SAINTESS [Chapter 58: I am fine]

Why was it that when she tried to summon the [Eternal Imperial Crown ], a path leading into the Church of Radiance within her [Eternal Imperial Crown ] appeared before her eyes after she closed them?

Moreover, hadn't the ancestors said that summoning the [Eternal Imperial Crown ] outside of constructed settings would result in backlash? But why wasn't she suffering?

Looking down at the unconscious Vanessa in her arms, Isatia suddenly felt as if she understood.

That Church of Radiance had been gradually constructed by the Lanteville family ancestors based on their understanding of the Church of Radiance. Even so, they'd only managed to construct a complete cathedral courtyard.

Could it be... that Vanessa was a key? A key to the Church of Radiance?

Isatia couldn't explain it, but in this moment of despair, when she closed her eyes and saw that familiar constructed cathedral, she felt an unusual sense of peace, as if this path was leading her home.

She cradled Vanessa's back and supported her legs, without hesitation stepping forward, uncaring of where Cantarius had gone.

The path toward the Church of Radiance wasn't particularly close, nor was it particularly far. But because there were no reference points on either side, Isatia had a sensation of not moving at all. She could only observe that the distance between herself and the cathedral seemed to be decreasing.

Yet the cathedral only appeared close because there were no other buildings around. In reality, it was still a considerable distance away.

Isatia didn't know how long she had walked. She felt as if her world had shrunk to only herself, Vanessa, and that distant Church of Radiance.

The Mars Palace was gone. Cantarius was gone.

Were it not for the girl in her arms, and the soothing scent of blossoms and lavender emanating from her, Isatia would have felt as if she were the last person left in the world, this place nothing but an illusion conjured by her exhausted mind, while her true self had already fallen into eternal slumber.

The path wasn't straight, but twisted with many turns. Isatia felt as if she had passed by and circumvented numerous buildings along the way.

With no interruptions, focused solely on the path ahead, when she looked up again, the gates of the cathedral courtyard stood right before her, open wide.

Isatia remembered that the function of the Church of Radiance within the [Eternal Imperial Crown ] was to heal injuries and illnesses. She could use it, but since the building was constructed based only on the accumulated understanding of past family heads, its healing effects weren't particularly potent. Besides, the Imperial Knights appearing here were those who had walked out from the capital city. Once their power was exhausted and they disappeared, they would naturally reappear elsewhere, no healing required.

Therefore, the Church of Radiance within the [Eternal Imperial Crown ] wasn't used much. At most, it could slightly increase the corrosion resistance of the Hub Clocktower.

Isatia rarely came here, practically never. Now, she stepped forward, and the gate to the courtyard stood open before her.

Without hesitation, she clicked. At the center of the courtyard stood the statue of Goddess of Radiance. Isatia, holding the pink-haired girl whose posture, hands folded in prayer, was strikingly similar to the goddess, gazed upward at the statue.

At the same time, a soft light streamed down from the direction of the statue, bathing the two of them in warm, gentle radiation. They both felt a sudden lightness in their bodies, as if their wounds and exhaustion had significantly diminished.

“Mm…” Vanessa opened her heavy eyelids. The first thing she saw was the black-haired, purple-eyed beauty holding her.

For some reason, she felt warm all over now, despite having been freezing cold earlier, as if a long-time wanderer had finally returned home after years away.

When she shifted her gaze, she saw the statue standing not far away. It seemed to be watching her with benevolent eyes, casting down a tender gaze.

"Awake? How do you feel?" Seeing that Vanessa seemed better, Isatia asked. She wasn't entirely sure where they were.

Was this her [Eternal Imperial Crown ]? It didn't quite seem like it. But if not, then where could this possibly be?

“Where are we?” Vanessa asked in confusion, having no memory of what had happened after she lost consciousness.

“Seemingly, the Church of Radiance within my [Eternal Imperial Crown ],” Isatia answered calmly.

“[Eternal Imperial Crown ]? But isn't that place— ”

“Collapsed, right? So I'm not certain either.”

Only then did Vanessa notice their current posture. She averted her eyes, suddenly feeling slightly uncomfortable.

How should she put it? Earlier, she had carried Isatia in this very position, but that was her carrying someone else. Being carried like this by another girl? That couldn't possibly be the same!

“Earlier, I tried to open the [Eternal Imperial Crown], and then we ended up here,” Isatia explained, clearly oblivious to Vanessa's subtle reaction.

“Your [Eternal Imperial Crown ] has a Church of Radiance?” Vanessa asked thoughtfully.

“It does. But compared to other buildings, it's not very prominent, so you probably didn't notice it before,” Isatia added. “It's a structure built from 'understanding,' unlike the others.”

“But why did we end up at the cathedral specifically?” Vanessa pondered.

“I think... this might have something to do with you,” Isatia said, turning her gaze toward Vanessa. “You are a key.”

“Ah key?” Vanessa looked thoughtfully around the interior of the courtyard, finally settling her eyes on the cathedral's main gate.

“Then again, we don't seem to have many choices left.”

"Let's go. Let's see what's inside." Saying this, Vanessa hesitantly at the ground. “Um, Isatia, I think I've recovered quite a bit.”

“Mmm.” Isatia acknowledged it, yet continued carrying Vanessa toward the cathedral's main gate without stopping.

“Isatia? I mean, I think I can move on my own now?” Seeing that the other girl clearly wasn't getting the hint, Vanessa couldn't help but speak up again.

“Mm, I understand.” Isatia wore a look of 'acknowledged,' but still seemed to miss Vanessa's underlying meaning.

That can't be right. Isatia couldn't possibly be this dense?

Can't she even read a girl's subtle hints?

“Ahem, Miss Isatia, what I mean is— ”

“Didn't you just call me Isatia earlier? Why the honorific now?” Isatia cut her off before she could finish.

“Fine, Isatia. I think I've recovered enough to walk on my own. Thank you for carrying me before...”

“Do you really think you've recovered?” Isatia glanced at Vanessa. Those purple eyes hold an unyielding decisionness and authority. “Now isn't the time to be stubborn.”

Vanessa was momentarily speechless.

If she spoke up again after Isatia said that, wouldn't it make her concern seem oddly misplaced?

But putting her down to walk wouldn't slow them down at all.

“...I didn't mean it like that. I'm not being stubborn.” Vanessa looked away, murmuring softly. A few strands of her pink hair brushed gently against Isatia's nose as it swayed.

Hmm? Wait.

Vanessa instinctively felt that her reaction just now sounded oddly like a meek girlfriend?

'Virtue + 50.'

'Current Virtue: 3454.'

Huh?

Vanessa was confused. For a moment, she thought maybe the Virtue system had malfunctioned, perhaps it had misread her emotions. Why would her emotional fluctuations increase her Virtue?

She certainly knew it was Isatia whose emotions had fluctuated. But why?

Before she could ponder further, Isatia had already reached the cathedral's main gate, pushing it open. The radiation pouring out enveloped both of them.

Both felt a blinding white light, seeing nothing. When they opened their eyes again, they found themselves standing on the cathedral's elevated altar, the priest's position, with a solid metal hammer placed on the altar.

So, they had entered the cathedral's interior?

Vanessa realized that upon entering, some mysterious force had instantly transported both her and Isatia inside, causing them to separate and now stand side by side.

She felt the cathedral's interior was far larger than it appeared from outside. The light filtering through stained-glass windows cast colorful patterns onto the white stone floor.

The vast cathedral held rows of benches for worshipers on both sides, with a red carpeted aisle running straight from the entrance to the priest's elevated platform.

Vanessa looked at Isatia, noticing the latter was also glancing around, observing the scenery inside the cathedral, seemingly her first time here as well.

“Haha! Finally found you two!” Just as both were puzzled about what had happened, the cathedral's main gate swung open. A familiar towering figure swaggered in, grinning widely upon seeing the two on the platform.

“I was wondering where you two had hidden. As if you could ever escape my domain of divine authority? So now I see, you used some trickery again, didn't you?” Cantarius strode into this completely unfamiliar, alien-style building, his gaze sweeping across every fixture, letting out a mocking laugh.

“This is your country's architecture? It looks very soft. The interior style is bizarre too.” The one-armed Cantarius laughed. “If I were still alive, I'd personally conquer this place, tear it down, and carry every brick back to build my own temple.”

“Hmm? Pink-haired little girl, you're awake? But even if you are, you probably can't unleash that terrifying flame again, right?” Noticing Vanessa was conscious, Cantarius hesitated briefly, then firmly reaffirmed his judgment.

Who was he, Cantarius? If nothing else, his instincts regarding danger and life-or-death situations were razor-sharp. He clearly understood their current state. If they had the slightest chance of victory, they wouldn't be hiding back here. Their micro-expressions had already confirmed his thoughts.

“Will you come down on your own, or must I come up and smash this place to pieces?” Cantarius said while taunting.

Vanessa and Isatia exchanged glances, remaining silent.

This should be the Church of Radiance within Isatia's [Eternal Imperial Crown ]. But why could they enter the cathedral even after the [Eternal Imperial Crown ] had collapsed?

Isatia thought of a possibility.

Perhaps Vanessa was a key, a key capable of unlocking the cathedral gate within her [Eternal Imperial Crown ].

Normally, her [Eternal Imperial Crown ] could only be activated within constructed areas. But with Vanessa in her arms, she could bypass terrain restrictions and directly enter the Church of Radiance within the [Eternal Imperial Crown ].

Vanessa had also reached the same possibility. She thoughtfully glanced back at the statue of Goddess of Radiance, then toward the main gate, toward Cantarius.

Meanwhile, Cantarius had already begun mocking these architectural styles of a foreign culture he knew nothing about.

“Hey! Just like other foreign peoples, you like building structures on the ground too.” Cantarius kicked over a pew, disdainfully glancing at the two girls on the platform and snorting. “Since neither of my lovely ladies wants to come down, this king will have to personally come up and drag you both down.”

With that, Cantarius charged towards the two girls on the elevated platform.

Seeing this, Isatia immediately reached to grab Vanessa's hand and pulled her away, but then noticed Vanessa seemed to hesitate, shaking her head slightly.

Isatia had said she tried to open the [Eternal Imperial Crown ]. The [Eternal Imperial Crown], which should have had no response, actually reacted, and then the path to the cathedral appeared.

“Isatia, maybe this isn't a coincidence.”

“You're right. Perhaps I really am a 'key'?”

“?”

“Isatia, do you know another function the Church of Radiance had during the ancient Empire of Carillian?” Sensing Isatia's confusion, Vanessa smiled, ignoring the massive figure charging towards them.

“You mean…” Isatia's gaze shifted toward the solid metal hammer on the altar, engraved with crosses on both sides.

It was a Judgment Hammer.

“Exactly. During the ancient Empire of Carillian, the Church of Radiance wasn't just a place for believers to pray, it was also a place to judge the guilty.” Vanessa stepped toward the altar at the front of the pulpit.

“And the distinguishing feature of whether a cathedral was in a special enforcement period was whether a Judgment Hammer was placed on the priest's lectern.”

“I believe our appearance here is no accident.” With that, Vanessa lifted the metal Judgment Hammer from the altar and brought it down hard.

“Boom! Boom!”

A thunderous sound echoed. Cantarius, rushing toward the platform, was suddenly struck by an immense, mysterious force, slapped backward like a fly, and crashed heavily onto the cathedral's red carpet, rolling several times.

“What is this?! A final desperate struggle? Useless. I— ”

“Thud.” Just as he stood up and took a step forward, Cantarius collapsed to the ground, unable to rise again.
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