Chapter 64: The False Saintess (1)
“So, have you figured everything out?”
“Yes. As we suspected, a few of them had infiltrated the Holy Knights as well.”
At my question, Arin nodded in confirmation. She scratched her head irritably, clearly fed up with it all.
After scanning the list written on the paper, Arin clicked her tongue and handed it over to me.
“I didn’t expect the Emperor’s eyes to reach all the way into the Holy Kingdom.”
“That bastard would never form an alliance without laying his groundwork first.”
“...Do you think the Pope doesn’t know?”
At her cautious question, I let out a short laugh. There’s no way someone who’s ruled a nation for decades is unaware of such schemes.
He knows. He’s just choosing to ignore it. Most likely because he intends to use it to his own advantage. Just as I’m using Allen as the informant within the imperial court.
“There’s no way he doesn’t know.”
“Then what in the world is he thinking?”
“Trying to read the mind of an old fox will only give you a headache. Better to just leave him be.”
The Pope has never really cared about anything outside his Holy Kingdom. As long as no one touches his territory, he’s likely to turn a blind eye even to the Emperor’s schemes. That’s why the Emperor has never dared to make a move on the Holy Kingdom recklessly.
Unless he’s fully prepared, going up against the Pope is no different from suicide.
The unusually heavy imperial involvement in this subjugation campaign must’ve been part of his setup. Of course, I let it all slide—everything that didn’t directly get in my way. It’s easier to expose the Emperor’s intentions to the Pope by letting him act freely.
“All we need to do is inform him about the situation in his own nest.”
“Are you saying the Pope really doesn’t know about the Emperor’s plan?”
“If he did, he would’ve taken action by now.”
It’s a plan that could kill tens of thousands of innocent people. The Pope’s methods may be shady, but his faith and sense of sacrifice are as genuine as any saint of the Goddess Church.
He adores the people of the Holy Kingdom. There’s no way he’d just stand by and watch them die.
“I see.”
Arin nodded, seemingly convinced by my explanation.
I began to read the list she had handed over. There were fewer infiltrators among the Holy Knights than I expected—maybe three or four at most.
Even my own servant roster has more than ten spies.
But perhaps that in itself is impressive. That such a sacred order has even this many traitors is a feat. I can’t imagine what tricks were used to pull that off.
One name, in particular, caught my eye.
Yurf von Ernesti.
No way. She actually participated in this subjugation campaign?
In the original story, Yuruf never joined the campaign. Despite being blessed directly by the Goddess and possessing incredible talent, she had a constitution that rejected divine power.
If she got even slightly injured in battle, she couldn’t be healed by other priests. Even potions didn’t work well on her—that said everything.
There was a reason a saintess candidate like her wasn’t sent to the front lines. Didn’t she nearly die this time from monster venom?
“It’s fate.”
That’s what the Pop had muttered.
Sending Yuruf into battle was probably also part of this so-called “fate.”
I found myself recalling her role in the original.
The False Saint, the Betrayer…
She’d been called many things. She was one of the most beloved supporting characters among readers because of how multi-faceted she was.
One of the few who knew she was merely a substitute—a decoy, a puppet—installed to serve as the Emperor’s eyes.
That internal contradiction within Yuruf made her an especially compelling character.
But now, faced with her in real life, I couldn’t help but feel a bitter taste in my mouth.
“Are you not going to tell her the truth about who she is?”
Arin asked quietly while scanning the names beside me. I set the list down at her question.
When I turned, I saw Arin’s face filled with worry. Spending a month alongside Adele must’ve made her attached.
She looked like a teacher worried for her student. I wondered if I’d ever worn the same expression. Shaking off that thought, I replied,
“She’s still a saintess candidate, rotten or not. Do you really think the Emperor would move a piece he cherishes without care?”
“You’re right. From his point of view, she’s not a card he can use lightly.”
“Exactly.”
I highly doubt that Emperor would waste a valuable piece like Yuruf just to deal with Adele.
In the original, he held her back and protected her—only to be betrayed by her in the end.
I doubt the Emperor of this world is any different.
No matter how powerful he is, at his core, he’s just a coward.
****
Suddenly, her eyes opened. An unfamiliar ceiling came into view. White fabric stretched across wooden beams.
Her arm, resting on the bed, felt the cold touch of metal.
Yuruf sat up slowly, quietly taking in the scene.
Her condition, once so dire, had seemingly disappeared without a trace.
“It doesn’t hurt…”
The burning pain that had scorched her lungs, making it impossible to breathe, was completely gone.
Even the hunger she had endured for so long seemed to have faded.
Overwhelmed by the unexpected calm, Yuruf closed her eyes for a moment. She could feel divine energy gently flowing around her body—stronger and livelier than usual.
That meant her condition had improved significantly.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw a woman sleeping, slumped over the bed.
White hair spilled in messy strands.
“Yde... was it?”
A member of the Black Raven Knights of the Arie Empire.
A skilled warrior worthy of that elite unit, and one of the few known spirit knights. She had been assigned as Yuruf’s personal escort. The one who had saved her from certain death by monster.
The one who had used a precious panacea on her dying body.
“Someone saved me... again.”
Ever since she became aware of her identity, it had always been this way. As if guided by the Goddess herself, Yuruf had managed to survive death time and again.
Yet she was just a stand-in—a substitute created to replace a rural girl named Yuruf. When the Pope personally declared her a saintess candidate, she had been so shocked she could hardly speak.
Her fasts were meant to get him to revoke that position. But every time she pleaded, the Pope refused.
Snore…
She turned to see Yde softly sleeping. She had dozed off, slumped over at the edge of the bed—clearly an uncomfortable position.
Even so, she slept with a peaceful expression.
If she keeps sleeping like that, she’ll throw her back out in no time…
The thought suddenly crossed Yuruf’s mind. After all, she had injured her own back sleeping in that exact position while caring for a patient once.
As she reached her hand out toward Yde, an old memory flashed through her mind and made her hesitate.
Is this… really okay?
It was still a vivid scene in her mind—the look on Karl’s face when she had revealed she was nothing more than a substitute created by the Emperor.
His face, smiling even as he coughed up blood in the flames.
His eyes, filled with unwavering resolve as he swore to return the kindness he had received from her.
Mr. Karl… what should I do now?
But no answer came to her question.
It wasn’t something she could ask the current Karl.
He had long been replaced by the Emperor’s eye. That’s why she had always treated him so coldly.
Because she simply couldn’t accept that he was still the Karl she once knew. Even if it meant spitting in her own face, she couldn’t let go of that belief.
“Oh? You’re awake.”
Yde wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth and looked at Yuruf. Embarrassed, Yuruf quickly pulled her outstretched hand back.
Yde didn’t seem to pay much attention to it. Rubbing her eyes, she quietly sat down in the chair beside the bed.
Still half-asleep, Yde shook her head several times in an effort to wake up, though her eyelids drooped again as if still heavy with sleep.
[Bless.]
Yuruf gently granted her a touch of divine energy. A small act of kindness—surely it wouldn’t matter. It’s not like the Emperor was monitoring her every move.
As divine power seeped into her body, Yde’s eyes flew open wide. Now fully awake, she glanced around at herself in amazement, letting out a soft gasp.
Then she turned to Yuruf with a curious look.
“How did you do that?”
“It’s just a simple blessing.”
A priest’s blessing could naturally restore vitality. Used like this, it made waking up early in the morning a little easier.
At Yuruf’s explanation, Yde’s eyes sparkled as she asked,
“Can I do it too?”
“Hmm… probably not.”
Yuruf shook her head slightly.
“To handle divine power, you have to receive a direct baptism from the Holy Kingdom.”
“Ah… that’s a shame.”
At her reply, Yde let out a sigh, clearly disappointed. The raw honesty on her face made Yuruf smile without even realizing it.
“That’s your first smile.”
“...Me?”
“Yes. It looks good on you.”
Yde said it with a soft, eye-smile.
Yuruf hadn’t smiled much before. She tried to lift the corners of her mouth again, but all she felt was the awkward twitch of unfamiliar muscles.
The sight made Yde chuckle unintentionally.
“You’re not used to smiling, huh?”
“...Yeah. I haven’t had many reasons to.”
“Well, then start now. You never know—you might have plenty of reasons to smile from now on.”
“...You think so?”
“I do. Absolutely.”
Yde responded without a hint of doubt.
And for a moment, Yuruf found herself a little envious of her positivity.
– – The End of The Chapter––
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