episode_0094

“Have there been any developments lately?”

A quiet garden where only the sound of tree branches swaying in the wind could be heard.

My mother, who was walking me around that place with a gentle smile, asked me about my love life.

Would someone who knows I’m going to Gyo-guk really not know anything about my love life?

I chuckled awkwardly and answered.

“I’m not sure. Should I say things are progressing well, or should I say there’s no progress at all.”

It was certain that it wasn’t just standing still.

Being in a pseudo-relationship at Hwangung, I felt closer to Beatrice.

Is that all? Just a few days ago, she came to me drunk in the early morning and said some incredible things.

Thanks to that, I was able to regain my shaken heart.

…Anyway, it’s really annoying.

If it starts to crumble, handle it carefully.

When you feel tired, breathe new life into it.

Thinking of the endlessly demanding witch, I sighed, and my mother, holding a magpie feather, gently stroked my head.

“Stay strong a little longer. The more challenging they are, the harder they fall once they stumble.”

“How did you…”

“That’s how this mother is. She swore she would never accept it… but suddenly, she fell for it and even got married.”

A faint blush appeared on her pale skin.

Even saying it made her quite embarrassed.

I wanted to observe my mother’s embarrassment a little more, but I decided to change the subject to avoid unnecessary trouble.

You didn’t come here to talk about love; you must have something else to say.

I smiled wryly and slowly spoke up.

“I’d like to hear a bit about your and father’s past, but unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury for that. I need to improve my skills if I’m going to Gyo-guk.”

“…Stop with the nonsense and get to the point. Alright… fine, I was trying to spend some time with my son after a long time.”

“If you put it that way, what am I to you, mother?”

“Aren’t you just an incorrigible child? You’ve been rotten since you were young, pretending to be a good child now?”

“…”

Oh, um, everything she said is true, so I can’t argue.

No wonder there’s no human breed like us.

Feeling guilt rising deep inside me, I hung my head, and my mother laughed lightly as she patted my back.

“Haha! Just kidding! Kidding! Well, going to a dangerous place isn’t pleasant, but… what can we do? You’ve already steeled your heart.”

“It will work out this time too. Just like always.”

“Having a hopeful attitude is good, but don’t let your guard down. Gyo-guk is not as easy as you think.”

“Yes.”

Nodding, a brief silence followed.

My mother, who had been silently staring at me, finally spoke with a voice full of concern.

“…Do you really have to go?”

One word that strongly conveyed her wish for me not to go.

But I brightly smiled and recounted a story my father had told me.

“Those with courage conquer love. My father always said that.”

“…”

“And refusing to accept impossibility because it’s dangerous and difficult is not in the blood of ‘Pashible.’”

As long as Pashible’s blood flows within me, I cannot casually accept ‘impossible.’

Especially when it comes to something that happened because of ‘love.’

“I will go, mother. Rather than choosing safety and losing love, I’d rather recklessly challenge and conquer love. Just like father.”

Just one step away from opening the witch’s heart.

It might be the heaviest step compared to everything I’ve walked through so far, but giving up would make everything I’ve done so far too wasteful, wouldn’t it?

Recalling the trials I faced with the witch, I showed my unwavering determination. In response, my mother said,

“Ah, truly a chip off the old block.”

She embraced me tightly and blessed my journey ahead.

“Please return safely without any mishaps.”

—–

“Cough… Cough… High Priestess Theresa.”

“What’s the matter, Haran brothers?”

In the sacred atmosphere of the chapel, Paladin, appearing drenched in sweat, rushed towards the High Priestess who was gazing at the statue of the goddess.

“I report! Multiple individuals have entered through the sealed passage connected to the south! Currently, they are swiftly advancing towards the temple!”

“…Through the southern sealed passage? Hmm, then it’s likely the Lorian Sisters. Since we heard that Bishop Alain is currently within the institution.”

“What should we do? As confirmed, the elves are accompanying the Lorian Sisters…”

“What should we do? Naturally, we must stop them. If they are forcibly pushing through that dangerous sealed passage at such speed, it’s not just ordinary elves but the dreaded Darkwood Elves… You know what will happen if they breach our territory, right, as our dear brother has experienced before?”

“…”

In response to the High Priestess’s words, Haran, clad in white armor, silently nodded his head.

It was obvious what havoc the deranged elves would wreak upon entering the kingdom.

Just like in the Southern Darkwoods, men would be plundered, and women would meet a gruesome end.

Before the cold body of a beloved woman, the elves would undoubtedly commit atrocities.

Those fiendish creatures, passing as noble beings.

A chilling thought!

The Paladin, Haran, did not want to experience such nightmarish events again.

Therefore, he cautiously presented his opinion to the High Priestess.

“We need a significant force. Given our bitter defeat in the past, we should prepare for any unforeseen circumstances…”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve had my share of experiences in the past. I intend to participate in this battle as well.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, there’s no one else but me to stop Bishop Lorian.”

Theresa spoke calmly, her eyes wide open.

“The other two High Priestesses are inexperienced in combat, and the Pope is currently bedridden. Who else besides me can stop Lorian?”

Elves residing in the Southern Darkwoods never move alongside females of other races.

The only exception is when they have completely submitted to that female.

To an outsider, this might seem absurd, but Theresa knew.

If it was the Lorian she knew, she was capable of carrying out insane deeds.

‘…I may not know the methods used, but just knowing they succeeded isn’t something to take lightly.’

She had been sent on missions that were meant to teach her through failure, and she had succeeded.

Of course, she had failed and gone missing in the mission to handle Alain, who had turned into a defector after being provoked.

Judging by her success in sealing the Winter Legion’s leader, her strength was definitely not to be underestimated.

“I still question why she didn’t use her formidable power for the Goddess.”

As she pondered, the chapel doors opened once more, and another messenger hurried in.

The message was clear: the intruders had already breached halfway through the heavily trapped sealed passage.

Shocked, Theresa ordered the passage to be completely sealed.

“…Leaving it partially open was a trap. Dispose of the bomb left behind by the dwarf to bury the passage quickly, before it’s too late.”

“As you command!”

Haran, following orders, hastily left the chapel. Teresa, watching his retreating figure, sighed and began to walk towards her lodging.

“It’s probably too late already.”

Even if they collapse the corridor now, that blasphemous apostate will surely find a way to enter the sanctuary.

Then, they will likely attempt to purge everyone in the sanctuary.

Destroying the corridor would only buy time; it wouldn’t be a fundamental solution.

It would also be challenging to stop them with the elite forces of the church. Those individuals are capable of taking on hundreds by themselves.

The best solution would be for the apostate who has been defeated once before and their comrades to come to the church and fight together…

“Is there a possibility of that happening?”

Teresa shook her head doubtfully.

The likelihood of them setting foot on eastern land is close to zero.

Moreover, the chance of them coming to the church to resolve the crisis is even lower.

For them, the church is a more dangerous place than the Four Great Realms.

There is no reason for them to come and offer help.

“Isn’t it shameless to engage in such acts and then request help?”

Upon reaching her lodging, Teresa discarded her elaborate attire and began to put on the faded nun’s habit hidden in the wardrobe.

The nun’s habit she wore when she first took refuge in the Southern Wilderness.

“I guess it feels a bit loose now that I’m older.”

With a bitter smile at the cruelty of time, she picked up the staff leaning against the wall.

Afterward, before leaving the lodging, she quietly prayed towards the statue of Agathon placed on the shelf.

“Oh Agathon, shine your light upon this foolish one to guide me through the deep darkness.”

And so she led the elite forces of the church to the battlefield.

“Krrk… Kill him!!!”

“No way~ How can we just kill someone as noble and beautiful as the High Priest?”

Of course, you have to commit sins ♡

Unfortunately, she had fallen overnight against Lorian.

In the sacred church.

It was a moment when sanctity collided with sensuality.