Chapter 16: The False Saintess’s Trial

A testing… stone?!

The students watched as Church personnel carried a brilliant, golden crystal onto the stage. A wave of murmurs immediately rippled through the crowd.

The reason for their agitation was simple. To them, that crystal was the equivalent of a final exam paper.

And what student wouldn’t panic at the sight of their finals?

This golden crystal was known as the Holy Light Level Testing Stone. As its name implied, it was used to measure a person’s Holy Light level.

For the students of the magic academy, Holy Light level was, in a sense, akin to a mana bar or magical reserve in a game. A higher level meant more abundant magic and mastery of higher-tier spells. A lower level meant the opposite.

Therefore, this single metric was the most direct representation of their strength. While a simple comparison of levels became less meaningful between two high-level individuals, that was not the case here.

For the students of the magic academy, whose levels ranged from single digits to the low teens, this number was of monumental importance.

Their noble parents might not understand which spells were powerful and which were mere parlor tricks, but they certainly understood the number representing one’s Holy Light level.

So…

For the students, wasn’t this stone just like a final exam paper being presented at a parent-teacher conference?

The mere sight of it triggered a kind of PTSD in many. They grumbled, wondering if the school was planning another campus-wide assessment. Some students, trembling, were already contemplating an escape, ready to feign illness and slip away.

But…

The bishop’s next words instantly eased their furrowed brows.

“Heh. I imagine many of you are unaware that as the Saintess, Vivian has received the blessings of the gods. She possesses an innate and abundant reserve of Holy Light. Or perhaps… many of you have heard the rumors but remain skeptical. Well then, seeing is believing! Let us take this opportunity for Vivian to use the testing stone and demonstrate her divine Holy Light level!”

“Yes!”

Upon hearing the bishop’s command, Vivian showed no surprise. She eagerly hurried to the stone, expertly placing her hand upon it and channeling her magic—!

In an instant, the stone began to radiate a dazzling light. The entire student body held its breath, none of them having ever witnessed such a powerful reaction from the stone before. Could it be…?

[Holy Light Level—LV 45!]

Level forty-five!!!!

“No way! Am I seeing things? Is that really level forty-five?!”

“My gods… is this the power of a Saintess chosen by the divine? A level I’ll never reach in my entire life, and she’s achieved it at such a young age…”

“Ah! I admire Lady Vivian so much! So young, so cute, and yet so powerful! She’s the beautiful girl of my dreams!”

“Who would dare be Lady Vivian’s teacher now? There’s nothing to teach her. It’s terrifying.”

“And she’s so gentle and adorable! Help, how do I even try to court her? Seeking advice online, urgently!”

“Ehehe~”

Seeing the level appear on the stone, Vivian released her hand. She gave a faint, triumphant smile and stepped back to Bishop Kitav’s side.

Kitav nodded in satisfaction, pleased that everything was proceeding smoothly. After a moment, a cold smirk touched his lips, and his gaze began to wander through the crowd once more… until it finally landed on Allyrose.

?

Beside Allyrose, Luo Jia blinked. He sensed something was amiss and was just about to warn her when Kitav spoke first, his voice booming across the assembly.

“And now… for the sake of comparison, might we invite our former false Saintess, my dear goddaughter Allyrose, to come up and also have her Holy Light level tested? Hmph… I trust Miss Allyrose will not refuse. After all, in my view, you have a duty and an obligation to validate our new Saintess.”

…

The moment he finished, a dead silence fell over the grounds.

Most students had been trying to avoid the awkwardness by simply ignoring Allyrose’s existence.

They pretended she had never been their Saintess, that she had never even existed. Only then could they feel at ease, could they worship the new Saintess, Vivian, with clear consciences.

But now…

The absolute authority of the Church, Bishop Kitav himself, had publicly acknowledged her.

The students’ minds blanked.

They hesitated, stammering, unsure of what to say.

Finally, the crowd could hold back no longer, and whispers erupted once more.

“What in the world…? What’s he trying to do? Hasn’t Allyrose already been deposed?”

“Is this a public execution? Heh, it makes sense, though. She did occupy the Saintess’s position for so many years…”

“I’m all for it! A beautiful flower needs green leaves as a backdrop. How else can they highlight Lady Vivian’s divinity without a comparison?”

“That Allyrose girl is in for it now, haha. Stripped of her title, and now she has to perform a handover in front of everyone. How humiliating!”

“It was never hers to begin with. What’s wrong with paying a price? I’ve disliked her for ages. This is satisfying to watch.”

“Look at her. I bet she won’t dare go up. She’s just going to hide like a coward.”

…

Listening to the jeers and whispers of schadenfreude, Allyrose merely blinked. On the stage, Kitav watched her with a cold sneer, certain she wouldn’t dare to step forward.

After all, to be made a public foil for Vivian, to admit her failure in front of so many students—it was a fate far too cruel for the girl who had once tried so desperately to be a good Saintess.

But that was precisely what they wanted. If Allyrose refused, if she cowered, then the impression of a kind, gracious new Saintess and a petty, jealous predecessor would be cemented in the minds of the entire student body.

No matter how much prestige and honor Allyrose had accumulated before, it would all be wiped clean in this single moment. People would only remember a clown who was too afraid to take the stage.

In other words… not going up was already a loss.

And so…

“Of course, Your Excellency.”

Suddenly, Allyrose nodded toward the stage. Then, to the astonishment of the crowd, she began to walk forward with an effortless grace, ascending the steps with perfect composure.