The Hidden Sea Church, an entity that served the Goddess and governed faith, was the largest religious organization in existence, established not only in the Havoc Empire but across other civilizations within the Alliance.
The status of Anqi, a young girl of the Skywing Race, as the Saintess of the Church placed her above all judicial and administrative bodies within the organization.
It was a supreme and sacred honor, yet for Anqi, being the Saintess carried a certain level of loneliness.
The troubles of those in high positions were always quite unique.
For instance, Anqi often thought: ‘If only there were another girl as pure and sacred as me to work by my side…’
At sunrise, Anqi had already awakened. Under the service of Sister Superior Kenes, she had finished her grooming and dressing.
Today, the shift for Lady Valo’s Qualification Review fell to Finney, so the young girl could not spend a leisurely day on a date with Lady Valo.
Furthermore, since the review was nearing its end, the days of casting aside her responsibilities to enjoy herself every other day were about to vanish forever.
“Sigh… I wonder if Mama kept my feather safe?”
In front of the vanity mirror, Anqi muttered to herself expectantly. “Mama is wonderful in every way, but it is a shame she is no longer a young girl… Sigh, otherwise I would really want her to…”
In the next moment, the appearance of the Sister Superior interrupted the girl’s imagination.
“Lady Saintess, the carriage is ready.”
“Please do not forget that you must attend to that incredibly important matter today.”
The girl waved her hand languidly. “Yes, yes… I know.”
She then adjusted her demeanor to match her image as the Saintess and followed the Sister Superior into a carriage traveling from the Hidden Sea Church headquarters toward the Clock Tower.
She was going to see the Eye of the Goddess.
The Eye of the Goddess, capable of peering into human hearts and discerning truth from lies, was a special Holy Relic entrusted by the Hidden Sea Church to the Great Sage, the manager of the Clock Tower, for safekeeping and protection.
Since it was a Holy Relic with such formidable known abilities, the Church naturally would not allow any unrelated person to obtain it.
Thus, it had been sealed.
Anqi, in her capacity as the Saintess, would visit it every one or two days, constantly attempting to move the Holy Relic in hopes of gaining its recognition and becoming its user.
This would be a powerful asset for the Hidden Sea Church.
After all, a sacred Holy Relic should be used by a pure and kindhearted user… It certainly could not be allowed to fall into the hands of the wicked.
It was just like how the pure and heroic Mama Valo had obtained Ascara—ah, it was a match made in heaven.
‘If only Mama Valo weren’t part of the Demon Clan, it would be even better… Sigh, is there any way to change her race?’
‘Mama Valo would probably be happy to change, right?’
While praising Mama Valo in her heart, Anqi arrived at the chapel on the second floor of the Clock Tower.
She activated the switch on the Goddess Statue to enter the secret chamber in the mezzanine, while the Sister Superior stood guard outside.
The secret chamber was as quiet as usual, with the Eye of the Goddess floating above a stone disc.
The girl locked eyes with it and repeated her long-standing question.
“Eye of the Goddess, am I qualified to become your user?”
Previously, the Eye of the Goddess had never responded to Anqi.
‘Hmph… Even though I am already the Saintess? Even though I am the very definition of purity and holiness?’
‘Is it because I lack some necessary virtuous quality?’
Just as Anqi thought today’s prayer would end fruitlessly like all the others…
Before her eyes, the Holy Relic suddenly emitted a proactive, holy light. The Eye of the Goddess responded to her with the answer of “Yes!”
Immediately following that, a voice echoed in the girl’s mind.
[Saintess Anqi, I have observed you for a long time.]
[Though I have concerns regarding you, the situation is urgent.]
‘Is this… the voice of the Holy Relic?’
[I ask: Are you willing to become my host?]
Anqi did not hesitate!
After a brief moment of shock, she immediately chose to accept—having the Saintess of the Church obtain the Eye of the Goddess was what the Church had always expected of her, and it was her responsibility and duty!
‘Praise the Goddess, have I finally been recognized?!’
‘I really want to share this good news with Mama Valo right now!’
The moment she nodded, the girl felt the will and emotions of the Holy Relic, and even its recent observations!
But then…
Then!
She “saw” some horrific images.
Ugly, evil…
Filthy and repulsive!
Images of that “mother and daughter” polluting the sacred grounds of the Church!
‘Ah, how… how could it be like this?’
‘How can this be!’
‘She actually!’
“Aaaaahhhhh!”
The girl’s scream rang out!
A dazzling radiance filled the entire secret chamber in an instant!
When the sound and light finally dissipated, the mana erupted from the Holy Relic’s “Master Recognition” was absorbed by the special coating on the chamber walls…
As everything gradually returned to silence, the Eye of the Goddess, which had been floating above the stone disc, had transformed into a silver eye-shaped pendant hanging around the girl’s neck.
Suddenly!
The pure white wings on the girl’s back spread wide without restraint!
The girl opened her bright golden eyes and spoke softly, “Valo Rante II… You actually deceived me…”
Her smile was filled with nothing but pure hatred.
“You are truly impressive, Mama Valo… To think you are actually the Demon King…”
The Demon King…
The Demon King?
The Demon King!
Two lines of tears suddenly streamed down the girl’s face!
Was it sadness?
No! It was because she was no longer clean!
She had actually been tricked!
She had been deceived by the Hero she trusted most, who had conspired with the Demon King!
Because of the Demon King’s insidious and crafty methods, she had spent several days accompanying the enemy!
Her feathers had been touched, her cheeks rubbed, her arm held…
She had even called the other woman “Mama!”
The girl began to writhe her body frantically! ‘So filthy, so filthy, so filthy!’
‘So stinky, so stinky, so stinky!’
Being deceived was only the beginning!
After the Master Recognition, the Eye of the Goddess activated another ability, sharing the images it had seen over the past few days with her!
It allowed her to learn not just the truth, but even more scenes!
She saw the cunning Demon King and the Hero who had lost her convictions!
She learned that the Demon King had been spared and brought back by Finney, transforming into Finney’s “Mama Valo!”
‘Finney, Finney, why?!’
Furthermore, Finney clearly knew the Demon King had obtained a Holy Relic and knew her intentions were malicious!
Yet she still harbored delusions and remained obstinate.
She hesitated and wavered!
While her mouth spoke of the Hero’s righteousness, her heart was full of herself! In her actions, she was even subservient to the Demon King!
Just like a daughter!
‘The two of you clearly aren’t mother and daughter! Yet you dare to call her “Mama” over and over in front of everyone!’
‘You even dared to perform that nauseating mother-daughter drama in the chapel of the sacred Hidden Sea Church! It’s so disgusting my toes are curling!’
‘Disqualified!’
‘This kind of Hero must be judged!’
‘Purged!’
‘Sentenced!’
‘And then the Demon King will be executed!’
‘Executed!’
‘Executed!’
Anqi, whose physical stamina wasn’t very high, gasped for breath several times—out of both anger and urgency.
Coming back to her senses, the girl understood: No wonder the Eye of the Goddess, which had ignored her prayers and requests before, had just recognized her as its master.
It surely hoped to use her power to strike down the evil Demon Clan!
For that purpose, it had even forgiven her ugly performance of being deceived by the cunning Demon King these past few days.
Then, she naturally would not fail to live up to the Holy Relic’s recognition; she would seriously fulfill her duty as the Saintess.
Correct the Hero!
Execute the Demon King!
“Please rest assured… I will not be filled with hesitation like Finney.”
Anqi gently stroked the pendant on her chest, and the emotions and expression on her face gradually calmed down.
At most, she felt a slight sense of regret?
“What a shame, Mama Valo. Why must you be the Demon King?”
“You really are wonderful in every way… It is a pity you were born into the wrong race.”
‘Phew… stay calm, stay calm. This expression would be easily noticed by the sharp Finney and the cunning Mama Valo.’
Yes.
“This should be fine.”
“It is time to go see Finney and Mama… Oh, right, I have to report the good news to the Sister Superior first.”
The girl turned around and left the secret chamber with light steps.