READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 21
After the Saint of Healing was locked up in the underground prison of the Temple of the Divine, the Church of Grace’s High Priest Yodel was summoned.
“Long time no see, Yodel. Perhaps it’s because you mainly stay in the southern regions that you’ve come up to the capital so rarely—I almost forgot your face.”
Representatives from 23 of the 24 churches affiliated with the Temple gathered around a round table, silently gazing at Yodel standing in the center.
“As rules are rules, I must ask you. If the Saint of Healing is a fake, please tell us how to discern that.”
“He is not a fake saint. He is an Apostle of Grace! I can swear it on my faith!”
“I know. But Yodel, you understand the procedures. Now that a heresy accusation has been made, we need to be certain. If he is indeed the true saint, this might even be for the best.”
“Indeed, Yodel. A saint recognized by the Inquisition would formally be added to the list of saints in the Temple. It would be a brand-new saint appearing after 300 years!”
“A saint after 300 years and, from the Church of Grace’s perspective, the first Saint of Healing since the establishment of the church!”
At those words, Yodel sighed and bowed his head deeply.
“…….This must be the guidance of the goddess. Very well. Based on what is written in the Scripture of Grace, I will tell you how he would behave if he is a fake saint.”
Yodel already had the entire Scripture recorded in his head, having read it daily since childhood without fail.
“If he were a fake saint, he would act like this.”
Slowly, Yodel began to explain to the 23 representatives how to identify a fake saint.
Tydel’s footsteps echoed with a cheerful clack in the Mage Tower lobby.
Now, Erpa was done for.
A saint who couldn’t even use Divine Power? What kind of ridiculous nonsense was that?
The famous St. Videlsberg was said to always carry a dazzling golden glow and halo around him.
A Divine Power so strong it was almost immeasurable.
That was a symbol of a saint!
But how could someone be a saint without it?
The results of the inquiry were a foregone conclusion.
The saint was bound to be proven fake, and then Erpa, saved by the miracle of this fake saint, would also be dragged back to the White Church.
That wretched spider witch as the next head of the Mage Tower? No way that would happen as long as he could avoid getting dirt in his eyes.
Just as Tydel was happily walking, someone blocked his path.
Four arms, now openly displayed without hiding.
Her face obscured by a wide-brimmed witch hat, but there couldn’t possibly be two witches with four arms in the Mage Tower.
Tydel burst into laughter.
“Oh my! Are you a spider? I was waiting for you… *cough!!*”
Tydel clutched his throat and struggled.
One of the four arms had suddenly caught a wand.
Slowly.
Tydel’s body lifted into the air.
“You… what is… going on… *gack!!*”
“Tydel.”
Erpa’s voice came out calm and quiet, making it all the more creepy.
The mana waves emanating from her body were infused with an almost terrifying anger.
And that anger was directed at only one person.
All focused on Tydel.
“Somebody!!…….. *cough cough*!!”
Tydel struggled, calling for help from the many witches and wizards in the lobby, but no one dared approach the two.
The next head of the Mage Tower.
And the witch who openly loathed and envied her, trying to drag her down into the abyss with the White Church.
It was clear whose side they would take.
Tydel tried to resist.
But with her magical ability, there was no way she could break free from Erpa’s spell.
“I can forgive you for touching me. But I absolutely, under no circumstances can forgive you for touching the saint. Do you understand? No matter how the inquiry turns out, never come near the saint again. Got it?”
Tydel felt a wave of fear.
She was subjected to a mana wave, infused with genuine anger and murderous intent, that she simply couldn’t withstand.
Unknowingly, Tydel’s skirt became damp.
A yellow liquid trickled down her legs, soaking the lobby floor.
“I, I understand!! Please!!…..”
The magic released.
Tydel coughed harshly, clutching her throat.
“You made the mess, you clean it up.”
Erpa coldly said that and then turned away to vanish.
Tydel couldn’t even muster thoughts of anger or hatred.
“Ugh.”
Fear.
And the jealousy even more intense than that fear bubbled up like a volcano within her.
Happy.
Even though it was a cramped, tiny room with barely two tatami mats and just a bathroom, I felt so happy.
I couldn’t help but smile.
Meals came on time without fail, and contrary to the worries I had about being in an underground prison, the humidity and temperature were kept perfect.
No annoying people pestering me, no masses of starving peasants pleading for healing.
The fake saint act that was supposed to take care of the nuclear bomb witch was dragging out longer than necessary.
Now, after the trial, I would just have to rot here for a year before stepping back into the world.
Ahh.
I’m really so happy.
So, so happy.
“Saint.”
Perhaps it was because I was a saint that I was given a slightly special treatment, as a guard stood in front of my cell, watching over me 24/7.
The guard in Silence Church attire cautiously looked my way and called my name.
I waved at him.
“I’m not a saint. You can just call me by my name.”
After all, once the heresy inquiry started, I would reveal I’m not a saint anyway, so I just said that.
The guard hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“I believe you are the true Saint of Healing.”
What nonsense!!
I’m not!!
I’m just a brat born with a pathetic game ability!
“That’s not true. Like I said, I’m not a saint. I have no stigmata and can’t use Divine Power. Everything Tydel accused me of is correct. I am not a saint.”
“But aren’t all the miracles you performed real?”
“That may be true, but I’m still not a saint. It’s a misunderstanding. Just call me Jericho Amael, my real name.”
As I said that with a big smile, the guard suddenly looked cautiously at me and knelt down.
“Can you help me?”
“……..Pardon?”
“I know this is against the rules. But I’m desperate. The dark and secret god I serve, Le-Neri, is not a god that grants such grace. He only deals with the trash that gnaws at humanity in darkness. I need your grace.”
Oh, what now? How annoying!
I’m saying I’m not a saint!! If it keeps this up, I might just lose my mind.
It was just before I was going to yell at him to leave me alone when I heard.
“My daughter… is sick.”
The guard said in a voice so sad it tugged at my heart.
“She’s just three months old. She was born with a heart defect, and we’ve been told she won’t live long. I want my child to see the world outside for just a little longer. Saint, my wife spends every night in tears. Please, I’ve heard you cured the abomination and disease. Please… save my child…”
His sorrowful sobs cut through the mask.
Hearing this, I couldn’t suppress my rising anger.
Damn it.
What should I do now?
If I treat her, won’t he spread word that I’m a saint?
No way!
Wait! Isn’t this a good opportunity?
“Bring the child to me. I will heal her.”
“Are, are you serious?”
“Yes. But I have a condition.”
“Anything! I will do whatever I can!”
“After observing my healing process, when the time comes for my inquiry, please testify that I didn’t use any Divine Power and that I’m definitely not a saint.”
The guard paused for a moment.
“…Doing that would put you at a disadvantage. If the verdict comes back as heresy, you could be stuck in this underground prison for a year.”
That’s exactly what I want!!
That’s precisely what I wish for!!
“I don’t care. Just tell the truth. Will you do that for me?”
After a long period of silence, the guard finally nodded.
“If that’s what you wish, then so be it. Saint.”
After saying that, the guard melted into the shadows and vanished.
The miracles of the Silence Church are rarely witnessed.
To have seen such miracles meant being involved with the Inquisition.
Anyway, just as I was surprised watching the guard disappear into the shadows, in an instant, he sprang back up from the floor of my cell.
In his hands was a wailing infant.
“This is my daughter. Saint… please.”
“I’m not a saint. Hand her to me.”
I accepted the child in my hands.
The squirming bundle made a faint, weak sound.
So incredibly cute.
But a heart defect and won’t live long, huh?
I couldn’t let that happen.
Gently, I placed my hand on the baby’s head and activated the skill.
Just as the guard described, the baby’s heart was grotesquely twisted.
You could immediately feel the blood wasn’t circulating properly.
Focusing, I began to touch and manipulate the baby’s heart.
Flattening the squeezed areas, tightening the stretched out ones, and patching the holes.
How much time passed as I tinkered?
[Heart function operating at 100%.]
After confirming the message that popped up in my status window, I smiled contentedly and patted the baby on the head.
After it becomes clear I’m not a saint, I won’t be able to do this anymore.
Would becoming a former saint mean the number of people I could save decreases?
That worries me a little.
No, no! Get a grip!!
Do you want to get struck by lightning and have a hole blown in your head because of your misdeeds?
Quitting being a saint is the right thing!
I must survive first!
“All done.”
I carefully passed the baby back to the guard.
Though I couldn’t tell what kind of expression he had behind the mask, the soft sobs that slipped out and his trembling hands told me more than enough.
“Is… is she okay now?”
“Take her to a doctor for another check-up. She should be fine now. She’ll grow up healthy and strong.”
“Thank you… thank you, Saint.”
To the guard, who spoke in a choked-up voice, I waved my hand.
“Did I use Divine Power during the healing?”
“No. You did not.”
“When the time comes for the inquiry, please testify. Confirm that I am not a saint. Do you understand?”
The guard seemed to think for a long time, then eventually nodded.
“I will do as you say.”
“I appreciate it. When is the time for the inquiry?”
“It’s a matter of determining whether you’re falsely claiming to be a saint. Representatives from major churches around the country, the Mage Tower, the Senate, and the Supreme Court all have to gather, so it’s scheduled for two months from now.”
“At that time, you must absolutely testify! Please, please!”
After the guard respectfully bowed, he disappeared from the prison.
I stretched out lazily on my bed.
Done.
I just secured another witness.
This will seal my fate as a non-saint!
Being in this underground prison feels so comfy!
With a blissful smile, I happily lay on my bed.
Now that there’s nothing to be tense about, sleep soon overtook me.
It was a blissful slumber.