Chapter 90: What a Fateful Connection (45 Bonus 1)

The cathedral echoed with the youth's ear-splitting cry.

He was willing to die generously for the oppressed, only to awaken reflection in others.

This idea was somewhat foolish, but at the same time admirable.

The Archbishop gazed at the youth before him, his eyes shifting slightly.

The truth.

Not a single false word.

From beginning to end, this child had not spoken a single lie.

The Archbishop felt no hesitation or fear in his words—utterly sincere, true feelings from the heart.

Heart and mouth in perfect accord.

This steadfast will to sacrifice oneself was truly moving.

Even the Archbishop, who had seen far too much, felt a touch of emotion for a moment.

After quite a while, the Archbishop sighed with feeling: "Indeed, you and the Saint Nie Nasha are very alike. What a fateful connection."

"Both viewing humans and demons as equal living beings, both willing to sacrifice yourselves for others, both possessing a heart of great love…"

Herbert:?

I, do I?

Uh, did I perhaps overact just now?

Herbert felt a twinge of guilt hearing the Archbishop's excessive praise, wanting to take it back and explain a couple of things, but helplessly realized it was already too late.

Now, even if he explained it wasn't true, the Archbishop wouldn't believe him.

Forget it.

No need to explain, just let him keep misunderstanding.

Being mistaken for a hero didn't actually sound bad.

After finishing the praise, the Archbishop doused Herbert with a bucket of cold water to cool him down:

"However, child, there is still a great gap between you and her now. If you truly wish to become like her, do you know where that gap lies?"

Gap?

Herbert was a bit dazed, and answered instinctively upon hearing it:

"…Uh, gender?"

Herbert could not become a Saint.

That was certain.

He definitely couldn't become a Saint in this lifetime, and didn't want to in the next either.

Besides, if this story turned into "The Saint's Convent," that would be quite terrible too… mm.

And the consequence of being clever, naturally, was nothing unexpected.

The Archbishop's emotional state was broken off on the spot, the prepared speech stuck in his throat, as he silently gazed at the white-haired youth.

"…"

He clearly hadn't said anything, yet somehow seemed to have said everything.

Child, do you want to hear what you're saying?

"Cough! It's strength."

Herbert awkwardly coughed twice, and said with a solemn face: "Right now I don't have enough strength, I can't make others believe in my ideas, nor can I guarantee that demons will be controlled by me after committing evil."

"…Sigh."

The Archbishop sighed wearily, then continued from where he left off: "That's right, you're still far too weak now. Although you have some ideas, you don't have the strength to match them."

"So, I plan to offer you a little bit of help."

He raised his hand to signal Herbert to rise, and pointed at the Blasphemed Holy Statue in the center of the cathedral.

"Child, walk to the front of the holy statue, and place your palm on hers."

Hm?

Herbert: "…Huh?"

???

Honestly, Herbert really wanted to approach that Blasphemed Holy Statue, truly did.

Because this matter almost represented his ultimate mission at the Mist Convent—rescuing Miss Xie Shen Nie Nasha.

But Herbert also recognized with absolute clarity a cruel fact.

As long as the Archbishop remained in this space, he could not possibly accomplish this.

Especially after hearing the Archbishop's story and understanding more deeply the terrifying extent of his strength, Herbert completely abandoned the idea.

Can't beat him, his heart died for now.

He directly sealed his heart in cement, putting away those bold thoughts.

Don't mess around for now, new account, wait until later to challenge.

But now… the Archbishop was actually taking the initiative to let me touch it?

Th-this isn't a trap, is it?

Gulp.

Herbert swallowed, slowly rose, but asked with some hesitation: "Your Grace the Archbishop, is this…"

You're not trying to harm me, are you?

"Don't be afraid, child."

"Although the Blasphemed Holy Statue suppresses Miss Xie Shen, it itself is not very dangerous."

"It's just that when touched, two forces descend—one represents the blessing left behind by the Saint, and the other is Miss Xie Shen's curse."

Uh... isn't that still pretty dangerous for everyone else?

Herbert continued his act, frowning just the right amount, then seeming to make up his mind, walking with firm steps toward the holy statue.

That resolute back conveyed only one belief—as long as he could obtain the power to save the innocent, being cursed didn't matter!

"Heh heh, you don't need to worry about the curse."

The Archbishop's approving gaze followed Herbert, and only when he was about to touch it did he chuckle lightly: "As long as I still exist in this world, Miss Xie Shen's curse will not take effect."

"Because, I once 'said'—【I will not let Her harm anyone.】"

As the Archbishop spoke again, some invisible change occurred in the cathedral, as if certain rules had been altered.

The change was so great that even Herbert noticed it, shocked as he felt the shift in the laws.

A decree?

Words become law?

After marveling once more at the Archbishop's power, Herbert stopped before desecrating the holy statue, and without hesitation chose to press both hands onto the top of its head.

Tremble, false god!

This is the ultimate secret art of the Asashi male lead.

Headpat! Kill—hiss!!?

Upon contact, an intense burning sensation violently pierced into his soul.

"Hiss!"

After becoming unable to be harmed by flames, after being able to soak in lava, Herbert had almost forgotten this scorching agony.

Now, he remembered.

He felt his soul being seared, roasted... burned!

Didn't you say you wouldn't hurt me!?

Hiss—

And right behind him, the Archbishop calmly watched Herbert's pained expression, no ripple in his eyes at all.

He silently watched Herbert twitch as if electrocuted, yet unable to pull his palms back, in agony.

After a moment, he quietly nodded, somewhat relieved, sighing inwardly: "Good, this child truly hasn't been eroded by Miss Xie Shen..."

As one who had guarded this place for many years, blocking Miss Xie Shen's erosion of the world, how could the Archbishop be completely unguarded against a contractor of Miss Xie Shen.

He would not wrong any devout cultivator, nor would he let any of Miss Xie Shen's henchmen go.

There were many suspicious points about Herbert, but that was normal—everyone had secrets.

The Archbishop had no intention of prying into these; he was not the leader of some evil cult, and would not commit such acts of casually violating others.

But he had his own way of resolving things.

The Archbishop did not personally investigate, but chose to let the power left behind by the Saint test Herbert's purity.

Desecrating the holy statue would prove everything.

If Herbert bore any traces of Miss Xie Shen's erosion, then the Saint's power would suppress and destroy him on the spot.

And now, the scene before his eyes had already proven everything.

Not only did the Saint's power fail to destroy Herbert, it was instead, with an unprecedented air of joy, wholeheartedly remaking his flesh and soul.

Thinking of this, the Archbishop nodded in satisfaction, unable to help sighing:

"You truly have quite the affinity with her!"

(End of chapter)