The incident involving the verification of Olivia’s holy power in the Department of Theology reached the ears of Duke Ashtar.
Sure, up to that point, it was fine.
However, when the church announced they wanted to make his inscrutable daughter a saint, he could only laugh in disbelief.
“What on earth has Olivia done to make the church want to declare her a saint?”
Katarina, standing in front of the duke, cautiously answered his hollow question.
“They say her holy power exceeded that of Saint Siriana.”
“More than Saint Siriana?”
Saint Siriana, originally from the Kingdom, was recognized by the Pope of the Holy Church as the most legitimate saint. It would not be an exaggeration to say she was the strongest in terms of holy power.
“She possessed that much holy power?”
“Yes.”
“Not long ago, Olivia, abandoned by the crown prince and on the verge of suicide, was about to be sent to a convent. But now, suddenly, she has holy power?”
‘Did the goddess really take pity on her and choose her?’
“Certainly, Olivia’s magic circuits are said to be the best in the history of the Ashtar family, but was it holy power?”
“When Olivia’s magical abilities were tested as a child, she had no holy power. That was a fact.”
“Could it be related to her change in appearance?”
“Well, it’s not unusual for descendants of Ashtar to undergo sudden transformations. So, what does Olivia think of all this?”
After all, everything depends on the transformed Olivia.
Her opinion was more important than anything else.
“They say Olivia set some burdensome conditions for the church.”
“Perhaps the church wants to show they’ll take action, even if it’s burdensome?”
“The church has become quite astute. To surpass the Holy Church and the Kingdom, they need a saint. Even if they have to create a false one, Olivia appeared at the right time.”
‘So, it’s worth giving it a shot.’
“Hm. What were Olivia’s conditions?”
“There are a total of seven.”
Katarina handed a note containing Olivia’s conditions to the head of the Ashtar family.
After reading it, the duke of Ashtar muttered with an incredulous expression.
“The church must be desperate. They want to make a saint out of a daughter who not only lacks faith but even doubts the existence of the Holy Church itself.”
Moreover, wasn’t their leader someone with an inflated ego? Although he wagged his tail in front of the nobility, no one could have imagined he would take in a girl who questioned the very existence of the church.
“If they do that, they can grant her legitimacy and also gain support from the royal family. And above all, she’s from Ashtar, after all.”
“They could gain our support?”
If they made Olivia a saint, many problems could be solved.
The church could even expand its influence within the empire.
“Yes. Olivia aims to bring the church under her control.”
“Well, in that case, there’s no helping it. Even though the crown prince is fond of Lily, with her condition, who knows how long that engagement will last. It would be wise to secure the church.”
“Though Lily had been attached to the crown prince, that was as far as it went.”
“Lily’s personality and intelligence made it clear she was uneducated. Even with private tutors, she spent more time playing.”
“Honestly, it was hard to predict how long things would last.”
“If something went wrong, at least they’d have a firm grip on the church, which had received many favors from the royal family.”
“But has Olivia always been this cunning?”
“Who knows?”
Every member of the Ashtar family faced a turning point in their life.
Olivia must have experienced hers.
The real issue was Lily.
That foolish girl resembled her mother far too much.
Even though her mother was a prostitute, I had hoped that with proper education, Lily would improve. But there was no hope.
“Do you intend to leave Olivia alone?”
“Isn’t it amusing? The mother controls the assassin’s guild, and the daughter controls the church. If we’re lucky, Lily might hold onto the crown prince and entangle the royal family as well.”
Given that no one had objected to her schemes, it meant Olivia was confident.
Perhaps it’s time to trust her.
“She truly acts as someone willing to do anything for Ashtar.”
“Do you have the right to say that?”
“I don’t, but…”
Katarina shrugged her shoulders.
“If it were any other family, they would have sent Olivia to a convent by now. But instead, we’ve protected her, even if it damaged our reputation.”
Although rare, there have been instances in the empire’s history where an engagement with the royal family was broken.
There was even a family that gave their daughter poison to end her life after such a breakup.
“And what about Lily?”
“Whatever the cause or outcome, Lily is still my daughter. So even though there’s no attachment, I placed her by the crown prince’s side.”
Though there was no affection, he had fulfilled his role by connecting her to the crown prince.
As a father, he had done his duty.
***
The saint appointment ceremony was held at the Grand Imperial Church in the capital.
‘Isn’t it strange? Damn, it’s weird to me too. The Grand Imperial Church? They sure know how to name things.’
Anyway, this was a place that had never had a saint before.
In fact, the spread of the Holy Church wasn’t that old, and the Holy Church didn’t recognize the Imperial Church.
Even the Kingdom used the Holy Church as an excuse not to acknowledge the Imperial Church.
So, the structure of the church was unclear.
They were merely imitating the Kingdom’s church.
Nevertheless, the Grand Church was crowded with people.
High-ranking officials, nobles from prestigious families, and even the royal family were in attendance.
And then…
“You’re amazing, Olivia! You’ve finally become a saint!”
Frene and her group began to shower me with praise.
“The announcement hasn’t been made yet.”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? There’s no way that despicable Lily could be the saint!”
The animosity towards Lily among the commoners was intense.
‘How much did she torment them?’
“What did Lily do to you?”
“She always looked down on us!”
‘Wow, and she had her own rough days too?’
‘She definitely deserves punishment.’
I had to console Frene and the others appropriately.
After all, as the next saint, I had to win the people’s favor.
“Everyone, our empire is finally welcoming a saint.”
Priest Raffel began speaking from the front in a prayerful posture.
“Just recently, the Holy Church in Atlerina had publicly announced the appointment of a new saint.”
“Of course, it was only known that the Theology Department had a saint. But honestly, everyone knew who it was.”
“It was merely a matter of timing.”
“Even though the Holy Church was outdone by the Kingdom and the Holy Nation, our empire, the greatest of all human realms, could not produce a single saint. But now, we are welcoming someone with greater holy power than Saint Siriana, a member of the Hero’s Party. How can we not rejoice?”
Raffel continued his speech, feigning a heartfelt expression.
“And the new saint is from the most prestigious family, second only to the royal family, the great Ashtar family. How extraordinary is that? Now, presenting…”
“Hmph. Sister, just know that I’m the one who will become the saint.”
Suddenly, my ears were assaulted by an unpleasant voice.
It was none other than Lily, who had come up next to me and whispered into my ear.
‘Where does she even get this confidence from?’
I had something to say to Lily, who stood before me, fuming.
“Olivia Rapha Ashtar!”
As Raffel made the announcement, I turned to Lily and smiled brightly.
“Yes, it’s me~”
“This is impossible! How could someone like her…?”
Somewhere in the distance, a voice complained about me.
‘Huh, was there someone in the Theology Department who looked down on me?’
“That’s unexpected. Or perhaps she’s one of those women brainwashed by Lily’s succubus powers?”
I stood up from my seat, infusing my voice with magic.
‘Alright, I’ve wanted to hit back at you all at least once.’
“As of now, everything is clear. Holy power does not lie. Those empty-headed sons and daughters who have condemned me as a villain can now be rightly branded as the true evil.”
“No, that’s not true.”
The voice of a swordsmanship professor participating in the appointment ceremony could be heard.
‘That man has no tact.’
And then Lily, enraged, burst out.
“Why is it always my sister!”
Instead of blaming me, she never sees her own issues.
“Honestly, I hate to say this, but do you seriously think you qualify as a saint?”
“What are you talking about?”
Honestly, she doesn’t.
“You know it yourself, don’t you? You reek of succubus stench. Ugh, it’s disgusting.”
As I pretended to cover my nose, Lily’s face twisted in a comical expression.
“Are you… are you saying I’ve made a pact with a succubus?”
I hadn’t even said that, but it seemed to have struck a nerve.
“No? I meant it because you come from a prostitute’s bloodline. Don’t people often insult prostitutes by calling them succubus?”
“What… what did you just say?”
‘Oh, so she reacts when I insult her mother?’
“Your mother is a prostitute, isn’t she? You shouldn’t be ashamed of it. I mean, she must have been quite seductive to make a man as cold as your father embrace her.”
Looking at the Duke of Ashtar’s personality, I’ve always wondered what kind of story led him to have Lily with her mother.
“Did you just say everything you wanted to say?”
“Want me to say more? From the looks of it, you probably can’t seduce a single man with your body.”
Why did Aslan ever like Lily enough to get engaged to her?
Her personality is the worst.
I once thought so, but if I consider that she used succubus powers, it explains everything easily.
Lily glared at me fiercely before turning to cling to the crown prince standing nearby.
“Y-Your Highness! My sister, she…!”
‘Look at this little weasel clinging to him.’
“I’ve heard everything. Olivia.”
“Yes?”
‘Are you taking her side?’
“This is a saint appointment ceremony. Aren’t your words and actions a bit too crude?”
‘Huh, you’re not going to scold Lily for this?’
It seems like he’s not completely blind like Lily’s delusional followers.
‘But so what?’
“Everyone here already knows my character, right?”
“Those who need to know about my attitude towards the church already do.”
“You at least have some sense, Your Highness.”
As a member of the church—especially as a saint—I would no longer be lower in status than royalty.
An entirely neutral status.
Aslan wouldn’t be able to treat me as he did before.
Sure, being the daughter of the Ashtar family was part of it, but before, it was clear Aslan saw me as desperate and clinging.
That’s probably why he took me lightly.
Now that I’ve become a saint, he can no longer act recklessly with me.
“Not that I would always side with Lily. Lily, you’re my fiancée, but even if you could become a saint, you shouldn’t.”
Aslan gently hugged Lily from behind, trying to calm her down.
“But still…”
“She’s always been the type who wants to steal anything that belongs to her sister.”
‘She’s such a thoughtless child. Soon, she’ll cause a huge storm in Atlerina. A child who will drag Ashtar’s reputation through the mud.’
In contrast, Olivia, becoming a saint, will restore the fallen reputation of the Ashtar family.
“Whatever my sister has, I should have too!”
‘Wow, how insecure are you about your bloodline?’
“That’s not what I meant.”
“It’s not wrong, is it?”
Otherwise, why would you be so desperate to take everything from me?
***
“And now, we shall hear a message from the High Priest of the Imperial Holy Church.”
After a moment, Priest Raffel stepped back quietly, giving way to the High Priest, a man who looked like a mass of flesh, as he ascended the podium.
“Olivia Rapha Ashtar, come forward.”
“High Priest.” ‘Greetings.’
The high priest’s appearance screamed what I expected.
A pot-bellied man with a slightly sly-looking face, someone who looked like he drank and surrounded himself with women every night.
Of course, if he ever crossed me, I would personally rip out his manhood.
He leaned forward, whispering in a low voice.
“Ahem. You may not have received recognition from the Pope, but unlike the Holy Nation or the Kingdom, our Empire is vast. How can the greatest nation on the continent lower itself to seek validation from the Holy Church in those smaller nations?”
‘I like this man. We seem to understand each other.’
It’s a win-win situation for both of us.
The church stands to gain a lot from this.
To me, the Holy Church always felt like some corrupt, behind-the-scenes cult. If you think about it, though, it might just be like this in the Empire.
‘So, am I becoming the figurehead saint of a corrupt religion?’
When I get in, I’ll start by cleaning house with the nuns.
I’ll wield the authority of the saint for that.
“There’s truth in what you say.”
“Moreover, you’re the daughter of the prestigious Ashtar family. Though things didn’t go well with Crown Prince Aslan, thanks to that, our Empire has gained a saint.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
‘This man is something else.’
“You are the future of the Imperial Holy Church, Olivia Rapha Ashtar.”
“Shall we proceed with the ceremony?”
“Ahem. Yes, let’s.”
The High Priest took out a piece of paper and held it at an angle only visible to him, slowly reading aloud so everyone could hear.
“In the year 1568 of the Empire. The founding emperor established the Armeria dynasty, and it is now the year 1568. Outside, the war with the Demon King continues, and peace is not yet upon us. Inside, the people suffer from the ongoing war, an uncertain and grim reality. However, united under the royal family and the church, from the highest noble to the lowest commoner, we continue to stand firm against the Demon King. The Empire remains strong.”
‘Of course, relatively speaking.’
“The people, exhausted by the unrelenting war, have sought hope. And finally, a saint has descended upon our Empire. Let us all celebrate her arrival!”
‘Wow, they’re really milking this.’
Afterward, the High Priest handed me a custom-designed ceremonial outfit tailored for Atlerina.
The base color of Atlerina’s uniform was sky blue, following the colors of the Moon Crown Flag. However, the saint’s uniform was a sleek white to distinguish it.
“And now, Saint Olivia?”
“Yes, High Priest?”
‘What else do you want from me?’
“Would you like to say something to the participants of the saint appointment ceremony and to the people of the Empire?”
‘Oh, I have something alright.’
I turned and scanned the gathered nobles, officials, and students from Atlerina.
“I’d like to express my deep gratitude to the royal family of the Empire, high-ranking officials, nobles, and students of Atlerina for attending the saint appointment ceremony. As the saint of the Imperial Holy Church, I, Olivia…”
clang
I pulled out a flail from my sleeve.
“…will not forgive the filthy heretics who collaborate with monsters and betray the Empire!”
Historians would later reflect on this day as the moment when the Saint of Calamity arrived in the year 1268 of the Empire.