Chapter 537

The conversation with Ernliter wasn’t very long.

It wasn’t that there was nothing to talk about, but rather that he was considerate of me. He didn’t want to overly trouble the Saintess who was in recovery.

So, instead of small talk or idle chatter, we briefly discussed only the important matters.

He understood that I wanted to keep my identity as the Saintess of Astraea hidden, but as a devout religious person, he subtly suggested that I reconsider, perhaps still holding onto some lingering hope.

“No, thank you.”

Of course, I politely declined. Both mentally and realistically, I couldn’t handle the repercussions of making this public.

Even now, whenever I go around with titles like “Sword of the Starry Sky,” crowds flock to me, and even ordinary believers who don’t know I’m the Saintess show considerable favor, which is overwhelming.

If it were revealed that I’m the Saintess, it wouldn’t just end with receiving the respect of believers like Lacey.

A life where people swarm like clouds just by stepping outside. For some, it might be a dream, but for me, it’s just noisy and awkward.

Moreover, given my complicated status, there were many practical issues.

Ka`har probably sees me as a traitor who should be torn apart by now, so I don’t need to worry about them, but if I were recognized as the Saintess, the Empire wouldn’t take it well.

Elector. Lord of the Borderlands. Marquis. Descendant of the Twelve Knights. Empire’s Greatest Sword. Saintess of Order.

For an exile who isn’t even part of the imperial family, it would mean being granted too much authority and power. If I had such ambitions, I could even challenge the imperial throne.

Think about it. A hero wielding a sword bestowed by Elpinel, also receiving the blessing of the Goddess of Justice to drive out evil and protect humanity? It’s like the reincarnation of the Carolus legend.

Even the feat of cutting through the sky with a sword is similar to Carolus’ tale of slaying a dragon.

Leopold, who resembles Carolus only in lineage and appearance, and me, who resembles Carolus in everything but lineage and appearance.

It’s the perfect setup for the Empire to split in two.

Besides, other positions are within the Empire’s hierarchy, making me a subject of the Emperor, but the Saintess position is from the Holy Kingdom, not the Empire.

A symbol of authority as the representative of the Goddess of Order and the highest leader of the Astraea Church Order. Originally, this position should be completely separate from the secular power of the Empire’s Emperor.

In principle, as the Saintess and leader of the Church Order, I should serve only the Goddess, and as a noble of the Empire, I should be loyal to the Emperor.

Of course, I have no intention of serving Astraea, nor am I loyal to Leopold… but politically, it’s a very complicated position.

Just announcing that I’ve become one of the Saintesses of the Holy Kingdom would undoubtedly concentrate desires, hostility, wariness, suspicion, controversy, and conflict on me.

“―So, I refuse that proposal. There are too many threats to people’s well-being, and they’re only getting stronger. I don’t want to be held back by those obsessed with secular power without a sense of crisis. I don’t want the Empire’s strength to weaken through meaningless conflict and strife.”

“Hmm… If that’s Lady Astika’s will, then there’s nothing to be done.”

Ernliter nodded in understanding, though he clearly seemed disappointed.

“…However, someday, after the world regains peace and stability, could you allow us to reveal it in the distant future so that everyone can honor the holiness of Lady Astraea and the nobility of Lady Astika?”

Nobility? What an embarrassing thing to say.

Suppressing a laugh, I agreed to Ernliter’s request.

Judging by his words, it seems he plans to reveal it after I’ve grown old and died, saying, “She was actually the Saintess of Order!” There’s no reason for me to stop that.

—

The next topic was about Arad.

The city had turned into chaos due to Lacey’s manifesto, Belcus’ instigation, Archbishop Wilhelm’s harsh punishments, and Archbishop Radenis’ intervention.

Although I managed to clean it up, since it was a forceful solution, the citizens’ resentment towards the Astraea Church Order would still remain.

I had ordered Radenis to handle it properly, so the cathedral in the city would remain intact… but it would be impossible for the Astraea Church Order to govern Arad again.

If the paladins and priests of Astraea were to return, the citizens I had just calmed down would rise up again.

Cardinal Ernliter didn’t deny this either.

He couldn’t deny it. After all, it was he who appointed Wilhelm as the Archbishop there.

This man, now that the Saintess he dreamed of has descended, follows the Saintess’ will, but I heard he was as inhumanly principled as Wilhelm in the past.

He believed that strict adherence to principles was the way to thoroughly follow Astraea’s will.

“Wilhelm’s death… is truly regrettable.”

“It was his own doing. Someone had to take responsibility for the tragedy in Arad, and in my eyes, he was the only one fit to bear that responsibility. He went too far.”

An Archbishop killed by his own Church’s Saintess. It’s an ironic situation, but I had no intention of apologizing.

Wilhelm had his own beliefs and convictions, but by my standards, he was just a madman who deserved to die.

Anyway, since I had to return to the Empire soon, I needed to wrap up the affairs in Arad before leaving. It was a forced seizure, but I had declared it my territory.

Fortunately, Arad was just a city long governed by the Astraea Church Order, not a holy site of Astraea or anything like that.

If it were a holy site, they would have tried to reclaim it by any means necessary, making compromise impossible.

Ernliter respects me because of his faith, so it would be difficult to convince him to abandon a holy site, which would go against his beliefs.

Hmm… come to think of it, if it were known that I received Astraea’s answer there, wouldn’t it immediately be designated as a holy site even if it wasn’t before?

…I should keep that fact to myself forever.

Anyway, since Arad wasn’t a holy site yet, I could suggest to Ernliter to give up control of Arad and choose another city to govern.

There would be a need to negotiate with other Church Orders… but since some, like Bølberg and Grimnir, have completely disappeared, and others have greatly weakened, it wouldn’t be too difficult.

The only problem would be the maintenance of the cathedral left in Arad, which I had no choice but to leave to Radenis.

Relics, scriptures, and items stored inside could be moved out of the city, but relocating the entire cathedral would be impossible.

“The emptied cathedral… can be used as a civilian shelter. The priests of Astraea won’t be able to manage it, but if the cathedral is used to care for the miserable and pitiful, Lady Astraea would be pleased.”

Over the decades, the citizens’ resentment would weaken. Someday, even the believers of the Astraea Church Order might be able to visit Arad’s cathedral.

“…As you wish, Lady Astika.”

Ernliter, likely seeing no better alternative, agreed to my proposal.

—

The final topic was taking Seilon to the Empire. Since it involved taking a core force of the Astraea Church Order, I thought it necessary to get his consent.

“Do as you see fit.”

“You’re agreeing more readily than I expected. I thought you’d hesitate more.”

“What could be more important than escorting the Saintess?”

Ernliter agreed quite readily.

The duties of a Judge are just hunting down cultists and monsters, and since the cultists of the Holy Kingdom are almost eradicated, there’s no need for Seilon to intervene.

In fact, it’s expected that escorting me would allow him to judge more cultists and monsters.

[ Not a wrong statement. Excluding the judgment of good and evil, the number of people you’ve killed is probably less than the number he’s killed. ]

Always so sarcastic.

‘Why exclude the judgment of good and evil? That’s the most important part. You can’t just compare results without considering the reasons.’

[ Slaughter is slaughter no matter how it’s packaged. Is there really a need to consider the reasons? ]

‘Of course there is. Isn’t that common sense?’

Unless you’re a madman, there’s always a reason for killing.

Killing under orders, killing for beliefs, killing to fulfill twisted desires.

That difference is the only line separating soldiers, heroes, and murderers.

—

After finishing the conversation with Ernliter, I returned to St. Eluniel Cathedral and spent the remaining two days.

Having meals and chatting with Rana, advising Nigel and Leonor, who were worried about the Empire, to train harder to prepare for what’s to come.

“You two are quite talented, so with effort, you can become as strong as you want. The Realm of Heroes isn’t as far as you think.”

“Honestly, the Realm of Heroes is beyond my grasp… but if you say so, it must be true.”

“I will strive not to disappoint Lady Hashalr!”

The two nodded at my words and, rallying each other, headed to the training hall.

…To grow stronger, just sparring isn’t enough; you need to frequently subjugate worthy opponents to accumulate feats.

Well, once we return to the capital, there will be plenty of opportunities to fight, so it doesn’t matter.

—

Finally, the day came to visit the tomb of the Twelve Knights.

Wearing my winter armor, temporarily reinforced with blessed steel instead of the shattered Black Iron Scales, I headed to the tomb fully armed.

With throwing daggers, a bow, bandages, holy water, emergency rations, and a lantern for the darkness. Anyone seeing me would think I was off to explore a dungeon.