Faced with the direct, core question Helos had thrown at him, Julius did not answer immediately.
He simply took a deep breath, as if trying to expel all the accumulated turbid air from his chest.
In truth, he had already guessed the answer to this question in his heart.
The reason he had traveled thousands of miles to hunt down these Chaos Believers, even tracking them all the way to the Imperial Capital, was ultimately to fulfill the Oracle issued by the Goddess.
To stop the “Great Cataclysm” described in that prophecy.
The fragments of that Oracle were still deeply etched into Julius’s mind like brands.
These so-called Chaos Believers were not just a bunch of madmen hiding in gutters studying forbidden spells.
They were a doomsday cult with a tight organization, a fanatical faith, and a clear goal.
Everything they did—whether creating chaos, spreading plagues, or conducting blasphemous biological experiments in the shadows—had only one ultimate purpose.
To “create a god.”
They were trying to artificially create a vessel capable of bearing the Chaos Will on this world through the sacrifice of flesh and soul.
That was the Calamity Saintess mentioned in the Oracle.
And the only information Julius could confirm was that the base body of this Calamity Saintess was currently located within the empire.
So then…
Who exactly was this so-called Calamity Saintess?
Julius looked silently at the girl before him.
Sunlight spilled across Helos’s pale, delicate face. Her lavender eyes were filled with a thirst for the truth, along with a trace of lingering bewilderment that had not yet fully faded.
She was so slender, so fragile.
Just a few hours ago, she had nearly been completely devoured by that vast Chaos power.
Julius’s heart clenched sharply.
He recalled the aura he had sensed in the forest.
That chaotic aura—suppressed by the “Curse of Silence,” yet still unsettling.
Was Helos the “vessel”?
No.
In his heart, Julius immediately denied that terrible conjecture.
Although Helos had indeed shown signs of Chaos, and although Graham had guided her to the brink of awakening, the Oracle mentioned “awakening,” not “creation.”
That meant the base body should have existed long ago, perhaps even someone born with a certain trait.
Moreover, Helos possessed the “Curse of Silence.”
That absolute null magic field, which could even suppress holy light, was itself the greatest nemesis of Chaos power.
The fact that the Chaos Believers had gone to such lengths to shut down her field proved that Helos was not their perfect vessel, but a difficult “fortress” to conquer.
They were just trying.
They were just casting a wide net.
In the Imperial Capital, in the Royal Magic Academy, there might be other “candidates.”
Julius comforted himself in his heart.
He still had time to investigate the truth.
But he quickly cut off that train of thought—now was not the time for wild guesses.
He looked into Helos’s clear eyes.
Could he tell her the truth?
Tell her that she had nearly become the Demon King who would destroy the world?
Tell her that her trusted teacher had actually wanted to turn her into a vessel to house the Evil God’s will?
No.
The information he had so far was not enough to confirm the true identity of the Calamity Saintess.
The only thing he was sure of was that Helos had already been drawn into this vortex that could destroy the world.
Right now, Helos had just been pulled back from the brink of mental collapse.
Her spirit was still fragile; her will had just experienced a collapse.
If he burdened her with these suffocating truths now, it would only add unnecessary weight to her shoulders, and might even plunge her into deeper self-doubt.
She was a victim.
She didn’t need to bear the responsibility of a savior.
It was enough for him to carry that heavy burden alone.
Julius closed his eyes for a moment, concealing the deep worry within them.
When he opened them again, his face had returned to its usual calm expression.
The black-haired youth shook his head slightly, looked at Helos, and deliberately pulled a faint, contemptuous, teasing smile at the corner of his mouth.
“What else could it be?”
His voice was as light as if he were discussing everyday life.
“They must have wanted to cause a large-scale chaos within the empire to take advantage of the situation and reap some benefits.”
“Take advantage?”
Helos was taken aback; she clearly hadn’t expected such a plain answer.
“Yeah.”
Julius shrugged.
“For example, stealing confidential materials from the Royal Magic Academy, or using you noble students as hostages to extort the Imperial Royal Family. They’ve done things like this before.”
Looking at the girl’s dazed expression, his heart softened, but his mouth mercilessly continued weaving the well-intentioned lie:
“It’s just that you had bad luck, and being an alchemy genius, you caught their attention. They probably wanted to use your talent to help them create some dangerous contraband.”
“As for that Graham…”
Julius paused, his eyes turning slightly cold.
“He was probably the middleman responsible for ‘scouting’ gullible students in the academy. And you, you just happened to be the most naive, most gullible fool.”
“I—I’m not a fool!”
Helos retorted instinctively, but her tone lacked conviction. After all, the facts were right in front of her—she had indeed been completely fooled by Graham’s kind elder facade, even feeling grateful to him.
“Still saying you’re not?”
Looking at her cute demeanor—obviously guilty yet still forcing herself to stand her ground—the suppressed emotion in Julius’s heart finally dissipated completely.
He couldn’t help reaching out.
That big hand, covered in calluses, didn’t ruffle her hair as usual, but landed directly on her cheek, which was still slightly flushed from just waking up.
Then, gently but irresistibly, he pinched the soft flesh on that side.
Julius’s fingers applied a little pressure, feeling the delicate texture under his fingertips, his tone carrying a helplessness that wished iron could become steel, yet deeply hidden affection.
“You really are…”
“Be more discerning from now on. Don’t believe everything people tell you.”
“Especially those strangers who are inexplicably nice to you. In this world, besides your family, and…”
He paused, seeming a bit embarrassed to say it, but finally added softly:
“Besides me, you can’t trust anyone unconditionally. Understand?”
The slight pain on her cheek brought Helos back from her self-doubt.
She looked at Julius, who was so close.
At his dark eyes, which reflected her own image.
Although his words were biting, although pinching her cheek hurt, although he was that bastard who had disappeared for three years—
Every word he said was like warm sunlight, dispelling the last lingering haze in her heart.
Yes.
She had been deceived.
But that didn’t mean she was beyond redemption.
At least she still had her family, and this idiot knight right beside her.
As long as she was still here, as long as she was still alive, there was still a chance to turn things around.
“Sh-shut up!”
Helos’s face instantly reddened, as if burned.
She suddenly raised her hand, and with a “smack,” gently slapped away Julius’s hand, which was still kneading her cheek.
“I’m not that stupid! This time, this time was just an accident! That old man was too cunning!”
She rubbed her slightly reddened cheek, defending herself.
But then she raised her head.
Those lavender eyes—the confusion and vulnerability were gone.
Replaced by a blazing anger, hotter than ever before.
A tremendous sense of humiliation at being fooled, used, and treated like a tool burned fiercely in her chest.
Helos had never been one to swallow her anger.
Even as a child, when others gave her cold stares, she never showed any cowardice.
Those damned Chaos Believers…
She clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking audibly.
She ground out her words, each one like a vow squeezed between her teeth.
“They dared to use me! They treated me like a fool and made a complete fool of me!”
“And they almost made me hurt you all!”
That was the bottom line she could not tolerate.
If Julius hadn’t arrived in time, if her “Curse of Silence” hadn’t been activated, she dared not imagine the consequences.
This score could not be settled so easily.
Helos suddenly threw off the covers, not caring that she was still in her pajamas, and stood up from the bed.
Her small body erupted with a startling momentum.
“Graham, right? Chaos Believers, right?”
She looked out the window at the bustling scenery of the Imperial Capital, her gaze icy.
“Just wait!”
“This time, if I don’t destroy their lair, if I don’t pull out all their fangs—”
“I, the young lady, have never suffered such a loss in my entire life!”
“Then my name isn’t Helos!!!”