Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 5] Chapter 258

[Vol. 5] Chapter 258: The Truth

Elrand furrowed his brows in confusion.

“But, Miss Dawn, according to our later examinations of the bodies found in the forest, many of them were killed by having vital points pierced by long, sharp objects, draining their blood entirely. Those wounds almost perfectly match the sharp branches once exhibited by the Blood Tree…”

Instead of directly responding to the question, Violet simply waved her hand and changed the topic.

“Have the captured vampires woken up yet?”

The missionary was momentarily stunned, then nodded honestly.

“They’ve woken up, but their minds seem to be affected by some external force. They’re not only unable to communicate normally with the interrogators but also scream and wildly attack anything within their sight, even themselves.”

“In the end, we had no choice but to separate them, keeping them individually confined and binding them tightly with magical ropes to prevent self-harm.”

“Hmm~ Since that’s the case, haven’t you connected any of this yet?”

Miss White Fox placed her half-empty teacup back on the table, and Xavier, sitting opposite her, promptly refilled it.

It seemed that Elrand suddenly came to a realization, his face lighting up with understanding.

“Oh! Miss Dawn, you mean that tree… it’s the same as them…!”

“The Demon Lord of Slaughter, Sluthel.”

Following the missionary’s words, Violet naturally uttered the name.

“That’s the mastermind colluding with the vampires, conducting evil rituals beneath the forest. The [Blood Calamity] in the St. Bergen Mountains was also orchestrated by him.”

“Moreover, that creature’s activities are likely still progressing steadily and will soon reveal its full menace again. Mr. Elrand, you should understand what the title of Demon Lord implies. It represents an entity as powerful as a god, whose every action can wreak catastrophic devastation upon the mortal world.”

Elrand furrowed his brows, sensing the ominous future hinted at in the warning, yet he still appeared confused.

“The Demon Lord of Slaughter is indeed a terrifying existence, but Miss Dawn, does he have any connection to the approach we’re discussing for handling that tree?”

“Of course there’s a connection.”

With a gentle laugh, Miss White Fox, who had carefully controlled the direction of the conversation, as if leading him along, spoke again.

“Sluthel is a being of [Slaughter] intent, comparable to a god. His purpose is to bring endless bloodshed and death to this world. But he is not the only deity. There are other gods in this world whose power rivals his, yet with opposing purposes. One of those gods is deeply connected to this Blood Tree.”

“You could call her the [Goddess of Life, Sethlin].”

Realizing the implications of her words, Elrand’s mouth twitched slightly, and his expression turned somewhat peculiar.

“Miss Dawn… are you planning to preach to us?”

The White Fox girl laughed and shook her head.

“I don’t worship the Goddess of Life, and she likely has no organized religion under her, so there’s no need for concern. I only mentioned her to give you a guiding path while achieving my own goals.”

“The power of a god can only be countered by another divine being. I know your [Light Worshipper Church] has its own faith, but from what I see… it may not be enough to protect you against the invasion of [Slaughter].”

Miss White Fox turned to gaze at the bright sunlight streaming in from outside, where a green potted plant on the windowsill swayed gently in the warm breeze. Her pure white mask seemed to reflect a soft, lustrous glow.

“Mr. Elrand, while we’re on this topic, could you tell me about the core doctrines of your [Light Worshipper Church]?”

“Is it truly a god? Or… something even more profound and elusive?”

……………………….

“This is the grace granted by the Primordial Light, little one. Your prayers have been answered.”

Bathed in the light of the morning sun, the blood-stained Holy Knight extended her hand, which had just been holding the holy cross shield, to the girl curled up on the ground.

Not far from them, houses burned fiercely from the intense battle, and the ground was littered with bodies in the ruins. At the feet of the golden-haired young woman lay the massive head of a [Blade Demon], its lifeless, headless body already collapsed nearby.

“W-who are you?”

In front of Edwina stood a young farm girl, her clothes in tatters, a pair of small deer-like antlers on her head. She looked to be barely past ten, and like a frightened fawn, she cautiously extended her mud-stained hand, her clear eyes filled with confusion and fear at the sudden change.

The Holy Knight planted her equally blood-stained holy sword into the ground and gently helped the girl up, her pale golden eyes showing a hint of a gentle smile.

“Little sister, we are knights of the Goddess, messengers of the Holy Light. The demons that attacked this place have all been wiped out. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

“Messengers… Goddess? Has the Goddess really come to save us?”

The girl’s bewildered expression gradually turned to one of joy, and she quickly turned around.

“Then, Sister Messenger, please, ask the Goddess to show mercy again! Let my mom and dad, and everyone in the village, wake up too, please!”

At her feet lay a middle-aged farm couple, appearing to be in their forties. They lay on the ground, embracing each other tightly. Their backs, facing outward, bore horrific sword wounds that nearly severed their spines.

Their blood had already drained away, as had any trace of life.

The comforting smile on Edwina’s face gradually faded as she gently patted the girl’s frail, young shoulder.

By the time she arrived, this small village had already become a hell under the iron heel of [Slaughter]. If this couple hadn’t sacrificed themselves to block the fatal blows and shielded their young daughter before their deaths, the girl would likely…

Seeing the Holy Knight’s silent reaction, the glimmer of hope that had just lit up in the girl’s eyes quickly faded again.

“They can’t come back… I-I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked the Goddess for something so selfish…”

“But… why was I the only one saved?”

A faint flush appeared at the girl’s tear-streaked eyes, and her gaze turned distant as if she were recalling memories, muttering to herself.

“Mom and Dad were devout too. Every morning and evening, they would pray to the Goddess with me. Every month, they’d travel all the way to the city to worship at the temple…”

“They always told me… ‘Xiaolin, when you pray, you must have a pure heart. Don’t keep thinking… thinking only about asking the Goddess for sweets and picture books. The grace of the Divine… is meant to protect all people and our homeland. Pray sincerely, and the Goddess will hear the wishes of every believer’…”

As she spoke, tears began to flow uncontrollably down the girl’s cheeks, and her clear voice quivered with sobs. She tried to wipe her tears, but the blood and dirt on her hands smeared across her face, giving her a streaked, tear-stained appearance as she continued to tremble.

“But… *sniff*… why, why did something so terrible have to happen to us? Isn’t the Goddess watching over us? Weren’t my parents and everyone else faithful enough? Why did the Goddess… why did the Goddess treat us this way? Does she even exist?”

“…She does.”

After a long silence, the Holy Knight spoke once more.

“Then… then why…”

With a gentle sigh, Edwina placed her hand on the girl’s messy hair, the bun having come loose in the chaos, and pulled her into an embrace, speaking softly.

“Child, the Goddess exists, but you must understand, her blessings and protection are not without limit. She possesses wisdom and power beyond our comprehension, but she is not all-seeing or all-powerful.”

“Her gaze cannot reach every shadow, and that’s why she walks upon the earth and the mountains, treads through valleys and rivers, witnessing life and death in their truest forms, observing the rise and fall of the sun and moon…”

“The Goddess does exist, but precisely because she is real, there are things she cannot do. She is not an empty promise of omnipotence.”

“She is a compassionate deity, but she is not a savior who grants everything unconditionally. We are meant to seek her, not to demand that she give us everything. This is why we, her messengers and knights, exist.”

“This is why we’re here, because it is the will of the Primordial Light, the path she guides us on.”

“We are only mortals. We cannot bring the dead back to life. But at the very least… we can prevent the next tragedy.”

“Child, wipe away your tears, and remember this: you must be able to see, who the true culprit really is.”