Ch.336Chapter 336 – What Happened in the Kingdom (2)

# Saint.

As the word echoed through the tent, people began to stir.

Gabriella also quietly asked with surprise.

“You mean a Saint of the Evgenia Order?”

“Well, that’s what happened.”

“Technically it’s a bit different,” Kara muttered softly.

And Chris exclaimed in surprise.

“My goodness, you became a Saint again?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s amazing, Kara!”

When Chris grabbed Kara’s hand with a smile, Kara turned her gaze away as if embarrassed.

It felt just like an older sister congratulating her younger sibling on getting a job.

Chris held Kara’s hand for a while, congratulating her, and only returned to her seat when the Domestica finally cleared her throat in surprise.

“Ah, I’m sorry for interrupting.”

“…It’s fine. It was nice to see.”

Princess Gabriella said with a lonely smile, as if she had projected the image of sisters onto Chris and Kara.

Afterward, Chris glanced around nervously, but fortunately, it seemed others had viewed the scene warmly, so no criticism was directed at her.

The Domestica had stopped her simply because it was interrupting the flow of the conversation.

“Anyway, that’s impressive, Kara.”

“Even if you say so, I’m not sure about it.”

She asked quietly, just loud enough for Chris beside her to hear.

“Kara was originally a Saint of the Emiris Order, right? Whether it’s talent or qualification, doesn’t that mean she could become a Saint in another order if she converted?”

“Not at all.”

Chris responded somewhat sternly to my words.

It seemed she was more sensitive when it came to religious matters.

“I told you before that holy power is used through a contract with a god, right? But Kara left her order because of various issues with Emi… the god she originally believed in. When that happens, the contract with the god becomes void, and she can’t properly use holy power anymore.”

Chris quickly concealed the fact that Kara used to be a believer of Emiris, since the Emiris Order doesn’t have a good reputation among the people of Florence or the kingdom here.

Regardless, Chris seemed generally excited to be able to explain a field she was knowledgeable about.

“The important thing to remember is that the contract is made with that specific god, not with any other. Converting to another religion doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to handle holy power as well as before.”

“So it’s like starting completely from scratch.”

“That’s why high priests almost never convert to another god unless it’s absolutely necessary, like being excommunicated or completely driven out.”

Because there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to use holy power as effectively as before if they go to another order.

While lower-ranking priests might consider it, the higher one’s ability to use holy power, the more risky it becomes to change religions, as it could mean losing everything.

In that sense, Kara had started from scratch and become a Saint again.

No wonder Chris was amazed, saying it was no ordinary feat.

“To get back to the story, I heard that the newly appeared Saint of the Evgenia Order defeated the demon army commanders. That’s what I was told.”

“That’s right.”

Kara said confidently.

“At that time, unlike during the Ferrarius incident, I wanted to do something, so I asked Diana, who was taking care of me, to let me participate in the battlefield.”

+

“You asked me to bring you, so I did, but absolutely no reckless behavior.”

That was the first thing Diana said to Kara after reluctantly allowing her to participate.

“Fighting is the job of soldiers. And mercenaries and adventurers too. Since demons are involved, church members have reason to fight as well. But you don’t belong to any of those categories.”

Diana spoke sternly, as if telling her not to entertain foolish ideas.

“I brought you because I respect your desire to do something, but there’s no reason for you to be on the front lines, nor will you be given a weapon. Remember that.”

After speaking so sternly, Diana softened her expression and said gently.

“So stay close to me at all times, child. That’s the only way I can protect you.”

“…Alright.”

Kara wanted to object to Diana’s words, but she couldn’t say anything.

After leaving the Emiris Order, her contract with him had been severed, and Kara had returned to being an ordinary girl with no powers.

Normally, it would be better for everyone if she stayed away from such places rather than stepping onto the battlefield.

Yet she insisted on entering the battlefield because of what happened at Ferrarius.

‘Back then, everything was chaotic because of the demons too.’

Kara thought quietly.

‘There, I couldn’t stop the order’s holy knights from going berserk.’

If she had been more firm, or if she had used every means available, she could have at least made the order’s holy knights fight more actively against the demons.

Kara regretted not doing so.

‘And it didn’t end there; I was saved by those guys.’

At the final moment, when she was about to die from Emiris’s scheme, Kay had saved her.

They had saved her, even though she had stood in their way as an enemy.

She didn’t want to flee without doing anything; she wouldn’t be able to face them.

They wouldn’t blame her for running away, but she didn’t want that.

‘I’ll do something.’

She knew some medical skills, so at the very least, she could bandage the wounded.

Kara had joined the battle determined to do something, to use the life they had saved to help others.

And with Kara’s participation, Diana’s unit began to move.

It was a unit composed of the remaining orders and personnel from the church alliance that Aria had taken, knights left behind by Count Metis, and volunteer soldiers from places like the Adventurer’s Guild.

The day after departure, there were some discipline issues due to the mixed personnel, but thanks to Diana’s quick measures—having learned from the dragon incident—they managed to avoid a complete breakdown of military discipline.

Fighting demons and suffering casualties, they reached the Soul-Absorbing Formation, and there they were on the verge of despair.

“Meat, meat! Fresh meat, souls!!!”

On the battlefield, there was a giant werewolf slaughtering knights and adventurers.

Behind the massive werewolf, who wore a necklace made of skulls and had two-pronged horns, slightly smaller werewolves were charging in.

“By blood and violence!! Legion Commander Howl declares, take revenge on humans, you forsaken ones!!”

The giant werewolf shouted as he shattered a shield held by a knight.

And in the opposite direction, a blonde succubus with bewitching eyes was casting spells.

In an instant, nearby adventurers became entranced by her, killed soldiers, and when they came to their senses, they stabbed their own necks at her command.

“Sisters, our prey is here!”

The blonde succubus shouted, raising her spear.

“We don’t need weak sisters who say we must coexist with livestock! Under the new Demon King, we shall rise again!”

“Glory to Queen Virginia!”

The succubi shouted as they began using magic and casting enchantments.

Clerics within the unit were using holy power to block the succubi’s status effects as much as possible.

“We’re going to be pushed back at this rate!”

“Hold on! The gods are watching, just hold on somehow!”

The priests encouraged each other as they exerted their holy power.

Among them were people from the Evgenia Order who had stepped forward, saying they couldn’t just stay in a safe place in such a situation.

“Keep it up, everyone!”

Evgenia Order priest Adrock shouted.

“They say our child Christina also fought against this calamity; we would shame Goddess Evgenia if we just stood by!”

At those words, the people of the Evgenia Order began to fight harder.

Their worn-out priestly robes were torn and soiled, but they didn’t mind at all as they fought against the demons.

But the situation was too dire.

‘They’re fighting desperately.’

Diana bit her lip as she swung her spear.

Despite her old age, a werewolf lost its life to her spear.

‘I heard they hastily sent defensive forces, and it had to be here.’

Diana thought she had really drawn the short straw.

Still, she couldn’t simply retreat, so she led her old body and fought hard.

But the battle situation was at best a stalemate.

And even that wouldn’t last long, as there was no one in Diana’s unit who could stop the legion commanders.

“Damn, if I were just 30 years younger…!”

In her youth, she would have been confident in holding her own against a legion commander, but her aged body made it impossible.

‘Should I retreat and call that woman Aria?’

Diana thought Aria could handle both of them simultaneously.

But she wasn’t here now.

She had gone to attack elsewhere from the beginning.

As casualties accumulated and Diana was considering ordering a retreat,

“So you’re the commander.”

The giant werewolf spotted Diana.

+

“You had a one-on-one duel with a legion commander?”

“I didn’t want to. He charged at me.”

Diana answered my question nonchalantly.

A demon legion commander is someone most people can’t even face.

And she said she had a duel with one.

“You’re a monster too, grandma.”

“Honestly, if I were 33 years younger, I would have won.”

Earlier she said 30 years, but apparently that wasn’t enough, so she needed to be 3 more years younger to win.

“Age doesn’t lie. Honestly, at first I fought evenly, but as my stamina ran out, I eventually got pushed back and was on the verge of death.”

Diana spoke quietly.

“My spear broke, and my leg was injured too. The werewolf was about to snap my neck with his jaws at that moment.”

But Diana is still alive.

“Yes, that was the moment.”

Diana smiled.

“The moment a new Saint was born.”

Diana’s gaze turned to Kara.

+

By the time the demon legion commanders had joined the battle and the commander Diana ended up in a one-on-one duel with one of them,

Kara was running across the battlefield.

Before the battle began in earnest, Diana had placed her in a safe location with two guards and gone to battle, but when Kara realized the chaotic situation, she eluded the two guards and ran.

In her hand was a monk’s staff that a monk had brought as a spare.

She would have preferred a spear or sword, but without holy power, she was just a frail girl, and there were no weapons she could handle.

Still, thinking that she knew some staff techniques so it might work somehow, Kara stepped onto the battlefield.

She saw knights and adventurers.

They were falling one by one, calling out the names of their loved ones.

Holy knights were falling while calling out the names of their gods as they fought demons.

Clerics were praying for divine miracles, healing allies and blocking enemy attacks.

Her eyes caught sight of people from the Evgenia Order.

They were encouraging each other by mentioning Christina’s name.

Finally, she saw Diana falling.

“No!”

She rushed toward Diana.

The girl ran, terrified of losing someone who had been kind to her in this short time.

But even as she ran, she knew.

That nothing would change if she, who could barely wield a staff, intervened.

Still, she ran.

‘What should I do…!’

While running, she thought of Christina.

The one who had finally descended from the heavens in her comrades’ time of crisis.

A new deity who had ascended to godhood, in some ways a false god.

But at the same time, she was a goddess who roamed the battlefield on earth with her comrades, and the woman who had saved her.

‘If only I had power like hers.’

Kara prayed as she ran.

She ran, hoping for a miracle that couldn’t possibly happen.

And in her mind,

Information surfaced as if prepared by Chris, or someone else.

‘Christina is a goddess.’

“‘…I atone for past sins here.'”

A god lends holy power to believers.

“‘This humble servant takes a new master.'”

Holy power is obtained through a contract with a god.

“‘I swear to be the staff that leads the lambs.'”

At the same time, unlike the celestial gods, she is a goddess who walks with humans on earth.

“‘God, be with me.'”

Unlike the gods in heaven who cannot lend power without a contract, she is already connected to humans because she is on earth.

Such a goddess wouldn’t ignore a prayer.

Soon, a massive amount of holy power dwelled within her at that moment.

Kara spread golden wings and flew in.

She strengthened her body and imbued the staff with holy power to fight the werewolf.

“Is, is this your trump card!”

“Howl!!”

Soon after, the queen of succubi joined in to target Kara.

And Kara wielded enormous holy power to face them.

‘I’m stronger than before.’

She was stronger now than when she was the Saint of Emiris.

The reason was simple.

Unlike Emiris who looked down from heaven, Christina was on earth.

There was no delay or waste in using her holy power.

With that, Kara wielded Christina’s holy power to face the two legion commanders.

Before long, the two legion commanders were forced into a defensive stance against Kara.

“Ugh, aaaaaaargh!!!”

“Virginia…!”

The queen of succubi, who had joined later, couldn’t withstand Kara’s holy power and finally began to burn and disintegrate.

The werewolf legion commander fled immediately after realizing the unfavorable situation.

+

“…Ah, so that’s why…!”

As Kara and Diana’s story continued, Chris exclaimed.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, remember when I said I felt like my holy power was suddenly greatly diminished? Could it be…!”

Come to think of it, that did happen.

Chris had said it would heal quickly, but she mentioned feeling strange because it was suddenly depleted.

Chris continued to analyze the situation.

“To use holy power, you need a contract… Ah, I see, before we went to the hot springs, I used holy power to transfer to Kara…”

Chris had mentioned passing on the will of the Kara we had met first, which had dissolved within her, to the Kara who is here now.

That seems to have been the decisive factor in allowing Kara to use Chris’s holy power.

The exact details seem to be something only the parties involved can feel.

“That’s how we miraculously won and destroyed the Soul-Absorbing Formation.”

Kara said quietly.

“And the legion commander who barely survived gathered almost all the demons in the area to directly attack the capital, but…”

“There, a female warrior named Eina and her friends crushed all the demons before they could even reach the city walls.”

Since it was closely related to the magic tower, Eina wasn’t assigned to any unit but remained in the capital.

Given that there were also experimental subjects rescued from Ferrarius at the magic tower, it made sense that she, as someone like a person in charge, couldn’t easily leave.

‘Friends, huh.’

It seems she had found like-minded people here in the meantime.

“Oh, and Rudger beheaded that werewolf, they say.”

“That old man?”

“That battle was also his comeback fight. But apparently, the demon legion commander couldn’t last three exchanges before his head flew off.”

And so, the demons who invaded the Mikea Kingdom failed in their operation and suffered great losses.

Legion commander-level personnel must not be numerous even among demons, and they had lost two while also failing their mission.

It’s fair to say it wasn’t just a defeat but a crushing one.

“But how did Mr. Rudger make his comeback?”

“I wonder.”

Rudger had clearly lost an arm.

Though honestly, that old man would probably fight well even with just one arm.

‘Is that why he complained to me about being made to work?’

But isn’t that the demons’ fault?

I don’t understand why he blamed me.

“That’s how the demons were defeated, and the few survivors are hiding throughout the Mikea Kingdom.”

“But they’ll be hunted down soon. Aria has gone to eliminate the remnants. Before she inherited the holy relic and became a Saint, she was a heresy inquisitor. She’s experienced in tracking down those in hiding.”

“I saw her before leaving, and it was impressive how she said she’d make them pay dearly for making her do all the cleanup.”

While others can rest now that it’s over, she’s stuck with overtime work.

She’s probably searching with fire in her eyes.

“And we were about to rest, but Princess Liriel gave us orders.”

“She told us to first save the neighboring kingdom, Florence, where demons are also running rampant. Considering the kingdom’s state, which is almost like a civil war, she said they would definitely need help.”

That’s why Kara and Diana had led troops here.

“So you came to deal with the demons invading our kingdom.”

“Exactly. Now that it’s all over, if we lend a hand, it would be hunting down the remnants.”

Diana said lightly that she’d end up like Aria too.

There was a slight sense of relief mixed with a bit of deflation in her tone.

And toward such a Diana,

“Is that really all?”

Princess Gabriella quietly asked.