Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Grand Saintess Disappearance Incident
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The front of the Hall of Divinity was packed with participants eager to join today's ritual ceremony. Swollen with hope of becoming Guardians, they waited in line with faces either pumped up with excitement or taut with tension.
As Shura and I passed by them, I glanced sideways now and then. A few familiar faces stood out among the crowd. None other than the first-year juniors from the Imperial Noble Academy.
"We greet the Holy Hero."
They noticed my gaze and immediately bowed with reverent respect, their expressions full of emotion.
It felt like the times had truly changed. Back in the day, these kids would bolt at the sight of me, but now they fidgeted restlessly, dying for a chance to chat.
I halted in front of a blond young man.
Milton, a first-year junior from the Friedman Baron's family. Not only diligent, but he showed exceptional talent in both swordsmanship and academics—a true gem of the empire. His lowly status as the second son held him back from shining, but during my time as student council president, I'd dragged him into the executive committee and worked him to the bone.
Milton got the job done right. Whatever I assigned, he handled flawlessly.
"Your name?"
Milton hurriedly bent at the waist in respect.
"M-Milton Friedman, sir."
"Milton, huh. Make it count."
I patted his shoulder and headed toward the main gate of the Hall of Divinity, where Knight Izenberg awaited.
Knight Izenberg welcomed me.
"White Mask. Come on in."
"Yeah. So why'd you call me here?"
"Actually, I need a favor."
As I chatted with Knight Izenberg, a couple of familiar faces caught my eye. Princess Ignatius and Princess Sierra.
"Was it that thing from earlier?"
"No. We still don't have results on that."
"Really? Then what's up?"
"Security issue inside the Hall of Divinity."
I tilted my head.
"Weird. They let guards inside the Hall of Divinity?"
"Exception this time. With last night's incident, we have to be cautious. Can you help?"
I glanced at Princess Ignatius and made a troubled face.
"Sure, no problem. But couldn't you just send in other holy knights?"
"By the rules, no one else can enter. Only because it's you and the Grand Saintesses."
Thanks to dating Shura, I'd climbed pretty high myself. In and out of the Hall of Divinity like it was nothing.
The Hall of Divinity was off-limits to anyone below archbishop rank, except for that year's Guardian hopefuls and the high priests guiding them.
"Fine. Got it."
"Thanks. Take care of things for three days, then."
I listened to Knight Izenberg's security plans for a bit before heading inside. As we walked the quiet corridor, Princess Sierra, who was ahead, glanced back at us.
"Weren't you all assigned to night watch?"
"Yeah, but it's my first time in the Hall of Divinity. Since I'm here, thought I'd look around."
Princess Sierra's gaze turned icy.
"The Hall of Divinity isn't a tourist spot."
That stubborn woman's still as prickly as ever.
Honestly, who comes here for fun? I had something to check. A woman named Alrieta would enter the Hall of Divinity soon, claim one of the Seven Divine Artifacts—the Wind God's Secret Star Bow Aslan—and then vanish without a trace.
This incident would rock the world. A Grand Saintess had gone missing.
The Church of Wind dispatched trackers worldwide to find her, and her homeland, the Kingdom of Lumen, searched frantically too. If I could pinpoint the cause and location of Alrieta's disappearance this time, I'd rake in a tidy profit.
"Whether others tour or not is none of your business, right?"
Princess Sierra, fuming, stepped right in front of me.
"What did you say? You!"
"What?"
"Do you even realize how much trouble you've caused? Humanity might be on the brink of extinction, and you still act so thoughtlessly?"
I stared at her steadily.
"Who exactly is dooming humanity?"
"You can't pretend you don't know."
"Oh, that runaway sister's friend?"
"Yes."
"Let her do what she wants. Doesn't seem like it'll change much to me."
"What?!"
Princess Ignatius approached and tugged Princess Sierra's arm.
"Sierra. We're not here to argue."
"But..."
"Come on."
As Princess Ignatius led Princess Sierra away, I smirked. Looked like Princess Sierra hadn't heard about me. With her personality, it wouldn't have ended there if she had.
Princess Ignatius turned out to have a surprisingly tight lip. Or maybe the two weren't that close despite appearances.
Shura came over to me.
"Master?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you bothered by your fiancée?"
I put on a totally baffled expression.
"What nonsense is this all of a sudden?"
"Your behavior today has been so off. This job, and what happened before we came in. You agreed to Knight Izenberg's request without asking for anything in return. I've never seen you like this."
I chuckled dryly.
"Not at all. And you think this is charity work?"
"Huh?"
"The world's scariest thing is free. Merchants don't give stuff away for nothing. There's always a reason."
"But..."
"This is the Church. The richest organization around. Compared to them, even our Padillas are small fry. Me doing free labor for them? You kidding?"
"So there's another reason?"
"Yeah. So don't get jealous over my fiancée. It's all calculated."
"It's not jealousy, I just..."
I patted Shura's back.
"I know. I know. You think I'd ditch you? Just watch quietly."
We settled in the Silver Hall. As the midpoint, it allowed quickest access to the entire Hall of Divinity.
Soon the ritual began, and participants passed through one by one under the high priest's guidance, like sightseeing.
Most just strolled by. Even fake artifacts had abysmal odds of choosing an owner.
Growing bored, I said to Shura beside me,
"Shura. Go borrow the participant list from Princess Ignatius."
"The list?"
"Yeah. Got someone to check."
"Yes."
As Shura headed to the Gold Hall, I spotted an elderly high priest and a young man passing by—Milton. He gave me a quick greeting, his face dark as he tried to exit the Silver Hall.
Makes sense. Milton had no ties to the artifacts. I'd never heard of him after I graduated.
If chosen, he'd have been at the annual Guardian gatherings in the capital from Yosrahim. I never missed one.
"Hey."
Milton turned at my call.
"Yes?"
"Think this sword's humming?"
The sword beside me now vibrated faintly. The Ice God's Cold Blood Sword Eidaaro. Confirming the hum, Milton hurried over.
"I-It really is...?"
"Congratulations from the bottom of my heart, Milton."
Milton let out a joyful scream at the high priest's words.
'Now I've paid my debt.'
Back in student council, Milton handled most of the workload alone. He was the easiest target for me and all the execs. Probably suffered more grunt work than Hubeo.
"Make it count."
"Yes. Thank you."
Milton bowed deeply in gratitude and left the Silver Hall beaming.
Soon Shura returned with the list.
"Master. Here."
"Good. Thanks for the trouble."
I scanned the list and nodded.
'Five spots after Milton.'
Five people flew by quick. Just wait a bit. I handed the list back to Shura.
"That's it. Return it."
"Yes."
Shura tilted her head curiously as she took it back.
Alrieta's turn came soon. As history dictated, she entered the Gold Hall and was chosen by Aslan right away. After a quiet prayer, she passed through the Silver Hall with her fellow Grand Saintesses, Princess Ignatius and Princess Sierra.
Princess Ignatius approached me with a bright smile.
"The Wind Grand Saintess has been born."
"So?"
"Not surprised?"
I pursed my lips.
"Surprised? I see Grand Saintesses every day. Go on, I need to crash soon."
"..."
"Shura. Go with them. As a fellow Grand Saintess, at least play background at the celebration."
"Yes, Master."
I sent Shura off and slipped out the opposite door. Had someone important to meet. Needed backup to tail Alrieta discreetly.
Exiting the Hall of Divinity, I headed to the rendezvous.
'She came.'
Evelyn stood blankly in front of the Records of Sin. She could mask her presence perfectly and even use invisibility—perfect for tailing.
Spotting me, she waved.
"You came?"
"Yeah."
"White Mask. Why'd you call me?"
"Remember our deal? How'd it go?"
Evelyn scowled irritably.
"You could've asked at my hotel. Why drag me out midday?"
"Got time, we could date."
"Date? Confession?"
Her overreaction made me smack my lips.
"Was gonna. But something unexpected came up."
"What?"
"Just saw it. Wind Grand Saintess born."
Evelyn's eyes widened in shock.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Who?"
"Uh, Alrieta. Forest elf, Purity Church follower."
"Oh?"
Evelyn's eyes darted side to side rapidly.
I watched her closely. Truth be told, Evelyn was one of my suspects in Alrieta's disappearance.
"What? Planning a kidnapping?"
Evelyn waved it off like it was absurd.
"Ridiculous. We can pinpoint the Seven Divine Artifacts from Sky City Chronos."
"Really?"
"Yes. We avoid tangling with Grand Saintesses."
If true, interesting implication: Chronos at least overlooked Alrieta's vanishing.
But Evelyn's words had a glaring flaw.
"But you took the Death Soul's Spirit God Spear Rosim."
The Death Soul's Spirit God Spear Rosim was one of the Seven Divine Artifacts, presumed taken by the runaway sister's friend.
"Our master's no ordinary person. Suppressing location magic is child's play for them."
"Huh. Got it."
"Why ask?"
"Saw someone shady eyeing Alrieta. Thought it might be your crew."
"Nah. We didn't even know she became a Grand Saintess."
I rested my chin on my hand.
No link to Evelyn's side, and Chronos playing dumb on the Grand Saintess disappearance... Whatever the reason, things were getting intriguing.
"Help me out, then?"
"With what?"
"Atmosphere's off. Trouble for a Grand Saintess means headaches. Prepping ahead."
"Easy enough, but not for free, right?"
"Base 80, plus daily and hazard pay. Total 400 reafs in gold."
At my prepared quote, Evelyn smirked faintly.
"You sure know how to handle people. Fine. I'm in."
We hashed out a quick tailing plan and rushed to the Hall of Divinity's back gate where Alrieta was. Time was short. She'd vanish soon.
By arrival, the Grand Saintess celebration was wrapping up. I waited, then tailed her as she bid farewell to the other Grand Saintesses.
'Vanishes around here, right?'
Alrieta should head straight to the Papal Palace of the Light faction. Her Purity Church belonged there, full of key figures.
But records showed she met no one. Vanished en route.
"This way, please."
At the middle-aged priest's guidance, Alrieta turned. I widened my eyes. That wasn't the Papal Palace path.
Sensing trouble, I nodded to Evelyn.
"You take point on the tail. I'll circle around."
"Got it."
Evelyn slipped behind an empty building, vanishing from sight and presence. I masked mine too, tracking from parallel street afar.
Alrieta and her middle-aged priest guide exchanged short words occasionally. Seemed like modest thanks and congrats, but too far to hear details.
'Where the hell they going?'
This route was unfamiliar even to me. I'd visited Divinum Temple often in my past life, but not this path.
Security tightened gradually. No devotees around, but holy knights and soldiers stationed everywhere—likely a key building for clergy only.
Finally, Alrieta and the priest entered a structure.
I checked the sign and nodded.
'Sanctuary of Oracles, huh...?'
The Sanctuary of Oracles was where bishops and higher received divine messages. Logical stop after Papal blessings for a Grand Saintess.
I circled to the back path and hopped the wall.
[Grand Saintess Disappearance Incident.] End