Part 2, Chapter 11
Part 2, Chapter 11
Translation: godsn
Just imagining Medeia—soon to be abandoned by everyone in the kingdom and forced to submit to me—made a hum escape my lips without thinking.
Rachel strolled cheerfully through the Cottage House.
Then, she checked whether the 'plan' prepared by the dark mages was still in place.
Lying back on the plush, extravagant bed with a smirk, Rachel thought:
'It's almost time. Once the Holy Knights arrive, the plan to drag Medeia into the mud will finally be set in motion.'
Heh. A soft hum escaped her lips again.
The gates of the Valdina Royal Palace.
"Hyah! Hyah!"
A group of knights on white horses arrived at the palace gates, kicking up dust.
"Your Eminence, we have arrived."
"So this is the place. It was indeed a long and arduous journey. Though a servant must never complain, I wonder why the Goddess chose such an insignificant kingdom."
An elderly priest who stepped out of the white carriage frowned. His antiquated speech dripped with authority.
"We welcome High Priest Paolo and the Holy Knights to Valdina."
A slender, handsome man wearing round glasses greeted them at the palace gates. It was Siseo.
"You must be Sir Siseo. We appreciate your warm welcome."
The captain of the Holy Knights recognized him first and offered his greetings, but High Priest Paolo only furrowed his brows.
'So this is the young chancellor of Valdina.'
Under this youth's leadership, the nomadic tribes of the plains and the foreigners from the straits had been seamlessly absorbed into Valdina.
Having witnessed the bustling streets of Valdina on the way to the palace, Paolo couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation.
'Still just a small country. These minnows must think they're real sharks just because they caught a lucky break.'
He forced his aching back—bruised from the bumpy carriage ride—to straighten with effort.
Then, he shot a sharp glance at the Holy Knights following him. It was a silent warning not to show even a hint of impropriety.
They had to demonstrate the might of the Holy Kingdom, the land that served the Goddess, to this upstart from Valdina.
"Where is the Saintess?"
High Priest Paolo ignored Siseo's greeting and cut straight to the point.
The high priest's abrupt demand for the Saintess's whereabouts made no attempt to hide his dismissive attitude toward Valdina.
Siseo, still smiling, countered with a question of his own.
"Your Eminence, have you come as a representative of the Holy Kingdom, or merely as a priest of the temple? If you answer first, I believe I can then provide a response to your inquiry."
Though his smile remained, the glare on his round glasses made it impossible to discern what lay in the young chancellor's eyes.
"You—!"
"Only when both parties' intentions are clear can this meeting hold any meaning, don't you think?"
Paolo bristled momentarily but quickly suppressed his anger. This was no ordinary matter—it was the return of the Saintess. Since Valdina had found her first, the advantage lay with them.
"Ah, this old man must be losing his mind. Where might the King of Valdina be?"
"......"
Siseo simply stared at the high priest and the Holy Knights without answering. His unwavering smile even carried a hint of confidence.
The silence stretched.
"Listen here......"
Paolo grew increasingly restless. What if Valdina refused to hand over the Saintess, using his rudeness as an excuse?
'How could I possibly face His Holiness then? I absolutely cannot return without the Saintess!'
Forcing a smile, he tried to placate Siseo.
"You must understand, my friend. You know well how long our Holy Kingdom has awaited this miracle."
"Sir Siseo, please forgive our discourtesy. We've ridden day and night without rest from the Holy Kingdom."
The captain of the Holy Knights chimed in as well.
"Of course. I understand completely. We, too, were delayed on our return due to the Magic Beasts that keep appearing even after the Wave. Otherwise, we would have contacted you much sooner......"
Siseo clicked his tongue in apparent regret before shrugging.
"Though, who could have ever imagined the Saintess would receive her revelation in 'Valdina's territory'?"
A subtle pressure hung in the air. Paolo, having caught the hidden meaning between the lines, nodded his head.
"Of course. As soon as we return to the Holy Kingdom and confirm the Saintess's existence, we shall announce it to the continent. That the Goddess's Proxy has descended upon the lands of Valdina."
"......"
"This is a vow made in the name of the Divine. Do you doubt it?"
"Not at all. However, as representatives of our respective nations—both you as the High Priest and I—shouldn't we first clearly define the scope of this promise?"
"W-well then, let us first meet the Saintess—"
'These damnably meticulous northerners.'
Paolo tried to push through with his own agenda but found himself tangled in Siseo's rhetoric.
"Indeed, Your Eminence understands the urgency of the matter. Then, please, this way."
By the time he regained his bearings, they had already entered the Administrative Palace.
Several hours later.
"Your Eminence, it seems everything has been settled?"
Only after concluding the negotiations regarding the Saintess was he finally released from the Chancellor's office.
"Then may we now go to see the Saintess, Your Eminence...?"
The captain of the Holy Knights hesitated upon seeing Paolo, who looked decades older than when they'd entered. His wrinkled face had grown deathly pale, as if drained of blood by a vampire.
"Settled, you say! Those damned snakes have nothing but vipers coiled in their bellies!"
Paolo, thoroughly wrung dry by Siseo, let out an unpriestly roar.
'Still, these Valdina folk have some sense.'
Cottage House.
The lavish accommodations, rivaling the palace itself, satisfied the High Priest inwardly—proof that Valdina hadn't slighted the Saintess.
'Though the atmosphere is somewhat... how should I put it... rather crude...'
Despite the elegant architecture and beautiful landscaping blending harmoniously like a painting, an oddly sinister aura grated on Paolo's nerves.
'Tsk tsk. With such turbid energy permeating the royal palace, no wonder Valdina has remained a backwater minor kingdom until now.'
Having held a grudge against this nation from the start, he dismissed it as the Valdina Royal Family's inherent gloominess and stepped inside.
"O holy one. This humble Paolo finally stands before your divine incarnation."
Facing the long-awaited Saintess, Paolo completely shook off the humiliation dealt by Valdina's young chancellor.
The Saintess was exactly as they had imagined. Her gentle smile melted the hearts of all who saw it, and her clear eyes held the purity of an untainted soul.
"I... I still don't know. Whether I'm worthy of such hospitality..."
Every gesture exuded humility and benevolence. Moreover, witnessing the powerful white Holy Power radiating from her delicate fingertips left no room for doubt.
'If this is the level of Holy Power emitted upon first awakening, imagine how much stronger she'll become after doctrine and training! Our Holy Kingdom can reclaim continental hegemony!'
With the Pope's Holy Power gradually weakening over the years, the temple's concerns had been mounting.
While barely maintaining their position as the continent's second power through constant struggle with Kazen, Valdina was now striking at their heels.
Thus, the Holy Kingdom had no choice but to cherish Rachel's emergence. She was their first real opportunity in ages to expand their influence across the continent.
"What are you saying, Your Holiness? You repelled hordes of ghouls and purified Demonic Energy. That is power only the Goddess's Proxy can wield."
Paolo shook his head vehemently, as if someone had told him the sun would rise in the west.
His heart swelled with excitement.
"We shall escort you to the Holy Kingdom. His Holiness the Pope and a million priests of the temple eagerly await you."
"Wait. If I go, I want to say goodbye to those who welcomed me. Including His Majesty the King of Valdina— kgh!"
Suddenly, Rachel stopped mid-sentence. Her beautiful eyes widened to the size of lanterns in apparent shock.
Then she collapsed unconscious.
"Saintess! Is there no physician here! The Saintess has fainted!"
A panicked Paolo shouted while catching the falling Rachel. Then he noticed it—the bandage wrapped around her arm, now soaking crimson.