“Because I’m missing some essential element, that’s why I can’t use your method to channel the power of faith, right?”
Inside the church, Aisia obediently knelt before Truth, who sat with her legs crossed and arms folded, occasionally tapping Aisia’s forehead with her toes.
“That’s right. And I’m too weak right now. The senior inside my body won’t teach me any more knowledge, fearing I’ll be harmed by Taboo Knowledge.”
Upon hearing that Aisia thought she possessed some ancient opportunity, Truth had lied to her, saying that an old lady lived inside her body and had taught her many things.
Truth was quite skilled at telling ghost stories to anyone she met. Although Aisia remained half skeptical, she felt Truth didn’t seem like someone who would lie.
“So, does that mean I have to wait until you get stronger to know what I’m missing?”
“Mm-hmm, at least until I become High-Rank. After all, it’s about the power of the gods, isn’t it? But maybe you could try exploring it on your own. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll get it?”
Explore it myself? Aisia thought briefly and then asked Truth roughly how to explore it, finding it actually quite simple—she could try carving some symbols on herself, wear a collar, or put on a short skirt, maybe sprinkle some water…
From then until evening, Aisia stayed in her carriage, carefully researching what all this had to do with channeling the power of faith, and why Truth could do it but she couldn’t.
Truth remained in the church, meticulously setting up monster spawn points in the mist.
The mist’s energy was barely accumulating, as Truth used it all to repair the mist itself.
Moreover, the mist still couldn’t penetrate the Deya Underground Labyrinth, so the energy released by Adventurers couldn’t be collected.
She could only place more monsters on the paths to the labyrinth, and use their “Lost” trait to force Adventurers to take longer routes.
“Let me see what the culprit who made the mist like this is doing now.”
Truth used a god’s-eye view to look at Ariel, who was swinging lazily on vines beneath an ancient tree.
She seemed to be living quite leisurely, even begging passing Adventurers for food, and cursing them to die in the labyrinth if they refused.
So no one has come to rescue her yet? Or are reinforcements on their way? That heavenly fire action sure is slow!
Or maybe it’s stopped caring about Ariel? Truth pondered carefully and decided to keep Ariel around a little longer.
But she couldn’t let her live so comfortably—it was infuriating just to watch. With a thought, she summoned a lone Red-eyed Mist Wolf…
Amid the mist, Ariel, swinging idly, suddenly noticed movement in the grass to her left.
She stopped the swing to check what was making the noise—and the next second, a full-grown Mist Wolf lunged at her with its blood-red jaws wide open!
Ariel let out a “Wah!” and blocked the wolf’s mouth. Just as she was about to scream for help, she realized the wolf’s strength was barely above first rank. She could resist its full attack with one hand.
So no need to call for help after all.
No way, even in my depleted magical state, I’m not some weakling these scrappy wolves can provoke!
Who gave that wolf the courage? I’m a seventh-rank Cataclysm Mage; my physical fitness alone rivals a third-rank Warrior!
The wolf started tearing at Ariel’s clothes. With a “rip,” a piece of fabric at her skirt’s edge was pulled off, revealing a smooth patch of her abdomen. Startled, she kicked the wolf away:
“What is going on?!”
Sensing Ariel was not to be trifled with, the wolf yelped and ran off. But just as Ariel relaxed, another Mist Wolf pounced from behind and bit off another piece of fabric.
“Huh?!” Only after the third piece of cloth was torn away did Ariel realize something was very wrong—why were these Mist Wolves so fixated on biting her clothes?
My clothes!
Watching Ariel’s outfit become increasingly tattered and disheveled, Truth’s lips curled into a smirk.
Hmph, so you get to live so leisurely—there will be plenty more little animals to keep you company!
After chasing away the fourth wolf, Ariel began yelling desperately for help. If this continued, she’d be running around naked!
Soon, several passing Adventurers heard her cries and hurried toward the sound.
“Where are you?”
“I’m at—”
Ariel was about to give her location when she realized her skirt was already torn off about a third, exposing her long right leg.
More than half her clothes had been bitten away, her stomach left uncovered, making her look like she was wearing some kind of provocative lingerie.
Honestly, these wolves’ biting technique is quite deliberate… total perverts!
How am I supposed to face anyone like this? Ariel clenched her teeth and blushed, anxiously shouting at the nearby Adventurers:
“Get away! None of you are allowed to come closer!”
The Adventurers looked confused but shrugged it off, thinking, “That strange woman is probably having an episode again. Better just keep away,” and continued on toward the labyrinth.
After enjoying Ariel’s slightly humiliated expression for a moment, Truth withdrew her god’s-eye view and went back to arranging campfires and monster spawn points.
A little while later, Tia arrived looking somewhat anxious.
“It’s bad, Little Truth. More and more believers are gathering outside the church!”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“It’s about you! They all want to see you!”
Outside the church, because neither the Sixth Holy Maiden nor the prospective Holy Maiden had shown themselves, the believers grew increasingly restless, putting more pressure on the law enforcement officers maintaining order.
“What are the two Holy Maidens doing? Why won’t they show themselves?”
“If this keeps up, the believers will storm the church!”
To ordinary people, the promise of longevity and healing was too enticing.
According to the Adventurers’ Association’s surveys, cities with Holy Maidens had residents with significantly longer average lifespans and greater wealth than others.
“Why won’t the Holy Maiden come out to see us? Are we not devout enough?”
“Holy Maiden, please let me see your face at least once!”
“Is there a problem? We finally got a Holy Maiden in Deya City. No, we must find out if something’s wrong!”
The believers shared a single urgent message: they wanted to see their Holy Maiden in person and receive her blessing!
Or at least the Sixth Holy Maiden’s blessing!
Nearly five hundred believers pressed the law enforcement officers, the crowd surging like a tide.
Meanwhile, Aisia’s guards were on high alert, with some urging her to come out and calm the situation before it escalated.
Aisia replied from inside her carriage:
“No time. Let Truth handle it. I have more important matters to attend to!”
The zealous followers of the Goddess of Life had begun shoving the officers.
“Let us in!”
The officers gripped their batons tightly, fully aware of their duty to prevent the fanatics from disturbing the Holy Maidens.
“The two Holy Maidens are resting. No one is allowed inside without orders! Fall back!”
Despite repeated warnings, the crowd grew harder to contain. Some pushed hard, trying to break through. Chaos and tension escalated rapidly.
The noise surged uncontrollably until, at the peak of the chaos, the church doors slowly opened, instantly freezing everyone’s movements and silencing the uproar.
Clad in the pure robes of the Holy Maiden, Truth stepped out lightly. Under the breeze and sunlight, her silver-white hair flowed like silk, and her pink eyes sparkled like twin gems, clear and lively.
“The Holy Maiden… she’s out…”
The believers dared not even breathe as they gazed at the petite, ethereal figure radiating cuteness and warmth.
Is this really our Holy Maiden?
All the beauty in the world seemed to dim in Truth’s presence. She scanned the believers, then slightly opened her arms.
“Now, who’s going to pay the appearance fee?”