Chapter 79 – The Great Existence (9)
“Hmm, it’s a bit disappointing that I couldn’t drive them all away.”
I chuckled softly while gazing at the scenery before me. If it were up to me, I would have liked to drive out those who stubbornly opposed me and beat them up, but I lacked a valid reason to do so.
After all, once they reluctantly relented and agreed to my persuasion, it would be hard to push them any further.
I had not yet investigated what cute little plots they were concocting within the order. I wasn’t particularly interested either.
I could likely punish the holy knights who had attacked me if they insisted on being obstinate, but making a fuss just to deal with those lowlifes seemed counterproductive.
Since I had stepped in personally, I needed to manage my image. It couldn’t be helped. Since I had decided to mimic a monster that had been dormant for ten thousand years, image-making was essential.
“Proceed with the ceremony. Today, one hero and two saintesses will awaken as newly appointed.”
The young high priest, who was the son of the previous grand high priest and backed by Leber, conducted the ceremony. Both Maria, whom I had personally recognized, and the two existing heroes would undergo this awakening together.
“—, —. —-.”
“Really?”
Through my communion with the water spirit that had recently connected with me, I learned exactly what this ceremony entailed. The first saintess used sacred water imbued with her essence to stimulate and awaken the power in her descendants.
It was the power of Pharama, which purifies everything, that made this possible.
As the blood was diluted, it purified the ‘flaw’ that descendants inevitably hold, allowing them to bloom with the strength passed down from their ancestors.
‘That will help me as well.’
Smirking, I confidently observed the three individuals slowly approaching me, carefully dipping themselves into the sacred water while wearing only neat, clean white garments.
Since the water wasn’t very deep, it barely reached their chests as they were still growing.
“To be precise, I am an outsider in this process, but the water spirit dwelling in the sacred water has conveyed to you the inherited teachings of your ancestors, which you have not known all this time. Since I am someone who witnessed the origin of the order first-hand, it is only right for me to relay the teachings of the first saintess, who is your forebear.”
Once I had decided to act, I was committed to doing it purposefully. It seemed that the carefree life I intended at first had gone awry.
“You three, as descendants, along with everyone here, must willingly stand and fight against the calamities that befall this world.”
Having entered the water before them, I used my communion with the rapidly growing water spirit, which drew power from the sacred water, to move the water naturally around them. The nature of water, so different from that of wind and earth, now flowed like my own limbs, wrapping around their bodies. They might not find it very pleasant.
It feels like being ensnared by damp, slimy tendrils.
Still, the ceremony itself ended quickly. It only required forcefully instilling the power residing within that water into their bodies.
While they were astonished and unable to comprehend the power they were encountering for the first time, I stood a short distance away, watching them calmly.
“You are the true saintess, Maria. With that comes great responsibility.”
When they stumbled, I was the first to catch Maria.
This child was entirely drawn into this affair because of me. I couldn’t help but be more concerned about her than the other two.
*
“The three of you have all arrived at your lodgings well after collapsing from exhaustion. Although it is the same as the record, the amount of power accepted during awakening is…”
“Of course, since I helped, they awakened far more easily than the others. You all merely dipped yourselves into the sacred water without knowing the will of the saintess who created the holy land or the purpose of the sacred water.”
Outside, dawn had already broken, but I still hadn’t left this underground cave.
Leber approached me cautiously, while the others were merely keeping quiet, watching me.
“Does it not sit well with you? After all, I entered a place where even priests couldn’t immerse themselves.”
As I gathered the moisture on my body into droplets and let them fall, the priests jumped at once. According to the ‘rules’ they had upheld for thousands of years, my entering the pool with the candidates was an act bordering on blasphemy.
Yet, despite knowing that, they couldn’t bring themselves to speak.
Wasn’t I older than the god they believed in? These central figures gathered from all over the continent were so devout they could be called fanatics, but the Church of Light was not the ordinary religion I once knew.
It was a religion where gods, divine power, and miracles truly existed.
They could not disregard me, who existed on par with those miracles, as a wicked heretic. After all, I undeniably existed at this very moment. Indeed, might is closer than law.
“Please clarify this, O High Elf of legend. Is there any chance that your intentions align with the recently formed alliance of the elves…?”
“The elves of this era are indeed my descendants, but they are also quite distant beings. I’ve offered a few words of advice to those poor descendants, but I am neither their ruler nor are they my subordinates. Arisa, who followed me, did not do so because I am an elf; she came solely as a warrior to serve me, so there is no need for you to worry about that issue.”
In the end, it was the high priest who first summoned his courage. I disapproved of the old men who sent a mere teenager as a shield, but, after all, he was the leader.
“I am not a member of any faction. Do you think there are those in this world who could dare to embrace me? There are no forces that would dare to interfere with the order by using me as a front.”
It may sound a bit arrogant, but this was my genuine sentiment. I would rather be the leader than submit to anyone else. I had neither reason nor need to do so.
“Indeed, the High Elf is correct. The greatest empire and the largest alliance have a history that barely spans a few hundred years. No one in this world can contain an elder such as yourself.”
Leber, who introduced the priest as Coppelios, nodded vigorously in agreement with my words. Though I had set the atmosphere, I briefly felt uneasy, wondering if they intended to treat me as an old relic.
“What do you all think? Our order has merely received grace. From our ancient ancestor who descended from far away. This is not external interference.”
“Ahem, upon reflection, that seems to be true.”
Nonetheless, the opinion among the priests began to shift rapidly. Now that they realized attacking me as a heretic would bear no fruit, they saw it more favorable to at least join forces.
I had no intention of swallowing the order whole. I was merely satisfied to exist as a collaborator.
“Though they are inexperienced, the powers of Maria and Ian are akin to those of the ancestors I saw in that era. They should be able to purify the affliction for sure.”
“Do you really plan to assist those two?”
“That’s the only option. There is a pressing matter in the world that must be resolved.”
The aftermath that had emerged was still lingering at the headquarters of the order, but I didn’t fully trust the hundred or so priests and holy knights.
My identity would likely soon spread across the continent. I had the choice to conceal it even more while revealing it all the more boldly when necessary.
“Of course, it is our humble wish that the High Elf assists in their training.”
“If left to their own devices, I fear you will continue to engage in folly without understanding what’s truly important.”
“Hmm…”
Leber couldn’t refute my words.
Using saints and heroes for political schemes was one of the order’s deep-seated evils. The sacred water and branches of the order that spanned the continent were a necessary interaction for rulers, yet also a lethal dagger.
If the order conspires to abandon them, their power would be swiftly ousted from order.
“There happens to be a hazardous source that appears to be an affliction nearby. Let’s deal with that first.”
With a sense of responsibility for Maria and the need to address the affliction that needed handling anyway, I decided to stay longer with the order.
I might only be at a toddler’s level now, but if Maria and Ian could grow as quickly as possible to contribute, it would lessen my burdens.
“The grand high priest has already decided to consult with the High Elf regarding the treatment of the hero and the saintesses. Please proceed as you wish.”
Leber nodded with a smile of satisfaction. Ultimately, he was in a position of triumph, which granted him the composure to boss around.
He was still a second-in-command, and now that I had appeared, no one could ever challenge his position.
‘I’ll keep an eye on those I’ve given a little nod to. Stay vigilant.’
It would have been nice if this was the end, but one could never be too sure.
I employed wind spirits to keep watch. The targets were those who had been sulking and keeping silent until everything was wrapped up. While it seemed unlikely they would act strangely in this situation, history has always seen its share of crazed individuals consistently appearing.
