“I’m not just doing this for my own personal vendetta. The Gods have commanded me to stop the little witch.”
“.…”
“So you don’t need to feel guilty. Just follow the will of God.”
At Asta’s cruel whisper, Sherry looked up.
Seeing her unmoved expression, the corner of Asta’s mouth twitched.
“I’m giving you an option…”
“Ptui!”
Sherry spat in Asta’s face.
“An all-powerful God who can’t do anything and has to rely on people! You expect me to support such nonsense!”
Asta grabbed Sherry by the hair and threw her to the ground. She snatched the knife from the priest in anger and approached the child.
“N-No! Stop!” Sherry screamed.
Asta didn’t care and raised the knife.
Clatter!
Suddenly a small rock flew out of nowhere and hit Asta in the cheek.
Asta lost her grip on her knife.
“Do you have a death wish…! Y-You..?”
Asta, who had turned around thinking it was Sherry, was shocked when she saw me. She wasn’t the only one who was surprised.
“M-Miss..?”
Sherry’s eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her head. My heart broke as I looked at her, bleeding from the beating. I glared at Asta.
“H-How did you get here…?”
“I guess God didn’t tell you I was here.”
“Did Prache send you?”
No, but I didn’t bother to answer. Asta laughed bizarrely at her own assumptions.
“Why would I go through these troubles if he had told me?”
I didn’t care what she said.
Instead, I walked over to Sherry.
Pushing past the stunned priests, I untied her from the ropes that bound her.
“M-Miss, why are you here, you shouldn’t leave..” Sherry said, sobbing.
I deliberately avoided eye contact with her and looked at her sibling. Thankfully, the boy didn’t look hurt.
“Take Sherry and go. Make sure she gets treated somewhere safe.”
The boy nodded despite being terrified. I helped him carry the staggering Sherry.
“You’re not going anywhere!”
Asta shouted fiercely.
“You need only me.”
“What do you want to say…”
“I’ll stay. Let Sherry and her brother go.”
Is this the test? A sacrifice for those who love me.
‘But I would have done this even if it wasn’t a test.’
Instead, I thanked the unknown being for giving me this opportunity to save them.
“Miss!”
Sherry cried, grabbing my hand. I squeezed my eyes shut and pulled my hand away.
“Hurry and leave.”
“No, Miss!”
Sherry struggled to hold on to me, but it was futile. The two of them soon disappeared outside the cave.
“Such tearful affection. Isn’t it nice to be loved?”
Asta sneered.
I said nothing, my concern for Sherry was overriding any response.
A necklace, like chains, was put around my neck. It felt like my mana or divinity, none of them existed.
Asta said, “Prache told me to put this on you, in case you try something weird.”
“S-Saint the oracle has descended!” One of the priests shouted urgently.
He held up a flaming goblet.
‘It was similar to the temple’s one. Only the size was different. It had been reduced to a size that a man could carry.’
When the flames died down, Asta pulled a piece of paper from inside the goblet.
Words shone through the thin paper.
{ Kill her.}
A chill ran down my spine. It was clear that Prache was ordering her to kill me.
Apart from the test, there was another crisis.
“He’s too demanding.” Asta muttered irritably.
And then-!
Rip!
Asta tore up the oracle.
“S-Stop, Saint!”
The priests were horrified. But Asta was unfazed. She poured a cup of water on the fire and covered the oracle with the lid.
“Saint, if you close the lid, the oracle won’t descend!”
“I know. I intentionally closed it to avoid receiving revelations for a while.”
“But weren’t you the one who told us to steal the goblet from the temple?”
“Our Prache does what he wants to do and doesn’t think about us.”
“What?”
Asta crossed her arms and looked at the last of the priests with a pitying look.
“When I let you escape, why did you decide to help me again instead of just running away?”
“Because the will of the Gods lies with you.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. If you don’t take major steps, you’ll have to hide for the rest of your life.””
The priests winced.
“But if we kill Hanelope now, what will happen to us? The Emperor will slaughter us in rage.”
“God Prache will save us! Didn’t God also rescue you from prison, Saint?”
“He will save me, but will He save you all? Even I escaped only after being severely tortured!”
“……?”
“Some of you might be ‘martyred’.”
“!”
The priests were horrified. It seemed they hadn’t thought of that possibility.
A wry smile spread across Asta’s face.
“But I want to keep you alive. I’m planning to take you all to the Eastern Continent. We will create the largest temple dedicated to Prache there..”
“…….”
“I want to lead everyone to happiness. I’m sure even God will understand this.”
“T-Then if we safely board the ship to the Eastern Continent, will you return the princess to the Emperor? Won’t God be displeased with your choice?”
“We can’t. As soon as we return Hanelope, the Emperor will attack the ship we’re on. We’ll have to wait until we’re far out at sea before sending her back on a small boat.”
Asta looked at me with a cold smile.
“Of course, there will be holes in that boat.”
***
Asta’s plan worked.
Riding the stolen carriage, they didn’t get far before they were discovered by the imperial army.
But the imperial army had to retreat.
“The Emperor doesn’t want to see his granddaughter die, does he?”
Asta threatened, holding a knife to my throat. They agreed to bring her riches and rations obediently.
The elite troupe was rendered useless as Asta refused to leave my side.
If they tried harder to save me, I would be the one who would probably get injured. Eventually, Grandfather and Dad had no choice but to make way for Asta.
Asta managed to elude them and headed smoothly to Stofen Harbor.
She aimed to escape to the Eastern Continent by ship.
***
“D*mn it!” The Emperor cursed as he left the conference room.
The Emperor had disguised soldiers waiting on the road to Stofen Harbour for days. The plan was to lure Asta into a surprise attack if she appeared.
But Asta’s use of Hanelope as a shield foiled the plan.
‘Since Hanelope is being held hostage, there’s nothing we can do.’
The Emperor proposed, “We’ll ensure you can leave safely, so please return Hanelope.”
But Asta refused.
She would only return Hanelope once she boarded the ship.
‘How can I trust her words? Asta might say that, but she’s likely to kill Hanelope.’
Asta had to be captured before she boarded the ship. But she was already nearing Stofen Harbor.
‘I need to come up with a new plan. We must capture Asta in Stofen. This is our last chance.’
Returning to his office, the Emperor was kneading his temples, “I’ll go myself.”
The Emperor raised his head abruptly.
Hart was standing there, having arrived at some point. After days without eating or sleeping, he looked very gaunt. But his gaze was as clear as ever.
“I’ll personally go and rescue Hanelope.”
“I can’t allow that.” The Emperor firmly refused.
“Father!”
“Do you have confidence that you won’t lose your reason? I think it’s impossible. If you go, you’ll put everyone in danger!”
“Then, are you telling me to just watch while Hanelope dies?”
“Hanelope won’t die. I’ll save her.”
“What do you mean? Asta is almost at Stofen already.”
The Emperor swallowed his saliva.
At that moment, someone cautiously knocked on the door.
Tap, tap.
Two light knocks meant the person behind the door was a palace messenger.
“Come in.”
Allowed by the Emperor, the chamberlain revealed himself.
“What’s the matter?”
“Your Majesty, someone has come from the Grand Temple.”
“The Grand Temple? Is the Archbishop here to ask for forgiveness from me again? It’s unnecessary, so tell him to leave.”
“It’s not the Archbishop.”
“If it’s not the Archbishop, then?” The Emperor asked sharply.
The trembling chamberlain spoke, “It’s… the Pope.”
“I’m not just doing this for my own personal vendetta. The Gods have commanded me to stop the little witch.”
“.…”
“So you don’t need to feel guilty. Just follow the will of God.”
At Asta’s cruel whisper, Sherry looked up.
Seeing her unmoved expression, the corner of Asta’s mouth twitched.
“I’m giving you an option…”
“Ptui!”
Sherry spat in Asta’s face.
“An all-powerful God who can’t do anything and has to rely on people! You expect me to support such nonsense!”
Asta grabbed Sherry by the hair and threw her to the ground. She snatched the knife from the priest in anger and approached the child.
“N-No! Stop!” Sherry screamed.
Asta didn’t care and raised the knife.
Clatter!
Suddenly a small rock flew out of nowhere and hit Asta in the cheek.
Asta lost her grip on her knife.
“Do you have a death wish…! Y-You..?”
Asta, who had turned around thinking it was Sherry, was shocked when she saw me. She wasn’t the only one who was surprised.
“M-Miss..?”
Sherry’s eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her head. My heart broke as I looked at her, bleeding from the beating. I glared at Asta.
“H-How did you get here…?”
“I guess God didn’t tell you I was here.”
“Did Prache send you?”
No, but I didn’t bother to answer. Asta laughed bizarrely at her own assumptions.
“Why would I go through these troubles if he had told me?”
I didn’t care what she said.
Instead, I walked over to Sherry.
Pushing past the stunned priests, I untied her from the ropes that bound her.
“M-Miss, why are you here, you shouldn’t leave..” Sherry said, sobbing.
I deliberately avoided eye contact with her and looked at her sibling. Thankfully, the boy didn’t look hurt.
“Take Sherry and go. Make sure she gets treated somewhere safe.”
The boy nodded despite being terrified. I helped him carry the staggering Sherry.
“You’re not going anywhere!”
Asta shouted fiercely.
“You need only me.”
“What do you want to say…”
“I’ll stay. Let Sherry and her brother go.”
Is this the test? A sacrifice for those who love me.
‘But I would have done this even if it wasn’t a test.’
Instead, I thanked the unknown being for giving me this opportunity to save them.
“Miss!”
Sherry cried, grabbing my hand. I squeezed my eyes shut and pulled my hand away.
“Hurry and leave.”
“No, Miss!”
Sherry struggled to hold on to me, but it was futile. The two of them soon disappeared outside the cave.
“Such tearful affection. Isn’t it nice to be loved?”
Asta sneered.
I said nothing, my concern for Sherry was overriding any response.
A necklace, like chains, was put around my neck. It felt like my mana or divinity, none of them existed.
Asta said, “Prache told me to put this on you, in case you try something weird.”
“S-Saint the oracle has descended!” One of the priests shouted urgently.
He held up a flaming goblet.
‘It was similar to the temple’s one. Only the size was different. It had been reduced to a size that a man could carry.’
When the flames died down, Asta pulled a piece of paper from inside the goblet.
Words shone through the thin paper.
{ Kill her.}
A chill ran down my spine. It was clear that Prache was ordering her to kill me.
Apart from the test, there was another crisis.
“He’s too demanding.” Asta muttered irritably.
And then-!
Rip!
Asta tore up the oracle.
“S-Stop, Saint!”
The priests were horrified. But Asta was unfazed. She poured a cup of water on the fire and covered the oracle with the lid.
“Saint, if you close the lid, the oracle won’t descend!”
“I know. I intentionally closed it to avoid receiving revelations for a while.”
“But weren’t you the one who told us to steal the goblet from the temple?”
“Our Prache does what he wants to do and doesn’t think about us.”
“What?”
Asta crossed her arms and looked at the last of the priests with a pitying look.
“When I let you escape, why did you decide to help me again instead of just running away?”
“Because the will of the Gods lies with you.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. If you don’t take major steps, you’ll have to hide for the rest of your life.””
The priests winced.
“But if we kill Hanelope now, what will happen to us? The Emperor will slaughter us in rage.”
“God Prache will save us! Didn’t God also rescue you from prison, Saint?”
“He will save me, but will He save you all? Even I escaped only after being severely tortured!”
“……?”
“Some of you might be ‘martyred’.”
“!”
The priests were horrified. It seemed they hadn’t thought of that possibility.
A wry smile spread across Asta’s face.
“But I want to keep you alive. I’m planning to take you all to the Eastern Continent. We will create the largest temple dedicated to Prache there..”
“…….”
“I want to lead everyone to happiness. I’m sure even God will understand this.”
“T-Then if we safely board the ship to the Eastern Continent, will you return the princess to the Emperor? Won’t God be displeased with your choice?”
“We can’t. As soon as we return Hanelope, the Emperor will attack the ship we’re on. We’ll have to wait until we’re far out at sea before sending her back on a small boat.”
Asta looked at me with a cold smile.
“Of course, there will be holes in that boat.”
***
Asta’s plan worked.
Riding the stolen carriage, they didn’t get far before they were discovered by the imperial army.
But the imperial army had to retreat.
“The Emperor doesn’t want to see his granddaughter die, does he?”
Asta threatened, holding a knife to my throat. They agreed to bring her riches and rations obediently.
The elite troupe was rendered useless as Asta refused to leave my side.
If they tried harder to save me, I would be the one who would probably get injured. Eventually, Grandfather and Dad had no choice but to make way for Asta.
Asta managed to elude them and headed smoothly to Stofen Harbor.
She aimed to escape to the Eastern Continent by ship.
***
“D*mn it!” The Emperor cursed as he left the conference room.
The Emperor had disguised soldiers waiting on the road to Stofen Harbour for days. The plan was to lure Asta into a surprise attack if she appeared.
But Asta’s use of Hanelope as a shield foiled the plan.
‘Since Hanelope is being held hostage, there’s nothing we can do.’
The Emperor proposed, “We’ll ensure you can leave safely, so please return Hanelope.”
But Asta refused.
She would only return Hanelope once she boarded the ship.
‘How can I trust her words? Asta might say that, but she’s likely to kill Hanelope.’
Asta had to be captured before she boarded the ship. But she was already nearing Stofen Harbor.
‘I need to come up with a new plan. We must capture Asta in Stofen. This is our last chance.’
Returning to his office, the Emperor was kneading his temples, “I’ll go myself.”
The Emperor raised his head abruptly.
Hart was standing there, having arrived at some point. After days without eating or sleeping, he looked very gaunt. But his gaze was as clear as ever.
“I’ll personally go and rescue Hanelope.”
“I can’t allow that.” The Emperor firmly refused.
“Father!”
“Do you have confidence that you won’t lose your reason? I think it’s impossible. If you go, you’ll put everyone in danger!”
“Then, are you telling me to just watch while Hanelope dies?”
“Hanelope won’t die. I’ll save her.”
“What do you mean? Asta is almost at Stofen already.”
The Emperor swallowed his saliva.
At that moment, someone cautiously knocked on the door.
Tap, tap.
Two light knocks meant the person behind the door was a palace messenger.
“Come in.”
Allowed by the Emperor, the chamberlain revealed himself.
“What’s the matter?”
“Your Majesty, someone has come from the Grand Temple.”
“The Grand Temple? Is the Archbishop here to ask for forgiveness from me again? It’s unnecessary, so tell him to leave.”
“It’s not the Archbishop.”
“If it’s not the Archbishop, then?” The Emperor asked sharply.
The trembling chamberlain spoke, “It’s… the Pope.”
