episode_0347

A twist of fate. For some, it comes as a blessing, for others, a curse.

Tier was born quite ordinary. She had a home, parents, and love. She wasn’t cold in winter, hot in summer, or ever hungry.

An ordinary child from an ordinary family. Until she was little, she was just a good child who obeyed her parents, and it seemed as if peaceful, happy days would continue forever.

One day, Tier’s talents began to bloom, one by one. The ordinary child became increasingly beautiful day by day.

Wherever she went, she attracted the gazes of men. Rumors spread even beyond the parish, to the point where people came just to see Tier.

If she continued to grow well, there would be no one prettier than Tier. Even those without foresight could see that. Everywhere she went, there were wolves eager to raise her up and devour her.

And she caught the eye of the leader of those wolves.

Sadly, Tier had nothing to offer besides her beauty. She wasn’t starving, but neither was she well-fed; she wasn’t wretched, but neither was she glamorous. Wealth, power, prestige… nothing could protect her.

And her opponent was the most prominent priest in the Third Parish, so all that remained for her were unhappy days.

At the temple, he subdued Tier’s parents, seduced them with pleasure, and gradually pilfered their wealth from their pockets. Of course, under the perfectly legitimate guise of donations.

The threshold of pleasure rose, the stimulation became increasingly intense, and with it, the demanded donations increased. Completely brainwashed by hypnotic magic and the sweet words of the priests, Tier’s parents gradually became their puppets.

Outwardly, it was a peaceful family. But shadows fell upon the house, and when the goddess’s light shone there, the two became fanatics who would even sell their own daughter.

Tier herself didn’t realize it, but at that time, her second talent bloomed: a sacred baptism, like the qualities of a saint.

As she wept, embracing her changed parents, the hypnotic magic on them was lifted.

Being of sound mind, parents don’t sell their children. Due to the mountain of donations they already owed, they decided to send Tier outside the Holy Kingdom.

She was robbed of everything and cast out. That’s all young Tier remembered.

She walked through the snow. As death drew near, her third talent bloomed. Mana of light enveloped Tier, protecting her from the cold.

She sought refuge in the Aiter Temple and realized that she had been accepted here entirely thanks to the mana of light. So, if that blooming had been even a little faster, she wouldn’t have been so powerless, losing everything…

“Sniff… Sob…”

On a cold winter day, in the smallest novice nun’s room at the temple. She still couldn’t forget crying until dawn, hugging her blanket.

She had many regrets afterward. But almost all the causes stemmed from that incident. Even in front of Nari, she now brushed it off as nothing serious, but she still couldn’t forget that day.

That’s why, Tier felt more excitement at being able to correct everything that she regretted until death, than sadness at not being able to help Nari and dying.

When she began a second life, from within the body of an ordinary girl.

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The priest of the Third Parish, who had missed out on such a great treasure as a saint, naturally received the punishment of being sent to the side of the goddess in front of everyone.

The value placed on a saint in the Luminous Holy Kingdom was that immense.

In this life, Tier simultaneously awakened all her talents the moment she realized her regression. She became beautiful, her breasts grew, and she manifested the mana of light and darkness.

“She’s undoubtedly a saint sent down by the goddess!”

There was no need to flee to Naifrantz and receive the help of the Aiter Temple. She had already been nominated as a saint in her home country.

Those seeking the goddess’s blessing lined up before Tier, carrying with them the wealth, power, and prestige she lacked in her previous life.

Tier was no longer the young, beautiful Tier who had nothing. Wearing the mask of a young saint, she dispensed what was to be dispensed and gradually collected what she needed.

“What the goddess desires is the peace of all the people. She commanded us to stay away from those who amass wealth by sacrificing the people’s peace.”

Even those who possess everything fear death. The thing that can overcome that fear of death is the goddess’s light, and that light is realized through Tier’s words.

Tier’s words were the goddess’s will, the law that would set this country right. The rich willingly released their accumulated wealth to support the people’s welfare.

“The country is the people. The goddess declared that the country becomes wiser and stronger when the people learn and grow stronger.”

The leaders of the Luminous Holy Church gathered intellectuals and opened schools. Also, they employed temple knights based on certain testing criteria.

“The goddess said that the people want to follow power, but they must constantly watch over that power. If great power is not used for the benefit of the country and the people, it is tyranny.”

The gradual wisdom of the people was a perfect stage for intellectuals to run wild. Those who pointed out corrupt authorities with their fingers were pointed to by tens of thousands of eyes.

Those authorities naturally bowed down. Accepting the people’s just demands, they partially amended their governance standards.

…

There was one person who didn’t like the present situation at all: Pope Gregorio. The priests that he had made his pawns through verbal magic were gradually freed, and began following the saint.

With the saint’s appearance, people began to understand right from wrong. The rich released their wealth, and the market flourished. As their level of knowledge improved, they could see the correct direction the goddess pointed with their own eyes.

Naturally, those who opposed the goddess’s will came to the fore.

“A true leader is a wise and strong believer who looks upon the people with their eyes, but looks upon the goddess with their heart. One who gathers power that is beyond their grasp, persuades others according to their own will, and only looks upon the goddess and not the people is merely a fanatic.”

Now, even without adding “The goddess said,” Tier’s words were the goddess’s words. Even without being touched, the Pope’s power was already crumbling.

Tier’s final words as the goddess’s priestess to all the people were that she declared the priest who had destroyed her and her family in her previous life a heretic.

Without lifting a finger, the priest was hanged in the town square the next day.

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All of this happened in less than three years.

Tier wasn’t particularly happy with this situation, where she, having become a saint early on and descended upon the Holy Kingdom, could manipulate the entire country.

Should she say it felt a little off? No matter what she did, it was always justice, and she couldn’t even realize whether her own judgment was right or wrong. She felt that it was dangerous.

So, she quit being a priestess.

It was a good time to quit. She had accumulated far more wealth, power, and prestige than in her previous life. She was confident that she could withstand any problems that arose.

After dealing with her inner problems, external issues usually come into view. Tier counted on her fingers how old Nari was this year.

‘Exactly ten years old…! It might happen soon.’

The “it” referred to nothing but Nari breaking down and shutting herself away in her room. Everything Tier had ruled the Holy Kingdom for was for preparation.

‘No-’

She remembered the last moment of her past life, just before being taken by Yog Sothos. With a serious expression, she reached out to everyone, and Tier made eye contact with her.

Weak as she was, she stubbornly followed, ultimately causing great harm to Nari. It was a great mistake that even she couldn’t forgive herself for.

‘This time… I will help Nari…!’

She would never reach that future again. Tier made that vow and visited the Naifrantz Kingdom with the priests.

She, a young woman who had conveyed the goddess’s oracle at a young age and greatly developed the Holy Kingdom, was known to the people as a saint. There were many rumors about her in the kingdom.

Maintaining the dignity of a saint, she walked through the royal capital with a proud stride. Countless eyes were fixed on Tier’s body.

However, there was no irreverent intent in them. If there was, Tier’s dignified poise erased it all. Clad in beautiful clothes and accompanied by the goddess’s light, she was far too holy a figure for lustful thoughts.

She had already sent a messenger to the royal palace to announce her visit. Following the prepared procedure, she passed the checkpoints and, entering the gate, walked slowly.

Her heart pounded. It was a very long time since she last saw Nari. In fact, this was even before she had met Yuri, making her the very first to come running to her.

There were times when she would have held such pride.

“Burp- Oh, you came?”

“Nix, stop burping so crudely.”

“Ha-ha-ha! What does it matter! I ate beautifully, so it’s pleasant to look at, what.”

“Your Highness, it would be better if you paid a little attention to dignity. Do you still not understand why only I, the maid, remain here?”

“Even if you say so, Yuri, Your Highness the swordswoman is very dignified.”

Aspi, frozen in a still position, protecting everyone. Nix, with cookie crumbs on her mouth, chasing butterflies. Lulu, quietly drinking tea at the table. Yuri, kneeling in the garden.

“So you’re that saint? I’ve heard plenty of talk about you.”

And Nari, resting her head on his lap, casually waving her hand.

That day, Tier’s world crumbled.