“Your Holiness, I have brought Sophie as requested.”
In the grand and majestic hall, the highly respected Archbishop Belon bowed deeply toward the figure ahead, displaying utmost reverence.
Within the entire Holy Land, there was only one person who could make him lower his proud head like this.
An elderly man with white hair yet a youthful face, clad in sacred golden papal robes and holding an enormous crucifix staff, gazed at Belon and nodded.
He was none other than the Pope Altes of the Holy Land.
“Greetings, Your Holiness.”
Sophie also curtsied to the Pope.
In the Holy Land, the Pope’s status was second only to the God worshipped by all clerics.
Apart from angels, it would not be an exaggeration to call him God’s spokesperson on earth. His authority was unquestionable.
“I heard a demonized being appeared in Doff City. Is that correct?”
Altes asked Belon.
He looked kind and benevolent, wearing a gentle smile.
If not for the papal robes that marked his identity, he would seem like any ordinary, amiable elder.
“Yes, a demonized being did indeed appear in Doff City,” Belon explained. “We suspect it was not an accident, but deliberately created.”
“Oh?”
“This is still only conjecture, Your Holiness. We have yet to obtain solid evidence. According to intelligence provided by Doff City’s Enforcement Guard, it appears some organization is brewing an evil conspiracy.”
“If that is truly the case, the Holy Land cannot sit idly by. Belon, I order you to investigate this matter thoroughly. If necessary, you may mobilize the Holy Knight Order.”
“By God’s name, we shall not spare a single demonized being! The sacred light shall banish all evil from this world!” Belon replied with fervent zeal.
“Belon, you are dismissed. Go prepare for the mission. Additionally, you may look into an organization called 【Abyssal Eye】. That mysterious group might be connected to the demonized being incident in Doff City.”
“Understood.”
Belon shot Sophie a glance—do not speak out of turn—and left the hall.
Whether intentional or not, only the Pope and Sophie now remained.
“Purifying those infected must be difficult, Sophie,” Altes said with a tone full of compassion. “You have worked hard. At your age, you already bear so much pressure.”
“It is my duty, Your Holiness. It is not hardship.”
“Your answer is exactly like Sylvia’s,” Altes sighed with nostalgia. “Though she was far livelier than you. Time truly flies. Perhaps I am simply getting old—I still feel as though you were just a little child yesterday.”
“Mother…”
Sophie’s expression grew complicated when the Pope mentioned her mother.
“May I ask why Your Holiness summoned me? Is there an important task?”
“Nothing particularly urgent. I simply happened to have some free time and realized it has been a while since I last saw you. I wished to see how you were faring,” Altes smiled. “Or am I being presumptuous?”
“Not at all, Your Holiness. Meeting you is always an honor, no matter when.”
That was the truth.
Even Archbishop Belon rarely got to meet the Pope without going through layers of formal applications.
For Sophie, who was not even an official saintess yet, this was an extraordinary privilege.
“How has Via been lately?”
“You… are concerned about Via?” Sophie asked, puzzled.
“Yes. Though many people look down on her, she is still Sylvia’s daughter.”
“…Via has been doing quite well recently. She earned an Excellent grade in Avalon Academy’s latest assessment.”
“Mmm.”
Altes merely hummed, his tone betraying no emotion.
Was he pleased? Or uninterested?
Sophie couldn’t tell. She had too little contact with the Pope to understand what the highest leader of the Holy Land truly thought of her and Via.
Her hands clenched into fists.
Opportunities to speak with the Pope were rare.
If she missed today, she didn’t know when the next would come.
She wanted to unravel a mystery that had haunted her for years.
“Your Holiness!”
“Yes, Sophie?” Altes noticed her voice suddenly rise, as though she had steeled her resolve.
“There is something… I do not know if I should ask.”
“Speak freely.”
“It concerns my mother.”
Sophie raised her head and looked at Altes with pleading eyes.
“Could you tell me the truth about my mother’s death?”
“…”
“I believe there is more to her death than the official accounts suggest.”
“Sophie, I will admit—the Holy Land has indeed concealed certain truths.”
“Your Holiness, please tell me what really happened!”
“We do not possess the full truth ourselves.”
“Then I wish to know whatever you do know! I beg you, Your Holiness!”
“Sophie, I understand your feelings, but with your current status, you have no right to know these matters.”
“Not even as Mother’s daughter?”
“No. Your bloodline comes from Sylvia, but your position does not,” Altes paused. “If you become the official saintess—if you truly inherit your mother’s mantle and become the Saintess of the Holy Land—then you will have the right to know.”
“Become… the Saintess of the Holy Land.”
Sophie quietly repeated the words.
Deep down, she had already guessed this would be the answer.
The world believed her mother had died in a tragic accident.
But Sophie had always felt there were too many suspicious points.
For example, the murderer who supposedly killed her mother had been captured… only to suddenly die in prison during interrogation.
It was far too convenient.
There were clearly powerful forces at work behind the scenes.
Perhaps, as the Pope said, only by becoming the true saintess and gaining real authority could she investigate her mother’s death.
“I understand, Your Holiness. I will strive toward that goal—not only to uncover the truth of Mother’s death, but to follow in her footsteps and become a Perfect Saintess like her.”
“I look forward to your future.”
Altes raised his crucifix staff.
Pure white light radiated from it.
“Walk forward under God’s gaze, Sophie Shirleyford.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
They spoke a while longer about her recent life.
When the audience was nearly over, Altes allowed her to leave and rest.
“Your Holiness, please forgive my presumption, but I have one final request.”
“What is it?”
“I wish to visit the Hall of Heroes,” Sophie said earnestly. “I would like to see Lady Selina, the Silver Sword Princess.”
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