CH 192

The priests exchanged looks between themselves. Indeed, the Saintess had begun acting abnormally after recovering from her collapse. After awakening, she suddenly gave the order to procure a magazine called ‘The Monthly Continental Handsome Men,’ and went into the ritual wine cellar and uncorked and tasted every bottle by the year. She’d even begun demanding three meals of beef, chicken, and pork every day. Not to mention, she even went so far as to mobilize the secret order of the holy kingdom that only operated undercover. No one dared to speak openly about it, but everyone had been extremely concerned about the sudden change in the saintess’s behavior. But had all of this been because of an oracle?

“What message did the oracle contain to have made you act so…?” a priest trailed off.

The saintess solemnly answered, “The oracle foretold of great peril, and deep despair. The message was so terrifying that I didn’t dare to even speak of it.”

“O God in heaven…”

“God wished for me to act according to the oracle… but even as the saintess, I am but a weak human being. I erred in my ways in an attempt to turn away from the dreaded future… at least for a while.”

“Ahh, so that’s why!” The priests nodded, as if finally coming to terms for the saintess’s out-of-character conduct.

“However, I came to realize the folly of my ways to turn a blind eye as I did. As the saintess, it’s impossible to disobey our Lord above. In my distress, I had no choice but to seek another way.”

The saintess wasn’t able to hide her pity at the sight of the priests listening in rapt attention. ‘If you three were born on the other side, I bet you guys would’ve let in every salesman that came knocking at the door.’ Sure, priests had to obey the saintess’s every word unquestioningly, but how could they fall for this story hook, line and sinker so easily? Nonetheless, she decided the oracle would be the perfect excuse to redirect the priests’s attentions.

Suddenly, an element of the original ‘plot’ she’d written flashed through the saintess’s mind. The saintess could absorb holy power from others! Hadn’t she been brooding over how to recharge her powers? The priests who were earnestly waiting for her to continue were all of high-standing in the holy kingdom, so naturally they also possessed greater holy power than the average priests. ‘Their holy power isn’t much compared to the saintess, but it’s still quite an excellent amount.’ As the saying goes, many a little makes a muckle. Wouldn’t it be possible to recharge some of her power by leeching out theirs?

“Brothers, are your holy powers sound and well?”

“Of course, but why the sudden question?”

The saintess wondered whether she should take their holy power right this instant, but after weighing the idea put it aside. Three was hardly enough. She’d need to gather the power of all the priests in the holy kingdom for the amount to be sufficient.

“You must all listen carefully to me from now on,” the saintess began. “Starting from now, we must prepare for a great trial.”

The priests tensed at the grim look on the saintess’s face, as they thought of the oracle the saintess had spoken of moments ago—the divine message even the saintess feared to voice.

“Return at once to the kingdom and warn everyone. Soon, the time will come when the people of the Holy Land must rise up for this continent. Tell them—reserve your powers and train for that day!”

The priests fell to their knees at the saintess’s resolution of grim determination.

“Ahh, Saintess!”

“The way you care for everyone is so…!”

“Worry not, Saintess! We will return immediately to the holy kingdom to relay your words!”

“Very good. Go quickly. I will contact you again soon, so wait until then. It is time for us to go our separate ways again now. Godspeed, Brothers.”

The saintess made the sign of the cross before turning to leave the alleyway and disappearing into the crowded main road full of people. The priests watched her go, before rising up while wiping the tears flowing down their faces. The saintess was safe, and had bestowed them with a new mission!

While caught up in a reverent mood, one of the priests muttered, “By the by, why didn’t she explain her appearance? Also, more importantly… where is she currently staying?”

Belatedly being reminded that their questions went unanswered, the priests rushed out onto the main road, but by then the saintess was already long gone.