NOVEL NEXT Chapter 35
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You can never contain more than one divinity.
Because a soul can only hold a single divinity.
Thus, if a cultist worshiping the Forgotten God attempts to accept the Earth Mother’s divinity, their body will BOOM explode due to an overload known as ‘Divine Collision’.
The Blessing was no different.
Originally, the Blessing is a power granted by a god.
Even while worshiping one god, if they recklessly accepted another god’s Blessing, they would certainly be unable to escape the Divine Collision. This fear led Blessing users to be especially wary of the desire for heresy that sought new powers.
“Only one soul can contain divinity, so why… I knew there was resistance to the Earth Mother’s divinity, but…”
Zebeline, who had reached out her hand, suddenly froze.
If the Blessing of the Forgotten God engraved on Edanant’s soul were to activate, it would secretly try to withdraw the Earth Mother’s divinity. The reason Zebeline had been so obstinately presiding over the Baptism Ceremony was to hide Edanant’s identity from the bishops and inquisitors dispatched from the Holy Kingdom.
However,
The situation took an unexpected turn.
She gasped at the bizarre phenomenon.
As proof, the brilliantly shining blue eyes trembled.
“How can two souls coexist in a single body?”
The soul containing the divinity of the Forgotten God.
The soul containing the divinity of Earth Mother Gael.
The two souls existed parallel to each other, narrowly avoiding Divine Collision and entering an extreme state. Zebeline, who saw through this with the Blessing of the White Dragon, screamed inwardly.
“Saintess.”
“Yes? Ah, y-yes…”
Edanant raised his head and opened his mouth.
Only then did Zebeline snap back to reality and, breaking her thoughts, answered.
“Is it over now?”
“No, we need to sprinkle Holy Water one last time.”
Turning her head, Zebeline confirmed that numerous crowds were watching and dripped Holy Water from a small glass vial onto Edanant’s head.
Contrary to her anxiety about the Divine Collision, the Earth Mother’s divinity inflicted no harm. Instead, it scattered pure white radiance as if blessing the Holy Sword wielder.
This cannot be.
The Earth Mother’s divinity fully accepted a cultist’s mana.
It must be a miracle bestowed solely upon him.
The silver-haired girl let out a deep sigh, grasping the rosary.
“With this, Lord Edanant has officially become a believer of the Earth Mother.”
“Well, it doesn’t exactly move me…”
That was a response devoid of any faith at all.
In reality, Edanant considered the Earth Mother’s Baptism to be no different than a circumcision.
It had to be done.
If not, he’d be scorned by those around him.
It didn’t particularly matter if he received it or not, but due to pseudoscience, he had no choice.
Edanant, having backed out of the Earth Mother’s Baptism that he had been putting off, shrugged his shoulders indifferently.
“That response is quite disappointing. The flawless beauty of the Saintess bestowed the baptism upon me, after all.”
“Indeed, that is a fair point.”
Edanant put on an understanding expression.
Then, he showed his gratitude to Zebeline, who presided over the baptism, with courteous decorum.
“I am truly humbled that the First Saintess of the Holy Kingdom has given me Baptism. As a new believer of the Earth Mother, I will repay the grace you have shown little by little in the future.”
“Y-you’re joking right…?”
With exaggerated flattery, as she bowed her head, the gaze of numerous nobles focused on her.
In response, Zebeline blushed and retorted.
“Truly impressive. You’ve grasped my intent.”
Edanant let out a snicker.
“Two souls in one body… Does that mean there are two Lord Edanants? No, that can’t possibly be true. How is that even possible?”
Staring intently at Edanant’s mischievous demeanor, she mulled over her doubts.
However, her questions did not resolve.
Instead, they only multiplied.
Did I just imagine it?
Unintentionally, Zebeline began to doubt the Blessing of the White Dragon.
As the Saintess continued her heavy doubts, the princesses observing the scene approached. Seeing Edanant chatting amicably with him, they felt an involuntary jealousy.
To prevent losing Edanant to the Holy Kingdom, they cast wary glances towards the Saintess.
*
The only person who sensed Edanant’s anomaly was Zebeline.
Although bishops and inquisitors dispatched from the Holy Kingdom attended the Baptism at Sophia Cathedral, no one detected the anomaly.
The baptism concluded without incident.
Edanant von Hohenberc had become a new believer.
The bishops present would report this, so there wouldn’t be any suspicion from the Holy Kingdom. Zebeline sighed in great relief that they had successfully passed through with no issues.
“Now that the baptism has been completed, the cardinals will accept it.”
“Yes, Lord Edanant is now officially a believer of the Earth Mother!”
The bishops chattered in delight at Zebeline’s words.
The place filled with pure divinity during the baptism seemed to reinvigorate their devout faith.
‘Please let nothing be wrong with Lord Edanant…’
What should I say first?
“Why do you have two souls?”
“Is it like getting two portions of the main dish at a restaurant?”
Maybe because I had been thinking about Edanant for days, a silly joke suddenly popped into my mind.
Zebeline squeezed her eyes shut.
It seemed she felt embarrassed for having come up with such a silly joke.
“What’s the matter, Saintess?”
“Just… Something got in my eye.”
Even after finishing the baptism that she had been so worried about, her unease did not diminish. Instead, an even heavier concern pressed down on the Saintess’s slender shoulders.
Edanant is a mana user.
He is a cultist worshiping the Forgotten God.
Yet, even though Zebeline was someone who should abhor mana users and cultists more than anyone, she overlooked Edanant’s existence. She even aided him from behind, fearing his identity would be discovered.
If the Holy Kingdom learns the truth, she would surely be excommunicated from her position as the Saintess. Moreover, despite being a Saintess, she would face the death penalty for colluding with a mana user.
‘Still, if it’s for repaying the grace… I’ll have to endure anything.’
Feigning a troubled expression, she managed a gentle smile.
Though brief, it seemed she recalled a cherished memory that was happier than ever before.
*
The Valtarian Imperial Family announced that they would reward the knights who participated in the subjugation through strict merit assessment.
Titles and territories would be granted.
Additionally, they would receive honors for courage in exterminating cultists.
The knights would undoubtedly say that loyalty to the Empire and Imperial Family was a natural duty. However, secretly, they were likely expecting the Imperial Family’s generous rewards. People are always faithful to their desires.
“To detect the identity of a mana user is truly impressive. Truly fitting for the mascot of the Saintess Party.”
“Ehem! I think it’s rather impressive myself!”
As noon arrived, Ludmilla visited the villa.
Was she here to drop hints about the rewards?
Whether that prediction was correct, Ludmilla praised Rue’s achievement greatly.
“I’ve prepared 500 Jelly Candies.”
“Duhh.”
When Ludmilla clapped her hands, the knights waiting outside brought in burlap sacks. Inside those coarse sacks were filled with sweet Jelly Candies.
A staggering number of 500.
It must have been incredibly heavy to bring all the way here.
Witnessing the overwhelming quantity, Rue froze.
The reward had exceeded her expectations by a mile, and her mind briefly stopped working.
“No matter how much of a child you are… How can you give a reward of Jelly Candies?”
“Of course, a reward will be given separately. The candies are just a decoy. The reward will be managed by you.”
Worried that the forgetful fairy might develop a habit of wastefulness, Ludmilla discreetly hinted that the payout would be delayed. The guardian was supposed to manage the reward instead.
Indeed, quite wise.
It would not do to leave a fortune entirely in the hands of a little girl.
“The Hillidar County will be awarded to confront the Hohenberc County. Hillidar County will likely merge with Hohenberc County. Furthermore, some parts of the directly ruled territory managed by the Imperial Family will be incorporated into Hohenberc County.”
“If it’s Hillidar County… Isn’t that a territory turned into a desolate wasteland?”
The Hillidar County family had participated in the Racial War while leading countless reinforcements, but unfortunately, all the heads and retainers perished, leading to their downfall. Moreover, there were no collateral branches left to continue the family, thus turning Hillidar County into a desolate haunt.
However, just because it turned into a wasteland didn’t mean it was worthless.
There were ancient gold mines.
It was also renowned as a rich agricultural land boasting numerous specialties.
How many nobles had had their eyes on the juicy Hillidar County? They had anticipated that the Valtarian Imperial Family would swallow it whole, but who would have thought it would come to the Hohenberc Family…
“Hohenberc County will become incredibly vast. It will be renowned as it once was, a founding family of the Empire.”
“And your father will rise to the rank of marquis.”
As Ludmilla boasted, Rue, having received the Jelly Candy, froze just like before.
What on earth.
Could it be that my balding father is going to ascend to a grand noble ruling vast territories?
Hohenberc Marquis Family.
The name was so absurd that her body felt like it was convulsing.
Wouldn’t it be the highest rank after the Imperial Family and Duke families in the Valtarian Empire? She wondered if her timid father could handle the weight of being a marquis.
“Next time, please strive for the Imperial Family and citizens. Perhaps next time, the uncontested Duke title will be conferred upon the Hohenberc Family.”
“Yes… I will strive.”
“That’s the spirit. Naturally, to be a family worthy of the Valtarian Imperial Family, attaining the Duke title must be a goal.”
“……”
What scheme could this be?
Her nefarious intent was all too clear.
When she answered while expressing discomfort, Ludmilla bore a satisfied expression.