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Chapter 101: Why Her?

Faced with Simon’s advice, Alice not only disagreed but also tightened her grip on Roy’s hand.

“He doesn’t have to leave.”

“Saintess, the Holy Light baptism is quite complicated. Excessive extraordinary fluctuations can impact the stability of the ceremony, bringing unwanted burdens to you.”

“But I heard that the baptism of the Holy Light tests the soul, and there’s no one better than him to stabilize my soul,” Alice retorted with righteous fervor.

This was a line they had long planned.

All the way around White Harbor, there had been no mishaps.

Roy suspected that if Simon truly wanted to do something to Alice, he could only take advantage of the opportunity when they were alone during the Holy Light baptism.

However, unexpectedly, after pondering for a moment, Simon actually nodded in agreement: “Makes sense.”

“To earn the trust of the Saintess like this is quite a rarity among the guards,” Simon glanced at Roy meaningfully.

Roy smiled slightly: “It’s my honor.”

Alice stepped onto the altar’s magic circle, kneeling as she bathed in the rain of Holy White Light, her loose saintess robe blossoming like a flower.

Simon recited the sacred text, and as the intricate magic circle slowly lit up, immense extraordinary fluctuations began to surge, illuminating the entire underground altar.

Next, pure light surged into Alice’s body, twisting her previously serene expression.

“……!”

Roy frowned slightly but didn’t panic.

Any extraordinary ceremony would place burdens on the body and soul; refining bloodlines was akin to filtering out impurities from extraordinary bloodlines and souls using high-purity power.

It was only natural to feel pain during the Holy Light baptism, which was the most advanced ceremony.

Accepting divine power would definitely not be simple.

If there were truly any issues with the ceremony, Phoenix, who was secretly observing, would also be able to notice.

“What…?!”

“What’s wrong?”

Phoenix’s exclamation made Roy uneasy.

“The ceremony itself is fine, but this power is a bit too overwhelming! Any ordinary Sequence 6 facing such power would have their soul crushed!”

“You’re saying Alice is in danger…”

Roy couldn’t help but draw his sword.

But unexpectedly, Phoenix changed his tune: “Not really.”

“Your maid’s soul is exceptionally strong as well; she might suffer a bit, but she can hold on.”

The ceremony wasn’t the problem.

Yet Roy didn’t feel any relief; his unease only intensified.

No attacks had occurred on the way, the ceremony had no problems, and Simon had even generously allowed him to stay on-site.

What exactly did Simon intend to do?

A direct blade is easy to guard against, but a hidden blade is the most frightening.

Roy couldn’t understand what the current【Intellect Angel】 wanted to do at this last chance to seize Alice.

As the magic circle unfolded and Holy Light fell, the ceremony needed no further maintenance from Simon.

Noticing Roy’s vigilant gaze, he turned back, maintaining his usual warmth: “My lord Roy, please rest assured. Although we’ve had some minor conflicts before, I have no ill intentions toward the Saintess.”

“To help the Destined Saintess awaken her bloodline and transform into an angel is our most genuine aspiration.”

“And then, under the angel’s guidance, save the world?” Roy did not hide his sarcasm.

Surprisingly, Simon nodded earnestly: “Exactly.”

Indifferent…

Roy couldn’t spot any flaws in his opponent.

Either he was deeply cunning, dismissing any true intentions, or genuinely indifferent.

However, during their previous confrontation, Simon had wavered…

Hmm?

Could this guy actually think he’s saving the world?

Roy’s gaze at Simon turned peculiar.

Meanwhile, Simon continued to ramble.

“The Destined Saintess, the angel incarnate—her birth will bring true redemption to this world. This includes me, and it includes you. So the church has never been your enemy.”

“And what about Alice?”

“What?”

“Let’s say you want to rely on Alice to save the world, but what exactly do you need her to do? And what will she have to sacrifice?”

After a moment of silence, he replied: “For the sake of saving the world, any sacrifice is worth it.”

Roy silently clenched his fists, though he wasn’t particularly surprised.

There were no expectations, so how could there be disappointment?

Just as he suspected, the burden the church wanted Alice to bear was anything but light.

Otherwise, Simon could’ve laid all the cards on the table from the very beginning.

What kind of sacrifice is worth it? The one sacrifice of Alice is something Roy absolutely cannot accept.

Forget about the whole saving the world being a façade; even if sacrificing Alice truly would save the world, Roy would never agree.

Stubborn or foolish, he would not yield to fate without taking it to the very end.

Roy slowly exhaled, calm and cold: “Why her?”

Because she is the savior destined by fate, the angel incarnate chosen by the Holy Light—the saintess we have awaited for hundreds of years.

There were plenty of reasons, but seeing the determination on the young boy’s face, Simon sighed slightly, no longer speaking.

Well then.

What mortals see is ultimately just the narrow view before them.

Perhaps everything has been predetermined by fate long ago.

When Simon looked back at Roy, there was a melancholic pity in his eyes.

The next moment, a terrifying extraordinary wave roared like thunder, piercing the senses of all extraordinary beings.

Outside the church.

Teresa and Rayo’s expressions changed simultaneously.

Then, chilling auras rose from the north and south.

In one direction, countless chilly wraiths swirled, like dark clouds blotting out the sun.

In another, a rotting, pale cyclops emerged, stomping on the ground.

Panic erupted.

The originally lively atmosphere froze, and the gathered crowd in the city center looked anxiously toward the distant anomaly, quickly descending into chaos.

“Everyone, please don’t panic!” The knight order and the monks rushed to disperse the crowd.

Teresa’s face grew serious: “Cultists, and at least Sequence 5—how could it be…”

“Now’s not the time to dwell on that,” Rayo interrupted.

Sensing danger emanating from both the north and south, the two high-ranking beings exchanged knowing glances before vanishing from the spot.

South side of the residential building.

Hundreds of rotting corpses blocked the knight order outside, trapping the citizens in their homes.

The rampaging cyclops casually swatted aside wooden structures, turning them to splinters.

With one hand, it grabbed dozens of unsuspecting citizens from the rubble, greedily opening its mouth.

North side of the plaza.

Fleeing citizens were caught one by one by wraiths hovering in mid-air, trapped within their bodies.

And countless others had already rolled their eyes back, collapsing like puppets with severed strings, as they were trampled by the corpses.

In an instant, the White Harbor, which had been basking in the light of the new saintess, turned into a hell overrun by the undead.

No matter how people prayed or cried out, they received no response.

However, White Harbor had never relied on an ethereal goddess to stand tall.

The sound of swords rang clear and swift, slicing through the air like lightning.

When the knights looked up once more, the cyclops had already lost an arm, howling as it half-knelt on the ground.