Chapter 439: Openness and Conservatism (6K Subscription Request)

「……」

Under the silent gaze of the crowd, Chief Warden Charles squinted, motionless in thought.

He was deeply conflicted.

Should he let them in—or turn them away?

If he chose the latter, he had ample justification.

He was Chief Warden of Shengcheng, tasked with guarding its safety and eliminating all uncertain elements entirely.

This was Solanthis, the radiant holy city longed for by countless Sun worshippers.

This was the place closest to the mortal Sun God, a sacred ground untouchable by profanity.

In the past, even devout believers might be barred from staying long—or even entering—due to various reasons.

Now, were they to allow filthy Abyssal outsiders to enter?

The honor of Shengcheng could not bear even a single stain!

But if he chose the former, it… was also defensible.

These two Abyssal nuns truly showed remorse—could he abandon them?

The Sun God holds the authority of [Purification], and has always upheld the tradition of redeeming heretics.

Though in nearly all cases this meant complete physical purification, there were rare precedents of fallen ones converting.

If he could bring a Legendary-level fallen one back to the path, it would be a feat great enough to be recorded in the Holy Scripture, becoming one of the Church’s many legends.

Besides, their cooperative attitude was one factor; their own strength was another.

Although the Sun Church was confident in suppressing all enemies, no Legendary Stronghold should ever be underestimated.

They were extremely dangerous beings, capable of inflicting massive harm upon the world at a moment’s notice.

Since they had voluntarily shown goodwill, they ought to be treated with proper respect.

Added to this was a point others had overlooked: Herbert’s origins.

The Mist Monastery.

That was one of the few reclusive organizations the Sun Church took seriously, demanding cautious handling.

Though the Mist Monastery was obscure to the outside world—even many divine sects knew nothing of them—it seemed isolated, known only in a remote small kingdom.

But to those who truly understood, this peculiar monastery had always been a profound and mysterious organization.

The Mist Monastery had a Saint!

Even setting aside all others, just one Saint was enough to command universal respect.

No one would ever underestimate such a reclusive organization.

Even the Sun Church, famed for its arrogance, showed considerable respect when dealing with a Saint.

Otherwise, the earlier “polite request” for the monastery to provide battle armor would have become a “mandatory order from the Great Sun’s servant.”

Among all these reasons, the Mist Monastery’s importance ranked among the top three.

The truth was this: though the Grand Archbishop claimed the monastery would not endorse Herbert’s actions or offer aid, this was merely an unspoken understanding between the two.

The rest of the world knew nothing of their agreement.

As long as Herbert did not actively conceal his origins, outsiders would see him as representing the monastery’s will.

Even if he declared it, no one would believe him—they’d assume he had some hidden motive.

This was why many organizations instructed their members to lead by example and never lower their guard.

For in the outside world, a member did not merely represent personal reputation—they bore the organization’s name.

"...Sigh."

The Chief Warden was caught in a dilemma.

Beyond objective reasons, what troubled him most was Herbert’s demeanor.

He had shown considerable trust—and confidence.

The young “angel” before him made no effort to conceal his companion’s origins; he spoke the truth openly, with no concealment.

Why was he so certain?

Was he so sure Charles would allow their entry?

Just because of those “achievements”?

Charles pondered, hesitated, his resolve weakening.

He had only recently assumed the post of Chief Warden; his foundation was still unstable. He least wanted to face unexpected incidents.

Yet first he encountered the ancient legend of the “Lady of Confusion,” then this even rarer case: Abyssal cultivators requesting entry into Shengcheng.

That such rare events should fall to him—Charles didn’t know whether his luck was good or bad.

"...Huh?"

Suddenly, his eyes shifted, his furrowed brow slowly relaxed. Under everyone’s gaze, he exhaled gently, his entire posture easing.

Seeing this, all knew the Chief Warden had reached his decision.

What was it?

The Chief Warden nodded to Herbert—but said nothing. Instead, he turned to the waiting bishops and said gravely: “Gentlemen, what are your thoughts?”

Oh?

Herbert found this unexpected turn intriguing. He raised an eyebrow, sensing something beneath.

He remained silent, like an observer, waiting quietly for what came next.

Time to watch the show.

The first to respond was an elderly bishop clad in a lavish golden robe, his face stern and cold.

He rose first, speaking in a loud, authoritative voice: “Gentlemen, the Radiant Holy City is our Lord’s sacred domain, a symbol of light and purity!”

“We know little of the origins of these Abyssal impurities. The Abyss has always been a breeding ground for darkness and evil—they may carry Abyssal curses and dark energies.”

“And that dragon? A powerful, wild lower creature, steeped in grave sin—it will surely corrupt others.”

“Their power is uncontrollable. Once inside Shengcheng, they may shatter its peace!”

“In my view, such dangerous elements must not be allowed entry!”

The golden-robed bishop’s stance was firm, his protest blunt.

After he finished, Herbert keenly noticed at least half the room nodded in silent agreement.

These people held the same view—the golden-robed bishop was merely their representative.

Before Herbert could speak, another faction of bishops spoke up.

“Respected Bishop Collier, I understand your concerns, but we cannot reject them solely because of their origins.”

A female bishop in crimson robes stood, speaking calmly: “These two nuns, though born of the Abyss, did not choose their lineage.”

“The Abyss constantly torments them, yet they chose to defy fate and hold fast to their will.”

“Residing in darkness, yet yearning for light—is that not worthy of encouragement?”

“As for the dragon, we should welcome it—even forge a pact, turning its strength into a weapon against darkness.”

“Our Lord’s doctrine teaches tolerance and redemption. We must not turn away any companion.”

Compared to the fiery hardliners, Bishop Evelyn’s demeanor was neither humble nor haughty.

She merely laid out the pros and cons, stating her position plainly.

Immediately, Bishop Collier frowned and retorted: “Bishop Evelyn, you are too naive! Abyssal power is incalculable—how can you guarantee they are not Abyssal spies?”

“Letting them enter Shengcheng is like planting a seed of darkness in our garden!”

“And that dragon—you saw how dangerous it was! How long will a pact truly bind it? If it goes mad, Shengcheng will suffer great losses.”

His words were blunt—directly questioning Valentina’s integrity in Herbert’s presence.

Yet Herbert felt no anger. He found the scene fascinating.

He realized: this wasn’t truly aimed at him or his companions. It was a pretext to attack the other faction.

This… was factional strife?

Clearly, the Sun Church harbored different cliques, constantly vying for true dominance.

Herbert and his group were merely the trigger. Any other person or incident would serve the same purpose.

Sure enough, without Herbert speaking, Bishop Evelyn simply shook her head and replied: “Bishop Collier, is our faith so fragile?”

“If we dare not welcome nuns seeking light or a dragon, how can we demonstrate the greatness of the Sun God to the world?”

“We have countless clergy and powerful magical defenses—can we not supervise and guide these outsiders?”

“Or… have you lost your confidence?”

Thud!

“Supervise? Guide? Bishop Evelyn, wake up! You’re gambling with Shengcheng’s safety!”

Bishop Collier stomped his foot, voice rising sharply: “We cannot take this risk—not even a sliver of danger is acceptable!”

Thud!

Bishop Evelyn stepped forward, her face calm, but her eyes now burning with anger. She raised her voice too: “My lord, wake up yourself! No gain comes without risk!”

“If we remain closed off, Shengcheng will forever be confined here, unable to truly spread our Lord’s faith farther!”

“This is cowardice! It shames our Lord!”

Collier’s brow twisted in fury: “What did you say?”

Evelyn did not reply. She merely met his gaze calmly, silently declaring her stance.

Though only two appeared to be arguing, they represented the very essence of the Sun Church’s conservative and open factions.

Collier and his allies clung to the ancient Sun God doctrine: destroy all evil.

Meanwhile, Evelyn and her group hoped the doctrine could further evolve, eliminating evil while embracing new possibilities.

One side was conservative and radical; the other, open and inclusive.

Watching the two continue to argue, with tensions escalating, the bystander Herbert finally looked up at the Guard Captain.

Uh, why are you just standing there watching?

Aren’t you going to stop them?

“Cough!”

Finally, the Guard Captain cleared his throat, interrupting their quarrel, and said coolly, “Enough. Stop arguing.”

“I’ve already made my decision.”

The Guard Captain gave Herbert a slight nod and said calmly, “Herbert, I understand your request.”

“Since your servants have recognized their sins and are willing to atone, that is certainly commendable.”

“Our Lord is merciful; the Holy City will accept such lost sheep who have found their way back.”

“They may enter Solanthis.”

The Guard Captain, who had previously hesitated, now cut through the confusion with decisive action, leaving no time for others to object or interfere—he settled the matter outright.

Without explanation, he simply ignored the disbelieving stares of some, and if anyone opened their mouth to speak, he met them with a calm gaze.

The Guard Captain suppressed all dissent outright.

The matter was settled.

Who supports it? Who opposes it?

“...”

Under his overwhelming gaze, no one raised objections—not even the previously most adamant Bishop Collier lowered his head in silence.

Herbert scanned everyone’s reactions, then gave the Guard Captain a slight nod: “Thank you for your understanding and assistance.”

His words carried hidden meaning.

“Understanding” was straightforward—it meant gratitude for allowing Valentina and the others into the Holy City.

But “assistance,” on the surface, thanked the Guard Captain for standing against the crowd; in truth, it carried deeper intent—it thanked him for the subtle hint.

The Guard Captain had made his decision before seeking others’ opinions.

This act appeared democratic and fair, but was still an exercise of power.

Why go through this charade?

Was it just to prove how open-minded he was?

No.

The Guard Captain did this to make Herbert witness firsthand the faction within the Sun Church that was hostile toward them, so Herbert would remain vigilant.

He signaled the Sun Church’s internal stance—yes, you may enter, but do not lower your guard; some will harbor hostility toward you.

Be careful. Do not provoke trouble. Do not stir up unnecessary conflict.

At the same time, the Guard Captain made his own position clear—if Herbert truly clashed with Collier and the others, he would not intervene.

He would take no side. That was the Guard Captain’s meaning.

“You need not thank me.”

The Guard Captain shook his head slightly, refusing Herbert’s gratitude: “Rest for now. We’ll discuss anything further tomorrow.”

With that, he cast a long look at Herbert’s Angelic Battle Armor, then nodded to Evelyn: “Evelyn, guide Herbert to meet his companions, then lead them to their quarters.”

“Understood.”

Evelyn, expression calm, nodded to Herbert, turned, and walked toward the platform, then leapt directly off it—her body transforming midair into a colossal flame spirit, hurtling toward the city gate like a massive fireball.

It was hard to imagine that calm woman choosing such a violent mode of travel—but then again, she was a follower of the Sun God, so it made sense.

Herbert smiled and bowed to the crowd, then, with a flick of his blood wings, followed her effortlessly.

Compared to Evelyn’s spectacular flight, his movement was quiet and graceful, drawing glances from many residents.

“Phew… succeeded.”

In mid-flight, Herbert exhaled inwardly in relief.

Though outwardly calm and confident, he had been sweating inside.

While the Guard Captain was deliberating, Herbert had caught glimpses of his thoughts—leaning toward the conservative stance of banning Valentina and the others from entering.

Fortunately, at the last moment, the Guard Captain changed his mind; the outcome, though tense, had been smooth—he’d secured entry to the Holy City.

Whatever happened along the way didn’t matter—as long as the result was good.

Yet what intrigued Herbert was that, despite this outcome, neither Collier’s faction nor Evelyn’s group showed anger or joy.

Why?

Collier’s side had been overruled, yet showed no shame.

Likewise, Evelyn’s group, despite being supported, showed no excitement.

What was the reason behind this?

Carrying this question, Herbert followed Evelyn, who had been assigned to guide him, to meet Valentina and the others.

“Wait… there might be a plausible explanation…” A thought suddenly flashed through Herbert’s mind.

“If the Guard Captain is a senior figure of the conservative faction, then everything makes sense.”

Everyone has personal inclinations and preferences.

If the Guard Captain himself came from the conservative faction, then even if he rejected other conservatives’ opinions, they wouldn’t find it unacceptable.

Conversely, even if he endorsed the open faction’s views, they wouldn’t feel particularly honored.

“Then the question is—why did the Guard Captain change his mind at the last moment?”

Herbert narrowed his eyes, recalling every detail from earlier, and suddenly caught a subtle clue he’d missed.

Before making his decision, the Guard Captain’s ears had twitched slightly, and his body had instinctively shifted as if to turn.

He heard someone’s whisper!

Herbert thought this, and silently turned his head, gazing toward the tallest building in the Holy City.

“So… behind him… there’s someone else?”

…

As Herbert had deduced, the Guard Captain’s arrangement was not his true will.

The resolve to override all opposition didn’t come from the Guard Captain suddenly standing firm—it came from a calm, gentle voice he’d heard while hesitating.

“Let them in.”

It was the voice of the Sun Pope.

Though the Sun Pope had not appeared in person, he had been observing the situation closely all along.

It was only with the Pope’s approval that the Guard Captain ultimately decided to grant entry.

With the leader’s backing, even if trouble arose, he bore no responsibility!

“Mistral Monastery… Herbert…”

The Guard Captain dismissed the other bishops and stood alone in the hall, pondering: “Why does the Pope hold them in such high regard? Why permit them into the Holy City?”

Charles pondered for a while, then sighed helplessly and shook his head.

“I hope no more incidents arise—one ‘Lost Lady’ is already enough to give me headaches…”

Compared to Herbert and the monastery guests, the Lost Lady’s matter troubled him more.

The Guard Captain had not deliberately mentioned the Lost Lady to Herbert.

That was perfectly normal.

The Lost Lady could be seen by only a tiny fraction of devout priests under rare circumstances; Herbert did not meet that criterion.

Moreover, this was purely the Sun Church’s internal affair—no need to inform an outsider like Herbert.

He truly didn’t believe Herbert had any connection to the Lost Lady.

“They probably won’t have any connection, right?”

“...Hmm, probably not.”

The Guard Captain thought for a moment, then chuckled self-deprecatingly: “What am I even thinking?”

“How could such a thing happen?”

“Hahaha!”

…

“Nenasha, did you notice?”

Herbert tried to communicate with Miss Harmony, but received no response.

This time, Nenasha wasn’t pretending to be dead—she was actively hiding.

This was the Sun God’s earthly stronghold; every movement here was observed by Him.

Since Herbert entered the Radiant Holy City, Nenasha had completely sealed herself off—no matter how much he called, she didn’t respond.

Don’t disturb. Offline. Leave a message.

Herbert remembered this, and couldn’t help teasing inwardly: “Oh? Aren’t you fearless? Why so cautious now?”

Oh, isn’t this Nenasha?

Where’s your usual hairstyle? Why aren’t you standing up anymore?

Look at you now!

After Herbert mocked her for a while, a sudden chill ran down his back—he snapped fully alert.

Shit!

Somewhere in the distance, he seemed to hear a disgruntled smack of the tongue.

【“……Tsk!”】

Miss Xie Shen silently expressed her displeasure—Don’t get too carried away, kid!

“Cough, cough, nothing. I didn’t say anything, hmm.”

While Herbert and Nienasha communicated mentally, an unexpected change was quietly brewing.

At that same moment, in another corner of Shengcheng, the phantom figure that had long ignored the outside world came to a halt.

The wandering, bewildered Lady slowly turned her head, her vague, indistinct face silently gazing in one direction.

“...Hm?”

In the grand gate of Guanghui Shengcheng.

The bored dragon maid’s eyes flickered as she spotted Herbert flying toward her; her large eyes suddenly brightened.

“Herbert!”

She didn’t care at all about her terrifying image as the “Crimson Dragon” among some.

What image?

Is it tasty?

Valentina bounced in place, waving excitedly at Herbert, utterly like a carefree little girl.

“Hurry! Hurry! Hurry... Huh?!”

Just before Herbert arrived, Valentina’s expression froze; her pupils shrank instantly as she whirled her head toward the side.

!!?

Her instinctive intuition, long dormant, sensed a great threat—a faint, cold gaze.

But when she focused hard, she felt nothing at all.

“...Was it an illusion?”

(End of Chapter)