Great Saintess Disappearance Incident (2)
The Oracle Sanctuary was dead silent, like a ghost town. Not a single holy knight in sight, not even the guards on duty. I tilted my head, puzzled, and cautiously approached the sanctuary building through the garden.
The structure sat atop a wide altar, a modest little building. Stepping into the entrance, I spotted a long staircase leading underground.
Dark as hell.
Magic lanterns lined both sides, but none were lit.
A twinge of unease crept in. This was supposed to be one of the more important buildings in the Divinum Cathedral, yet there wasn't a soul guarding it. It felt downright suspicious.
Like wandering into some rural basement.
I descended the stairs step by step. Arieta and the middle-aged priest had come this way, so this passage was the only option.
Just as I reached the bottom, something tapped my shoulder. I startled for a split second, then composed myself once I realized what it was.
"Evelyn?"
She materialized slowly with a soft shimmer.
"Yeah."
"Where'd they go?"
"That way."
She pointed down the long corridor to a massive stone door, firmly shut. Runes glowing faintly were carved into it, and I could sense human presences leaking from the cracks.
I exchanged a glance with Evelyn, then slowly approached.
"When will we receive the oracle?"
"Please wait just a moment. It will begin shortly."
Arieta and the middle-aged priest's voices drifted from inside. They must have come here to receive the oracle.
Suddenly, a powerful aura surged from within, followed by a woman's voice.
"Great Saintess of the Wind, come forth."
"Your lowly servant greets the Sovereign of the Divine."
Sovereign of the Divine—that meant a Valkyrie. I narrowed my eyes and strained to listen.
"I just heard the news of your birth as the Great Saintess of the Wind, and it fills me with joy and surprise."
"I apologize. It is irreverent that a lowly being like me has received the grace of the gods."
Their initial exchange was all congratulations and humility. Nothing suspicious, just standard chit-chat, but I kept listening intently. A Valkyrie involved in Arieta's disappearance? That was huge.
After some back-and-forth, they got to the point.
"Arieta, the world is in grave peril."
"What might that be?"
"Regrettably, a Valkyrie has gone mad and is driving this world toward destruction."
"How could such a thing happen?"
Evelyn grimaced, but I pressed a finger to my lips. Not the time to get worked up.
"We must find that fallen Valkyrie and eliminate the threat to the world. Thus, you must aid us."
"Me?"
"It is a sacred and noble duty. Refusal is not permitted."
"But..."
Arieta hesitated. The mystery Valkyrie shot back.
"Why?"
"I am defiled. The sins I bear are too great for such a pure mission."
"Defiled how?"
"I am an elf who has lost her purity."
I winced, squeezing my eyes shut. That beautiful Arieta, losing her virginity? Heartbreaking.
Female elves prized their purity above life itself. Some didn't take their own lives, but they lived in shame forever.
Whoever that bastard was, he was scum of the earth.
The mystery Valkyrie clearly knew this, falling silent for a long moment.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Tell me, how did it happen?"
"Last year around this time, in the outdoor restroom at the Temple of Purity..."
"Restroom?"
"I was peeped on by some random guy. Ugh."
Arieta's voice trembled with shame.
I held back calling him scum again, rolling my eyes, while the Valkyrie burst out laughing.
"That's no sin."
"But according to elven law..."
"Laws are set by the heavens alone. Elven laws mean nothing. If it bothers you that much, just marry the guy. A husband's view of your privates isn't indecent."
Arieta pleaded harder.
"But he's already dead."
"What a tragedy. That's troubling indeed."
"..."
Arieta fell silent, unable to argue further. The Valkyrie soothed her.
"Then let's do this."
"How?"
"I'll permit a soul marriage with him. Wash away your inner guilt by saving humanity."
I clenched my fists, scowling. That rotten mystery fly was turning a promising bachelor into a married man with her own twisted interpretation.
Part of me wanted to barge in and deck her, but it was pointless. Oracles were heavenly messages—voice only.
Sensing my rage, Evelyn shook her head, finger to her lips.
Then Arieta responded firmly.
"In that case, I'll follow him in death."
"No. I told you, you have a vital duty."
The Valkyrie sounded seriously pissed. Arieta's stubbornness was getting to her.
"But elven law says if the husband dies..."
"That doesn't apply. He's already dead, so once he's your husband, he won't die again. No need for you to follow. The dead stay dead."
This Valkyrie had the weirdest interpretations. Sure, soul marriage had its quirks, but it was all wrong. Even if I was "dead," why force a wedding on their terms? Absurd.
Arieta pondered long, then replied.
"Yes. Understood."
"Good thinking. Now, come to us. We'll discuss details here."
A brilliant light poured from the door cracks. Space transfer magic, apparently. Soon, the inner chamber went dead silent, Arieta and the priest's presences vanishing.
Evelyn muttered under her breath.
"Who the hell's that bitch?"
I barely contained my anger.
"Dunno. But maybe it was just an accident?"
Evelyn eyed me like I was nuts.
"You talk weird sometimes. No way a guy 'accidentally' enters a women's restroom and peeps."
"But people have unavoidable circumstances?"
"You defending scum 'cause you're a guy too?"
I looked deeply wronged.
"No! Last year, that Depraved Grand Prince was fleeing the Great Saintess of Flames and had no choice but to hide in the women's restroom at the Temple of Purity. Stuff like that."
Evelyn clapped.
"Oh, that scum was the Depraved Grand Prince? Right, he hid there around this time last year and died."
"See? Calling a guy a peeping tom in that situation is unfair."
"Still a bastard, rumors say."
"Hey!"
I yelled, and she gave me a sly look.
"What's with you suddenly?"
"No, honestly... Wait."
As I started explaining, the corridor's magic lanterns flared to life. Then, footsteps—tons of them—descending the stairs. Weapons being drawn too. Guards deploying.
I gritted my teeth. No wonder there wasn't an ant in sight at this key sanctuary. Someone in the cathedral had pulled the guards right when Arieta and the priest arrived.
Evelyn panicked.
"What now? Dead end here."
"Hide first."
"You?"
"Don't worry about me. You hide quick."
She activated her spell, turning invisible.
"Done."
"Stick right behind me then."
I felt her hand on my collar, tensed my shoulders, and strode down the corridor. A holy knight spotted me, drew his sword, and charged.
"Intruder!"
I smirked.
"Intruder?"
"State your identity!"
I pulled out my pass from my pocket. A master-level one that let me roam even the forbidden Holy Hall.
"Kaoyan Anukin, assisting with Divinum Cathedral security at Lord Izenberg's request."
The knight finally noticed my mask, eyes twitching.
"N-no way... Kaoyan of the White Mask?"
"Whatever. Why weren't you guarding? This is a key spot."
"W-well..."
"Spit it out. Why'd you all abandon your posts?"
He hesitated, then answered.
"Grand Vicar Abor ordered us to step away briefly."
"Grand Vicar? Why listen to a priest over holy knights and guards? And he's above Lord Izenberg, who oversees the whole cathedral?"
"N-no!"
"Then why?"
"Uh..."
I glared sharply.
"Everyone here, submit your names and ranks. I'll report to Izenberg myself."
"W-White Mask, sir...?"
"Now!"
The knight and his group bowed deeply.
"Forgive us. Please, don't report to Lord Izenberg... We'll all be excommunicated."
"You knew that and did it anyway?"
"White Mask, sir. Mercy, please..."
I sighed heavily.
"Fine, if it's that bad. Today's a blank slate. You were on duty, I just passed by satisfied with the tight security. Deal?"
"Thank you, sir."
"Good. Don't let it happen again."
"Yes, sir!"
I strolled out casually. Dropping Izenberg's name smoothed everything. That's why people cozy up to the higher-ups.
Once far from the sanctuary, Evelyn dropped her invisibility.
"White Mask, gotta run—urgent business."
I squinted.
"Reporting upstairs about today?"
"Obviously. Looks fishy as hell."
"Owes me another favor then."
"Got it. I'll remember."
"Go."
She bolted off at my nod.
This Arieta disappearance carried big implications. Namely, another Valkyrie party secretly hunting the rogue one—smart, organized.
They seemed like the real deal chasing the runaway.
Explained why I'd bothered with that pointless ascetic trek, why pure Armida or hotheaded Katrinah led our group. We were just bait to draw the rogue's eye.
Night fell. After a quick nap at a nearby inn, I headed to the Holy Hall, huffing through my nose.
Two weird women conspired to make me a married man.
The more I thought, the madder I got. And the culprits bolted right after registering the marriage, skipping all formalities.
"White Mask? Big trouble."
Lord Izenberg was still at the Holy Hall entrance. He rushed over, face urgent. A Light faction guy sticking around at night meant serious business for me.
I had a hunch, but waved him off wildly.
"No, don't wanna talk. Bad mood."
"It's serious. Great Saintess Arieta vanished this afternoon."
I bit my lip.
"Just said I know. Not in the mood."
He scanned my face.
"Something happen?"
"Yeah. Two weird women made me married."
"You got hitched?"
"No! They forged my registry."
He tsked.
"Tsk tsk. Marriage scammers. Don't worry—without a gracious sacrament and holy witness, it's not valid."
"What if it's the opposite?"
"Then it's married."
"One side didn't consent, FYI."
"Must be some holy intent."
"Fuck!"
I ground my teeth. Those gracious holy scammers—I'll kill 'em if I catch 'em.
As I turned to leave, he blocked me.
"White Mask. Arieta's gone."
"Know. But we don't need to care."
"Why?"
I lazily thumbed the sky.
"Their mess."
He looked exasperated.
"Again?"
"Yup."
"Why this time?"
"You'd get hurt knowing. Keep it quiet, don't escalate. Ask an oracle where she went—they know but'll play dumb."
"Why do they keep meddling? Think of us humans sometimes. What're we supposed to do with this?"
His tone dripped frustration. A Great Saintess vanishing was huge for humanity.
"Some holy intent, probably."
"Driving me nuts."
Unable to swear, he swallowed his rage. I wished him luck and entered the Holy Hall.
Padilla was about to become a Great Saintess soon. Grumpy or not, I had to congratulate her.
Great Saintess Disappearance Incident (2) End