Ch.564564. Childish Provocation (1)

In this continent, the existence of Divine Power is directly linked to proving the existence of the god who presides over a religion.

It’s an obvious statement. Divine Power is like mercy bestowed by a god upon humans. If a god doesn’t truly exist, it would be impossible for Divine Power to manifest in the continent.

In that sense, the continent has always recognized beings capable of bestowing special powers other than Mana—powers called Divine Power—as gods. And the organizations surrounding them have been acknowledged as legitimate religions.

‘The Holy Nation’s prey were all the same.’

Regardless of whether their intentions were good or evil, they’ve devoured religious organizations whose gods didn’t actually exist—organizations they thought they could handle with their own strength. Using the name of the celestial god who scattered Divine Power, they consumed them.

They’re quite famous for expanding their authority by erasing religions they could safely digest after plundering and exploiting them.

Conversely, this means they’re careful about friction with gods who do exist. Just as they respect the World Tree of the Great Forest, they know that reckless actions could invite unfathomable wrath or hostility toward the Holy Nation.

“This is different from the religious order—”

When they judge they might not be able to fully digest something, they typically back down first.

“…It’s indeed a mysterious power worthy of being called Divine Power.”

How amusing the bishop’s sour reaction was.

She kept doubting whether what she was seeing was real, questioning it dozens or hundreds of times. Yet she ultimately had to acknowledge the existence of that inexplicable miracle-producing power that her senses clearly detected.

“It is Divine Power. That means there was a god who wanted to embrace our territory with its elevated Magia, not just the religious order.”

“……”

“Moreover, this god bestowed Divine Power upon Tasha, who cared for the poor, to counter the demonic energy. This means it’s far from what the order commonly calls an evil god. Rather…”

I added more fuel to her reaction.

“Isn’t it more fitting of a benevolent deity that should lead the world to prosperity through solidarity?”

The bishop held her tongue.

All eyes around us were completely absorbed in my words. She must have had many thoughts running through her mind.

Rather than speaking hastily and facing backlash, her best option was to simply keep her mouth shut like a coward.

I took another step toward her.

Looking down at this woman shorter than myself, I spoke deliberately to end this trivial performance.

“So take your combat priests and holy knights back to your church. This is not the Holy Nation, and the kingdom has respected you only because many of its people believe in your order. It was never established as your state religion to begin with, was it?”

The kingdom is a secular state.

It has no established state religion. If it had one, it should rightfully be that religion that had been forgotten, sleeping in the magical realm, not the Holy Nation’s.

“Remember this. It would be best for the order not to interfere in my territory’s affairs more than necessary from now on.”

Clerics should focus on what clerics do best—creating the beneficial world they speak of.

They should abandon any thoughts of engaging in unnecessary power struggles.

“If you do, the wrath of a barony with two Masters, along with the anger of a new god, might fall upon your church.”

At these words, her composure finally broke. With her hollow laughter gone, the bishop finally spoke in an extremely rigid tone.

“…I understand. Then, I think it would be best to dismiss our people and return to the church first. May I take my leave?”

“Of course. If that is appropriate, I have no reason to stand in the way of servants chosen by god.”

My final words, which scraped at her insides, made even the corners of her eyes twitch—how amusing it was.

“Then… I shall visit you separately at a later date.”

“I look forward to that day.”

Overwhelmed both by our conversation and the atmosphere emanating from the people, the bishop finally left in a hurry with her clerics.

With only the crowd remaining—those who had gathered during the commotion and heard my entire story—they finally began to speak up once the situation settled.

“…Divine Power? So she wasn’t just called Priestess or Saint in name, but has become a real Saint?”

“I’ve traveled around as a minstrel, but I’ve never seen such energy before. That must mean…”

“Everyone, remember. Back then, even the priests couldn’t find who among us would become Demonkin. How could such a miracle happen unless a god was watching over us?”

Of course, everyone was quite positive about our Tasha’s debut as a Saint.

“Then… does this mean a real Saint has appeared in our territory?”

“The famous celestial god couldn’t solve it, but a new god willingly stepped forward to save us. There’s no other explanation.”

“Didn’t our lord just say the same thing?”

Eventually, their gazes converged on one person.

The spotlight fell on Tasha.

Perhaps exhausted from emitting Divine Power, the small girl was catching her breath with closed eyes, trying to compose herself.

Soon she opened her eyes and faced the countless gazes directed at her.

“Ah…!”

With all that attention, the frightening memory of when she first stood before the people at the gate resurfaced, making her step back.

But unlike then, she soon found courage in their reverent yet gentle attitudes and stepped forward again.

Seeing this, the territory’s people gladly proclaimed Tasha as the Saint of the Carpel Barony.

Feeling awkward in this dreamlike situation, she quietly spoke to me.

“…Lord.”

“What is it?”

“Am I really a Saint?”

Why is she asking this when everyone is already shouting it?

‘Someone like Tasha…’

She deserves to be called a Saint.

She has actually awakened Divine Power. Thanks to her, we’ve definitively solved the most important issue of Divine Power supply.

What else could such a blessing be but our family’s Saint?

With this in mind, I led Tasha forward to a place where the territory’s people could see her better and answered.

“Without a doubt. You’re already our family’s magnificent Saint.”

“Ah—”

Whatever thoughts the ensuing cheers gave Tasha…

“…!”

They were enough to make her cry.

At that moment, for the first time since the territory battle, the Status Window appeared.

「The seeds of talent left by ancient heroes are beginning to sprout in earnest.」

* * *

“…Morning Star.”

Sione murmured as she gazed at the arrow.

Morning Star. That special power used by the first head of the family, which bestowed power beyond that of a Master.

She too had glimpsed fragments of the Morning Star when she broke through the wall and felt awe. But since then, it had been no different from an unknown realm she couldn’t properly handle even once.

“It’s difficult, so difficult. How can I do something even Ray doesn’t know?”

Sione twirled the arrow dexterously on her palm.

After spinning the arrow, she suddenly gripped it tightly in her hand and stood up from where she was sitting.

“…Still, it’s better to put in a little more effort than to complain.”

Although she had once collapsed from the experience of so many things being beyond her reach despite her efforts…

The experience of finding a direction where her tenacious efforts did work was also deeply embedded in her heart.

At least regarding what she could achieve through bow and arrow, she was full of positivity as she nocked another arrow in her bow.

‘Morning Star must be drawn out through Divine Power.’

The ideology she learned from the magical realm was always full of concepts about fate and overcoming it.

‘…Let’s go back to the beginning.’

Unlike before when she only thought about extracting and handling Divine Power…

She changed her mindset from the moment she drew the bow.

‘I was destined to be shut in a room all my life, becoming a recluse until I was either driven out or died.’

That was her original fate.

‘But Ray reversed everything for me.’

From the moment that stubborn commoner provoked her and put a bow in her hands, everything began to flow in the opposite direction.

‘I need to recall everything I learned then, all those emotions.’

Sione began to recall the past.

—Nock the arrow on the bowstring. This bow has weak draw weight, so like this. Use your index finger and thumb to hold the end of the arrow.

She stopped trying to shoot without using Mana.

Because the bow back then had weak draw weight.

She circulated an appropriate amount of Mana, adjusting it to feel like the draw weight she remembered from that time.

—Turn sideways toward the target. Then raise your arm so you can shoot the bow. Raise it until your arm is parallel to the ground.

After suppressing a smile that almost emerged as she thought of her awkward posture from the past…

—Good. Tilt your arm slightly this way so your left arm can support the bow sufficiently.

Though she had thought it was terribly difficult, she moved as he instructed.

Looking back now, those memories were rather fun.

—Now, pull the bowstring until the back of your hand touches your chin, with your elbow pointing upward at a gentle angle.

She had secretly struggled with those complicated instructions, wondering how to do it properly.

—Now release the arrow.

She imbued the departing arrow with Divine Power and the mindset of that time when everything was new to her.

—An arrow draws its most satisfying trajectory when its owner believes in themselves without wavering. Just clear your mind of distractions and shoot. Then you will hit the mark.

And at the end…

‘The sword didn’t work, but the bow… with the bow, things might be different. That’s what he said.’

Embodying those words directed at herself who had overcome fate.

FWANG—!

The arrow shot with a fiercer sound than usual, and finally…

KWANG—!

“Everyone cease fire…!”

“L-Lady Sione…! Were you perhaps dissatisfied with our training methods…?”

“The arrow likely penetrated the target and went further…! Check if the earthen wall behind the target is intact, and if it’s been pierced, immediately check how far the damage extends!”

It caused a great commotion at the shooting range.

Unlike the soldiers who were about to go crazy with worry, Sione, with a sensation lingering at her fingertips and an expression full of that old exhilaration…

“Ha, haha.”

After letting out a few silly smiles…

She clenched her fist and shouted.

“I did it…!”

She had finally imbued her arrow with a new power that even Ray couldn’t replicate.