Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 5] Chapter 264

[Vol. 5] Chapter 264: The Collapse of Faith and a Sense of Unease

“……”

Noticing the Saintess’s body tense up involuntarily, Violet, who had a rough idea of what was on her mind, shook her head and spoke with a sigh.

“Relax. I haven’t sunk to the level of becoming someone else’s tool or hunting dog. As long as you don’t slip up, I can assure you the [Judgment Holy Sword] will remain safe.”

“To be honest, while I do have some interest in that thing, it’s just a mild curiosity. I won’t be going after it.”

“… Apologies, I guess I got a bit overly tense.”

It was clear that, although Frederica wasn’t saying it outright, as the Judgment Saintess for the Holy Empire, she was undoubtedly anxious about her homeland and her family on the battlefield, hoping to break through the current situation.

That was why she sought a way forward, even willing to take the risk of meeting with Dawn—an unknown, yet seemingly trustworthy, powerful ally.

Now that the general circumstances were clear, it wasn’t difficult to deduce her intentions.

“With things as they are, I can only trust in your capabilities and character, Miss Dawn. I just hope that this gamble… won’t end up as one of my life’s greatest regrets.”

Knowing there was no point in making grand promises, Violet simply smiled noncommittally and moved the conversation forward.

“Now, let’s talk about another matter that’s intrigued me for a while, Miss Frederica. Why did you join the [Light Worshipper Church] and even rise to a high-ranking position?”

“Well… the reason is rather complicated.”

The Saintess brushed back a lock of golden hair by her temple. Though her face was almost identical to Edwina’s, Frederica carried a faint charm and gentleness of a mature woman. Perhaps it had something to do with their age difference.

Clearly, this person was just an unmarried young woman, yet was there something she was secretly hiding…?

Just as someone began to let their mind wander and grew somewhat improper, Frederica’s gentle and serious voice rang out again, clear and unbothered.

“Miss Dawn, have you noticed? In this area… I mean, in the large surrounding region around this settlement, the followers are unable to use faith-based magic. Even if they can use it, the power is greatly weakened.”

“Oh~?”

Though Violet instinctively responded with a feigned tone of surprise, trying to cover up her previous lapse in attention, she had indeed noticed something similar.

As soon as they had arrived at the primitive forest, feeling the faint, familiar aura lingering in the land, Violet had asked her companions a similar question at the time.

She had asked, “Does anyone here use faith-based magic?”

Though this question hadn’t been answered due to the absence of any followers of the Goddess, upon reaching the settlement, she had subtly inquired among the local residents.

The answer she received was that since the demon invasion began, much of the area, specifically the eastern region of the Sarnos Province, could no longer use faith-based magic, or to be more precise, the power of faith-based magic had been significantly weakened.

But faith-based magic is a gift from the supreme, omniscient, and all-powerful Goddess of Light. How could it be weakened or vanish just like that?

Regardless of the reason, many of the scattered members of the church were greatly shaken by this, causing their faith to falter. This was one of the main reasons they chose to join the [Light Worshipper Church], an organization that resembled the Goddess Church, and continued their activities under a new identity.

However, such a situation began to change once Violet and the others arrived and destroyed the hidden blood ritual site underground.

The followers were able to reconnect with the familiar power they once knew, and the entire settlement regained a bit of vitality as a result. Additionally, Violet had skillfully revealed Dawn’s identity at the right moment, which allowed them to gain recognition and trust from the [Light Worshipper Church].

The subsequent events are not worth mentioning for now, but the reason why faith-based magic had failed in this area and why it was reactivated after their arrival was something Miss White Fox had already mostly figured out.

It was likely related to the [Blood of the Inverted Cross], the ritual that interfered with the local faith-based magic system, similar to what had happened under the St. Bergen Mountains on a larger scale.

So, after they repelled the Demon Lord of Slaughter and destroyed the blood pools and rituals deep underground, the interference ceased.

If similar situations exist in many other parts of the Sarnos Province, it further suggests that the Demon Lord of Slaughter’s sacrificial ritual was not limited to just this location.

No wonder that guy, and even his generals, were still so convinced that the “Day of the Slaughter” would come, even though they had been beaten back at that time.

At this point, seeing that Miss White Fox hadn’t responded for a long time, Frederica gritted her teeth and suddenly brought up a… seemingly odd topic.

“Miss Dawn doesn’t seem to be a resident of the Holy Empire, and your race doesn’t seem as simple as human. Since you possess such powerful strength, you must be a senior with great experience and background, right? Can I ask, do you remember when faith-based magic… this ability, first appeared?”

“Hm?”

Noticing that Frederica’s expression changed when she brought this up, Violet didn’t bother with the implied “Aren’t you quite old, senior?” instead, she furrowed her brows and asked with interest.

“What do you mean by when it appeared?”

Hearing Violet’ somewhat unusual tone, Frederica realized her previous approach had been a bit too hasty. After taking a deep breath to calm herself, she slightly nodded and explained.

“You see, no matter the magic spells or the system of magic, they are always developed and passed down by predecessors. Although faith-based magic is said to be a power granted by the Goddess, it couldn’t have appeared out of nowhere. There must have been a process from nothing to something, from giving to receiving, right?”

“But… there is nothing. As the Judgement Saintess, I am well-versed in the history of the Holy Empire, whether it’s official history or the more obscure accounts. But none of the records or inherited documents that still exist describe in detail the process by which the Goddess granted her followers the power of faith-based magic.”

“…It’s as if it appeared out of thin air, as if it has always existed since the birth of the Holy Empire.”

“But that’s clearly very strange, isn’t it? It’s too strange!”

“Magic, in the end, is just a tool for living beings. How could it have no origin and bind itself to the followers? And, and if such a power existed, then why, during previous wars that were far smaller in scale than the current demonic war, did the losses and disasters recorded in history reach such horrifying extremes?”

“……”

Watching the blonde-haired girl grow more and more agitated, losing control of her emotions to the point where her eyes became slightly unfocused, murmuring in confusion, “When did we, the people of the Holy Empire… when did we, the followers of the Goddess, gain this power…?”

Violet furrowed her brow beneath her mask even tighter.

She hadn’t really thought about this aspect before.

But Frederica wasn’t wrong. If you think about it carefully, there are indeed subtle inconsistencies that become apparent, especially to those who are well-versed in the history of the Holy Empire. This sense of contradiction…

Clearly, for a saintess so devout in her faith, realizing something so unsettling and terrifying would likely cause a huge shake in her beliefs… that was almost certain.

Since her disappearance, Frederica had likely been contemplating and enduring this kind of unease, after all, the more devout a believer, the greater the impact when their faith collapses.

This truly is a crucial lead to notice.