Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 256 "You, what did you do?" Risir revealed the fact that he had inadvertently eavesdropped(?) on the prayers of the believers. The Saint looked at him with blinking eyes. Risir scratched the back of his head, saying it was awkward. He couldn't hide the fact that the believers' prayers directed toward the Saint could also be heard by him. So he had confessed the truth for now, but- 'Isn't this a much more sensitive issue for the believers than I thought?' Even eavesdropping on ordinary conversation is a clear breach of etiquette, so how much more so would prayers earnest enough to reach the Saint be. "I'm sorry. I had no intention of eavesdropping. I was just sitting still and it just came to me." When Risir sincerely apologized, the Saint instead became flustered and raised both hands. "What I mean is. I'm not trying to say anything-" "Yes?" But contrary to Risir's worries, the Saint seemed to have no intention of reproaching him at all. To begin with, her mind didn't have the leisure to reach that point. Her appearance of being at a loss for words and only flailing her hands seemed to express her complicated thoughts directly. "You were just sitting still and it just came to you?" It was a phrase the Saint managed to utter after much deliberation. "That's right." "Why?" "Yes?" "Why does it just come to you when you're sitting still?" You're asking me that, Saint? That was the question I was going to ask you. Risir felt troubled by the Saint's reaction but also felt a certain sense of responsibility. The fundamental cause of the current situation would undoubtedly be his peculiar constitution. After much thought, he said. "This space... perhaps the Saint's power that fills this space had an influence? And my peculiar constitution reacted to it." The Saint's cathedral was filled with her aura. If it had existed in reality, it would have been designated as a sanctuary and managed by the Religious Order long ago - that kind of place. In other words, Risir's claim was this. -In a place where miracles occurring wouldn't be strange at all, a miracle simply occurred. And. Risir's claim sounded like this from the Saint's perspective. -I don't know much about swordsmanship, but the atmosphere is good so Sword Aura came out naturally. Prayers imbued with Divinity and Will. The contact between the Saint and believers through them. It could be called a kind of divine magic accomplished through the Saint's Divinity at its peak. However, the exact principle hadn't been clarified yet- Therefore, believers gave it the meaning of 'miracle' or 'revelation'. Simply being in a place filled with the Saint's aura wasn't something an outsider could experience. The Saint, who was an incarnation of Divinity, knew this fact better than anyone. However- "..." The Saint agonized and rubbed her brow. Yes. If it's this man, it's entirely possible that he could- She found herself thinking such thoughts and accepting them without realizing it. 'What do you mean it's entirely possible?' The series of actions held great meaning for the Saint as well. She was also a believer, after all. The Saint believed that her ability to communicate with the believers of the present world was thanks to the arrangement of the Lord God. That their faith toward the Lord God and her own faith aligned to create miracles. But- An outsider who learns Black Magic from a Demon without hesitation appeared and greatly interfered in such sacred acts, so she couldn't help but be flustered. Moreover, she was arbitrarily accepting it with 'that's possible'. "Ah, Lord God-" The Saint offered an earnest prayer with a confused heart. Please. Let her faith not be shaken by this cunning(?) existence that denies providence and law. -Please... your... to me... please... "...!" In that moment. The Saint trembled and came to her senses. Due to this foolish existence(?) that shook the believers' faith, she had momentarily forgotten the believers' prayers. The Saint decided to put aside her doubts for now and focus on their voices. The Saint knelt before the statue of the Lord God. "Oh..." Risir expressed admiration at the scene that unfolded next. Light scattered inside the cathedral through the glass of the ceiling. It gathered at one point to form a clear beam of light that was directed straight at the Saint. As if she and the light of heaven were connected. "..." Risir couldn't take his eyes off her until the Saint's prayer ended. *** The faithful Saint lived for doctrine. Faith shall be rewarded with faith. She protected all faith directed toward her. Because she believed that if she protected their faith, her own faith would also be protected. Thus the Saint embraced them with everything she had. "Why..." Thus, the Saint lost everything. Faith too. Her own existence too. The Saint could no longer hear anything. Not the voices of those who sought faith. Not the groans of those who sought salvation. The cathedral. That which had embraced all those who sought faith crumbled down. The village. That which had embraced all those who sought peace scattered as dust. "Lord God..." In her world created by the Saint's wishes, nothing existed anymore. Nevertheless, she knelt and clasped her hands at the place where she had always offered prayers. "Please... those who have lost their way..." The Saint's faith with no one to receive it. Prayer. It scattered futilely like dust. The small, peaceful village created by the Saint's wishes. Nothing existed there anymore. ▶Fate 76: Stolen Light *** [Title: No Saint< Are you really a Saint?] Content: Something about what she does seems more like that kind of saint than a real Saint -: What kind of saint is that -[Author]: You know Saints reinterpreted to fit modern trends -: Aha, the pink-haired, side-slit-priest-robed, hateful Saint who gets off on the Hero -: Oh, so holy, so saintly -: What's with the hate, damn it -: Seriously, what's with the hate Where is there anyone more saintly than Tara Dollin -: In life, she purified without holding back and vanished In death, she gave without holding back and vanished. If this isn't a Saint, then what is, damn it -: A pushover? -: Ah, damn it, if I were the Hero, I would have asked Tara for a ton of guarantees before she died -: These damn satan bastards Don't even think about being embraced by the Lord God -: If you believe in something, can you be embraced by that person when you die? -: Then I'm believing in Ronaldo from today -: As expected, value investing gets good reviews lol -[Author]: No not the first Saint The current Saint -: Ah -: She's a 'saint' agreed lol -[Author]: But Isn't Divinity proportional to karma? No matter how you look at her, the Saint is a 'Saint' How does this punk get treated like a Saint? -: Karma is a bit ambiguous It's based on 'merit points' not 'character' -: Even if Jung Pyeongtaek always thinks about backstabbing and screwing people over His karma score is maintained until he actually acts on it -: Damn, I knew Jung Pyeongtaek was a shady bastard -: I never had such thoughts though -[Author]: Ah so it's this? The Saint< acts like a bitch but hasn't directly screwed anyone over and has saved more people so her karma shows up high? -: Yeah And the current Saint receives a lot of power from the first Saint too -[Author]: No seriously there's a problem with the system Then couldn't you intentionally create a Saint? Just pretend to be really good and then deliver a big betrayal at the end -: That's exactly the current Saint yeah A puppet the fanatics made to take control of the Religious Order -[Author]: ? -: ? Bullshit Don't pretend to be surprised, you want spoilers deep down, don't you? It's thrilling to know what happens next -[Author]: Ah -[Author]: Ahhh lolololololololol -: So thrilling you got electrocuted... *** "Saint!" It was the moment when the Saint finished her prayer and was about to rise from her seat. Risir hurriedly approached her. Her frail body had lost its balance midway and staggered greatly. "Are you alright!?" That wasn't all. Risir could feel that the Saint's aura had greatly weakened. "Ah. This is a bit comfortable. Could you stay like this for a moment?" Huff. Huff. The Saint breathed roughly. Her pure white skin was pouring out cold sweat like rain. "Saint- are you alright!?" "Don't make a fuss. It's nothing at all." Even as she said that, the Saint's expression clearly showed signs of struggle. "Tsk tsk tsk." "Oh, Shuyen? When did you get here-" The fairy who had somehow joined them clicked her tongue while looking at her companion. "How strange. It's nothing at all, so why are you sweating coldly and breathing heavily?" "Don't say useless things." "According to your words, it would only be useless talk if really nothing had happened." Ahh. The fairy sighed in frustration. "Tara. What was your reason for creating this space? Wasn't it because you wanted to live a life for yourself, at least in this place? Because you were tired of a life lived only for others?" "...Can't you see I'm doing that now?" "No. I can't see it. What I see now is just a foolish human who would gladly give her liver and gallbladder if others asked?" "..." The Saint frowned and averted her gaze. Sigh. The fairy just sighed at that sight and shook her head as if fed up. "Fine. This is fine. I'm not trying to completely deny your position either. That faith. That belief. How noble is it? If possible, I'd want to cooperate too." But! The fairy raised her index finger as if waving it violently. "At the very least, you should look after your own body while doing it! From what I can see, it doesn't seem like it's been long since you last shared your energy. But. Before that burden has even fully gone away, you're tearing off your flesh again!?" "Ah." Risir, who had been listening to their conversation from the side, nodded. Risir recalled the strange frailty and precariousness he had felt from the Saint before. He had thought he felt that way because of her life of devotion and sacrifice- 'It wasn't simply a matter of feeling.' As the fairy said, the Saint seemed to have shared her energy with someone relatively recently. Just like right now. "..." Then. The Saint gritted her teeth and spoke as if she had made up her mind. That fierce expression. Risir worried that their debate might escalate into an intense emotional fight. "If not me, then who will help them..." However. Making his worries seem pointless, the content of what was said with that fierce expression was unbearably noble. 'Oh my, Saint...!' Risir sighed inwardly. The Saint. She was truly a person so good-natured as to be sacred. Risir reproached his earlier self who had thought 'Isn't that a bit harsh to say?' while looking at the fairy. If his companion had acted like the Saint now? Harming herself while helping others? He would have immediately been Overloaded with frustration. "Even so, you should take care of yourself." Risir, having finished empathizing, added a significant comment. "...!!!" The fairy was momentarily surprised. Because the reaction shown by him, a Descendant of the Hero, was quite different from the Hero. The Hero had been in a position of completely respecting Tara's beliefs and choices. Just as he did with others. So Shuyen and other companions hadn't been able to speak strongly to the Saint- 'Right! Well done!!!' It felt like old indigestion going down. The fairy brightened and encouraged Risir with her expression. "..." The Saint was equally surprised. Because she had thought that he, being a Descendant of the Hero, would understand her. The Saint felt a small disappointment at his behavior that went against her expectations. "It's not something to criticize Shuyen about. If my companion had acted like the Saint now-... Ugh, just imagining it." The duty that naturally comes with the position of 'Saint'. The weight. It was a statement that completely failed to understand that noble value. It would be natural to feel displeasure listening to it. But. It was strange. "..." The Saint felt a strange sense of liberation. Instead of the reaction 'It's natural because she's a Saint'. At that reaction of 'Even if she's a Saint, that's not right'. Instead of forcing her to bear burdens, it felt like lightening them? "What do you know..." Of course. As a Saint, it was an emotion difficult to accept readily. She spoke irritably as if resisting that unsettling emotion. "Of course I know nothing. But. Because of that, aren't there things I can say?" "..." Oh! Ohhhh!!! What!? He's doing much better than expected!? Risir disarming the Saint moment by moment. The fairy now began openly cheering for him. "...I'm fine now." "Ah-" Then. The Saint shook off Risir's support. "I'm sorry. It seems we'll have to postpone the guidance on Divinity to tomorrow. I have other business today." What that 'other business' was was obvious. The Saint began preparing to sit down again. -Saint... And, that voice still faintly audible. Prayers seeking help. Requests demanding devotion and sacrifice. Risir was momentarily confused about which part should astound him. The Saint who tries to share her energy again after already sharing it like that? The believers who received energy like that but still aren't satisfied and demand more? He suddenly felt curious. The believers craving power from the Saint. Do those believers know the Saint's condition? The fact that the Saint helps them even while abandoning herself? Risir couldn't contain his curiosity and asked the Saint. "Can the believers who seek the Saint's power know about your condition? That you're helping them while sacrificing yourself?" "Tara can check. But she doesn't particularly try to check. This woman thinks it's natural for her to trust them just as they trust her." It was the fairy who answered instead. "And descending to the present world requires a tremendous amount of power. This woman would rather use that power to share even more energy." "Oh my..." Tsk. The Saint clicked her tongue. That expression she made to express displeasure contained embarrassment she couldn't fully hide. She knew it herself. How foolish it was to abandon herself while helping others. That foolishness was doubled by the fact that it worried her companions. But what could she do? She was a Saint. An existence that served as the spiritual pillar for countless believers. "If we're done talking, could you please leave now?" The Saint issued an order to leave to them, lacking confidence to overcome the growing temptation. "..." At the Saint's appearance, the man and fairy agonized. The persuasion seemed to be going well in its own way, but- In the immediate situation, the Saint was insisting on repaying the believers' faith. What impact the aftermath would have on the Saint. "Then how about we do this!?" Finally, Risir, unable to hold back any longer, spoke. "I will handle it!" "...?" Handle? What? The Saint and fairy couldn't grasp the meaning of those words for a moment and doubted their own ears. *** Acting City Councilor Fienne thought. Her secretary Rona also thought. The Religious Order. These fanatics blinded by faith were truly troublesome to deal with, then as now. The incident began when a woman under Fienne's dominion was attacked by someone. Surprisingly, the attacker's identity was a Paladin of the Religious Order. The woman who had received new life from a Progenitor on the brink of death was still clumsy at controlling her own power- The keen senses of the high-Status Paladin didn't miss that. This was how an untimely heresy trial came to be held in Bondaless's square. -How dare anyone in this city!!! When the Religious Order reported the matter, the city's power holders expressed strong dissatisfaction. No matter how powerful the Religious Order was, they couldn't arbitrarily judge the city's citizens. Especially if it was a person belonging to the Acting City Councilor, who was 'that man's' companion! Thus they thought. Wouldn't 'that man's' companions step forward to mediate at this point? Just thinking of the immediate ones, there were 'Frozen Breath' and 'Talent Scout'. No matter how related to the Religious Order they were, they wouldn't be able to ignore those two people's voices. However- "I'm sorry I can't be of help, Miss Fienne." Bondaless's square where the heresy trial was proceeding. There, Frozen Breath and Talent Scout were conveying their regrets to Fienne beside her. Despite their presence, the Religious Order's heresy trial had commenced. The Saint. Unfortunately, that deservedly respected existence was included among the Religious Order's group. Moreover, the heresy trial proceeded through that Saint's will. The Saint's heresy trial conducted with just cause! No matter how powerful Frozen Breath and Talent Scout were, it was impossible to forcibly stop it. "..." Fienne gritted her teeth. She could hear the voice the woman under her dominion conveyed to her. -No matter what happens, I'll make sure no trouble comes to you, Miss Fienne... It wasn't some shadow that had its existence stolen and become a mere slave, as the Paladins claimed. Fear clearly evident in the voice. And altruism that transcended it. Thus, 'former' Progenitor Fienne's dominion took a quite different form. The woman wasn't some ordinary vampire. However, there was no way the Religious Order would believe that story. The story of a monster possessing Pure Energy - a tale that defied logic. "Annoying..." Fienne was struggling with that terrible sense of powerlessness. "If it were that guy..." "Hm?" Then. The androgynously beautiful noble muttered. Acting City Councilor Fienne's secretary. The Saint Rona. "What did you say, Rona?" "In this situation, what would that guy have done?" "..." "It's a situation sickeningly familiar to that guy." As Fienne began to think of 'that guy' at Rona's words. The Saint's trial, which had been briefly suspended, resumed. She straightened her posture again and began praying. It was truly damnable. The Saint thoroughly blocked any room for others to intervene. Using the power of that 'first Saint' in the barrier forming the trial. Associating it with that great hero's will. Who would dare go against that intention? """Ohhh...!!!""" The crowd surrounding the square murmured. As soon as the Saint's prayer resumed- A beam of light descended from the sky and illuminated her. "It's a miracle!!!" "The Saint has performed another miracle...!!!" The Religious Order's believers knelt on the ground and writhed in ecstasy. While the entire crowd was praising the Saint's holiness like that. Fienne and Rona's expressions hardened in unison. "..." The Saint. That incarnation of compassion and tolerance was giving them a sadistic smile. Fienne and Rona recalled a moment that had passed by fleetingly before. -...How dare those things object to the Saint's will? That voice they had faintly heard from the departing Saint. At the time they thought it was just their imagination, but- It seemed that wasn't the case. It was the moment when all their anxieties were about to become reality. "...Huh?" Fienne, and Rona. They were confused. Because they felt a quite familiar aura from that beam of light. *** [You have acquired a new title!] [Title: Saint]