Millie only found the archives after reaching the third floor.
Why was it so clear? Because there was a sign hanging right there.
The door was locked tight, but Millie opened it using magic.
She shut the door firmly behind her and scanned the archives by the moonlight. It looked somewhat like a library, though the shelves were filled with case files instead of books.
She couldn’t turn on the lights yet, or she would be easily discovered.
With the help of the moonlight and night-vision magic, Millie searched through the dates on the files one by one. She remembered the villagers saying that the plague happened half a year ago.
Before long, Millie held a file and began to read.
[Date]: Someone from Joen Village came seeking help, claiming a plague was ravaging the village. Upon investigation, the individual was found to be a witch’s accomplice, and their words were nothing more than alarmist fear-mongering.
[Date]: Another person from Joen Village came seeking help again, repeating claims of a plague. This matter is of no small concern; perhaps a witch has occupied the village.
[Date]: The Gothram Branch dispatched one Cardinal and two Black-clothed Bishops to Joen Village for an investigation. It was determined that the village had been occupied by a witch.
This plague was caused by the witch with the intent of luring us into a trap.
We have blockaded the roads down the mountain to let the witch’s accomplices fend for themselves. The witch’s accomplices attempted to ram the checkpoints several times and were executed on the spot.
[Date]: The plague in Joen Village has been eradicated. As deduced, it was the work of the witch. The witch appears to have left, but further observation is required.
Millie closed the file, lost in thought.
Others might not see it, but Millie knew exactly what had happened. In all likelihood, it was just as the villagers said: the Goddess Cult had stood by and watched them die, and it was Elena who saved them.
First of all, it was impossible for the files to contain obvious evidence.
For example, they wouldn’t write: “They have the plague, but what does that have to do with us? We’re going to let them die to prevent the plague from spreading!”
Wouldn’t that kind of evidence be like digging one’s own grave?
Therefore, things like this would always use a “witch” as an excuse.
If one wanted to distinguish whether it was a real witch incident, they had to look at whether the logic in the file was self-consistent. Clearly, the contents of this file were baseless accusations.
It didn’t say who the witch was, nor did it state what the evidence was.
It was just a simple sentence: “Upon investigation.”
Regarding all the unreasonable actions, they were brushed off with the phrase “because there was a witch.” For instance, setting up checkpoints at the foot of the mountain to prevent people from passing.
The important thing was that they had also killed many villagers.
Millie silently clenched her fists.
She had long felt that the Goddess Cult might not be synonymous with justice.
Even if witches were the evil side, the Goddess Cult couldn’t possibly be the righteous one.
The actions of the Goddess Cult were even worse than those of certain witches. Elena had at least saved the entire village, while the Goddess Cult wouldn’t even allow them to ask for help.
She really hadn’t expected Elena to be a good person.
No, she was a bad person; she had humiliated Millie in every possible way.
Hmm, but…
They were technically enemies. Being captured after defeat and then being toyed with… perhaps it wasn’t that big of a deal? When the Goddess Cult caught a witch, didn’t they just burn her at the stake?
No, she should still hate her.
It was just that, theoretically speaking, it didn’t seem entirely unjustifiable.
Forget it, whatever!
Witches are villains; that is an indisputable fact. It’s just that what Elena did counts as making amends, but her faults still outweigh her merits!
Millie’s head was a mess.
She didn’t want to admit Elena was a good person, but the facts were right in front of her.
Anyway, she should take the file first, right?
Since the place was already rotten from the inside, no one would notice if a single file went missing.
After returning to the Goddess Cult, she would first try to feel out the Pope’s stance.
The Pope should be a good person, right? Ugh, she was starting to doubt everything now. Regardless, she would report this matter to the Pope first and see how she handled it.
Setting aside the use of illegal lynching, with Millie’s strength, she could actually wipe out the entire Gothram Branch—from the Archbishop down to the Black-clothed Bishops—in a single night.
But if she did that, Gothram would fall into chaos tomorrow.
Witches might also take advantage of the vacuum to occupy Gothram directly.
“You guys, go search the third floor!”
A voice came from the hallway. Millie knew all too well that the secret was likely out. They had probably figured out that she was the one who killed the Cardinal, right?
Now that the evidence was in hand, it was better to retreat.
Millie opened the window, and the wind rushed in.
She looked down at her red robes. This thing was too conspicuous at night, so she took off the robes and put on a black cloak.
She leaped out, flying into the distance through the mid-air.
It was too late; she shouldn’t go back to Joen Village just yet.
She would find an inn in Gothram first and rest for the night. Otherwise, she might be subjected to a night raid by Elena again. Millie didn’t want to be bullied by her anymore!
***
Millie found a secluded inn.
Having just killed a Cardinal, she expected the city would soon be under martial law. If she stayed in a busy area, she’d be woken up before she could even fall asleep.
She wasn’t worried about being caught, though. At worst, she would reveal her identity. Since she was the Saintess of the Goddess Cult, the Archbishop of Gothram wouldn’t be able to do anything to her.
She booked a room on the third floor facing the window for an easy escape. Millie swayed as she walked to the room and collapsed onto the bed.
She was exhausted. Running back and forth like this, plus having to engage in a battle of wits and courage with Elena.
However, she hadn’t expected Elena to actually be a decent person.
Setting aside the bullying, the key was that she had helped the villagers resolve the plague.
“Ugh, my head is so messy!”
Millie held her head, tossing and turning on the bed.
She clearly should hate her, so why had that hatred diminished by now?
No matter what, she was the culprit who defiled her. Just because she was pregnant with her child didn’t mean she could wipe away everything she had done in the past.
Tomorrow, she still had to attend that Silver Party with her.
That annoying girl would definitely try to get handsy with her.
She couldn’t let her guard down. It was better to get some rest first.
While thinking about all sorts of messy things, Millie slowly closed her eyes and drifted into a confused sleep.
By the time she woke up again, the sun was high in the sky. Sunlight spilled into the room, and the chirping of birds drifted in from outside. Millie opened her eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling.
“Ah, I have to get back to the village quickly!”
The realization hit Millie, and she sat up abruptly.
Suddenly, shouting came from outside the window.
“Have you seen this person!”
Millie froze for a moment, then crouched down and crept to the window. She craned her neck to look at the street below. She saw a squad of guards showing a portrait to people door-to-door.
Oh boy, am I a wanted criminal already?
The window faced the street directly; she would be spotted if she flew out. She wasn’t afraid of the guards, but Millie didn’t want to start a massacre. After thinking it over, she decided to restore her identity.
Anyway, Elena was providing cover regarding the Silver Party.
Even if the [Scarlet Phantom] knew the Saintess had come to Gothram, it wouldn’t matter much.
Millie took out a peach wood comb.
The comb was a magical tool; by simply combing her hair, she could change it to the desired color. Millie looked into the mirror and combed her soft, long hair. In an instant, it turned silver-white.
Then, Millie put on her Saintess robes.
At that moment, footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Knock, knock, knock!
An urgent knocking sounded at the door.
“You are surrounded! Give up your resistance and surrender peacefully!”
Millie strolled over and casually opened the door.
The guards’ blades thrust forward, but before they could even speak, they were utterly stunned.
“You… you are…”
“Lady Saintess?…”
The guards were dumbfounded, staring at Millie in disbelief. The service staff at the counter had just said that the suspect had booked a room on the third floor last night.
They thought they were about to achieve a great feat, only to open the door and find the Saintess?
No, maybe it wasn’t the Saintess, but a witch in disguise!
“Well now, you dare suggest I am a witch in disguise?”
Millie gave a cold snort and waved her hand casually.
In an instant, a golden aura surrounded her. Countless magic circles bloomed in mid-air like a peacock spreading its tail, and arrows of light burst forth from the circles.
The first few guards collapsed directly to the ground.
That dense light-attribute magic—this was definitely Lady Millie herself!
“Lady Millie, our apologies! We failed to recognize your greatness!”
“It matters not,” Millie dispelled the magic. “Are you searching for a suspect?”
“Yes,” the guards scrambled up, bowing respectfully to Millie. “Last night, a witch disguised herself as a Cardinal and murdered one of our Lord Cardinals.”
“So that’s how it is…”
Millie stroked her chin, putting on an air of contemplation.
In reality, she was the culprit, but Millie wasn’t about to say that out loud.
“Lady Millie, why have you come to Gothram?”
“Do not ask what should not be asked, lest you leak confidential information.”
“Uh, understood!”
The guards still had to search for the suspect, so they took their leave after a few pleasantries. Millie watched their retreating backs and couldn’t help but smile faintly.
They would never imagine that the Saintess was the suspect, would they?
Actually, Millie did want to take out the Archbishop.
But she was worried the town would fall into chaos and Elena would take advantage of the situation.
Afterward, Millie put on her cloak and quietly left the inn. The city gates were heavily guarded. Wearing her hood, Millie was naturally stopped.
However, Millie lifted her hood just a little.
As her silver hair fluttered, the guards gasped.
“Lady Millie…”
“Shh,” Millie pressed her index finger to her lips. “Do not make a scene.”
“As you command…”
The guards bowed respectfully and let her through immediately.
The guards who had searched the inn earlier had already spoken to the gate guards, which was why it went so smoothly. Otherwise, it would have been a bit more troublesome.
She might have been suspected of being a witch in disguise, after all.