Chapter 72

The man’s sorrowful scream echoed clearly through the air. The admiration and celebration vanished along with his cry, leaving only stunned people and the Pope, who watched the man with narrowed eyes. The monumental moment of the Saintess’s appointment froze over in an instant. Meanwhile, the man continued to pour out his fury, unconcerned by the gazes around him or the shocking scene he had created.

“If the Saintess had only shared the revelation, we could have prepared for it! If she had, Kleheim would never have met such a miserable end!”

While it wasn’t a good look to blindly vent such misplaced rage in a fit of excitement, his words were a biting truth. No matter how much the current era was steeped in peace, the nations of the Pelsus Continent were handling the magic beasts quite systematically in their own way.

They put in various efforts, such as hiring knights or mercenaries to subjugate beasts so their numbers didn’t grow too large, and researching the creatures to craft weapons from materials they were vulnerable to.

It wasn’t just a mere excuse to say that if they had known a large-scale attack was coming, the city-state of Kleheim truly wouldn’t have been destroyed. The people let out low sighs of pity.

“Goodness. I did hear there was a survivor from Kleheim…”

“They say he’s the second prince, who happened to be out of the country for the investiture ceremony. Since the city-state is quite far from the Holy State, they said he departed months in advance.”

The two people talking in hushed whispers realized how truly contradictory this situation was. The sole survivor of a nation destroyed because of the Saintess had saved his life because of the Saintess. Then, a question arose.

Why was someone who could be a dangerous element allowed into the chapel?

Especially in a situation where he might hold a grudge against the Church and commit something extreme. A few quick-witted individuals turned their gaze toward the Pope on the platform. Though he was too far away to see clearly, for some reason, the Pope’s eyes were crinkled softly as if he were enjoying himself.

It was as if this entire situation was exactly what he had intended. The people who saw this swallowed hard.

‘Don’t tell me he did this on purpose?’

Letting the sole survivor of the fallen country inside.

Was that meant to be a warning?

A message to behave if they didn’t want to end up like that…

“…”

While everyone remained silent, the Saintess, who had been standing straight beside the Pope as a mere bystander, suddenly moved.

…?!

Everyone inside the chapel was flustered. After all, the Saintess herself was coming down toward the prince! The Pope tried to stop her, but the Saintess shook her head to signal her refusal. It was a move no one had expected.

Descending the stairs with elegant, unhesitating movements, she stood before Prince Rodrick. Everyone must have been thinking the same thing.

Just what is the Saintess planning to say?

Since they couldn’t see the Saintess’s expression, no one could guess.

“Prince Rodrick.”

Having reached the prince before they knew it, the Saintess quietly stared at the man before opening her lips.

“I am sorry about the Kleheim City-State.”

…!

‘You’re sorry…?’

Prince Rodrick wanted to snap back and ask why she hadn’t helped them then if she was so sorry. However, Rodrick hadn’t attended this disgusting event to harm the Saintess or insult the Church. He simply wanted to know the reason.

“…If you are sorry, then you must tell me in detail why the revelation failed to reach Kleheim alone.”

Just why did the Saintess destroy Kleheim?

‘It’s so pitiful for those who died without even knowing why. My father, my brother, and our poor citizens…’

The prince himself needed a reason he could accept.

“Ha…”

Several people gasped at the insolent tone he used with the Saintess. The Saintess replied in a calm voice to Rodrick, who was glaring at her with burning eyes.

“Wouldn’t you know that better than anyone?”

“What does that…?”

“The faithful nations suffered no damage this time.”

…!

The Saintess grabbed Prince Rodrick’s hand and placed it over his chest. Prince Rodrick flinched and barely managed to stop himself from stepping backward.

“Put your hand on your conscience and think about whether you truly obeyed Ralphican.”

“…”

Prince Rodrick’s eyes shook violently. The Kleheim City-State had restricted high-ranking clergy from intervening in politics and had even unilaterally seized the right to appoint archbishops. They had gone as far as drastically cutting the amount of donations paid to Ralphicanism. The guests from other nations also seemed to recall something, as they nodded weakly.

“Certainly, several nations have reduced their offerings lately…”

“I believe the Kleheim City-State was among them.”

Rodrick couldn’t even think to lower the hand placed on his chest as his face contorted.
It wasn’t because he admitted to Kleheim’s lack of virtue.

‘We weren’t the only ones who reduced our dependency on Ralphicanism!’

Yet the City-State was the only one driven to ruin.

A new question arose: Why only us?

Just as the enraged Prince Rodrick was about to open his mouth—

“At the very least, you, Prince Rodrick—the only one who showed any sincerity—were able to live. You should be moved by Ralphican’s mercy.”

The Saintess spoke first, and Prince Rodrick could only stare at her blankly, forgetting the words he had intended to say. He was utterly appalled by the Saintess, who asserted that the Kleheim City-State had received divine punishment for daring to blaspheme Ralphican.

‘How can she be so shameless…!’

As the blood rushed to Prince Rodrick’s head and he trembled, clenching his fists to endure his rage, the knights inside the chapel sensed the ominous atmosphere and gathered at the Saintess’s side. Just as everyone expected that Prince Rodrick would either flee the chapel or be kicked out—

“Then why did you help the Empire?”

A new voice suddenly broke in.

“That person is…”

“The Second Princess of the Kingdom of Brishwin. I saw her at a coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Hmph… I heard she doesn’t get along with the First Princess, the heir. Is she planning to ruin the Kingdom of Brishwin?”

“Ahem, let’s just call her brave.”

The Second Princess of the Kingdom of Brishwin, Theresia, flushed slightly at the sound of the whispering crowd. However, she had no intention of backing down from a bit of sarcasm. She felt pity for Prince Rodrick, who had lost his family, relatives, and homeland in an instant, and she could no longer stand the Saintess’s sky-piercing, self-righteous attitude.

‘Our kingdom has no intention of moving according to the Church’s will anyway.’

Rather, it would be for the best if other nations saw the Saintess like this and awakened to the same resolve as her kingdom. Having finished her calculations, Princess Theresia stepped up beside Prince Rodrick and continued to pressure the silent Saintess.

“Wasn’t the Empire the very nation that took the lead in trying to reduce the Church’s influence? You personally stepped up to help such an Empire, yet allowed the Kleheim City-State, which merely followed the trend, to perish. The gap is too wide. Ah, surely the reason isn’t that it’s your homeland? Or was it because the Kleheim City-State was an easy target?”

The Nilcaron Empire and the Holy State of Tebehill feigned peace on the surface, but in reality, they were engaged in a precarious power struggle for continental hegemony. The relationship where they divided profits by choosing what to take and what to concede had collapsed at some point; rumors said it was because the relationship between the Pope and the Emperor had completely soured.

Well, if one were to be pedantic about it, no one could disagree that the most impious nation on the continent was likely the Empire.

“Now that you mention it, that’s true. I suppose even the Saintess, a follower of Ralphican, is only human and cannot be perfectly fair.”

“After all, blood is thicker than water…”

While the Princess curled one side of her lips at the desired reaction, the Saintess shifted her gaze to the Princess and spoke calmly.

“Princess Theresia of the Kingdom of Brishwin. Are you saying such things even after Brishwin received my protection?”

“What…? We were also excluded from the list this time! We neither heard nor saw any revelation!”

“For saying that, wasn’t your kingdom too unscathed? Why do you think that is?”

“Why… what do you mean why…?”

There was logic in the Saintess’s words. The Kingdom of Brishwin had also suffered incredibly minor damages.

“The Kingdom received the Saintess’s protection…?”

“Did they receive the revelation in secret?”

“Nah, why would the Church favor the Kingdom like that?”

“Maybe there was a Kingdom spy who leaked the revelation to the Church…”

“Or maybe a bribe to the Church?”

“No way! After all that talk about acting independent from the Church!”

Contrary to the Princess’s intention of pointing out the arrogant and contradictory attitude of the Saintess and the Church, the point was diverted, and in an instant, the Kingdom of Brishwin fell under suspicion.

“That is not what’s important right now…”

“I heard rumors were rife that there was a Savior in the Kingdom of Brishwin.”

The Savior of the Kingdom of Brishwin. Even the figures gathered here had heard the story at least once. That a white-haired woman was traveling all over the Kingdom of Brishwin, providing relief to the people.

Rumors had spread bit by bit that the Savior had been active during this recent magic beast terror as well, but because it happened in the backwaters and couldn’t overcome the buzz surrounding the Saintess and the hero Hereis Rubel, the story had been buried.

“That person is also one of the apostles who set out under my command.”

“What did you say?”

“I wanted to save every life within my reach. Every follower of Ralphican deserves to be saved equally. However, how can a human body achieve the feat of saving every single life?”

“…”

“That is why I sent an apostle. And I personally protected the most weakened outskirts of the Empire. I had no choice. If that area had been breached, the damage would have spread uncontrollably.”

“What kind of nonsense is that! Then wouldn’t it have been fine if you had just made the revelation public from the start!”

“I could have done that. However, Ralphican did not permit it, saying it would only add to the confusion. How could I go against the command of God?”

The Saintess lightly covered her veil with her hand as if wiping away flowing tears. She looked quite pitiful.

“So, I hope you all will not defy Ralphican. I don’t know if you understand my heart… this heart that wants to save everyone.”

Leaving behind the Princess, who was so stunned her jaw practically touched her collarbone, the Saintess climbed back up to the platform. The surroundings were noisy, but when the Pope let out a dry cough as if displeased and struck the floor twice with his staff, the commotion subsided. In the now silent chapel, the Saintess’s closing remarks echoed softly.

“My dear subjects of Ralphican.”

“…”

“Lord Ralphican was enraged by those who were slothful in their faith toward Him. In an era where the danger of magic beasts overflows, I hope you do not disappoint Lord Ralphican any further.”

In contrast to her voice, this was an overt threat.

“Well then, I wish you all a peaceful night… and I express my gratitude for coming to the investiture ceremony.”

“For Ralphican!”

“For the Saintess!”

As soon as the Saintess finished speaking, applause filled the chapel, but the sound felt hollow somehow.