Samimi’s identity is quite unusual; Xian Ye is positioned as a protagonist on par with the four members of the Hero’s party, even holding the same status as the Black Pottery Eagle alongside the Hero.
That’s why Samimi is even more wary of our relationship. It’s really not easy to find a beautiful girl teammate who isn’t an enemy or a sand dog.
Samimi led Qiqi Zhu back to her own small room hidden inside a small cathedral, spread the Kingdom Map on the table, and pretended to look for something while still having a few snacks left.
“The Pope’s funeral date has already been set. It’s in fourteen days. The escort team will depart from the main cathedral in Jialisi, circle around the city and the country, and finally stop at Royal City Square for a public speech.” Qiqi Zhu pulled out a Kingdom Map, covered it with the Sheep Cleric Symposium’s map, and pointed here and there with her small hand, guiding intensely.
She continued with detailed analysis: “By then, all the residents of the city will come out to observe the ceremony. All the Palace Knights and Kingdom Knights will appear to maintain order, but only dignitaries who have received invitations will be eligible to sit in front of Royal City Square. The rest of the citizens can only send off the Pope from the square’s edge, a hundred meters away. If you want to uncover the truth, it’s best to become a member of the escort team. Otherwise, you’ll just be watching from afar, and you won’t be able to help with anything.”
“What about you?” Samimi asked.
“I’m a member of the Valkyrie Order. We’re originally the escort team’s bodyguards,” Qiqi Zhu replied.
“And me?” Samiimi pressed.
“Figure it out yourself.” Qiqi Zhu crossed her arms. “Do you want some tea?”
“I only have plain water.” Samimi poured her a glass and asked in return, “You came looking for me, but you don’t have a plan either? I’m trying to think of a way too.”
“I do. There’s going to be a Selection Pageant here soon. You can enter. If you can make it into the top three, you’ll be qualified to join the escort team and become the ‘Miss Lamb’, representing the Church’s beautiful side. Of course, it’s also for the invited bigshots to get a preview.” Qiqi Zhu answered.
“…Is there a second way?” Samimi’s expression wrinkled like a bitter melon after listening.
“If there was another way, you’d be laughing by now. What are you hesitating for? Just do the pageant. Didn’t you rely on your good looks to get this far anyway? What’s there to worry about now?” Qiqi Zhu said.
“I’m just a transfer student. I just joined the Sheep Cleric Symposium, and now I have to go straight to participate in the Selection Pageant? That’s way too conspicuous, it will make others suspicious.” Fei Mimi said.
“Wrong! Exactly because you’re rushing to join the pageant, it makes you and her seem like the same type, girls with dreams of marrying into wealth,” Qiqi Zhu explained relaxedly.
“Can I join your Valkyrie Order? I know a bit of magic too,” Samimi asked.
“It’s too late. Whatever skills you could’ve shown, you’ve already shown. If you want to do something, you’ll have to figure it out yourself.” Qiqi Zhu was direct, left the Kingdom Map behind, and turned to leave.
Samimi instantly felt a headache coming on, deeply troubled.
She felt her masculinity had been severely worn down lately. If she joined another Selection Pageant, her soul’s integrity would take a major hit.
She hadn’t expected that even the Female Vampire Queen and Fearsome Corpse couldn’t lower her SAN value, but all these official events in the Church were driving her rationality to the brink.
Suddenly, Qiqi Zhu darted back into the room, clutching her chest, looking mysterious.
“What else do you want to say?” Samimi asked suspiciously.
“I have a second method, but it’s riskier.” Qiqi Zhu’s tone grew serious.
“What method? As long as it’s not the pageant, I’m fine. I’m not the kind of soft-shelled shrimp that puffs out her chest and feigns cuteness,” Samimi pressed repeatedly.
“Do you know the [Holy Word Society]?” Qiqi Zhu asked with a deliberately secretive air.
“No idea,” Samimi’s mouth twitched a little.
Actually, she did know. She instantly realized what method Qiqi Zhu was referring to.
The Holy Word Society is the Church’s own secret magic user organization.
It’s been said before: besides the continent’s Magic User Guild, the Church is the second largest human magic user organization, not just an empty claim. Yet to this day, it seemed no one had ever discovered any traces of the Church utilizing magic, while clerics seemed to sprout like bamboo shoots after rain.
Currently, the Church had only produced two magic users: Saintess Makima and our group of sisters—just two people in total.
If you counted that Qiqi Zhu was also a magic user, that would make four. But whether she truly belonged to the Church was debatable.
“The Holy Word Society is the Church’s secret magic user group. Like the Knight Order, they are a powerful organization protecting the Church’s existence. But they’re much more secretive than the Holy Knight Order few know of their existence. The Holy Word Society will send people to the Pope’s funeral this time. If you can join them, you can sneak into the ceremonial escort team,” Qiqi Zhu began explaining.
“I see.” Before she finished, Samimi was already nodding.
By the most rational logic, she’d rather join the Selection Pageant, she was a shoo-in for the top, a bright and open path.
Choosing to join the Holy Word Society was like jumping from a small pit into a cesspool, trading a minor scheme for a major conspiracy making trouble for herself.
“Saintess Makima and the Holy Word Society have a complicated relationship. The Society must know that the Saintess is in Jiali,” Qiqi Zhu continued, “and maybe the Saintess is actually a forbidden member of the Holy Word Society. If there’s any organization in the Church capable of opposing the Saintess, it’s only the Holy Word Society.”
“How come the Saintess is connected to everyone?” Samimi complained.
“Maybe the Saintess is a rebellious disciple who broke off from the Holy Word Society, founded her own faction, and her philosophy clashed with theirs, which led to their fallout,” Qiqi Zhu analyzed.
“You could’ve just said all this earlier! What was all that about the pageant? I was really getting scared!” Samimi said, waving her small hand and still grumbling.
“Can you be serious for once?” Qiqi Zhu frowned at Samimi’s attitude.
“You’re a magic user too, so you should be able to join the Holy Word Society, right?” Jun Mimi asked skeptically.
“My magic is considered heretical and would only get me expelled,” Qiqi Zhu replied, as if looking at an outsider.
“My Divine Flame is no less righteous than yours,” Samimi thought, not to mention her Divine Lotus magic wasn’t exactly the embodiment of justice either.
“Just because you wield Divine Flame doesn’t make you righteous,” Qiqi Zhu retorted.
“Anyway, we don’t even know how to join the Holy Word Society. The Church is hiding too many secrets,” Samimi said, waving her small hand.
“As it happens, I have an invitation.” Qiqi Zhu suddenly produced a black envelope from her pocket.
“This…!” Samimi gasped. “You actually received an invitation from the Holy Word Society, but don’t want to go and are giving it to me instead?”