Chapter 24
It was strange.
I felt refreshed, as though I had just spat out something that had been clogging me inside.
The next moment, the consciousness that had been seized by the stone began to return little by little. The power of the stone that had bound me was receding.
When my mind finally came back in full, I opened my eyes wide.
My head was clearer than it had ever been. It felt as if my soul had been purified by the stone itself.
I fixed my gaze on the Divine Stone.
That stone was practically another manifestation of the god. Perhaps that was why it had already seemed to know I was hiding something.
Did it also know that what I was hiding was the truth about my father’s identity?
The color of the stone had completely changed. The once cloudy gem now gleamed with a pale yellow light.
Pale yellow.
No one in this place was ignorant of what that primrose color signified.
“Impossible!”
“The stone has changed color!”
“Oh, my God… For divine power to appear in such a young girl!”
“No! Something must be wrong!”
“Are you doubting the Divine Stone?”
“!”
The hall instantly descended into chaos.
Even so, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the stone.
Wow. I knew the color might change, but to actually see it—it’s amazing.
Strictly speaking, the divine power I had wasn’t something natural. Unlike others born with holy power, I had gained mine through an abnormal path—a loophole, of sorts.
So I had worried—what if the test failed and the stone didn’t respond?
But in the end, things couldn’t have turned out better.
Just as my chest felt unburdened, so too did the saints around me appear to feel a sense of relief.
[‘Dragon Slayer Sylvester’ feels as though a weight has finally been lifted from his chest.]
[‘From Handmaiden to Saintess—Astina’ snorts at those who ignored you, saying it serves them right.]
That’s right.
This is what happens when you brand a child a liar without even checking the truth!
“Silence! Everyone, quiet!”
The one sitting at the highest seat spoke. It was Cardinal Ruben Pluto, none other than Meteor’s grandfather.
It seemed that he alone among the cardinals was present. He wore the grand white mantelletta and tall hat of his office, giving him the appearance of an emperor.
His eyes were so sharp that he seemed almost like a different man than the one I had met at the Pluto estate.
Only after a long pause did Ruben finally speak.
“…Primrose has appeared. As you all know, primrose is the lowest manifestation of divine power. That means this young girl was indeed born with at least a basic holy gift.”
“That’s absurd! She happens to be a ward of the Pluto family, and now she just so happens to have divine power? Are we to call this a coincidence?! This demands a thorough investigation!”
Bishop Baldwin nearly spat with rage.
Of course, he was the loudest opponent of what had just transpired, even going so far as to suggest the Pluto family had manipulated the results.
At that moment, Learwin raised a solemn hand.
“As a member of the Pluto household and a humble servant of God, I swear this: I was the one who brought Crescent into our home. I had no knowledge whatsoever of her possessing divine power. Nor would I ever have the means to fabricate such a thing. How could a mere human like myself alter the color of the Divine Stone?”
When Learwin’s firm gaze swept the room, Bishop Baldwin clenched his teeth.
The Divine Stone was the Divine Stone. No one could impose their will upon such a holy object.
Nor could anyone craft a perfect imitation of it.
Cardinal Ruben inhaled deeply, then exhaled.
“If there is some malicious intent behind today’s event, we will learn of it in time—it will be revealed through God’s providence. But what we must focus on now is this: after one hundred and fifty years, a girl with divine power has appeared. And it happens alongside the Demon King’s return.”
“……”
The chamber fell into a hushed stillness. Not even the rustle of fabric could be heard.
Because what the cardinal had just declared was suffocating:
The Demon King had returned.
From this moment forward, the lives of the people would never be the same.
No one knew when or how they might fall victim to demonic corruption. Normal daily life was over.
And yet, at this very moment of despair, a tiny new sprout had appeared.
It was only a small sprout, too fragile to be called hope, and yet after one hundred and fifty years, a remarkable someone had emerged among humankind.
It was the first step in humanity’s resistance against the Demon Realm.
A flicker of hope. A positive omen.
Then Ruben spoke again, in a tone that brooked no refusal.
“Crescent Dallas. From this day forth, you will remain in the temple and undergo training. You must be prepared for years of study before you are ordained. Are you ready to dedicate yourself wholly to God?”
I didn’t need to think twice.
I answered firmly, without hesitation.
“Yes. But… I do not wish to be a priest. I want to become a holy knight.”
“?”
The cardinal’s eyes widened.
He had heard me speak of holy knights with curiosity once during a family meal, but this was different. This was a direct declaration that I wished to become one.
His surprise quickly faded. He narrowed his eyes.
“A holy knight… It’s not impossible. But do you truly wish to follow that path? I wonder how long you could endure it. You are but a small girl, and primrose is the lowest level of divine power—you would never become an exceptional knight.”
“That’s fine.”
My eyes shone, unwavering.
My goal had never changed. However grueling knightly training might be, I believed I could endure it.
“Even if I am only primrose, I want to be a holy knight. Even with the smallest power, I want to wield it to destroy demonic corruption and protect people. I want to be one of the knights who saves the world.”
“!”
A gasp went up around the chamber.
Astonishment, even disbelief.
How could an eight-year-old girl, who knew so little, speak such lofty words?
But unlike them, I knew: though I was primrose now, my divine power would grow over time.
No hardship would make me quit.
They might not believe me today, but eventually they would see.
Because more than anyone, I longed for the Demon King to vanish… so that my father could return.
“…Then I pray your resolve does not falter.”
I smiled at the cardinal’s doubtful gaze.
* * *
The kingdom was thrown into turmoil once more.
…And the Pluto estate turned upside down with it.
Learwin had gone on a frenzy, ordering an absurd amount of equipment and potions.
She was in such a state of excitement that she looked like a parent sending a child off to school for the very first time.
“When you train as a knight, you can’t imagine how many uniforms get torn and soiled. Of course, the temple has laundresses, but I want our little Senti to always have clean, fragrant training clothes.”
“So… that’s why I have seven sets of uniforms?”
“Of course. Five are essential for when you come home on holidays, and the other two are spares—just in case.”
I glanced between the official list of supplies from the temple and the towering pile of uniforms prepared for me.
The list required only two uniforms. I had seven.
Shoes: one pair on the list. I had three.
And the hair ribbons? Adorned with frills and lace beyond reason…
Looking over my luxuriously excessive supplies, I finally opened my mouth carefully.
