Chapter 622: Ever After (7)
In the Tressia Parish of the Holy Empire of Yuras.
Kristina had grown up in a remote monastery located in this parish. She had been abandoned at the gates of the monastery as an infant, taken in by the priests, before being adopted by Cardinal Sergio Rogeris when she was ten years old.
From the moment she was abandoned at the monastery and taken in by the priests, Kristina’s future had been set on the path towards priesthood. A major turning point that had altered this future was her becoming the adopted daughter of Cardinal Sergio Rogeris. Since her adoptive father was an extraordinary priest who had even risen to the high position of a Cardinal, there was no way that Kristina could be just another ordinary priest either.
With each year that she grew older, Kristina’s appearance increasingly resembled that of the Saint, the Faithful Anise, whose name had left its mark in history. The parishioners who visited the cathedral would even whisper that young Kristina seemed to be the Second Coming of the Saint.
So naturally, Kristina had set her sights on becoming her generation’s Saint. This might not truly have been a product of Kristina’s will, but the young Kristina could not refuse the expectations and prayers of the people around her. Kristina had received personal lessons in theology from Sergio Rogeris before being taken to the Fount of Light, where Saints and Saint Candidates had performed rituals throughout history, and after becoming a proper Saint Candidate, she had been assigned to the Alcarte Parish, a place which could be called the frontline in the spread of the teachings of the Light.
Now she knew the truth.
It was by no means a coincidence that Kristina had been adopted by Cardinal Sergio. Kristina’s appearance gradually growing to resemble that of the Faithful Anise also wasn’t a coincidence.
The blatant expectation in their gazes that even a child could read. The oppressive attitude with which her adoptive father had taught her theology. The prayers at the Fount of Light that were no different from torture; Kristina could remember it all.
Kristina had known that the source of the water within the fountain was the strange light that was emitted whenever she shed blood. She could sense the origin of the discomfort she felt whenever her consciousness floated out of her body during her prayers, and she recognized the identity of the faint sobs that she had heard.
Kristina silently stared at what lay in front of her. This had once been a holy site of Yuras, known as the Fount of Light, but now it no longer existed. Now, nothing else remained in this location apart from a huge cemetery.
A few years ago, Eugene had killed countless paladins and Inquisitors on this spot. They had tried to test and challenge the Hero and had paid the just price for doing so. The countless corpses had been thrown down into a deep, dark pit. There had been more than a few who had barely managed to cling to life, but none who had fallen into that pit had come out alive.
Eugene had brought down the Fount of Light because it wasn’t a place that deserved to be called a holy site. Not only had they attempted to artificially mass-produce Saints here, but they had also used the corpses of the candidates who had failed to become Saints as the source of the fountain’s waters.
Even Eugene, or rather Hamel’s companion, the Faithful Anise, had been sacrificed to the fountain.
Because of that... on that day, Eugene hadn’t been able to hold back. He had delivered their executions without any qualms. This was because he knew what the priests of Yuras were doing was evil, even though they claimed to serve the Light and did everything for its sake. This was because they had desecrated Anise’s death, the woman who had wanted to save the world and had hoped that Heaven did exist.
Eugene hadn’t controlled his rage. He had swung his sword without the slightest hesitation. And the Light did not stop him from slaughtering those who claimed to serve Him.
In the center of the cemetery, in front of a pure white tombstone, Kristina put her hands together and prayed, “May you rest in peace.”
Most of the paladins and Inquisitors who had died here had had at least a part of their bodies salvaged, and each had been given their own gravestone. However, the names of those who were written on this one gravestone hadn’t been able to leave even a single piece of their bodies to be laid to rest.
These names belonged to those women who had been submerged in the Fount for far too long. The Saint Candidates of the previous generations hadn’t been allowed to leave behind a body for a proper burial as their corpses were used to prepare the next candidates for Sainthood. Included among the bodies were newborn babies who hadn’t even been able to become candidates and had simply died with the Fount of Light serving as both their cradle and their coffin.
They were all Kristina’s older sisters who had fallen to create an Imitation Incarnation who would be able to reproduce the original’s miracles. This tombstone had been erected in remembrance of them.
“Heaven,” Kristina muttered at the end of her prayer.
During their month of wandering following the end of the war, they had flown out into the distant sea. And far into that sea, somewhere that ordinary humans would never be able to reach, Kristina had stepped into a land of pure whiteness.
Kristina had even been personally welcomed by the Light. Although she couldn’t hold a... conversation with the Light, Kristina had definitely felt the Light’s existence.
That place was the Heaven Anise had been searching for.
The souls of those who died in this world, unless their souls were destroyed by black magic or some other reason, would eventually be drawn towards that distant sea. After passing through that land, they would be reborn into their new lives.
However, could that place truly be called Heaven? Kristina had heard about this heaven run by the Light from Eugene prior to her visit. It was a place that souls had to temporarily pass through before they could be reincarnated. Souls that had been polluted or damaged during their lifetimes would be purified by the Light during their time in Heaven, and afterward, they would enter the cycle of reincarnation.
During this process, the Light would extract the last remnants of their faith. The faith accumulated through this method would eventually be passed on to Eugene, and be transformed into the strength needed to save the world.
The group had stayed in the holy land of the Light for three days.
During that time, Eugene had sat in front of the light and remained completely silent, as if he was only sleeping.
The Light was formed after the God of Giants was forced to devour the gods of the ancient era in the hope of ending Destruction and saving the world. Since Eugene was the one they had reincarnated and entrusted with the hope of saving the world, he was the only exception with whom the Light could communicate. Otherwise, by their very nature, the Light was unable to hold a conversation with anyone.
Three days later, Eugene had stood up and said, ‘It’s over.’
The Light must have already known that Destruction had been thwarted. But Eugene had still come here and spent three days communicating with the Light because he wanted to greet his old friend who had been forced to remain in such a bloated state for so long and because he wanted to talk with the Light about the future that had now opened up for the world.
“Heaven does exist,” Kristina muttered with confidence.
Before leaving their holy land, Kristina had clearly felt that the Light was somehow different from when they had first arrived.
Eugene had kept the promise that he had made to Anise and Kristina in the past.
—When I return there later, I’ll also make sure to tear that place apart and fix it.
—So that the place is a bit more like the Heaven you’ve been hoping for.
She hadn’t asked Eugene what exactly had changed in the Heaven run by the Light, or what had been added to it. The nature of Heaven wasn’t something that should be known by the living. Kristina had kept her curiosity about Heaven alive so that she could someday look forward to seeing it for herself... after she eventually died.
[I can go check that out for you right now if you want me to,] Anise said to Kristina as she began to walk away from the tombstone. [I am already dead, after all.]
“You can’t just leave me for that,” Kristina said with a wry smile.
She knew that what Anise had just said wasn’t a simple joke. After all, hadn’t she already said it in the past? Anise had been transformed into an angel and allowed to remain in this world to fulfill her past regrets.
Now, all of the Demon Kings had been defeated. That was the goal that they hadn’t been able to achieve three hundred years ago. With the death of Destruction, Anise’s last regrets had been fulfilled.
“Don’t you have any new regrets you want to rectify?” Kristina suggested.
[Those have already been fulfilled to a certain extent,] Anise said calmly.
“Sister, if you disappear... Sir Eugene would be sorrowful,” Kristina tried to persuade her. “That also applies to Lady Sienna, Sir Molon, Sir Vermouth, and, of course, me.”
[However, if I continue to share your body like this, Kristina, you won't be able to enjoy living your own life fully, now will you?] Anise argued back.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Kristina quickly denied.
[You can say that now, but we can’t continue like this. The memories you make in life should belong solely to yourself,] Anise said seriously.
“Hasn’t Lady Sienna already created a method to solve that issue?” Kristina pointed out.
As they left the cemetery, they were greeted with a bow from Raphael, who had been waiting for them.
“Please allow me to escort you to the gate,” Raphael politely offered.
This visit would mark the final entry of Kristina’s itinerary in Yuras. After this, Kristina would be leaving Yuras and heading back to her home with the Lionhearts. The Vatican had planned to hold a grand send-off ceremony, but neither of the Saints had desired such an ostentatious farewell.
In any case, the title of Saint they both held was something that couldn’t and shouldn’t ever be taken away from them. Yuras no longer dared to reach their hands towards the Saints, but the countless believers of the Light would always remember them for what they had done and be filled with a desire to get closer to them.
[Sienna’s method hm ,] Anise muttered thoughtfully as Kristina stepped into the carriage that was being drawn by Apollo.
Through Kristina’s eyes, Ansie stared at the large suitcase that had been placed on the opposite seat.
[Her method... is so amazing that it even managed to ignite the lingering regrets I’ve been holding deep within me,] Anise admitted. [However, I’m not sure if that is really the right choice to make.]
Kristina silently reached out and pulled the suitcase onto her lap. With a click, the suitcase opened, revealing how the insides of the suitcase appeared distorted due to the spatial magic that had been placed on it. Kristina reached into the suitcase and pulled out a large life-sized doll before placing it down on the opposite seat.
“With this doll body, even the Queen of the Night Demons, Noir Giabella, was given a chance at a new life. Is there any reason why you shouldn’t do the same, Sister?” Kristina argued.
Anise frowned to herself, [I’m really not happy with that. So much so that, when I heard the news, I honestly suspected that Sienna may have gone senile.]
Kristina also couldn’t help but agree with Anise’s misgivings.
Unlike Sienna, the Saints were having a hard time accepting Noir Giabella’s resurrection. Even if Noir wasn’t the life-threatening enemy she had been in the past, it wasn’t like all of the danger she had put them through in the past would disappear, now would it?
[Of course.... I also think that there are grounds to sympathize with Noir Giabella for being subjected to such a twisted fate. However, even with that said, isn’t it too much of a kindness to grant her a new lease on life?] Anise complained.
Kristina defended Sienna, “Lady Sienna did say that this new life was the punishment she had laid down on Noir Giabella.”
Anise snorted. [You already know full well that that isn’t the only reason that chick gave Noir a new life, don’t you?]
“Yes, I am aware. Lady Sienna has a very soft heart. However, she is not foolish enough to show Noir Giabell mercy out of pure sympathy. On top of that...,” Kristina slowly trailed off as she turned her head to look out of the window.
The distance from here to Pandemonium was quite far, so she couldn’t actually see the scene taking place there, but as she stared in the direction of Pandemonium, Kristina pictured in her mind the large-scale construction that was currently underway on that site.
Kristina sighed and said, “Noir Giabella... is certainly capable. She can be used in as many ways as needed.”
[I understand the reasoning for getting as much use out of her as needed before sending her soul into the afterlife to pay for her crimes. But to think that Sienna would actually give her ten whole years...,] Anise shook her head. [Considering Sienna’s personality, after ten years, they will surely have formed an ill-fated relationship that will prevent her from releasing Noir’s soul.]
“Then shouldn’t we both work together to keep Lady Sienna in check so she doesn’t do such a thing?” Kristina said with a broad smile as she grabbed the doll’s hand. “I know all sorts of things about you, Sister. Even now, you still have many regrets that keep you from departing this world.”
[And to think, you used to be so innocent and cute,] Anise muttered with a wry smile.
The thought that it would be better for her to leave this world and go to Heaven had completely disappeared over the course of her conversation with Kristina.
“Even in the past, I wasn’t that innocent,” Kristina argued.
[Well, who knows? Setting aside your sharp tongue, I feel like you used to be gullible. However, that no longer works. At some point, I became the one who was being swayed by you instead,] Anise sighed.
Kristina smiled. “I learned it all from watching your example, Sister.”
Anise chuckled at the cheeky response.
Fwooosh....
With a burst of light, Anise emerged from Kristina’s back. Furrowing her brow, Anise moved to sit next to the doll on the seat facing Kristina.
[But won’t people make fun of me?] Anise shared her concerns.
“What are you talking about?” Kristina asked in confusion.
Anise pointed out the irony, [I’m talking about the fact that I, a priest and a Saint who died three hundred years ago, still insist on defying the laws of life and death by seeking to continue living inside a doll.]
“Oh, Lady Anise,” Kristina said with a cheerful smile.
This time, Kristina didn’t call her Sister. Anise’s eyes widened in surprise at suddenly being called by her actual name.
“While we were in the belly of the Demon King of Destruction, among all the words that Sir Eugene, Lady Anise, Lady Sienna, and Sir Molon said to Sir Vermouth, there was one line in particular that I took deeply to heart. Which line do you think it was?” Kristina asked rhetorically.
Anise just looked at her.
“It was when you all told him that he deserves to be happy. Yes, I also agree with that thought. Everyone deserves to be happy, and the same applies to you, Lady Anise,” Kristina said, reaching out to grab Anise’s hand.
However, Kristina couldn’t feel any sensation or resistance from Anise. This was because the figure of Anise, who was sitting in front of Kristina, was ultimately just a soul that had been transformed into an angel, and although Anise could be seen and spoken to, the warmth of her skin and flesh could no longer be felt. Whether it was eating food or drinking alcohol, all of that could only be possible for Anise if she experienced it through Kristina’s body.
Kristina’s face grew serious as she said, “Lady Anise. You passed away three hundred years ago. Your corpse was processed into holy relics, with part of it being thrown into the Fount of Light, while other parts were passed down from candidate to candidate... until they were finally transplanted into my body when I was just an infant. For the sake of the world, you even offered up your own body. And your soul, unable to rest, became an angel so that you could stay here with me.”
[I wanted to do it,] Anise slowly insisted.
“That’s because you didn’t have any other options. You did it because you had no choice but to do it. However, now, you don’t have to do such a thing. There are no more helpless choices for you to make. You don’t have to do anything that you don't want to do,” Kristina said encouragingly.
[That is true,] Anise gave in, shaking her head with a wry smile. [You're appealing to my human emotions and desires, rather than challenging my principles and faith, so I have no choice but to concede. Fine then, Kristina, I’ll do it.]
“Lady Anise, if anyone ridicules your choice as an ugly act of clinging to life, I will personally slap some sense into them,” Kristina promised.
[Alright, but don’t expect me just to stand there and listen to it. You can slap the left cheek, and I will slap the right,] Anise agreed with a grin.
They let go of each other’s hands.
While placing her hand on the chest of the doll sitting next to her, Anise muttered, [Now, what was in that explanation that Sienna sent over again? She said that it could eat food and drink alcohol, didn’t she? However, she also said that it couldn't have any children, right?]
“If she continues her research into it, she might be able to improve it even further,” Kristina said optimistically.
[I don’t particularly want to have any children. But it would be interesting to see what yours and Eugene’s child looks like,] Anise teased.
Kristina repeated the word thoughtfully, “A child.... But shouldn’t Lady Sienna be the first to give birth?”
Anise raised a brow, [You’re not going to stammer out a denial? Your face isn’t even blushing!]
Even though she was being teased, Kristina’s face hadn’t reddened in the slightest. Instead, a faint smile hovered over her lips. Her eyes were curved in laughter, and her blue pupils were sparkling with menace through the thin gaps between her eyelids.
Anise felt her soul tremble at the insidious danger she felt lurking behind that smile.
As expected, Kristina certainly wasn’t innocent any longer.