Amon had spent a month hiding in the city’s night, uncovering countless secrets.
Finally, Sonia’s canonization was just around the corner.
“There are no signs of any special danger yet.”
Amon spoke with certainty.
Despite breaking into the homes of numerous high-ranking clergy, there had been no indication that they had caught wind of the plan.
“The seers are quiet, so they must be feeling safe,” Father Narrow-Eyes added.
Tracing back the history of the Fallen Sect, their first move had always been to recruit those with divine foresight—who were supposed to remain neutral.
By securing the seers first, they monopolized achievements and concealed their sins.
It was also the foundation of their power, making the high clergy’s faith in them absolute.
“They must still believe they’re safe,” Father Narrow-Eyes scoffed at them.
The power of foresight was not absolute, but those intoxicated by it seemed oblivious to this fact.
“Perhaps they think that gathering multiple seers together makes them invincible.”
However, they had overlooked one critical fact—if the power to see the future existed, then it was only natural that at least one person would be its natural enemy.
And now, they were about to pay the price for their ignorance.
“When I broke into the mansion, the security was ridiculously lax.”
They must have believed that their foresight would alert them if anything important was stolen.
Amon had gone in expecting a challenge—no, bracing for tension—but had instead found himself securing evidence with such ease that it left him disappointed.
“Who would have thought they’d be this careless?”
Cassie patted Amon on the back, as if to comfort him.
“If you think about it, Owen was the same. But isn’t it better for things to go smoothly?”
“That’s true.”
Encouraged by Cassie’s words, Amon regained his composure.
They reviewed their plan once more, with Amon reaffirming each member’s role.
“When Sonia is declared a saint, she will make the announcement on the spot.”
There would be no interviews, no press conferences.
No one knew exactly how much influence the Fallen Sect had, but this city was undoubtedly their stronghold.
There was a high possibility that the truth would be distorted or even buried entirely.
To ensure that the Fallen Sect had no chance to manipulate public opinion, the revelation had to happen at the canonization ceremony itself.
This was an arrangement coordinated with both the Pope and the Archbishop.
Starting with Sonia’s declaration, both the moderate and hardline factions of the clergy would immediately initiate an inquisition against the Fallen Sect.
“Father, are you ready?”
Father Narrow-Eyes nodded.
His role was to act as Sonia’s advocate—not a real lawyer, but someone to assist her if she found herself at a loss for words.
“Cassie?”
She nodded as well.
Though foresight was blocked within the holy city, there was still something Cassie could contribute.
“Make sure to protect Sonia.”
This was a precaution in case the Fallen Sect, cornered, decided to do something reckless.
Finally, Amon checked his own gear.
“I wish I could be the one to prosecute them… but—”
His role was purely in terms of force.
Of course, Amon was confident that he could outmaneuver dozens of high-ranking priests in a debate right then and there.
However, he held no official position.
Although the Pope had secretly granted him the title of a Holy Knight, it was an informal agreement and not something he could publicly disclose.
That left him with one task—ensuring that the Fallen Sect’s desperate acts did not interfere with the proceedings.
‘At times like this, procedure is crucial.’
Thus, he entrusted that “procedure” to Archbishop Heinrich.
Amon trusted him—he was someone who understood reason.
Amon’s responsibility was to protect the Archbishop from any sudden attacks by the Fallen Sect.
“Did we forget anything?”
At Amon’s question, Sonia shook her head.
“Then let’s get some rest and prepare for tomorrow’s ceremony.”
Amon and Sonia naturally headed to the same room.
Cassie and Father Narrow-Eyes went to their respective rooms as well.
With the firm belief that the sun would rise again the next morning, they fell asleep.
***
The next day, Sonia’s canonization ceremony began.
The newspapers and news channels were buzzing with her story.
[The First Living Saint in Centuries!]
Canonization was typically reserved for the deceased.
It was a sacred ritual by which the Goddess Church officially recognized someone as a saint only after they had performed a miracle beyond the explanations of science or magic and then passed away.
Furthermore, this process usually took over five years.
Sonia’s sudden elevation to sainthood was, without a doubt, an exceptional case.
Yet no one could dispute the legitimacy of her sainthood.
With a halo above her head and wings spread wide, she bathed the entire capital of Germany in divine light.
Even though she had not intended it, the mere touch of the feathers from her blessing healed countless cases of mental illness.
Among those touched by her light, many testified to experiencing miracles—leaving no room for denial.
[The Return of a Saintess After 2,600 Years!?]
Thus, the beatification process, which was meant to verify the authenticity of miracles, proceeded at an unprecedented pace.
On the day of the canonization, Sonia had to demonstrate a “second miracle” to confirm her sainthood.
Thousands gathered at the Vatican.
Those who had witnessed her first miracle flocked to the Holy City, hoping to receive her grace themselves.
People restrained their mentally afflicted friends and family in makeshift beds, filling the area in front of the cathedral.
The world held its breath, glued to the live broadcasts capturing the interior of the cathedral, awaiting her arrival.
Soon, she appeared.
“Oh…! A saint!”
The faithful clasped their hands in prayer at the sight of her.
Even those without faith, driven by desperation, pressed their hands together and offered fervent prayers toward her.
Sonia stood in a sacred-looking white robe, her eyes closed.
Her hands were gently folded, as if in prayer.
Then, the Pope declared, “Sonia, prove your miracle here and now.”
She opened her eyes and spread her wings.
A radiant halo appeared above her head.
Feathers imbued with warm light began to fall from the sky like snowflakes…
***
“Richard! Do you recognize me?”
“Mother? Mother!”
Countless people in the square witnessed miracles unfold before them.
Before long, Sonia’s name echoed through the plaza.
“O Saint, please bless us!”
“Sonia, may your holiness be known throughout the world!”
The crowd chanted her name in unison.
Archbishop Heinrich, watching the scene unfold, frowned.
“Tsk.”
Amon, who was standing guard beside him, understood his sentiment.
“They’re not worshipping the Goddess anymore. They’re worshipping Sonia,” Amon murmured.
“More precisely, they’re begging for the grace that falls from her,” the Archbishop replied.
Amon twisted his lips in a bitter smirk.
The Archbishop let out a sigh, making no attempt to hide his dismay.
“How long do you think their faith will last?”
“In a month, they’ll start to take the miracle for granted. In three months, they’ll become greedy for more. And in a year, they’ll cling to Sonia as if she owes them miracles,” Amon said matter-of-factly.
“And those who receive nothing will turn their hatred toward Sonia and the Mother Goddess,” Heinrich added.
Haah.
Both men let out a heavy sigh at the same time.
Then, almost simultaneously, they spoke.
“They are pitiful people.”
“They are wretched humans.”
Their eyes met.
Amon spoke first.
“Even so, we must embrace them. We have to wait for them to change.”
“Sometimes, the rod is necessary. They need to learn through hardship,” Heinrich countered.
Their opinions diverged.
Moderation and severity.
Their approach to dealing with people differed in this aspect.
Yet, neither denied the other’s perspective.
Ultimately, they both acknowledged the necessity of patience and discipline.
With wry smiles, they changed the subject.
This was not the kind of discussion they wanted to have on such a joyous day.
“Give thanks to the One who alone performs great wonders, for His mercy endures forever.”
“The Saint has said, Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do—and greater works than these shall he do. This is by the grace of the Mother.”
Their way of expressing indescribable joy through scripture was just like them.
Finally, the Pope made his declaration.
“As Pope, I officially recognize Sonia as a saint!”
The congregation and the sick erupted into cheers.
Amon clapped silently, celebrating her.
Meanwhile, his eyes remained fixed on Cardinal Trimond.
The cardinal’s nose, which had been broken at the airport, had yet to fully heal, as evidenced by the bandages covering it.
Though Amon had thoroughly beaten him—uncovering several criminal charges in the process—Trimond still retained his title as a cardinal.
Not because he was innocent, but because the full extent of his crimes had yet to be revealed.
They were waiting until the Fallen Sect could be completely eradicated.
Amon’s gaze sharpened.
For some reason, Trimond kept making eye contact with Heinrich.
The first few times could have been coincidence.
‘But after fifteen times? It was no accident.’
Naturally, the Archbishop had also noticed the suspicious behavior.
Just to be sure, Amon quietly asked him, “It doesn’t seem like an uncle simply trying to exchange words with his nephew, does it?”
Heinrich solemnly nodded.
Amon’s fingers tensed around the hilt of his sword.
The Pope’s sermon was nearing its conclusion.
***
“The Goddess is always with us, calling each of us to Her love and truth. Let us respond to this love and become witnesses to the Mother’s miracles in our lives.”
“Amen.”
All the clergy bowed their heads in unison.
Archbishop Heinrich bowed as well, and Amon followed suit.
In that brief moment, Amon instinctively slashed through an incoming object.
Lifting his head, he realized he had just sliced an arrow in two.
And the direction it had come from…
Regretfully, it was where Trimond had been standing.
The cardinal lowered his crossbow with a disappointed expression.
Before he could make another move, the Holy Knights guarding the ceremony rushed in to restrain him.
“Cardinal…”
Heinrich gazed at his uncle with sorrowful eyes.
Amon wanted to comfort his grieving sworn brother, but there was no time.
“It looks like the Fallen Sect has decided to go all out.”
Although Trimond had been subdued with ease, a small group of Holy Knights was now approaching Amon and Heinrich with hostility.
The commotion outside the cathedral suggested that knights weren’t the only problem.
“Where did the leak come from? Any guesses, brother?”
The Archbishop shook his head.
“None at all.”
The fact that they had moved before Sonia could even make her accusation meant their plans had undoubtedly been leaked.
However, Heinrich found something peculiar.
“This doesn’t seem to be a coordinated effort by the entire Fallen Sect.”
The proof was in the reaction of the other Fallen priests—they looked confused.
Even the knights associated with them were visibly uncertain.
The Holy Knights targeting Amon and Heinrich were a small minority.
Most of them were knights Amon had already beaten within an inch of their lives.
“A blind act of vengeance… or a desperate move by the cardinal alone.”
Heinrich analyzed the situation coolly.
Meanwhile, Amon stood protectively in front of him and remarked, “Watch out for stray bullets, brother.”
“How long will this take?”
“Three minutes should be enough—oh, my apologies. That should be more than enough time.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Amon vanished.