It’s been two years since Yulicia dedicated herself to the Piggero Church through the first Holy Maiden, Maien.
Yulicia followed Maien around, assisting her as the Holy Maiden. She found no task boring.
For Yulicia, Maien’s words and actions were her life’s roadmap and compass.
Yulicia had no doubt that whenever the time came for Maien to leave her, she would surely give her a heads-up.
The basis for this was the bond they had built over a long period of time.
But suddenly, without a word, it was as if she erased herself from this world.
There were no signs whatsoever.
The Holy Maiden of Piggero, Maien, vanished without a trace.
“Maien.”
Yulicia searched throughout the Wirend Kingdom and the entire Gehergen continent. But Maien was nowhere to be found.
The second Holy Maiden stood on the podium with a stern face, claiming she had heard the call of Malphas. Then she flickered a pure white light in her right hand, proof of her status.
Yulicia couldn’t care less about the second Holy Maiden, Elfin. The reason she had spent nearly two years in Piggero wasn’t the Piggero Church itself, nor the god at its source, Malphas.
“Maien.”
She had lived only for the first Holy Maiden who saved her.
The second Holy Maiden, Amosen, was a devout follower who had spent seven years in Piggero, so Yulicia had no doubts about her becoming a Holy Maiden. It had only been ten years since Piggero erupted in this land, Wirend Kingdom.
Seven years together was certainly not a short time.
As a two-year follower, Yulicia immediately approached the new Holy Maiden, Elfin, and asked,
“Did Malphas not say anything about the first Holy Maiden, Maien?”
Elfin wore a woeful expression and only smiled wryly.
“…Right now, all I can do is listen to the words given by Malphas. It seems to be similar to what Maien experienced in her early days.”
Elfin looked genuinely sorry. She bowed her head.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of help.”
Yulicia shook her head. Her long silver hair swayed. Just as she was about to leave, Elfin added something from behind.
“Sister Yulicia, if you find any news about Maien, please let me know. I also revered Maien.”
Revered.
Yulicia slowly nodded.
“Understood.”
Is there anyone among the followers of Piggero who didn’t revere the first Holy Maiden, Maien? Yulicia was certain there wasn’t.
She scoured the empire and even requested the Information Guild, but not a single person knew anything about Maien, who vanished overnight.
“Maien.”
Where on earth are you?
Yulicia took out a compass from her bag. It was a finely crafted compass set in dark brown wood.
It was the precious gift that Maien had given her.
– Yulicia is very strong and independent but incredibly dependent on me. She thinks of me almost like a compass, I suppose?
Maien had said that as she gifted the compass to Yulicia.
– Actually, I just thought it was pretty artistically, so I’m giving it to you. If I ever decide to quit being a Holy Maiden and travel, look at this and think deeply about what you want to do, Yulicia.
– Yes.
Yulicia had answered very courteously and obediently, just as she always did.
She stared blankly at the compass sitting on her desk.
But no paths for living came to her mind. She had no thoughts of leaving the Piggero Church. While it was true that Maien was a huge part of why she dedicated herself to Piggero, she also held a strong affection for Piggero, built with the fellow followers she could call her companions.
Clearly, the affection for Piggero, built alongside the companions who could be called followers, was just as immense.
Yulicia lived in a world without Maien. She couldn’t adapt at all, but she couldn’t just wait indefinitely for someone who wouldn’t show up no matter how much she searched.
*
It didn’t take long for an incident to occur.
In just 2 years, the second holy maiden, Elfin, of [Piggero] disappeared.
[Piggero] was thrown into great shock once again, having just lost the first holy maiden, Maien. How could the second holy maiden vanish so soon?
Yulicia and more than 500 followers of [Piggero] gathered in the temple for the morning worship.
As she raised her head after offering her morning prayers, Yulicia was horrified to hear a voice echoing in her mind.
– Now you’re the holy maiden.
On the second anniversary of Maien’s death, Yulicia became the third holy maiden.
– First, continue to offer your prayers diligently.
Yulicia deeply bowed her head.
The voice of the god was lower and more unsettling than she expected.
Before long, Yulicia heard news about the traces left by the second holy maiden, Elfin, before her death.
The Information Guild of the Astes Empire was reportedly finding something through a medium called ‘pendant’ and noting down the fact that a nun was dressed in white.
“Holy Maiden, it seems the Information Guild of the Astes Empire is tracking our Piggero.”
Without hesitation, Yulicia replied to her follower.
“Keep it hidden. Tell no one.”
“Understood.”
Upon entering her office, Yulicia began to deduce. What on earth was going on? Just then, someone came to visit Yulicia.
It was her younger brother, who was still only sixteen and much younger than Elfin.
“You said you were heading to the Astes Empire. The day before she… disappeared.”
Yulicia knew that even a ‘holy maiden’ appointed by a god couldn’t read thoughts, so she asked without hesitation.
Unless followers were sent down to the Intermediate World, she couldn’t have heard all the conversations happening there.
“Did Elfin holy maiden say anything before she left for the Astes Empire?”
At Yulicia’s words, her brother slowly nodded.
“She said we need to head to the capital of the Astes Empire. She mentioned it was the words of Malphas…”
The capital of the Astes Empire.
The words of Malphas.
Yulicia naturally concluded that ‘Malphas’ must have been trying to meet someone.
The probability that Malphas was trying to meet the emperor of Astes was… almost nonexistent.
Astes was indeed a powerful nation worthy of the title of great empire.
If they were other human officials, they would gladly endure any trouble to go to the capital if they could meet the emperor.
However, ‘Malphas’ was a god, not a human. The scale of interest was completely different.
If a god went out of their way to meet someone, who could it be?
Yulicia recalled the person who was currently the most recognized figure in the Astes Empire.
The God of War, Duke Yuma.
He was known across the continent as the dragon slayer who killed the Black Dragon.
The part about Yuma being the first to kill the evil god Incrinew was quietly buried under the sacred wall of the now-temple of the God of War, so it hadn’t leaked to anyone.
All Yulicia could think about was that he killed the Black Dragon.
It was something that transcended the realm of humans.
‘The God of War, Yuma… did they move the second holy maiden to meet him? In the capital of the Astes Empire?’
It seemed more likely that she was trying to meet Yuma rather than the emperor.
But why has the second holy maiden, Elfin, who went to meet him, disappeared without a trace?
But what could be the reason that the second Holy Maiden Elfin, who went to meet him, disappeared without a trace?
‘Divine Descent.’
Divine Descent (降神).
The act of a god residing in a human body.
“They said even a Grandmaster-level would have a hard time enduring Divine Descent.”
That was something the first Holy Maiden Maien had said.
Suddenly vanishing as if she never existed.
“The backlash of Divine Descent.”
The second Holy Maiden Elfin underwent Divine Descent in the imperial capital. She died from the ensuing backlash. Yulicia came to that conclusion.
However, she thought the case for the first Holy Maiden Maien would be different.
“In Elfin’s case, according to her younger brother’s explanation, there were circumstances.”
But Maien had none of that.
No clues could be found, but one certainty lingered.
“I know.”
Only one existence knew the reason for Maien’s disappearance from this world.
“Malphas.”
The true god and origin of the Piggero cult, Malphas.
Yulicia believed that only the god who had Maien as a holy maiden would know about her disappearance.
Thus, Yulicia was determined to hold on.
She would seize the chance to communicate with Malphas somehow. And she would definitely ask about Maien’s disappearance. That was her vow.
*
Two years had passed since Yulicia became the third Holy Maiden.
The name “God of War” had spread throughout the continent.
The God of War, Duke Yuma, was slaying the “gods” that invaded the Intermediate World. And now, he was gaining recognition not just as a human but as a god in his own right.
Yulicia could reaffirm that all her deductions were correct.
And soon, an opportunity arose.
The long-awaited chance to converse with Malphas.
Standing at the Seat of Prophecy, Yulicia felt her body momentarily weightless.
Her vision turned black.
When her sight brightened, something enormous stood before her.
Yulicia felt a chill run down her spine.
A gigantic raven—Malphas. Its appearance was so grotesque it could not be seen as a god, yet the overwhelming transcendental pressure emanating from it left no doubt about its divinity.
The massive black beak slowly opened. Black liquid dripped down.
=Seems quite controversial.=
Without hesitation, Yulicia knelt down and bowed deeply.
“Not at all, great god Malphas.”
Malphas’s voice reverberated in Yulicia’s ears.
=Rise, my servant.=
Yulicia quickly got to her feet.
=The reason I called you here is quite simple. Keep an eye on the actions of the God of War of the Astes Empire, Yuma. And you know he is continuously tracking my cult, Piggero, don’t you?=
Avoiding the God of War’s pursuit was naturally essential for Yulicia.
Confessing to the God of War and the Astes Empire regarding Piggero wouldn’t mean there was a way to summon ‘Malphas’ to the Intermediate World and kill him.
“Yes, I understand, my god.”
=From now on, we will have these mental conversations monthly, just like now. Report on everything regarding Yuma.=
“Yes, my god.”
=Even if they catch any leads, do not mention Piggero. Deny and ignore everything.=
“I will remember that.”
Malphas seemed satisfied with Yulicia’s clear response, nodding his head.
=Your offerings please me greatly… You are the first servant who has never failed to fulfill the amount. Especially, the second servant often failed to meet it… useless. And the first servant…=
You are the first servant who has never filled the void. Especially the Second Servant, who often failed to meet the number… useless thing. And the First Servant is….
Second Servant, First Servant.
This would be a reference to the Second Holy Maiden and the First Holy Maiden.
Yulicia felt a chill deep inside. Of course, she didn’t show it on the outside.
[Uh? You dare to ask me questions after granting you the opportunity for a private audience? Useless questions like how long you must offer tributes and what purpose Piggero serves as a congregation… Such things a servant shouldn’t need to know.]
Yulicia smiled slyly.
“You’ve forgotten the essence of being a servant and spoken foolishly. You should remember the grace bestowed by Malphas, trust infinitely, and simply follow the path he gives.”
Malphas cackled. It seemed he was quite pleased with Yulicia’s flattery.
[That's right. A servant has forgotten their essence. So...]
Yulicia focused all her senses on Malphas’s next words.
[I killed.]
Malphas’s words stopped there. Yulicia watched as his tongue flicked across his beak.
It was easy to predict what “I killed” meant.
Like devouring tributes.
He had consumed the First Holy Maiden, Saint Maien.
[So, I hope you do not disappoint me, my knowing servant.]
Yulicia kept her bright smile.
“Of course, Malphas.”
Yulicia deeply bowed her head at the waist.
Her vision turned black again.
She emerged from her daydream and returned fully to reality.
“….”
Yulicia left the Seat of Prophecy and headed to her quarters.
Creek—
She opened the very first drawer at the top. Inside was a compass. A compass given to her as a gift from Maien.
Tap—
Yulicia set the compass on the desk.
– Yulicia, when you think about the path you want to take, when you don’t know what to do, look at this compass. That’s how I organized my thoughts.
A voice she greatly missed echoed in her mind.
‘It’s too clear what I need to do.’
The compass stopped.
‘I need to kill.’
God or not.
Kill them.
By any means.
Malphas.
Drop that black crow from the Divine Realm, drag it down to the Intermediate World, and kill it.
‘Maien.’
That’s the only way to honor her memory.
In her mind, an unclear blueprint of whether it was feasible was forming.
Yulicia began to move immediately.
*
Duke Yuma hurriedly headed to the Empress Brigitte’s office, where she had called him urgently. In the office was a youth with a still-boyish face.
Brigitte slowly opened her mouth.
“I think we need to talk, Yuma.”
Yuma nodded toward the youth.
“Who is he?”
The youth began to speak.
“I’m from Piggero.”
“Piggero?”
As Yuma questioned, the youth added.
“Malphas.”
Yuma’s eyes sparkled with intrigue.
“The God, Malphas, who created a congregation in the Intermediate World. That’s where I’m from.”
“And?”
The next words from the youth surprised Yuma considerably.
“The Holy Maiden of the congregation wishes to kill Malphas.”
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