CH 103

“Now, we will proceed with the holy power confirmation procedure according to the pious Elium procedure.”

There were so many people that the largest temple hall in the main building was full, but everyone was paying attention to us, so the atmosphere was very quiet and solemn.

I spoke to myself quietly.

“I’m not the type to be on stage.”

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, whispers, telling you to show off his lash while standing on stage.]

[The God of Art, Mond, enjoys the attention.]

Our Gods are watching this situation while eating popcorn.

“I’ll bring you a friend today.”

I whispered to them lightly.

If the oracle level rises by clearing the hidden mission, a new God will probably be able to enter.

[The God of Justice, Hetuse, shakes his head.]

[The God of Destruction, Ciel, is looking forward to it.]

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, doesn’t like that guy, saying he’s a bit gloomy.]

“Anyway, please cooperate today.”

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, shrugs as if he’s asking you to leave it to him.]

Soon, a group of priests appeared with the Holy Sphere.

‘Ew.’

I did a magic show with that Holy Sphere before.

It felt new.

“First, Saintess Ariel will prove her holy power.”

The priests brought the Holy Sphere in front of me. Naturally, many people’s attention was focused on me.

Aaah, I’m really nervous.

I put my hand on top of the Holy Sphere.

There was a deep silence in the temple hell.

Soon a deep sigh was heard.

“Huh!”

“No, how could this happen!”

“It seems that the rumors were true.”

It’s because the Holy Sphere I put my hand on didn’t react at all.

It was placed in my hand in its transparent form.

I saw Camilla’s eyebrows twitch.

The Holy Sphere originally emits light by measuring divine or holy power, and Camilla knew that I had holy power.

But even if I had holy power, she would have thought that hers was stronger.

‘That’s probably why she applied for the holy power confirmation procedure.’

In any case, if she pushes me away and becomes a saintess, it’s her victory.

Moreover, recently rumors have spread that my holy power has decreased and that I have been abandoned by the Gods, so it must be quite confusing..

Heinz stood up excitedly and shouted.

“Look! Didn’t I say she was a fake saintess!”

Looking at Heinz’s elated expression, I almost burst out laughing, yet I clenched my fists and put on a sad expression, as if I hadn’t expected this situation.

Camilla, you’re not the only acting genius.

[The God of Art, Mond, criticizes your acting skills.]

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, clicks his tongue, asking who would believe that.]

You cold-hearted Gods.

I looked at Camilla and even glared at her with my fists clenched. With an expression of, ‘I’m angry’.

[The God of Justice, Hetuse, is ashamed of you.]

Camilla looked at me for a long time and then stood up with a twist on her lips.

Whatever the situation was, she seemed to have decided that it worked out for her.

“Miss Ariel. Please repent now and be purified.”

It was a warm tone, yet the knife-like hostility inside it was clearly transmitted.

I could see the Paladins trying to stand up as if they were trying to pull me out.

I stopped pretending to be angry and told her.

“Wait a minute. Wasn’t this procedure for Miss Camilla? You haven’t even checked Miss Camilla’s holy power, so it can’t end here.”

In an instant, the crowd became quiet.

It seemed that they forgot about Camilla, focusing only on whether or not I lost my holy power. Somehow it seemed that it was meaningless.

I took the Holy Sphere and walked slowly toward her.

She frowned at me as I approached.

She seemed to be trying to figure out what my intentions were. However, eventually she smiled lightly as if she had won.

She closed her eyes as she took the Holy Sphere from me.

After a while, her hand wrapped around the round Holy Sphere. All eyes turned to Camilla.

I could see Camilla gently lifting her eyelids to enjoy her moment of glory.

Yet the people she faced had stiffened expressions.

It wasn’t long till she lowered her gaze to the Holy Sphere she was holding.

“What is this…!”

The Holy Sphere was filled with black aura as if they were dark clouds.

Camilla’s eyes widened and her pupils shook.

“Isn’t that Magi?”

“Is something wrong?”

The crowd started to grow louder.

I smiled coldly and walked towards her.

This was what I had been planning since Camilla said she would have her holy power checked.

“It’s all over now.”

Her eyes turned to me in disbelief.

I licked my lips and let out the words.

“Demon.”

***

The moment Camilla saved the Golden Crown birds.

I had a feeling of deja vu. It was the same as what I felt with Diego Vester in the cave.

‘It can’t be Magi.’

However, at the time, I was obsessed with the idea that Camilla was a real saintess, thus I couldn’t easily identify her identity.

Besides, it wasn’t as dark as Diego’s. Still, it was definitely something strange to say that it was pure holy power.

So after listening to Ren and Van’s prophecy about Camilla, I began to figure out the identity of my deja vu.

What is the reason Raid, the God of Eternity, made such a prophecy in favor of the Demon Realm?

Maybe it’s because he’s related to the Demon Realm.

And I thought more deeply about Camilla saving the Golden Crowns.

Holy power can’t revive a dead life. But with black magic, you can make the dead life… pretend to be alive.

Usually, the living beings that survived this way were called ‘undead’. And the undead return to death when it was poured with holy power.

“T=This is ridiculous!”

Camilla, who was holding the sphere of blooming darkness, shouted to the audience. Yet there was fear on people’s faces.

“What’s wrong? You’re a demon. Camilla.”

I spoke to her calmly.

Camilla, in an unexpected situation, no longer tried to put on her saintly pious face.

“What disrespect are you talking about! What the hell did you do to the Holy Sphere!”

Hearing Camilla’s words, Heinz also stood up and shouted altogether.

Then his forces shouted along.

“That’s right! Miss Ariel must have cast an evil spell on the Holy Sphere!”

“As expected, Miss Ariel must be using evil black magic in collusion with the Demon Realm.”

I raised my hand and held Camilla’s Holy Sphere. The Holy Sphere had no reaction in my hand.

“This one?”

Camilla’s eyebrows twitched.

I stepped under the podium in the temple hall where we were standing. Then, suddenly, a brilliant light began to burst out of the Holy Sphere. Like a colorful magic show.

Everyone who was seated rose from their seats one by one.

“It’s holy power!”

“Saintess Ariel proves her holy power!”

“Glory to the Nine Gods!”

“Please punish the demons!”

I looked behind and saw Camilla, whose face was hardened, looking at me, biting her twisted lips.

Heinz and his forces were staring at me blankly with their mouths open.

I heard Reihausd’s cold voice.

“With the help of the magicians, a magic circle was formed on the platform to suppress the divine power.”

If somebody removes this wooden platform, they will probably see a magic circle that suppresses divine power.

“If it only suppresses holy power, how can Magi be revealed?”

Camilla had both black magic and holy power.

Until now, she had been hiding dark magic with the authority of the ‘God of Lies’, yet when her holy power was completely suppressed, the black magic in her body was revealed in the Holy Sphere.

The Holy Sphere was a holy relic made of the purest material.

So it clearly shows the power inside one’s body.

I took the Holy Sphere again and went up to the podium. It became so peaceful and transparent. As long as you have pure holy power, your situation will naturally be like mine.

“How, how did thisㅡ”

Camilla’s eyes were darkly shining.

I snorted and turned my back on her.

There was nothing more to say.

Reihausd also took a glance at her with a cold gaze, then shifted his gaze back to the people.

“It seems that it has now been sufficiently proven who is the one who has something to do with the Demon Realm.”

The Paladins started moving again. This time it was to catch Camilla, not me.