Chapter 1: Divine Selection

“Defendant Auror, you listen to me!”

“I’m listening!”

“The Queen accuses you of blasphemy and heresy. What do you have to say in your defense?”

“Of course I do. What Her Majesty said about my crimes… it’s all nonsense.”

The midday sun streamed through the dome’s wishing-well skylight, fractured into mottled blocks by stained glass, casting its light upon the defendant’s stand in the center of the royal council chamber. Ancient oak benches, worn smooth, rose in a semicircle like prison tiers, and whispered gossip flowed among the silk-clad nobles like peddlers in a black market.

Standing behind the defendant’s stand was a golden-haired, violet-eyed girl, chin held high.

A black-and-white nun’s veil covered her head, with a few stray strands of hair rebelliously escaping its edges, swaying gently before her eyes in playful crosses. Honey-warm shoulder-length hair lay piled softly at her neck, the ends curling slightly as if cradling her fair face.

Beneath the black-and-white veil, a white high collar framed her neck, with a violet crystal matching her eyes at its center. Her sleeveless black thick satin clung to her graceful curves, with a single teardrop cutout at the chest revealing a layer of black fishnet mesh, skin faintly visible beneath.

The pleated skirt fell past her knees, edged with a ring of white lace, just covering the tops of her brown leather mid-calf boots, obscuring the black stockings with a design similar to that at her chest.

Though her back was ramrod straight, if one looked closely, one would see a fine sheen of cold sweat on her forehead, slightly trembling pupils, and the rise and fall of her chest with each breath.

Such a pure and provocative model, deserving of pity—but unfortunately, she had a mouth that knew all the tricks of the internet. The girl took a ragged breath, grabbed her right arm with her left hand, and pointed at the maid who had read the decree, spraying spittle like an old mercenary banging on a tavern table.

The poor maid’s face flushed as if she had been molested. Trembling, she pointed at the girl and finally squeezed out a sentence:

“Such vulgarity? Miss Auror, mind your manners! You disgrace the Olivia family’s upbringing!”

“My upbringing is for my father and His Majesty to judge. You’re just a tea-serving nobody—what right do you have to critique me? Get lost!”

Auror Violet Olivia, second daughter of Ed Olivia, Acting Prime Minister of the Frank Kingdom and Marquis of the Border, swore thus.

Any noble lady raised with proper etiquette would never act so rudely before the King and Queen. But unfortunately, Auror had never been quite normal. She spoke bluntly, as if bearing a grudge against everyone.

Auror was a transmigrator.

Not just any—she was one of those unlucky souls who had clawed her way through the exam-oriented system for over twenty years, only to achieve her goals and, before enjoying a high salary, get killed by a mud truck.

WTF? What is magic? What is divine magic?

I received a lifetime of materialist education, and you tell me that sincere emotions can invoke miracles?

Just after maxing out, she got thrown back to the starter town, and the version had changed. Anyone would be bitter.

And on top of that, *that* had even been confiscated!!!

The only consolation was that the family she was reborn into was quite wealthy.

Ed Olivia was the Border Marquis of the Frank Kingdom, a position representing the military and administrative chief of the border region in the feudal system.

In other words, her father Ed was to Frank what An Lushan was to the Tang Dynasty—powerful, rich, and commanding troops.

Thanks to the existence of magic, this wealth and power were well reflected in Auror’s material life, so she found it comfortable at least.

Moreover, Auror’s personal attributes were impeccable.

The Frank Kingdom was a classic medieval kingdom in Japanese-style Western fantasy, especially in the R18 versions. Noble ladies all had fair skin, beauty, and formidable magical power, and Auror was among the best.

Exceptionally high mana affinity, enviable figure and looks, and enhanced mental faculties and intelligence inherited from her previous life and improved by her new body.

And, ahem, certain parts that were inconvenient to mention.

Though characters like her in such settings usually met bad ends, Auror wasn’t worried. She wasn’t one of those airheaded fools.

If you don’t want to end up ‘oh hoh’, you should stay away from Western monks and heretic mages, not go alone to deliver yourself.

Hentai stuff was all fake.

If goblins dared approach the kingdom’s towns, they wouldn’t find screaming female adventurers but only soldiers standing ready.

That was what Auror thought. She firmly believed she could glide through this world unfriendly to women using her knowledge from two lifetimes.

Then she nearly capsized.

Months ago, the previous Prime Minister of the Frank Kingdom died of a sudden illness. As the king’s most trusted man, Ed Olivia was summoned to the capital as Acting Prime Minister, and Auror followed to help her father ‘strategize.’

A few days ago, she discovered an illegal alchemical potion called ‘Happy Water’ circulating in the market and began investigating.

The stuff was hallucinogenic and addictive—anyone with nine years of compulsory education knew what that meant.

About ten hours ago, following a lead, she entered the Saint Celestine Cathedral in the heart of the capital’s highlands and stumbled upon a mysterious underground ruin. She went down with her guards to explore and was ambushed.

Not only were all her family guards wiped out, but she also took a dark magic hit and, by chance, hid in a mysterious room. She was rescued by Balian Helios Ferrus, the timely arriving Hero Candidate, and narrowly escaped with her life.

Balian, ‘the Goddess-chosen Hero Candidate,’ was Auror’s childhood friend.

He was the son of a blacksmith in the Olivia family’s domain, born with unusual traits—black hair and black eyes, which the kingdom considered a sign of noble blood. Thus, he was taken to the castle by Auror’s father at a young age and grew close to Auror.

Later, church priests identified him as ‘the Goddess-chosen Hero Candidate’ destined to save the Frank Kingdom, so he was taken back to the church for training.

Sounded impressive, but he had no real power, no title, and couldn’t even stop Auror from being arrested by the tardy cathedral guard knights and brought to the royal council for interrogation.

“How many times do I have to say it? I was crippled and had nowhere to hide. That room door opened by itself, so I had to go in! How was I supposed to know it was church forbidden ground?!”

Auror pleaded her innocence to the King.

King Louis de Gaulle turned to look at the stern-faced Prime Minister Marquis Ed on his left, then at the bristling Queen Margaret de Hermes on his other side, scratching his head in distress.

King Louis wasn’t a henpecked husband, but his wife’s family was too powerful. The Duchy of Hermes, where the Queen’s family ruled, was the kingdom’s wealthiest region, and their support covered a large portion of royal expenses.

The blue-haired, pointed-eared half-elf Queen remained aggressive, shrilly shouting like an opera singer:

“You country brat! Even from this distance, I can smell your disgusting heretic stench! You demon who possesses noble girls, you blasphemous liar!”

This still-charming, middle-aged woman was another classic case of ‘unfortunately has a mouth.’

Too bad, sweetie, your insults sound like flirting.

Just as she was about to continue her show, a lazy, seductive mature voice suddenly sounded in Auror’s mind.

*’Arguing with her is useless. Call the hero. Tell the king.’*

This voice had appeared only after Auror entered the forbidden ground.

At first, she thought it was an auditory hallucination, but it spoke reliably, having saved her several times before. Probably some sealed spirit like Yao Lao.

So Auror decided to listen.

“The Hero Candidate Balian can testify for me.”

Auror raised her hand, accidentally pulling at her wound, and inhaled sharply in pain.

With his daughter speaking, Father Ed had no reason to refuse. A few minutes later, hurried footsteps were heard, and Balian arrived.

He nearly crashed through the thick wooden door of the council chamber, only slowing down inside. He bowed to the King, Queen, Marquis Ed, and other high nobles one by one, then stood beside Auror.

“Your Majesty, my lords.”

His manners were impeccable, neither servile nor arrogant. He looked the part.

“I come here to inform you all of the truth of last night.”

Then came a lengthy statement—cadenced, quoting scriptures, subtle, watertight, and so complicated it gave Auror a headache.

—Basically, ‘Happy Water’ was an evil alchemical potion that must be banned. Auror was acting out of loyalty to country and people, merely unfortunate to have stumbled into… blah blah blah.

Auror was deeply moved. It was hard to believe that a poor blacksmith’s son, who could barely read a basket of characters, had managed to compose such a long aria of testimony.

But unfortunately, the Queen was well prepared.

The omnipotent noblewoman clapped her hands, and from behind the curtain, several men in merchant robes emerged like magic.

Queen Margaret, supported by her captain of the guard, rose from her seat. She smiled at the handsome captain, then turned cold-faced toward Auror and Balian.

“These servants of the church can testify!” the Queen said.

Auror immediately recognized these men as the heretical merchants smuggling ‘Happy Water’—she had clashed with them yesterday, and one was even smirking at her.

As soon as the merchants stood still, they began crying out in protest, accusing Auror of harassing them to extort benefits.

Auror felt the world spin, but Balian caught her.

“I, as Hero Candidate, swear that Miss Auror speaks the truth! Your Highness Margaret.”

“Good!”

The Queen seemed delighted rather than angered, then called out:

“Since the Hero Candidate has spoken, let us summon the Goddess Incarnate, Saint Celestine!”

Auror: “?”

Saint Celestine, the Goddess Incarnate, was the nominal supreme religious leader of the kingdom.

Saint Celestine Cathedral was built by the Frank Kingdom to enshrine her.

The Goddess was the sole true deity worshipped in the Frank Kingdom, and Celestine was a high elf with the Goddess’s identical body and part of her soul, serving as the nominal religious head. Even Balian, the Goddess-chosen Hero Candidate, had to obey her.

Her appearance now was definitely the Queen’s doing.

The Queen often made offerings to the church and had a close personal relationship with the Pope who managed church administration.

That old hag really wants to kill me, huh? What did I do to her?

How am I supposed to handle this?

‘When the Goddess Incarnate asks how you entered the forbidden ground, just say you heard a divine revelation and instinctively responded. If she wants to test you, perform normally,’* the mysterious voice rushed to help again.

‘Will that work?’

‘Trust me. You are chosen.‘

‘Huh?’

Saint Celestine had emerald eyes, golden hair reaching her hips, pointed ears, and was particularly well-endowed.

She began her inquiry in an elegant, healing, and motherly voice, and Auror answered exactly as the mysterious voice had instructed.

After listening, Celestine looked serious. Ignoring the complaining Queen and the winking Pope, she approached Auror and murmured,

“Odd changes, even constants.”

“Signs depend on quadrants?”

Auror stared blankly as the Goddess Incarnate’s veiled, radiant back moved away from her. Celestine turned to the King and everyone, announcing solemnly,

“Chosen.”

“?” “?” “?” “?” “?” “?” “?” “?”