Chapter 55: The High Priest’s Wrath

Southern Ophelia of the Holy See.

The headquarters of the Creation Goddess Church—the Sanctuary.

A purple-haired man clad in silver knight armor hurried through the corridors, making his way toward a hidden courtyard at the Sanctuary’s center.

The moment he passed the courtyard’s perimeter barrier, it felt as if he had stepped into a realm of immortals.

Even after visiting several times, the purple-haired man couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

“As beautiful as ever.”

Before him lay a scene of breathtaking beauty, like a celestial garden—gorgeous and magnificent. The courtyard was encircled by ancient trees, lush and verdant, standing like unwavering guardians, exuding a solemn majesty. Nestled among the towering trees were clusters of vibrant flowers, swaying gently in the breeze, their delicate fragrances wafting through the air.

At the center of the courtyard lay a shimmering lake, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and surrounding scenery like a giant mirror. Spirit birds soared above the water, their wings glistening with iridescent hues as they danced gracefully…

The enchanting sight, combined with the abundant life force permeating the area, inevitably evoked comparisons to the legendary paradise where one could forget all worldly troubles.

Perhaps that was why this place was called the ‘Heavenly Garden,’ wasn’t it?

Of course,

the purple-haired man knew he hadn’t come here to admire the scenery.

Soon, his attention fixed on a pavilion not far away.

Inside, a man in a sacred robe sat quietly, holding a teacup, savoring the aroma of tea.

The man appeared to be in his sixties. Though his face bore the marks of age, it still exuded an undeniable authority. His brown hair, half-turned white by the passage of time, seemed to chronicle the countless storms he had weathered. Deep wrinkles etched his face, but his sharp eyes remained vibrant, as if they could see through everything.

His brow carried an imposing aura—the natural dignity of one who had long wielded power. His high nose bridge and deep-set eyes spoke of resilience and wisdom. Though his skin had lost its youthful luster, every wrinkle seemed to narrate his past glory and intelligence.

He wore a sacred robe embroidered with intricate, solemn religious symbols, each detail underscoring his exalted status. The pure white of the robe contrasted sharply with his brown hair, making him appear even more sacrosanct. Gold threads lined the edges, sparkling in the sunlight, adding an air of mysterious solemnity.

Despite his aged appearance, his upright posture, steady demeanor, and the barely concealed terrifying divine power around him all testified to his extraordinary strength.

Facing such an elder, the purple-haired man quickly approached the pavilion and knelt respectfully on one knee.

“Your subordinate, Obert, greets the High Priest.”

Indeed,

the elder sitting in the pavilion was none other than the leader of the Church faction among the Holy See’s three major sects—Baroye-Leostin.

After Obert paid his respects, Baroye cast a stern gaze upon him.

“Chief Inquisitor, why have you come to see me?”

“Your Holiness, the First Saint Princess Helibea of the capital has sent a letter to the Inquisition.”

“A letter from Helibea?”

“What does it say?”

“I have brought the letter. Please have a look.”

With that, Obert handed the letter bearing the royal crest to Baroye.

At the same time,

the Chief Inquisitor lowered his head, waiting nervously for the High Priest’s reaction.

Of course, Obert knew the letter’s contents—it concerned the destruction of the Roberitz family and the Power of the Dark Abyss.

The Third Saint Princess, who had stayed in the Sanctuary for so long, had actually been infected by the Power of the Dark Abyss?

Moreover, she had even managed to control some of the Calamity Beasts?

This was undoubtedly a massive scandal.

The Sanctuary was supposed to purify all evil, yet it had been deceived by Xiamiya for a whole year, ultimately allowing such a cursed person to return to the capital? This was a disgrace beyond measure.

His Holiness the High Priest was strict and serious, utterly intolerant of evil.

Once he learns this,

he will surely fly into a rage…

Thinking this, Obert grew more anxious.

And indeed,

as Baroye’s eyes scanned the letter, his calm expression gradually twisted with anger, and the fury continued to mount. Finally, the usually composed High Priest abruptly stood up from his chair.

“Xiamiya?! The Power of the Dark Abyss? Controlling Calamity Beasts to destroy the Roberitz family?”

As he muttered, Baroye suddenly crumpled the letter in his hand.

Terrifying holy power radiated outward, distorting the surrounding space and crashing down on Obert’s shoulders like a monstrous pressure, making even the Chief Inquisitor tremble.

Sure enough,

His Holiness is furious…

Taking a deep breath, Obert endured the oppressive aura of the High Priest and, trembling, pressed his hand to his chest, looking up at the elder before him.

As Chief Inquisitor, he intended to volunteer to lead troops to purge this heretic.

“Your Holiness, I am willing to—”

However,

before Obert could finish, Baroye’s words completely threw him off guard…

“Damn it!! That Helibea dares to slander our adorable little saint?! She’ll stoop to any means for the throne!!!”

“And she says our little Miya controlled Calamity Beasts to destroy the Roberitz family?! Nonsense! This is defiling the saint’s honor!!!”

“Our little Miya is so cute, so kind? She wouldn’t even hurt a chicken, so how could she destroy a family?”

“Beast! Helibea, to speak of your sister like that…”

…

“Huh? Eh?”

Seeing the High Priest like this, Obert stood dumbfounded, the words he was about to say swallowed back down.

Countless question marks bloomed in Obert’s mind.

Indeed,

His Holiness is angry.

But,

the target of that anger? And the reason for it? It seemed quite different from what he had expected.

He didn’t look like a priest enraged by the threat of Calamity Beasts, but rather like an old man furious that his granddaughter’s reputation had been besmirched.

Also,

Saint? Saint’s honor? What?

At that moment, Obert felt his brain wasn’t working properly.

Finally,

after a few seconds of stunned silence, Obert cautiously and fearfully looked at the High Priest, who was venting his anger by punching the pavilion into pieces.

“Um, Your Holiness, I don’t quite understand… Prince Xiamiya? Saint?”

“After me saying all that, you still don’t get it? Little Miya is the saint foretold in our church’s prophecy! The beloved of the Goddess of Creation. And that Helibea is slandering the saint!”

As he spoke,

Baroye clenched his fist tightly, the massive muscles on his arm bursting the sleeve.

“That girl… has gone too far!”

“Uh, this…”

Hearing this, Obert was at a loss for words.

After all,

in their eyes, Xiamiya was the infamous cursed child, the source of the Sabuyel tragedy. For such a being to suddenly transform into a saint?

Obert found it hard to accept this fact.

But just as he stood there in a daze,

Baroye, who had slightly calmed down, glared fiercely at Obert.

“Who else have you told this news to?”

“Ah?”

Startled, Obert snapped back to reality and quickly replied:

“I… I told a few adjutants to prepare a condemnation edict against Prince Xiamiya… Huh?!”

Before he could finish,

a furious shout interrupted him.

“Then go stop those fools of yours immediately!! Do you want our little saint’s reputation ruined?! You idiot!!”

As the words reached his ears, Obert saw the sole of Baroye’s foot rapidly growing larger in his vision.

The next instant,

the purple-haired man had no time to react. A sharp pain shot through him, and he flew backward like a kite with a snapped string. After tumbling thirty times in the air, he crashed heavily to the ground.

“Boom~”

A dull thud followed. Obert’s head was buried deep in the soil, sending up a cloud of dust.

The vibration startled the nearby birds into flight, plunging the courtyard into an eerie silence.

And so,

Obert ended up like a carrot—his head and upper torso buried in the earth, while his lower half remained above ground. Due to the immense impact, his body twitched slightly, looking utterly pathetic and helpless…