Chapter 76: Each Other's Shadow

"Hm."

I left the venue without any hesitation once the debate concluded.

The situation now was the exact opposite of when I entered.

No one jeered or threw trash at me.

They were just staring at me blankly, seemingly still in shock.

After I manifested the Holy Power, it was practically unnecessary to continue the debate because the other side was unable to express their opinions.

Having shown clear proof that the Gods they believed in had chosen me, they fell silent as if a cat had got their tongues.

Because they knew that if they kept opposing me, it ultimately meant that they would be opposing the Gods they believed in.

It could be said that it was wiser to remain silent.

Trying to rectify the situation now could lead to making irreversible statements later.

This was too easy.

In the end, it all concluded as something trivial. I had anticipated a somewhat innovative statement or opinion that could lead to a perfect opportunity for mockery, but none surfaced.

They might have not arrived at an immediate conclusion, but given the current atmosphere, it was obvious.

In the end, the Griffin Kingdom would have no choice but to accept me.

"Gyaaaah, you nailed it!"

"Well done."

After I returned to the waiting room, Findenai and Deia were still smiling in the same manner. I passed by them as they offered a high-five and chose to sit down on the chair instead.

"Phew."

As I took a breath to control my mana, Findenai and Deia awkwardly gave each other a high-five with their extended hands.

There was no time to pay attention to them right now. Due to the Holy Power swirling inside me, I needed to regulate my mana.

[Ugh.]

Unable to approach my immediate vicinity, the Dark Spiritualist stood at a distance, observing me with concern. Deia and Findenai also seemed to realize that something was wrong.

"What's wrong? Why are you like that?"

"Have you really received God's Judgment, Master Bastard? Because you have dared to use their name in vain?"

"No need to exaggerate the situation."

While black magic was commonly perceived as the antithesis of Holy Power, it was not exactly the case.

Black magic was simply one of the many branches of magic studies. The rejection came from the religious side as it focused on subjects like souls or corpses.

So, it wasn't necessarily true that a dark mage couldn't coexist with Holy Power.

Therefore, the reason Holy Power was raging inside me right now wasn't because I was a dark mage.

It was because I directly consumed Holy Power.

While I did use it to defeat the Evil Ghost Griffin, the real reason I sent Aria and Findenai to retrieve the Holy Grail was actually to persuade the people of Griffin.

No matter how much I showcased my achievements or expressed the truth eloquently.

In the end, due to deep-rooted hatred in their long history, nobody would believe me.

In that case, I had to make them believe.

Simply holding the Holy Grail allowed Deia to use Holy Power.

Making holy water from wine using the Holy Grail would allow me to briefly manipulate Holy Power after I consumed it.

However, handling the Holy Power directly from within the body rather than using it indirectly, through the Holy Grail, resulted in severe side effects.

I guess I can't use it frequently.

I struggled to stabilize my breathing.

Upon seeing the sweat forming, Findenai decided to perform her role as my maid and used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from my visibly struggling face.

"That is enough."

"What's enough? Opportunities like this don't come often."

Despite my protests, Findenai continued to wipe my sweat and even handed me a water bottle.

While I drank water to cleanse my system, the sound of knocking was heard from outside.

Deia went to open the door, and as it creaked open, she gasped and sharply turned her gaze towards me.

I twisted my waist and turned towards that side. There, the silver-haired Saintess calmly entered the room.

"Well."

Findenai immediately stood in front of me.

Despite Findenai's threatening demeanor, which seemed to indicate that she was ready to grab her axe at any minor annoyance, the Saintess showed no signs of retreating.

"I would like to have a brief conversation with the Soul Whisperer."

Upon hearing the Saintess' surprisingly polite attitude and a direct acknowledgement of my position as the Soul Whisperer, Findenai subtly gauged my intention.

In response, I gestured with my eyes, and Deia and Findenai decided to usher themselves out.

"Hey! Hey! Go away!"

"Oh, get lost! You old geezers reeking of perfume."

It seemed like the bishops who followed the Saintess were standing outside the door, but the door finally closed with Deia and Findenai chasing them away as if chasing away flies.

Thud.

The sound of the door closing was heavier than expected.

Lucia slowly dragged a chair and gracefully sat across me.

Seeing her like that, I unintentionally let out a soft laugh.

"Is this the continuation of the conversation in Mersen?"

"Tch! If so, why don't you use formal language like you did back then?"

Lucia's expression was slightly contorted, as if she had the same thought as me for a moment. However, she quickly composed herself with a fake cough.

"Enough of that. Let's get straight to the point. How were you able to use the Holy Power?"

"I told you, God has chosen me."

"Really..."

Lucia gave me an intimidating look before standing up and placing her hand on my shoulder.

Unsure of what she was doing, the Holy Power within me was naturally absorbed by her, as if it was clinging to her like flesh to bones.

"Just because it's Holy Power doesn't mean it's always a kind power. The authority and capability bestowed by God come with responsibilities."

"Hmm."

Lucia quickly realized that I wasn't someone chosen by God.

Sitting back down, she let out a sigh, and her eyes revealed an odd emotion.

"You have succeeded. I was curious about how you would persuade the common folk. I never expected you to pass that role onto us."

"I just entrusted the Church to do it because you're good at it. No matter what the issue is, you always manage to resolve it according to God's will, don't you?"

"Hmph."

After all, even if it was tough, resolving matters according to God's will was their speciality. Lucia didn't make any excuses, as if she didn't intend to deny it, but glared at me.

I asked honestly, since her gaze was more akin to compassion than hostility.

"Do you not hate me?"

I denied the foundation of religion and engaged in actions that threatened the Saintess' position.

In reality, I thought that it wouldn't have been strange even if she used Holy Power to threaten me.

Lucia's shoulders slumped down as she exhaled.

"Honestly, I can't approve of your methods... but I agree that the Griffin Kingdom needs you."

More than anyone else, the Saintess was the one fighting at the forefront against strange phenomena.

In fact, she knew better than anyone how vulnerable the Griffin Kingdom was to the evil spirits and how their impact was gradually increasing.

"The incidents caused by the awakened dead souls are getting worse. The Griffin Kingdom, which was ill-informed about the evil spirits, needs to be prepared to deal with the evil spirits as soon as possible."

"This is surprising."

When I expressed my thoughts honestly, Lucia tilted her head in the opposite direction.

"Pardon?"

"I did not expect you to acknowledge me so easily. During the debate, you said that the citizens would not accept me, right?"

"If I don't stand on the people's side, they won't have anyone to turn to."

"...."

"Don't detest their ignorance too much."

I found myself momentarily speechless at her unexpected response.

I never thought the Saintess would say such things. However, she spoke with a faint smile.

"Don't misunderstand me as hating the people. I love them more than anything else."

Yes.

Of course, she would wish for them to remain ignorant.

Too much knowledge couldn't bring happiness because knowledge could open up different ways of thinking and could sometimes lead to unwanted responsibilities.

Just like the Saintess now.

"Out of love, I just hope they don't have to see the countless abysses on the continent."

With a bitter expression, Lucia dropped her gaze to the floor. But that was just for a moment; she then raised her head again to continue the conversation.

"Alright, I'll make it clear for now. The Church will most likely acknowledge you."

"Yes, I guess so."

In the end, they had to acknowledge me, who could wield Holy Power, even if it was just a one-time event and a scam using the holy relic, the Holy Grail.

I had confidence to keep them in the dark for a lifetime.

"As I said before, I don't particularly endorse your methods. Still, because we need you, I will take a position to support you."

If the Saintess, who was able to use the same Holy Power, had guaranteed it, it would be much more convincing.

"But everyone serves God, and even if they are the same believers, they have different ideals, faiths, and beliefs."

"...."

"What I mean is that the radical hardliners might move... No, they will definitely act."

"Yeah, I guess so."

They would come at me aggressively, branding me as a heretic, accusing me of mocking God, or labeling me as a swindler, tailoring their accusations to suit their narrative.

The Griffin Kingdom would experience unprecedented chaos for a while.

The confrontation between believers and non-believers.

Even among believers, there would be various conflicts.

And at the center of everything... Would be me.

"It is the growing pains."

When I flatly dismissed such chaos with a single sentence, the Saintess seemed uncomfortable but didn't outright deny it.

"Well, now that it's out there. Wouldn't that have been too extreme a method?"

"...."

"Even if necessary, the citizens will still be greatly shocked and plunged into chaos. With no one having a proper answer, they'll fight each other while searching for one, right?"

Lucia, already worried about this, massaged her forehead.

"I barely have time to resolve the bizarre phenomena caused by the evil spirits. If I have to mediate the citizens' confusion as well..."

Feeling dizzy, Lucia shook her head, but I responded calmly.

"You seem to be misunderstanding something."

"...What?"

"That is precisely what you should be doing."

The position of a Saintess wasn't one that anyone could hold as they wished. Shouldn't she be at the forefront, handling the chaos of the continent for the sake of the citizens' peace?

"Do you think I don't know that?"

Why was she grumbling like that? Did it sound like a scolding? Thus, I slightly changed my words.

"Originally, dealing with the incidents caused by the evil spirits wasn't your responsibility. What you did was just to use Holy Power to annihilate them."

"Uh... y-yes."

The Holy Power would effortlessly annihilate the weak evil spirits upon contact, as it was their natural enemy.

But could we really say that was the correct method of dealing with them?

"The evil spirits were once humans, too."

"...."

The Saintess shut her lips tightly when I brought forth the truth she had been purposely avoiding.

She would want to say she knew it, but words wouldn't come out of her mouth. However, even if she knew it, in the end, all she could do was only subject them to a forced annihilation.

"Why is that? Why did Holy Power, which heals and comforts the living, become so antagonistic to the dead?"

"W-well that...."

I heard Lucia quibbling as she couldn't answer that.

"It is because its purpose has been misused."

This setting hadn't even appeared in the game. I was merely expressing what I had felt throughout my life in this world.

"It is because Holy Power is meant for the living, not the dead."

"...."

"Even if it was necessary, it's safe to say you've been using it incorrectly all this time."

"Then what about the evil spirits? How are we supposed to deal with the dead...?"

"I am here, am I not?"

I directly met Lucia's blue sapphire eyes.

In fact, with her divine silver hair and clear sapphire eyes, she truly had the fitting appearance to be called a Saintess.

"As a Soul Whisperer, it is my duty to console the dead."

"...."

"I believe I'm walking a similar path to yours, Saintess."

The Saintess consoled the living, giving them hope and motivating them with the courage to move forward.

"Saintess Lucia, you gather your hands for the living and pray to your God."

While I listened to the stories of the dead, I gave them the push they needed to let go of everything and closed their eyes for the last time.

"I will be the one who weeps for the dead."

I would listen to their stories, soothing their injustice and resentment. If there was an evil spirit haunting the living beyond the boundary of life and death, I would make sure they paid the appropriate price.

Lucia chuckled at my words.

"Indeed. In the end, we are performing similar duties."

Only the targets were different.