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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 170
“Ha… but if I release my power too strongly…”
“With that level of authority, you cannot engrave the presence of the Saint into their hearts. Not until you perform a large-scale miracle—the very symbol of a Saint. That is one of the reasons why the higher-ups of the Holy Kingdom are trying to cast you aside.”
An incomplete Saint.
It seemed there were some who found that displeasing.
“But do not be disheartened. They’re nothing more than vile men searching for a healing slave to toy with.”
The plan that followed was simple.
At the center of the Holy Kingdom’s capital, in front of the statue imbued with the grace of God, she would offer her prayer.
And in response to that prayer, an angel would descend.
She would show this miracle before the eyes of the masses.
A straightforward yet dangerous plan.
Praying for an extended time in the heart of enemy territory.
“There is no angel that would descend for a heretic. In other words, Your Holiness’ heresy would be revealed as a meaningless slander… At that moment, I will rally the forces loyal to me and publicly declare your innocence.”
In the process, they would designate those who had sought to bring her down as heretics instead.
It was the best method to affirm the Saint’s existence.
It was then.
“Um… but, everything sounds good, except for the part about summoning an angel… Isn’t that just a legend? I heard there’s never been a successful case.”
As she said, if it had ever succeeded, the history books would surely have recorded it.
But no such case existed.
“Even if I manage to conduct the ritual… would it mean anything if it doesn’t succeed?”
Seeing Nadia’s discouraged expression, Diablo calmly revealed the truth.
“Don’t worry. The Holy Kingdom has spent a great deal of time perfecting its theatrics. Faking something like this is easy enough.”
To hear such words coming from the mouth of the Holy Kingdom’s Holy Priest.
It was almost laughable—but undeniably effective.
Suddenly, Diablo’s gaze seemed to linger on Luna.
* * *
The Holy Kingdom was located southwest of the Pascalia Empire, with its capital known as Laphel.
A pristine and sacred city where countless citizens lived.
If you were to ask the children there what they wanted to be when they grew up, the top answer was said to be “priest,” showing just how deeply intertwined the church was with the people’s lives.
In Laphel, there was a massive holy magic array that had been maintained for generations.
It was said that the unholy would be crushed by the array’s power.
Of course, no one really knew the exact criteria for what was considered “unholy.”
The fact that someone like Baril was freely walking around suggested it was hardly flawless.
The operation was dubbed The Witch’s Stigma.
There was no benefit in dragging things out, so they acted swiftly.
Rather than keeping her hidden, they planned to strike back head-on.
After the plan was finalized, some time passed.
Diablo needed time to prepare his forces and resources.
Now, Luna, the Saint, and I were in Laphel, the capital of the Holy Kingdom.
Surprisingly, entering the capital wasn’t all that difficult.
Diablo was more competent than I had expected.
Once inside, the citizens’ expressions were not as bright as I had anticipated.
It wasn’t due to hardship—it was as though their bodies were weak.
Was there an epidemic going around?
Nadia, perhaps burdened by the realization that her every step would decide everything, was trembling slightly.
She clutched her quivering arm tightly with her other hand.
She wore a thick, slightly worn robe, making it hard for anyone to recognize her as the Saint.
More importantly, the robe concealed the holy power she subconsciously emanated.
What she was about to do was the Prayer of Descent.
If she succeeded, despite no recorded case of it ever working, the impact would be significant.
My task was to ensure that no one came within a certain distance of her while she prayed.
We were in the heart of enemy territory.
The Holy Kingdom’s paladins, the holy magic corps, swordmasters, and countless inquisitors of heresy.
There was a high chance—no, it was almost certain—that the upper echelons would send a massive force.
Of course, Diablo had said that he would gather loyal paladins, those inspired by the Saint, and even some priests and inquisitors swayed by her presence to guard her.
But that wouldn’t be enough to hold back the higher-ranking combatants of the Holy Kingdom.
Which meant that it would be my role to hold them off.
While the Saint’s task was crucial, my role was just as significant in this operation.
I accepted it without hesitation.
The one who objected the most strongly, of course, was Melissa.
The moment she heard what I would be doing, she nearly ripped Diablo apart with fury.
But in the end, she couldn’t argue against my firm decision.
Instead, with reddened eyes, she grumbled that once this was over, I would have to stay home for at least a month.
I must have seemed so reckless to her that it stirred her trauma.
As I waited for the operation to begin, I took a few steps back to avoid disturbing Saint Nadia as she softly recited her prayer.
I quietly circulated the necromantic mana, elemental mana, and aura within my body, inspecting them one by one.
“Luna.”
Suddenly, a humorous thought crossed my mind, and I called out to Luna.
She had been staring absentmindedly at the sky.
At the sound of my voice, she lowered her half-lidded eyes and gazed at me silently.
She looked strangely displeased.
“Leon, did you know?”
She spoke with a calm, sunken voice.
Her serious expression made me stiffen.
This was the Holy Kingdom.
She was an angel—but a fallen one.
An angel who bore resentment toward God.
This place could only be unsettling for her.
Then, she pulled something out from her robes.
It was a street snack she had bought.
“This is tasty.”
“……”
The hollow look in her half-lidded eyes and the faint dark circles beneath them made her appear melancholic—but in an instant, she transformed into someone utterly carefree.
Right.
You look good when you eat well.
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Her nonchalant attitude made my tension dissipate.
At last, the preparations seemed complete, as a signal rang from the artifact.
“Lady Nadia, it’s almost time to begin.”
She flinched at my words and turned to look at me.
Her face betrayed a trace of tension, so I spoke in a soothing tone.
"Relax. Everything will be fine."
"Thank you for helping me."
"How long will the prayer last?"
"The scriptures say that a pilgrim on the path of devotion once prayed sincerely for two days before an angel descended. Of course, it’s not a factual record, but the ritual has carried on that tradition. The ceremony will last for two days as well."
There would be no actual angelic descent.
No saint had ever succeeded in such a miracle.
But even the performance alone would be enough to convince the people of her legitimacy.
"Two days… that won’t be easy."
"I'm sorry for the trouble."
"No, I meant you."
Her eyes widened slightly at my words before she smiled shyly.
"Hehe. Are you worried about me?"
Two days.
It would be grueling without exceptional stamina.
Even kneeling for a few hours would cause one’s legs to go numb—let alone for two full days.
At least the divine power would offer her protection, making it far more bearable than if she were doing it with a mortal body alone.
"Everything will be fine. Regardless of the truth, you bear the holy stigma. You are a true saint. You’re not deceiving anyone."
What’s wrong with a saint declaring herself to be one?
At my words, she seemed to feel a bit of relief, her lips curving into a faint smile.
"I hope… not too much blood is shed. Most of the soldiers marching in under orders probably have no idea what they’re doing."
"I’ll assess the situation and act accordingly."
Her answer was the most saintly one possible, but from the perspective of someone facing the enemy, it was utterly naïve.
Still, it didn’t matter.
She knew it too.
Her words were nothing more than a personal hope.
Before long, she joined the priestly retinue.
When she cast aside her robe, the pure white garments of the saint were revealed underneath.
Then, she slowly approached Diablo and knelt on one knee before him, bowing her head.
With solemn reverence, Diablo placed the saint’s crown gently upon her head.
"Be proud, Saint. One who bears the holy stigma must be bolder than anyone in carrying out their righteous path."
"I will remember your words."
With that vow, she slowly rose to her feet.
Diablo knelt before her, brushing the faint dirt from her knee with a reverent hand.
"Let us go."
With his command, the holy knights and priests formed into two orderly lines, pushing through the crowd as they escorted her toward the statue.
The citizens nearby turned their heads with puzzled expressions at the sudden procession.
But when they saw the saint, their eyes widened in shock.
"A witch… It’s the witch…"
"She’s a heretic…"
Some of them began murmuring as they recognized her.
It seemed the rumors of her being branded a heretic had spread farther than expected.
The tension in the crowd thickened to the point where it wouldn’t have been surprising if someone threw a stone.
Sensing the danger, the holy knights simultaneously drew their swords, forming a protective ring around her.
"Why are you shielding the witch?!"
"Drag the heretic out!!"
"The heretic's curse is spreading disease through the capital!!"
Though she had been trembling with fear moments ago, she now pressed forward without the slightest hesitation.
Without faltering, she knelt before the statue and clasped her hands together in prayer.
A solemn current surged through her body, and a halo of pure white light began to encircle her.
That was no mere performance—it was the genuine manifestation of her divine power.
"The Saint is offering the prayer of angelic descent. Step back, all of you!"
Diablo’s commanding voice rang out, and the murmuring crowd grew louder with unrest.
There was no need for me to involve myself just yet.
The holy knights alone were enough to keep the people at bay.
Hiss…
I took a sharp breath and stirred all the elemental mana within me.
The heavy divine energy in this place obstructed the flow of mana, but I overpowered it by saturating the area with more mana, aura, and overwhelmingly precise technique.
I could already sense the approaching forces, moving swiftly in response to the situation.
There were fewer than fifty of them for now, but more would soon arrive as reinforcements from across the region.
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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