Chapter 52: Mustn’t Let the Saintess Know

As the price for knowing Mowan’s past, Rosa was forced by Laedel to swear fealty to the Demon Race, betraying her own faith.

Of course, this process was extremely painful.

Turning her back on the path of light she had believed in since childhood to throw herself into the Deep Abyss of darkness despised by everyone — even if it was just a betrayal in words — was cruel enough for a native of Visa.

But Rosa still believed she was kind; she simply wanted to know her friend’s story.

After listening to the story Laedel told her, Rosa spent a long time in Valos City reflecting on life.

She realized she could no longer correctly judge the right or wrong of the situation.

At the moment Mowan was exiled from the country, she must have been filled with resentment and indignation.

What about now?

How did Mowan truly view this matter in her heart now?

Was she escaping the pain of her failure three years ago, or had she secretly healed those past wounds and already cast herself as part of the Human side?

No… that wasn’t right…

Mowan was a Demon Princess.

Theoretically, Mowan’s combat power shouldn’t be that poor.

Yet Rosa had never seen Mowan use Magic to attack her own kind.

She was just a dedicated Priest responsible for healing and saving people, nothing more.

Mowan never participated in combat, which was also a major reason why her abilities were not recognized.

Recalling various details of her time with Mowan over the past three years, Rosa was certain Mowan hadn’t completely let go of the Demon Race.

On the contrary, through three years of restraint, Mowan had still maintained her original heart.

It was clear that her love for the Demon Race ran deep.

‘I must go and ask Mowan about her true intentions!’

Her concern for her friend far outweighed Rosa’s faith in the Church.

At this moment, she had completely pushed Iserin’s advice and the Church’s dogmas to the back of her mind.

Laedel looked at the blue-haired girl.

After spending a day together, she had more or less figured out Rosa’s personality.

Rosa was a very pure person.

Beyond that, Laedel couldn’t think of any other words to describe her.

Rosa wasn’t particularly smart, but she wasn’t stupid either.

She didn’t have other flashy strengths, but her purity was bright enough that it even made Laedel feel a hint of envy.

“Are you going to break the peaceful life she has now?”

In addition to Mowan’s past, Laedel had also confessed the details of her conversation with Mowan to Rosa.

If possible, she naturally hoped Mowan would return to the Demon Race with her.

But if her actions would only drag Mowan back into that sorrowful past, she would rather give up the mission the Demon King had given her.

She hoped to hear a different answer from Rosa.

“I don’t know, but I think she must still be in a state of confusion right now. Besides, staying by the Saintess’s side is no different from walking on a tightrope every day.”

“Mm…”

Laedel nodded in agreement with Rosa’s words.

But since Mowan had already spoken so harshly, it wasn’t easy for her to seek Mowan out again.

Her personality had always been like this.

As a member of a branch family of the Demon King, Laedel had grown up only following the orders of others.

Therefore, she couldn’t stop Mowan’s exile three years ago, and today, three years later, she couldn’t forcibly go against Mowan’s wishes to take her home.

“Is this really the life she wants? I want to know what she’s actually thinking. Working for the Saintess does yield generous rewards and allows her to live an affluent life, but in her heart, is she truly content with this?”

“Then go and find out the truth for me.”

Seeing that Rosa was even more concerned about Mowan’s mental state than she was, Laedel simply followed Rosa’s lead.

Initially, she had kept Rosa by her side to prevent her from leaking information about Mowan and putting Mowan in a dangerous situation.

In the end, as they talked, Rosa had somehow taken the lead in the conversation.

It was Rosa who persuaded her not to give up easily, which made Laedel feel a bit ashamed of herself.

“Let’s go to the Holy City together. Uh… I don’t know where Mowan lives yet. Do you?”

Previously, Rosa had thought Mowan lived inside the Church like the other nuns.

But now that she thought about it carefully, she felt it was impossible for Iserin to allow a member of the Demon Race to live inside the Church.

“I don’t know either. However, I know where I found her.”

“Then take me there. We’ll hide it from the Saintess and meet Mowan in secret.”

The two hit it off immediately.

And so, they set out once again on the road to the Holy City.

They arrived at the Holy City the next morning, having spent the night in a carriage.

Rosa and Laedel went near the tea house Mowan often frequented and found a hidden spot across from the entrance to observe secretly.

As a result, they waited until noon without seeing anyone.

“When I saw her last time, it was around noon.”

Laedel vaguely felt something was wrong.

This behavior of theirs was like that foolish old proverb: waiting by a tree for a rabbit that might never come.

Perhaps Mowan had only happened to be there that day because of some errand.

“Well, with Mowan’s personality, she doesn’t have the leisure to drink tea every day.”

Rosa rubbed her head awkwardly, having thought of the same thing as Laedel.

“But Mowan will definitely go to the Church to find the Saintess. She relies on the Saintess’s commissions to earn her living expenses.”

“Then let’s go wait near the Church.”

“You shouldn’t go. That Saintess is very sensitive. I’m afraid she’ll realize you’re from the Demon Race at a single glance.”

Laedel hesitated for a moment, then she nodded.

In any case, she had left a Demon Race mark on Rosa, so she could find her no matter where she ran.

Rosa arrived near the Church and found a bench in the square in front of the main gates.

She sat down and carefully observed everyone entering and exiting the building.

She didn’t see the Saintess, nor did she see Mowan.

She waited until dusk.

She was so tired she began to yawn.

She thought that perhaps her luck was just bad today.

Mowan might have already visited the Church in the morning while they were near the tea house.

She stood up, intending to return to Laedel and continue tracking Mowan’s whereabouts tomorrow.

However, at that moment, Rosa noticed a familiar purple-haired girl appearing on the street in the distance, walking toward the Church.

She quickly ran over and intercepted Mowan halfway.

“Mowan!”

Mowan suddenly looked up.

The moment she saw Rosa, emotions of doubt, shock, and disbelief filled her mind.

She blinked her eyes and finally slowly raised her hand to touch Rosa’s face.

It was soft and warm.

It wasn’t a cold phantom.

Mowan withdrew her hand and asked blankly, “Rosa… you… you’re still alive?”

“What do you mean? Am I supposed to be dead? Um… well, it has been a long time since we saw each other. You might have thought something happened to me. But no, I’m alive and well! It’s just… the Lady Saintess wouldn’t let me meet with you.”

Rosa’s smile was as cheerful as ever.

“Se… the Saintess wouldn’t let you see me?”

Questions exploded in Mowan’s mind one after another; she was completely confused.

“Let’s go over here. We mustn’t let the Saintess know.”

Rosa took Mowan’s arm and pulled her away from her original path, leading her into a quiet side alley.

Rosa looked around, checking if there were any Church spies nearby.

But Mowan’s gaze remained fixed on Rosa.

She looked at her with a shocked expression, as if she had seen a ghost.

Mowan, whose trust in Iserin was etched into her very bones, still hadn’t processed the fact that Iserin had lied to her.