Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 5] Chapter 263

[Vol. 5] Chapter 263: Speculations About “Her”

Though inwardly Miss White Fox couldn’t help but silently complain, she kept her expression completely unchanged on the outside, ensuring Frederica saw no hint of it.

After a moment of reflection, the Saintess quickly concealed her guilt, returning to her usual calm and composed demeanor.

“It seems little Nana and… others place a great deal of trust in Miss Dawn. Information of this level isn’t something just anyone could access. Since that’s the case, I see no reason to hesitate. Whatever you wish to know, Miss Dawn, just ask.”

Since Frederica was ready, Violet didn’t bother with unnecessary probing and nodded in acknowledgment.

“If I had to name the most intriguing topic, it would certainly be the events surrounding your disappearance on the battlefield, and how you ended up in your current state.”

“The battlefield…”

Frederica nodded knowingly, taking a moment to reflect, as if gathering her thoughts and recalling details.

Soon, she began.

“There’s nothing particularly complicated or dramatic about it.”

“After being ambushed in Saint Sarnos City… I realized the situation was out of control, and our odds of victory were slim. With my last strength, I unleashed the true power of the [Judgment Holy Sword], intending to take down the high-ranking demons who had ambushed me, resulting in mutual destruction. I then ordered a retreat.”

“Initially, I intended to lead the army in a temporary withdrawal from Saint Sarnos City, planning to recover and then look for an opportunity to reclaim the city. However, it seemed the demons had prepared for this. They pursued me relentlessly and had traps set in advance, repeatedly dividing our forces.”

“The number of warriors around me dwindled, and I was gravely injured, barely able to move. Just as it seemed I’d be captured… a shadow guard trained by my family made the quick decision to swap identities with me and sacrificed herself in my place. Thanks to her, and the protection of a few remaining loyal followers, I finally escaped the encirclement.”

As she spoke of the decoy who died in her stead, Frederica’s fists clenched slightly, a shadow of sorrow clouding her otherwise graceful face. Still, she continued her story.

“After fleeing Saint Sarnos City, I planned to head to nearby towns to recover and regroup the scattered forces. But one of my perceptive guards warned me that if even high-ranking clergy in Saint Sarnos City, like Sybil Roland, had turned traitor, it was likely that no city in Sarnos Province could guarantee safety anymore.”

“In my condition, returning to any city might have been as good as walking into a trap.”

“The realization hit me, so I decided to take a gamble and had them lead me eastward, into the uninhabited forests, hills, and marshes to find a safe place to hide.”

“After that, I lost consciousness due to my injuries.”

“But I don’t know what happened to me when I lost consciousness, because suddenly I was here, and even those [Light Worshippers] don’t know how I ended up here. I don’t know who rescued me.”

Seeing that she had shared a lot at once, Miss White Fox refilled Frederica’s teacup. Frederica downed it in one go, nodding in agreement.

“Yes, I later discovered that the demons’ infiltration of Sarnos Province and Keller Province was even more insidious than I’d imagined. They had begun their work long ago, gradually taking control of various institutions and officials both openly and covertly. In truth, they hardly needed to use force to conquer those two provinces.”

“And that battle in Saint Sarnos City… it was meticulously designed as a trap specifically for me. Or rather… it was aimed at the [Judgment Holy Sword] itself.”

The blonde-haired girl suddenly looked up, her bright eyes now carrying an unusually serious gleam.

“Miss Dawn, there’s a traitor within the Church, and it’s someone of very high rank, at least at the Six-Wing Holy Emblem level.”

“A traitor, huh…”

Hearing Miss White Fox murmur in a noncommittal tone, Frederica wasn’t sure what thoughts were running through her mind, but she nodded again to confirm.

“There’s no doubt about it. Without some high-ranking insiders helping cover things up, there’s no way the demons could have corrupted the two provinces right under our noses. However… I still haven’t identified the traitor, which is why I haven’t returned to the Church. Instead, I’m operating in secret, observing from the shadows.”

“Of course…”

Frederica gave a faint smile.

“But it absolutely can’t be an outsider like you, Miss Dawn. So, ironically, you’re one of the least suspicious people at present.”

“Oh, no wonder you chose to meet with me in person.”

The Saintess nodded with a quiet sigh.

“The Goddess Church is no longer safe. Although I don’t fully understand why these demons and the traitor within the Church are so determined to frame me and seize the [Judgment Holy Sword], the more they try, the more I can’t let them succeed.”

As the conversation naturally progressed, Violet thought for a moment before casually asking, “So, do you still have the genuine [Judgment Holy Sword] with you?”

“It’s with me. But… what do you mean by ‘the genuine one’?”

“Well, actually…”

Taking a moment, Violet roughly described the various situations they had encountered in Saint Sarnos City, as part of a mutual exchange of information.

Of course, she left out Eudora’s identity as a succubus, merely glossing over it vaguely in front of this Saintess.

After listening, Frederica quickly fell into thought.

“You’re saying someone forged a replica of the [Judgment Holy Sword] and deliberately guided thieves to unearth it, creating the illusion of an artifact’s emergence?”

Meeting Violet’s quiet gaze after recounting her past experiences, the Saintess looked puzzled.

“What special significance would that have?”

“Hmm, significance…”

Violet rhythmically tapped her white fingers on the tabletop, creating a steady “tap-tap” sound—a habitual gesture when she was deep in thought.

After a moment, she murmured, “I wasn’t entirely sure of the purpose of such behavior before. But since Miss Frederica believes there’s a highly placed traitor within the Goddess Church, and since the other side has carefully plotted to seize the [Judgment Holy Sword], let’s assume that as a basis for our speculation.”

She raised a finger.

“Assuming the other party’s goal truly is to obtain the [Judgment Holy Sword], then the first point and the most crucial one is to ensure that you, the Judgment Saintess, are isolated from the Holy Capital, creating an environment conducive to their plans.”

“Moreover, no matter what happens on your side, they must prevent the Church in the Holy Capital from initiating the sacred summoning ritual that would recall the Holy Sword back to the Goddess Church’s stronghold. Otherwise, everything would be for nothing.”

As Frederica’s brows began to furrow, Violet continued her reasoning.

“And in fact, both of these points have already been achieved. You’re hiding in a remote area in the eastern part of Sarnos Province, and the ritual the Church intended to carry out has been prevented as well. Although various forces interfered to make that happen, the outcome is what it is.”

Then, she lifted another slender, pale finger into the air.

“Next, to ensure that the Holy Empire has no time to search for the missing Saintess and the Holy Sword, the traitor must instigate an even more severe crisis to occupy the Holy Empire and the Goddess Church… so the fall of the Angel City occurred, and a holy war erupted in the worst possible circumstances.”

Finally, Violet held up three fingers.

“With the first two points unfolding as planned, the next step would be to wait until both sides are locked in battle, ensuring few would be paying attention to this remote, demon-infested region in eastern Sarnos. Then, when the time is right, they would locate you, the Saintess who escaped with the Holy Sword, and either seize it or trick you into handing it over to achieve their ultimate goal.”

“But, since this traitor is a high-ranking member of the Goddess Church, it wouldn’t be convenient for them to personally come here under the current circumstances. So they must rely on others: demons, remnants of the Holy Empire, or even outsiders like me who aren’t affiliated with any side…”

“They need to pinpoint your exact location, Frederica Cecilia, to lay the groundwork for the next step.”

“That’s why, through the staging of a fake Holy Sword discovery and its subsequent ‘disappearance,’ they’re sending a message to everyone: the [Judgment Holy Sword] is somewhere in Sarnos Province. They’re prompting all these various forces, with their own agendas, to start a storm and, in doing so, draw out the real Holy Sword.”