Ch 260
Never mind.
The Order’s heresy trial, using the Saint’s authority, ended that way.
City officials were rightfully indignant.
It was a clear abuse of power, the Order prioritizing the Saint’s authority over the city’s position.
The Order’s coercion was tolerated because of the meaning held by the name “Saint”.
If the Saint says, “This city… impure,” the city has no choice but to cooperate in horror.
If left unchecked, Paladins, wandering knights, and self-proclaimed heroes would flock from across the continent.
But, the cause and effect are summarized as “the Saint’s misunderstanding”?
Then, the city had no reason to remain idle.
The attention of City Nobles and Bondales officials was focused on her.
That pure white maiden.
To Deputy Council Member Pien, that is.
Her actions, appearing suddenly one day to reform back alley criminals into model citizens and replacing a corrupt council member, were already famous within the city.
-She drove the Deputy Council Member’s man to be a demon… given her personality, she definitely won’t let it go.
They thought she would carry out merciless revenge against Pien and the Order.
There was nothing more frightening than a powerholder with justification!
“It’s okay. It’s just stirring up trouble.”
However, her response was surprisingly rational.
Insulting a noble’s person is an insult to the noble!
It was something a noble could absolutely not tolerate.
It wasn’t even a typical insult.
“Are, are you alright, Council Member Pien? They treated Council Member Pien’s person as a demon. That is—”
What if the result of the heresy trial was guilty?
And so, the conclusion was that Pien’s person was a demon?
In that case.
Pien would have immediately received the highest level of accusation from the Order.
Rumors of being a demon’s lackey would have spread instantly, completely ruining her socially.
Yet, she can react so calmly?
“I could demand justification, responsibility, and compensation. However, if I directly deny the Saint’s position, I will naturally become enemies with the Order.”
“…”
“And, as Deputy Council Member, I represent the city to a certain extent, so my relationship with the Order will naturally affect the city. Therefore, I think it’s right for me to step back here.”
“…That way, a clear precedent will remain that the Order and the Saint owe Council Member Pien a debt.”
“As you say, Sir Dray. With that precedent recorded, it will be more difficult for the Order to raise their voices in our city in the future, even if the High Priest, or even the High Priestess, comes.”
“In Bondales, where the Order’s influence is already weak, it will be even more difficult for the Order to expand.”
“That’s right.”
Using religion as justification, they take root in the city and naturally form influence.
Among the city’s powerholders, the Order was quite a nuisance.
Deputy Council Member Pien’s decision could be said to be a perfect check on that Order.
“Oh…!”
Deputy Council Member Pien.
Talent Scout Dray.
Among the City Nobles who watched their conversation, admiration erupted.
In fact, some City Nobles looked at Pien with dissatisfaction.
A wanderer of unclear origin suddenly appeared and took the top position in the city.
To have them acknowledge such a youngster of uncertain identity as an equal City Noble?
Furthermore, to acknowledge them as their leader?
It was not easy for the high-nosed City Nobles.
In that respect, Pien’s actions gave them a new impression.
“To think that far in such a short time…”
Prioritizing the group’s interests over her own honor was something difficult to see unless one was a very experienced noble.
“I respect Council Member Pien’s choice!”
One by one, the City Nobles present showed their support for Pien.
Thus.
Pien’s judgment convinced all the City Nobles and gained their respect.
A mature and dedicated judgment befitting the position of Deputy Council Member!
…They did not know.
‘I lived?’
That the Deputy Council Member was simply feeling guilty and trying to protect herself!
-That girl? She’s actually a vampire.
-Me? I’m Jinjo.
-The reason it wasn’t discovered?
-I don’t know. That man must have done something.
A divine ritual using the power of the First Saint.
Normally, the vampire’s identity being revealed would have been nothing unusual.
Even if that energy was altered by “that man’s” influence.
The reason it could be safely passed over?
It was entirely thanks to “that man”.
Thanks to the divine ritual being performed with that man’s energy—
The vampire influenced by that man could survive.
-We are holy vampires who don’t bite people indiscriminately!
Their innocence, which no one would believe, was proven thanks to such luck and fortune.
In that situation, to push forward without satisfaction?
If the Saint were to say, “Retry?” with a bitter expression, there would be no greater disaster.
“…”
Did they happen to have the same thought?
Dray, who had been having the conversation, smiled wryly at Pien.
The face of a man appeared in their minds.
Lisir.
A considerable amount of time had passed since he left.
In Bondales, a huge void was created, as large as that man’s presence.
But why?
They could feel that man’s presence overwhelmingly strongly.
“The Father of the World Tree…? This time, it’s another Saint… person? What is he doing…?”
A voice and smile that were hesitant.
Rona painstakingly completed the sentence.
✦✦✦
The incident related to the Saint seemed to be over.
However.
The morning after the heresy trial.
At Goose Manor, a gathering was once again held, centered around Pien’s group and Pallag’s group.
“It’s worrisome.”
It began with a sense of unease felt by the Archmage.
“Are you referring to that Saint?”
Pallag nodded at Dray’s words.
He spoke to his companions.
“You all. Didn’t you feel something strange about that Saint?”
“Strange, you mean—”
“…Dray. You clearly said that Asrania, the current Saint, is monopolizing all the elixirs and blessings of the Order due to her weakened energy.”
“That’s right.”
“Yet, there’s no sign of that weakened energy recovering.”
“According to the information my friends gave me, yes, that’s right.”
“However, it’s strange.”
“Yes?”
Pallag recalled.
During the trial.
The moment when the Saint’s composure was momentarily disrupted due to an unexpected event.
At that moment.
The other side of her that she revealed.
“That Saint. She seems to be hiding her power. A vast power that even I can’t surpass.”
“The Saint is hiding her power…? Why…?”
Rona’s monologue represented the doubt everyone felt.
“You all.”
At that time, Pallag spoke to the audience.
Those who filled the seats were individuals carefully selected by Pallag based on strict criteria.
Those who could empathize with his extraordinary logic as experts（?）!
“That Saint. Isn’t something suspicious about her?”
“…!!!”
To dare to doubt the Saint.
It was an act that caused aversion even to those who did not serve the God.
“W-wait a minute…! Duke Pallag! Isn’t that too rash—a dangerous idea!?”
Gus was flustered as if a conspiracy was taking place in his own mansion.
“He’s right. To touch the Saint. Even Frozen Breath would bring about an unbearable result.”
Gadena, also an expert in ancient texts, expressed her worry.
“Hmm…”
Then Pallag fell into anguish.
He was also in a situation where he couldn’t be certain.
How should he accept this?
And how should he explain this?
Vague and blurry thoughts, like fog, filled his head.
At that moment.
He spoke softly.
“Lisir…”
Lisir’s energy interfering with the Saint.
It was a kind of code and suggestion to approach the situation with appropriate thinking.
“Why is that man’s name suddenly mentioned here—”
“Aha!”
Gadena looked at Master Melthas, who had interrupted her.
“Melthas. Aha, what is—”
“Indeed…”
This time, she looked at Pien, who nodded and interrupted her words.
Looking around, it wasn’t just the two of them.
Everyone present was nodding and understanding.
‘Lisir’.
That makes sense.
“Duke Pallag!!! Thinking about it as you said—definitely, the Saint seems suspicious!!!”
“Hmm. As expected of Master Melthas. I understand why the public praises you for your wisdom.”
Gadena felt her mind becoming muddled by their excited banquet.
“Wisdom… that is…”
To doubt the Saint.
Gadena had absolutely no intention of participating in that insane act.
Before her thoughts were changed by their influence, she hurriedly tried to leave.
“Gadena, where are you going?”
The elderly elf with braided hair spoke to the elf.
“…”
Gadena was momentarily speechless.
It was like suddenly storming out of the classroom during a lesson?
She felt like she had become the one acting abnormally among normal people.
I heard.
Lisir.
I understood?
“World Tree…”
In the midst of confusion, the elf recalled that great being to protect herself.
Instead of the holy tree, a human face appeared.
“Ah.”
The elf’s mind became muddled.
✦✦✦
The elf Gadena participated in their plan.
It would be more appropriate to say she was swept up, but anyway.
Gadena, who had lived in Bondales for a considerable number of years, had developed a certain affection for it.
By now, Gadena’s only wish was.
‘If they suffer greatly from this, they will come to their senses.’
That those who could be called the core figures of the city of Bondales would awaken from their madness before going further.
That the human Saint would perform a miracle!
“I will not deny it. Your suspicions were correct. I was hiding my power and my identity. A heretic spy who infiltrated the Order to cause chaos. That is my identity.”
“No—”
Gadena’s wish was denied.
The Saint, seeing Pien’s group who had come to find her, had an expression of ‘It’s come to this’.
Then, she called them aside, had a calm conversation, and revealed all the truth.
Gadena wondered for a moment if they were colluding to make fun of her.
“Can a heretic spy reveal their identity so easily?”
The Saint responded with a smile to Gadena’s reasonable question.
It was a sincere smile that didn’t seem like it belonged to a heretic pretending to be a Saint.
“I am ready to atone.”
The Saint closed her eyes tightly and clasped her hands.
“Your appearance before me at this time must be God’s will.”
Gadena and Pien’s group were all momentarily overwhelmed.
The faith shown by the Saint—
That complete, whole, and unwavering faith.
Pallag felt something unusual at that moment.
“You…”
He stared at the Saint and said.
“Have you lost your power?”
Pallag was now concentrating all his attention, intending to discern the Saint’s hidden identity and power.
It was clearly visible to Pallag’s eyes.
The Saint had lost all her hidden power and had become a truly genuine being as she appeared.
She was undoubtedly a weak being now.
Her energy resembled dandelion seeds, giving off a precarious feeling as if it would disappear if wielded.
But, what happened?
Pallag could feel a clearer presence from her than before.
For a moment, Pallag and the Saint’s eyes met.
“…!”
Hup.
Pallag involuntarily swallowed his breath.
In her eyes, there seemed to be a light that could not be extinguished by any fire or darkness.
“Yes.”
The Saint’s reply showed no lingering feelings.
Even though she had lost a tremendous power that even the Archmage could not comprehend.
“How…?”
“God took it away.”
“All the power you possessed?”
“No. That is not power. It is the vanity and folly—the mistakes of my past.”
“…”
They do not believe in the existence of God.
But now they were feeling God’s presence.
Through the Saint.
“Did you… meet God?”
Pallag spoke cautiously.
The Saint created a flawlessly pure smile.
“I believe so.”
✦✦✦
After their conversation with the Saint, Pien’s group returned to Goose Manor.
“Is this alright…”
Gadena muttered with doubt.
They ultimately did not reveal the Saint’s identity to the congregation members.
The reason was simple.
The changed Saint was no longer a Saint, but too much—
-Is that so. Then… it seems the time is not yet right. This too is God’s will. I will obey.
She was like a Saint.
“God… the master of the Holy Flame, does he truly exist?”
Rona, who had once been a nymphomaniac and denied all holy beings.
She expressed her current confusion in words.
“…”
Deputy Council Member.
Master of the Magic Tower.
Archmage.
High Noble.
None of them could answer Rona’s words.
“Perhaps—”
“Hmm?”
At that time.
The elf opened her mouth.
Gadena.
He spoke with a confused expression.
“The being called God that the Saint witnessed. In fact, isn’t it that person?”
“That person?”
“Lisir.”
“…”
They looked at Gadena in turn.
Then, the serious atmosphere suddenly dissipated.
Pfft.
They burst into laughter.
“Gadena. Yes. You’re getting used to it. But you’re too immersed. You’ve gone too far.”
A young disciple proposing an absurd hypothesis.
Wouldn’t a master look at such a disciple with such a smile?
Melthas smiled warmly at Gadena.
“…”
Gadena belatedly realized what she had said.
He felt blood rush to his face in embarrassment.
‘Bondales. I must escape.’
He felt an anomaly in his thoughts.
✦✦✦
Lisir, who had recovered the “vessel” from Asrania.
His first action was to return the energy that Tara had taken.
It wasn’t difficult.
The First Saint who had reached the peak of divinity.
What she needed was not help, but determination.
“Oh…”
Tara Dorin recovering the energy from the vessel.
Lisir involuntarily let out an exclamation as he watched her.
Because her overwhelming energy, which had already inspired awe, had become stronger than before.
‘This is the true… First Saint… huh?’
Just as Lisir was admiring Tara’s energy.
He began to stare intently at the “vessel”.
“…”
How he interpreted that gaze—
Before Tara recovered all the divine energy contained in the vessel, she gave it to Lisir.
“Tara-nim?”
Then, she left without a word.
“She’s embarrassed.”
Then, the fairy Shuyen said.
“Embarrassed…?”
“Yes. Right now, I want to say thank you and I’m sorry, but—if I do, I might burst into tears uncontrollably, so I’m putting on a brave face. I did this before. Even though I look like this, I’m very sensitive. I cry a lot…”
“Then, giving this to me…”
“It’s like a shyly offered flower?”
Shuyen!!!
Don’t say useless things!!!
Tara’s shout from afar was, as Shuyen said, somewhat choked with emotion.
“Aha…”
Lisir smiled wryly and carefully put away the necklace.
✦✦✦
That night’s dinner.
Tara Dorin was staying up late.
Her mind was so troubled by today’s events that she couldn’t sleep.
“…”
She had many thoughts and excitement—
But right now, one worry dominated her mind.
Saint Asrania.
The worry that someone might be behind her.
The worry that they might be threatening the Order.
Tara thought.
If there is someone behind her, what kind of being is it?
What kind of being could threaten the Order with pure “divine” power?
-Tara Dorin…
“…!”
At that moment.
Tara’s eyes widened, and she stood up.
A voice from somewhere coincided with her question.
“This voice…”
It was clear.
It was the voice of the demon that Tara Dorin had purified in her lifetime.
Purified darkness.
That demon, once the embodiment of evil, had been purified by Tara Dorin and became a divine being.
Tara had confirmed that the target’s heart was also closer to divine energy than to evil.
However.
What if it was an act?
Or, what if it had belatedly regained its original impure heart?
Then, the existence threatening the Order with divinity is explained.
“Huff… huff…!”
Tara was already running after the voice.
Her weak body, which had not yet fully recovered, began to creak from the strenuous movement.
Nevertheless, Tara did not stop.
That’s because.
The voice was coming from Lisir’s room.
‘Could it be, that vessel…!!! Was the demon’s energy left in that vessel!?’
The purified darkness was hiding in the “vessel”.
Lisir.
It had been waiting for him to be defenseless alone!
‘Lisir is in danger…!’
Tara felt a sense of urgency and ran to Lisir’s room.
The moment she burst through the door.
-Tara Dorin…
The purified darkness spoke to her.
In a very subtle voice, so that the sleeping Lisir would not hear.
Was it plotting some wicked scheme without Lisir’s knowledge?
Tara listened intently to the voice with tension.
-Save me…
“?”
-Separate me from this… I will do anything you say…
“…”
It was the true nature of the demon’s secret plot against the man.
It begged for its life from its longtime enemy, the Saint.
✦✦✦
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