“So, have you figured everything out?”
“Yes. I was afraid, but it turns out there are a few mixed in with the Holy Knight Order.”
Arin nodded in response to my question, looking a bit fed up as she scratched her head nervously.
While checking the list written on the paper, Arin clicked her tongue and handed the sheet to me.
“I never thought the Emperor’s hand would reach the Holy Kingdom.”
“That guy wouldn’t enter an alliance unprepared.”
“…Do you think the Pope is unaware?”
I chuckled at her cautious question. After spending decades ruling a nation, there’s no way that guy would be ignorant of such tricks.
He’s aware but chooses to let it be. He probably plans to use it against them. Just like I’m using Allen as an informant for the Imperial Family.
“Can that really be the case?”
“What on earth could he be thinking?”
“You don’t try to decipher the mind of an old fox. It’s easier to just let him be.”
The Pope isn’t particularly interested in anything outside the Holy Kingdom.
As long as he doesn’t directly interfere with the Holy Kingdom, there’s a high chance he’ll turn a blind eye to the Emperor’s plans. That’s why the Emperor also avoids meddling with the Holy Kingdom.
Unless he’s prepared, challenging the Pope would be like asking for trouble.
This time, the Emperor probably had a lot of interference in the monster extermination war to set the stage. Of course, I accepted everything that didn’t get on my nerves.
Letting him do as he wishes would make it easier for the Pope to understand the Emperor’s threats.
“What we need to do is merely inform him of the situation in my sanctuary.”
“So, the Pope is completely unaware of the Emperor’s plan?”
“If he knew, he would have acted long ago.”
It’s a plan that could potentially kill thousands of people.
The way he plays tricks may be sneaky, but his faith and spirit of sacrifice are on par with any saint of the Goddess.
There’s no way that beloved Pope would sit and do nothing while his people are endangered.
“I see.”
Arin nodded in understanding to my explanation.
She slowly began scanning the list she had handed me. The number of infiltrators mixed into the Holy Knight Order was fewer than I expected.
Only about three or four at most. I had more than that on my list of servants.
Actually, it’s impressive that there are even that many in the Holy Knight Order, representing the Holy Kingdom. I can only wonder what kind of scheme they ran.
One name particularly stood out to me.
‘Yurph von Ernest.’
I never imagined she would participate in this extermination war.
In the original story, Yurph does not join the extermination war.
Though she possessed the talent to receive the Goddess’s blessing, her body rejected divine power, which was the main reason.
The moment she gets a scratch on the battlefield, she can’t be healed just by another priest’s help. Her condition doesn’t recover well even with potions.
That’s why there’s a reason the saint candidate isn’t deployed directly to the battlefield. Just as evidence, she almost died from poison from a monster last time.
‘Destiny, they said.’
Those were the words that slipped from the Pope’s mouth.
The decision to let Yurph fight in this extermination war was likely due to that so-called destiny.
Suddenly, I recalled her from the original story.
False saint, traitor, and many more titles…
She was showered with countless epithets, all due to her multi-faceted nature that made her one of the readers’ favorite supporting characters.
She was one of the few who knew about her being the Emperor’s Eye as a stand-in. Therefore, the conflicting emotions Yurph possessed made her an attractive character.
Seeing her now in reality, I couldn’t help but feel a bitter taste.
“Are you not going to tell me her true identity?”
Arin quietly skimmed the names on the list beside me and asked. I lowered the paper with the list.
Turning my head, I saw the worried expression on Arin’s face. It seemed she’d really grown fond of her after spending a month with Adele.
Her face looked like she was worried about her disciple. Did I used to have a similar expression back in the day? I cleared my mind and answered.
“Even if she’s rotten, she’s still a saint candidate. Do you think the Emperor would recklessly move someone he cherishes?”
“That’s true. From the Emperor’s standpoint, she would be a valuable piece that he can’t use freely.”
“Exactly.”
There’s no way the Emperor would use a valuable piece like Yurph just to deal with Adele.
In the original story, he cherished her so much that he ended up being betrayed by her. I doubt this world’s Emperor would be much different.
No matter how strong he is, his essence remains that of a coward.
§
Suddenly, I opened my eyes. An unfamiliar ceiling came into view. A white canvas spread between the wooden beams.
The cold sensation of steel was felt on the arm resting on the bed.
Yurph, quietly observing the scene, slowly rose. The serious condition she had was now completely gone.
‘I’m not in pain.’
The pain that used to sear my lungs, making it hard to breathe, had vanished without a trace.
The hunger she had endured was also gone.
For the first time in a while, she closed her eyes in the peace she felt. The divine power swirling around her felt more active than usual.
That meant she was in good condition.
As Yurph opened her eyes, she noticed a woman sleeping, sprawled across the bed.
A woman with disheveled white hair caught her eye.
‘Id, was it?’
Member of the Black Raven Knights of the Empire of Arye.
A capable person who belonged to that faction, a spirit knight and her personal guard. The one who saved her from being killed by a monster.
And the one who used that precious panacea on her when she was dying from poison.
‘Looks like I’ve been saved once again.’
Since realizing her true identity, it had always been this way. Was the Goddess ensuring her survival? Yurph had always just barely escaped death.
She was merely a substitute created to replace a country girl named Yurph. When the Pope conferred the title of saint candidate upon her, it was a shock she couldn’t hide.
She had started fasting, hoping he would revoke her status as a saint candidate. But each time she voiced it, the Pope would flatly refuse.
Cool…
The sight of Id sleeping soundly caught her attention. The way she was sprawled on the floor beside the bed looked incredibly uncomfortable.
Still, she wore a peaceful expression as she slept.
‘Sleeping like that is sure to hurt her back.’
That worry crossed Yurph’s mind. After all, she had hurt her back once doing the same while nursing a patient.
As she reached her hand towards Id, Yurph instinctively hesitated, recalling past memories.
‘Is it really okay to do this?’
The vision of Kal’s face remained fresh in her mind. Even after uncovering the truth that she was a substitute made by the Emperor, she still thought of herself as Yurph.
His last look while spitting blood in the flames, smiling despite the situation. The determination in Kal’s eyes when he vowed to return the favor she owed him.
‘What should I do, Mr. Kal?’
No answer came to her silent question.
It was a question she could never ask Kal now.
He had already been replaced by the Emperor’s Eye. That’s why she had been treating him with disdain up to this point.
She couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge that he was like Kal. She knew it was like spitting on her own face, but she couldn’t shake that thought.
“Oh, you’re awake.”
Id wiped the drool from her mouth and looked at Yurph. Yurph hurriedly withdrew her hand, which had been hovering in mid-air.
Id, seemingly disinterested in Yurph’s reaction, rubbed her eyes and quietly sat down in the chair beside the bed.
Id was still half-asleep, shaking her head as she tried to wake up.
Yet, still appearing tired, her eyes kept drooping.
[Bless.]
She granted Id a touch of divine power. It shouldn’t matter too much to do this. The Emperor wouldn’t be monitoring her actions 24/7.
As the divine power seeped into her body, Id’s eyes widened. Once she was fully awake, she looked around her body in amazement.
Then, she turned to Yurph and asked.
“How did you do that?”
“Just a regular blessing.”
A priest’s blessing itself can invigorate a person. If used this way, it shouldn’t be too hard to wake up early in the morning.
Yurph’s explanation made Id’s eyes sparkle with curiosity.
“Can I do that too?”
“Uh… probably not.”
Yurph shook her head slightly.
“You need to receive baptism directly in the Holy Kingdom to handle divine power.”
“Oh… that’s a shame.”
Id sighed in genuine disappointment at her answer. Yurph couldn’t help but chuckle at the visible emotions on Id’s face.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You look good when you smile.”
She spoke with a smile in her eyes.
Id, who had rarely smiled, tried to smile again, but all she felt was the awkward tremor of her own muscles.
Seeing that, Id couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“I guess you’re not used to it, huh? Smiling.”
“…Yeah. There haven’t been many reasons to smile.”
“Then, you should try to smile a lot from now on. There may be plenty of reasons to smile ahead of you.”
“Really?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
Id replied, affirming her question with confidence. Yurph felt slightly envious of Id’s positive demeanor.
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