Chapter 50

I couldn’t believe how shocked I was by the face I saw after waking up from my nap.

‘Is… is this me?’

I never thought I’d be the type to say a line like that. But then again…

‘I’m way too pretty.’

At first glance, the look was cool and aloof, but a closer look revealed violet eyes that resembled forget-me-nots. Eyes that swept up sharply like a cat’s. Firmly set lips. Cheeks tinged with a healthy pink glow. And glossy black hair, neatly braided over one shoulder. It was a face that could truly be called the epitome of a “cool beauty.”

‘Have I really been living like that until now with a face like this?’

I felt a sudden wave of apology toward Belita. Of course, I had been avoiding this on purpose. My identity is a man, so what good does it do me to be a pretty girl? Why would I have the heart to groom myself?

‘Still…’

If this face is what it takes to solidify my position as the Saintess, I’ll gladly rejoice.

‘As long as I can clear the quests. No, as long as I can go back home!’

“Saintess, how is it?!”

While I was clenching my fists and making a vow that wasn’t quite a vow, expectant gazes were pouring toward me. I gave them a thumbs-up and told them I liked it. I didn’t forget to thank them for their hard work, either. The three of them wiped their brows with pride and shared high-fives among themselves.

“You did my makeup, too, right? Everyone’s so skilled.”

I muttered absentmindedly while touching the powder on my cheek, only for Lora to suddenly pop up in front of me.

“I didn’t do much makeup! That’s just your mug!”¹

“Lora, ‘mug’ is not a word you should use at a time like this!”

Just as Emily was about to scold Lora further—

Thud!

Clatter!

“Wh-what was that?!”

The loud sound of something falling echoed through the room. The source of the noise was Ail, the designer from the boutique. It looked like he had been carrying a clothing box, but he was currently staring at me with a dazed expression. Clothes and all sorts of expensive accessories were scattered across the floor…

“Oh dear! They’re all wrinkled and dusty now, we can’t use them!”

“I was just about to try them on her…”

“Ugh, they all need to be washed now.”

Lora, Emily, and Olivia let out sighs and hurried to pick up the items. No one had the mental capacity to nitpick Lora’s choice of words, because Ail, who was standing there blankly instead of helping, asked a stupid question.

“Wh… who might you be…?”

Even if it was technically our first meeting, it made no sense that he didn’t recognize me at all. Talk about an overreaction. My face scowled instinctively.

“Mr. Ail, really! This is the Saintess!”

“The Saintess?”

Ail’s expression, which had been stoic and professional until a moment ago, grew even more vacant.

“Ah… I-I am sorry. For a moment, I thought you were someone else…”

“Who else would even be in here?!”

“I’m sorry…”

“You don’t have to apologize, Ail.”

…? I only smiled and said it was okay, and my reputation went up?

‘…’

For the first time in my life, I felt that existence was a bit unfair…

The day of the General Assembly proclaimed by Ilian finally arrived. On the way to the meeting hall, the priests I encountered stole glances at me while pretending not to. I wondered if they were doing it on purpose so I’d hear them. Their reactions were quite a spectacle.

“My, she’s a completely different person from the one we saw on the first day.”

“At the very least, her appearance isn’t at a level that would bring shame to our Order.”

“She must have put in a tremendous effort to hide the stench of the lower classes.”

“Effort alone doesn’t make something like that easy.”

Can’t you guys do this where I can’t hear you? This is so cringeworthy it’s killing me. Meanwhile, Emily was whispering excitedly.

“Hehe. These reactions make it all worth it! Even though we only put in a little bit of effort—I mean, a little bit of work!”

A little?

I’d spent several days devouring every expensive and “good” cosmetic and food item available. The effects were so potent that my dog-furred hair became like silk, and my bloodless, pale skin regained its vitality! My hair, which had looked like a mop, was neatly styled, and I was even dressed in clothes custom-made by the continent’s top boutique.

Certainly, the design felt modest yet strangely sophisticated, befitting the status of a member of the clergy. It was a perfect blend of the Order of Ralphican’s colors: white and purple. I wore a white collared dress accented with a purple belt and accessories like earrings. It was a style that strictly followed the Order’s contradictory rule of being “simple yet not too frugal.”

‘Having something hanging on my ears feels so weird.’

Since they were heavy earrings made of amethyst and diamonds, the sensation of my earlobes being stretched felt alien. For the record, I’d put all the Holy Relics that had been hanging on my neck and arms into my inventory. Honestly, did I really need to put this much effort into my outward appearance?

‘…I feel like I should slap my past self about five times for thinking that.’

The necessity of having endured such grueling preparations became clear the moment the doors to the assembly hall swung open. A massive stone hall, a high ceiling adorned with a glittering chandelier—the teeming crowd beneath it was enough to evoke a sense of overwhelming pressure.

At the circular table at the front sat the Cardinals, dressed in white garments decorated with gold. Behind them, in a straight line, sat the Bishops. Even a single glance at them radiated an aura of those born into high status. I could confidently say that the effort I’d put in wasn’t excessive at all; it was the bare minimum required to not lose my nerve beside such people.

‘Thank you, Emily, Lora, Ail, and even Olivia…’

As the doors fully opened, a sudden silence fell over the room, and dozens of eyes fixed on me simultaneously. I swallowed hard instinctively. Despite the nerves, I tried to move as gracefully as possible, following Emily’s repeated instructions.

In that instant, everyone in the hall rose from their seats. They placed their right hands on their left shoulders and bowed deeply to show their respect. I felt a strange sense of satisfaction as I quickened my pace through the rows of Bishops toward the circular table. My seat was…

“Welcome, Saintess.”

Right next to the Pope. As we exchanged greetings, the Pope struck the floor twice with his golden staff. Only then did the people who had been bowing toward me straighten their backs. Once the Pope and I were seated, everyone else in the hall followed suit. It seemed the claim that the Saintess held a position equal to the Pope wasn’t just empty talk.

‘Is this the taste of power?’

It felt a bit thrilling. However… for some reason, the people surrounding me all had fierce expressions, looking as if they were incredibly stubborn. Among them was one individual with an especially grim countenance. His name was… Samuel Mulle?

He was a figure who had appeared in Emily’s crash course on the Church’s power structure.

‘Now then, Saintess! Today, we’re going to read a book titled <The Church Power Structure at a Glance>, personally written and compiled by Lord Ilian! We’ve handpicked only the figures likely to appear at the General Assembly…’

For the past week, grooming my appearance wasn’t my only schedule. I also had to master knowledge regarding the Order of Ralphican—including the key figures I absolutely needed to know, the factional divisions, and their conflicting interests. Ilian must have been busy, as he just tossed the book to me and left.

‘He was so busy I could barely see his face.’

Meanwhile, Kalat had visited from time to time. His affection had jumped by 15 points after seeing my transformation, and he had embarrassed me for quite a while with a barrage of cringeworthy compliments.

Anyway, Samuel Mulle was a figure from the materials Ilian provided. To put it simply, he was described as the vanguard of the Orthodox Faction. It was said that while he was constantly warned for his excessive words and actions, he was difficult to touch—even for those within his own faction—thanks to a background just as excessive as his behavior.

Before I could think any deeper, the Pope opened the session.

“I hereby begin the 158th General Assembly. Today’s agenda concerns the management of Holy Relics and the interpretation of the prophecy.”

The man next to me, Samuel, raised his hand as soon as the Pope finished speaking.

“Cardinal Samuel, you have the floor.”

“Commander Ilian of the Berha Knights, could you step forward for a moment? I have something to verify.”

At those words, Ilian walked out toward the circular table where I was sitting. The surroundings buzzed with confusion at the sudden, unexpected summoning. I felt the same.

‘He never mentioned he’d be called out like this?’

Kalat, as a Grade 2 Priest and Oath Supervisor, was supposed to be sitting somewhere far off in the straight rows of chairs near the entrance, but I hadn’t heard anything about Ilian’s role here. I had assumed the knights weren’t attending…

Amidst the commotion, Samuel slightly raised his voice toward Ilian.

“Last month, Commander Ilian and the Berha Knights were tasked with the mission of transporting our great Holy Relic, the <Sacred Armor of Bamea>, to a secure zone for testing and isolation. Is that correct?”

Ilian stood in a formal posture and answered.

“That is correct.”

“And yet, far from completing that mission, I hear you have lost the Holy Relic. What exactly happened!”

Thud!

“Cardinal Samuel! Today’s assembly is not for determining the responsibility for that matter, but to discuss the unauthorized leak of the <Golden Crown of Ludvican> by the Kingdom of Brishwin!”

The Pope struck the table, issuing a harsh warning. But Samuel was undeterred.

“A Holy Knight has lost a Holy Relic! This is not a matter that can be overlooked, even if he is the son of His Holiness the Pope!”

‘He’s pushing that hard?’

I wondered if he was allowed to go that far, even as a Cardinal. To openly defy the Pope… though he did have a reasonable background for it.

‘I recall hearing that Samuel comes from a family that is a distant relative of the Emperor.’

The Nilcaron Empire—the home country of the protagonist and the setting of this game—is the most powerful nation on the continent. If even a drop of Imperial blood was mixed in, the influence would follow. Furthermore, despite the emergence of the Reformists, the Orthodox Faction remained the traditional powerhouse with the largest share of the Order. They were influential enough to talk back to the Pope.

“What does that mean? Was there a problem with the <Sacred Armor of Bamea>?”

The matter of the Sacred Armor was something the Church had kept hushed up. The Bishops who had been unaware were thrown into confusion.

“Ah, it was a matter kept strictly confidential, yet the Cardinal reveals it like this…”

“So what are they saying?”

“Well…”

A few Bishops who were in the know began explaining the situation, and the assembly hall grew noisy.

“Hmph, regardless of whether there were problems and they were considering disposal…”

“As a clergyman, he is as good as finished.”

“Dismissal would actually be a mercy…”

Opinions agreeing with Samuel surged from all corners of the hall. Feeling restless, someone suddenly burst out from between the chairs.

“W-wait a minute! It wasn’t my brother—it was me who lost it! I… I accidentally fell asleep…!”

Brother? Did he just call Ilian his brother? I looked closely at the face of the person who had jumped out. It was a familiar face. It was such a terrifying memory that I couldn’t forget it even if I wanted to.

The person who had been holding the <Sacred Armor of Bamea> when I stole it. It was the Vice-Commander of the Berha Knights.