Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Four: Coming of the Saint

“Ah, finally someone is willing to admit I’m a Priestess. Why am I feeling a bit touched?”

With a chuckle, Miss Vilyric felt a slight relief in her heart.

Although, due to her experience from the Mask Incident, she briefly wondered — “Could that Edwina think of me as an incarnation of the Light Goddess from the Church of the Goddess?” — since the response was so straightforward…

It seems it was just an illusion after all.

If she truly believed that “Vilyric” was the Light Goddess, she certainly wouldn’t be engaging in casual conversations in such a relaxed manner. After all, this Holy Knight should be a devout follower capable of succeeding the position of Saint.

That should resolve any doubts.

Having not seen each other in a long time, Vilyric stayed and chatted with Edwina for a lengthy period.

While Edwina spoke most of the time and Vilyric listened, the atmosphere was quite harmonious as the two girls shared many interesting anecdotes, until the sky darkened and the Holy Knight concluded her day of training, preparing to return to the family territory of the Holy City.

Since they had already met, there was no need to keep a distance. The Priestess put on the Mask of the God Fox in Edwina’s view, transforming into the White Fox Girl, and together they left the secret forest on the outskirts of the city amidst Edwina’s awestruck exclamations.

According to the message from the Little Dragon Daughter stating “All is well,” Yuna should have arranged for their temporary accommodation in the city. With nothing pressing on either side, Vilyric planned to join Edwina first in casually exploring the Holy City.

The Cecelia Family’s secret base wasn’t far from the Holy City. When the two girls arrived at the towering walls of the City of Angels, the sky was just settling into night.

The Holy City was a massive structure brimming with ancient cultural essence, and atop the nearly hundred-meter-high walls, countless torches blazed like stars in the night sky, flickering brilliantly in the darkness. The Temple Knights stationed at the city gate had also lit their lamps, enduring the twilight as they checked the long line of passing travelers.

As the capital of the world’s greatest nation, the specifications and resource allocation of the Holy City were naturally unmatched compared to ordinary cities.

It was said that the city gates would remain open until ten o’clock at night, closing for only six to seven hours each day, with different Temple Knights taking turns to guard.

The confidence stemmed from the fact that the east, west, north, and south gates were protected by the ever-looming 6th-tier connected faith magic known as “Angel’s Grace,” which constantly enveloped the area. Any creature wishing to enter or exit the Holy City would have to either scale the imposing hundred-meter walls or breach this solid barrier.

The “Angel’s Grace” magic supposedly expels most demons, undead, and nearly all beings deemed as “evil entities” by doctrine, imposing powerful suppression and obstruction.

Above the Holy City, a divine barrier maintained by faith magic spread year-round, with potency that only exceeded that of “Angel’s Grace,” creating a zone nearly devoid of aerial travel. Even high-level demons with flying abilities wouldn’t be able to sneak into the city under the watchful eyes of the Temple Knights.

In fact, the City of Angels was indeed a place ranked among the top three safest cities in the Holy Nation and even in the world, with crime rates approaching near zero. Even the most formidable ruffians would think twice about causing trouble there, unless they were tired of living.

Thus, “Only light within the Holy City” became the esteemed praise given by many believers to the City of Angels, under the protection of the Goddess.

As the Holy Knight went on describing the various aspects of the city, the two girls soon reached the guard checkpoint at the city gate.

The Temple Knights, clad in white armor and holding long halberds, moved aside to make way. A faint, translucent white light curtain rose from thin air, covering the broad entrance of the city gate, creating an appearance much like a barrier.

No doubt, this was the aforementioned faith magic, “Angel’s Grace.”

To reflect the sacred atmosphere of the Holy City, even the torches held by these Temple Knights appeared somewhat different from ordinary flames.

What should have been red flames clearly mixed with traces of gold. The light emitted was about twice as bright as normal fire, almost illuminating a radius of over ten meters in the thick night before gradually dimming.

This was a “Holy Flame,” ignited by magic and sustained by special fuel. Though it was mainly for show, it indeed burned longer, shone brighter, and could repel low-tier evil creatures.

Such things could only be enjoyed within the Holy City; after all, those unique torches required faith magic for ignition and cost several times more than ordinary fuel.

Even Yuna’s troops from Mingguang City wouldn’t use something so symbolic yet of limited practical use.

“Hello, please present your identification.”

Upon reaching the city gate, a few Temple Knights in white armor with long halberds naturally stopped the two girls.

Though their expressions froze briefly at the sight of a certain Holy Knight whose attire closely resembled their own, adorned with a six-winged golden holy emblem on her chest, they quickly resumed their official demeanor and requested the required identification.

Just that alone made Miss White Fox nod slightly.

The so-called equality in the Holy Empire appeared to be more than just empty words on the surface; if it were the United Kingdom, entering a city would be a royal affair, and not only would they not ask for identification, they might even carry them in.

Edwina clearly anticipated such a situation and promptly presented her and “Xī’s” identification profiles that she had prepared in advance.

In the Holy Empire, where faith magic was more prevalent and national strength robust, household registration and documentation were undoubtedly better organized than in the United Kingdom.

Most citizens could hold at least basic identification, unlike in the United Kingdom, where many small places relied on human traits and interpersonal relationships to determine identity.

Carefully scrutinizing the thin documents in his hand, Vilyric noticed the young Temple Knight captain responsible for the checks displayed a fleeting look of surprise after reviewing the identification, clearly realizing something.

Yet, he maintained his composure and quietly returned the documents to Edwina with a more cautious gesture, unconsciously glancing at the small fox mask on the White Fox Girl’s face before warmly nodding.

“Identification is fine, but according to Holy City regulations, may I kindly ask the two of you to undergo a brief inspection? Just extend your hands into the light curtain for three seconds.”

“Sure.”

Nodding in tacit understanding with the Holy Knight, the two girls stepped up, approaching the white light curtain enveloping the entire gate, and inserted their forearms deep within.

No hindrance whatsoever.

A soft light illuminated the skin of the White Fox Girl.

This was Vilyric’s first personal experience with the faith magic known as “Angel’s Grace.” Though she had previously pulled some higher-grade tricks on Eudora to help the Little Succubus evade detection, it seemed like a smooth operation…

But a very familiar yet strangely distinct feeling caused Vilyric’s brow to slightly raise beneath her mask.

Without a doubt, this was a detection judgment similar to alignment.

However, the principle of detection was…

“… ‘Judgment of Justice’?”

The White Fox Girl murmured softly, almost inaudibly, allowing only Edwina standing beside her to hear. Reacting immediately, Edwina queried curiously in a low tone.

“What judgment? Did you… notice something, Miss Xī?”

As the words faded, the brief three seconds had already elapsed, and the Temple Knight captain’s voice rang out once more.

“Praise the Goddess, you’re all set. The two of you may enter. Additionally… welcome to the Holy City. I sincerely hope you can create wonderful memories here, esteemed Miss Xī.”

As she withdrew her hand from the translucent light curtain, the White Fox Girl tilted her head slightly, still able to see the friendly smile on the Temple Knight’s face. After he nodded, he quickly pivoted to check the next visitor entering the city…

Letting out a gentle sigh, the girl simply shook her head and first stepped through the light curtain, walking towards the city.

“Nothing much, probably just a slip of the tongue.”

   

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