Chapter 87: 【The Saint Nie Nasha】(15)

As everyone knows, in this world, there are two kinds of moves that are the hardest to defend against.

One is the slow-fast blade, the other is the zero-frame opener.

The Archbishop's words just now were textbook-level slow-fast blade.

A pile of irrelevant buildup up front, then suddenly a zero-frame opener straight into a big move.

Can't defend against it, can't defend against it at all.

This time he really let his guard down.

Because Herbert didn't guard against it at all!

When Nie Nasha first introduced her name, she had sworn up and down that this name would absolutely never draw anyone's attention, which made Herbert subconsciously overlook the possibility that others might know it too.

So, with not a shred of guard up before the Archbishop spoke, Herbert was genuinely startled, and the changes on his face were quite a sight.

???

"The Saint... Nie Nasha!?"

A Saint, no less?

Are you Joan of Arc? Black Jeanne? Or White Jeanne?

Herbert narrowed his eyes, gazing at the stone statue whose features he could not make out, feeling his heart pound uncontrollably at this moment.

Thump, thump, thump.

There was a kind of thrill like suddenly meeting an online friend in person.

Doxxing time!

Memelord-chan, is that you?

Is this your real bare face after turning off the beauty filter?

Your complexion isn't great, stiff as stone, all bumpy and rough, not at all smooth and round.

So, this thing actually ought to have another name—the Statue of the Memelord!

"... Hiss."

But even though Herbert had tried his best to let his mind wander to distract himself, he still could not suppress the shock in his heart.

No.

This sudden?... Nobody told me we'd just jump straight into the final boss fight!

However, just as Herbert was strongly feeling that things were about to go wrong, the Archbishop beside him calmly soothed him: "Don't worry, this is normal."

The Archbishop did not think Herbert's panic was any problem—in fact, this reaction fit right in with his expectations.

"Right now you are still too weak; merely gazing upon It will affect you, but it's fine—as long as I am here, you will not lose control."

"I will not let It harm anyone."

The Archbishop's voice was gentle and kind, his whole person appearing peaceful the entire time; one simply could not sense any threat from him at all—he was entirely like a kindly old man.

But a kindly old man alone cannot suppress those violent monster girls.

Herbert took a deep breath, doing his best to suppress the panic on the surface, his spirit growing more taut, and asked in a low voice: "You just said 'Saint'? Why have I never heard of such a Saint?"

Out of caution (professional habit), and in order to reasonably avoid risk (find loopholes), Herbert had, in the first three nights after his memories awakened, flipped through every scripture on hand that he could get his hands on.

He had committed all the various rules and regulations and historical allusions to memory.

But even after combing through these scriptures great and small, he had not seen a single clue related to the name "Nie Nasha."

Not in a single one!

He had even roughly familiarized himself with some scriptures from other churches of the gods, and still had no impression of "Saint Nie Nasha."

Wait.

Herbert narrowed his eyes; he thought of another explanation.

Besides the possibility that Nie Nasha had simply never existed, there remained another possibility—someone had deliberately erased this name from history.

And just as he thought of this, the Archbishop also began his narration.

"In this world, apart from some ancient deities, I fear there are hardly a few people left who still remember her."

"Even those who know probably only remember Her current revered name."

The Archbishop gently waved his hand, and a thick, archaic-looking tome floated before him, flipping through its own pages with a rustling sound.

He squinted at the fine, ever-changing text upon it, and in a kindly tone like an old man telling a story by the fireside to children, slowly said:

"A long, long time ago, when the afterglow of the Dragon Era had just faded, when the faith of the gods had not yet fully risen to rule the heavens, when the ancient gods were gradually awakening... a powerful one appeared in the mortal world."

"No one knew her origins, nor where she came from; she seemed to have suddenly popped into existence in the world, and all anyone knew was that she was a beautiful woman possessing great strength and a compassionate heart."

"That powerful one called herself 【Nie Nasha】."

"She was mighty—fighting evil, saving the weak, destroying chaos, upholding order—never failing or being wounded, granting them release."

"She was loving—toward all things in the world, regardless of race, gender, age, strength or weakness... she treated them all equally, regarding them as children in need of salvation, granting them redemption."

"The gods regarded her as a threat, thinking she was yet another fellow traveler who planned to kindle a divine flame through the power of faith—a latent threat."

"The weak regarded her as hope, longing to be saved by her."

"Whether strong or weak, evil or good, all acknowledged her strength and called her 【The Saint】."

Herbert listened to the Archbishop's story and felt his mood gradually calming along with that placid voice.

He felt epic scenes appearing before his eyes, truly seeing the moments that had unfolded back then.

No, this was not an illusion—he really was seeing them!

When Herbert closed his eyes, he truly saw those vivid scenes.

In those scenes, there was always a woman whose face could not be made out, but whose beauty and power one could strongly feel emanating from her.

She healed wounded monsters, fought giant beasts with her bare body, faced a fully-formed army alone, distributed wealth to the poor...

That bearing and conduct truly lived up to the name of Saint.

"As the Holy Maiden saved more and more lives, gradually some people began to follow behind her—humans as well as members of other races. They lived in harmony, all wishing to become her aid in ending this troubled, chaotic age."

"They hoped she would kindle the Divine Fire, raise the Divine Throne high into the heavens, and become the most powerful deity—but this request was refused by Nie Nasha."

"She had no intention of becoming a deity, nor any wish to stand above all living beings."

Hearing this, Herbert's heart was already somewhat suspicious.

Could this Holy Maiden Nie Nasha really be connected to the God of Harmony Nie Nasha that he knew?

Probably just the same name, right?

Right.

It absolutely must just be a case of the same name!

The Nie Nasha I know—how could she possibly do something so great…

"Later on… she was betrayed."

"Among her followers, some abandoned their original ideals, becoming apostles of a certain ancient deity in order to gain power, and they slaughtered their weaker companions."

Herbert's eyes snapped open, and purely on instinct he asked: "Then was she killed by the traitors afterward?"

"No."

The Archbishop shook his head and answered softly in the same calm tone as before:

"She killed all of the betrayers."

Thanks to readers 20210421132113142591416, Light's Only Son, Super Orichalcum God, Counterclockwise Distortion, Linli, Soul Containing · Thought, Le Yin, Ztyzyy for the tips!!!

Thanks to all the big shots!!!!!!!

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(End of this chapter)