Chapter 220: Awakening
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 220: Awakening
I licked my lips awkwardly and looked down.
This was quite a predicament.
The atmosphere makes it feel like I should be performing some kind of miracle.
Glancing down, I saw Leon looking up at me with wide, sparkling eyes. Even Constine seemed to be waiting for something.
Feeling embarrassed, I rubbed the tip of my nose and turned back to Loik.
“Uh… the water is very refreshing.”
At my foolish response, a soft chuckle escaped him.
“It’s likely because we’ve been walking for so long.”
The water really was refreshing, though. So refreshing, in fact, that the cold liquid sliding down my throat was already making my chest feel strangely tingly.
Did I gulp it down too fast?
I placed a hand over my heart, feeling the cold energy spreading through my entire body. A clear, bracing chill seeped deep into my bones. Just as a shiver ran down my spine from the exhilarating sensation that finally jolted my brain awake—
For a moment, my vision blurred into white before an intense light surged forward.
Loik’s voice sounded miles away.
I closed my stinging eyes and opened them slowly. To my astonishment, the scenery before me was overflowing with light. Every object my gaze touched radiated its own brilliance. I could clearly feel the shimmering life force emanating from the people, the trees outside the cave, and even the small mountain animals.
It felt as if I had suddenly grasped the fundamental principles of life in all things.
Finally, I could truly feel the power I possessed.
Overwhelmed, I turned to look at Loik. He, too, was enveloped in a dazzling light. The only difference was that he and I were connected by countless, dense threads of light. These threads were circulating between us constantly, as if they were alive.
So this is the imprint.
I was marveling at the sight and moving a bit closer to Loik when I noticed something. Near his solar plexus, there was a dark-red mass that looked like a small sphere. The light was tirelessly absorbing the dark energy leaking from the sphere, purifying it into a snow-white aura. Thanks to this, the sphere remained stable instead of growing larger.
Is that the Dragon’s Magic Core?
If I removed that core from Loik, would the contract end?
I unconsciously raised my hand. A faint light was blooming from my fingertips. Instinctively, I knew: if I were to remove the Magic Core now, Loik would not survive.
However, if I could learn to control my holy power better, an opportunity might arise. Fortunately, even without relying on the knowledge I’d learned from Miel, I was beginning to get a feel for how to handle this power.
As I gathered the energy at my fingertips, the cluster of light grew larger and took shape. The moment I let that power burst forth, a fierce wind accompanied a wave of light that swept through the entire cave before slowly melting away.
When I blinked, my vision had returned to normal.
Looking around, I saw everyone staring at me with dazed expressions. Loik carefully took my hand. Perhaps worried I might collapse, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders to support me gently.
Had my vision not fully returned? For some reason, the water flowing from the spring seemed to be sparkling.
Just then, Miel rushed toward the stone wall and dabbed at the water trickling through the cracks, tasting it. His eyes flew wide as he stammered out a shout.
“It’s Holy Water!”
“Her Highness the Consort has created Holy Water!”
At those words, the knights scrambled to the stream to scoop up the water and drink.
“It really is Holy Water!”
Loik also knelt down and scooped some water into his hands to drink. Wiping his mouth, he stood up and nodded.
“It is indeed Holy Water,” Loik said, his face filled with admiration. “To think my wife could turn mere water into Holy Water.”
“Oof!”
Just then, the sound of Miel tumbling came from below the stone wall. It seemed he had slipped while trying to climb up. Enolius let out a sigh and waved his hand a few times, creating a set of rough stone steps. The frail priest huffed and puffed as he climbed up.
“Your Highness, you… you are truly… gasp… incredible!”
Miel panted heavily and crossed himself.
“I have never in my life seen someone turn running water into Holy Water!”
I pressed my lips together to keep from looking too smug. I had simply released my overflowing energy, and the water had changed.
I really am amazing, aren’t I?
Beside me, Miel, who was twice as excited as I was, began an impassioned speech.
“Do you have any idea how difficult it is to create Holy Water?”
He went on to explain that the high priests of the Imperial Grand Temple had to pour in their holy power all day just to produce barely a mouthful.
“To witness such a miracle in my lifetime… I am truly a lucky man!”
To be able to make Holy Water this easily…
I could make a fortune just selling Holy Water in the North.
I turned to Loik, wanting to be praised by him as well, but his expression was unexpectedly heavy. When I tilted my head in confusion, his eyes immediately softened into a gentle curve.
“You are truly wonderful, Annette.”
He reached out and brushed back my bangs with a tender touch.
“Is something bothering you?”
A soft light dwelled in Loik’s eyes. “I was just thinking about how incredibly proud I am of you, Annette.”
I was grinning foolishly at his words when I turned my head and locked eyes with Constine, who was standing there blankly. Come to think of it, I hadn’t intended to use my holy power in front of her. She had a very complicated expression on her face.
It was Constine who told me to drink the spring water.
Had she done that because she suspected I was the Saintess?
I was about to take a step toward her to talk when Loik’s voice dropped low and heavy. A sharp edge instantly appeared in his firm gaze. He quickly led me toward the inner wall, far away from the stone ledge. We were near the entrance leading deeper into the cave.
At Loik’s call, Enolius climbed the stone wall with a nimbleness I had never seen before. Simultaneously, several high-ranking knights flinched and looked toward the cave entrance.
“Monsters,” Loik said calmly. “Stay with the mage.”
“Monsters? You mean… real monsters have appeared?”
“It’s dangerous, so do not leave the cave.”
Loik turned as if to leave me behind.
“No!” I hurriedly grabbed him. “Take Enol with you! I’ll be fine!”
Loik paused and looked back at me.
“You’re fighting monsters; you need every person you can get!”
The mage was a vital part of their combat strength. If they fought without him and Loik got hurt, what would I do?
“Wow, that actually hurt a little,” Enolius said, narrowing his eyes. “To cruelly send a delicate mage into the jaws of death like that.”
“But our Grand Duke is delicate too…!”
Realizing I was being serious, Loik struggled to maintain his composure and pressed his lips together.
“Do not worry. It won’t take long.”
He gave my temple a soft kiss and leaped down from the stone wall in a single bound. As he strode forward and drew his sword, a blue sword aura flared to life. Behind his reliable back, the knights drew their swords in unison and followed their captain.
“Something is strange,” Miel said, biting his nails as he leaned against the wall. “For monsters to come down this far…”
“What? So this isn’t normal?”
Enolius also frowned. “Normally, there are defense stones up to the waist of the mountain range that prevent monsters from entering.” He closed his eyes as if sensing the energy outside the cave. “Furthermore, by the feel of it, their numbers are quite significant.”
“Then that means it’s dangerous!”
Just then, the howl of a beast echoed from outside. It was a much more eerie and grotesque cry than I had expected.
Should I go out and help? I had never used holy power for combat, but since I was technically the Saintess, wouldn’t I be able to do something?
Just as my heart was burning with anxiety, Enolius blinked at me.
“…You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“About what?”
“About worrying for His Highness.”
“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?”
At my heated reaction, Enolius scratched his chin, looking a bit embarrassed.
“Well, I suppose it makes sense since you haven’t seen His Highness fight. But if I may tell you…” The mage added as if making an excuse, “…His Highness is strong.”
“I know that.”
“He is much stronger than you think, Your Highness.” Enolius clicked his tongue, looking a bit frustrated. “Right now, Your Highness is essentially worrying about a human being dealing with a mosquito.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“It’s true. In fact, ever since his overload vanished, he’s been so overflowing with energy that… I’m starting to think the title ‘Monster Grand Duke’ isn’t entirely inaccurate.”
The mage, who had been muttering to himself, waved a hand dismissively. “Anyway, there’s no need to worry. If there are many monsters, it might take a little longer, but that’s all.”
It felt like he was just saying that to reassure me, but his composed attitude helped my tension subside a little.
Please, let no one get hurt.
Beside Miel, who was quietly crossing himself, I clasped my hands tightly together.
* * *
So the Grand Duchess really was the Saintess.
Watching the Grand Duchess turn the spring water into Holy Water in an instant, Constine felt a tightening sensation in her chest. The authority of the true Saintess was so overwhelming that it was impossible to even attempt to imitate it.
Until now, she had thought she was merely filling a vacant seat that no one else could claim. But as it turned out, she had not only stolen a seat that had a rightful owner and acted as if it were hers, but she had even picked fights with that very owner.
To think I acted so arrogant in front of the real Saintess.
Moreover, judging by the atmosphere, it was clear that everyone except her had already known the truth. She couldn’t bring herself to lift her head out of sheer shame.
As she stood there, not knowing what to do, the news that monsters were nearby broke out, and the Grand Duke and his knights headed out of the cave.
What should I do?
She was awkwardly looking around when a voice called out.
“Do you plan on becoming monster bait?”
Tiern, who was the last to draw his sword, shouted at Constine, who was standing there all alone.