Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 5] Chapter 183

[Vol. 5] Chapter 183: The Wrong Doctrine

“How do I view them…?”

Though the truth was becoming obvious, neither of the two girls openly addressed it, as if they had a tacit understanding not to pierce the thin veil between them. Seeing the slight hesitation on the Holy Knight’s face, Miss White Fox knowingly shook her head gently.

“Let me put it another way, Edwina. Can I trust you?”

“…!”

A breeze blew by, lifting the blonde girl’s crystal-clear golden hair, causing the neatly trimmed bushes along the path to rustle softly.

She didn’t hesitate, nor did she respond with a simple “yes” or “no.” Instead, she took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, as if realizing something profound. Then, with great solemnity, she placed her hand over her heart.

“If you are willing to grant me that trust… it will be the greatest honor of my life. I will defend it with my life and soul, no matter the cost.”

“…Edwina, I am not a deity.”

“I know.”

“Is that so…”

Receiving the answer, Miss White Fox nodded thoughtfully.

Edwina Cecilia was different from Yuna Summerfield.

Though both of them were devout followers of the Goddess, Violet could sense a difference between them.

The Bright Light Saintess was a truly devout believer, and beneath her pure and gentle exterior… likely lay a pure and gentle heart as well.

However, when it came to “faith,” Violet couldn’t predict what extreme actions Yuna might take. As a result, the two of them could never achieve complete harmony. Violet remained cautious and withheld certain things from Yuna, and Yuna probably did the same.

Edwina, on the other hand, while also a devout believer, was more flexible. Her decisions weren’t solely guided by divine will but also by some sentiment.

This is why Violet had never considered sharing Eudora’s situation with the Bright Light Saintess because she can’t guess what the other party is thinking, but with Edwina, she thought it might be worth a try.

Violet gently placed her hand on the pink-haired head beside her, softly stroking it.

“As you’ve suspected, Eudora is a demon, and right now, I’m the one personally taking care of her.”

“…!”

She laid it all out, straightforwardly.

Of course, Violet wasn’t sure what kind of response she would receive. After all, the doctrine of the church, conveyed directly by the Goddess of Light, declared that “demons are pure evil, and clerics must purify all demons.” For a devout follower, going against this commandment was nearly equivalent to apostasy. Even with their close relationship, Edwina would likely…

“The Church… could it have been wrong? This war…”

Such an incredulous murmur reached the ears of Miss White Fox, who was waiting quietly.

“…?”

However, before Violet could process the strange and completely unexpected words, the Holy Knight suddenly widened her eyes as if jolted awake by a bell. She let out a shocked exclamation, almost unable to contain herself.

“I see! No wonder… no wonder my mentor said that, no wonder my sister…!”

Wearing an expression that screamed, “I’ve figured it all out!” Edwina lowered her head sharply, seeming both at a loss and struggling to suppress her shock and… realization?

“Miss Violet… could it be that you came here for this very reason?”

“?”

Wait a second! What exactly is she talking about?

Edwina was connecting the dots so quickly that it left Violet feeling a bit lost.

Alright, stay calm and think logically. Considering the current circumstances and the events leading up to this, Edwina was probably referring to… bringing Eudora here to meet her, right?

Yes, that must be it.

Otherwise, Violet couldn’t imagine what else she could be hinting at.

After all, by Edwina’s standards, she was already quite direct and straightforward compared to other fanatics, unlike a certain Bright Light Saintess, whose conversations were two-thirds riddles, leaving everyone unclear about what she was really thinking.

She had confirmed repeatedly beforehand that the other party didn’t see her as some kind of baseless figure like the Goddess of Light. While the trust she received was surprisingly strong and somewhat irrational, this was a moment to act decisively—hesitation would only make her appear uncertain.

“…Mm.”

After that, the blonde girl remained silent for a long time. Eventually, she nodded, as if she had reached a conclusion, and gave her formal response.

“I understand. I… no, the Cecilia family will fully support you. Please rest assured, Miss Violet. Thanks to my mentor’s foresight, we have long been prepared.”

The Holy Knight cast her gaze toward a certain pink-haired girl, who was just as confused by the conversation, and in a calm, soft voice, said without hesitation along the deserted path, “So, this child is a demon cub, right? Based on the feeling… a succubus?”

“Sister… Sister Fox…”

“Don’t be scared, don’t be scared~”

Though somewhat surprised by the Holy Knight’s firm stance, at least her earlier words made it clear that she was supportive. Given the number of people around the ?Hall of Theology?, it was best to use the current moment, while no one was passing by, to explain things to Edwina quickly.

“In that case, I’ll be brief. About Eudora…”

In about a few minutes, Violet gave a concise account of how they had accidentally found the child in Bright Light City, taken her back to the inn when she was near death, and treated her, describing the events up to the present. She also briefly mentioned encountering a similar case with another child in Sacred Star City.

“Something like this happened…?”

Hearing the explanation, the Holy Knight furrowed her brow and rested her chin on her hand in thought.

“Normally, demonization only occurs when demon worshipers actively pray to the Four Demon Lords and perform specific rituals, and even then, it’s usually just an incomplete half-demon transformation. It’s rare for a being from this world to fully transform into a high-ranking demon at its core.”

“The public knows little about this and may think demonization means that demonic corruption is spreading among them, but in a true demonic invasion, it’s uncommon for high-ranking demons to bother turning other races into their own kind.”

“If they wanted to create servants or spread their influence, corrupting minds, seduction, or brainwashing would be far more efficient. Demons certainly don’t lack those methods.”

“Not to mention what Miss Dawn mentioned… the method of implanting latent demonic genes that only activate at a certain age. It’s simply unbelievable. What could be the purpose of doing something like that?” Edwina quickly responded, without needing Miss White Fox to bring it up.

“Don’t worry, Miss Dawn. I’ll use my family’s resources to investigate this matter thoroughly. As for children like Eudora… my current plan is to search for more of them and secretly protect them for observation.”

“After all, the children themselves are innocent. They aren’t purely invaders, and they shouldn’t be persecuted because of this. How we deal with them should depend on whether or not they pose a threat and if they eventually develop the same malice toward us as other demons.”

“Historically, our Holy Empire and the demonic forces have been mortal enemies. If we can take this opportunity to learn more about this race, perhaps we can develop more effective strategies for combating their invasions in the future. What do you think, Miss Dawn?”

“Oh my, you’ve said everything I could possibly say! What else can I add?”

“Haha…”

The two girls exchanged glances and shared another knowing smile. Violet finally felt her worries lift.

As expected, trusting Edwina was the right choice.

“Oh! Speaking of which, something this important should definitely be written dow—”

“Just remember it in your head!!”