"Yes, a while ago. A wave of trolls invaded the poorhouse where I lived. At that time, I was chosen as an Awakening Priest and entered the temple."
Luca held out his finger.
As white light flickered from the child's fingertips, the Saintess's face brightened as if it were a lie.
If it's this kid...
"Your heart is truly precious. Yes, I always need people to help me."
Rachel smiled gently.
"Luca, what are you doing here?"
At that moment, a boy dressed in priest's garb walked in from the other side of the hallway. He was a stocky boy who looked to be about sixteen years old.
"Brother! Brother! Ah, Saintess. It's Brother Noah who came in with me."
"Saintess? Luca, you!"
"He's even more amazing. Noah recently cured a dog that was injured by his powers. He'll also be a knight of the temple later on-"
"Luca!"
The boy priest who recognized Rachel walked over to him with brisk strides and covered Luca's mouth.
Luca later remembered his brother's request not to tell anyone about the treatment he had given the puppy.
"I am sorry, Saintess. This child is reckless and has caused trouble by wandering around late at night. Please forgive him."
He apologized to the Saintess, then turned around and snatched the candlestick from Luca's hands.
"You, go back to your lodgings."
"But bro-"
"Quick! You can't even finish the work I asked you to do. I'll have to tell my senior about all your negligence."
It was the first time Luca had seen his brother, who had always been kind to him, act so grumpy.
'He's keeping me in check. I've awakened my own powers, so I want to look good to the Saintess and stay by her side-'
Resentment rose in Luca's heart.
The boy boasts much stronger divine power than he does, so the Saintess will naturally choose him.
Finally, the Goddess gave him a chance to be with the Saintess, but it was snatched away right before his eyes.
"Just wait and see!"
The angry child hit the boy on the shoulder and ran away.
"..."
Rachel and the boy priest. There was silence for a moment in the hallway where only the two remained.
"He looks young, but he can already heal with his holy power. A truly talented person has joined our temple."
Finally, Rachel spoke first.
The voice praising him, saying that he might even become the youngest high priest among his peers, was more subtle than before.
"You are too kind. I also just happened to have this happen by chance. so I don't know what will happen. I came from the streets, so my status is like that..."
The boy mumbled.
He unconsciously checked the condition of his priest's robe to hide his nervousness.
A red fox-shaped badge hung from a string tied around his waist.
A cool satisfaction flashed across Rachel's eyes as she silently looked the boy up and down.
'Bigger and more perfect.'
If he was already showing his healing power, it couldn't be compared to the dim light the child had seen earlier.
Besides, since he's from the streets, she could probably easily cover up the disappearance of a priest with her current position.
'It was as easy as covering that kid's mouth just now.'
Rachel looked as if she had finally found the last puzzle piece she had been searching for.
"Can you show me? I think I can give you more accurate advice if I see it with my own eyes..."
"I never thought your awakened power would be used like this. Anyway, the Saintess might notice, so don't get too close. Just watch what's going on.
"Yes, my Lord."
The Saintess's kind suggestion brought to mind the boy's warning from Lord Kensington.
'We shouldn't have gotten involved in the first place.'
The moment hr saw Luca with the Saintess, his whole body sensed danger.
Without even having time to think, his body moved instinctively.
The boy swallowed a long sigh.
'That's better. I'll use this opportunity to get closer to the target. It's better than meeting my Lord empty-handed.'
Anyway, the boy had no intention of joining the temple. He only used the powers he had acquired by chance to carry out his mission.
"Yes, Saintess."
The boy followed Rachel.
Crunch.
The door is closed.
***
A few days later.
The clear sky was bright.
The central temple of the Holy Nation Sacramontis is the heart of the faith that runs through the continent and the sanctuary of the Catholic Church.
Here, sacred relics imbued with divine power were kept, oracles were pronounced, and above all, the Pope, the highest authority of the Catholic Church, resided.
Temples and monasteries throughout the Middle Continent operated according to its sacred laws.
The Chamber of Oracle, located deep within the central temple, is a sealed space with strictly controlled access.
A large, flat stone monument standing in the middle of the room glows only at the moment chosen by the god.
But now...
Sssss.
Small pieces of stone fell from the shiny, shining tombstone.
The old priest, who had been dozing off, opened his eyes wide in the light streaming from the tombstone.
"Uh, uh, uh...!"
Seft, seft-ssut.
Falling stones with a rattling sound.
The bare, tactile surface was eroding, and each stroke of the letter was forming.
"Oh, it is an oracle!"
The priest suddenly stood up.
***
At the same time,
High Priest Paul's room.
"Hmm."
Paul stood up from his seat, welcoming the sunlight streaming in through the window.
Instead of getting up early and heading to the chapel like other high priests. Paul tossed and turned in bed several times.
"Your Highness."
A junior priest waited and offered him a towel soaked in warm water and some shaving oil.
Although he was looked down upon quite a bit in Valdina, High Priest Paul was actually one of the most powerful figures in the central temple.
Led by him, the 16 high priests enjoyed authority second only to the Pope.
"Yes, thank you. You make it feel like I'm back home again."
The fragrant scent of freshly pressed olives lifted Paul's spirits.
Swoosh, swoosh.
The hand that scraped the razor down felt quite light.
The atmosphere surrounding him was peaceful and spiritual. He had never felt so satisfied.
The anxiety and troubles of Valdina, which had been a series of shocking incidents from beginning to end, were now gone.
"I think today will be a good day."
At that moment, the door opened, and the chief priest of Paul rushed in.
"We're in big trouble!"
"Ouch!"
Paul was irritated as he wiped his chin with his hand.
"Oh my god, what the hell is going on!"
The priest, oblivious to the anger evident in his voice, trembled and whispered to Paul.
"What? Is that, is that true?"
In less than a minute, a variety of expressions passed across Paul's face.
He seemed to frown, then suddenly his face turned pale, and soon his face brightened.
"Truly, that's what it looked like..."
A laugh erupted between the corners of his lips that were slowly rising. It was clearly a mockery.
"Bring me the robe. I must see His Holiness."
***
Several high priests followed Pope Benedict down the marble steps.
The trust room was already bustling.
No one could hide the heat rising to their cheeks.
Even the old priests, who rarely got excited, examined each stroke of the letters carved on the stone's smooth surface.
"It has been a long time since the goddess herself gave us a revelation like this."
"That's right. She surprised me by sending a Saintess the other day, but now she wants to tell me the story herself."
"It's all thanks to the Saintess. Since the agent has appeared, the traces of Her that had been forgotten are coming back one by one."
High Priest Paul added:
"God, I am ready to follow your will, so help your servants find the light even in the darkness!"
With fervent prayer.
His excessive worship of the Saintess was unusual even among the high priests, but today, no one was picking on him.
The gleaming light from the tombstone still filled the room.
Since the oracle had not been passed down for several decades, the stele had greater value as a symbol of the greatness of the old religion.
But this was an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the Holy Nation once again.
There are so many pseudo-religious groups that challenge the old religion based on centuries of weakened faith.
In the end, didn't some strange things try to persecute the old religion, calling themselves salvation?
"This is to once again demonstrate the power of the Goddess, and it means that Her will is in our church!"
While everyone was rejoicing at the return of God.
"Your Holiness, how can you say so?"
Only Pope Benedict maintained his composure.
The old man wearing an elaborate gold-embroidered Mithra looked like a direct copy of an illustration from an ancient Bible.
His face remained unchanged, enough to make one think of a heartless dictator rather than a compassionate missionary.
"No, it just seems a bit sudden."
What on earth could the goddess' words, suddenly revealed through a stone tablet without any warning be?
"Your Holiness. I have completed the interpretation of the oracle."
As expected, the contents of the oracle, as if to prove his premonition, were...
[Soon, the entire continent will be covered in fire and ash. Make Medea, daughter of Valdina, the bride of the evil dragon.]
The joy was short-lived, however, as the faces of the high priests who had read the oracle hardened.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment