TBV 21

Chapter 21

The Saint

Rooster, the heretic inquisitor, and his party returned to the imperial capital through an emergency return scroll.

Normally, after such an emergency return, they would immediately report to the Pope. However, there was no Pope currently in the Central Temple.

He had been beheaded by the Holy Knight Commander Wayne shortly after it was revealed that he had been plotting a sinister scheme to sacrifice the Saint in order to prevent the world’s destruction.

Thus, the highest-ranking and most important person in the temple was now Saint Lingzia.

⋯⋯And the time they arrived at the Central Temple was 10 PM.

The Saint, a devout and disciplined cleric admired for her proper lifestyle, went to bed at 8 PM instead of waking at 4 AM.

Wayne, the Holy Knight Commander and her personal guard, firmly declared that he would not disturb the Saint’s precious sleep over something as trivial as “holy affairs.”

As a result, Inquisitor Rooster was granted an audience with Lingzia at 5 AM the next morning.

“⋯⋯Therefore, I humbly request that Your Holiness proclaim the northern village of Hishan as a Holy Land, thereby spreading the authority and prestige of the Temple throughout the Empire!”

Acting Pope and Saint Lingzia’s eyes sparkled as she listened to Rooster’s report.

“This is it. This could be⋯⋯!”

Recently, the Temple’s standing among the Temple–Imperial Family–Magic Tower alliance and the citizens of the capital had hit rock bottom.

While people still loved the “Saint Lingzia who captured the harbinger of destruction and saved the world,” they cursed the corrupt Temple itself.

All of this stemmed from the prison warden who, blinded by a handful of gold coins, had allowed the harbinger of destruction to escape.

At first, they had intended to gently persuade him into repentance.

But he kept insisting he was innocent and denied everything to the end. In the end, Lingzia had no choice but to execute him with tears in her eyes and display his head.

Even so, criticism toward the Temple did not die down easily.

There were still cursed lands scattered across the continent, and the escaped harbinger of destruction was still somewhere out there, alive.

‘But if a land appears where the curse has vanished on its own—and that land is recognized as a new Holy Land…’

It would be the perfect opportunity to erase all the bad news that had struck the Temple in one blow.

Lingzia was certain of it.

⋯⋯And it was also an unparalleled opportunity to elevate the name of “Saint Lingzia.”

She stood up with a bright smile and took Rooster’s hand.

“Thank you for bringing such valuable news, Sir Rooster. I almost wish I could proclaim it a Holy Land immediately.”

Just as Rooster’s face began to glisten with excitement, Lingzia added with a gentle smile:

“But there are laws and procedures. What you brought as evidence is only an empty glass bottle, after all. Anyone could fabricate something like this—it has no value as proof.”

“Then what do you mean⋯⋯?”

Rooster asked carefully, and Lingzia responded with a clear smile.

“Therefore, I must go to that village called Hishan myself.”

“Pardon⋯⋯?”

“I will personally confirm the thirty-three witnesses in that village instead of relying on evidence. That should solve everything, yes?”

Rooster’s face turned pale in an instant.

A future flashed before his eyes—one where the villagers did not testify about miracles, but instead reported his own abuses directly to the Saint.

Desperately, he tried to stop her.

“Y-Your Holiness! That village is far too humble for someone as noble as you to personally visit—”

Lingzia tilted her perfectly serene face.

“Sir Rooster. Are you saying the future Holy Land is too humble?”

“That’s not what I meant! It’s just… it’s too far! The road is dangerous and—”

“Don’t worry. I will be traveling with Wayne. The Magic Tower’s mages will assist with transportation.”

“⋯⋯”

Rooster fell silent, unable to find another excuse.

Lingzia, still blissfully unaware, continued brightly.

“I will depart tomorrow at 8 AM. Once witness confirmation is complete, we will hold the Holy Land proclamation ceremony on the spot, so please prepare accordingly.”

“⋯⋯”

“Now then, I’ll be leaving. I have much to prepare before departure.”

As she turned to leave the audience chamber, Lingzia suddenly clapped her hands and looked back.

“Oh, and don’t forget to prepare uniforms. Inform the Holy Knights as well.”

Rooster, wearing an uncomfortable expression, did not thank her for the advice. But the benevolent Saint simply smiled like a flower in full bloom.

“Even if we cannot hold a grand festival due to the timing, we must still display the dignity of the Temple.”

And the next morning at 8 AM, Lingzia and the Temple’s high-ranking clergy, including Wayne, were transported to Hishan Village through a large-scale spatial teleportation array painstakingly prepared by the mages of the Magic Tower.

Meanwhile

Taryan regained consciousness around 7 AM.

By then, the villagers who had filled the apothecary the day before had returned to their work, leaving only Calix and me by her side.

“Ugh⋯⋯.”

Calix, who had been dozing against the wall, jolted awake at the faint groan.

“Are you awake?”

Taryan clicked her tongue and closed her mouth tightly. She suppressed her pain and said in a dry voice:

“⋯⋯Water.”

Without a word, Calix placed a wooden cup beside her bed. He then helped her sit up as she struggled.

Leaning on the bed with one hand, Taryan let out a rough sigh and grabbed the cup. She drained it in one go before turning back to Calix.

“Thank you for the treatment.”

At her short, blunt gratitude, Calix suddenly reached into his hood. I scratched my neck and climbed onto his hand. As if he had been waiting for it, he lifted me up in front of the old woman.

“Thank this one. It’s the child who saved you.”

But Taryan did not look surprised at all.

“I know, child.”

“…?”

Calix’s shoulders flinched slightly in surprise, the movement traveling down his arm.

Taryan snorted and extended her wrinkled hand.

I instinctively looked back at Calix. He gave a small nod, so I cautiously stepped onto her hand.

The white-haired old woman lifted me with both hands and bowed her head.

“Thank you. Honored one. You saved this village.”

⋯⋯This old lady might not be just some quack after all.

I tried speaking, just in case.

“Chii. Chii chik?” (Hello, can you understand me?)

“I am ashamed that I can only repay such great kindness with something so insignificant.”

She misunderstood me completely and handed me a small bundle from a drawer.

A rich, nutty aroma filled the air.

“Chii! Chik! Chit!” (It’s okay! Thank you! I like food!)

I shouted with all my might, but she clearly could not understand rat speech.

“I wish I could help your journey, but unfortunately I do not have much time left. Still, this must be the will of God.”

Calix frowned.

“Wait. What do you mean you don’t have much time left?”

Though his tone remained rough, concern was clearly in his voice.

“Don’t worry, child. I’m not dying. After surviving that ordeal, it would be too unfair to die now.”

Taryan scolded him hoarsely, then turned her gaze to me again.

“The arrangement of fate is already guiding you.”

…Arrangement of fate?

Is she talking about the status window?

Before I could think further, a sudden prickling sensation ran down my back.

I slowly turned my head.

Calix was staring at me with deep suspicion.

…Damn it.

It seems my act as an “ordinary slightly intelligent rat” is no longer working.

‘This is why I wanted to come alone at night.’

As I sighed inwardly, Taryan bowed once more.

“I am shameless to ask this, but please. Though your journey will be arduous, you will surely achieve what you seek⋯⋯”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Beware things that descend from the sky.”

At that, I instinctively looked out the window.

Calix followed my gaze.

The sky was already bright.

And in it—thin glowing lines were forming.

A magic circle.