Chapter 281: Doubt, and a New Holy Maiden?

Cheers of victory echoed in every corner of the camp.

Ansu and Freya made their way through the celebrating crowd to a secluded cabin deep within the camp. This was Leo's room.

The door was tightly shut, and there was no sound from within.

Ansu knocked on the door.

After a long wait, the door creaked open just a crack.

Leo's face appeared in the gap. He looked left and right, his eyes filled with a touch of vigilance.

"Leo?" Ansu asked with concern. "How are you feeling? Are you better?"

"I've rested for a bit, I'm much better now..." Leo pulled the door open and, after letting the two of them inside, quietly shut it again.

He turned around and suddenly whispered, "Morris, tell me honestly... am I being watched?"

Ansu frowned, looking at him in surprise. "Of course not. Why would you think that?"

Uneasy, Leo glanced out the window again. Only after confirming no one was there did he relax slightly and gesture for them to sit.

"What's wrong with you?" Ansu pressed. "We just won the battle, didn't we? The enemy has retreated. Who would be watching you?"

Leo remained silent for a long time before his voice dropped even lower.

"I suspect... that this victory was manipulated from start to finish."

"In fact, it's possible that all of us are trapped in a scheme laid out by a mastermind!"

Ansu and Freya exchanged a look, both seeing the feigned surprise in each other's eyes.

"How is that possible?" Ansu chuckled, stepping forward to pat Leo on the shoulder.

"You've been on edge for days and haven't slept properly. You must be exhausted, and that's making your mind wander."

"There is no mastermind. Stop scaring yourself!"

Leo didn't respond, nor was he comforted by Ansu's lighthearted tone. His face still wore a suspicious, paranoid expression.

The two sat with him in silence for a while.

Seeing that Leo remained unresponsive, they decided not to disturb him further and got up to leave.

Once they left the cabin, the smile Ansu had forced onto his face gradually vanished. He glanced at Freya beside him.

"Leo has worked too hard. It seems the consecutive battles and pressure are driving our Chosen One to the brink of madness."

"Sigh, yes..." Freya sighed softly. "He has been carrying the weight of saving the world, after all. Anyone would struggle to hold up under that."

However, she frowned and added, "But how could there be a mastermind? If someone really were manipulating all this, the price the Wolfgars paid would be too high. It doesn't make any sense."

"We need to keep a closer eye on him over the next few days," Ansu said solemnly. "In case anything else happens..."

Freya nodded immediately. "Mhm, I'll join you. We'll come check on him whenever we have time."

The two continued their low conversation as their figures gradually receded into the distance.

Leo hid by the window, watching them leave through the crack.

Only after those two figures vanished into the crowd did he withdraw his gaze and return to his bed, full of worry.

...

As they walked back toward the center of the camp, Freya's expression finally broke.

She gently pinched Ansu's arm. When Ansu turned his head, he saw her large eyes blinking at him, filled with a mischief she couldn't hide.

Hehe, it turns out Lord Ansu is truly amazing at deceiving people...

To think he could hoodwink Leo into being so paranoid that he even started doubting the world...

Ansu knew exactly what she was thinking and curled his lip.

This is only the beginning...

Recalling the little Holy Maiden's performance while playing along with him just now, he gave her a look that was half-smile and half-smirk.

Talking about me? Your acting wasn't any worse than mine just now.

Freya covered her mouth, giggling uncontrollably.

No way...

Not far away, Archbishop Paul noticed the two of them exchanging looks without saying a word, yet clearly communicating. His expression was slightly bewildered.

"What's the happy news? Why are you laughing like that?"

Freya quickly reined in her expression and coughed lightly. "It's nothing, Archbishop Paul..."

In the large open space at the center of the camp, wounded soldiers were lying everywhere.

They lay on temporary straw mats, their wounds seeping blood, as groans of pain rose and fell.

Archbishop Paul was busy leading a group of clergy members. Soft glows of divine arts lit up over the wounded one after another. Low prayers and words of concerned comfort intertwined, slightly thinning the bloody tragedy of the post-battle scene.

Freya looked at the busy group. "Is there anything I can help with?"

"No need, there are enough of us here." Archbishop Paul turned his head, his gaze toward Freya full of gentleness and approval.

"In the battle just now, you were treating the wounded and fighting the undead. You were on the front lines without a moment's rest. You must be exhausted by now. Go and get some rest."

Freya's contribution to holding the line was immense.

During the critical moment when the defenses collapsed, it was her timely arrival that stabilized the situation, preventing those raiding Underworld Bone Puppets from causing even greater casualties.

At this moment, many wounded soldiers and passing Staya warriors cast grateful glances toward Freya. Those looks were silent, yet more sincere than any praise.

"I'm not tired..." Freya felt a bit embarrassed by everyone's stares and murmured shyly, "I only did what I should have done. This victory is the result of everyone's hard work."

Archbishop Paul couldn't help but tease her with a smile, "Don't be so modest. Right now, the entire Staya camp looks at you as the goddess of victory protecting them all."

"Ah!" Freya's cheeks instantly turned bright red. "I-is that so..."

Ansu, who was standing to the side, didn't join their conversation. His gaze slowly swept over the camp, observing something else.

He noticed that the number of clergy members in the camp was significantly higher than what he had seen before.

These people were actively busy; some were helping bandage wounds, some were transporting fresh water and dry rations, and some were supporting the injured. Although the vast majority could not perform divine arts, they carried out the auxiliary work in an orderly fashion.

Furthermore, most of these new faces bore the cat-eared features unique to the Staya Tribe. Clearly, they were new believers Archbishop Paul had recruited during this time.

Ansu raised an eyebrow and said meaningfully, "Archbishop Paul, it seems your business is progressing quite well."

Archbishop Paul followed his gaze to the busy clergy members. "The war requires treating the wounded, so I asked them to help out. After all, the doctrine of the Holy Light is to promote mutual aid and benevolence. This is just a small beginning; more people will join our ranks in the future."

Ansu nodded, understanding the situation well.

Wartime was not only a period when the sick and injured needed care, but also a time when people in a state of panic craved solace the most. It was the most direct and effective time to expand faith.

Since he had been dealing with gods and faith recently, he paid extra attention to such matters. He lingered in the field hospital for a moment longer, listening to the content of these new believers' prayers.

However, after a short while, he frowned and returned to Archbishop Paul.

"Wait... Archbishop Paul, I've been listening for a while, and I've noticed that the doctrine you're teaching... something's not quite right?"

Where was the Goddess of Holy Light? Where was the Church?

All he heard was 'Light,' but there was no 'Holy' involved...

Was what Archbishop Paul believed in a pure concept? Was it 'Light' itself?

As Ansu spoke, he and Freya looked at each other in genuine surprise.

Archbishop Paul remained calm. "No, theirs isn't the doctrine of the Holy Light; mine is the true doctrine of the Holy Light."

"Uh..." Seeing Archbishop Paul's serious face, Ansu gave a forced smile and didn't argue. "Alright then. If you say so, Archbishop Paul, then it is."

As if suddenly remembering something important, Archbishop Paul's gaze landed on Freya, and his tone became solemn.

"Oh, right. Freya, there's something I want to ask you. Would you be willing to become a Holy Maiden of the Church again?"

Freya froze and quickly looked up, clearly not expecting Archbishop Paul to bring this up so suddenly.

"A Holy Maiden of the Church?"

"But I've been... expelled from the Church, and I've even been officially declared dead..."

"It doesn't matter." Archbishop Paul waved his hand dismissively. "Who said there can only be one Church of Holy Light in this world? I'm talking about the Church of Holy Light on my side."

"Um... what?" Freya's eyes widened slightly.

Hearing this, Ansu couldn't help but complain internally: The old Holy Light geezer isn't even hiding it anymore.

He's really planning to start a new branch and create two opposing Holy Light Courts!

"This..." Freya instinctively looked at Ansu, seeking his thoughts.

She had been entrusted with another heavy responsibility by Lord Ansu, after all...

Her return to the North was originally for the mission of uniting the various demihuman tribes and finding potential allies. Otherwise, she wouldn't have worked so hard to perform in front of the various tribal elders.

She hadn't expected Archbishop Paul to also offer an olive branch...

Sensing the hesitation in Freya's heart, Ansu gave a gentle smile. "It's alright. This matter should follow your own heart. It's good that you can choose the path you want to take from now on."

He could see that Freya had always been devoted to the Holy Light.

She actually loved the Church of Holy Light, which fundamentally taught people to be friendly, helpful, and to value justice. It was just that the current Church had long since become corrupt and fallen, disappointing her time and again.

But disappointment didn't mean she had given up hope.

Deep down, Freya surely wanted to be like Archbishop Paul, to truly do something for this faith and return it to what it was meant to be.

"But..." Freya blinked at Ansu. "Our plan..."

"There's no conflict?" Ansu shook his head. "Can't you be the Holy Maiden of the Church of Holy Light and the Holy Maiden in the hearts of all demihumans at the same time?"

Each demihuman tribe had its own deity and, naturally, a whole set of traditional belief systems. Many demihuman tribes had the role of a Divine Maiden, who held a status equal to that of a high priest, even higher than that of a Holy Maiden in the Church of Holy Light.

Freya fell into deep thought.

That was true... actually, there was no conflict at all with their plan or Lord Ansu's world-saving mission. Why couldn't she have it all?

But...

If things really turned out that way, she seemed to be... becoming more and more of an incredible figure, didn't she?

...