Ch.7676. Each Other’s Shadow

“Hmm.”

After the debate ended, I left the hall without a moment’s hesitation.

It was the complete opposite of when I entered.

No one hurled insults at me or threw trash.

They just stared blankly, as if still in shock.

After I demonstrated my holy power, there was essentially nothing left to debate. The other side couldn’t offer any opinions.

They had clearly seen evidence that the god they believed in and followed had chosen me, so they literally became dumbstruck and had to keep their mouths shut.

They knew that opposing me would ultimately mean opposing the god they believed in.

It was wiser for them to keep quiet.

If they carelessly tried to salvage the situation now, they might end up making irreversible statements later.

‘That was boring.’

In the end, it concluded rather dully. I had hoped for some fresh statements or opinions that would be perfect for ridicule.

Though a conclusion wouldn’t come immediately, the current atmosphere made it obvious.

In the end, the Griffin Kingdom would have no choice but to accept me.

“Whoa, that was sick!”

“Well done.”

When I returned to the waiting room, Findenai and Deia were wearing identical smiles. I walked past the two of them who were extending their hands for high-fives and sat down in a chair.

“Phew.”

As I exhaled and gathered my mana, Findenai and Deia awkwardly high-fived each other with the hands they had been holding out.

I didn’t have time to pay attention to them right now. I needed to reorganize my mana due to the holy power disrupting my body.

[Ugh.]

The Dark Spiritmaster couldn’t even approach me and was watching worriedly from a distance, while Deia and Findenai seemed to realize something was wrong.

“What’s going on? What’s wrong?”

“Did the master really receive divine judgment? For misusing God’s name?”

“Stop being dramatic.”

Black Magic is known to be somewhat opposite to holy power, but that’s not exactly true.

It’s simply one branch of magical studies. It’s just rejected by religious institutions because it deals with souls and corpses.

There was no reason a Black Mage couldn’t coexist with holy power.

So the reason holy power was rampaging inside me now wasn’t because I was a Black Mage.

‘I drank raw holy power.’

The real reason I sent Aria and Findenai to find the Holy Grail.

Though I used it to vanquish Griffin’s demon, it was actually to convince Griffin’s people.

No matter how much I demonstrated my achievements or eloquently told them the truth.

In the end, no one would believe me because of the deeply rooted hatred that began in ancient history.

So I had no choice but to make them believe.

‘Just by holding the Holy Grail, Deia could use holy power.’

One could drink wine from the Holy Grail to turn it into holy water and gain temporary access to holy power.

But actually using holy power directly inside my body rather than indirectly through the Holy Grail had serious side effects.

‘I won’t be able to use this trick often.’

My breathing finally stabilized.

Findenai was wiping away my cold sweat with a handkerchief she had produced, acting like a proper maid.

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. Opportunities like this are rare.”

I told her I was fine, but Findenai didn’t stop and continued wiping my sweat, even bringing a water bottle.

As I was drinking water and clearing my insides, there was a knock from outside.

When Deia opened the door, she gasped and quickly turned her gaze toward me.

I deliberately twisted my waist to turn my view, and there was the silver-haired Saintess calmly entering.

“What.”

Findenai blocked the way.

Despite her threatening demeanor that suggested she might fetch an axe at the slightest provocation, the Saintess didn’t back down at all.

“I would like to speak with the Spiritmaster for a moment.”

With a surprisingly respectful attitude and direct acknowledgment of my position as Spiritmaster, Findenai glanced at me to confirm my intention.

When I signaled with my eyes that it was okay, Deia and Findenai went outside on their own.

“Hey! Hey! Get back!”

“Oh, get lost! You perfume-smelling old men!”

It seemed that bishops had followed the Saintess and were standing outside the door, but the two chased them away like flies before the door closed.

Thud.

The door closed more heavily than expected.

Lucia slowly pulled up a chair and sat down gracefully across from me.

Watching her, I couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“This reminds me of Mersen.”

“Ugh! Then please use formal speech like back then.”

Lucia’s expression twisted slightly, as if she had the same thought. But she quickly cleared her throat and composed herself.

“Never mind. Let me get straight to the point. How did you use holy power?”

“I already said it. God chose me.”

“Really…”

Lucia glared at me fiercely, then stood up and placed her hand on my shoulder.

I wondered what she was doing, but the holy power that remained inside me, like meat clinging to bone, was naturally absorbed by her.

“Holy power isn’t necessarily a kind force. The authority granted by God comes with equal responsibility.”

“Hmm.”

Lucia immediately realized I hadn’t been chosen by God.

Sitting back down, she sighed, and a strange emotion filled her eyes.

“You succeeded. I was wondering how you would convince the people, but I didn’t expect you to dump that role on us.”

“I merely entrusted it to the church, which excels at such things. Don’t you always interpret everything as God’s will?”

“Hmph.”

It’s their specialty to stubbornly interpret everything as God’s will. Since she didn’t seem inclined to deny this, Lucia just glared at me without making excuses.

That gaze was closer to sympathy than hostility, so I asked honestly.

“Don’t you hate me?”

I had denied the foundation of religion and threatened the position of the Saintess.

In fact, if she confronted me and threatened me with holy power, it wouldn’t be strange.

Lucia’s shoulders slumped as she exhaled.

“Honestly, I can’t praise your methods… but I agree that Griffin Kingdom needs you.”

The Saintess is fighting on the frontlines against supernatural phenomena more than anyone else.

She knew better than anyone how vulnerable Griffin Kingdom was to evil spirits and how their influence was gradually growing.

“The incidents caused by awakened dead are getting worse. Griffin, ignorant about evil spirits, needs to prepare for them as quickly as possible.”

“Surprising.”

When I honestly expressed my impression, Lucia tilted her head in return.

“Pardon?”

“I didn’t expect you to accept me so easily. During the debate, didn’t you say the citizens couldn’t accept me?”

“If I don’t stand with the people, they have nowhere else to turn.”

“…”

“Don’t hate their ignorance too much.”

I was momentarily speechless at her unexpected answer.

I hadn’t expected the Saintess to say such things. But she spoke with a faint smile.

“But don’t misunderstand that I dislike the people. I love them above all else.”

Right.

So she wants them to remain ignorant.

Knowing too much can make one unhappy. Knowledge opens the mind and sometimes forces unwanted responsibilities.

Just like the current Saintess.

“Because I love them, I hope they never see the many abysses of the continent.”

Lucia’s gaze fell to the floor bitterly. But only for a moment, as she quickly raised her head and continued.

“Let me be clear about this. The church will probably acknowledge you.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

In the end, they’ll have no choice but to acknowledge me for wielding holy power. Even though it was just a one-time trick using the Holy Grail.

I was confident I could keep them from ever finding out.

“As I said earlier, I don’t particularly like your methods. But since we need you, I’ll take a supportive stance.”

If the Saintess, who uses the same holy power, vouches for me, it will be much more convincing.

“But even though everyone worships God, even among believers, their ideologies, beliefs, and faith differ.”

“…”

“What I mean is, radical hardliners might move… no, they will definitely move.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

They’ll label me as they see fit—heretic, blasphemer, fraud—and act aggressively.

Griffin Kingdom will experience unprecedented chaos for a while.

The conflict between believers and non-believers.

And even among believers, there will be various conflicts.

I will be at the center of it all.

“Growing pains.”

When I dismissed all that chaos with a single phrase, the Saintess looked displeased but didn’t deny it.

“Since we’re on the topic, wasn’t your method too extreme?”

“…”

“Even though it’s necessary, the citizens are shocked and confused. No one has the right answer, but they’ll fight and demand answers from each other.”

Lucia rubbed her forehead, already worried.

“I barely have time to deal with the supernatural phenomena caused by evil spirits. If I have to mediate the confusion among citizens too…”

She shook her head as if it was overwhelming, but I calmly replied.

“You seem to misunderstand.”

“…Pardon?”

“That’s precisely your job.”

The position of Saintess isn’t just for show. Isn’t she the figurehead for continental peace and citizen welfare?

“I know that.”

Did it sound like I was scolding her for complaining about such things? I clarified my statement.

“From the beginning, resolving evil spirit incidents wasn’t your job. Your role was to use holy power to eliminate them.”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

Even weak evil spirits are instantly destroyed upon contact with holy power. It’s literally their natural enemy.

But can we really say that solution was correct?

“Evil spirits were once people too.”

“…”

When I presented the truth she had been forcibly averting her eyes from, the Saintess pressed her lips together.

Her mouth opened to answer that she knew, but no words came out. Even though she knew, all she could do was forcibly eliminate them.

“I wonder why? Holy power that heals and warmly embraces living people. Why is it so hostile to the dead?”

“That’s…”

As Lucia hesitated without answering, I continued.

“It’s because it’s being used incorrectly.”

This is a setting that didn’t even appear in the game. I’m simply expressing what I’ve felt while living in this world.

“Holy power is meant for the living, not for the dead.”

“…”

“Though it was necessary, one could say it’s been quite misused until now.”

“Then what about the evil spirits? How should we handle the dead…”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

I looked directly into Lucia’s blue eyes.

Silver holy hair and transparent sapphire eyes. Her appearance truly befitted the name Saintess.

“Spiritmaster. I am one who comforts the dead.”

“…”

“I believe I walk a path similar to yours, Saintess.”

The Saintess comforts the living and gives them hope. She encourages them to move forward.

“Saintess Lucia, fold your hands for the living. Pray to your god.”

I listen to the stories of the dead. I give them that final push so they can let go of everything and close their eyes at the end.

“I will weep for the dead.”

I listen to their stories and resolve their grievances and resentments. If there are evil spirits who have crossed the boundary between life and death to harm the living, I make them pay the appropriate price.

Hearing my words, Lucia smiled faintly.

“You’re right. We’re doing the same job after all.”

Only the subjects were different.