Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 5] Chapter 193

[Vol. 5] Chapter 193: The Poisonous Protection

After hastily riding to the military camp on the outskirts of the city, Violet quickly learned more detailed information from Yuna Summerfield, the Bright Light Saintess, who was in charge there.

It was a long-planned attack.

From the very beginning of the demons’ invasion, they likely had this exact strategy in mind.

The real reason for the loss at the front wasn’t because the Holy Knight Order or the Angel City messed up, or because the defenders were careless, or because the Church didn’t care enough. Rather, it was due to more obvious external factors.

The difference in power between the two sides was simply too great.

The scale of this demon invasion far exceeded everyone’s initial estimates. It’s not just about the ?Slaughter?army being the main force, as previously assumed from the battlefield engagements.

Of the four Demon Lords of the demon realm, aside from the Lord of ?Chaos?, who has no forces, followers, or interest in worldly affairs, the three other major Demon Lords, ?Slaughter?, ?Corruption?, and ?Defilement?, were all involved in this war!

According to the final intelligence received from the Angel City before its fall, during the early morning hours, it seemed that the forces of ?Corruption? had already begun infiltrating the Angel City while the demon army completed its conquest of the two eastern provinces.

They didn’t just covertly spread corruption and interfere with the city’s vital functions, but they also used the powers of ?Defilement? to plant a self-spreading plague within many of the city’s citizens.

As for the ?Slaughter? army, which was the visible military force, they pretended to retreat and acted as if they had no interest in continuing their expansion, leading the Holy Empire to become complacent.

Yuna even suspected that the demons in the west of the Holy Empire, particularly in the St. Bergen Mountain range, were likely trying to divert the attention of the higher-ups in the Church.

This way, they could break through the relatively weak defenses of the Angel City and execute their invasion strategy for the Fulan province.

Throughout history, in the three demon wars, regardless of where the conflict initially erupted or how intense the fighting became, the Angel City, considered the last bastion outside the Eastern capital, had never fallen.

The situation was nearing the point of losing control. If the Fulan province fell entirely, the demon’s blade would soon be at the heart of the Holy Empire.

During the military conference, high-ranking officials, including Yuna Summerfield, the Bright Light Saintess, and Edwina Cecilia, the acting leader of the ?Scales of Judgment?, wore serious expressions.

Clearly, the sudden deterioration of the situation caught them off guard.

“We can’t wait any longer. The army must immediately set off for the Fulan province. We must prevent the demons from fully controlling this critical eastern region. Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

The sudden statement from the Saintess ended the prolonged silence in the room. After a while, a bishop from the Angel City cautiously offered a suggestion.

“However, the forces of the Redemption Saintess, Philomena Lambert, are still at least three hundred kilometers away from the Holy Capital. We originally anticipated that they would arrive within three days, but they are already traveling at full speed. If the army sets off now, they may not even catch up to us before we encounter the demons and start fighting, right?”

“Without the support of the Saintess Healing Order, the initial days of intense combat will likely lead to skyrocketing casualties, and the integration of the eastern and western armies has not yet begun…”

Before he could finish speaking, the Holy Knight, Clatius, who had visited the white fox girl yesterday and was now also dressed in military attire for the meeting, immediately retorted.

“…Don’t you understand? We no longer have time to prepare thoroughly. The Fulan province is one of the three most developed regions in our nation, with a population exceeding one hundred million. Once the demons consume this resource, can you imagine how their power will surge?”

“Furthermore, once they seize the Fulan province, they could launch large-scale attacks on any surrounding province using the extensive road network there. We would no longer have the Angel City as a bastion to gather our forces and defend, and we would have to tire ourselves chasing after their main forces!”

The Holy Knight pounded his fingers on the table, creating a series of warning sounds.

“Because we are the guardians, and they are the invaders! By nature, we are at a disadvantage. We’ve already lost one battle. Now is the most critical moment for both sides to vie for the initiative. This is a life-or-death juncture where we cannot take a single step back, even if it means dying on the battlefield!”

“The Holy War began the moment the bloodlight surged into the sky at the ?Wall of Heaven?! The situation has taken a turn for the worse. What are we still calculating about losses, your family versus my family? Three hundred years of peace and stability, and the goddess’s protective power has made your brains rusty?”

“……”

Clatius’s angry outburst plunged the meeting back into a dead silence.

Everyone understood he was right, the Fulan province was indeed crucial, and the situation had become urgent. However, at the end of the day…

“The demon lords have always been at odds with each other. The alliance of ?Slaughter?, ?Corruption?, and ?Defilement? has never occurred in historical records. Now that the Angel City has fallen, if we hastily send an army to confront them, the chances of survival for those who go in…”

Following this concern, another high-ranking official from the east spoke up.

“Your Highness, I have heard that during the ?Blood Calamity? in the St. Bergen Mountains, a divine white dragon representing light appeared to provide support. Even the goddess herself bestowed miracles to prevent further casualties. I wonder if something similar will happen this time…”

Although the words were somewhat hesitant, it was clear to everyone, including him, that many people’s eyes, including his, had subtly shifted toward the white fox girl, who was standing next to the Bright Light Saintess and the Acting Leader of ?Scales of Judgment? Edwina, listening quietly without speaking a word.

The intention was already very clear.

“Haah…”

Noticing that she had inexplicably become the center of attention, the white fox girl let out a sigh, concealing her emotions.

Here it comes.

This was the price to pay for demonstrating overwhelming power and gaining enough fame and status.

Living beings are inherently dependent. Even if not everyone is this way, at least a significant portion will naturally expect the presence that once helped them to step in again when facing the same difficulties, rather than bearing the risks themselves.

?It was something you could easily handle before, wasn’t it? It should be a simple task for you, right? Why can’t you just help us again while you’re at it??

This was likely the thought in the minds of many present.

Even though they lacked the power to threaten a stronger being, the respect and gratitude they once poured into that being would, at this moment, transform into invisible shackles, pushing them to continue handling troublesome matters they hadn’t intended to deal with.

And with every act of assistance, while it earned more respect, it also reinforced this type of relationship, making the chains heavier until that being, weary and frustrated, would decide to refuse outright.

Long-standing protection, like a flower sheltered in a greenhouse, would suddenly be exposed to the ravages of storms. The only outcome left would be destruction, and the survivors would blame it on “abandonment,” turning against their former protector.

This is something that could very well happen.

Thus, unless faced with a large-scale disaster that was nearly impossible to stop, Violet rarely intervened in the functioning of a nation. She would never stay in one place too long or excessively display her true power.

Similarly, gods do not listen to every single prayer of their followers. They merely exchange belief for blessings, maintaining a relationship almost as simple as a transaction of interests.

Unconditional giving can be a double-edged sword. While it may seem generous, it can also lead to an unhealthy emotional dependency in those who receive it, much like a potent poison.