NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8
Swish.
The light that had filled the sky gradually faded away.
I let out a small sigh. Even my own breath felt different than before.
When I placed my hand on my chest, I felt the Mark imprinted on my body as a result of Divine Power.
“…”
It was my first time attempting something like this, but I thought it went fairly well.
A vow. Gears. Essentially, I had borrowed money from a deity acting as a loan shark. That compulsion was now etched within me.
This should have sent a clear message.
Thinking this, I glanced at Ophelia, who looked as pale as a ghost.
“You, you…”
“Yes.”
“Are you an idiot?”
That’s what she said.
“Are you crazy? Who uses Gears in a place like this?!”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Of course! You’re practically a hostage to the deity! If you fail to complete the Gears, you’ll end up in a state where you can’t even die!”
“Oh. Am I immortal?”
“That’s not the point, you fool!”
Ophelia shook her head vigorously.
No matter how many times she rubbed her eyes and looked again, there I stood, marked by Gears.
“This makes no sense. Gears, in a worthless place like this…”
“Then where am I supposed to use it?”
“…”
Ophelia couldn’t answer my question.
In this current era, there’s practically no need to use Gears. The power granted by a deity may be sweet, but the risks are far too great.
That’s why Gears are typically used in dire situations or monumental trials; a standard cleric wouldn’t find themselves needing it until their dying breath.
So, I gave it a shot.
If I couldn’t defeat the Demon King, the world would fall apart. My life wouldn’t be any different. In that process, Ophelia’s aid would be absolutely necessary.
“This is my will. I may not be well-educated, but I’m someone who values my life. The very act of me risking my life means I believe that the Saintess can defeat the Demon King.”
“…”
“I’m quite the loyal knight, you know.”
I even tried to throw in a joke, but Ophelia remained unresponsive.
Well, not entirely. Her lips twitched, and her face looked oddly contorted.
“Perhaps…”
It was after a considerable pause that Ophelia finally spoke.
“Did that old man make you do this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Belwin. Did that grandfather tell you to put on a show to fix me up?”
“You know very well that Archbishop wouldn’t do such a thing, Saintess. And you also know that I wouldn’t easily follow someone’s orders.”
“…Then why?”
Ophelia asked.
I couldn’t just say it was because she was like a game character.
So I chose my words carefully, trying to make them understandable to Ophelia.
“I believe in your potential, Saintess.”
“Believe?”
“Yes. That’s why I’ve endured a year and a half of your nonsense.”
At the term “nonsense,” Ophelia’s cheeks puffed up.
But what can I say? It’s true.
“The Saintess has talent. I can tell.”
That wasn’t a false statement.
It was actually quite accurate.
Aside from the title of being the only healer in the game and a Divine Mark Holder, Ophelia was extraordinary. After a few days of training, she demonstrated her genius without reservation.
Honestly, it was frightening.
With a swordsmanship aptitude rating of B+, just how outstanding would her S-rated Holy Magic be?
“The Saintess possesses talents beyond that of a Hero. She must not fall short in a Hero party. I can vouch for her.”
“What do you know about such things?”
“I’ve been told I have a good eye for talent surprisingly often.”
Ophelia fell silent for a while.
Feeling impatient, I waved my hand in front of her eyes, causing her to finally snap back into focus and stare at me.
“Are you on another silent retreat?”
“…Shut up.”
“It seems you need to repent for that tongue of yours more than anything else, Saintess.”
I tried to lighten the mood, but Ophelia didn’t bite.
It was about time for some harsh words to come out.
But instead, what emerged from Ophelia wasn’t a curse.
“…Ophelia.”
“Yes?”
“My name is Ophelia. Please stop calling me Saintess. It annoys me.”
“Understood, Lady Ophelia.”
“I don’t like the ‘Lady’ part either.”
“Then how should I refer to you?”
“…Ophelia.”
“Yes, understood, Ophelia.”
I called her as she wished.
Then Ophelia suddenly turned her head, as if to say, “What now?” I did what she asked, yet I couldn’t fathom why she was upset.
“Why are you like this?”
“Shut up, you trash. Listening to your beggar voice is grating on my ears.”
Ophelia snapped at me and looked up at the sky.
The sun set, and darkness began to creep into the sky.
I stood up.
“It’s getting late. We should head in.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll consider today’s night training canceled. Let’s meet tomorrow morning as usual.”
“Huh?”
At my words, Ophelia wore a stunned look.
“Why are you surprised? Did you think we wouldn’t? Our training starts now. Since I wagered my life, it’s your turn to hunt down the Demon King.”
“…”
With Ophelia having just witnessed me risk my life with Gears, it was no wonder she had nothing to say.
I pointed at her scowling face.
“And watch your behavior. Soon, there will be an announcement from the Cathedral regarding the movements of the Demon King’s army. From that point on, there will be many eyes on you. If you act out even from such a high position, it’ll be a disaster.”
“I told you not to call it acting out.”
“What you’re doing right now is acting out.”
Ophelia narrowed her eyes at me, letting out a sigh that felt like the world was crumbling beneath her.
“Damn it.”
“Did you know?”
“What?”
“You’re also a damn terrible person, Ophelia.”
At that, Ophelia scoffed.
*
A week later, the Cathedral officially declared its readiness to respond to the resurrection of the Demon King.
Most nations, organizations, and Divine Mark Holders across the world had already declared their intention to overthrow the Demon King. All that remained was the complete preparation and the Hero’s Divine Mark Holder, in other words, the Hero.
The Empire, which boasted the largest territory, formed the core of the campaign against the Demon King’s army. The Empire decided to send envoys to nations such as the Cathedral, Ice Palace, and Great Forest.
They aimed to form what was called the Continental Alliance.
“Wow! It’s so high! I feel like my neck’s going to snap!”
“Emily, keep your rural demeanor in check.”
“But I’ve never seen anything like this even in the capital!”
“We’re not here to sightsee, you know?”
“Tch.”
The envoy group from the Empire, only consisting of a handful, had arrived at the Cathedral in an elegant wagon, adorned in high-quality attire fit for relaying the Emperor’s letter.
However, in stark contrast to their efforts, the grandeur of the Cathedral was beyond comparison.
Towering buildings and an architectural style combining white and gold were pristinely elegant, a stark contrast to the jumbled chaos of the imperial capital.
It was no wonder that Emily, a Divine Mark Holder from the Empire, marveled at the sight.
“Let’s finish our business and go.”
“Ah, Evangeline! Let’s take a little more time to look around! The people of the Cathedral probably won’t mind waiting, right?”
“No way. If we’re late, it’ll be a serious problem.”
Late because…
Who knows what that woman will do…
The high-ranking administrator of the Empire with red hair, Evangeline, placed her hands on her hips.
“Emily, you do know about the Cathedral’s Divine Mark Holder, right?”
“I can’t not know! The Mark of the Heavenly God! The Saintess! They say she’s incredibly beautiful. Do you think I could befriend her? I hope I can!”
“No. It’s probably not going to happen.”
“No?”
“…No, it definitely won’t happen.”
Evangeline shook her head, looking incredibly tense.
She had visited the Cathedral a few years back.
It was the year the Cathedral officially announced the birth of the Saintess.
Evangeline had come to convey the Emperor’s congratulations…
“That Saintess. She’s definitely not a Saintess.”
“Pardon?”
Emily tilted her head.
Evangeline explained with a face full of tension.
“In the past, I met a Saintess. Her name was Ophelia Meredein. Without a doubt, she looked the part of a Saintess.”
“Looked the part?”
“That Saintess… received the blessing of the Evil God.”
“…Huh?”
The blessing of the Evil God.
It was a phrase that was often used on the continent to refer to someone who had gone insane.
“…”
Evangeline’s mind recalled that memory.
As an envoy, she had visited the Cathedral.
There, she presented the Emperor’s letter to the Pope, via the Saintess, who was the closest aide to the God’s representative.
But Ophelia’s reaction was…
“Why the hell are you giving this to me? You want me to be your errand girl? You must be joking. Just get it done quickly and get lost back to your country. That’s why you came here, isn’t it?”
She had thrown the Emperor’s letter to the floor.
That day’s insult could have escalated into diplomatic discord.
It was only thanks to the mediation of the Cathedral’s archbishops and Evangeline that things didn’t go completely awry.
“Truly, she’s a madwoman. Looking at her makes me want to doubt the Gods. To think that such a person is acknowledged as a Saintess by the deities… is that truly a good being…?”
“Are you serious? Is she really… that bad?”
Emily said, clutching her shoulders.
Evangeline slowly nodded.
“Yes. So, Emily, absolutely do not try to engage her in conversation. Don’t even make eye contact. Avoid apologizing. And don’t get angry either. The best course is to do nothing. Understood?”
Emily nodded blankly, her face full of apprehension.
Evangeline took a deep breath and walked toward the appointed location.
She moved…
…
…
“Welcome to the Cathedral… You’ve worked hard to come from afar… Please, take a seat…”
There stood Ophelia Meredein, her face a mix of confusion and rage, drawing a cross over her Holy Garment, bowing her head.
When Ophelia lifted her head, an oddly contorted smile graced her lips.
It was the kind of smile that looked like someone was being forced to laugh at knifepoint.
“…”
“…Evangeline?”
Emily, still stunned, gazed at Ophelia.
“Didn’t you say she was a wicked woman?”
“…I’m beginning to think I may have received the blessing of the Evil God after all.”