Chapter 85: I Trust Her (44 Extra Chapters)

"Chief Justice, Knight Commander…"

Herbert turned around and silently bowed toward the two retreating figures.

When the two merely waited outside the Third Precept Hall instead of rushing in to arrest him, Herbert had already vaguely guessed their meaning.

The Archbishop's attitude was still unclear, but those two were certainly willing to trust him.

Even though they hadn't spent much time together, they were still willing to give him their trust.

Herbert's heart was actually a little stirred.

Especially after the betrayals and doubts he had once suffered, this trust was all the more moving.

But at the same time, Herbert felt unworthy of that trust.

Because he really was a sacrilegious, fallen, improper Holy Knight.

You've trusted the wrong person—

"You don't need to thank them; that's merely what they ought to do."

"The strong are naturally meant to protect the weak."

The Warden looked at the thoughtful Herbert and said softly, "Alright, you don't need to be nervous. The old fellow won't do anything to you. Just answer his questions honestly."

"As long as you yourself have no problems, he won't target you."

Bishop Ash gently pushed the door, and the massive stone gate slowly revealed a gap wide enough for one person to pass through, exposing the sacred space behind it.

"Go on."

Herbert nodded silently, hummed an acknowledgment, and set off forward.

"Understood."

The innocent are innocent of themselves.

That's what they say, sure.

But the problem is, I really do have problems.

I'm not clean!

Carrying such helpless complaints in his heart, Herbert walked alone into the Sealed Cathedral, and the stone door behind him slowly closed.

Click.

"Hah…"

After entering, Herbert stopped his steps, let out a long breath, and the emotion in his eyes gradually faded, finally settling into calm.

He walked slowly through the cathedral and soon saw the old man sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed.

"Your Grace the Archbishop."

The white-bearded old man slowly opened his eyes, nodded, and said softly, "…Sit down."

"Yes."

In the silent, soundless cathedral, the two sat facing each other in calm.

Herbert now appeared extraordinarily calm—neither afraid nor stirred.

No matter what, since he had already come this far, there was no possibility of turning back.

Herbert gazed quietly at the Archbishop, looking at this old man in a coarse hemp robe dressed like any ordinary elder.

The highest combat power of the entire monastery, an existence called a saint walking among mortals.

Before such an existence, clumsy pretense had no meaning at all; better to lay bare one's own thoughts openly and without evasion.

He was very curious—just how strong was this existence?

Herbert observed the Archbishop, and the Archbishop was also silently watching him.

But it wasn't merely surface observation; those deep, calm eyes seemed to see through everything, dissecting his soul through skin, flesh, and bone.

Giving him the feeling of being seen through completely, inside and out.

"…"

In the end, the Archbishop's gaze finally came to rest on the back of Herbert's hand.

!

Just as Herbert thought the Archbishop had seen something, the old man spoke.

He asked:

"How do you feel about life in the monastery?"

Herbert narrowed his eyes, somewhat unable to grasp the Archbishop's meaning.

Making small talk at a time like this?

"…Fairly adapted."

"Mm, you do look quite well-adapted."

The Archbishop nodded and said with a kindly expression, "A dragon's trust, a sea demon's lingering attachment, a vampire's goodwill, a dark elf's curiosity, a devil's hidden grievance… in just a few short days, so much karma has been left upon you."

!!!

This time Herbert was truly shocked, feeling as transparent as if even his underwear had been seen through.

Speak!

Did you plant surveillance on me?

"You…"

"Child, don't panic. I don't mean to rebuke you. On the contrary, you've done far better than I expected."

The Archbishop waved his hand and asked amiably, "In your eyes, what kind of heretic is the Berserker?"

"The Berserker…"

Herbert suppressed the agitation in his heart and said in a low voice, "No, Valentina—she really is dangerous, powerful and uncontrollable—but she isn't particularly evil. She likes fighting but doesn't like killing."

He had thought he'd still need to give a few examples of getting along with Valentina to prove these points, but who would have known the Archbishop actually nodded in agreement at this moment and said:

"Mm, I saw it when I met that child. She is indeed a bit slow in wisdom, and doesn't have much experience dealing with others, but her nature isn't bad. With a little proper guidance, she can walk the right path."

"So, I didn't destroy her on the spot, but brought her back to the monastery for suppression."

"It's just that the personality she showed was a bit too violent. Your previous wardens only saw the viciousness, but none of them noticed the goodness in her nature."

"Child, the fact that you noticed this point makes me very satisfied."

?

Hmm?

Herbert was a bit dumbfounded.

These words didn't sound wrong.

The Archbishop's remarks could be called quite open-minded, almost the opposite of the monastery's doctrine of being irreconcilable with other races as he remembered.

But should such words really come from you, the head of this monastery?

Is there a problem with me? Or is there a problem with you?

The Archbishop looked at the youth whose expression was gradually growing strange, laughed, and asked: "Do you trust her?"

"I trust her."

Herbert's answer was firm, without any hesitation.

"Even though she is a heretic?"

"Even though she is of another race."

Herbert looked straight into the Archbishop's eyes and said firmly: "This trust has nothing to do with race or anything else."

"Valentina chose to trust me without reservation, so I trust her without reservation."

"I am unwilling and will not betray her trust."

The Archbishop stared at Herbert silently for a moment, laughed helplessly and nodded, then turned his head to look at the center of the cathedral and asked:

"Child, do you know what that is?"

What?

Is there something there?

Herbert turned his head in confusion following his gaze, and his eyes suddenly widened. He saw something that had definitely not been there a moment ago.

In the center of the cathedral, a half-human-tall stone statue of a girl had appeared out of thin air!

And, what made Herbert's heart tremble most was...

He felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity from that stone statue.

Familiarity!!?

Gulp.

He felt his throat was a bit dry and hoarse, and said with difficulty: "What is that..."

The Archbishop seemed not to have noticed his abnormality, his attention remaining on the stone statue.

"Its formal name is 【Blasphemous Prayer Statue】. This is a Saint-level sealed object, and also the most powerful sealed object in the entire Mist Monastery."

"At the same time, a long, long time ago, it had another name..."

The Archbishop looked at the stone statue, countless ancient scenes flashing through his eyes, shook his head, and said softly:

"【The Death of the Saint Nie Nasha】."

!!!

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(End of this chapter)