Chapter 89
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: 19. Why Am I the Hero? (3)
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In the hushed silence of the congregation, the ritual proceeded. The cardinals and archbishops who had been following the Pope surged forward in a single bound, forming a circle around the statue of Saintess Amaness.
They each drew slender wands no thicker than a finger from their robes, scooping up handfuls of the refined mana stone powder inside and scattering it around the statue.
The marble floor sparkled iridescently, as if sprinkled with glass shards. The devotees had cleaned it meticulously overnight in preparation for tomorrow's ceremony, not a speck of dust in sight.
With all preparations complete, their gazes turned to the Pope, drawing every eye in the room.
"Ahem... Let's begin."
Clearing her throat once, she signaled the start of the ritual and rolled up her sleeves, extending both hands forward.
She gathered her fingertips neatly, focusing her mind intently.
Plip- Plip-
Emerald holy water began to drip from the Pope's hands like dew.
Its concentration was incomparable to any holy water I'd seen before—a deep green jewel-like form.
Each single drop... said to save dozens or hundreds of lives?
I had no idea just how potent it was, but rumor had it that this holy water could even revive the dead. It was the crystallized faith of humanity, forged over unimaginable eons.
And now, that precious substance rained down like a drizzle.
As the Pope drew forth the holy water, the cardinals and archbishops slowly began to move. They took out the rosaries hanging from their necks and chanted prayers.
"Lord who bore the burdens of all and ascended. Reveal Thyself once more upon this land where even a handful of light has vanished..."
Whether it was a necromantic incantation or a prayer, I couldn't tell, but the holy water spread out as if alive.
It acted as a binding medium, connecting the scattered mana stone powder and fusing it together into a sticky whole.
Witnessing this bizarre phenomenon I'd never seen before, I leaned forward in awe.
In the game, the god just descended after chanting the spell, but here the process was far more intricate.
Well, that's what made it fantasy.
It was a wondrous sight impossible in a dot-based world of points and lines.
The holy water and mana stone powder drew toward each other, converging on the central statue. They clumped together like a pendulum's swing, shaking violently up and down...
Boom-
A thunderous roar like the sky splitting apart shook the earth violently.
"Ugh!"
Caught off guard by the shockwave, I lost my balance and tumbled forward, landing hard on my butt. My vision flipped for a moment, eyes widening in shock.
Rumble- Rumble-
The ground tremors vanished as quickly as they'd come. I wasn't the only one who'd fallen; frowning as I looked up, everyone standing nearby—including Vice Priestess Rachel beside me—lay sprawled on the floor.
What, what was that? An earthquake?-
What the hell...-
Oof... My back...-
Shrill voices erupted around me. Apparently, I wasn't the only one startled.
What was that...? Part of the ritual?
I had no clue what exactly had happened, but I could clearly sense its source.
"Urgh..."
Groaning, I clutched my nape, eyes bulging.
Dust rose from the platform where the ritual was underway, and a massive pillar of light pierced the heavens.
"Priest, are you alright!?"
Vice Priestess Rachel helped me up as I leaned on her arm, staring at the platform. I hadn't been seriously hurt, but my left leg throbbed with a sharp pain from the fall, probably a bruise.
"Urk... I'm fine."
Not wanting to worry her, I replied that I was okay.
This minor injury... I could heal it easily with divine power, no need to fuss.
More importantly, that...
As the dust cleared, the light pillar came into view. Everyone on the platform except the Pope had lost their balance and fallen backward.
She didn't fall...
Is it because she's not human? The Pope's legs remained firmly planted. A perfectly stable stance, untouched by the shaking.
Lowering the hand that had drawn the holy water, she knelt on one knee toward the pillar.
"Have you come, O Lord?"
No sooner had she spoken than a faint silhouette appeared within the pillar. The small black shadow grew larger, soon taking the form of a human figure.
Shrrrip-
With a horrific tearing sound, a foot suddenly protruded. As if bursting from a monster's gut, a figure entirely clad in snow-white emerged from the pillar's center.
Saintess Amaness?
It wasn't entirely clear, but the attire matched what I'd seen in my dream. A pure white dress swaying like a chandelier. It shimmered faintly, adorned with halos of light, unlike any fabric of this world.
Stagger-
Emerging from the pillar, the white-robed woman momentarily lost her balance and wobbled. She steadied herself just before falling and slowly raised her head.
"Is it because it's been so long since I walked the earth? Even standing is a struggle..."
Her beautiful voice filled the silent hall—a perfect match for the one from my dream, echoing everywhere.
Step Step-
Unfamiliar with walking, the white-robed woman kept stumbling, her steps faltering repeatedly.
Passing the Pope, she ascended to the highest point and— no, Saintess Amaness silently drew something resplendent from her bosom.
Humm-
Is that the holy sword...?
Its shape differed from what I knew, but its purpose was unmistakable. A sword encrusted with jewels and precious metals, wrapped entirely in gold. I doubted it could even kill a person, yet before everyone's eyes, she thrust it into the marble floor with all her might.
Thud-
The holy sword sank effortlessly into the marble like slicing tofu.
Saintess Amaness placed both arms on the sword's crossguard and swiftly scanned every person gathered in the chapel.
And then, her eyes met mine.
For a brief moment, she flashed a sinister smile toward me before shifting her gaze elsewhere.
"Isabel Perez!"
Saintess Amaness's voice boomed, audible to all. At some point, her finger pointed straight at Isabel, seated at the far end of the chapel.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
For a moment, she wondered if her ears had betrayed her.
Why else would her name echo here? Just to be sure it wasn't a namesake, she quickly glanced around.
But the unmistakable gazes fixed on her—including Saintess Amaness's pointing finger—confirmed everyone was staring her way.
No... What?
She was utterly dumbfounded. It felt utterly unreal, like someone had smacked her head hard. Just moments ago, she'd been planning to head back and stretch out for a good sleep, but things grew more absurd by the second.
"Sis?"
Silvia's golden eyes flickered beside her, demanding an explanation for this madness.
But she had no idea what was happening either.
No way, with so many others here...
Honestly, she'd assumed one of the guild members would be picked. These were all the able fighters in this rundown backwater.
But why her, of all people?
Isabel wasn't the only strong fighter; the guild was full of them. She was barely a rookie near the bottom rung. Compared to Guild Master Reina, she couldn't even touch her toes.
The atmosphere demanded she stand, so Isabel slowly rose from her chair. Pointing at herself, she asked again if it was truly her.
"Yes, Isabel Perez. You. I'm talking to you."
Despite her denial to the bitter end, Saintess Amaness nailed it down openly: hero. Overwhelmed with shock, Isabel dropped her hand and froze stiff on the spot.
"If you get it, come forward quick. Time's short."
Unable to move, Amaness tapped the holy sword on the floor a couple times with her chin. Unable to compose her expression, Isabel walked toward the platform.
Step Step-
As Isabel advanced, people parted swiftly to the sides. The eyes that once looked at her normally now brimmed with awe, clearing a path hurriedly.
Arriving right before it, Isabel knelt on one knee before the holy sword, mirroring the Pope's posture.
"M-Me, you mean?"
"How many times must I say it? Yes, you. Now that you know, pull it out quick."
With those final words, Amaness lowered her arms from the crossguard and stepped back a few paces.
A goddess's command from one faith was not to be defied; Isabel obeyed as if entranced.
Humm-
Standing and grasping the hilt, the holy sword resonated faintly.
After hesitating glances, she swallowed dryly and slowly drew the sword. Suddenly, blinding light engulfed her entirely.