Kidnapping the Saintess (6)
"The Saintess sneaking out of the temple every night to use divine power in the slums?!"
Bam! The Pope slammed his fist down hard on the table, his face flushed red as he trembled—not from rage, but because his hand hurt like hell.
"We have testimony from a slum-dwelling commoner."
"Silvia Sunshine...! Summon the Saintess at once... No, wait."
Even if he called her in now and chewed her out, she'd just deny it flat-out. And since the girl wasn't used to lying—her face gave everything away—what could he do if she stuck to her story? He needed ironclad proof shoved right in her face.
But he'd cornered her in the garden last night, so unless she was an idiot, she wouldn't dare step outside the temple today. Pope Zelrain Gaia racked his brain furiously.
"Spread word of a banquet tonight. It's to honor Marquis Extrang's generous donations."
"A banquet, Your Holiness? Even if we started preparations right now, it would take considerable time."
"I'm not actually holding one. I just need the news to reach the Saintess's ears. Dismissed."
Unlike holy power, wielding divine power demanded tremendous stamina. The Pope didn't know why. He only knew that on days when she overused it, she collapsed into a deathlike sleep—so there had to be some difference.
"Wasting that precious divine power on riffraff. Unbelievable."
His voice dripped with fury, but a satisfied smile crept across his face. He'd long wanted to lock the Saintess away in the temple, but prying eyes had always held him back. He'd been biding his time.
And today, opportunity knocked. The banquet rumor would lure her out again. All he had to do was catch her red-handed.
Then, using her escape as pretext, he'd seal every door to her annex. Guards cost extra coin, after all. Locking it from the outside would trap her perfectly in her gilded cage—not quite a prison, but close enough. Let her entertain nobles and serve the empire from there.
Late that evening, right after a knight reported the Saintess scaling the temple walls, the Pope summoned another.
"Fetch a carriage and bring the Saintess here."
The knight departed for the annex. Moments later:
"The Saintess has vanished from her quarters."
Just as expected. The Pope immediately deployed forces across Hollidral. Pity about the 2 gold to that snitching slum rat, but he could just brand her a heretic who lured out the Saintess and execute her.
Everything was going to plan. The Pope was in high spirits.
"Intruders!"
If only he hadn't heard that.
"Who dares invade this sacred place?!"
Sacred or not, it didn't matter. Most temple guards were scouring Hollidral for the Saintess, leaving precious few behind. Meaning he could be in danger. Saintess be damned—he needed to live to hoard and spend his gold.
"Patrols spotted suspicious silhouettes atop the Saintess's annex. Identities unknown."
"Certain? You're sure it's intruders based on mere shadows?"
"Multiple units reported simultaneously. It's confirmed."
If Cluster had more experience, he might've slipped through. He'd infiltrated safely, grown careless, and got spotted by knights patrolling the perimeter.
"Good thing the Saintess isn't there. Her escape turned into a blessing in disguise."
"Actually... right after the intruders appeared, her shadow was seen through a window."
"What?! You said she left the temple!"
"We confirmed her exit and withdrew... She might've doubled back."
The Pope barely restrained the urge to deck the reporting knight.
"Recall all Hollidral forces. Converge on the Saintess's annex."
Once the knight left, the Pope crawled under the table. Escape route at the ready, if needed.
"Hmm..."
How much time passed? The silence felt normal enough. Hollidral's citadel housed both palace and temple. Intruders were at the Saintess's outlying annex—a solid 30-minute walk away.
"I shall personally judge the heretics and rescue the Saintess."
Pope Zelrain Gaia, who'd hidden under the table since the alert, emerged with the empire's six strongest knights, striding out of the palace full of bravado. Time to boost his image.
Just one male intruder in the temple—perfect for a show.
Wise decision, he congratulated himself.
"Duke Clay."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"Too far. Link the crystal orb to the scene."
"Understood."
The head of the imperial mages, reduced to this? Yamar Clay grumbled inwardly but channeled mana into the orb. Should've become emperor himself if he hated it so much.
"Ready. Speak into it, and the field commander will hear."
"Let's see..."
Through the orb, temple forces surrounded the Saintess's building airtight.
"Using an ogre-slaying blade to catch a rat."
Confirming the troops, the Pope patted himself on the back for stepping out. Commanding from the front would look leaderly.
Though yelling into a crystal from the rear didn't quite scream "true leader."
"Is... is this even possible?!"
That illusion faded fast. Despite the siege, the black-haired man leaped over shoulders and heads, dominating the battlefield. Even the temple's elite knights couldn't land a single clash before being swept aside.
"Why can't you hit him with arrows?!"
"H-He's too fast!"
"Magic, then! Blast him with AoE explosions!"
"He's bounding over our troops—friendly fire..."
"Don't you know the Saintess's life outweighs dozens of you rabble?!"
Issuing orders while watching via orb, the Pope swore the intruder's eyes met his.
Impossible.
The distance was too vast for the naked eye. And he was viewing remotely—eyes couldn't meet.
Dismissing it, he checked the orb again, then glanced up.
Tilt. He cocked his head, checked the orb, then forward again.
Magic explosions bent midair, heading their way. He dodged blind arrows with midair twists, used blasts for propulsion, shattered swinging swords with fists, crumpled armored knights under kicks.
Instinct screamed: even his six elite guards couldn't stop him. None in the empire moved like that.
"Duke Clay. Call that man."
"No! He's too danger—!"
"No my ass."
The sudden voice froze them.
"Been watching. Want that cleared out, huh? I'll forgive calling me 'that guy' since he looked fun."
"Th-Thank you, thank you."
"Save it. Scram if you don't wanna die. Hate showing my real fight to scrubs like you."
Pope and Duke fled with troops in perfect order.
"You'll need to handle this personally, Your Holiness."
"Contact Lord Vayn Slay. Recall all Gaia Empire forces."
Whoosh.
Boom!
No one feared a dodgeable punch, just as arrows and spells posed no threat if avoidable. Only the unlucky grunts caught in stray fire were tragic.
"Argh!"
Screams rose with every volley and blast. He pushed on, ignoring them. Ending it fast minimized casualties.
Thud!
"K-Knight Is Extra... Gahk!"
He snapped a shin of a knight in ornate armor, breaking his leg, then eyed the Pope's direction. Distance halved since spotting him. Five minutes tops to claim his head.
Dong-dong-dong-dong!
Drums? Troops retreated at the sound. No—not retreated. Fled?
Terror etched their faces. Too late for that. And not fear of him...
Danger!
Shhh...
Black-red mist spread suddenly. He leaped back, escaping its reach. Stragglers touching it shriveled like rags.
"Whoa, dodged that?"
Clack-clack.
A white-haired woman approached slowly from behind, her steps utterly mismatched to the scene.