Chapter 127.2

“H-Hero, what are you saying…?”

Considering her stiffened body posture and emotions bristled like the hairs of an animal, it seemed like my conjuncture was wrong.

Or was she simply surprised?

“I’m saying that it’s alright to let go of the burdens that bind you. Even if you quit, I’ll take measures to ensure it doesn’t affect your life…”

“I don’t want to quit!”

Uh-oh, a surprise.

Startled, Ophelia dithered back and then bowed her head.

“I’m sorry for raising my voice… but I have no intention of quitting as a Saintess Candidate. Please let me continue!”

Ophelia’s voice carried a sense of earnestness.

‘She seems sincere.’

Has her perspective changed from the game version?

No, but if she wants to be a Saintess Candidate, why hasn’t she been going to the church?

As I was pondering, Archbishop Vedic suddenly cut in.

“I didn’t know Lady Ophelia have such overflowing passion. I must have misunderstood because you haven’t been showing up at the church for a while.”

It seemed the Archbishop had the same second thoughts like mine.

“Then, how about we do it this way? As planned, Lady Marietta will join Hero Cloud’s party, and Lady Ophelia will join Hero Lorian’s party.”

“…What?”

Ophelia widened her eyes in apparent confusion and tilted her head. I felt the same way. What kind of nonsense was this old, senile man blabbering with such a winsome, cheerful smile?

“Lady Marietta has already estranged herself from the people in Hero Lorian’s party. It’d be difficult for her to go back. That’s why I’m making this suggestion. It might be a little jarring, but Lady Ophelia, as a Saintess candidate, can still fulfill her role. Isn’t it a good thing?”

“What nonsense are you babbling?! Why should I leave Cloud’s side just because of something you two arbitrarily decided?”

“Well…”

Archbishop Vedic let out a heavy sigh as if it was difficult for him to say what he was about to say.

“It’s because Lady Ophelia lacks the ability to serve alongside Hero Cloud.”

“What, what are you saying…?”

Her eyelids trembled as if in shock. I, who was about to interrupt, stopped short upon hearing the Archbishop’s words.

Lacks the ability, huh?

What did he see to make such a judgment?

“Do you not trust me?”

“Of course not!”

“Well, then there’s no choice. I’ll have to show you myself. Lady Marietta, I know it’s bothersome, but I ask for your assistance.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Marietta calmly nodded her head, clasping her hands to her chest and reciting a prayer.

A golden radiance intertwined in her hands. The light briefly enveloped Ophelia before disappearing. However, even though the light was gone, she still looked bewildered.

“Marietta, please endow this upon the hero as well.”

A golden radiance enveloped me.

As my head cleared, my body felt lighter, and my mana became purified, the effect was even better than my usual buff, [All Blessings].

In “The Hero’s Party,” there is only one buff that surpasses [All Blessings].

“The Blessing of the Goddess?”

“As expected of you, Hero. You recognized it right away. As you can see, Lady Marietta can use the ‘Blessing of the Goddess,’ which only a select few devotees could use throughout history. She can even bestow the blessing upon others.”

The Archbishop praised her, pronouncing how she was the only one on the whole continent who could do such a thing in the present.

I wasn’t particularly impressed by those words.

Well, that’s understandable.

“But Ophelia can use this too?”

Since [Blessing of the Goddess] is a basic skill that Saintess Candidates learn automatically as their levels increase.

“It’s not like it’s some ancient hidden blessing found in a dungeon… It’s a bit excessive to arrange replacement because of something like this…”

Isn’t that right?

That’s what I think.

However, it seemed unexpected both to the Archbishop and Marietta, judging by their stiff expressions.

No matter how indolent our Ophelia looks, how could they undermine her so?

“Ophelia, show them.”

Actions speak louder than empty words.

I turned my head towards Ophelia.

However, something unexpected happened.

Ophelia began sweating profusely, keeping her mouth tightly shut…

“Ophelia?”

What are you doing? Show them already.

If you keep doing this, it would look like I’m lying for the sake of appearance.

“Ophelia?”

Why are you clenching your fists so tightly?

Why does your face look so pale?

Just using the darned blessing once.

It’s supposed to be extremely easy.

After all the hard work we went through, you went around showing off everywhere once you mastered it, didn’t you?

Back then, even if I tugged your braid, you wouldn’t stop bragging, but now, even when I ask you to do it, you won’t?

“Well, um…”

“Um?”

“Well, you see…”

“I see?”

As Ophelia stumbled over her words, she finally managed to speak with a quavering tone after several attempts.

“I, I can’t do it any lon—”

I was upon Ophelia and Ophelia was before me, hand struck to the wall beside her head, red-eyed, I asked.

“What happened to the levels we ground?!”