episode_0054

Burkan was trembling violently.

It seemed the Saintess was quite terrifying.

‘For someone as simple as him to be this scared…’

Just what had she done to him?

Perhaps he had succumbed to power. Those types were always quick to bow to strength.

‘Normally, wouldn’t someone stubbornly refuse to betray a friend?’

Seeing my skeptical gaze, Burkan spoke up as if making excuses.

“I know, friend. Even if I sold you out, you wouldn’t die.” “…….” “But don’t worry, my friend. If your life were truly in danger, I swear on the honor of the orc race—I wouldn’t hand you over.”

Somehow, that only made me more uneasy.

After reaffirming the dubious loyalty of orcs, I turned my gaze to the Saintess.

When our eyes met, she smiled sweetly.

Then, she mouthed something.

The pinnacle of thievery—my skill—translated it.

-If you don’t want to die, just come out already.

‘…….’

Is this really the personality befitting a Saintess representing the human race?

I seriously considered it, but then remembered—this was the medieval era.

Maybe a personality like this could pass as a Saintess.

“Hehe, shall we talk privately in the alley?” “Isn’t the alley dangerous?”

Not that I was worried about her.

I was more concerned about my own well-being.

“Just hurry up and follow me.”

She dragged me along like a ragdoll.

—

The Saintess and I entered a back alley.

No one else was around.

Well, except for one—Burkan, who had stepped out just in case.

He stood there, exuding presence, watching the Saintess in case he needed to intervene.

The opponent was the Saintess, the representative of the Holy Kingdom—a holy warrior embodying humanity.

The thought made me a little uneasy.

“Who’s going to eat you? Why the grim face?” “You might actually try.” “Hah, ridiculous. Do you even know what the title of Saintess means?” “…….”

Honestly, it still didn’t feel real.

I’d only been in this world for just over a month.

But if fanatics in the human world met an apostle of their god…

‘I can roughly imagine.’

That’s why I considered this so-called Saintess a highly dangerous existence.

“Well, let’s cut to the chase. First, you owe me, don’t you?” “…….”

I did owe her.

Entering [The Cradle], I had realized a few things.

This place was sharply divided between the safe and the very unsafe.

‘If I had stayed unconscious there…’

I could’ve died without even knowing.

This was a debt—one I’d have to repay someday.

Yet, the reason I couldn’t help but act coldly…

‘My head was a mess.’

Too much had happened too quickly.

“Judging by your expression, you do intend to repay me.” “My head was just a little scrambled.” “Then you’ll hear my request?” “If it’s something I can do.” “Hmm… Then my condition is simple.”

Veronica raised a single finger.

I swallowed hard.

A high priestess, at least Level 6—what could she possibly want from me?

‘What is it?’

The fact that she was asking me meant it was something I might be able to fulfill.

But I couldn’t even begin to guess.

“My condition is simple. Before coming here, I looked into you a bit.” “And?” “Someone like you wouldn’t be out of place as a Hero candidate. Become the Sword Hero.” “……?”

Suddenly?

Her words made me tilt my head in confusion.

The proposal was too unexpected.

“Become the Sword Hero?” “Yes, the Sword Hero. This time, the Empire will be the one to choose.” “Isn’t it usually the orcs?” “……Do you know about the weapon the Empire is hiding?” “The Empire’s hidden weapon?”

Ah, I had heard of it.

Burkan had mentioned it.

That the Empire was hiding the Sword Hero. There were countless rumors, which was why he had come here to see for himself.

“Your expression tells me you’ve heard of it. Though, if you’d seen her in person, you wouldn’t be making that face.” “What kind of person is she?” “A monster called the ‘Heavenly Executioner.’”

Heavenly Executioner?

The nickname alone gave me an idea, but…

‘What kind of monster earns a title like that?’

The thought crossed my mind.

As if reading my silent question, Veronica continued.

“She earned that name by crushing every so-called ‘genius’ in the Empire.” “Crushing geniuses?” “Every notable talent in the Empire was left in awe—no, despair—at her abilities. As more and more geniuses broke under her, the Empire eventually hid her away.” “…….”

And that was the most likely candidate for the Sword Hero?

But something didn’t add up.

The System had implied that Erme was practically confirmed as the Sword Hero.

‘Then again, there’s Rosante…’

The Saintess, Veronica, existed—yet the System seemed to have chosen her.

“…….”

Suddenly—

A thought struck me. A hunch, perhaps. The pieces connected.

The Saintess, Veronica.

No—

Veronica and the Sword Hero the Empire was hiding.

‘……No, that might be too much of a leap.’

Yet, my thoughts kept circling back to it.

If true, everything made sense.

Why Erme was chosen.

And why Rosante was chosen.

“Why the sudden serious face?” “……No, it’s nothing.” “How dull.”

Veronica smirked before fixing her gaze on me.

“So, what will you do?”

I pondered her question.

The Empire’s hidden Sword Hero. And—Veronica.

‘Too many things don’t add up.’

Above all, while I did owe Veronica, the Empire had gone to great lengths to conceal the Sword Hero. This debt had to be repaid eventually, but—

‘……That doesn’t mean I can just accept this recklessly.’

I had no confidence in surpassing the Sword Hero.

Sure, I had Burkan at my back, and through the System, I could acquire gifts, skills, and techniques—

‘But that nickname didn’t come from nowhere.’

The reason was simple.

True geniuses were the kind who could rise above even the most absurd tricks through sheer, unreasonable talent.

And most importantly—

‘To defeat the Sword Hero the Empire is hiding…’

Meant making an enemy of the Empire itself.

“That might be a bit too much for me.” “It’s fine.”

Veronica smiled faintly.

Her eyes gleamed ominously.

Her tone shifted.

From polite speech—

To blunt informality.

“It’s not like you have a choice anyway.” “What do you—”

Her eyes glowed gold.

Already divine, they now shone even more blindingly.

“Don’t worry too much. Even if you have the talent to defeat that ‘Heavenly Executioner,’ I won’t act recklessly. And besides, this is a good chance to replace those pesky guards who look at me with disdain.”

-Run! Get to Burkan, now! That deceitful—!

My mind went numb.

Slowly, I felt myself being drawn into the golden light.

‘Brainwashing…?’

But I forced myself to stay calm.

This wasn’t my first time dealing with something like this. Maybe it was the experience of surviving on four hours of sleep for half a year as a corporate slave in my past life.

-Hurry, run! Damn it, I can’t do anything in this state—!

Lysielle tried to shake me, but she was just a soul—she couldn’t interfere.

At the same time, Burkan raised his axe behind me, attempting to attack the Saintess—only to be blocked by a golden barrier.

Right now, I was powerless.

But thanks to Lysielle’s voice, I managed to cling to my sanity.

I could endure—somehow.

‘The best move I can make…’

Then—

‘I have to do it.’

I had to stop Veronica here.

There was no other way.

Steal (S).

‘I have to steal something.’

But what?

What she was using to brainwash me was divine power.

Divinity.

The power of a god. Could I really steal that? I doubted myself, but there was no other option.

I used Steal to scrutinize her.

What she had: priestly robes, simple clothing, a relic-like necklace, and something even Steal couldn’t identify—marked as ???.

A protective amulet, radiating an odd power.

It felt different from mana or martial energy—something otherworldly.

‘That looks tempting.’

Protective charms were always valuable.

Hadn’t my glasses already saved my life once?

Though, in the end, I lost my body to Nokgolma.

But it had worked out.

‘A spare life +1? Definitely tempting.’

I stared at Veronica.

Steal had identified three things: the relic, her clothes, and the ???.

‘But this ??? only picks up weird stuff.’

Like Lucia’s obsession.

Or Lysielle’s soulstone.

I didn’t trust it.

But—

My instincts told me.

If I used this right, I could stop Veronica’s brainwashing.

‘I don’t know what this is, but…’

I didn’t like it.

“Huh? The brainwashing seems to be working… but it feels different from the others.”

The moment she muttered that—

It happened in an instant.

A world where a single second split into dozens.

‘Steal.’

I reached for the ???.

A sensation of my hand being pulled somewhere.

Something brushed against my fingertips.

At the same time, Veronica flinched, stepping back warily.

But—

‘Too late.’

I had already stolen it.

My bargaining chip.

I looked at the platinum-hued gem now in my hand.

[The Saintess’s Purity]

“…….” “Huh?”

Simultaneously, her divine power began to wane.

Like a stormy sea suddenly calming, her radiance vanished in an instant.

“W-Wait, why is this—?!”

I stared at her.

‘You damn woman.’

You tried to brainwash me.

The haze in my mind cleared.

My gaze sharpened as I locked eyes with her.

“H-Hold on, this can’t be happening…!”

But at the same time, curiosity struck.

Just because I stole her “purity,” she changes this much?

I didn’t get it.

But I smirked viciously. Veronica stared back with trembling eyes.

“T-That’s impossible…! H-How could you steal the power of the Goddess of Light…?!” “Whatever it is, it’s mine now.”

And that meant one thing.

‘The tables have turned.’

Her authority and influence remained intact.

But the divine power sustaining them?

Now belonged to me.

I grinned.

Though, one thing still bothered me.

‘I don’t get why this worked, but…’

For now, I understood the situation.

Yet, I also felt a bit miserable.

Everything else was fine.

Turning the tables was great.

But—

‘Why does it have to be named like this?’

I sighed internally as I stared at the gem labeled [The Saintess’s Purity].