Chapter 17 : Salvation (1)

Underneath the ground, in a dark room, it remains dim despite the torchlight illuminating the surroundings.

Since this cave is underground, perhaps if I hadn’t come, light would have never entered this room.

And in this dark room,

“Save your child…”

There was Bliss, whom we had searched so hard for.

Her appearance, hard-won after all this effort, was dreadful. Her once-clean nun’s habit was dirty, her golden hair that seemed to shine was now brittle, and seeing her hands and feet bound stirred a feeling of pity in me.

Is that all? These vile goblins not only deprived her of physical freedom but also blindfolded her with cloth, robbing her of sight.

The tear stains visible beneath the cloth on her face show just how terrified she must have been.

“Save your child. I am fine, just save him…”

Is her voice hoarse? The confidence and strength that once filled her pleasing voice now sound weak.

In such a feeble voice, she keeps repeating the same words.

The content of her words is a plea to God for salvation.

Is this what they call a prayer?

A prayer in a moment of crisis… It’s so like a religious person, isn’t it?

Thinking so, I began to examine her condition.

Fortunately, it seems her life is not in immediate danger.

Next, I shifted my gaze to the restraints binding her.

The restraints binding her hands and feet looked significantly altered from what I had seen before.

Seeing that all her restraints are modified, it seems she tried to strengthen her body to break free of them.

However, seeing that the restraints are still on her hands, it seems, unfortunately, she failed to break them.

Looking around further, there are scratch marks on the walls and scuff marks on the floor—signs of various attempts she made to break free from her bindings. The result, though, was failure.

After all those failed attempts, she seems to have fallen into despair and started praying to God with tears streaming down her face.

As I listened to her prayer, I thought.

I can rescue Bliss right now.

But should I rescue her?

After all, she was the first person to ever doubt me among those I’ve encountered.

She’s also the one who came closest to uncovering my identity, and she’s a cleric too.

If she returns alive, what are the chances she’ll continue to question my identity and try to uncover it?

It may not be a high chance, but the probability exists nonetheless.

She has shown enough tenacity for that.

Also, although I’m unsure how strong the voice of a high priestess is, if she even slightly suggests her suspicion about me in the Holy Nation, the number of people questioning me could increase.

But what if I ignore her here and leave her to die?

At this moment, her chances of dying here are almost zero.

That’s because the hero has confirmed he’s coming to this place.

If he arrives, he should be able to rescue her within two hours at the latest.

In that case, my relationship with Bliss would remain unchanged, and she’d continue to act as before starting tomorrow.

Such an outcome is disastrous…

And if she were to die, that would be a problem too.

If Bliss dies here, the hero will likely request the Holy Nation to send another high priestess to fill her position.

Here is where a problem arises.

High priests are valued personnel, receiving more attention than ordinary clerics in the Holy Nation. This is evident in the requirement to determine the cause of death for high priests.

If she dies here, we would somehow have to report her cause of death directly to the Holy Nation.

The problem is that we would have to visit the Holy Nation to report it ourselves.

If her death isn’t accurately explained, the Holy Nation might not send us another high priest. Their number is limited.

So, if she dies, we would have to visit the Holy Nation ourselves.

Damn, that’s a problem.

I’m already anxious about being exposed, and now I’d have to go to a place practically a stronghold of clerics? Absolutely impossible.

Because of these reasons, I can neither leave her to die here nor let her be rescued by the hero.

Then what should I do?

I’ve been considering what to do ever since I heard her location from the goblin chief, just in case a situation like this arose.

After much thought, I concluded that I must use this situation to make her join my side.

Now, let’s think.

Bliss’s current state is quite miserable. Her eyes are blindfolded, her whole body covered in dirt, and tear stains on her face show just how much she has been crying.

In such despair, she is praying to God.

The weakness in her voice makes it seem like she’s lost her mental strength entirely.

Now, if I were to rescue Bliss in this state, what would happen?

She is in despair, praying to God.

If I appear gallantly to rescue her, telling her I came here under divine guidance to save her…

What would she think of me?

The result is obvious without even seeing it. She would truly believe I am a saint.

Even if she doesn’t completely believe it, that’s okay. It would be hard for her to doubt me anymore. How could she question the one who saved her?

Erasing the suspicions of a high priest like Bliss would be highly beneficial to me. Given her case, I can’t help but think there might be others like her in the Holy Nation.

If Bliss clears her doubts about me and speaks well of me to those people…

I could dispel their doubts and strengthen my position even more.

I’ve decided.

I will save her.

After a long deliberation, I finally made my decision and called out to Bliss.

“Lady Bliss.”

“Save me. Save me…”

No reaction?

“Lady Bliss.”

I called her name again, but still, there was no response.

It seems that, blindfolded and repeating the same words over and over, she’s lost in her own world.

Or perhaps she’s lost her mind.

Then I should snap her out of it.

I lowered myself and moved closer to her.

Then, raising my voice slightly, I called her name once more.

“Lady Bliss.”

This time, Bliss turned her head in my direction.

“This voice…”

“Lady Bliss.”

“Is it a hallucination…?”

It’s not a hallucination.

I reached a hand toward her face. Gently, I placed it on her face.

As my hand touched her face, she flinched.

But despite her reaction, I lightly brushed my hand down, gently lifting her chin.

I raised her face slightly to align with mine.

“Lady Bliss.”

I called her once again.

“Is it you, Lady Ruina?”

Bliss asked, her voice trembling.

“Yes.”

“Is it really you, Lady Ruina?”

“Yes.”

“But how…?”

I calmly replied to her puzzled question.

“Because the gods have not forsaken us.”

“Ah… Ah…”

At that, she let out a faint sigh.

“Sob… sob…”

Suddenly, she began to cry.

Wait? This isn’t quite right?

“I’m sorry… I’m truly sorry…”

Her voice trembled as she spoke.

What…? Is this truly the Bliss I knew?

Did she perhaps get hit on the head while in captivity? Her personality seems completely different.

I’m extremely taken aback, but… I guess it’s a good thing?

Bliss kept sniffling, apologizing to me.

“My greed, my jealousy… and my arrogance put you in danger.”

“It’s fine.”

“You only tried to save me from danger… But I ignored you and acted on my own…”

“It’s fine.”

Despite my surprise, I responded to her words as naturally as possible, with a compassionate, warm tone.

That way, she’ll come over to my side a little more.

“I was so terrified. Not a sliver of light came in, my hands and feet were bound so I couldn’t move, and my eyes were covered, leaving me completely blind…

But more than anything. What frightened me the most was the thought of you going through the same ordeal.”

Yes, you almost did. You nearly experienced a terrible situation.

“Thinking that you might be going through this because of me. Thinking that you, too, might be trembling in fear in this situation—it made me feel so sorry… sob.”

Her back shakes.

Bliss, speaking tearfully.

Seeing her like that, a smile unknowingly rises on my lips.

The situation is favorable. Without me saying a word, she’s reflecting on her actions and showing this attitude toward me.

It looks like things will go smoothly from here on.

“I’m so relieved that nothing happened to you. Truly relieved…”

“Yes.”

I respond briefly to her words, then turn my head towards Reina, handing her the torch.

“Reina, could you hold this for a moment?”

“Yes!”

Reina, smiling brightly, holds up the torch.

Freeing my hands, I rub them together, and a silent chuckle escapes my lips.

Now then, shall I remodel her as I please?

Judging by the things Bliss is saying to me, if I were to ask her for anything right now, she seems willing to do whatever I ask.

I’ll make her swear in the name of God and use this in future tasks.

Tie a leash on her.

Heh, I’m looking forward to this.

As I removed the cloth covering her eyes, I spoke.

“Lady Bliss.”

“Yes?”

“Have you reflected deeply?”

Starting with this as my first question.

“Yes. Only after losing everything did I realize how insignificant and worthless I was.”

“I was right, wasn’t I?”

“Yes… you were right… I should have listened to you… I’m truly sorry…”

“Don’t cry. Now then, Lady Bliss, shall we make a promise?”

I spoke to the teary-eyed Bliss in a gentle tone, as if comforting a crying child.

In the meantime, the knot on the cloth loosened slightly, and it began to come undone bit by bit.

“A promise? If it’s what you wish, anything…”

Alright, things are falling into place. I suppressed the laughter that was ready to spill out and spoke calmly.

“What I want is simple. From now on, listen to what I say. Will you promise me that?”

Promise! Swear to follow my words!

“Yes…! No matter what happens, I’ll follow your words. I’ll carry out your orders, even if it costs my life…!”

“Can you swear to Naias?”

“Yes! I swear to Naias that I will keep this promise.”

Bliss cries out, her voice trembling.

Good, good—that’s exactly it. I feel a smile creeping up on my lips.

“Yes. That’s exactly the attitude I want.”

Satisfied with her reaction, I finished untying the remaining knots.

“Then, Lady Bliss.”

The cloth, now fully untied, falls to the ground, and her eyes, hidden beneath it, come into view.

Tears glisten in her eyes.

Meeting her gaze, I looked her straight in the eyes.

“Now, let’s leave this place together.”

I spoke, smiling softly.

Bliss’s eyes quiver as she looks at me. The tears pooled in her eyes seem ready to fall at any moment.

I waited until she had calmed down.

After a brief pause,

Her trembling stopped.

Her tears ceased.

Then, I asked her once again.

“Will you come with me?”

And upon hearing my words,

With the brightest smile she had ever shown,

“Yes!”

She responded cheerfully.

I thought it was over.

I believed I wouldn’t be saved.

I had committed that much wrong.

I thought it only natural not to be forgiven.

So I prayed that at least Lady Ruina, the saint, would escape this place.

But perhaps she truly is one sent by God? Lady Ruina escaped on her own.

And she came back to find me.

Even in a situation where she should have protected herself, she came for me.

To rescue me.

I committed many wrongs against her.

I treated her rudely and looked down on her.

Yet Lady Ruina forgave even someone like me and granted me salvation.

It was warm. This feeling, something I had never received from anyone… what could it be? It was so warm.

What is this feeling? Could this be the unconditional love they speak of?

Ah, today I realized something. The criteria of God’s choice is not divine power.

There exists someone who shines so brightly even without divine power! Until now, I’ve been so narrow-minded!

Lady Ruina is my light.

When I was lost in darkness, despairing with no light, she lifted me out of that darkness.

She forgave me for my wrongdoings.

She brought light back to me, who had lost it.

I want to atone. I received grace from her that mere words of apology cannot repay.

I ponder what I should do for her. What does she need from me?

Then, I remembered.

She must have foreseen I’d have such thoughts, as she kindly gave me guidance before.

“What I want is simple. From now on, listen to what I say.”

“Will you promise me that?”

“Yes…! No matter what happens, I’ll follow your words. I’ll carry out your orders, even if it costs my life…!”

Thus, I made a promise to her.

“Can you swear to Naias?”

“Yes! I swear to Naias that I will keep this promise.”

I swore to God.

This was all I could do for her, so I swore without a second thought.

Ah, I am happy.

Today is a joyous day. Today, I found the purpose of my life. I found my true self.

I came to know love.

So I swear.

I swear to you, Naias.

From this moment forward, I vow to dedicate my entire body and soul to assisting Apostle Ruina in everything.

I swear to always be by her side, ensuring she perfectly fulfills whatever you command her.

And…

Ah, Lady Ruina.

Ruina… Ruina, Ruina, Ruina, Ruina, Ruina, Ruina, Ruina, Ruina…

I have engraved your name deep in my heart.

Ah, Ruina, pure and virtuous!

With your snow-white hair and beautiful blue eyes!

My savior.

My goal.

My light.

My saint.

My angel.

My beloved.

My love.

My idol.

And,

My goddess.

Ah, Lady Ruina. Here and now, I swear to you. No matter where or when, no matter what happens, I will be by your side, aiding you.

Whatever may happen!

I will be by your side!

I want to be by your side. So I will be. I will never leave.

That is the role of a priest serving the divine.

Surely you saved me with the expectation that I would do this, right? Although it’s unlikely, if this wasn’t your wish, then it must have been Naias’s wish to give you this prophecy.

That means it’s destiny. For us both.

I, Bliss Lilly, will do my utmost to fulfill my given calling. I will not disappoint Naias and will never leave her side.

So, I earnestly hope that, whatever may happen, I and she shall never be separated, that I may always be by her side.

Forever.