A Holy Deception

“So, Antolia, are you from the borderlands?

And these others…”

In a rather peculiar shift, Lu Mei, upon the arrival of the newcomers, shed her previous irritable demeanor and began to engage in pleasantries and small talk with the person before her:

“Do you live in the borderlands?

What a coincidence; I was also a girl from a border village sent to the church.

Knight Ilivy just meant… that she rescued you during a mission in the borderlands, right?”

“…Something like that, I suppose.”

Anto stammered slightly in response to her questions, finding her overly enthusiastic personality somewhat disorienting, a fact Lu Mei seemed entirely oblivious to.

“In any case! Consider this your home now!

It’s truly been ages since a natural Holy Light Awakener came to the church in Drynes.

This must be a sign!

Yes, a divine sign; the Lord guided you here, Antolia!”

Lu Mei’s voice was brimming with excitement as she continued, “So rest assured!

This nun will definitely take good care of you!

Like a perfect big sister—ooh-wah!”

She hadn’t even finished her sentence before the young woman approaching from behind struck her head with an iron spoon.

Sister Lu Mei, with her short orange hair, tumbled to the side, while beside her, a young woman in intelligent blue nun’s robes and glasses spoke:

“Don’t scare her.

That’s hardly proper hospitality.”

“Ooh-wah, Sister Xi’er An, don’t hit your fellow sister!”

Lu Mei complained.

Sister Xi’er An, as she was called, walked past her and, facing the golden-haired beauty radiating a sacred aura, closed her eyes and said:

“Miss Antolia, you are truly a fortunate soul with great Holy Light talent.

Such an aura… it’s no wonder Knight Ilivy wished to bring you here.

As you can see, this is the Holy Church’s Drynes Cathedral, which currently also serves as an orphanage.

While I don’t know if Miss Antolia is interested in sensing the call of God, since you’ve come here, you must be seeking help.

If you wish to pray or need anything else, please just tell us.”

“…Thank you, Sister Xi’er An,” Anto said, lowering his head.

He gazed at the chapel and the cross before him, then continued, “Actually… I may not possess much piety towards this deity.

I’ve always been a simple apothecary’s apprentice, helping out in my village…

However, during this recent border conflict, my village received many wounded from the front lines, and I was constantly busy treating them…

It was strange; at first, it was incredibly hard, but later, it felt as though the only thought in my mind was saving lives…

Suddenly, I wasn’t so tired anymore, and the patients’ wounds even began to heal…

It was almost as if…”

“A miracle,” Xi’er An interjected naturally upon hearing this.

“That is because of your earnest hope, Miss Antolia.

Your selfless desire to save more people was felt by Him, which is why the Holy Light awakened within you, manifesting His power in this way.

Praise be to our Lord.

You truly… have not forsaken humanity.”

“…Is that so?”

The golden-haired person before them lowered his gaze.

Xi’er An then continued, “If that is the case, was it Knight Ilivy’s will to bring you here, or your own idea?”

“It was my own idea,” Anto replied, lifting his head.

“Perhaps… forgive me, Sister, I don’t often go to church, nor do I believe in this deity, but when this power descended upon me, I felt I had no choice but to accept it.

So, when I inquired with Knight Ilivy, she said there was a way for me to better understand this power, which is why she brought me here.

I may not be able to become more devout, but I hope this power can save more people…”

“When you possess the desire to use this power to make the world a better place, you have already received the Lord’s calling.

You need not be troubled, Miss Antolia,” Xi’er An stated.

“Your steadfastness, your kindness, and your courage prompted Him to answer your hopes when you needed Him most.

If you are truly interested in learning and refining this power, we can certainly help you.”

“Is that so?”

Anto looked up, a smile gracing his lips.

“That would be wonderful.”

****

‘—Of course, the method of awakening Holy Light was entirely fabricated.’

“You can’t very well claim to have mastered a skill like Holy Light Flame (TL Note: A powerful, advanced form of Holy Light magic) since birth,” Eric explained.

“We need to concoct a story about your awakening.

Remember, the best way to hide a treasure is to hide it among many similar things.

No one wouldn’t covet Holy Light Flame, so you mustn’t expose that.

Instead, it should be the simplest form of Holy Light.

Merely as a natural Holy Light Awakener, they will naturally guide someone like you.”

“Precisely,” Ilivy affirmed with a nod.

Anto, meanwhile, began to organize his belongings.

“So this is our chosen path.

Our objective is a border church that hasn’t joined the Black Cult, the New Church, or the Church of Truth.

Those churches maintain their original faith, and after splintering, they’ve become independent, making them targets for other factions.

It appears Bishop Rhys of the Drynes Cathedral hasn’t declared his stance yet, so we can approach them for cooperation.”

“So, it’s a fifth path after the usual four, then…”

Tikka murmured slowly.

“Establishing our own faction.”

“More or less.

Joining any of the other three church factions would essentially make us pawns in their competition.

In such a situation, we must conceal our identities while developing our strength.

We cannot expect a tender flower to flourish amidst a storm,” Eric elaborated.

“However, we can keep the flower buried until it’s ready to bloom.

If Anto’s period of growth and learning is discovered, it will lead to immense difficulties.

During this time, we can have Anto study the most basic Holy Light techniques on the continent under a different identity, and then, at the opportune moment, allow him to reveal his true capabilities, catching everyone off guard.

This is the most secure approach.”

“Indeed, while everyone outwardly speaks of orthodoxy, the truth is, only one thing truly matters: strength,” Eric concluded.

“We now possess the finest steel, and our goal is to forge the best sword.

We don’t want this excellent steel to be openly displayed and coveted by thieves.

Instead, we demand that the moment the blade is honed, the moment this sword is drawn, it will strike a fatal blow.

This is the most prudent course of action.”

“Since the strategy is set, the next step is to decide what identity to use,” Anto remarked.

Mula, observing Anto’s youthful and heroic demeanor, then tilted her head and, without preamble, declared:

“I must say, little Anto, ever since I first saw you, I’ve felt that your appearance… it’s simply tailor-made for a nun’s habit.”