Chapter 85

The clergy highly value the annual ‘Day of Sacred Blessing.’

They believe that the sincerity of their prayers on this day determines the divine grace and blessings bestowed upon the Empire.

As the Day of Sacred Blessing approaches, the Cathedral is thoroughly cleaned, and a solemn atmosphere is created.

The chapel is beautifully decorated with candles, and the choir practices specially prepared hymns.

The Archbishop and high-ranking clergy review prayers and rituals, while the Holy Knights strengthen patrols and security around the Cathedral.

And the Saintess…

“I’m so hungry…”

She has been fasting for several days now.

Fasting is meant to transcend physical desires, demonstrate deep faith toward the divine, and fervently seek divine grace. It is a way to focus entirely on prayer and reach a higher spiritual state…

“I don’t care about any of that, I’m just starving!”

The Saintess, Revena, clutched her growling stomach and paced around the Sanctuary.

It was the third day of her fast.

Her vision was blurring, and even sitting down to pray was impossible with the constant rumbling of her stomach.

“I might actually die like this…”

Desperately, Revena looked around the Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary was the most sacred space in the Cathedral, accessible only to the Saintess.

And there was no food. No water. Not even a bathroom.

Revena had entered the Sanctuary this morning and wouldn’t be able to leave until evening.

After all, today was the ‘Day of Sacred Blessing.’

“Calling this a Sanctuary is a joke. It’s more like a prison.”

Who even came up with this ridiculous day? She hoped they tripped and fell somewhere.

And she resented the Archbishop who had ‘locked’ her in here. She wished all his remaining hair would fall out.

No, actually, she wished the whole world would just end.

Outside, the sound of solemn hymns could be heard.

Everyone had gathered in the chapel to offer their devout prayers for the Day of Sacred Blessing.

Which meant that annoying hymn would continue until nightfall.

As if starving to death wasn’t bad enough, she had to listen to that mumbling hymn all day.

“I might as well die.”

Revena even had such blasphemous thoughts.

Of course, she knew where those who took their own lives ended up—hell.

But to Revena, this place was already hell. This cramped Sanctuary was an absurd hell.

“I’m so hungry…”

Revena rolled around on the floor. There was no way she could pray in this state.

While others were diligently praying in the chapel…

“At least you guys ate something. I haven’t even had a drop of water. I hope everything just goes to ruin.”

After a while, Revena grew tired of rolling around and started banging her head against the Sanctuary floor.

*Thud. Thud. Thud.*

“This is my prayer.”

Her forehead swelled red, and if the Archbishop saw this, it would cause quite a scene. But she could heal it before leaving the Sanctuary in the evening.

After all, the Saintess’s healing magic was the best on the continent.

“I wish I could just pass out.”

Thinking this, Revena banged her head even harder.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

If she passed out, she wouldn’t feel the hunger. And when she woke up, it would be evening, and the prayers would be over.

“Then I’d rush out and eat all the food in the Cathedral!”

But in reality, that wouldn’t happen.

Even after the prayers ended, the Saintess would only receive a small amount of bread and vegetables.

This was due to the Cathedral’s emphasis on abstinence and simplicity.

“While they get to eat all the delicious food outside…”

Outside the Cathedral, people could eat as much as they wanted.

But the Saintess had to live within the Cathedral from birth to death.

There was no way for her to leave.

Well, there was one way.

When the Hero Party was formed to defeat the Demon King. The Saintess was essential to the Hero Party.

She had heard that a hero had emerged in a city called Goldcastle.

Excited by this news, Revena had once brought it up to the Archbishop.

“Hey, Andersen. I heard a hero has appeared?”

“That’s correct.”

“Ah, so will the Hero Party be formed soon? Will I get to go defeat the Demon King?”

The Archbishop smiled gently and replied,

“Haha, unless the Demon King’s Army starts a war, there’s no need to form a Hero Party. And even if a war breaks out, defeating the Demon King would be impossible for now. Both the hero and the Saintess are still too young. So rest assured, you’re safe.”

“……”

Revena felt crushed and spent the next few days in depression.

“I thought if the Hero Party was formed, I could go outside and eat all the delicious food…”

Revena sighed deeply and started banging her head against the floor again.

Now wasn’t the time for such thoughts. She needed to pass out quickly.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!!*

But she soon stopped.

“Ugh… This hurts more than I thought…”

Revena pouted and rubbed her forehead.

A round bump had formed. It hurt so much she couldn’t bring herself to bang her head anymore.

Even if she didn’t pass out, it seemed the Saintess couldn’t even faint at will.

Revena was growing increasingly exhausted.

She didn’t want to think about anything anymore. She decided to stop banging her head—it was too painful.

She hated pain. She hated hunger, but she hated pain even more.

“Give me food… Give me food… Give me food…”

Revena rolled around on the floor again.

Then, she suddenly noticed something on the floor and widened her eyes.

“Huh? What’s this?”

It was a tiny crack.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t an ordinary crack. It seemed intentionally made by someone.

Revena lifted the section with her fingertip.

“……!”

A square section of the floor lifted, revealing a dark space. Carefully peering inside, she saw a ladder leading downward.

“Is this… a secret passage?”

Revena looked puzzled.

This was the Sanctuary.

Only the Saintess, Revena, could enter the Sanctuary, and she had never made something like this.

“Should I go down…?”

Revena pondered. She didn’t know who made it or why, but maybe this ladder could be her escape from the Sanctuary.

“Let’s go down.”

Her decision was quick. Staying here would only lead to her starving to death.

Besides, Revena wasn’t the type to resist curiosity.

“Light.”

After dispelling the darkness with magic, she slowly descended the ladder.

She didn’t forget to cover the entrance before going down.

No one would enter the Sanctuary, but she didn’t want anyone discovering this passage.

Who knows, it might lead to something good.

After descending the ladder, she found herself in a small space. On the wall, there was a message written.

– Hi? My name is Christina. If you’ve found this and come down, you must be a Saintess too? Nice to meet you.

“!”

Revena’s eyes widened.

‘Christina’ was the name of a Saintess from long ago.

Though she no longer existed in this world, she was essentially Revena’s senior Saintess.

– Are you hungry? The Cathedral has no greasy or sweet food, just bland stuff. Isn’t that unfair? Just because you were born a Saintess, you have to live eating that? Who would want to be a Saintess like this!

“That’s right! That’s exactly what I’m saying!”

Revena shouted without realizing it. Overwhelmed by the intense empathy, she felt like crying.

– And on the ‘Day of Sacred Blessing,’ once a year, you can’t even step out of the Sanctuary and have to pray all day? Trapped in that cramped space without food or even a bathroom. That’s torture, not prayer!

“Ah! You’re right! It’s torture! It’s definitely not prayer!”

– So I prepared this passage. No one can enter the Sanctuary, and no one can talk to the Saintess while she’s praying. That means we can enjoy a day of freedom!

“Ahh…”

Revena clasped her hands together and shed tears. At this moment, Christina was her savior.

– Through this small door, you can reach the central area of the Imperial Capital. The entire Cathedral is surrounded by a Sacred Barrier, but it doesn’t affect the Saintess. We can come and go freely. So, go out, explore, and eat to your heart’s content. Oh, sorry, I didn’t prepare any money. You’ll have to figure that out on your own.

“Of course, Senior! That’s my responsibility! It’s fine!”

– Lastly, a few warnings: the outside can be dangerous. So always be careful. Fortunately, as Saintesses, we can sense bad people, so you’ll be prepared. And it’s best to return by evening. Keep this place your secret, and if you want to use it again next year, be careful not to get caught. Bye for now.

“Thank you, Senior…”

Revena closed her eyes and offered a sincere prayer to her senior Saintess, Christina.

It was a heartfelt prayer from the depths of her soul.

“I’ll never forget your kindness, Senior…”

After finishing her prayer, Revena stepped through the small door and soon found herself in the central area of the Imperial Capital.