Saintess (1): The Saintess's Declaration

The day of the Heavenly Decree Proclamation Ceremony.

"Your Highness, do you happen to have plans to visit anywhere else today?"

"Haha, are you worried I’ll show up covered in blood like last time?"

"No! Not at all! It’s just... this lowly servant was curious about where your footsteps might lead..."

"There is no such thing, so rest easy."

Perhaps it was because I had appeared at my very first official event drenched in the blood of a Magic Beast. As soon as they heard my words, the ministers wore expressions of relief, their worries melting away. We didn't hold meetings often, but perhaps because they were the ones working with me to build a healthy Empire, there were rare moments when they would pull such earnest pranks.

'It feels good to be getting closer to them.'

Yes, that’s how it should be—exchanging a bit of banter here and there. Thinking that to myself, I continued.

"First, Rowena, the Saintess-designate, will begin her walk from the place furthest from the central plaza... the central wall of the Empire."

"That is to ensure as many people as possible can see her. Good."

"Thank you. From there, she will walk until she reaches the central plaza... and ascend the pre-installed stairs."

"The stage that towers in the center, you mean."

"Yes, and there... Your Highness will appear amidst the flames, ignite the Holy Oil, deliver the symbol of the Saintess, and then... grant her recognition as the Saintess."

"You said she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would walk wearing a veil, correct?"

"That is correct."

I listened to the sequence for today's proclamation. It was called a proclamation, but in truth, there wasn't much to it. 'The goal is to keep it simple rather than complex and flashy, so that as many imperial citizens as possible can see it.'

So, what was important wasn't the sequence of events.

"How are you handling the safety aspect?"

"A full unit of the Knights Order in disguise will be stationed around Saintess-designate Rowena."

"And the citizens?"

"We have paired soldiers with a knight and deployed them in areas where crowds are likely to gather."

It was a matter of safety. 'It’s not as if anything strange would happen during the event.' I didn't even entertain the thought that things would go wrong. The core issue was the problems that arise when crowds become too dense.

"Did you say the Romper Church arrived at dawn and is currently near the plaza?"

"Yes, that is correct. They arrived at dawn. We tried to guide them to the detached palace, but they wished to stay outside, so we rented out the best inn in its entirety for them."

"The quality of high-end lodging in the center of the Empire is high, so they shouldn't have any complaints."

"That is correct."

Having confirmed that the Romper Church had also arrived on time, all that remained was to watch over the event to ensure it proceeded smoothly.

'Stable.'

Just as I was thinking that—

It showed me a piece of news that hit me right in the back of the head. 'Two Saintesses?' This meant only one thing. 'Mirne is in the Empire right now?'

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

As soon as I realized this, I asked a question.

"Did you send invitations to other kingdoms?"

"No. As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you commanded, Your Highness, we only sent them to the Church."

"Then, did anyone from another kingdom say they would come after hearing the news of the proclamation?"

"None. If there had been, I would have reported it to you immediately."

I understood the situation instantly. 'Did she come disguised as a member of the Church? As a Saintess candidate? Or a priest?' Since it was a celebratory occasion, they wouldn't have reported the personnel in detail. Even if they had, if Mirne had set her mind to hiding, she could have slipped in easily.

'A character like the protagonist... if she intends to disguise herself, she could fool most people.'

The question was, why did she go through the trouble of "sneaking in"? Even if she hadn't done that, if she had said she wanted to come, I would have let her in, however unpleasant it might have been. But instead, she mixed in with the Church group.

"Secretly attach another unit of knights to the Church group."

"Yes!"

I didn't know why she came, but it didn't seem like it was for a good reason.

"Saintess, are you nervous?"

"I told you, I'm not a Saintess yet."

"You'll be one soon, though."

"I'm not one yet, so you should still watch your tongue until then."

"It's only two hours at most until then!"

Rowena smiled faintly at the priest's words. It wasn't wrong. In just a little while, she would become a Saintess.

'A curse... does His Highness the Crown Prince have a curse?'

Rowena recalled the conversation she had with the Crown Prince just a week ago. He had definitely asked about the curse and confirmed the presence of purification. 'Still, I am fortunate. I can serve a role in the way His Highness the Crown Prince needs.'

It was impossible right now, but he said it would be possible if she were recognized as a Saintess. That was no lie. As long as she could fulfill the Crown Prince's needs, they would never be abandoned.

'Since there is nowhere left to be chased out to, I hope everyone can be stable here, at least.'

She was exhausted from the vicious politics and factional strife within the Church. If she were abandoned by the Empire as well, she would truly have nowhere to go. Thus, Rowena felt a heavy sense of responsibility for the position of Saintess. For the sake of those who had followed her, she needed to make this proclamation ceremony a great success.

And what was needed to make it a success was—

'Having many imperial citizens recognize me as the Saintess.'

To achieve this, she intended to mobilize every means at her disposal. As Rowena was steeling her resolve—

"Saintess, it is time. You must move now."

"Yes, I am going."

The priest announced that the time for the proclamation had arrived, and Rowena stood up. It was time to become a Saintess.

Step, step.

The furthest position from the central plaza. She turned her back to the wall and moved her feet slowly. The snow-white veil limited her vision, but it wasn't a major problem. She just had to walk looking straight ahead.

Tap, tap.

Perhaps because she wasn't wearing shoes, the texture of the ground was transmitted directly to her soles.

"Ohhh..."

"Is that the Saintess?"

The words of the people around her drifted into her ears little by little.

'I can start now, right?'

Hearing those words, Rowena manifested her Divine Power subtly. With every step, white light spread out, creating an atmosphere where the light flowed from her body like threads.

'Just walking isn't enough.'

'Then how...'

'You must use your Divine Power. You need a proper performance so that people will know for sure that you are the Saintess.'

'Use... the Divine Power?'

'If people find stability by you using it that way, I see that as the correct way to use Divine Power.'

The conversation she had when she brought the Crown Prince into the room came to mind. It was an unexpected part. Honestly, she had been doubtful while doing it. She wondered if it would really make a difference.

"Oh... this is Divine Power..."

"S-Saintess... It's the Saintess."

"Ahhh... please grant me peace..."

Unlike when she had just walked silently, the reactions of those around her changed drastically once she began to spread her Divine Power. If at first, they were just watching someone unusual, now, everyone began to kneel and pray as she passed by.

And at the same time—

Whoosh!

Rowena felt her Divine Power growing stronger. Prayers received directly from the people. Prayers directed not at a god, but at a "Saintess." The prayers became strength and piled up in her body, and Rowena spread that Divine Power even wider as soon as it accumulated.

The distance between the citizens, spaced out enough for five people to stretch their arms, became meaningless as they came into direct contact with her Divine Power.

"Ah, ahhhhh..."

Some shed tears as soon as they touched it.

"Oh, ohhh... S-Saintess!"

Others poured out exclamations and bowed immediately.

Even for the citizens staying in the center of the Empire, it was their first time seeing such strong Divine Power directly, so such reactions were inevitable.

'Did His Highness the Crown Prince foresee this far?'

He might have known. Rowena muttered to herself and continued her walk. Perhaps thanks to the prayers the people kept sending, the plaza, which had felt far away, slowly came into view.

'To be able to decorate it like this in seven days, it is amazing.'

The closer she got to the plaza, the more Rowena couldn't help but admire it. She had felt the time to prepare was very short, but the structures built starting from the plaza fountain showed the greatness of the Empire.

The new symbol of the Romper Church, with a sun embedded in it, was engraved on a large flag, proudly decorating the plaza. Snow-white flower petals were slowly falling from the sky. Furthermore, there was a natural staircase above the fountain, which had a mysterious structure with only the steps, without any support underneath.

'Should I call it a staircase with only the steps floating? It's quite fascinating.'

Tap, tap.

Every time she moved her feet onto the stairs—

"Ohhh..."

Exclamations burst from people's mouths. The soil that stained the feet of the Saintess, who had appeared divine. That such a noble being had no hesitation about getting dirt on her feet. Even more, she didn't care about it at all and was just walking the stairs silently. That was an element that made her appear even more divine to the viewers.

In this situation, Rowena looked around and—

'You've come.'

She found the Pope and the Saint who had banished her. Keeping some distance from the imperial citizens, clearly showing that they had come from the Church, they would have no choice but to watch with wide eyes as she became the Saintess. It would be a lie to say it wasn't satisfying.

'Watch. Watch me become the Saintess.'

The moment an imperial Saintess is born. Just stand there and watch. As Rowena was muttering that to herself—

Whoosh!

The Crown Prince appeared from the sky and approached Rowena, who had reached the end of the stairs. The Crown Prince, who had appeared amidst the flames, held a ring and a scepter with the symbol of the new church.

"Lift your head."

"..."

First, he removed the veil that covered Rowena's face. After that, it proceeded smoothly according to the procedure. Removing the veil, delivering the ring and the scepter. The moment Rowena held and wore them—

"Here, I proclaim that the Saintess of the Empire has been born."

As the Crown Prince proclaimed the birth of the Saintess, the choir sang as if they had been waiting. The orchestra, which had been waiting in the buildings surrounding the plaza, played their instruments, and the mages amplified the sound to create a magnificent atmosphere.

"Waaaaaaaah!!!"

Cheers erupted from the sacred atmosphere. As soon as the wind-up man shouted and clapped, the cheers of the imperial citizens poured out even while the song was continuing. The proclamation ceremony was in an atmosphere that anyone could see was ending successfully.

At that moment, when it seemed like that atmosphere would continue—

"I cannot acknowledge this! How can a human make a human a Saintess? Without representing my will... how!"

A sharp voice that pierced through the singing revealed its presence.

"The Saint?"

Rowena was shocked as soon as she recognized the owner of the voice.

"S-Saint?"

Even Mirne, who was next to the Saint, was flustered. It was a situation no one had expected, except for one person.

'As expected, there was something.'

The Crown Prince ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flew toward the Saint without any fluster. The atmosphere was broken for a moment, but since the singing and playing were continuing, he judged that there would be no problem if he settled the situation quickly.

'Arveda, create my illusion and keep your place with the imperial citizens until the end.'

'Yes!'

'Teo, in preparation for an emergency, thoroughly monitor those who came from the Church and share the current situation with the Grand General.'

'Yes!'

After giving orders to Arveda and Teo, the Crown Prince—

"Mirne, only you should exist as the Saintess...!"

"Saint, why are you doing this! Saint...!"

He arrived in front of Valerian and Mirne in the blink of an eye. Without hesitation, he grabbed both of their necks, and—

'Teleport.'

He moved their locations together to the mountain visible right in front of his eyes. And at the same time, as if waiting—

The message appeared before the Crown Prince's eyes.

'Yes, I thought so.'

She was the protagonist loved by the world; would the world really let that power be split? Bellon laughed to himself as his rough guess hit the mark.

'Today.'

How far would the Crown Prince's power reach?

'Kill a god.'

The time had come to properly find out.