Chapter 15: 15
”What… what is this? Ahhh!”
Thena screamed as she rushed down the stairs.
Her screams gradually faded, and the unseen heat slowly dissipated.
Hanette stood still for a moment before calming the magic within her body.
”Should I just smash her head? Hmph…”
Hanette glanced around with sharp eyes.
No other family members, maids, or servants were in sight.
If anyone with even a little knowledge of magic had been present, they would have noticed the earlier heat.
‘Using magic for something like this… I shouldn’t have done it.’
Hanette had learned magic since she was young without anyone finding out.
She secretly obtained books about magic and taught herself, practicing in her room or the bathroom.
If she had met a proper teacher, she would have reached a higher level, but given the circumstances, she could only put in all her effort.
‘Why does she talk so much for being so ugly?’
Thena was her half-sister, sharing only half of her blood.
She was the child of a concubine, far from the legitimacy Hanette held.
However, Hanette was known as the Crazy Young Lady, narrowing the gap between them significantly.
‘She won’t notice. She’s too dumb to figure it out.’
Thena probably wouldn’t even consider that Hanette had used magic.
Magic wasn’t something easily learned, and Hanette’s reputation as the Crazy Young Lady was well established.
She would likely think something strange had happened to her body or an unexpected event had occurred.
‘Should I burn her if she messes up one more time… No, I shouldn’t.’
No matter how angry she got, she couldn’t kill her half-sister.
Above all, she had to keep her magic a secret.
She didn’t want her parents to suspect anything, and she still had plans to escape from this place.
‘I should have stayed calm.’
Hanette regretted her actions and clenched her fist tightly.
It was fortunate no one was around; if anyone had seen, all her plans would have been ruined.
She had endured for so long, waiting for the right moment, but couldn’t control her emotions over a trivial matter.
‘I can tolerate insults against me, but against him…’
Hanette thought of Zion and tried to calm her troubled mind.
Zion didn’t deserve the scorn; he was just tied to her through a political marriage.
‘Why did I intervene? I should have just ignored it.’
Even as she questioned herself, she couldn’t find an answer.
Zion was just her fiancé, someone she would likely part ways with eventually, yet she couldn’t shake off the feeling.
‘Maybe I have developed some feelings. He looks decent, and his personality isn’t bad.’
Hanette sighed, reluctantly accepting her feelings.
She doubted she would find anyone like Zion among other nobles.
Even if a commoner had a similar personality, she would still think of Zion first.
‘I shouldn’t interfere without permission.’
Hanette chuckled to herself as she slowly descended the stairs.
No one could take Zion from her.
Even if their engagement was forced, he was still her fiancé.
”I can insult him because he’s mine, but I can’t let anyone else do it.”
* * *
Kinesien Holy Church’s Cathedral, Holy Water Preparation Room.
The Kinesien Holy Church had spread throughout the Alain Kingdom, aiming to preach the goddess’s grace and holiness.
The Alain Kingdom had received much help from them over the years and officially recognized them as a major force, training many holy knights.
Since then, the Kinesien Holy Church expanded its influence, spreading the goddess’s teachings and playing a significant role in defeating the evil beasts.
The holy law of the Kinesien Holy Church could heal wounds and purify the impure, greatly contributing to the preservation of forces and the defeat of the beasts.
‘It’s quite large. They must have a lot of money to spend.’
Zion was walking through the cathedral with the leader of the holy knights.
The cathedral in the capital was bigger than he expected, with many holy knights and nobles passing through.
Even though other churches might not be as large, they were still well-funded, comparable to some noble families.
‘Is the White Apostle here?’
The White Apostle.
One of the cardinals of the Kinesien Holy Church and a member of Setinos Quasar.
The cardinal was second only to the pope and could perform superior holy law.
The White Apostle, among them, was exceptionally skilled, rumored to even bring the dead back to life.
‘I probably won’t meet other Quasar members.’
Setinos Quasar.
The knights symbolizing the Alain Kingdom, given the title for their strength and achievements.
Composed of five members, the White Apostle was one of them.
They were the king’s direct knights, granted command authority and could lead the kingdom’s forces in emergencies.
‘Before the White Apostle leaves, I need to get holy water.’
Holy water required a certain level of holy law to create.
Ordinary holy knights couldn’t even touch it; at minimum, a holy knight commander was needed.
Although the pope was the head of the Kinesien Holy Church, the position was more honorary, so the cardinals were often more skilled.
‘The title isn’t important; being the White Apostle is.’
Zion knew the secret the White Apostle was hiding.
It was related to why she would leave the cathedral and her true goal.
So, he needed to get the holy water from her and later persuade her to form an alliance.
‘The White Apostle isn’t human. But she is human.’
Zion pondered the contradiction but didn’t fully reject it.
In this world, even contradictions could be true.
This world also wasn’t originally real, but now it existed as another reality.
‘To obtain holy water legitimately… this is the only way.’
Once the White Apostle left, she wouldn’t return to the Kinesien Holy Church.
Even if they met after she left, she wouldn’t easily make holy water.
She had a purpose to achieve and couldn’t waste her power on trivial matters.
‘If I were the protagonist, it would be easier. I’d get the holy water for free.’
The White Apostle recognized the protagonist’s potential and followed him.
At that time, Hanette also joined the protagonist, and other allies appeared one after another.
As a result, the protagonist formed a knight order with them and roamed the frontier, fighting numerous beasts.
‘The protagonist is impressive.’
The protagonist was a young man in his twenties with excellent sword skills.
He could also wield the Thunder Magic Sword, Nailing, making most enemies no match for him.
With capable allies joining the order, including the White Apostle and Hanette, they won every battle.
‘I’m less than half as good, so I’m stuck like this.’
Zion mocked himself but didn’t despair.
The hard tasks were for the protagonist and the strong; he took on the easier, simpler ones.
If he could fully wield Exceed Rain, he might not match the protagonist but could still live a prosperous life.
‘I have some money left, but it cost a lot. Must be the name value.’
Other cardinals could make holy water, but wealthy nobles often requested the White Apostle.
She was appointed by the king as a Setinos Quasar and was the most skilled and famous of the current cardinals.
Although the official price was the same, nobles paid extra to get the holy water sooner.
‘It must be nice to have so much money. Some of us are struggling here.’
”Please wait a moment.”
The holy knight commander stopped at a door and sought permission.
Zion nodded and watched quietly.
The holy knight commander knocked and slowly opened the door.
”Cardinal Selene, you have a visitor.”
”… Let them in.”
”You may enter.”
The holy knight commander stepped aside, and Zion entered.
The room had a table and two chairs neatly arranged.
A woman in church robes stood on the opposite side.
”Nice to meet you. I am Enrite Selene, serving the Kinesien goddess and following her will.”
Cardinal Enrite Selene, the White Apostle of the Kinesien Holy Church, greeted him with a formal bow.
Her platinum hair glowed softly, her golden eyes warm yet stern, her expression cold and emotionless.
Zion was sure it was her and bowed politely.
”I am Zion Laird.”
”Before I prepare the holy water, may I ask what you intend to use it for?”
”… I want to drink it to cleanse my body.”
Zion lied with a mix of truth, showing a serious expression.
Holy water contained the power of holy law, and drinking it could absorb its effects.
However, it wasn’t as effective as direct healing from a holy knight and was mostly symbolic.
”I will imbue your wish into the holy water. Please have a seat.”
Enrite gestured to the chair, speaking formally.
Zion sat down, eyeing the bowl on the table.
”Our holy knights have purified the impurities. I will now infuse my power to transform it into holy water. Please observe and confirm there are no issues.”
”Understood.”
Enrite placed her hands over the bowl.
The golden bowl contained ordinary-looking water.
‘It’s right to check personally. Complaining about being cheated later won’t help.’
Zion watched silently.
Golden light flowed from Enrite’s hands into the bowl.
The water’s surface rippled slightly and began to glow faintly.
‘To use Exceed Rain, I need to absorb El Tesoykve’s power into my body…’
To completely counteract Exceed Rain’s magic erosion, opposing power was necessary.
El Tesoykve, being Exceed Rain’s opposite, would have the same effect.
Thus, drinking the holy water would help resist Exceed Rain’s magic erosion.
‘The White Apostle is a heroine but… she’s also a Magic Sword. The light Magic Sword turned into a human.’