Chapter 91 : Mind Your Place

The thorns, having gorged on blood, pulsed with a dangerous red light.

Milly lowered her gaze, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes. This thing, which had tormented her so much, was now the one thing that stood between her and death.

Even after Stacy’s death, the remnants of her power continued to work. They wouldn’t last long, just enough to buy her some time. Tifna had easily cut the vines that bound Idis. Against the old man, who was much stronger than Tifna, they would be useless.

And he was cheating. His power was far beyond hers. If not for his sudden use of divine power, she would have killed him.

But her anger was useless.

The air in the sanctuary froze. No one expected the disarmed Milly to kill two inquisitors in an instant.

The blood-red thorns pulsed, slithering like snakes. The next moment, they wrapped around the silver carving knife on the floor.

As the knife was crushed, the thorns shot toward Oswell.

“Insolence!”

His scepter slammed the ground. A blinding holy light erupted. The thorns dissolved, the remaining pieces trying to bypass the light, but in vain. The moment they touched the holy light, they vanished into black smoke.

The thorn sigil on Milly’s collarbone faded quickly. The regenerating thorns tried to fight back, but they were instantly suppressed.

Until the sigil was completely dark. But Oswell didn’t stop. The holy light intensified, threatening to consume Milly entirely.

A red feather, seemingly from nowhere, drifted down and touched the scepter. The surging holy light dimmed.

What was happening?

Oswell’s sharp eyes scanned the area near Lillian. Before he could sense anything, the crimson in Lillian’s eyes faded. Lillian, as if waking from a dream, met Oswell’s scrutinizing gaze.

Hmm?

He dismissed it. She was the Saintess, chosen by the divine. She wouldn’t betray them. Someone else must have interfered. The Fell God’s remnants were more numerous than he thought.

But some things had to be done by the Saintess herself.

“Saintess, complete the purification.”

Her?

Lillian’s body trembled slightly. She couldn’t remember what had happened. From the moment she had entered the sanctuary, her memory was fuzzy.

She didn’t need to be told. She knew what had happened. The inquisitors had been turned against the purification by the demon.

She looked at Oswell. He must have realized this, which was why he was asking her to complete the ritual.

The purification ritual. In reality, it was just pouring holy water on Milly.

A nun handed her a silver pitcher filled with holy water. The liquid shimmered, emitting a faint golden glow.

This was holy water specifically brewed to purify demons.

Lillian’s fingers trembled as she held the pitcher. It was only holy water. She had done this countless times.

It was her duty as the human Saintess to purify the demons. There was nothing to hesitate about.

Her fingers unconsciously traced Milly’s neck, confirming nothing was there.

The skin was smooth and soft.

A sigh echoed in the air. Was it hers? No. Milly hadn’t made a sound.

Then who?

“Hold still. This will hurt a little.”

She spoke, but her words were for the onlookers. She couldn’t hesitate any longer.

The holy water poured down. The moment it touched Milly’s skin, white smoke billowed, accompanied by a chilling sizzling sound.

Milly bit her lip, but a scream of pain escaped her.

The skin around her collarbone turned red, blood seeping out, but the thorn sigil remained unaffected.

Even after the entire pitcher was emptied, the sigil was still there.

“It’s not enough. Take her to the Holy Water Pool.”

Lillian’s eyes widened. This wasn’t purification. This was torture.

“Your Holiness, the holy water is ineffective. We should try another method instead of…”

“Lillian, mind your place.”

As long as Milly didn’t reveal the grimoire’s location, she would be tortured until she did.

The moment Milly was submerged in the pool, the water began to boil.

She struggled, gasping for air. The last thing she saw was Lillian’s pale face and Oswell’s icy gaze.

Holy water poured into her eyes. The stinging heat blinded her. The world dissolved into darkness.

That night, Lillian sat alone at her vanity. Deep shadows hung under her eyes. Her clenched fists were pale.

The image of the girl submerged in the boiling water made her heart clench.

“I am the human Saintess,” she whispered to her reflection. “I shouldn’t pity a demon.”

She stood up. The mirror’s surface rippled. Her reflection didn’t follow. Instead, a familiar, wicked smile appeared.

And her violet eyes were slowly being consumed by crimson.

“You…”

Her throat seized up. She couldn’t speak. She could only watch her reflection raise a finger to her lips.

“Shh~”

At the dungeon door, two guards were dozing. A sudden chill made them jump.

“Stay alert.”

They saw Lillian approach. Relief washed over them.

“Your Holiness, what are you doing here so late?”

Lillian’s white robes gleamed in the torchlight. Her expression was frighteningly calm, crimson swirling in her eyes.

“His Holiness ordered it. No one is allowed to enter, not even the Saintess…”

“Move.”

The Saintess’s voice was cold, commanding. The guards tried to protest, but their knees buckled.

Before they could even speak, they fell silent.

The two guards at the door were dead.