Chapter 161: The Saintess’s Weakness
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 161: The Saintess’s Weakness
“I’m not really sure what you’ll think after you hear what I have to say, Oppa. Whether you’ll be angry… or if you’ll actually accept my suggestion…”
As Juliana continued, the anxiety was plain on her face.
Nevertheless, she did not hesitate to keep speaking.
“Oppa. You see… I’m a wicked fox. I hurt the friends who cherished me just because I wanted to protect the person I loved from afar. I regret it deeply now… but even if I could go back, I’d make the same choice. Because there might be a future where the goddess by your side isn't Elina, but some other evil god, and you end up in danger.”
Juliana looked at me, forcing a faint smile onto her lips.
“That’s why I’m telling you about Aris’s family. If it means I can help you, I’m prepared to be the wickedest fox in the world. Even if I’m the only one who falls into hell, I’ll never regret that choice. Because I believe that someday, you’ll come to find me.”
“Juliana. I don’t like talk like that.”
“I know. But I felt like I had to say it. Because I’m truly in earnest.”
A natural smile finally spread across her face.
“You know, don’t you, Oppa? That no one can stop Juliana when she’s in earnest.”
“…So, you’re saying you’re going to tell me everything regardless of what I think?”
“Yes. I know you’ll go to save Yerin no matter what… and since I haven’t even found my original body yet… it’ll be a long time before I can go down to the surface. I want to help you in this way, at least. Of course, I’m not trying to force a choice on you. It’s just… I feel like you’ll be able to come up with a much better method than I could. It’s up to you how you use the information I give you.”
I nodded slowly.
As she said herself, when Juliana set her mind to something, she always achieved her goal, no matter what.
“Aris’s family… they’re living in a place decorated to look like a cathedral, like the one you mentioned earlier. It’s located five kilometers east of the Imperial Capital.”
“Hmm. That’s close to the Irem Religious Order. Are you saying Aris’s family lives there under their protection? The Order wouldn't have just handed over the land for free.”
“Officially, yes. No matter how much they’re the Saintess’s family, giving them that kind of privilege would be too much. But in reality, they’re staying somewhere else.”
“Did they hide them for safety?”
“That’s part of it, but I think it was to give the two of them a Grand Mansion. From what I’ve heard, it’s twice as large as your mansion, Oppa. And they’ve selected only sisters from the Holy Knights recognized by Bell to guard the perimeter. Bell probably doesn't even know this much. The Holy Knight Order was likely only told they were guarding a high-ranking noble’s estate, and since they presumably used portals to move, the exact location isn't known.”
“How many troops are stationed there?”
“Five sister Holy Knights. I don’t know the exact number of the remaining forces under them.”
Up to this point, there was nothing particularly strange.
If I hadn't known Aris’s true nature, my first thought would have been that such a thing was impossible.
But for that bitch who was a mass of sexual desire and a craving for demonic energy—the one who had sleep raped me countless times and humiliated Yerin—it wasn't out of the question.
In fact, it was almost surprising that she had only stationed sister Holy Knights recognized by Bell.
Based on what I’d seen over the past two weeks, it wouldn't have been strange if she’d used ninety percent of the Church’s forces just to protect her family.
“But those aren't the only forces that can be mobilized in an emergency. I believe they have a portal scroll that can open a path to the Imperial Capital. And it’s not a scroll made for a small party; it’s one that can transport hundreds of people at once.”
“Hmm. That is definitely suspicious. Mages who can handle portals like that aren't common.”
“Right. But it probably didn't come from the Magic Tower. Sien isn't the type of person to agree to such a request.”
“True.”
“I want to tell you as much as possible… but I don’t know the exact location of the family right now either. However, I know two people who might.”
Juliana paused for a moment.
“One is the Goddess Elysia. She would be able to track their exact location.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“I don’t think that goddess would care about the Saintess’s family…”
No matter how I thought about it, it sounded strange.
The Goddess, who spends most of her time in the temple and doesn't descend to the surface, would need special conditions to track the location of a specific human.
A prayer through the Church.
A one-on-one contract, like the one I had made before.
Or, as was the case when Elina was throwing a tantrum, drawing her attention by hurling indiscriminate verbal abuse at her.
I had made a contract to join the Hero Party in exchange for a promise to return to Earth.
And since Aris was granted the Stigmata as the Saintess, she didn't even need a contract.
But assuming her parents and younger sister lived ordinary lives, the chances of them meeting those conditions were extremely slim.
As if reading my expression, Juliana nodded slightly.
“It’s because the younger sister… is a special existence. Originally…”
She pressed her lips together before speaking again.
“It wasn't the older sister, but the younger sister who was supposed to become the Saintess.”
Squeeze.
“Ngh…!”
“……Sorry.”
I had accidentally hugged Juliana too hard.
“Mmm… It’s okay, Oppa. Is it hard holding me? Let’s go over there and sit comfortably.”
After walking a short distance, I set Juliana down on the floor, and we sat side-by-side, leaning against the wall.
“Can I… lean my head on you…?”
“Do as you like.”
“Hehe… ♥”
Juliana leaned her head against me and continued.
“The younger sister has a Stigmata too. Unlike Aris, whose mark is usually faint, hers was much darker, so anyone could recognize it back then.”
“So the sister was born with the Stigmata first.”
“Yes. Unlike Aris, who developed the qualities of a Saintess just before reaching adulthood, I understand the sister was born with the Goddess’s light from the moment she was born. That’s why Aris was very frail before she received the Stigmata.”
I remembered hearing something about this from Seri.
Aris, her childhood friend of twenty years since they were three, had been physically weak since she was young and had been bullied a lot.
So Seri had stayed by her side all day to protect her.
“But when Aris was suddenly chosen as the Saintess, the sister completely lost her energy after that. I heard she even finds walking in the garden difficult… Anyway, for that reason, she’s living in the mansion under her mother’s devoted care.”
“And most people in the Church don’t know about this?”
“Right. My guess is that Aris obtained the portal scroll through a private channel. I know quite a few mages in the Imperial Capital, but they all seemed clueless about a scroll made for that purpose.”
“…….”
I fell silent.
I finally understood why Juliana had mentioned the Goddess first.
Seri would likely know the family’s location as well.
I remembered hearing that they had visited their hometown together once.
In the first place, it was the priestess Seri who took on the role of Aris’s personal bodyguard.
Aris probably couldn't bring herself to tell Seri—whom she trusted that much—that her hymen had vanished without a trace while she was busy devouring me.
It was impossible for her not to have any contact with Aris’s younger sister, whom she had been close to since childhood.
“Oppa.”
Juliana held my hand and smiled faintly.
“Seri probably had the same thoughts as me and hesitated to tell you. No matter how evil someone is… touching their uninvolved family… she probably thought it was something a person shouldn't do. Seri is… a much kinder girl than I am…”
“And yet you’re telling me about the family? To become a wicked fox…?”
“Yes. No matter how much I think about it, this is right. Aris values her family above all else. Besides, if the Saintess touched your demonic energy and hid it so well that even the Goddess didn't notice… then the Goddess who was backing the Saintess might even take your side. That’s all I have to say. You choose the direction you want for the rest.”
Juliana gripped my hand tightly and lowered her head.
“But… you know. After finding out everything that happened to you and Yerin… I want you to resolve this, even if it means doing something bad like that.”
She slowly reached out her arms and hugged me.
“You can use me as much as you want. You can just tell people it was Juliana’s idea, and that it was the only way. It would be even better if you said I went ahead and did it first, and you were forced to take advantage of the situation.”
“…….”
“Yerin… after she grew distant from you… she was very cold to me too. But just like she was to you… she was also a precious sister I wanted to be held by at any time. So, for this… I’ll help you with everything I have. In return, please make sure you save Yerin.”
I quietly let go of Juliana’s hand.
Since the pure fox girl still considered a pinky swear the most precious promise.
Touching our fingertips together was a sufficient answer.
“Heehee… ♥ I have a secret promise with Oppa now… ♥”
“I’m going. Get some rest, Juliana.”
“Okay. See you later, Oppa ♥”
After stroking Juliana’s hair as she kissed my cheek, I slowly stood up.
Thanks to Elina, I’d had a long journey through this dream, so it was about time I went back and gave her a reward.
With Juliana seeing me off, I walked forward, opened the real door Elina had mentioned, and stepped inside.