Chapter 12 Part 1
“As this is a sacred ritual, I will wait outside. Please note that time flows faster in this place than outside, so you shouldn’t conduct the ritual for too long.”
After finishing his words, Xenoph lightly bowed and disappeared back through the door he had entered from.
Now all that remained here were me and the holy water bottle, made of glass and infused with a transparent glow.
As I held the bottle and ascended the altar as Xenoph had instructed, a strange atmosphere suddenly enveloped me.
I had always thought of temples and cathedrals as simply unpleasant places, but now it didn’t feel that way.
This was an unfamiliar sensation, quite apart from my usual feelings.
How to describe it… this time, it really felt like I was standing close to Renesia, the source of spiritual power.
Standing at the center of the altar, I slowly closed my eyes.
Soon, I felt the holy water bottle in my hand begin to vibrate from some unknown force.
Sensing anything at all was extremely unusual for me.
After all, I shouldn’t possess any spiritual power.
Even if I did, it would be no more than a sparrow’s tears.
When I felt the vibrating bottle grow still, I opened my eyes again.
As expected, just a little, truly a small amount of water had filled the bottom of the bottle.
“Huh, even a sparrow’s tears would be more than this.”
I had expected there to be nothing, but facing a reality even worse than anticipated, I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.
Everyone kept calling me the Holy Maiden or whatever, but look at this pathetic result.
Let’s see if they can still call me the Holy Maiden after seeing this.
As I was descending from the altar, chewing on my boredom at this predictable outcome, the holy water bottle suddenly shimmered with a mysterious light.
It was so brief that I dismissed it as an illusion.
Taking it lightly, I once again extended my foot toward the bottom of the altar. That’s when it happened.
Whoosh! As if a faucet had burst, water began to fill the bottle at a tremendous speed.
The water, which didn’t stop filling the empty space in the bottle, soon flowed out between the cap and eventually began to leak outside.
“What… what’s happening, all of a sudden!?”
Startled by this unexpected turn, I accidentally dropped the bottle.
The bottle, now away from my hand, plummeted straight down.
A strange crashing sound of glass breaking then echoed throughout the vast space.
Inhaling sharply at the illusory feeling of cold sweat, I lowered my head with a frown to avoid the shattered glass fragments.
But…
“What is this… the water disappeared?”
Strangely, the water had vanished somewhere.
The water that had been overflowing like a waterfall just moments ago had evaporated completely, as if it had never existed.
All that was visible now were the sharp remains of the shattered holy water bottle.
“…Did I see things?”
No, there was definitely water there. There was so much overflowing water!
After a brief moment of confusion, I quickly bent down and let a thin stream of magic flow over the broken glass fragments.
Having successfully repaired the holy water bottle without anyone knowing, I furtively glanced toward the tightly closed door while slowly rolling my eyes.
I hoped the sound of the breaking bottle hadn’t reached outside. Since I had restored the bottle to its original state with magic, there shouldn’t be any problem…
In any case, the bottle was now empty again due to what had just happened.
So I had to climb back onto the altar to perform the inconclusive ritual once more.
Fortunate or unfortunate, the bottle filled with just enough water to slightly wet the bottom, just like before.
Moreover, this time when I descended from the altar, the water didn’t overflow as it had earlier.
That’s a relief, but it still feels strange. Did I really just see things before?
Puzzled by the inexplicable situation, I came down from the altar and looked at the shallow, rippling water in the bottle before slowly opening the door to the outside.
But… for some reason, it was much darker outside than when I had entered.
The scenery visible through the corridor windows unanimously indicated that night had fallen.
What? It’s already night? That’s impossible…!
Suddenly raising my head, I noticed that somehow there were more people around.
Looking around, it seemed that two or three high priests—known for secluding themselves inside the temple and rarely coming out—were waiting for me in front of the door along with Xenoph.
As soon as they saw me opening the door, they bowed their heads with calm faces, as if they had been waiting.
Their visible behavior was extremely composed, but at a glance, everyone seemed to be anticipating the results of my spiritual power test.
I feel sorry for them; the result I’ve brought will surely fall short of their expectations.
“It’s already… night.”
“The ritual at the altar takes quite some time. As I mentioned earlier, the inner space, being closest to Renesia, has a particularly accelerated flow of time.”
When I glanced out the window and spoke, Xenoph responded cordially with a gentle smile.
It felt like only five minutes had passed, but somehow the outside had turned to night.
And not just any night, but the deepest midnight.
I had definitely arrived at the temple early in the morning…
Ah, so that’s why the high priests stay cooped up in the temple almost every day?
To them it might be a day of prayer, but outside a week has passed. That’s why there are rumors that the high priests never leave the temple!
It was a truly mysterious space in many ways.
“Lady Laté, did the test go well?”
Despite having waited for a long time, Xenoph readily asked about the results with the same kind face as in the morning.
Xenoph’s expressions were so consistent that it was quite difficult to discern his true thoughts.
Judging by his face alone, he didn’t seem to know about the commotion inside…
The sound of the breaking glass was loud enough to be heard outside. So those waiting for me in front of the door couldn’t have missed that sound.
But they all had eyes that suggested they knew nothing, as if they hadn’t heard.
Then… did I really see things? I thought Renesia was one of the more dignified gods who didn’t play pranks.
“Yes.”
I answered simply and held out the holy water bottle between Xenoph and the priests.
I could see their sharp eyes quickly and accurately examining the water level in the bottle.
“Even if I were chosen by the goddess, demonic power still flows in my heart. Someone like me couldn’t possibly handle spiritual power.”
Scanning them with contemptuous eyes, I reaffirmed that this was the expected result.
If they had truly expected something from me, they would be nothing but fools.
But the priests shook their heads vigorously in denial. Xenoph did the same.
“No, Lady Laté, you are clearly the Holy Maiden. Renesia possesses the omnipotent insight to foresee the future. She is never wrong.”
As Xenoph answered firmly, a streak of red light seemed to flash across his usually calm copper-colored pupils.
Ah, this is why I don’t like believers.
Those boring eyes, normally so calm no matter what provocation, went crazy at just one word denying Renesia?
“Holy Maiden, please remain close to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
As I was looking at Xenoph with disgusted eyes, one of the high priests, who appeared to be the oldest, uttered nonsense in a solemn voice.
“Why do you keep pairing me with the Crown Prince?”
This was a good opportunity, since I was already curious.
Let me ask while we’re on the topic. Why are they so desperate to match me with Abel!
But no one answered. When I shot them a sharp glance, they all ducked their heads as if by agreement, avoiding my eyes.
“It is the will of God.”
That was all the answer I finally got.
…Wait.
Could these people be thinking of the same possibility as Hyle?
That nonsensical idea of purifying my heart with spiritual power…
Of course, I also thought it was impossible at first, but since it’s actually progressing quite steadily, they could certainly consider such a possibility.
Abel is also a spiritual power possessor, so perhaps it really could be the case.
And if that’s true, I can understand why they’re being so insistent.
It’s just a guess, but I’m almost certain. It seems the temple is trying to forcibly purify me.
And of all people… using Abel.
“I’m sorry, but my light is already Hyle.”
Making this assertion in a tone that would brook no argument, I immediately pressed my lips shut.
It meant I wouldn’t listen to any more nonsense.
