The priest sweated profusely, closed the door, and crawled to the corner of the room, curling up. Trembling, he prayed. O’ Goddess, can you hear me?
There is no justice here.
There is no salvation here.
There is no sanctity or mercy here.
There is only a lunatic here.
O’ Goddess, if that is the case, what exactly should I hope for and pray for?
Look. She is coming. The once noble one, now turned evil, is coming here to plunder the grace you bestowed.
If you truly watch over and love all things, look at my trembling self in the darkness and have mercy. Please, send me a rope of salvation.
If I have sinned, it is only for serving you for a long ti…
"No." Creak, thud. The door was lightly split in half.
The blood-soaked Saintess walked into the luxurious room. The room was decorated with expensive jewels and gold coins scattered on the floor were trampled under her heels, but she paid them no mind.
After all, she was not here for money.
She was here to settle old emotions.
"If you add 'for the sake of God,' the sin itself might disappear. But hatred doesn't. Watch closely. As the reason you have to die is written there."
Thud. The Saintess dropped a scroll from her hand.
The blood-stained evidence of sin unfolded. The rolled scroll revealed its true face. Embezzlement of offerings. Human trafficking of orphans from the Temple Orphanage. Harassment of female priests. Hiding Black Wizards.
The weight of sins wrung around his neck made the plump priest gasp. And then, he cried out like a pig as a sacred glow flickered from his fingertips.
"The Goddess, the Goddess has forgiven me...! I haven't lost my Divine Power yet, this, this is a just reward for my miserable childhood in the back alleys! The Goddess is protecting my righteousness-!"
"You seem to be mistaking something. The reason you're dying isn't because you're immoral or colluded with Black Wizards. Those are indirect reasons. Read the last sentence carefully."
His eyes darted. At the end of the scroll filled with countless sins, there was a word written in blood. ‘Revenge’. A simple and clear form of hatred.
An old, hateful gaze clung to the priest.
"I considered sparing you if you had done many good deeds. Or… if you had been slightly corrupt but helped many people. I would have suppressed my personal hatred. There are many others I could kill besides you, you see."
But that wasn't the case. The Saintess drew the Demonic Sword.
"The scales have tipped. Your goodness couldn't stop my hatred and your wickedness only fueled it. You... are dying here because you couldn't save my parents."
The priest's eyes darted around, seeking a way to survive. But the wealth he had amassed couldn't stem the overflowing hatred. If only he had bought a magic scroll instead of these shining gold coins.
If only he had hired mercenaries for protection instead of buying these glittering jewels!
"『Hound That Protects the Goddess』...!"
The priest summoned his Divine Power. Despite all his sins, the Goddess hadn't taken away his power. So he believed the Goddess would look after him this time too. He was a chosen one...!
The Saintess, looking down at the shining shield, quietly muttered.
"『Thorns of Lament』, absorb."
Crunch, crack!
Thorny vines broke the priest's rotting shield and wrapped around his plump body. The sharp thorns dug into the skin fattened by someone’s blood and tears. And then, the Divine Power was drained.
No, it was being sucked away. The Saintess was stealing the Divine Power bestowed by the Goddess! The priest twisted his body and screamed.
"NO, NO──!!"
"Now then, the Divine Power that justified your evil deeds is gone. How about you try saying it again? That the Goddess has forgiven you."
"Goddess, merciful Goddess! Please, please give me Divine Poweeeeeer…!!"
"I bet it’ll be too late this time as well, you know...?"
The Saintess sneered.
A little later. Saintess Tara sheathed the Demonic Sword and left the scene. All that remained was a dried-up corpse, completely drained of both life and Divine Power.
Only the statue of the Goddess, hung on the wall, witnessed such judgment.
===============================================================
Slurp.
Tara sucked up lemonade through a straw and spoke.
"And that’s what happened."
[Is that something you can talk about so lightly?]
"I killed them all. So what. The important thing is that I can use Divine Power! Since I stole it, I can't recover it, though..."
Tara's Metamorphosis trait, Absorption.
Instead of praying to the Goddess for Divine Power, she extracted and stored it from corrupt priests. That was the reason she could continue to act as the Saintess.
Tara extended her hand and emitted Divine Power towards Bennett's face. Buzzzzz.Because it was just an emission of energy, without even constructing Divine Magic, there was only a slight healing effect and a dazzling light.
Bennett squinted from the brightness.
"Don’t waste Divine Power."
"Why notttt? If I run out, I can just eat another corrupt priest."
[That expression might be a bit lewd…]
"What are you talking about, Niolle! You little-!"
While Tara pounced on Niolle like a tiger and pulled at her cheeks, Bennett sipped his coffee and thought. The Goddess and Divine Power… seemed to operate differently from the standards that were commonly known.
At least, they did not have the function to take away the power. Or they had no intention to.
Otherwise, how could Tara, who sucked out Divine Power from a corrupt priest, stand unscathed? And how could a corrupt priest, who committed countless sins, use Divine Power so casually? It made no sense, didn’t it?
"...Is there a secret? In the Church of the Goddess?"
"Well, I don’t care about something like that. And I don’t even want to know. Knowing that doesn’t affect my ability to use the Church of the Goddess at all~"
[Please let go of my cheeks.]
"So, the Second Prince's side actually... agreed to join us? Bennett."
Bennett nodded. The contents of the conversation he had with the Crazy Wizard were shared with the group. By the way, as Bennett predicted, Tara cried. At that time, Tara got Abraham's necklace because of her tantrum as the crying Fallen Saintess.
Tara thought for a moment and then quickly devised a plan with the cards she held.
"There are decent priests inside the Church of the Goddess who are wary of corruption. They were gathering people by… ‘excommunicating’ corrupt priests, so I think it's about time to set the stage."
"Are you planning to create a new faction within the Church of the Goddess using the Second Prince's political position as leverage?"
[Please let go of my cheeks.]
"Mhm. Let’s call it something like… the 『Reformation Faction』."
Preparations were astonishingly smooth. It seemed like they could even face the long stagnant high-ranking officials of the Church of the Goddess.
The power to label someone as 'abandoned by the Goddess' by sucking away their Divine Power.
The force temporarily built by gathering the decent priests inside.
The political backing provided by the Second Prince.
"...And to announce the formation of the『Reformation Faction』, I’m thinking of using your name, Bennett. We lack achievements to appeal to people, you see."
"In what way?"
[Cheeks.]
"Just like that professor said. You’ll be a double agent, secretly dispatched by the Saintess. So all your achievements... will be mine as well!"
"I think a few slivers of information I bring aren't enough for that."
"Stopping the evil plan targeting the Academy should be enough, rig... Eek?!"
Bennett's trained reflexes responded swiftly. Niolle, who had been teased with her cheeks pulled, delivered a deadly counter. She slipped both hands into the side holes of Tara's Saintess attire.
At that point, Bennett had already closed his eyelids quietly. After all, he could foresee the bomb of visual information that was about to explode.
"W-W-W-W-W-Where do you think you are fonDLING...?!"
[You didn’t listen to me because you were so infatuated with Bennett.]
"Do you think I don’t have hands too?!"
[⋯⋯⋯⋯!!]
Bennett, after a moment's contemplation, manipulated his mana to create a thin membrane over his ears. With that, he abandoned his hearing as well. He enjoyed a brief tea time in the peaceful darkness.
And he thought.
The Crazy Wizard seemed to be favorable to them. Was it because saving another world had some significance to him? However, the Second Prince was different.
Second Prince Irid had mixed evaluations. Some said he was suspicious and cunning, while others said he cared for the subjects and was competent. The latter was likely propaganda deliberately leaked by the Second Prince's side to create a benevolent image, so...
If they had established a cooperative relationship with a suspicious royal, it would be better to show sincerity as much as possible to make things run smoothly.
Poke. Someone poked Bennett’s cheek. Bennett removed his mana earplugs and opened his eyelids.And then, he alternated his gaze between the two to figure out who the cheek-poking culprit was.
They were both blushing, with their clothes wrinkled and disheveled. Niolle held a whiteboard, covering her chest with it, while Tara was fanning herself vigorously.
Bennett closed his eyes again.
"...You should have just patted my shoulder."
"Guess who did it. If you get it wrong, you’ll be punished, Bennett."
"It was you."
[Wrong, Bennett. It was me. Now you have to take the punis...]
"Let us, finish our, discussion here."
Bang, bang, bang. Bennett tapped the table. If he showed a gap, another attack would come. He had to push forward and gain the upper hand. He quickly presented his agenda.
"How about supporting the Crazy Wizard as a way to indirectly give a gift to the Second Prince’s faction?"
"Support him?"
"By widely announcing that we achieved Metamorphosis through his lectures, we can elevate his status as a professor, which will naturally empower him."
[That will also benefit Tara’s faction, wouldn’t it? It will be good publicity to highlight that there are already two individuals at the Metamorphosis level, after all...]
It was the perfect timing to reveal their claws instead of hiding them. After completing their discussion, Bennett slipped away before they could detain him.
Afterward…
Saintess Tara revealed that her previously lethargic demeanor was a facade and announced that she had thwarted the Black Wizards' plan to invade the Academy. Simultaneously, she declared the formation of the 『Reformation Faction』 within the Church of the Goddess, urging reform and gathering like-minded individuals.
At the same time, rumors spread that the Crazy Wizard’s sophisticated lecture, famous for its indiscernible use of Illusion Magic or perhaps dungeon materialization, had already caused two students to awaken to Metamorphosis.
Tara actively spread this fact, but it was too unbelievable for people to accept readily, so it remained a rumor. However, the public opinion undoubtedly began to shift. After all, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, or so they say.
Bennett received a message from the Black Wizards. It was a death threat for his betrayal, but he responded with the following excuse.
'The Black Wizards had already been captured en masse by the Crazy Wizard and the core of the plan had collapsed. I judged it more advantageous to feign defection and infiltrate. I am still on the side of the Black Wizards. Please do not harm my little sister.'
After that, the Black Wizards put immense pressure on Bennett. One day, a box containing a severed finger was delivered to him.
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
It was possible that it was his sister's finger.
He had already resolved himself for this. He judged that it was necessary to shake things up to find a gap in the Black Wizards' defenses. Given that his sister's body was that of the 『Corpse Flower that Consumes Fear』, he believed they wouldn’t harm her.
However, did the Black Wizards perceive the situation as more threatening than expected? Nevertheless, it is fine. It was fine. He will be able to rescue his sister. The finger could be reattached later.
Bennett carefully wrapped the finger, whose owner he did not know, in a clean cloth and kept it safe.
Bennett waited for the right moment. He didn’t intend to continue deceiving them indefinitely. With the Academy invasion plan thwarted, the Black Wizards would undoubtedly take new actions… And when that time came. He would seize that one opportunity to use the ticket.
That chance would come sooner than expected.
Very, very soon.
===============================================================
The Church of the Goddess was naturally the most chaotic place amid these upheavals. The sacred meeting hall, where noble and high-ranked priests flaunted their gold rings, had turned into utter pandemonium, akin to a street market.
Shouts echoed among the priests, veins bulging in their necks.
"What were the ones managing the Saintess doing?!"
"Didn’t you say she was just a rebellious kid? How was there not a single person who noticed she was planning this in the shadows?!"
"Excommunicate her immediately! Immediately! It’s simple if we use her past conduct as a pretext!"
Amid the chaos, the old Cardinals at the core of power spoke quietly. No matter how much the others squawked without decorum, nothing would change. Ultimately, everything in the Church of the Goddess moved according to the Cardinals’ secret discussions.
"Tara, that child took the Academy’s class and achieved Metamorphosis. In just two weeks… Can you believe it?"
"That... Illusion Wizard is known to be part of the Second Prince’s faction. I believe it is a political maneuver to bolster the Second Prince’s power. After all, Metamorphosis is not something one can achieve, just like that."
"That cunning punk. She must have been sharpening her knife in the shadows. Dressing ridiculously to play the fool… And hiding the fact that she had awakened Metamorphosis. That must be how it was."
"I thought the Second Prince was a fool... I wonder when he started colluding with the Saintess behind the scenes. Judging from the situation, it seems the mastermind is not Tara, but the Second Prince, doesn’t it…?"
"The Second Prince... that young man has a frighteningly calculating mind."
Whisper, whisper.
The Cardinals reached a conclusion. Given that the Second Prince’s faction was growing stronger by the day, they needed a crafty plan to oust Saintess Tara. For now, they had to tolerate her.
They crawled on their knees to the young Pope and whispered softly.
"Your Holiness, please let the matter of Saintess Tara lie for now. The Goddess teaches us to value prudence, after all."
"Your Holiness, please permit the 『Reformation Faction』 of Saintess Tara, but send someone to monitor if they are truly walking the righteous path. We are concerned about whether their intentions are being used correctly."
"Your Holiness..."
Thus, Saint Betio, who ascended to the position of Pope at the young age of six, parroted the old Cardinals' words.
"Permit the 『Reformation Faction』, but send someone to monitor if they are truly walking the righteous path. And..."
Mutter, mutter. And thus, such was decided.
===============================================================
Second Prince Irid just had to ask again. He couldn’t not ask. This was the third time hearing it and he hadn't forgotten the content he had previously received. But still, he felt the need to hear it once more.
"Say it again. What did you say?"
"Codename Crazy Wizard captured a large number of Black Wizards. And he crushed a Named Black Wizard's plan to target the Academy."
"And?"
"He awakened two students to Metamorphosis. He turned one Black Wizard to our side, obtained information, and helped form a new faction in close cooperation with the Saintess. This faction is at odds with the existing forces within the Church of the Goddess."
"Also?"
"As such, the Church of the Goddess is targeting us. They believe that Your Highness the Second Prince is the mastermind. That is all."
Irid pondered deeply, then brought the rosemary in the vase to his nose and took a deep breath. Please, give me strength, Centra.
“Fine, I wanted to purge the corrupt clergy anyway. I was planning to draw my sword after ascending the throne... but if they provoke us first, I shall not avoid the fight. Prepare."
"Understood, Your Highness."
"And..."
Irid massaged his temples with his thumb and forefinger. Thanks to the Crazy Wizard, he gained achievements without doing anything, but because of the Crazy Wizard, he also gained enemies without doing anything. He felt extremely conflicted.
The clergy, who had meticulously built up power over a long time, were not easy opponents. Even after seizing the throne of Emperor, he had anticipated a long-term struggle, but now he found himself facing them already.
Although sweeping out the Black Wizards from the Academy was indeed a significant achievement... he felt more pissed off at the wizard than finding him commendable. Irid spoke with a hint of anger.
"Tell the Crazy Wizard... that we should arrange a meeting, one of these days."
"Is it to reward him?"
"Ahhh, yes. Of course, we do. Prepare some gold bars. Big and heavy ones."
However, you will have to receive it with your face, Crazy Wizard.
===============================================================
At the same time, in the Crazy Wizard's laboratory.
The Wizard, after pacing around for a long time, finally confided in the Tower Master. It was because his long-dormant conscience had been awakened by the recent incident.
"You know, now that I think about it... It feels like I did something wrong to the Second Prince."
“...Eung?”
"I heard he still can’t forget Centra. If he spends his whole life single because he’s captivated by a nonexistent fictional beauty... I would essentially become someone who had blocked a perfectly good bachelor’s chance at marriage."
"Uh, u-uhuh, e-eung. Eung?"
The sin of twisting Irid’s fate, who would have otherwise married a suitable bride and lived happily ever after. How should he resolve this? Since he was the one to cause the illness, wasn’t it his responsibility to provide the cure as well?
Second Prince Irid required treatment. That was what the Crazy Wizard believed.
"That’s why... I’m thinking of introducing him to a real woman. Like one that exists in reality. So he can find a new love."
"⋯⋯⋯⋯!!!"
The Tower Master silently screamed at this unexpected notice declaring the destruction of the Irid-Centra Pure Love Story.
I have to stop him...!!
***
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