The Resurrected Immortal - Chapter 137: Saintess Candidate (2)

"The most I can teach you is the role of a priestess, methods and types of prayer—nothing about combat. Holy power is a miracle born from devout faith in the divine, after all. No amount of advice from someone else can make it happen."

Elenoa knew well enough that what she needed was rest and mental discipline to steady her heart.

But to Elenoa, who had hoped for some special spiritual training method unique to saintesses, this explanation of basic priestly fundamentals drew a subtle expression from her face.

As Anies caught Elenoa's look and gave a wry smile, Eunhyeon cut into the two women's conversation.

"Anies, since the chance has come up, there's one favor I'd like to ask from this side."

"Hm? From you to me?"

"The Armitas ducal family has a 'broken holy sword.'"

"……!"

"Eunhyeon!"

Twenty years ago, during the Great War, the family heirloom—the holy sword—had shattered. Its existence had been a closely guarded secret even within the ducal family.

As Abros's expression hardened, Alex shouted at Eunhyeon for so casually spilling the secret.

"A holy sword? And?"

"I'd like your help restoring it."

"What do you...!"

Eunhyeon's proposal was shocking enough to rattle Abros, for whom the sword's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠revival had long been the family's unspoken wish.

Anies, hearing it too, watched Abros and Alex's stiff faces with an intrigued look.

"Hmm?"

"This is also Lady Elenoa's family wish. Duke, it's a fine chance for you to score points with her."

"Ah-ha. What the hell. If you had a bargaining chip that good, you should've brought it up sooner."

"If you'd consulted me first, I'd have tipped you off. Charging in like that was your mistake."

"Well, yeah, fair enough."

Anies nodded readily in agreement, and Eunhyeon shifted his gaze to Abros.

"What do you say, Duke? Will you entrust the 'broken holy sword' to us?"

"...Can you really restore it?"

"The materials needed for the holy sword's revival are just two: orichalcum ore, called divine iron, and an absurd amount of top-quality holy power—far beyond what one priest could provide."

"……."

"You seem to have procured the orichalcum with the platinum coins I gave you, but with the sword's breakage kept such a strict secret, you've hesitated to involve many priests in the restoration, haven't you?"

"...That's true."

The more ears that heard, the harder it was to control rumors.

For Abros, who couldn't reveal that the family symbol—practically the clan's emblem—lay broken, securing the holy power for restoration was a bigger hurdle than obtaining the divine iron.

"Elenoa, even one person's holy power wasn't nearly enough."

"But now, with Anies here, that problem can be solved."

The sheer volume of holy power Anies wielded was immense.

She carried enough to reshape a human's very constitution—a quantity that rivaled a hundred mid-rank priests.

"But there are other issues beyond that. You must know them, right?"

Abros figured that Eunhyeon, who knew so much about the ducal family's heirloom holy sword despite never discussing it properly, couldn't be ignorant of this.

"If it's a blacksmith to smelt the divine iron and restore the sword you need, no worries there either."

"What do you mean by that?"

Eunhyeon grinned and pointed a finger at himself.

"I'll do it."

"...What?"

"I know metallurgy too."

"...You're full of surprises. Have you planned from the start to restore our family's holy sword yourself?"

"No. At first, I figured you'd handle it on your own, even if it took time. But... circumstances changed."

"Circumstances changed?"

Eunhyeon scowled, clearly displeased with the current situation, hesitated as if debating whether to speak, then opened his mouth.

"Things are getting weird. All because some crazy bitch suddenly came back to life."

"Ah... "

Elenoa let out a small sigh, seeing Eunhyeon's openly irritated expression.

Convinced he'd recalled Media's existence, she asked him directly.

"Are you... thinking of reviving the holy sword as a means to counter that woman?"

"Not just her—for all the situations ahead, the holy sword has become an essential weapon now. Her return to this world means the demons' seals will break, and they'll cross over too."

"The demons' seals breaking?"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? First I've heard of it. Explain properly."

It was another shocking revelation for Abros and Anies, who had desperately fought twenty years ago in the Great War to prevent the summoning of demons sealed beyond this world.

"I'll explain that."

Stepping in for Eunhyeon, who felt disgust just thinking about it, and Iliana, who trembled with rage, was Riod—who had lived through those events alongside them. He described the 'Queen of the Dead, Media.'

"A woman who erased the very concept of her own 'death' to become an immortal being... "

"And that psycho bitch is obsessively fixated on Eunhyeon, which is why Iliana looks so pissed?"

"Hyeon-ah, I told you I'd kill that bitch myself."

"I know. It's our promise. But Media's the one who single-handedly wiped out a kingdom. Now that she's shed her human shell for a higher existence, if she emerges into this world, the damage will be unimaginable. Even if you take her on, Iliana, her undead legions from necromancy will be for humans to handle. So we need countermeasures against necromancy that humans can wield themselves."

"And that countermeasure is our family's holy sword?"

"Yes."

"Hmm... "

Abros pondered, but his deliberation didn't last long.

From the moment he'd accepted those platinum coins, the ducal family had been in the same boat as Eunhyeon—and he felt it anew.

"Very well. I'll trust you."

"Thank you."

Eunhyeon bowed his head in gratitude, repaying Abros's faith.

"When do we start the restoration?"

"The forge isn't fully built yet. We'll begin as soon as it's ready—probably within the week."

"Anything else needed besides the divine iron?"

"Send the lady with us. Just in case, we'll use her holy power too. And since it's a good opportunity, I'll arrange for her to receive saintess training alongside."

Elenoa's holy power was less than Anies's in volume, but it still far exceeded that of ordinary mid-rank priests.

"Got it."

"To think I won't pass the shame of our broken treasure onto my son... It's a relief, but complicated since it's not my own achievement... "

"Father... "

Even if it meant offering the restored sword to Second Prince Evan and letting it leave the family, Abros could finally sigh in relief at properly presenting the long-time symbol of the clan.

"Offering a family treasure to the royal house—that's a major resolve."

"Durandal was originally bestowed upon our house by the royals in our ancestors' time. Returning the holy sword now doesn't leave much regret. If it strengthens Second Prince Evan's position, that's not a bad outcome."

Riod nodded, respecting Abros's decision.

"Seems we've covered everything."

"Indeed. Night's falling, so we'll take our leave. Things will get busy again soon... "

"Sorry for unloading so many complicated matters and burdening you."

"No matter. Some couldn't be dealt with just by knowing, but... better to be informed. And the holy sword—I'm truly grateful."

With those words, the long discussion concluded.

"Alright then. Iliana, let's grab Erin and head out."

"Yeah."

"Safe travels."

Anies was set to stay in a guest room at the marquis's mansion for the time being. Eunhyeon, Iliana, and Erin left under escort from the marquis's wife, Terezia, heading home.

"So, when's our wedding?"

"W-Wedding... "

At Iliana's blunt question, Erin, walking beside Eunhyeon, stammered with a flushed face, glancing back and forth between him and Iliana on the other side.

"Mm, let's set a date right after the holy sword's restored. Neither of us has much family for formal meetings, and not many to invite anyway. It shouldn't take long."

"Um, Hyeon-ah, Lady Iliana... "

"Hm?"

Erin, watching them anxiously, spoke up as their gazes focused on her.

"Sh-Should I... leave the house...?"

"What?"

"Huh? Why?"

"Well... I don't want to disturb your newlywed life... "

Ever since witnessing Iliana and Eunhyeon locked in fierce combat on the bed, Erin had grown wary whenever the two were together.

Iliana chuckled and stroked Erin's hair as she spoke.

"It's fine. Stay. That place is your home now too."

"L-Lady Iliana!"

With eyes brimming with emotion, Erin buried her face in Iliana's ample bosom and nuzzled.

Iliana smirked, petting Erin's head.

'I couldn't do that to this girl's heart.'

Iliana knew Erin still hadn't fully escaped Eunhyeon's shadow, overly dependent on him.

The moment talk of their wedding date arose, her anxious expression and question about leaving proved it.

Even if sent away from Iliana's home, Erin could stay at Riod's or Abros's mansion—but she wouldn't accept it comfortably.

To her, Eunhyeon remained a sanctuary for the heart.

"Ah."

Iliana called to Eunhyeon as if struck by a thought.

"Hyeon-ah."

"Yeah?"

"Your 'that lady'."

"……?"

Not expecting Iliana to mention Verdandi, Eunhyeon stared at her wide-eyed, dumbfounded.

Smiling at his reaction, Iliana continued.

"I'm so happy right now. So you don't need to feel sorry toward me."

With those cryptic words, Iliana resumed stroking Erin's head in her arms.

"……."

Unable to grasp her meaning, Eunhyeon silently followed Iliana and Erin home.

"This place... "

Upon arriving home, showering, and falling asleep in bed, Eunhyeon awoke to awareness in a pure white space. The familiar sense of déjà vu washed over him as he scanned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his surroundings.

Recalling a past experience just like this, he instinctively turned his head, checking around.

"Goddess."

Sure enough, Verdandi materialized in the air and descended slowly to the floor, pulling Eunhyeon into her usual tight embrace.

Startled by the soft sensation against his chest, Eunhyeon hurriedly gripped her shoulders to push her away, banishing the irreverent thought that had flashed in his mind.

"N-Nothing... "

Verdandi's physical contact was frequent even in the mortal realm, but as a spirit-like entity of pure divine power, she could only touch him unilaterally.

He felt her embraces and kisses, yet some strange law of this realm prevented Eunhyeon from touching her back.

'W-Whew, that was close... '

In a reflexive startle, as he naturally responded to her hug and pulled her closer, his lower body stirred unbidden.

Since starting his relationship with Iliana, Eunhyeon struggled to contain his desires—and he was desperately hiding his impious thoughts toward Verdandi.

"S-Sorry. It's not that... "

"Move? Where to?"

As Verdandi took his hand, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠white space enveloping them twisted and shifted.

"Here... "

It evoked the sacred aura of a Vesta temple, but vastly grander and more majestic than any earthly shrine.

At the center loomed a massive round table, ringed by dozens of chairs.

Eunhyeon, led here by Verdandi's hand, felt chills and cold sweat under the intrigued gazes observing him.

Among the dozens of chairs, several held familiar faces—Urd and Skuld among the beings seated here and there.

"Goddess... are those...?"

One goddess glanced at Eunhyeon before declaring the meeting's start.

Verdandi and the Three Norns of Fate.

The seven goddesses who recreated the Arkena Continent.

And Eunhyeon, apostle of the Three Norns.

The curtain rose on a 'conference of the gods'—ten goddesses and one human.