'How dare you pretend to be resurrected when you've never even died!'
Another believer recited the following verse. Charlotte looked around hurriedly.
It wasn't just the believers. Everyone gathered here was trembling at the sight before their eyes.
"God really wants to save Barceha."
The resurrection and return of the Savior are spoken of in the Book of Revelation. They were filled with excitement at witnessing this miraculous moment. Some were so moved that they even wept.
None of them were aware of Charlotte's presence. They were all just staring in awe at the shining sea.
And soon, at the border of the sea and the river, a figure appeared above the water.
As Charlotte had expected... it was Odette.
Odette's eyes, which had been closed the entire time she was coming up to the surface, only opened once her body was completely above the water.
The eyelashes, which had become thicker as they got wet, looked somewhat sublime to Charlotte.
'You prepared well.'
Charlotte bit her lip.
'Is it a magic tool? How did it make the sea shine?"
What on earth is it that makes it look like you're walking on water?
There's nothing like that among the talents that a purifier can use. Like breathing underwater or making a river glow!
Now that the fireworks had completely ended, the only thing shining in this vast land was the sea.
That's why the image of Odette walking on water was so clear.
Odette was still wearing the same shroud she had worn during the funeral mass. She was still wearing a black silk dress and black veil. She was even holding a single chrysanthemum that had been placed on the body as a gesture of condolences.
At the time, the funeral was held so grandly and there were many articles about it, so there was no one in the empire who did not remember Odette's appearance.
'You must have used the status window. After recovering the body, you used the inventory function to change the clothes.'
But Charlotte was the only one who noticed it, and it made her dizzy to think that everyone else would believe that was evidence of the resurrection.
The path made of light led to the Rothbart River. Odette crossed the river and eventually reached the ground in front of the cathedral where people were standing.
Above the ground where Charlotte stands.
As if she had really been hiding in the cold water, her pale and bloodless face really looked like a corpse still alive.
'What on earth did you do?'
Charlotte wanted to ask Odette, who was standing in front of her, but it was difficult in this place with so many eyes on her.
"..."
The atmosphere now was quite different from the festive atmosphere two years ago when Odette performed the Miracle on the Rothbart River and everyone cheered and bowed to her.
"..."
Now, among all the people gathered here, not a single one was even breathing.
The Saintess who finally returned after being resurrected. In people's eyes, Odette will be seen as a savior, not a purifier.
Everyone except Charlotte held their breath as they waited for the first words the resurrected Odette would utter.
Finally, Odette's mouth opened.
"It's cold, so could you please step aside?"
Her tone was serious as if she had accidentally fallen into a river and then come out.
"..."
At Odette's words, everyone silently made way for her, anxious that they might break this wondrous moment, this sacred silence.
Odette nodded her head slightly to express her gratitude to the believers who silently made way for her and then followed the path to the central cathedral.
Following Odette, the believers began to walk together in a line, as if they were pilgrims accompanying the savior in his asceticism.
All the humans who had just reached out to shake Charlotte's hand no longer even glanced at her.
Charlotte watched from behind as the crowd of people following Odette became almost too numerous to handle.
'Really... This is fun.'
Charlotte felt like she had been hit in the head.
'All the existing plans became useless.'
Now that Odette has reappeared, it is no longer possible to attack her supporters or to incite betrayal by saying that Odette is alive.
Charlotte took a deep breath. She turned her gaze to the central cathedral.
'I must see Rolf as soon as I get back.'
Charlotte seemed to know why Odette had made such a big deal out of it. It had to be to provoke her.
But Charlotte had no intention of avoiding it. After all, Odette and herself couldn't coexist.
It was like that in her past life, and in the life before that.
'How much fighting have you done, you brat?'
In that case, she had no choice but to fall for the provocation.
'I should prepare Mengele too. She will be a more stinging friend.'
And Charlotte never lost to Odette.
That history would not change in this life either.
***
Odette led the crowd towards the cathedral.
Those who followed her as if possessed were unable to pass through the gates of the solemn cathedral.
"No one may enter except Saintess Odette."
Those who followed Odette stopped outside the gate.
However, the knights who had been strict with them seemed equally surprised by the miracle they saw outside the gates. The way they let Odette in was extremely careful and cautious.
Even as she passed through the gate, he was seen kneeling on one knee toward her.
Despite feeling a little guilty, Odette continued to act as the newly resurrected savior.
Until you reach the Pope.
"...Ugh."
The Pope was so surprised when he saw Odette that he couldn't react at all.
"What the heck is this..."
The Pope, who had been panting for breath until Odette reached his eyes, barely managed to let it out.
Odette slightly lifted her skirt and bowed to the Pope.
"It's been a long time, Your Holiness."
"What on earth. How can I..?"
The sight of the shining sea and river would have been clearly visible from inside the cathedral.
The Pope, too, could not help but recall the passage from the Book of Revelation. Perhaps that was why he had the same expression on his face as the believers who followed her.
'That's funny. I've never seen the Pope with such an expression on his face before.'
Wasn't it the Pope who, whenever he saw Odette, would openly calculate how he could use this woman?
"Are you really risen again, Lady Odette......?"
It was funny how that kind of person was so dumbfounded.
"I have no words to say to you, Your Holiness, except that all this is God's will."
What is God's will? It's all Karin's will. While thinking this, Odette shamelessly smiled noblely.
It was then that she noticed the young High Priest standing behind the Pope. In contrast to everyone else who was amazed or overwhelmed by the miracle, the High Priest was alone with a complicated expression on his face, as if he had a lot on his mind.
Odette couldn't help but notice his attitude, which was so different from that of the other high Priests.
'This is it. The chess piece that Charlotte chose.'
It was a face in her memory.
'The name was definitely... Raphael, right?'
In (Redemption), the character becomes the next Pope after the current Pope dies.
'I should contact Goetz and Moller. They have someone to investigate.'
How fortunate it was that Charlotte's chess pieces were famous. It was so easy to find fault with them without having to strip them of their entire body.
'You'll be a bad person later, so there's no need to worry about it now.'
Odette turned her gaze from Raphael to the Pope.
"Your Holiness. I am very sorry, but I have just come out of the sea and am very cold. Can I come inside?"
Odette was cold, but first, she wanted to disperse the believers who were staring at her from outside the gates.
Because if they stayed here, it seemed like the believers would stay here forever.
'I committed a large-scale fraud... I feel a subtle pang of conscience.'
"Ah, I guess so. The Saintess has just been resurrected."
The answering Pope was looking at the black shroud.
'Did the Pope himself choose this shroud?'
A black silk dress was prepared by the Pope.
It seemed as if he was half-doubting that Odette had been resurrected, and was checking to see if the dress was fake.
'It's no use. It's a dress that's been perfectly copied from the status window.'
The Pope, who had been examining the shroud for a while, finally opened his mouth again.
"Then I will take you straight to the Pope's Palace. To the largest and most luxurious reception room there."
The cathedral also had separate private living quarters for the Pope.
The Pope's Palace is a relatively modern building inside the cathedral, so you should be comfortable when you go there.
'But it's too far in the corner, so it's hard to move quickly.'
The Pope also knew this fact and must have deliberately suggested the Pope's Palace. So that Odette would not be able to freely leave the cathedral.
Odette shook her head.
"Can we go to the audience room instead of the Pope's Palace?"
"The audience room is that what you mean, Lady Odette?"
The audience room was located in the main hall of the cathedral. It was a convenient location to move around and observe from anywhere.
The Pope looked daunted, but it would be difficult for him to refuse. He would be concerned about the stares of the crowds outside the city gates.
They were watching the Pope with sharp eyes.
They had a suspicion that he was treating Odette carelessly again, just like he had neglected her a few years ago.
"Yes, yes, yes. If Your Ladyship so desires."
In response to those gazes, the Pope pretended to have a gentle expression, took Odette's hand, and carefully escorted her away.
At that moment, a startled sound was heard from the gate.
"Oh!"
The commotion gradually grew louder as it spread through the crowd in front of the gate.
"Uh uh..."
"Oh, how come he's here?"
The commotion was so loud that it could not be ignored.
As the roar grew louder Odette turned her head towards the gate.
But before Odette could turn her head, someone pulled her shouldeг.
'Uh?'
A gentle force pulled at her shoulder. Odette's body tilted in response to that force.
The place where her body collapsed was in someone's arms.
"Odette. Gasp, gasp. Odette."
A panting sound. A desperate voice calling her name. Hot breath.
The solid body was shaking so much that only Odette could barely notice it.
"You're back, Odette. You're back safe and sound."
It was John's voice.
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