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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 34
[Despairing One’s Gate Has Been Conquered.]
[Clear Rank: SSS]
Even though the Despairing One’s Gate had been conquered, Jeanne remained in place, standing still.
As if tracing the memories of Gilles de Rais, the times they had shared together.
I pulled out the Snowflower Stone from my coat.
Fwoosh—
The crystalline ice, burning with a blue flame, silently absorbed the lingering mana in the air.
Ding!
[Snowflower Stone’s mana has increased by 1,500.]
==
「Snowflower Stone」
Mana Capacity: 14,000 / 14,000
==
‘The absorption speed has improved.’
The Snowflower Stone devoured the gate’s mana in an instant.
Its ability to absorb energy was astounding every time I witnessed it.
That was precisely why I continued to nurture it.
As an ordinary E-rank Hunter, my potential had clear limitations.
But unlike me, the Snowflower Stone was a stone that grew stronger by absorbing mana on its own.
Its potential was limitless.
I intended to nurture the Snowflower Stone until I could fully integrate its power as my own.
With the Relic Slot, that was possible.
After all, the Relic Slot was an extension of my own body.
I opened the slot and attempted to place the Snowflower Stone inside.
—Your rank must be increased to store this relic in the catalog.
A warning message appeared, and the Snowflower Stone was forcibly ejected.
Still too soon, huh.
Clicking my tongue, I moved the Snowflower Stone to the general catalog instead.
—Snowflower Stone has been stored in the general catalog.
==
[General Catalog]
- Napoleon’s Table
- Snowflower Stone
==
The Snowflower Stone vanished from my hand and appeared in the catalog’s list.
It was stored, but it didn’t feel quite right.
‘As expected, it’s not ideal.’
The general catalog was still connected to me, but the mana transfer was unstable.
Like a radio with poor reception, constantly crackling with static.
That was why I avoided storing the Snowflower Stone inside the catalog while inside a gate.
For reference, Yi Sunsin’s helmet was safely stored in my dedicated subspace backpack.
After all, it was a national treasure. I couldn’t bring myself to store it alongside a mere table.
“Jeanne, are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Jeanne, who had been quietly reminiscing about Gilles de Rais, had already regained her composure.
“Let’s head out.”
"Yes."
"I will escort you, Saint."
At some point, Rubenka had started addressing Jeanne as Saint.
"I'm not a saint. Please, just call me Jeanne."
"Understood, Saint."
Even though Jeanne denied it, Rubenka remained unmoved.
After witnessing that miracle the way she had erased the banshee in an instant who wouldn't call her a saint?
With Rubenka and the Church's Hunters escorting us, we exited the gate.
Outside, a luxury sedan was waiting.
Cardinal Francis had kept his promise.
He had assured us a quiet departure, and he had followed through.
"You've done well."
"You've worked hard too, Rubenka."
We boarded the vehicle as Rubenka saw us off.
Soon, the car carrying Jeanne and me pulled away.
Vroooom—
Meanwhile, the gathered bishops watched the departing vehicle with confusion.
"That’s the opposite direction of the Vatican."
"Why is the car heading toward the airport...?"
The vehicle was driving straight to the airport away from the Vatican.
The bishops murmured amongst themselves, while the Hunters hesitated, unsure if they should intervene.
"Do not stop them."
Rubenka held them back.
If the Saint wished to leave quietly, then it was only right to respect that.
Watching the car disappear into the distance, Rubenka recalled what she had witnessed inside the gate.
The banshee’s final smile as it turned to ash.
The holy stigmata that had appeared on the girl’s back.
It had to be a miracle, just as described in the Scriptures.
"What are you all standing around for?! Tend to the wounded!"
Rubenka’s sharp voice snapped the bishops and Hunters back to reality, and they hurried to care for the injured.
***
By the time the Pope and the Cardinals, having rushed over after an urgent assembly, arrived at the Despairing One’s Gate, all they found was a conquered gate and people tending to the wounded.
"Where is the Saint?"
"She has left."
"...She simply left?"
"Yes, Your Holiness."
The Pope was taken aback by Rubenka’s answer.
He had never expected her to depart so suddenly, without a word.
"Cardinal Francis, do you know why the Saint did not visit the Grand Cathedral?"
"Well... I’m not quite sure myself..."
Cardinal Francis looked puzzled, as if he genuinely had no idea.
"It seems she did not wish to visit the Vatican."
"Cardinal Francis, how could you say such a thing in front of His Holiness?!"
A murmur spread among the other cardinals.
But Francis paid them no mind.
Instead, he simply bowed his head in the direction of the airport.
"May His blessing be with her."
With a quiet prayer, he made the sign of the cross.
***
At that very moment, we were passing through airport security.
"Lady Jeanne, may I have a moment of your time before you depart?"
"Of course. Please go ahead."
Archbishop Ambrosio, who had escorted us to the airport, pulled Jeanne aside for a conversation.
"Have you considered joining the Church?"
"I haven’t."
Jeanne rejected the offer without hesitation.
It was clear she hadn't even given it a thought.
Archbishop Ambrosio closed his eyes briefly, but he wasn’t about to give up so easily.
After all, they couldn’t simply let go of a Saint they had finally found.
The Church’s circumstances made it clear having or not having a Saint made a world of difference.
"If you plan to continue working as a Hunter, the Church can provide you with great support."
Jeanne remained silent, but Ambrosio pressed on.
"As a Saint, you would be granted a rank equal to that of a Cardinal, and you would have unrestricted access to the Church’s holy relics."
Though he said it casually, it was an earth-shattering proposal.
A Cardinal was one of the highest-ranking leaders of the Vatican, governing the Church alongside the Pope.
Even Saints were not automatically granted the status of a Cardinal.
Not even the heads of the most powerful guilds dared to act recklessly in the presence of a Vatican Cardinal.
No, considering the Church’s influence, their power far exceeded that.
Even that alone was a tremendous offer, but granting unrestricted access to holy relics? That was beyond comprehension.
The Church, with its history spanning over two millennia, possessed a vast collection of sacred artifacts.
The number of relics stored in the Vatican’s secret vaults was immeasurable, and among them, some were believed to be at the legendary level or higher.
Perhaps even an artifact that could fully anchor Jeanne in reality.
This was not a proposal that Archbishop Ambrosio could offer lightly, but he was certain that if the Pope witnessed her stigmata, he would approve without hesitation.
"Of course, you wouldn’t become a Cardinal immediately. You would need to visit the Vatican and undergo an official miracle evaluation."
"As I’ve said before, I am not a Saint. So I cannot accept your offer."
Jeanne cut him off mid-sentence.
Ambrosio, who had never expected such a blunt refusal, was visibly shaken.
"B-But the stigmata…!"
"And besides, I like being by his side."
"……."
Ambrosio was left speechless, utterly caught off guard by her response.
—Jeanne! It’s our turn at security! Come quickly!
"I should go now."
With a small bow, Jeanne turned and walked toward the checkpoint.
—What did he talk to you about?
—Nothing important.
—Really?
—Yes.
Listening to their casual exchange, Archbishop Ambrosio stared blankly at Choi Seojun.
‘Who exactly is that man…?’
***
Christianity was the world’s largest religion.
And within Christianity, Catholicism was not the only denomination.
"A Saint has appeared, you say?"
"That is correct."
"……."
Crackle.
By the fireplace, a middle-aged man sat in a rocking chair, idly flipping through a book.
He was Patriarch Felix, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Even upon hearing the news of a Saint’s appearance, Felix simply continued flipping through his book in silence.
The man who had brought the message stood behind him, waiting patiently for his response.
After a long moment.
"Bring her to me."
"Understood."
The man left the room.
Left alone, Felix resumed turning the pages of his book, undisturbed.
***
After returning home, I did absolutely nothing for three straight days.
A 28-hour round trip.
Spending over a day cooped up in a plane had completely drained me.
The renovations inside the General Store had long been finished, and starting today, I could finally return to staying there.
‘Who will come next?’
With anticipation, I stared at the shop’s closed doors.
It was time to welcome a new Transcendent.
Napoleon. Yi Sunsin. Jeanne d’Arc.
So far, every visitor to my shop has been a legendary figure, icons of history.
I couldn’t help but wonder… who would be next?
"I'm opening up."
"Alright."
Hearing Jeanne’s response, I activated the Relic Slot I had kept closed.
—Unlocking Relic Catalog Slot.
[Summons: 3/4]
From experience, just because a slot was open didn’t mean a historical figure would appear immediately.
Ding—
The moment the slot activated, the door to General Store swung open.
"...Huh? This isn’t the right place."
A woman peeked inside, glancing around with a puzzled expression.
‘Who’s this?’
I tilted my head.
She had braided red hair and brilliant golden eyes.
Judging by her attire, she definitely wasn’t from the modern era.
"Looks like I walked into the wrong place."
She flashed me a warm smile.
"Sorry, but… could I have some bread?"
Her golden eyes curved gently as they shimmered.
Jeanne, who had been watching from inside, brought out a loaf of milk bread and handed it to her.
"Here you go."
"Oh, thank you so much!"
Beaming, the woman eagerly took the bread and began eating right there on the spot.
Her cheerful energy was contagious and it made even the onlookers smile.
As I watched her eat, I finally spoke.
"May I ask for your name?"
"Vanessa. By the way, this bread is amazing! What’s it made of?"
She grinned as she took another bite.
For a moment, I remained silent.
Because the name that appeared in the status window… was not the name she had just given me.
—You have encountered Jack the Ripper of a failed worldline.
"...Do I have something on my face?"
The woman smiled again, tilting her head.
But I knew better.
She was the very ghost that had terrorized London.
The infamous mystery that even Arthur Conan Doyle, the father of Sherlock Holmes, had given up on solving.
She was Jack the Ripper.
[PR/N: Jack the Ripper was a girl…??]
——————
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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