The False Saintess (1)

"So, have you identified all of them?"

"Yes. Just as I suspected, there were several mixed in among the Holy Knight Order as well."

At my question, Arin nodded in response before irritably scratching her head, as if the whole matter had become unbearable.

She clicked her tongue while reviewing the list written on the paper, then handed it to me.

"I never imagined the Emperor's reach would extend even into the Holy Kingdom."

"That bastard wouldn't form an alliance without preparing some contingencies."

"...Do you think even the Pope is unaware?"

I scoffed at her cautious question. There was no way a man who had ruled a nation for decades at the very least wouldn't know about such schemes.

He knew—and was letting it happen. If anything, he was probably leaving them be with the intention of turning the situation to his advantage. Just as I was using Allen as an informant within the imperial household.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"What on earth could he be thinking?"

"Don't bother trying to read the mind of an old raccoon. It's easier on your sanity ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to just leave him be."

The Pope was, after all, someone who took little interest in anything beyond his own domain—the Holy Kingdom.

As long as the Holy Kingdom itself wasn't directly threatened, he was likely to tolerate most of the Emperor's plans. That was precisely why the Emperor, in turn, wouldn't recklessly provoke the Holy Kingdom.

Unless fully prepared, facing the Pope without any groundwork would be nothing short of insanity.

The imperial household's unusually heavy interference in this subjugation expedition was probably to lay the groundwork for future moves. Of course, I accepted all of it—except for the parts that got in my way.

Letting him do as he pleased would make it easier to alert the Pope to the Emperor's threat.

"All we need to do is inform him of the situation in his own backyard."

"So you're saying even the Pope doesn't know about the Emperor's plan?"

"If he knew, he would have acted long ago."

This was a plan that could cost the lives of tens of thousands, at the very least.

Though his methods were underhanded, his devotion and willingness to sacrifice were on par with any saintess of the Goddess Church.

There was no way that Pope—who so dearly loved the people of the Holy Kingdom—would stand idly by if he knew.

"I see."

Arin nodded in understanding at my explanation.

I began reading through the list she had handed me. The number of pawns embedded in the Holy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Knight Order was fewer than I'd expected.

At most, three or four. Meanwhile, the list of my own servants numbered at least ten.

No, if anything, having this many in the Holy Knight Order—the very ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠symbol of the Holy Kingdom—was impressive in its own right. Whatever methods he'd used, they were effective.

One name in particular caught my eye.

'Yurp von Ernesti.'

I never expected her to have participated in this subjugation expedition.

In the original work, Yurp never joined the subjugation forces.

Though she possessed talent exceptional enough to directly receive the Goddess's Blessing, her constitution—which rejected Holy Power—was the primary reason.

If she were even slightly injured on the battlefield, she couldn't be healed by any priest's aid. Given that even potions had limited effect on her, that said everything.

There was a reason the Saintess Candidate wasn't deployed directly to the front lines. As proof, hadn't she nearly died from monster venom this time?

'Call it fate.'

The words that had spilled from the Pope's lips.

Forcing Yurp into the subjugation expedition must have been part of that so-called fate.

Suddenly, I recalled her from the original work.

The False Saintess, the Traitor...

The epithets attached to her were countless. Yet it was precisely those multifaceted contradictions that made her one of the most beloved supporting characters among readers.

One of the few who knew she was the Emperor's replacement—his eyes. The conflicting emotions she carried were what made her such a compelling character.

Now, facing her in reality, I couldn't help but feel a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Will you not tell her the truth about herself?"

After quietly scanning the names on the list beside me, Arin posed the question. I set the paper down in response.

Turning my head, I saw Arin's face filled with concern. It seemed she had grown quite attached after spending the past month with Adel.

Her expression was that of a mentor worried for her disciple. Had I once worn a similar look? Brushing aside the stray thoughts surfacing in my mind, I answered.

"Rotten as she may be, she's still a Saintess Candidate. Do you really think the Emperor would carelessly move a piece he cherishes?"

"You're right. From the Emperor's perspective, she'd be a difficult piece to deploy recklessly."

"Exactly."

It was hard to imagine that Emperor would waste a valuable piece like Yurp just to deal with Adel.

In the original work, he had treasured her so dearly—only to be betrayed by her in the end. I doubted the Emperor of this world would be any different.

No matter how powerful he was, at his core, he was nothing more than a coward.

§

My eyes snapped open. An unfamiliar ceiling came into view—white canvas stretched between wooden beams.

The cold metallic sensation of the bed frame pressed against her arm.

Yurp, who had been quietly observing the scene, slowly sat up. Her previously dire physical condition had improved as if washed clean.

'It doesn't hurt.'

The searing pain in her lungs—the agony that had made even breathing unbearable—had vanished without a trace.

The hunger she had endured for so long was also gone.

Bathed in a long-forgotten ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sense of peace, she lightly closed her eyes. She could feel the Holy Power swirling around her, more vibrant than usual.

That must mean my condition has improved.

When she opened her eyes again, she saw a woman sprawled asleep on the bed before her.

A woman with strikingly disheveled snow-white hair.

'Id, wasn't it?'

The Black Crow Knights of the Arieh Empire.

A warrior skilled enough to belong to that order, one of the rare few Spirit Knights in the world, and the one chosen as her escort. The one who had saved her from the brink of death at the hands of monsters.

And the one who had used that precious Panacea Talisman on her when she was dying from poison.

'I've been saved by someone again.'

Ever since she became aware of her true identity, it had always been like this. As if by the Goddess's design, Yurp had narrowly escaped death time and time again.

Even though, in truth, she was nothing more than a replacement—a substitute crafted to take the place of Yurp, the country girl. When the Pope himself had granted her the position of Saintess Candidate, she had been stunned beyond words.

She had begun fasting in the desperate hope that he would strip her of that title. But every time she voiced that wish, the Pope refused.

Haa...

Her gaze drifted to Id, who was sleeping soundly. The way she had slumped over the bed while sitting on the floor looked terribly uncomfortable.

Yet, she slept with a peaceful expression.

'If she keeps sleeping like that, her back will give out soon.'

The thought crossed her mind unbidden. She herself had once injured her back while tending to a patient in that very posture.

As she reached out toward Id, a sudden memory made her hesitate.

'Even so... is this really okay?'

The scene was still vivid in her mind. The face of Kal—who had insisted she was still Yurp, even after the truth of her being the Emperor's replacement was revealed.

His final expression, blood trickling from his lips as he smiled amidst the flames. The look in his eyes when he swore he would repay the kindness he had received.

'Kal... what should I do?'

No answer came to her question.

It was a question she could never ask the Kal of now.

He had long since been replaced by the Emperor's Eye. That was why she had treated him so coldly all this time.

Because she could never accept him as the same person as Kal. Even knowing it was like spitting on her own reflection, she couldn't erase that thought.

"Oh, you're awake."

Id wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth as she looked at Yurp. Flustered, Yurp quickly withdrew her hand, which had been hovering in the air.

Id didn't seem particularly interested in the gesture, rubbing her eyes before quietly sitting on the chair beside the bed.

Still half-asleep, she shook her head repeatedly, trying to rouse herself.

Yet, exhaustion weighed heavily on her, and her eyelids kept drooping.

[Bless.]

Yurp channeled a small amount of Holy Power into Id. This much kindness should be fine, right? It's not like the Emperor is watching my every move.

As the Holy Power seeped into her body, Id's eyes flew open. Fully awake now, she examined herself in amazement before turning to Yurp with a question.

"How did you do that?"

"Just a simple blessing."

A Priest's blessing could invigorate a person in and of itself. Used like this, even waking up early in the morning wasn't so difficult.

At Yurp's explanation, Id's eyes sparkled as she asked eagerly,

"Can I do that too?"

"Hmm... I doubt it."

Yurp shook her head slightly.

"To wield Holy Power, you'd need to receive Baptism directly from the Holy Kingdom."

"Ah... what a shame."

Id sighed in genuine disappointment. The way her emotions played so openly across her face made Yurp chuckle before she could stop herself.

"That's the first time I've seen you smile."

"...Me?"

"Yes. It suits you."

Id grinned as she said it.

Had I really not smiled much before? She tried lifting the corners of her mouth again, but the muscles twitched awkwardly.

Watching her struggle, Id burst into laughter.

"You're not used to it, huh? Smiling."

"...No. I haven't had much reason to."

"Then start now. Who knows? Maybe you'll have plenty of reasons to smile from here on out."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, definitely."

Id answered with such certainty that Yurp felt a twinge of envy at her optimism.