The Earth Mother's Baptism (3)
Never could a single soul contain more than one divinity. The divine power that could be housed within one soul was only ever one. That was why cultists who worshipped forgotten gods would have their bodies explode from the overload known as Divine Clash the moment they tried to accept the Earth Mother’s divinity.
The same held true for blessings. Blessings were, by nature, divine authorities granted by the gods. Even if one worshipped a god, forcibly accepting the blessing of another would inevitably trigger Divine Clash. Those who used blessings feared this above all else and guarded most fiercely against the heretical desire to seek new powers.
‘A soul that houses divinity must be only one… yet why…? I knew he possessed resistance to the Earth Mother’s divinity, but…’
Javelin’s outstretched hand froze in midair. Had the blessing of the forgotten god imprinted upon Edanant’s soul begun to activate, she would have quietly withdrawn the Earth Mother’s divinity. The reason she had insisted on overseeing the baptism was to hide Edanant’s true identity from the bishops and inquisitors dispatched by the Holy Kingdom until the very end.
Yet the situation had taken an unexpected turn. She stared in horror at the bizarre phenomenon unfolding before her. As if to prove it, her radiant blue eyes trembled violently.
‘How can two souls exist within a single body?’
One soul bearing the divinity of the forgotten god. Another soul bearing the divinity of the Earth Mother Gael. The two souls existed side by side, as though coexisting. It was an extreme state that barely avoided Divine Clash. Having seen through it with the blessing of the White Dragon, Javelin screamed inwardly.
“Saintess.”
“Yes? Ah, yes….”
Edanant lifted his head and spoke. Only then did Javelin snap out of her thoughts and reply.
“Is it over now?”
“No, we must still pour the holy water.”
Turning her head, Javelin confirmed that countless onlookers were watching. She poured the holy water from a small glass bottle over Edanant’s head, drop by drop. Contrary to her fears of Divine Clash, the Earth Mother’s divinity inflicted no harm. Instead, it scattered a pure white radiance, as though blessing the wielder of the Holy Sword.
Such a thing should have been impossible. For the Earth Mother’s divinity to fully accept a cultist’s minion… This could only be a miracle granted solely to him. The silver-haired girl let out a deep sigh and clutched her rosary.
“With this, Lord Edanant has officially become a follower of the Earth Mother.”
“I don’t feel particularly moved, though….”
It was an answer devoid of even a shred of faith. In truth, Edanant regarded the Earth Mother’s baptism as no different from circumcision—something one had to do, or else face criticism from those around them. He didn’t particularly need it, but thanks to pseudoscience, he had no choice. Having finally received the baptism he had put off for so long, Edanant shrugged indifferently.
“That kind of answer is rather disappointing. Especially when the Saintess, who boasts perfect beauty, personally bestowed the baptism upon you.”
“Indeed, you speak the truth.”
Edanant put on an expression of understanding. Then, with polite courtesy, he expressed his gratitude to Javelin for conducting the baptism.
“To receive the baptism from the First Saintess of the Holy Kingdom is an honor beyond words. As a new follower of the Earth Mother, I shall repay the grace you have shown me, little by little.”
“Y-You’re teasing me right now…!”
As Edanant bowed his head with exaggerated flattery, the gazes of countless nobles converged upon them. Javelin’s face flushed as she protested. ‘As expected, he’s impressive. To see through my intentions so precisely.’ Edanant let out a soft chuckle.
‘Two souls in one body…. Does that mean there are two Lord Edanants? No, that can’t possibly be it. Just how is this possible?’
She stared intently at Edanant, who wore a mischievous grin, and mulled over the question. But the mystery remained unsolved. If anything, it only grew larger. ‘Could I have seen it wrong?’ Unconsciously, Javelin began to doubt the blessing of the White Dragon.
While the Saintess continued to harbor her heavy suspicions, the princesses who had been watching the scene approached. They had unconsciously felt a twinge of jealousy upon seeing Edanant conversing so amicably with her. Fearing that the Holy Kingdom might steal him away, they shot wary glances at the Saintess.
* * *
The only person who had discerned Edanant’s abnormality was Javelin. Though bishops and inquisitors dispatched from the Holy Kingdom had attended the baptism at Sophia Cathedral, none of them had noticed the anomaly. The baptism had concluded without incident. Edanant von Hohenberg had become a new follower. Since the bishops present would report as such, the Holy Kingdom would have no reason to suspect anything.
Javelin felt immense relief that she had successfully deceived the Holy Kingdom.
“Since the baptism ended safely, the cardinals will be satisfied as well.”
“Yes, Lord Edanant is now, in name and in truth, a follower of the Earth Mother!”
At Javelin’s words, the bishops spoke with exaggerated cheer. The site of the baptism, once filled with pure white divinity, now seemed brimming with devout faith.
‘I only hope nothing strange happens to Lord Edanant…’
‘Where should I even begin? Why do you have two souls? Do they come out like a restaurant’s main course—two servings at once?’
Perhaps because she had been thinking about Edanant for days on end, a silly joke suddenly popped into her mind. Javelin squeezed her eyes shut, embarrassed that such a frivolous thought had occurred to her.
“Is something the matter, Saintess?”
“It’s nothing… some dust got in my eye.”
Even though the baptism she had been so anxious about had ended safely, her worries did not fade. If anything, an even heavier burden now weighed upon the Saintess’s slender shoulders.
Edanant was a minion. A cultist who worshipped a forgotten god. Yet Javelin, a Saintess who should have despised minions and cultists more than anyone, had turned a blind eye to his existence. She had even helped him from behind to ensure his identity remained hidden. If the Holy Kingdom learned the truth, she would be excommunicated from her position as Saintess. Furthermore, as a Saintess who had colluded with a minion, she would face the harshest punishment.
‘Still… if it’s to repay his kindness, I must endure anything.’
Though her expression showed clear reluctance, a faint smile graced her lips. It was as though she were recalling a precious memory that had brought her happiness like no other, however brief it had been.
* * *
The Valtaria imperial family announced that they would bestow rewards upon the knights who had participated in the subjugation campaign through a strict system of merit and reward. Titles and fiefdoms would be granted. Furthermore, they would receive the honor of having valiantly subjugated cultists. The knights would claim that loyalty to the imperial family and the empire was their natural duty. But deep down, they would be anticipating the imperial family’s benevolent rewards. After all, people were always faithful to their desires.
“To see through the minion’s identity… truly impressive. As expected of the mascot of the Saintess Party.”
“Ahem! I think I’m pretty impressive too!”
As soon as noon arrived, Ludmilla visited the villa. Perhaps to give him a hint about the rewards. Her prediction proved correct—Ludmilla lavishly praised Lue’s contributions.
“I’ve prepared five hundred Nong-jjuk Candies.”
“Dehh.”
When Ludmilla clapped her hands, the knights waiting outside brought in sacks of barley. Inside the crude sacks were sweet Nong-jjuk Candies—five hundred of them in total. It must have been incredibly heavy to carry all this way. Upon witnessing the overwhelming quantity, Lue froze in place, her mind momentarily halting from the reward that far exceeded her expectations.
“Even if she’s a child, how could you reward her with candy….”
“O-Of course, a monetary reward will be given separately. The candy is merely a cover. You will manage the reward money in her stead.”
Concerned that the reckless fairy might develop a spending habit, Ludmilla had delayed the monetary reward. She subtly hinted that the guardian should manage the reward money instead. ‘How wise. One can’t simply hand over a fortune to a little girl.’
“The County of Hillidar, which borders the County of Hohenberg, will be granted. The County of Hillidar will be merged into the County of Hohenberg. Additionally, a portion of the directly governed territories managed by the imperial family will be incorporated into the County of Hohenberg.”
“The County of Hillidar… wasn’t that territory left without an owner?”
The House of Hillidar had led numerous reinforcements into the racial war, but unfortunately, the head of the family and all their retainers perished, leading to the house’s downfall. With no branch family left to continue the line, the County of Hillidar had become a desolate, haunted ruin. However, just because it was unclaimed did not mean it was worthless wasteland. It contained ancient gold mines and was renowned as a fertile breadbasket with numerous specialty products. How many nobles had coveted the prized County of Hillidar? In the end, everyone had predicted the Valtaria imperial family would claim it… yet somehow, it had fallen into the hands of House Hohenberg….
“The County of Hohenberg will become quite vast. Just like the former House of Hohenberg, which once boasted fame as the founding contributors of the empire.”
“And your father will be elevated to the rank of marquis.”
At Ludmilla’s bold declaration, Edanant froze just as Lue had upon receiving the candies. ‘Good heavens. Does that mean my bald father is about to become a great noble ruling over vast territories? The Marquisate of Hohenberg… a name so embarrassing it makes my skin crawl.’ Excluding the imperial family and ducal houses that represented the Valtaria Empire, it was the highest rank in the hierarchy. He wondered if his timid father could truly bear the weight of a marquisate.
“Continue to strive for the imperial family and the citizens in the future as well. Perhaps next time, the all-powerful title of duke will be granted to House Hohenberg.”
“Ah, yes… I shall strive to do so.”
“A fine attitude. To become a house worthy of the Valtaria imperial family, one must naturally reach the rank of duke, wouldn’t you agree?”
“……”
‘What is she plotting?’ Her sinister intentions were all too clear. As Edanant replied with a reluctant expression, Ludmilla looked thoroughly satisfied.