The Power of the Ashtar Family

Theology class. One way to fight the Four Heavenly Kings is by using the power of the Ashtar family. No matter how strong I am now, this isn't my old body. There could be a performance gap. In that case, it would be better to gather the strength needed to face the Four Heavenly Kings.

“Raising an army is still the way to go.”

The Empire has plenty of enemies. The Demon King's army is one thing, but the barbarian tribes in the north frequently cross the borders. When the Empire joined the front lines against the Demon King, it created a gap in the northwest defenses, and the barbarians started pouring over more often. To defend against them effectively, wouldn't soldiers trained with new weapons be ideal?

Then maybe joining something like the Mage Corps would be better? When I was Noah, I only had to think about the Demon King's army, so there was nothing to worry about. Now there are so many more things to consider.

“Is it really okay to do this?”

While I was deep in thought, Plene asked me cautiously. This was Theology class, yet she had somehow enrolled in the same course as me. Why does she keep following me around?

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“Well, you antagonized the other nobles and made commoners the main focus of the major courses.”

That was exactly what I wanted.

“If those nobles have a problem with it, what are they going to do? I'm an Ashtar.”

“Ah.”

The Empire's foremost family. Honestly, if they come at me, it wouldn't be bad from my perspective. In that case, I could just crush them with force. Naturally, the commoners would keep occupying those positions, and the result would lead to the nobles' downfall. It would be great if they collapsed. After all, the Kingdom ended up corrupt because of those nobles.

Come to think of it, I was the one who cleaned up all their messes back then. I let out a small snort of laughter.

“It doesn't matter. The Ashtars don't care about retaliation from the likes of them.”

Even I have to admit that sounds disgusting. It's no different from the crap Cyria or Ella used to pull. No matter how much I'm acting, I need to tone it down a bit.

“Umm, but did you know?”

“What?”

“You're being called the Hero of the Commoners right now, Lady Ashtar.”

Me?

“I am?”

The Hero of the Commoners, huh. I'm already sick of hearing the word “hero.” When I was Noah, being called a hero was just proof of how much I'd suffered. While Eugene and those girls were fooling around in the back, I was the one breaking my back carrying them.

“Yes. No matter the reason, you helped the commoners who were pressured by the nobles and couldn't enter Swordsmanship, Archery, or Magic.”

“Hmm. I didn't really intend to.”

Still, if that's how they see it, I'm grateful.

“But do you possess divine power as well? Why did you choose Theology?”

“Hmm, just because? I was curious. And I thought it might help with my entrance exam scores.”

I am curious about Theology. That crazy Saintess Cyria made sure I could never set foot in a church. This is nothing more than a passing interest.

“Entrance exam scores? I don't think anyone takes Theology for that reason.”

“Well, besides that, I'm just curious.”

I know absolutely nothing about Theology. That's why I can't just blow off the test. If it turns out to be boring, I can always drop it. I don't particularly want to spend much time in a classroom with that pink twintail either. I knew she took classes in Theology, but I was worried she'd start chattering the moment she saw me. What a pain.

Anyway. I turned my head to look at the Theology professor.

“Divine power is based on mana but possesses special properties. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Namely, light. The important point here is that, unlike light magic which is artificially constructed through formulas, it means they are born with mana that already possesses light from the beginning.”

“Then is there a big difference from someone who simply learned light magic?”

The Theology professor explained while answering the students' questions. Following Archery, this was another decent theory class. It would be perfect if it wasn't related to the Church. If someone is born with mana that naturally has the properties of light, their affinity for light magic would naturally be excellent. However, having an affinity for light magic could make them terrible at other types of magic. In short, if you're born with light mana, you have to focus solely on honing light magic.

“People who are born with mana containing light call it divine power and learn a new type of magic called 'holy magic.' Or they call them miracles. Ordinary people simply learn light magic separately from mana, so there is a clear difference.”

He's teaching the class diligently, but... something feels a bit different from what I know? No, no. That crazy Cyria would probably know better, but ultimately, aren't both just categories of magic?

“To be precise, only those qualified to become nuns or priests—those who possess light mana—can learn the abilities bestowed by God that are taught in the Church.”

Hmm. I finally realized it. This class isn't worth listening to. No wonder ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that Saintess bitch never let me into the Church. It was because of this nonsense.

“Then doesn't that mean not just anyone can take Theology classes?”

This time Plene raised her hand and asked from beside me.

“Good question, Miss Plene. It's true that those without divine power cannot easily become nuns or priests, but that doesn't mean there are no methods at all. Those without divine power awaken light using mana and receive the Goddess's grace to learn holy magic. Only then can they join the Church.”

I want to nitpick that, but... the Church really is dangerous, huh? Wait. Something's clicking into place here.

Isn't the Church actually a bunch of frauds? The reason I was called the High Priest was because I copied healing magic from the Saintess. I used to think that believers of the Goddess, like Saintesses and mages, were distinguished by whether they used recovery power or mana efficiently. But that wasn't it.

Perhaps the nuns and priests selected by the Church are beings born with mana of the light attribute, and they simply use light magic permitted only by the Church. In other words, it's the Church's exclusive privilege.

Come to think of it, does the Goddess even exist? Logically, if the Goddess really existed, she wouldn't have chosen a guy like that as the Hero. Maybe only the high-ranking members of the Church know what the Goddess thinks? I'd love to flip their whole table over, but there's no reason to cause a scene right now. If that professor were just from some rural church, maybe, but he's from the capital. I have to hold back. If I cause a scene now...

...It might actually be fun?

Should I do it? No, something like this needs to be approached intelligently.

“Um, I have a question.”

“Ah, it's Miss Olivia Lapa Ashtar. What is your question?”

Alright, let's go. It might shake the very foundations of the Church, but... don't I want to try?

“Light-attributed mana. In other words, I understand being born with divine power versus using light magic with ordinary mana. However, according to what you said, Professor, those who use light magic can also become ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nuns or priests in the Church, correct?”

“That's right.”

“Ultimately, if the base is the light attribute, doesn't that mean holy magic also falls under light magic?”

They treat it as some ridiculous special ability called holy magic. But in the end, it means it's still within the category of magic. They have some conscience left, so they call it 'holy magic.'

“Well... that's true, but holy magic requires receiving the Goddess's blessing—”

“But the Goddess doesn't teach it directly, does she?”

They say it requires the Goddess's blessing, yet why are the ones actually teaching it nuns and priests? They're not the Goddess. It seems like they're the ones receiving the Goddess's grace and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠teaching nun and priest candidates.

“Ahem. So what exactly are you trying to say?”

I have only one thing to say.

“In other words, isn't the holy magic that qualifies one as a nun or priest being monopolized exclusively by the Church?”

“...Miss Olivia. No matter that you are the daughter of Ashtar, that is extremely rude.”

Ah, even I think so. If we're being strict, this is an unspoken line that shouldn't be crossed. But so what? I'm not Noah anymore. I'm Olivia. Olivia of the Ashtar family. A body that has become a villainess and a noble oppressor. If you don't like it, come at me.

Besides, on the surface, I'm just a student sincerely asking a professor out of genuine curiosity. This isn't picking a fight. I'm simply curious and want to hear the truth.

“Instead of calling it rude, I'd like to know why holy magic, which belongs to light magic, requires receiving the Goddess's blessing.”

“For that, you can refer to the Goddess's words in the scriptures—”

Ugh. The Saintess always said the same thing.

The Church's men and women all seem the same. There's no logic. No logic at all. From what I can see, the Goddess herself might be a cult leader. The only difference is the god they believe in; they're no different from those who worship the Demon God. They claim that believing in the Goddess unconditionally is the path to salvation and receiving miracles.

Honestly, the reason I started doubting the Church was because of that filthy Cyria. What kind of sacred Saintess who believes in the Goddess would mate with the Hero while wearing a nun's habit?

“Isn't the formula for holy magic written in the scriptures? Let's be honest here. If you taught the common people—or at least those who wish to learn—about that holy magic and those miracles, wouldn't it be incredibly helpful right now when the people are groaning in pain because of the Demon King?”

“Cease your suspicions toward the Church!”

“No, doesn't that just mean there's no logic to it?”

I have to speak plainly. There must be people like me who are curious. However, commoners can't carelessly question the Church because of their status, and even nobles won't touch it unless absolutely necessary. The Church maintains close ties with the Imperial Family and the nobility, so its existence is acknowledged.

That's why I asked the question everyone was secretly wondering about.

“Hah. Then I suppose Miss Olivia, who speaks like this, must be quite remarkable?”

Why would someone fall for the provocation of a girl much younger than them? What are they thinking?

“No, that's not what I meant.”

“Since you've gone this far, you should show that you possess the power to challenge the Church, shouldn't you? Now, we will examine divine power. Come, place your hand on this orb in order of your names and channel your mana. Then we can measure the size of your divine power.”

He's openly targeting me. The professor placed a crystal ball the size of a human head on the lectern. Then, in order of names, students would channel light mana into it to test their divine power. This would separate those who could become nuns or priests from those who couldn't.

“Ah... why did you do that?”

Plene asked worriedly.

“For some reason, I felt like I had to.”

No, it's because it's annoying. It's fun. It's hilarious. Where else would I vent all the humiliation I've suffered at the Academy?

“But what if the Theology students retaliate against you...”

“Would Atelina really retaliate against a single student's provocation like that? They can't.”

If they did, both Atelina's and the Church's reputations would plummet to the ground.

Before I knew it, it was that pink twintail Lily's turn. There's no value in watching a washboard. Her divine power probably isn't any bigger than that flat chest. That's what I thought, but...

The pink twintail produced a surprisingly unexpected result.

“Oh my, Miss Lily Lapa Ashtar. Just what is this light?”

“What is it?”

Shwoooooooosh!

Whoa, the pink twintail's light is enormous. It seems the Goddess gave that flat washboard a massive amount of divine power instead. Seeing this, the world really does seem fair.

“Isn't this the strongest light since Saintess Cyria?”

The evaluation of Cyria is way too exaggerated. Saintess Cyria isn't that skilled at handling the power of light. If anything, that woman is more darkness than light. Anyone can see that Cyria is an absurd figure. She was just packaged as amazing because the Church's headquarters in the Kingdom pushed her as their Saintess. Who could possibly think of someone who only pursues carnal lust every day as a Saintess?

No way. Even this pink twintail has light like that. There's no reason Cyria couldn't have it too.

“Then I can—!”

“You can become a nun of the Church! With luck, even a Saintess!”

“Wow!”

Is she an idiot? If she becomes a Saintess, she'll be immediately deployed to the war against the Demon King. She might even be sent to Eugene. At least Cyria and Ella received Eugene's favor, but with that body... ugh. In simple terms, it means she can't connect with the Crown Prince. Honestly, that might be for the best.

The Imperial Family of the Empire is blessed with exceptional beauty across all its members. The men are handsome and tall, and the women have figures with everything in the right places—curves where they should curve, and assets where they should protrude. Of course, their marriage partners are equally impressive. But if that pink twintail's genes were mixed in...

There would be no hope. If they had a son, he'd be tiny, and if a daughter, people might mistake her for a boy.

“Now then, Olivia Lapa Ashtar. Since you have doubted the Goddess's teachings, I assume you possess ability worthy of such doubt. Come forward and channel your mana into this crystal ball.”

Still, as her older sister, I can't lose to her, can I?