Chapter 229: Sacred Art of the Saintess..



“I-I mean, it’s not like that! I just need to perform a purification spell, and your clothes, u- um… b-because they might get in the way!?”

Emilia’s voice was trembling as she stammered out the explanation.

Her cheeks flushed, and she couldn’t meet my eyes, her nervousness radiating off her in waves.

As I stood there, trying to process the absurdity of her request, my mind momentarily blanked.

I searched through my memories, trying to recall if there was ever any mention of a purification ritual that involved… stripping.

Nothing came to mind.

In the game, wasn’t it as simple as standing in the center of the circle and basking in the light for a few minutes?

I distinctly remembered Lucas going through this exact same ritual as well, and I definitely didn’t recall him having to take off his clothes.

Was this a different spell?

No, judging from the intricate designs carved into the glowing magic circle on the floor, it was clear she was preparing to use [Luminous Cleanse], the same sacred spell.

It was unmistakable.

A divine purification ritual, designed to cleanse darkness and evil from a person’s soul.

But even so, why would I need to remove my clothes?

I glanced at Emilia, her face still flushed with embarrassment, her eyes darting around the room as though she were second-guessing her own request.

Her uncertainty was certain.

She wasn’t even sure if this was necessary, was she?

There was doubt in her expression. Was this the first time she was performing the spell on someone?

No, that couldn’t be right.

As the Saintess of the Holy Church of Light, she’d have performed this purification ritual countless times already, especially considering her role as a glorified inquisitor for the church.

She had probably conducted this spell more than a hundred times, cleansing heretics or those touched by darkness.

“S-Senior, I know it sounds absurd, b-but it’s for your own safety, so… uh, what I mean is that, um, please j-just don’t question it for now….”

Emilia’s voice wavered, and she quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks flushed a soft pink as she stumbled through her explanation.

I couldn’t help but sigh, watching her cute and flustered reaction.

She wasn’t exactly a master of deception-her awkwardness made that clear.

There was no malice or ill intent behind her words, just a genuine, albeit clumsy, concern for my well-being.

Knowing Emilia, her request might not even have any solid reasoning behind it. She was just the type to say things impulsively when she got nervous.

“Alright,” I said, suppressing a small smile as I glanced at the glowing magic circle on the floor. “How much should I take off?”

Her eyes widened in shock, and she looked up at me, blinking rapidly. “Y-you’ll do it?”

I shrugged, giving her a reassuring nod. “Yeah. You don’t seem like the type to harm someone, junior, and you certainly don’t strike me as someone who’d take advantage of the situation.”

Emilia blinked, her mouth opening and closing as if she were searching for the right words. The blush on her cheeks deepened, and I could tell she was flustered by how easily I’d agreed. I continued, trying to put her at ease.

“Judging from the magic circle you’ve placed here; it looks like you’re using some kind of divine magic. And I don’t think people of the clergy would use the power of divinity to cause harm.”

“S-So you realized I’m connected to the church….”

I smiled lightly. “Well, it isn’t that hard to put two and two together.”

Even if I didn’t have knowledge from the game, distinguishing between mana, aura, and divinity was fairly simple.

Mana was loose and free-flowing, aura was dense and oppressive, but divinity carried a different presence altogether-it felt warm, pure, and almost sacred, usually accompanied by a faint holy light.

The divine magic in the room, even now, had an unmistakable glow that set it apart from any other form of energy.

Emilia nodded, fidgeting with her fingers nervously. “I-It’s true… I’m using a holy spell. A very powerful one… And the reason I asked you to, um, take off your clothes is because…” she trailed off, her voice dropping to a whisper “I didn’t want the mana inside you to interfere with the ritual’s effects, I-I won’t lie to you, Senior… the spell isn’t exactly in its 100 percent state right now,” she admitted, glancing nervously at the glowing magic circle. “But that doesn’t mean it’s incomplete. Its intended effects can still be achieved, if you get what I mean…”

I nodded, trying to put her at ease. “I see.”

Her gaze flickered back to me, and I could see the anxiety in her eyes.

“B-But aren’t you going to question me, Senior?”

She was clearly worried.

I could tell she expected me to dig deeper, maybe even to confront her about the hidden aspects of her identity.

After all, it wasn’t every day someone used divine magic in a private room, especially when their background seemed so ordinary.

Her connection to the Holy Church was becoming harder to hide, and it was only a matter of time before I fully uncovered her true ide

well.

I mean a young woman clearly capable of handling high level divine ritual magic with almost zero repercussions, in such a short amount of time, despite the fact that such high-level divine magic requires a couple dozen paladins and priests to perform… it was clear as day of

who she could possibly be in the holy see.

I sighed, not wanting to put her on the spot.

“I won’t lie and say I’m not curious, but you must have your reasons for keeping certain things a secret.” I paused, watching her expression closely. “Like I said earlier, I don’t think you mean me any harm. Although I’m not well-versed in the holy arts, I can tell this spell you’re using is one of purification, and I don’t think you’d purify me without good reason. You must’ve noticed something within me earlier-something dark or dangerous enough to make a move like this. A curse, perhaps?”

Her reaction was immediate-her wide-open eyes showed genuine astonishment.

The embarrassment that had painted her cheeks moments ago faded, replaced by a look of

sheer disbelief.

It was as if I had just hit the nail on the head, much to her surprise.

“Y-Yes…” she stammered, nodding, her voice softer now, as though the admission was

difficult for her.

“Were you perhaps aware that you were cursed, Senior?”

Emilia asked, her eyes wide with curiosity as she studied my reaction.

“Not exactly… but I could just tell?”

She laughed lightly, the sound brightening the tension in the room.

“Fufu- That’s exactly the same thing, Senior.”

It was nice to see her mood lift, and the warmth in her gaze made the air feel lighter.

She stepped closer, her expression turning earnest as she met my gaze.

“Hehe… I guess I can’t lie to you now, can I, Senior? Just as you’ve suspected, I’m a clergy member of the Holy Church of Light. You might be wondering what my position is and who I truly am… but for your own safety, can you please forget about this matter after everything is

over?”

“Don’t worry, my lips are sealed,”

“Then I’ll take your word for it, Senior…”

She walked closer, her eyes shimmering faintly with divine energy, as if reflecting the power

that was about to envelop us.

“Just as you’ve deduced, I’m here to clear the darkness lingering within you. You might not feel its intended effects right now, but you are cursed… extremely cursed, Senior. To the point that I can’t even fathom who could put such a wicked curse on you.”

“Do you know what type of curse it is?”

Emilia shook her head, her expression grave.

“Unfortunately, no… Although I can tell it’s a curse, any details beyond that remain a mystery to me. In all honesty, I’m actually surprised you’re still alive, Senior. Right now, clashing within your very soul are two forces of darkness, both wanting to claim the light within you…”

“Are you saying there are two curses within me?”

“Yes and no. There are indeed two forces of darkness, but one is merely an influence while the

other is the curse itself.”

“I see…”

Could these two forces be Liyana and Erebil?

Erebil’s attempts to mark her influence within me through blessings made sense, considering

the power she wielded.

It was entirely plausible that the lingering darkness was a remnant of her intentions.

And as for the curse It’s pretty obvious it has something to do with Liyana…

Emilia stepped closer, her focus intensifying.

She placed a hand gently on my chest, her touch warm and reassuring, as if trying to establish

a deeper connection.

“Let me see if I can sense anything more,”

Her fingers traced a path from my chest down to my stomach, and I could feel the energy

humming between us.

The light from the magic circle flickered around us, casting ethereal shadows as she

concentrated.

“The darkness within you doesn’t seem to respond to my divinity, Senior,” Emilia explained,

her voice steady but tinged with urgency.

“Which means it isn’t parasitic in nature. That’s a relief, as parasitic curses tend to reject purification rituals. Anyway, we should hurry and cleanse you now. Please stand at the center of the circle and… p-please take off your clothes. Y-Your top will suffice…”

The words hung in the air, and I noticed her cheeks flush a deep crimson as she averted her

gaze.

Nodding at her request, I slowly approached the center of the magic circle.

As I stepped onto the intricate design, I felt the energy emanating from it start to seep into

my skin.

It was an oddly comforting sensation, one that wrapped around me like a warm embrace. Despite clearly being on the floor, I had the strange feeling of floating, as if the circle was lifting me off the ground, a gentle warmth radiating through my entire body. Taking off the coat I was wearing, I tossed it aside, glancing at Emilia for reassurance.

She nodded, her eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and embarrassment, giving me the unspoken permission to proceed.

I then began unbuttoning my shirt, each button releasing a bit of tension that had been

building inside the warmth in me.

As the fabric fell away, I could feel the light within the circle intensifying, the glow becoming

almost blinding.

Suddenly, I noticed the light deepening and brightening in a way that felt heavy, as if a weight settled on me that wasn’t really there.

It was a strange paradox-light and weightlessness all at once.

My heart thudded in my chest as I took off the last of my shirt, exposing my torso to the air.

When I looked at Emilia, I found her staring blankly at me, her expression a mixture of awe

and shock.

“Enna,”

I called her name, my voice echoing slightly.

She didn’t seem to hear me at first, lost in her own thoughts, her face as red as an apple, a

vivid contrast against the ethereal glow of the magic circle.

“Enna!”

I raised my voice a little more urgently, noticing the way she squinted, scrambling as if a child

caught doing something mischievous.

“Y-Yes, Senior!?” she stuttered, finally acknowledging me, her eyes wide with surprise.

“What should I do next?”

“U-Uhm… stay there for now. I-I’m going to activate the spell…” she replied, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to gather herself.

I nodded, remaining still as I watched her intently.

Suddenly, she walked closer, her hand raised as she concentrated, her brow furrowing in

determination.

I could see the light within the circle flickering, swirling with renewed intensity as she

focused her energy.

And as she did so, the vibrant glow returned to its normal hue, bathing us in a gentle warmth that felt soothing against the tension of the moment.

The oppressive weight I had felt earlier lifted, replaced by a sense of calm.

“I-It seems the spell is activating properly, Senior…” she stammered, her voice regaining a

touch of confidence. “We should proceed to the second phase now…”

“Second phase?” I asked, curiosity piqued. I distinctly recalled there being no mention of a

second phase in the game.

She nodded nervously, glancing up at me as if gauging my reaction. “Yes… but it’s a bit different from what you might expect. I’ll need to enter the circle as well.”

Before I could process her words fully, she stepped into the circle, drawing closer until we were just a few inches apart.

I could feel the warmth radiating from her, a comforting contrast to the intensity of the ritual surrounding us. “I-I told you that the spell isn’t in a hundred percent state right now, Senior…” Emilia gasped, her voice a mix of urgency and anxiety. Her hands found their way to my chest, her touch surprisingly soft, but I could feel them trembling slightly. “T-That’s why… I have to directly intervene with the flow of divinity inside you for your own safety… Until the spell is

done, I-I can’t let go of you.”

“Is that so?”

“Your body is so hard…”

“Did you say something?”

“N-Nothing a-anyways… Y-You have to hold onto me as well, Senior…”

“Why?”

“You need to release your mana onto me in order for my divinity to have space inside you…”

she explained, her gaze steady yet vulnerable.

There was a sincerity in her eyes that made me want to trust her, despite the increasingly

bizarre nature of the situation.

But….

Is that really necessary?

My mind raced with doubts, wondering if this was truly the same spell I’d encountered in the

game.

Still, considering all her reasoning and the urgency in her tone, I found myself inclined to trust her for now.

“Once I release my divinity within you, the spell will work its magic, S-Senior, so time it with

me and release your mana inside me as well,” Emilia instructed, her voice trembling with a

mix of excitement and nerves.

“Okay…”

“One, two, three, go…”

Her countdown resonated through the charged atmosphere, and with that, light surged from

her arms.

It expanded like a radiant wave, enveloping me in warmth as I felt her energy gush over me.

The magic circle brightened, filling the room with a blinding luminescence that felt almost

alive.

But since it was my first time transferring mana directly to another person, I had no idea how

much to give.

“Is this enough?” I asked, trying to gauge her reaction. “Ah-Ahng~… S-Senior, please be gentle! Ah! Ngh~!” “E-Enna…?” I stammered, confusion gripping me as her body flexed and convulsed.

‘Why the hell is she moaning?’

She pressed her head against my chest, arcing her body slightly as if struggling to maintain

her balance.

“Hngh~! S-Senior, y-you’re being too rough-! P-please go a little more slowly! Ah-!” she gasped, the sound of her voice twisting into something softer, more intimate, the deep blush

on her face along with the slight tears on her eyes as she looked at me didn’t help with the

situation at all….

…

Back outside Emilia’s door…

Anna and Amon exchanged nervous glances, their skin crawling with an unsettling sensation

that neither of them had ever experienced before.

The goosebumps on their arms were almost painful, as though an invisible force was pressing

down on them, suffocating the air around them.

The two looked at each other in silent fear, but before they could utter a word, a figure appeared right at the center of the door.

A woman—or at least, something that resembled one-stood there, cloaked entirely in

darkness.

The blackness wrapped around her like a solid veil, concealing every detail of her form except

for a pair of vertical eyes glowing eerily from within the shadows.

The creature exuded an energy so terrifying, so suffocating, that it felt like a cold hand had

wrapped around their throats, squeezing tighter with every second. Neither Anna nor Amon could move.

They were frozen in place, as if their bodies no longer belonged to them.

Every instinct screamed at them to run, to flee from the overwhelming presence, but they couldn’t lift a finger.

It was as if the very air had turned to stone, trapping them in place with no escape.

Their hearts hammered in their chests, beating faster and faster as the oppressive energy grew heavier.

It felt like they were standing at the edge of an abyss, staring into the face of annihilation

itself.

The cold grip of fear tightened around their hearts, and they both felt, with sinking dread,

that this was the end.

The entity before them emanated nothing but destruction.

But then, something changed.

Despite the overwhelming threat, despite the suffocating aura, Anna noticed that the

creature’s gaze wasn’t focused on them-it was fixed firmly on the door, where Emilia, the Saintess, was.

A flicker of hope ignited in Anna’s chest.

If this thing was here for Emilia, then she couldn’t afford to let it harm her… Gritting her teeth and fighting against the crippling fear, Anna tried to speak, her voice barely

a whisper.

“W-Who…?”

But before she could finish, the dark figure vanished-gone as suddenly as it had appeared.

The oppressive energy, the bone-chilling bloodlust, the suffocating darkness-all of it

disappeared in an instant.

All they saw was a flash of white, a bright light that blinked out of existence as quickly as it

had

come.

Huff…! Huff…!

Free from the paralyzing fear, the two siblings collapsed to the floor, their chests heaving as they gasped for air. Sweat dripped from their brows, their limbs trembling from the aftershocks of terror.

The only thing left that might prove the sudden creature’s existence was the broken red

crystal of where it once stood, the very same red crystal that Anna bought…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep