintesses of the Triune Church.
"No need for such excessive courtesy."
"We pay our respects to the empire's heroes. I am Bishop Leuenheim from the Holy Kingdom."
"I see. Welcome to our party, Bishop."
"I am pleased to finally meet the hero I've only heard about in rumors."
They exchanged greetings like this, then shared stories about their hometowns, preferences, and all sorts of other things.
After chatting amiably, they decided to test their coordination before setting off on the main journey. Among the Three Main Gods, the Earth Goddess was the most popular. Just as the earth evokes thoughts of abundance, she was also the goddess of wisdom who governed prosperity.
The goddess of agriculture always drew people's attention no matter the time or place,
and the fact that she had the most followers among the Three Main Gods proved it.
Lady Nemi's holy power didn't heal people as well as that of the Goddess of Healing, Hillai, nor was it as lethal to demons as that of the Goddess of Light, Elisicia.
However, like the earth itself, it contained boundless vitality. Just as sprouts break through moist soil, Lady Nemi's holy power gave water and vigor to parched humans.
Naturally, as the daughter representing the Goddess Lady Nemi,
the party had high expectations for Saintess Aridel's abilities.
"How about trying to take down a Giant Two-Headed Ogre? It's not particularly dangerous for our level, and it would be a good opportunity for you to broaden your horizons, Saintess."
"You're the expert, Hero, so your suggestion must be right."
They'd know more after seeing her in action, but the saintess's character passed with flying colors.
If she had been arrogant or looked down on others just because she was a saintess, they would have been offended, but her first impression was at least not bad. In truth, even goddesses had eyes, so they didn't choose just anyone as a saintess.
It wasn't exactly an interview, but after long observation, they selected a suitable nun and issued an oracle. Choosing a saintess with poor character who didn't even know right from wrong would be a loss for the goddess herself.
'Lucky.'
Yurinel, who had inwardly been worried about the saintess's personality, let out a sigh of relief.
But the problem arose in a place she hadn't worried about at all.
"Whoa, so that's an ogre I've only heard about in stories... It's definitely huge and looks strong."
"The Giant Two-Headed Ogre is a superior variant of the ogre."
Yurinel drew her sword and explained. Two heads and four arms. Unlike the green-skinned ogre, this giant had gray hide that looked tough and resilient just from sight.
It made the earth tremble just by stomping its feet, but she had already subjugated it several times.
Even most demons would die if they encountered it, but she could take it down alone. That's why it was perfect for testing the saintess's abilities.
"Giant Ogres are ogres that have evolved once for some unknown reason, gaining size and innate resistance to magic and holy power. The Giant Two-Headed Ogre has an extra head on top of that. If it gets one more head, it becomes a Demon King-level monster."
These were the words of someone who had fought a three-headed, six-armed ogre that once held a seat in the Monster Legion. Ogres were strong even in their base form, but as these monstrous beings evolved repeatedly, they became true beasts.
In their final evolved form, they could no longer even be called ogres. They were given the separate title of Asura, true Demon King-level monsters that repelled swords and spears, and didn't burn in fire. They were rare to see and hard to encounter, but if you did, you were already in the afterlife.
"Foul demon beast, by the light of the goddess, I shall guide you to hell. As the daughter of the goddess, I declare there is no place for you on this eternal earth. Fall into the abyss!"
A blinding flash of light accompanied holy power that streaked straight at the ogre. The ogre's primal aura offset the light's intrusion in the form of holy resistance, but the human before it was no ordinary priest—she was the saintess, daughter of Lady Nemi.
Saintess Aridel's flash pierced through the resistance and struck the ogre directly, causing both of its faces to roar simultaneously. The ogre's roar, infused with mana—its fear—dispersed the flash in an instant.
The flustered Aridel was soothed by her attending bishop, Leuenheim.
"There's no need to be startled that a mere demon beast defies the will of the gods. Ogres are rebellious by nature, resisting all gods alike, yielding neither to evil gods nor to our Mother."
"That's why we're here, Saintess. You don't need to subjugate that thing alone."
Yurinel chimed in from the side. Parnel and Lucia nodded as well.
If the saintess could smash something like that alone, what need would there be for a hero, mage, or swordsman? They'd donate their holy sword to a museum and all retire to a temple as priests.
The saintess nodded and recited a different prayer.
Holy power flowed through the earth, forming a ritual circle. Having failed with direct assault, she manifested the power of an aura that would whittle down the enemy's stamina while bolstering her allies.
Feeling the surging vitality and strength, Yurinel suddenly frowned.
Her calculations had gone wrong in a completely unexpected place.
'It's definitely making us stronger. The amplification rate isn't bad either.'
The Earth Goddess Lady Nemi's holy power lived up to her reputation.
Though it lagged behind the other two main gods in direct healing or attack power, the common praise that it was the best among the Three Main Gods for support and buffs that empowered comrades was spot on.
'But something's off. Right, it's different in direction from Kyle's holy power.'
Lady Nemi's holy power granted immense strength in an instant, but all those blessings were temporary. It was no different from stacking buffs temporarily.
In contrast, the Hope God's holy power quietly awakened and maximized the latent potential dormant within a person.
Even complex techniques that would normally succeed only one in ten times would succeed without fail. After all, succeeding once in ten meant there was potential, and the Hope God's blessing turned that potential into a 'guaranteed' success.
Thus, something remained even after the blessing ended. Knowledge remained, experience remained. The Hope God's power bloomed unawakened potential, and the hero party had grown relying on that power knowingly or not.
Once a flower had bloomed, it didn't wither just because the blessing ended. With the person's own effort and maintenance, the flower would remain in bloom as their strength forever.
'It doesn't feel like it's naturally fusing with me. It's like my body isn't my own.'
If the Hope God's power operated by directing and moving one's body toward its 'optimal state,'
Lady Nemi's holy power was just slamming healing, regeneration, and buff effects into the body.
The results were similar. In terms of simple enhancement, Aridel's holy power might even be slightly better.
However, when considering ultimate potential, they weren't even comparable. Amplifying one's power only for it to return to normal was entirely different from growing one's power.
No matter how much a balloon inflated, a needle would pop it with a bang, whereas a slightly smaller steel ball would bend the needle. The size might be similar, but the substance was different.
Hope was the driving force propelling toward the future.
The Hope God's power continuously grew everything it touched.
Like the Lineage Sapling, it steadily pulled power from some future point into the present,
helping tomorrow's self grow beyond today's. Unless it took the form of a miracle like the Lineage Sapling, this effect was steady and gradual, not manifesting in a flash.
'I've been in good condition lately?' was a thought that lasted only a day or two.
After a week, it became the standard, the norm. Only after the source of the blessing vanished did they sense something off. Archmage Parnel, who had slammed her usual high-output Hellfire spell at the ogre, twitched her eyebrows.
'Why is my mana recovery slower than usual?'
The spell's power hadn't reached its normal level. It had output about 80% of its usual potency while consuming around 1.2 times the normal mana. Slow mana recovery was just a bonus.
It wasn't strange. Her condition hadn't worsened.
Who lived always outputting 100% of their capacity? Even at peak condition, no one did. Until now, it had been possible only because of the Hope God's power.
Now that power had faded, returning her to the same standard state as everyone else. It wasn't weakening or decline—just equal footing.
Slow mana recovery was natural too. The Hope God's holy power held infinite differentiation potential, convertible to any kind of power, naturally replenishing expended mana.
Lady Nemi's holy power couldn't do that. It could vitalize the body, but not fill mana, a fundamentally different power. There was no exhilarating sense of invincibility she always felt under Kyle's power. It was natural for Parnel to be disconcerted.
Was this really the full power of a goddess's daughter?
Was the ogre too low-level, so she was holding back? All sorts of thoughts raced through the battle.
Even without the Hope God's blessing, they were the hero party.
Lucia and Yurinel amiably severed the two arms from the ogre's crisply roasted left half. Holy chains—Divine Chains—bound its legs, and Yurinel beheaded it in the opening.
A complete victory, a great triumph. No injuries on their side. Yet everyone's expressions, except Aridel's, were not bright.
They all felt this battle was somehow different. They didn't know exactly how or where, but it wasn't the same as usual.
'Were our expectations... too high?'
It was true they had some expectations since she was a saintess from the Triune Holy Kingdom.
They didn't expect world-shaking power, but at least overwhelming superiority over her predecessors. No, they had assumed it was obvious!
The Three Main Gods were naturally superior to nameless minor deities, and saintesses towered over ordinary priests as common sense.
This outcome was something no one had anticipated—no one had even dreamed of.
One thing they could confirm had improved: unlike Kyle's, Aridel's holy power worked on monsters and demons. Compared to Kyle, who could only heal and recover, Aridel could use holy power offensively too. Naturally, their strategic options expanded greatly.
'Yeah, let's think positively.'
Yurinel bit her lip with a lingering regretful expression.
They had gained some things, but lost others too. It was hard to judge which side was superior now. She shook her head to shake off the regret.
'It wasn't a decision based on just one ability.'
Aridel was someone who would grow into one of the Holy Kingdom's leaders. Forming a comrade-like bond with such a person was more valuable than it seemed.
It was a step closer to greater power. She believed her judgment wasn't wrong. She had been certain before, but seeing the saintess's abilities introduced a slight unease.
"You were all amazing! Is this the kind of battle you usually fight?"
"Ah, yeah. Pretty much..."
"Indeed, you are the true heroes who purify the earth and spread the Goddess's will. This Aridel pledges to aid your journey with her life."
"Um, Saintess."
As the excited saintess swelled with pride over her own feats alone,
Parnel, the party's archmage who often heard she lacked tact, asked,
"Can't you use something like the Star Dream Observatory, Saintess?"
Objectively, Aridel's abilities weren't lacking,
but subjectively, they fell far short. Their enemy was that ancient Demon King, a monster older than even the Three Main Gods.
They could judge Saintess Aridel's abilities more after seeing them a bit longer, but no one could be sure how helpful she'd be against Grimudo.
They had thought joining with a saintess would let them target Grimudo's nape, but now it seemed they needed to adjust that thinking.
"Or some other miracle. You're just not using it now because there's no need, right?"
What nonsense is this?
Aridel responded with her expression.
"A miracle...?"
Even beings loved by the gods like saints and saintesses had to devote their entire lives to faith.
Only in the final years of life could they use a miracle once or twice.
There had been a few cases of young saintesses using them, but those were limited to the few who received the goddess's utmost favor or were born with heaven-sent talent. Aridel was neither.
"If... if you staked your life on it, maybe once somehow? It might be possible...?"
She laughed sheepishly and scratched her head. They took it as a joke and brushed it off as one.
Miracles weren't child's play, after all. Even for the goddess's greatest servants, saintesses.
No matter how great saints and saintesses were, they were ultimately human, far below angels who attended the gods in the heavens.
In contrast, apostles weren't originally meant for earthly duties.
As proxies of the gods, their domains differed from angels', with no direct hierarchy but mutual respect. Their status could be seen as equivalent.
That was why manifesting and extinguishing miracles
could be done as simply as lighting a candle.
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