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Chapter 8
Verdi, riding on horseback, continued to keep a watchful eye on Seiri, who was ahead with Leno.
“I’ll expose your true form in front of everyone, you demon.”
By appearance and by aura, Verdi was certain that Seiri was a demon who had appeared to seduce the Emperor and endanger the Empire.
Although the Grand Minister and Raiden seemed blind to the truth, Verdi knew her own eyes could never be deceived.
“Once we reach the village, it’s over.”
Even if everything else could be faked, “purification” could not be mimicked by demons. Only a high-ranking priest or an exceptionally capable Saint could wield that power.
“If her true nature is revealed in front of the Emperor, a public execution is inevitable. The crime of deceiving the Imperial family and the Empire is that severe. Just wait and see.”
Meanwhile, Seiri, clinging to Leno’s back like a stubborn passenger, was miserable.
“Ugh… why isn’t there a single competent human around?”
Even if she used the power of Great Love for a quick boost, recovering stamina wasn’t as simple as she thought.
Though they traveled with a small party and light attire, anyone seeing their group would know they were all high-ranking nobles or above, so passersby had no reason to act hostile.
Only one person—the silver-haired woman trailing behind—glared sharply, but she seemed strong-willed, so Seiri made an exception.
“Such a powerful gift… yet utterly useless. Damn you, Verdi… ha, I’m even tired of cursing now.”
With no choice, Seiri called the Grand Minister over.
“Hey.”
“Yes! Saint. Just say the word. What do you need? Are you uncomfortable anywhere? How can I serve you?”
Having witnessed a selfless act before her very eyes, Leno reacted as if he would give his life at the mere lift of a finger.
“What can I do now… ugh, what good deeds are there?”
“Right now?”
“Yes, immediately!”
“What you can do right now…”
Once off the horse, it might be feasible, but given the current speed, options were very limited.
Still, because it was for the revered Saint, Leno blushed and carefully spoke.
“I’m embarrassed to say this… but aside from bestowing blessings, I can’t do much else.”
“Krh… and how do you do that? Hurry up and tell me. Quick!”
“It’s not very difficult. You place your hands on the head of the person receiving the blessing and recite in your mind: ‘May the strength, benevolence, love, and wisdom of Lord Ferdinando descend upon you.’”
“…….”
Am I crazy? I’d rather die than utter such nonsense.
Praying for Ferdinando’s shamelessness, perversion, and insolence as a blessing… just looking at that ridiculous face was enough to make one lose their mind.
“Uwah?”
Suddenly, Leno’s head was yanked backward. Glancing back, Seiri was holding his hair, eyes closed.
“Is she giving a blessing…?!”
But the method looked rather unusual.
Her palms were pressed against the back of his head, moving quickly up and down—more like an intense scalp massage than a blessing.
Leno’s brown hair stood on end like a bird’s nest, yet Seiri didn’t stop.
Krhh! Clerics are supposed to maintain composure, but Leno decided to forgo decorum and simply revel in the sacred moment.
Receiving a blessing from the Great Saint sent by God was no ordinary occurrence. His unease soon turned into reverence.
Seiri chanted the spell diligently.
“Rise, rise! Let’s survive this first!”
Following the blessed words she had been taught, only replacing Ferdinando’s name with “demon,” made it manageable. She checked her wrists, giving each blessing with all her heart. Repeating it, she found herself breathing more easily.
Meanwhile, Raiden, trailing behind, frowned at Seiri’s cryptic hand movements.
“What is she doing now?”
Unlike Raiden, Verdi watched with suspicion.
Strong, rapid, persistent movements that messed up hair, coupled with inaudible, strange muttering—this was…
“No doubt. That demon is trying to manipulate Leno’s mind, turning him into a puppet!”
Verdi’s eyes widened with certainty. There was no need to wait until the village. This woman would dominate everyone’s minds, starting with the Grand Minister, and ultimately consume the Empire as part of her grand plan.
“Stop immediately!!”
Hiiiiiing!
Verdi’s white horse rushed ahead, blocking Leno. The formation faltered, and Leno’s horse reared in alarm.
“Uwaaah! Lady Verdi?”
“You couldn’t resist showing your true colors, could you? Demon, now kneel before God’s power!”
Paaah! The silver cross blazed even brighter, inciting the horses to thrash about more than before.
In the blinding light, Leno struggled to hold his horse, worried Seiri behind him might fall, when a sound stole his attention.
“Kyaaaah!”
It wasn’t Seiri’s voice. A short, thin scream—a little girl! Clearly heard from somewhere below.
“This is bad. If a child got caught in this, it would be a disaster!”
Leno hurriedly restrained Verdi.
“Lady Verdi, stop the light! A child is caught in it!”
“Wh-what?”
Whoosh.
The light vanished in an instant. Verdi and Leno looked down, but there was nothing there. Instead…
“Waaaaah!”
Seiri had somehow reached far ahead under a large tree, cradling the crying child in one arm.
Her murderous glare sent shivers down Verdi’s arms.
Verdi couldn’t comprehend it.
“I saw her exert power right behind Leno… so how did she get all the way out there?”
Divine light is deadly to all, regardless of race.
For those with strong holy power, like Leno, or exceptional physical ability, like Raiden, it only blinds slightly. But for ordinary humans, it pierces like needles; for demons, it can cause blindness.
“Am I mistaken about her being a demon? Even so…”
Even if she wasn’t a demon, how did she reach that far, holding the child, in such a short moment? It defied common sense.
“Could she be an advanced demon…?”
Stories of ghost-like movements of high-level demons existed. Though never seen firsthand, perhaps divine light wouldn’t affect them.
“If that’s true… this is far more serious than I expected. We must drive that demon out of the Empire!”
Verdi instinctively stepped toward Seiri.
“Saint Verdi.”
“Y-Yes?”
Raiden’s unusually low voice made Verdi flinch.
“Who gave you permission to act on your own?”
The Emperor’s expression was as ruthless as a general returning from battle. The boy she had known since childhood was gone—only the wrathful Emperor remained.
Verdi’s heart sank. She remembered an elderly officer who, years ago, incurred the Emperor’s displeasure and received a terrifying punishment.
“I… I acted to save Leno…”
“No one acts without my orders. Did you think my command was a mere joke from a passerby?”
“N-no! You know I respect and obey Your Majesty above all…”
Raiden’s piercing gaze, unlike anything she had ever seen, brought tears to her eyes.
“I thought Leno’s mind was being manipulated, so I tried to stop it quickly. But why do you look so terrifying…”
“No matter the reason, if you defy my command again, it won’t be forgiven this time.”
Raiden turned his back coldly. Watching him walk away, despair filled Verdi’s eyes.
“Raiden… why are you doing this? This never happened before…”
Even if she acted rudely or crossed boundaries, a smile or tear would usually sway him.
“He’s changed. Before leaving for the journey, he was never like this…”
Their bond from childhood had been strong. Verdi had often felt proud thinking she would live in the palace under the Emperor’s protection.
But in her absence, everything had changed so suddenly.
Could it really be because of that strange woman claiming to be the Great Saint? Because of her, Leno and Raiden had both turned away from me!
Everything changed unexpectedly from the moment that suspicious woman appeared.
“Are you an idiot? A weak, tiny human like you gets trampled if you loiter by the horse! Why are you wandering around alone in such danger?”
“Waaahhh!”
