Vol 4. Chapter 52: The Goddess’s Disappointment

The noonday sun gradually reached its zenith.

At this moment,

outside the Divine Capital Grand Hall,

under the respectful gazes of dozens of Asumos Church guards, an incomparably beautiful silver-haired girl dressed in a knight's robe was slowly walking through a corridor filled with flowers and surrounded by works of art.

An angelic girl paired with exquisite works of art and beautiful flowers—it was as though they had come together to form an unparalleled painting that anyone would yearn to behold.

And the girl was none other than Miss Mengxi, who had just finished her meeting with Pope Kaelrode-Andoluvich.

The Saintess Trial.

"The first task is to bring back the Sacred Dragon Heart?"

As she looked around at the beautiful scenery, Mengxi recalled her earlier conversation with Kaelrode-Andoluvich, and her delicate brows couldn't help but furrow slightly.

The Sacred Dragon Heart?

Wasn't that the legendary relic left behind after the Sacred Dragon King died?

It was said to have been entrusted to the headmaster of Yexinlian Academy at the time, after which it became Yexinlian Royal Academy's greatest treasure. The main reason it was regarded as such a treasure was that the blessing bestowed by the Sacred Dragon Heart could draw out a person's potential and greatly increase their cultivation speed.

Throughout history,

on the Anqieka Continent, where strength reigned supreme, anything capable of improving one's cultivation aptitude naturally possessed immeasurable value.

Back then, when Archbishop Nick sent her to Yexinlian Royal Academy, one reason was for her to study various academic subjects and noble etiquette, while the other was to obtain the Sacred Dragon Heart's blessing.

Obtaining the Sacred Dragon Heart's blessing wasn't particularly difficult for Mengxi.

She only needed to rank among the academy's top ten in the annual comprehensive assessment.

But,

if she actually had to take the Sacred Dragon Heart away?

Although Yexinlian Royal Academy publicly claimed that anyone who gained the Sacred Dragon Heart's recognition would be allowed to take this supreme treasure away, Mengxi had always been skeptical of that statement. In her opinion, it was nothing more than a gimmick the academy used to attract students. After all, the registration fee for this royal academy's entrance examination was astonishingly high.

They wouldn't let you obtain this so-called 'recognition.'

And even if you did,

the academy and the Crimson Leaf Imperial Family backing it would never allow you to take away a supreme treasure like the Sacred Dragon Heart.

So,

"Enmm, bringing the Sacred Dragon Heart back to the Asumos Church through conventional means doesn't seem very realistic..."

At that thought, Mengxi's eyes narrowed slightly, and a solemn look surfaced within them.

"But the Pope said to bring back the Sacred Dragon Heart? Bring it back? ...He doesn't seem to have said exactly how I'm supposed to do it?"

In other words,

if conventional methods truly didn't work,

she could use some unconventional methods?

If they refused to hand it over, just steal it...

If I, the Child of Destiny, forcibly seize the Sacred Dragon Heart, wouldn't the Asumos Church immediately fall out with the Crimson Leaf Imperial Family? Just what is that Pope thinking...

Or,

is there some other way?

Enmm

...

"What if I asked Sister Yumo for help? Enmm..."

Mengxi raised a slender finger to her soft pink lips and fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

Forget it. I should rely on myself first. For the sake of my future standing in the family... I can't depend on Sister Yumo for everything...

Mengxi silently made up her mind.

And just as the girl reached her decision,

the atmosphere around her suddenly changed.

An uninvited guest

abruptly entered Mengxi's perception without the slightest warning, causing the silver-haired girl's brows to furrow. Before Mengxi could react, a gentle voice filled with goodwill slowly entered her ears.

"Greetings, Miss Mengxi."

?!!

Hm? Who?

Mengxi turned around somewhat warily, following the voice as she looked behind her.

"You? You are..."

At this moment,

a graceful man with a long golden braid had somehow appeared not far behind Mengxi and was elegantly walking toward her.

His deep blue eyes were profound and beautiful, his nose straight, his lips thin, and his sword-like eyebrows stretched toward his temples, where a few strands of golden hair fell. The contours of his handsome face were flawless. Although the man before her couldn't compare to the Child of Destiny in terms of appearance, he was undoubtedly still one in ten thousand.

However, compared with that guy Xue Tianao, the blond man before her undoubtedly possessed a far more solemn presence.

Although this was Mengxi's first time meeting this man, his distinctive, imposing deep-blue eyes and the robe he wore, which symbolized the status of an Archbishop, allowed Mengxi to instantly recognize his identity.

One of the three Archbishops of the Asumos Church, Mokaluo-Bafiya.

"Why has this Archbishop suddenly come looking for me?"

Such a question couldn't help but arise in Mengxi's mind.

Although she had her doubts, Mengxi quickly responded to the Archbishop's greeting on the surface.

The girl slowly bowed and gracefully offered Mokaluo a greeting.

"May the Goddess protect you, Archbishop Mokaluo. May I ask why you've come to see me? Is there something you need?"

At Mengxi's straightforward question, Mokaluo smiled faintly and didn't bother with further pleasantries. After waving his hand to signal the other members of the Asumos Church nearby to withdraw, Mokaluo amiably met Mengxi's beautiful light-purple eyes.

"Haha, it's nothing much. I merely wanted to ask about your physical condition... and while I'm at it, ask you, the Child of Destiny, a few small questions."

"My health is perfectly fine. Thank you for your concern, Archbishop. ...As for your questions? Please go ahead, Archbishop Mokaluo."

Seeing that the silver-haired girl showed no resistance, a trace of satisfaction appeared in Mokaluo's eyes. He then clasped both hands behind his back and slowly walked to Mengxi's side.

"Actually, it's nothing particularly serious. I'm merely a little curious. As the Child of Destiny, what do you think of the Asumos Church?"

Mengxi: Hm??

--

Meanwhile, elsewhere, inside the Church's central temple,

following Mengxi's departure, only Nick, White Yama, the Pope, and the four white-robed Holy Decree Envoys under his command remained within the enormous temple.

And as Mengxi left, the atmosphere inside the hall abruptly took a turn for the worse. The entire hall instantly became so silent that a dropped needle could be heard, filled with a deathly stillness.

This caused White Yama and Nick, who had only just managed to calm themselves down, to once again sink into unease.

What is he trying to do now? Why did he make Mengxi leave but tell us to stay?

Nick couldn't help asking himself that question.

As he pondered,

Nick unconsciously raised his head and anxiously stared at Pope Kaelrode-Andoluvich, who was praying beneath the statue of the Goddess.

...

Finally,

after Nick and White Yama waited in fearful unease, the Pope, who had silently prayed for a long while, finally moved.

Kaelrode-Andoluvich finished his prayer and lowered his hands before directly turning around to look at White Yama and Nick behind him.

Upon seeing the Pope's expression, however, both Nick and White Yama froze.

Because at this moment,

the Pope's eyes were actually filled with sorrow? There even seemed to be faint tears glimmering within them.

That only made the entire situation feel even stranger to the two of them...

Nick's brows knitted tightly together as an ominous premonition abruptly surfaced in his heart.

"What the hell... is this guy planning?"

Just as Nick was thinking this,

Kaelrode-Andoluvich's voice suddenly entered his ears.

"Nick, my friend, regarding some of the things you did in Skyvault..."

?!!

Hm?! Skyvault?!

Why is he suddenly bringing up Skyvault?!

At those words, Nick's expression changed drastically. He hurried forward and anxiously said,

"Y-Your Holiness! Wasn't the matter in Skyvault already over?! Didn't you say that it wasn't my responsibility and that you... you wouldn't pursue the matter?!"

Faced with Nick's anxious words, Kaelrode-Andoluvich slowly nodded.

"Yes. I indeed have no intention of holding you accountable, my friend."

As he spoke,

Kaelrode-Andoluvich raised a hand and placed it over his chest before devoutly glancing toward the majestic, magnificent, golden statue of the Goddess behind him.

"I won't hold you accountable... but that doesn't mean the Goddess won't."

"Y-Your Holiness? Wh-What do you mean by that?"

"The Goddess has delivered a divine oracle."

When he uttered the words 'divine oracle,' Kaelrode-Andoluvich's perpetually narrowed eyes slowly opened, revealing a pair of deep and eerie dark-red pupils.

"The Goddess said that there truly was nothing you could have done about what happened in Skyvault. However, during the evacuation, you failed to fulfill your duties as an Archbishop."

"M-My duties as an Archbishop?"

"An Archbishop is one of the faces of our Asumos Church. Maintaining an elegant and noble image before ordinary people and believers is one of your duties. Yet during this evacuation, my old friend, your behavior was far too disgraceful. Not only did you flee in complete disarray all the way, abandoning your equipment and armor, but you also spewed vulgarities—and someone even recorded all of it. Now, not only has your noble image as an Archbishop completely vanished, but the entire Church has suffered considerable negative repercussions because of it."

"N-No, Your Holiness, please listen to my explanation! There were so many Abyss Demons back then?! Bai Xiaozou and Mengxi weren't there either, I really couldn't—"

"There's no need to make excuses, my friend."

A pressure that allowed no resistance entered Kaelrode-Andoluvich's voice, instantly cutting Nick's words short and even forcing him directly to his knees.

"Under your command, the Light of the Sun's entire deployment in the Snow Night Empire collapsed, and on top of that, you placed the Child of Destiny in danger twice. The Goddess is very disappointed in you..."

As he spoke,

Kaelrode-Andoluvich slowly revealed a trace of regret and sorrow.

"However, you don't need to worry too much. The Goddess is merciful. Considering that you've worked tirelessly for the Church for thirty years, the Goddess ultimately decided not to punish you."

Barely managing to raise his head, Nick looked at Kaelrode-Andoluvich with a hint of joy.

"R-Really?"

"Yes. However, considering your advanced age, the Goddess believes that it's time for you to retire."

"Re... retire?"

"Yes, my friend. From now on, you no longer need to trouble yourself with the affairs of the Church. You can retire. You can return to the Goddess's side."

?!!!

Wait?!

What did he just say?!

R-Return... to the Goddess's side?!

No, no!!

Upon hearing those words, Nick's pupils abruptly contracted. The last trace of joy remaining in his eyes instantly vanished, replaced by incomparable terror.

"NO!! Wait! Your Holiness!! I... I can still keep wor—"

However,

before Nick could finish speaking, a dazzling golden light suddenly flashed from the eyes of the Goddess statue.

Sacred and gentle,

yet in Nick's eyes, it transformed into the deathly light of his end...