Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Sealed One Awakens
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* * *
The 'Divine Power' that could do anything.
It could reshape the world, twist fates, and save souls—truly, there was nothing it couldn't accomplish.
I had no idea how it might be treated in the domain of a great god, but here, possessing Divine Power meant there was nothing you couldn't do.
And so—
The very moment when 'Divine Power' came pouring in unexpectedly, in a flood.
[ Give Me Money : No, I mean, thank you so much for the sponsorship, really ]
[ Give Me Money : But first, please calm down ]
[ Give Me Money : Dumping in sponsorships like this all of a sudden... ]
And then—
[ Igugwoden ( Sponsorship / 500,000 won / Is this enough? (No idea) ) ]
The moment that proved why a god becomes a god.
On top of that, the fragments of Divine Power that had no choice but to pile up as high-value sponsorships kept coming...
Of course.
For beings who lived off 'powers,' completely controlling and absorbing a god's Divine Power was nearly impossible.
The uncontrolled power slipped beyond their domain, naturally influencing every corner of the world.
Considering how even a tiny amount of Divine Power could change everything, this was a massive blessing—or something the created ones simply couldn't handle.
The result?
"――!!!!"
This was how the influence of the 'Divine Power' that had leaked out little by little...
Finally awakened a long-sealed being from its deep slumber, opening its eyes.
* * *
―Rustle!
"Ungh...!!"
The usual morning meal time for the Dish of Holy Knights.
Lately, what filled that time was a sound so crisp it whetted the appetite just to hear it.
To the point where the fact that it had been chicken for days straight didn't bother them at all!
"This is seriously so good...!!"
Luca's eyes sparkled as she ate her chicken.
Using her hands instead of proper utensils—a thoroughly primitive method.
However—hadn't Saintess Erin said that God decreed this food was meant to be eaten this way?
It seemed Luca wasn't the only one who loved chicken.
Ophelia—or rather, the rabbit perched on Ophelia's head—was also stuffing its mouth full of chicken and rolling it around.
Roll, roll, roll inside its tiny mouth for a good while.
Then, with a spit—
"Kyaa! Pya! Igogodon—!"
The rabbit spun like a top atop Ophelia's head.
The sight of the rabbit standing on one foot and twirling on the holy knight's crown was utterly avant-garde.
"To praise it so extravagantly every time you eat... Chicken must really suit you."
"Igogodon! Pya! Igogodon!"
"Ophelia, aren't you eating any?"
"I've had two pieces. That's plenty."
"Two pieces seems a bit short, doesn't it...?"
In fact, Luca was already on her fourth piece.
Was it because she'd struggled with food as a child?
She hadn't gone hungry since entering the academy—but the experience of growing up without proper meals meant Luca ate quite a lot.
Of course, her job demanded even more intense physical exertion than she consumed, so it wasn't an issue.
"No. Enduring delicious food is a form of training too. If you only put tasty things in your mouth, you start deluding yourself that you deserve it. Humility isn't lost due to some grand event. The moment you take whatever's given to you for granted, that's when a person becomes clouded."
"I see... Ophelia, you're amazing."
"It's nothing special. Just doing what must be done. Anyone who follows God's will should find this effortless—Mmgh!"
Ophelia's words cut off abruptly.
The rabbit had shoved a chicken leg into her mouth with its stubby front paw.
"Igo no Igodon."
"Ahh, uh, th-this ishn't about refushin' to eat or anythin'..."
"Igogodon."
"Ah, I shurrender... Thish talk ish makin' me hungry... Nom nom."
Crunch, crunch!
Ophelia's face visibly brightened as she ate the chicken.
No matter how devoted to training one's mind, delicious food had a way of making people happy.
For a moment, they watched Ophelia and the rabbit, who now seemed quite close—
"Luca."
"Ah, yes...!"
Uncharacteristically, Linea—who would normally eat in silence—spoke first.
Luca approached her, tense for no reason.
"Didn't the Saintess say? Every morning, a mountain of chicken from God piled up at the altar."
"Ah, yes... I heard."
"Did you see it with your own eyes, Luca?"
"No. Only priests could enter the completed temple... We holy knights can't unless specifically summoned."
"If the Saintess had called us, maybe, but from what I heard, neither you nor I were."
Ophelia, having finished a drumstick, joined the conversation.
"I see... So no one in our group saw it, Ophelia."
"Why bring that up all of a sudden...?"
"No, it's nothing."
Linea slowly rose from her seat.
"I'll take my leave first. See you both at dinner."
"Ah, yes...!"
"Yes. Until dinner, Linea."
Luca watched her go with a worried expression—
"Don't worry too much, Luca."
"Ophelia...?"
"It's not something I wanted to know, but with ears, rumors reach you. She was my biggest rival among those vying for the holy knight position."
"Rumors?"
"That she's only a holy knight because the Imperial Family chose her for her. She doesn't truly believe in Lord Igugwoden deep in her heart."
"......"
Luca wasn't surprised. As she'd thought before while talking with Linea—it was obvious.
She wasn't negligent in duties or spreading God's will, but no sincere faith could be read from her. That hadn't changed.
"Well, even Her Majesty, who was so cold and calculating, came to sincerely follow Lord Igugwoden at some point. I think Linea just needs time."
"You're right, huh?"
As colleagues, all they could do was wait for her.
Luca silently stared in the direction Linea had vanished for a while.
* * *
'......'
Linea, who had left early for duties, still savored the taste of the chicken from earlier.
...It was delicious.
Honestly, even as a princess who'd tasted the continent's finest cuisine, this was her first fried dish this good.
She wasn't particularly gluttonous, but she could've gone for a few more pieces of chicken.
But... something felt off.
God suddenly passing down a recipe felt too abrupt, somehow.
The chicken itself? She could chalk it up to the church's relief efforts slogan.
But she didn't fully grasp what the religious world aimed for—and that unease lingered in a corner of her mind.
Why use even a recipe for propaganda about God's omnipotence?
'......I shouldn't be this suspicious of my comrades.'
Linea let out a light sigh.
Truth be told.
Her selection by the Imperial Family for the religious path was partly because she had the least aversion to the Igugwoden Church among them.
She didn't believe in God. But unlike her mother or sister, she saw religion not as something to check, but as something to harmonize with—that had been her stance.
Until that day.
The moment her mother Eirene uttered God's name with flushed cheeks.
And seeing her sister Yuria and others transform before her eyes, like entirely different people—her thoughts changed.
Was that eerie scene truly witnessing a miracle and opening eyes to truth?
No matter how she looked... it seemed like brainwashing by some method.
Linea, who had the mildest wariness, now distrusted the church most.
If the Igugwoden Church's influence grew unchecked, the empire might become a theocracy.
The Ainsberg family would naturally lose authority.
It would've been easy to blindly distrust the church and Saintess—
The problem was, all the changes were positive.
After reports of 'miracles' in the religious world, people always smiled happily.
The continent's populace began naturally praising the Imperial Family for supporting the church, and underhanded corruption was cleanly eradicated just for contradicting God's Plain Fact.
Though decision-makers went mad after meeting the Saintess, their one-sided actions were indeed steering the empire right.
Those who walked crooked paths without faith were reformed simply by believing, walking straight.
So, was this right?
—If the results were good, was it okay for humans to surrender free will to God via near-brainwashing?
'......A tough issue.'
Fortunately for Linea, her comrades—Ophelia and Luca—were truly good people.
She'd thought the Saintess Erin might be risky up top, but Erin was devout yet genuinely wished peace for all under God's embrace—a truly admirable person.
Priests said her overwhelming Divine Power Pouch made her Saintess, but to Linea, her character fit far better than her bust size.
In short—she didn't need to act now.
'Yeah. If I just do my job well, the path will show. If God really exists, He'll give an answer to my worries.'
As she thought that and prepared for duties—
Someone ran up from afar, calling her name.
"L-Linea...! There you are!"
"......Saintess?"
Saintess Erin panted lightly before her—
"Um... Do you know where the other Dish of Holy Knights are?"
"Still eating, probably."
"Good. Not too late..."
Seeing Erin's unusually urgent expression, Linea spoke worriedly.
"Saintess, is something wrong?"
"......"
Erin gripped her Holy Scripture tightly—
Then cautiously broached 'the biggest historical reason for selecting holy knights.'
"Reports are coming in of large monster outbreaks near a sealed dungeon during broad daylight."
"!!!"
"We often hear of small groups in dark hours or deep forests, but a massive monster rampage confirmed in daylight... hasn't happened since the Saintess descended 200 years ago."
The intensifying Demonic Energy.
Records in history books of monsters rampaging with each Saintess's appearance.
It had come as expected—but hearing it directly felt worlds apart from just knowing.
"For now, let's go to the dining hall."
"......Yes!"
With monsters appearing, no time for idle worries.
Linea shelved her thoughts and followed Erin to her comrades.