Chapter 29

-Is she General Yi Sun-shin? Thinking twelve ships are enough?¹

-It’s not even twelve. It’s four lol.

“Are you seriously suggesting that four people are enough for the investigation team?”

“Yes. In fact, more than that would just be a hindrance.”

“What about the demonic energy…? No, never mind. I’ll see what I can do.”

-Even a Swordmaster has to do what the Saintess says.

-Status really is the best.

I wasn’t a formally appointed Saintess yet, so I didn’t think it was just about status. Perhaps Frederick’s brain had simply reached its limit, causing him to give up on thinking and just follow my lead. Or maybe he judged that since the entire Imperial Knights weren’t moving and we only needed four people, the risk was low enough to be acceptable.

Regardless, the lineup chosen through the brief meeting consisted of Frederick, the protagonist, Kalat, and Ilian. Two from the Imperial Knights and two from the Church.

‘Perfect.’

I liked the lineup. First of all, Arianne wasn’t there. Arianne was a skilled individual with combat power rivaling the protagonist. She was more than qualified to join an elite investigation team, but it seemed priority was given to the person who had a closer connection with me—the protagonist.

I didn’t have the confidence to control the heroines’ jealousy while dealing with the headache of demonic energy contamination, so it worked out for the best. I was also nervous that Mo Je-won might brainlessly choose the option not to go, so it was a huge relief when he obediently selected “Yes” for joining the team.

Now, as for the next step… It was time to gather the necessary items.

“Pardon? You need a Holy Relic?”

“Yes. I need ‘Ludvican’s Full Moon’.”

“That is a top-secret Holy Relic, a secret among secrets of the Church…”

“If we don’t have it, we’re all going to die.”

“…”

The item I needed was the Holy Relic known as Ludvican’s Full Moon. Ilian held a high enough rank to personally sign out a Holy Relic. It was fair to say he was the only person who could grant my request. Really, it was a good thing I kept him alive.

“Haaa… Understood. I will go get it.”

Ilian accepted, though he still looked suspicious.

“It was a promise, after all.”

By promise, he meant the bet we made last time. The victory condition I had set was to save the villagers with my own power, without anyone’s help.

‘Ilian snorted, thinking it would be impossible, but I carried it out perfectly without a single point of contention.’

Since then, Ilian had been keeping his word to help with all the procedures to make me the Saintess. It meant I could now order the Commander of the Berha Knights around like a subordinate. As a bonus, I no longer had to return the Sacred Armor of Bamea. He was the type to be unnecessarily honest about keeping bets, which made things very convenient. I mean, I made the bet knowing that’s how he was.

‘He really is a reliable ally and a total pushover.’

Did I say before that it was a misunderstanding?

I take it back. It’s not a misunderstanding; he’s exactly as he was described in the game.
With this…

‘I can finally go to the County.’

The reason the choice to head toward the County always led to a Bad Ending in other routes was the lack of a means to protect oneself from the demonic energy. And this ‘Ludvican’s Full Moon’ was the item that would fundamentally block that cause. Just like the Sacred Armor of Bamea, this was an overpowered item that only appeared in the late game, and I remembered its description going something like this:

External impurities. That included demonic energy. Actually, there were many Holy Relics that could block demonic energy.

‘Most Holy Relics whose usage the Church has figured out possess that effect.’

So why didn’t the investigation team take those relics? The reason was simple.

‘They’re all stationary.’

Every single one of those relics was enormous, heavy, and the shield only worked if they were perfectly fixed in place. However, Ludvican’s Full Moon was in the form of a necklace, so one could simply wear it like an accessory and walk around with the shield turned on.

‘It’s a mobile shield with built-in mobility.’

Despite having such a common function, this was the background as to why this relic received an A-grade.

‘The downside is that the range is extremely narrow.’

This was also why I limited the investigation team to four people.

‘More could fit if we pushed it, but we need to be able to walk or run inside it without bumping into each other.’

Anyway, with this, one factor of the Bad Ending was as good as erased. Now…

“May I ask one thing?”

While I was deep in thought, Ilian, whom I thought had already left, was still standing there.

“Are you truly going there to purify the demonic energy in the County?”

When I gave him a look that asked what he was talking about, Ilian added an explanation.

“Since you are not a true Saintess, I believe I have the right to know what you intend to do… as your traveling companion.”

“…”

“Could it be that the Holy Relic you asked of me can actually purify demonic energy?”

No. That was the exclusive privilege of the Saintess. Only the Saintess’s Divine Power could purify demonic energy.

‘A Holy Relic can only block it at best.’

“Or perhaps you have some other objective…?”

Objective? Technically, yes, but there was no way Ilian could figure it out. I scanned Ilian from head to toe. True to a knight, his posture was disciplined and unwavering. His fists were clenched tight. Yet, in that oddly stiff frame, a hint of tension lingered.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You know how to use Holy Relics that no one else understands, and strangely, you act as if you know the future. Even though you aren’t a real Saintess…!”

“I wonder. Am I truly not a Saintess? Perhaps the method used to distinguish one is flawed.”

“Such blasphemy!”

A vein throbbed on Ilian’s forehead.

“Sigh. It is written in a fragment of a prophecy that has never been made public, so it cannot possibly be wrong. I am at the point of wondering if you are actually a heretical witch.”

A heretical witch. For a moment, a chilling image of my head rolling off a guillotine flashed through my mind…

“Otherwise, it cannot be explained. That heterogeneous ability of yours.”

Perhaps this suspicion was inevitable since Ilian was already certain I wasn’t the Saintess.

‘Maybe I should have just let him die.’

Had it been a complacent thought to keep him because he seemed useful and I didn’t want to create variables in the story’s progression?

‘…No. It’s still fine.’

The very fact that he came to confront me instead of reporting me was proof that he wasn’t certain. If he were sure, I wouldn’t be standing here right now. Furthermore, Ilian hadn’t told Kalat or the others about the method to identify a Saintess. I wanted to ask why, but first, I had to prove I wasn’t a heretic.

‘I need to give an answer that is at least plausible.’

Should I say that although I’m not the Saintess, this is a power bestowed by Ralphican and therefore not heresy? Or should I just play the part of a common fraud who coveted the Saintess’s position?

‘…Would Ilian even fall for that?’

Just as I was leaning toward the extreme conclusion of getting rid of Ilian at the first opportunity…

A clear notification sound rang out.

Options at a time like this. But even a moment to grumble was a luxury.

‘…’

First, the second option was too evasive. No matter how addicted to betting he was, Ilian was a Holy Knight of the Order of Ralphican.

What meaning did a promise to a heretic have? Breaking it would actually be the honorable thing to do before Ralphican.

The first option, a direct confrontation, was better. As soon as I made my choice, Ilian muttered quietly.

“If you were a heretical witch…”

What? He’d send me to the Inquisitors? Or execute me on the spot? I expected some cliché answer like that.

Ding!

…!!

Ambivalent? What does that mean?² Whatever it was, if his affection was being registered at a timing like this, it had to be negative.

‘Please don’t let it be minus one hundred, please!’

Once affection drops below minus one hundred, they harbor a definitive intent to kill. I offered a silent prayer as I opened the Affection System. And the affection level I saw for Ilian was…

…???

‘It’s not negative?’

And fifty in one go?

“I don’t know,” Ilian mumbled, brushing it off.

“It’s not as if you’ve committed a great sin other than stealing the Holy Relic, and even that was to save people.”

He continued speaking without looking me in the eye. He was blatantly avoiding my gaze.

“Even if you were truly a heretic, I don’t feel I have the right to condemn you, so I really don’t know.”

I mulled over Ilian’s words. At first glance, it might seem like an answer based on a normal moral compass, but it was strange—especially coming from a clergyman.

‘I thought he’d say he’d purge me without question if I were a heretic.’

Every Holy Knight of the Order of Ralphican has the authority to judge heretics. Considering the era and worldview of this place, it was normal for them to jump at the chance to “save” someone if there was even a shred of suspicion. The type that would pull out your fingernails one by one with pliers while asking, “Do you still not believe in Ralphican?”

Or fabricate sins just to send someone to the stake. You know, the typical religious zealot stuff you see in movies.

“I came to ease my curiosity, but I’ve only exhausted myself. I will have the Holy Relic brought to you as soon as possible, so rest easy. I’ll take my leave.”

Seeing my dazed expression, Ilian gave a faint smile and left the tent…

‘I don’t know his hidden motives, but this is the best-case scenario.’

With fifty affection, he should be cooperative in almost everything. The appointment as Saintess was as good as mine. As long as I could successfully clear the upcoming County event, that is.

Whoosh!

A sudden gust of wind shook the tent, and the candle inside the lamp flickered precariously. As if foreshadowing an unstable future.

…It was too late to turn back now. I had no intention of doing so anyway. To clear the quest, I had to move forward and only forward. Instead of worrying uselessly, I decided to simulate the tasks ahead.

“Truly, I wish I could go and help as well.”

The day finally came. The day we were to leave for the Garain County. The Imperial Knights, the Holy Knights, and even the priests came out to see us off. The villagers watching from a distance were a bonus.

After discussions between the Empire and the Church, it was decided that the investigation team would include additional personnel besides the four of us (excluding me).

Since it would take several weeks to reach the County, going with only four people was deemed difficult; they judged that servants and porters were necessary until we reached the border of the County.

“It doesn’t look very good to refuse the Emperor’s command, you see.”

‘Are you for real?’

One change had occurred: Frederick would not be joining the investigation team and would instead return to the capital.

“A master of my caliber should be at the front in such a dangerous place, but things have turned out quite awkwardly.”

“Did you ever have a sense of ‘decorum’ to begin with, Commander?”

“Ahem! Of course! I too have the will to be a role model for all.”

The Emperor had requested Frederick be excluded from the team, fearing that something might happen to one of the only three Swordmasters in the Empire.

“Still, I’m glad Sir Arianne is here. To think you volunteered for such a dangerous expedition…!”

And the person who filled the vacancy was Arianne.

“I will do well. Do not worry.”

“Our Sir Arianne is always reliable~.”

“Indeed. Perhaps even more so than you, Commander.”

“Now, now, Sir Hereis. Didn’t I tell you not to speak like that when so many eyes are watching?!”

The banter between the protagonist and Frederick drew laughter from those around them. The atmosphere was incredibly harmonious, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile.