37. The Goddess’s Task
The most important part of the Order Church’s “faith”—the Holy Maiden—has betrayed her beliefs and fled with her master. Although this event will not have a significant impact on the church in the short term, for the nuns who are daily burdened by the demands of this gluttonous and lazy Holy Maiden, it is, in a sense, a relief and liberation…
However, for Uralis, a menial nun primarily serving the Holy Maiden, the escape of the current Holy Maiden, Ikusis, is a form of “torment.”
Because she, who has betrayed the Order and the faith of the Goddess, has not been “judged”! Ah… if it were merely a humble, insignificant human, like an ant, it would be one thing; the Goddess would not care about the actions of such dust. But… the Holy Maiden is the center of faith, and her betrayal is undoubtedly an insult to that faith, causing the Goddess to lose her peace!
Uralis feels it: the displeasure and anger of the Goddess, transmitted to her, turning into her own torment and suffering! Day and night, like a thorn in her throat, urging her to judge those heretics who disrespect her!
Yet, judgment cannot be executed immediately. The influence of the Holy Maiden over the church’s followers still exists; a rash attack would only provoke a desperate retaliation from the other side, using their identity as a shield. Such an outcome would benefit the church in no way. Therefore, it is necessary to select a “new Holy Maiden” immediately, so that when the followers’ gaze and attention are fully focused on the new Holy Maiden, the old one, who has insulted the faith, can be judged!
Along with those humans and fairies who also show disrespect to the Goddess.
As for what kind of human the “new Holy Maiden” is, there are no specific requirements; she just needs to exist as the “Holy Maiden.”
That night.
After finishing the cleaning of the Holy Maiden’s residence alone, Uralis quietly stepped through the silent night, putting a mask over her face.
The selection of the new Holy Maiden was nearing its final stages. Although the new Holy Maiden only needed to be able to speak, Uralis at least wanted to conduct a final screening. At this moment, she was about to meet a member of the church known as the “Eye of Order,” responsible for gathering intelligence, to hear him explain the final situation of the Holy Maiden selection.
In the dimly lit room, her gaze fell upon a man, also wearing a mask and dressed in the robes of a church member, who appeared anxious and restless as he waited.
“Eye of Order.”
Uralis did not inquire about his name, nor did she need to; it was enough to confirm that he was a member of another faction. They all serve the faith and order, and there is no need to present their names to assert uniqueness; Uralis did not wish to know.
“Have you completed your task?”
The cold female voice startled him. Was it because he had never seen her before? The member before her, his eyes hidden beneath the mask, cautiously scrutinized her for a moment before finally speaking.
“Saint, the selection of the Saintess has been completed! We have screened the most outstanding young women from various regions within the Church! They will soon arrive at the Church headquarters for the final selection!”
“……”
“And, there’s something else… During the screening process, we discovered some clues, among which… one of the candidates is not a new face, but rather one that the Order of the Blade had specifically named for investigation, by the name of Nilu.”
Urasiru’s upright posture finally showed a hint of wavering.
“Did… did she get selected?”
Though she had some understanding: what those who disrespect the Goddess might do, she never expected it to be this severe. As a candidate for the Saintess, was she trying to return to the Church to disrupt its order? Was she seeking to take her own life? Regardless, their actions were already a desecration of the Goddess’s faith; it seemed… she had been too soft-hearted before.
Those who slander and insult the Goddess must be judged!
“She… was selected through… strange means, and she has already come with another target, Kephiel.”
“Is there anyone else?”
“N-no more.”
“……”
This meant that the powerless Oqilid chose to stay behind, remaining in a safe place…
It should be such an arrangement, right?
A laughable plan, believing itself to be safe and sound, yet harboring the most fatal of flaws. Underestimating the Order of the Goddess will be the most painful lesson for you when the time of judgment comes.
“Um, can I leave now?”
“……”
That said, for the sake of caution, one last confirmation was needed.
Silently watching the Church member leave, but just as he passed in front of Urasiru, suddenly a black mist emerged! Urasiru’s long sword was drawn and swung down, aimed at the member’s face!
【Crack】
In the face of the other’s panicked reaction, his mask shattered into two pieces and fell to the ground, revealing his true visage.
“Hmm!?”
“……”
Huh? It’s not… Euclid. Just an ordinary man, and I do have some impression of him.
I thought tonight would be Euclid pretending to be a member of the church to spread false information, but it seems… I may have overthought it.
“You can leave now.”
Watching the man before me flee in a panic, the longsword in Urasiru’s hand slowly dissipated.
Since the member of the Eye of Order who came here was not deceiving, then according to his words, Euclid indeed remained in a safe place.
How tragic. In the land blessed by the goddess’s faith, those who show disrespect to the goddess will find no refuge! Pitifully, you have abandoned the protection of the other s*x, making you appear even weaker. That light fairy, even if she can foresee, cannot bring you hope of survival.
Because, before your prophecies, the goddess of goddesses will have already judged you, swiftly and decisively.
Urasiru took the cross pendant from her chest, stepped outside, and spoke softly under the moonlight.
“Members of the Blade of Order, according to the information from the Eye of Order, proceed to judge the disrespectful Euclid and the traitorous saintess, Ikusis. The opponent possesses prophetic powers; please ensure a swift resolution.”
Within the church, members of the Blade of Order exist in every corner, and without the protection of their companions, Euclid, who cannot discern hostility, and the saintess, have no chance of escaping the Blade of Order.
As for that duo, which perhaps other members cannot handle, Nilu and Kfir…
After they confidently arrived at the church, believing themselves to be the sure winners as candidates for saintess, it would be up to me, under the gaze of the goddess of order…
To personally deliver to them the judgment from the goddess.