Chapter 257
Chapter 257
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Grace
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The Radion Grand Cathedral, hailed as the heart of the Church.
There, priests from every denomination of the Church gathered as equals.
Under the sacred names of the Lord God and the First Saintess.
True to that, priests from various sects were assembled in the corridor.
"Is the Saintess still secluded these days?" An elderly priest cautiously broached the subject. A relatively young middle-aged priest replied. "Indeed. It's due to her constitution...""What a troubling matter. Truly troubling.""The resources poured into improving the Saintess's constitution so far could have saved hundreds—no, thousands—of the sick...""Such blasphemy...! How dare you approach matters concerning the Saintess with such a calculating mindset. Unacceptable!""Calm down. Bishop Cardos isn't entirely wrong. Even a Saintess is but one of the many torches of our Lord God.""What...!" Priests more aligned with the Saintess than the Lord God within the Church bristled in outrage. Yet the conversation continued. "What makes her name significant is that her torch burns brighter than most among the Lord's flames. But if fueling that fire requires burning other torches as kindling—wouldn't that be utterly backward?" The priest's statement rang true. Healing the sick and driving out evil. Even now, countless priests were sacrificing their bodies and energy to dispel the world's shadows with the Lord's light. Amid that, the Saintess remained shut away in her room, hoarding elixirs, herbs, and blessings meant for them— "Then are you denying the holy miracles the Saintess has performed? Her current necessary rest stems from those very acts." "..."
But criticism that had been flying thick and fast quieted at the follow-up remark. Not long ago. A city had been slowly dying from an unidentified plague for years. Despite the faithful's tireless sacrifices and devotion for salvation, it withered on. What saved that city was an ordinary girl from a rural village. The faithful stationed there had clearly witnessed it. The moment a girl knelt in prayer in the city square, and a massive beam of light descended to purify the entire city. Saintess Asrania. The background behind the ordinary rural girl becoming a revered Saintess among the faithful was that very event. "That miracle was undoubtedly wrought by the Saintess's power. Yet criticizing her for resting to manage the backlash? Are you saying a torch that has burned its body to illuminate the darkness is spent and should be discarded?" The priests could not refute. Thus. The Saintess had the qualifications. In other words, justification. Justification for endless rest. Justification to wield all the Church's privileges. "Hm? What's going on? Where are you all rushing off to—""The Saintess has expressed her intent to go out! She's performing a prayer ritual!""Prayer?""Yes! She heard the voice of the First Saintess—the Star of Purification, Tara Dolin—" "...!"
Saintess Asrania's full-scale activities began. Under the complete care of the First Saintess—
Saintess Asrania.
The faithful called her the reincarnation of the First Saintess, Tara Dolin.
Indeed, there were numerous similarities between them.
Both originally ordinary girls from rural villages.
Both possessing innocent appearances fitting their humble origins.
Both bearing an overwhelming divinity that imbued those innocent looks with mystery.
Above all—their pathological compulsion to help others.
"Cough." Saintess Asrania knew no days of good health. Because she spent time that should have been for self-care helping as many as possible. "Saintess! Are you alright!?""I'm fine! So please, continue the trial—" The current situation was no different. The Church group had stopped in Bondales during their pilgrimage to let the Saintess recover from fatigue. Yet she couldn't cease her devotion even in that brief respite. —I sense darkness in this city... Begin the groundwork for purification immediately... That was how the Saintess came to hold a heresy trial in the city square. She chose to root out the city's hidden darkness over rest. "Ah... How noble... Not even for a moment does she set aside her care for others..." The faithful marveled. Believing her endless self-sacrifice stemmed from sublime religious conviction.
"..."
Thus, the Saintess smiled. Sneering inwardly at the faithful looking up to her. Was there a pleasure more convenient than claiming credit for others' deeds? Saintess Asrania's infinite self-sacrifice. Its driving force was no sublime religious conviction. It was faith. The truly sublime, thus foolish faith of the Church priests. "Cough!" Saintess Asrania let out another dry cough. To suppress the laughter bubbling inside. As a Saintess representing the Church, rooting out heretics. It was an absurdly ridiculous situation no matter how many times she saw it. And for good reason. Because she was that very 'heretic'. Dawn's Guidance. The religious secret society denying the Lord God, worshiping those opposed to His will. In other words, the group branded heretics by the Church. Asrania held the rank of 'Guide', a high priest in Dawn's Guidance. In short. A spy created by Dawn's Guidance to exert influence over the Church— That was Saintess Asrania's true identity. Since performing the 'miracle', she had been siphoning Church resources under the pretext of recovery. 'Fools. At this rate, when will they catch on...' Just like now. Asrania looked up at the sky. 'Ah.' A beam of light descending from the heavens toward her. She savored the vast energy. The divinity bestowed by the First Saintess. It was more than enough to restore a 'frail' Saintess. However. The Saintess had no intention of recovering. Regaining health would eliminate her pretext for diverting Church resources. 'Tara Dolin... Worthy sage deserving of respect. I'll put your power to good use.' Asrania transferred the First Saintess's power entirely into the 'vessel' she had prepared in her inner world. Feeling that fullness, Asrania writhed in ecstasy. 'Tara Dolin... To think this much power still remained...' It wouldn't be long. At this rate, the vessel would soon fill, and the day she truly became a divine apostle would come. As an apostle of the Dawn God. The truly great existence, subjugating the Church's foolish 'heretics'. Thus, no time for rest. Each time the 'Saintess' 'devoted' herself, their foolish faith would fill the vessel. "Come here." Asrania beckoned the woman on trial. The beam of light formed from the First Saintess's power. It illuminated the Saintess. The moment an impure being approached her, its true nature would be exposed.
"..."
The impure existence disguised as human, a demon. The woman accused of being a demon hesitated, looking elsewhere. Toward where her master, 'Deputy Councilor Fienne', stood. Asrania followed her gaze to the girl in white. 'Annoying wench.' She had felt it during their few days in Bondales. Asrania planned grand 'devotion' here, as in other cities. But the city's forces centered on Deputy Councilor Fienne were blocking it. In that sense, this trial held immense significance. 'Even if a 'demon' is found in the city, will they bother me like before?' Light shines brighter where darkness dwells. Asrania was confident. After this trial. The 'Saintess' would earn the adoration of all Bondales citizens. "Why hesitate?" Asrania urged the woman, her heart racing with excitement. "This is the embrace of the Star of Purification—the First Saintess Tara Dolin. There is no reason to fear her warm touch that envelops and illuminates all with mercy. Come." Then Asrania signaled the holy knight. Block Deputy Councilor Fienne. Prevent any interference.
"..."
The holy knight nodded. Just as he subtly moved to block the deputy councilor's path. "Sophia!" The girl in white spoke to the woman. Calming her with steady eyes. "It's alright. There's no reason for you to fear." "..."
An unexpected action. Asrania was flustered. 'What? In this situation, associating with that won't end well...?' That demon's impure nature would soon be revealed. Why expose a connection publicly? 'Pretending ignorance and cutting ties? If so, poor judgment.' Asrania inwardly mocked Fienne's sloppy handling. At the same time, the woman nodded and approached Asrania. Exposing herself to the Star of Purification's energy that cleanses all impurities. Murmurs rippled through the crowd. That much Asrania had anticipated. But the nature of the murmurs. "What?""A demon hiding its identity? A demon? Wasn't that what they said?""Is it certain? No change at all?" The woman accused of being a demon remained unscathed under the First Saintess's energy. No, more than unscathed. "Ah..." The woman unconsciously basked in the light. Because the energy within resembled what she had received from her master, Fienne. "Saintess." At that moment. The girl in white spoke. She didn't flash a victorious smile. Instead, she formed a frail smile stimulating others' pity, true to her aura. "Is she... alright, as a citizen of our city...?" For some reason, her delicate voice clearly reached every person in the vast square. The crowd gazed at the deputy councilor as if entranced. What they saw was a girl in white genuinely worrying for an innocent city citizen. Her lily-like purity rivaled the Saintess's name in appeal. Roooar!!! The crowd erupted in boos. "You barge into our city and all you do is frame innocents!?""What Church, what Saintess!!!""Get out!!! Get out of our city!!!""The Saint is far more trustworthy than the likes of you!!!" Some began hurling what they held at the Church group. Thwack! One struck the Saintess's head. "How dare you!!!" The holy knight and faithful glared at the citizens in fury. "Enough." Whoosh. A biting gale swirled. Archmage Eol's Breath. The blue archmage fixed a chilling gaze upon them. "I'll overlook this much for the Saintess and Church's face. But any further—" The frigid aura from the blue archmage. Her warning made even devout faithful step back.
"..."
It was then.
"..."
The blue archmage tensed her eyes. "Ah—""This is...""S-Saintess!?" The Saintess's scattered divine energy gently enveloped the faithful writhing in the cold. In other words— It instantly repelled the blue archmage's energy. It was a blatant blunder by Asrania. While playacting a 'frail' Saintess, emotion overrode her, revealing hidden power. A vast power far from frailty—easily repelling the archmage's energy. Oh no. Instantly realizing her mistake, Asrania ostentatiously coughed dryly. But it was too late. 'Something's off...' The faithful sensed dissonance in the sequence. Stains stand out more on pure white cloth. A tiny crack formed in their pure faith. 'Damn, damn...! How did this—' Asrania lost her composure as the situation spread like uncontrollable fire. Then. Asrania's eyes caught Fienne.
"..."
A sly smirk, borrowed from 'that man'. Asrania felt her head burn hot then turn ice cold. "I-I'm sorry...! I didn't mean to—" She deployed her trump card. Playacting an innocent maiden shedding tears. What to do. What to do. Feigning torment from guilt over wrongly accusing a good person. Indeed, the faithful could no longer stand idle. "We will formally apologize for this incident later. For today—" The high priest and senior holy knight—de facto leaders of the Church group—swiftly wrapped things up. With Fienne's group joining, the chaotic Bondales square quickly returned to normal.
"Ugh...!" The beam from the ceiling ceased. With it, Rishir groaned. The prayer ended. Having splendidly fulfilled the First Saintess's duty. Rishir had succeeded in bestowing his energy upon the prayer recipient. "Rishir!" Tara, standing beside, startled and supported his body. Seeing Tara's expression, Rishir smiled wryly. "No need to worry that much. I'm young and healthy. A bit of rest, and I'll recover soon." Tara let out a chuckle at his naturally joking tone, like an exhale. "That's not why I was startled.""Pardon?" The fairy nearby, having watched the same scene, added, "How does this even work...?" The reason the Saintess and fairy were flustered. Energy connection through prayer. It was a kind of miracle achieved by two faithful matching the special identity of 'Saintess'. Not something replaceable with a casual 'I'm tired today, so hand it to the backup?' Yet it worked? Rishir had splendidly substituted for the 'First Saintess', bestowing his energy. "Didn't the Saintess assist from the side?""Yes, she assisted. With full effort. But—" Mid-sentence, the Saintess blinked repeatedly. "Does assisting make it work...?" The Saintess looked at the fairy. The fairy shrugged. Well. It somehow worked.
"..."
The Saintess nodded. They were gradually growing accustomed to Rishir.
"So now... she'll be fine for a while?" Immediately after the prayer ritual. Rishir felt considerable bewilderment. The energy drain from the prayer exceeded expectations. To the point he wondered how a Saintess unable to 'molt' had endured repeated rituals. "No.""Pardon?""Probably facing a major trial. Lately, prayers have increased in frequency.""Then...""Following the usual pattern, likely another within three days." Rishir was briefly speechless. "So the Saintess shares her energy again?" "..." "She's been repeating this nonsense all along!?""N-Nonsense...!" The Saintess mildly rebuked the irreverence, but weakly. She knew it herself. "And plans to keep repeating it? Until her energy depletes and she fades?" "..."
How foolish that act was. "I have a duty to repay faith..." Simply, no one had questioned that sublimity until now, so she ignored it.
"..."
Rishir's expression held respect and pity simultaneously. At that distinctly different attitude, the Saintess couldn't lift her head for some reason. "But that prayer recipient—the current Saintess—doesn't something seem off about her?""Off how...?""No, I get it's tough. I get she desperately needs the Saintess's vital aid. But isn't it too frequent? Her energy rivals top elixirs. Demanding it constantly? Is this right? It's just greed—" Saintess. Greed. Linking those two? "A greedy Saintess...?""Even a Saintess is human first, isn't she?" "...!"
Her modern mindset-enabled perspective shocked the Saintess and fairy. "Now that you mention it..." Yet that fresh viewpoint opened new lines of thought.
"..."
Tara Dolin's face clouded with anguish. Because she was a Saintess. Sharing the burden, Tara had fully trusted her until now. But doubt cast on that purity brought confusion. "For now." Rishir said, looking at Tara. "I'll handle this for a while.""What...!""I have 'molting', right? No matter how much energy I share and weaken, I can recover." "..."
Tara's shocked yet moved expression grew subtly complex. Watching it shift, Rishir said, "Oh... Did I just sound obnoxious?" The fairy and Saintess couldn't deny it.
Nonetheless.
The Saintess and fairy tried desperately to dissuade Rishir.
The energy drain wasn't something to recklessly endure even with 'molting' as insurance.
"This is part of handling divinity, isn't it? I'll gladly bear it as a path to honing my divinity." The Saintess fretted over how to convince him. Contrary to his expectation—or hope— It had nothing to do with honing divinity. No, quite the opposite. Sharing one's energy through divinity. Far from elevating it, it caused regression. Equivalent to carving out one's flesh to share. Despite her explanation, Rishir wouldn't budge. "And if possible, I'd like a deeper connection with that boastful one to exchange intentions. What on earth possesses her to demand energy so endlessly?" Not mere goodwill, but budding suspicion and doubt. Rishir had made up his mind. The Saintess and fairy could only concede and respect his judgment.
That night after the heresy trial.
Returning to her room, Saintess Asrania struggled to contain her boiling emotions.
'Why! How! Why!!! What went wrong!?!'
After the trial.
Asrania sensed the faithful's gazes toward her had changed.
Was it paranoia that her future plans faced serious setbacks?
Probably not.
"Hoo..." What calmed Asrania was— The energy of the 'First Saintess' siphoned into her 'vessel' during today's trial. Even amid all going wrong, that benevolent sage's vast energy had undoubtedly augmented her vessel. Today's 'First Saintess' energy felt exceptionally abundant. Thanks to it, Asrania calmed herself. It's fine. Even if all other faithful turned away, that benevolent sage wouldn't doubt and would continue bestowing energy. Thus, she needed another justification. Asrania began devising a new pretext to receive the 'First Saintess's' grace.
The next day.
After ample rest, Rishir met Tara at the cathedral.
To continue yesterday's divinity guidance.
Tara sensed something off then.
Hallucination?
Rishir.
He was faintly glowing.
"Rishir, aren't you sparkling a bit?" Not a hallucination. Shuyen voiced the same opinion as Tara. "Indeed. You both see it too. It started suddenly last night. Why?" Then. A grayish-white fireball appeared, shouting. Like a student eager to boast homework.
"Intent? Duty?"
"?" Rishir blinked. "Vermin? Recovered? From where?"
Dangleon blinked.
Fireball or not.
"Pardon?"
"Familiar?"