“Priest Hydra, all of the Holy See’s weapons have failed. Even the hoes we borrowed from the nearby farmers. Do we really still have to — “
The Temple Knight looked at the ashen-faced Grand Priest beside him with a troubled expression.
They had already tried countless methods, but every single one had failed without exception.
The Holy Magic protecting Hailey was like a transparent shield.
Even if a sword or blade struck it, the weapon would be violently repelled, let alone magic.
“Damn it, the Saintess has truly lost her mind. To think she would place such important magic on you… What a waste of power. If it weren’t for the fact that she’s still useful — “
With a “slap”, Hydra’s mocking smile was immediately cut short.
Hailey looked at her own palm in surprise.
Seeing his look of disbelief, Hailey realized she hadn’t expected her body to react so quickly.
Almost the instant she heard those words, she had moved.
‘I simply didn’t like the look of this old man, but let’s just say I’m getting revenge for Idledra… I don’t owe her anything, so there’s definitely no other meaning behind it.’
“You damn — “
Before he could finish his sentence, another slap landed.
For some reason, ever since Hydra started speaking ill of Idledra, Hailey’s hands had been itching to strike.
“You old geezer, I’ve tolerated you long enough!”
She hadn’t expected to actually be able to hit him.
She had thought the barrier worked both ways.
‘This old fossil, I’ve disliked him for a long time. He deserves it!’
Before she could continue her assault, the two soldiers beside Hydra immediately seized her and tied her firmly to the stone pillars of the altar.
Although they couldn’t hurt her, the magic seemed to only possess defensive capabilities.
Restraining a fragile girl like Hailey was still manageable.
Hydra clutched his reddened cheek.
It seemed Hailey had truly put all her strength into that slap.
He was nearly insane with rage as he glared at her.
“Very good, very good… Truly wonderful! A Saintess so utterly foolish she can’t see her own incomparable value, and a blasphemous doll!”
Hailey was startled by the old man’s maddened appearance.
However, with her hands already pinned by the Temple Knights, she could only kick her legs uselessly in the air.
“You and your self-righteous Saintess — not one of you will escape — even if I have to abandon my glory as the Grand Priest, I will purge these heretics for the Holy See…”
Hydra’s near-maniacal state caused even the Temple Knights to hesitate.
But given his prestigious status, they could only execute his orders in silence.
However, a look of doubt began to surface in the eyes of some knights as they looked at their respected priest.
The weapons in their hands were no longer held so steadily.
Despite the magical protection, Hailey caught a faint scent of danger, especially after seeing Hydra’s terrifying, predatory expression.
‘I hope this guy doesn’t go all the way to the bitter end… Is Idledra okay? She can’t see anything without me. What if something happens? She has no one by her side…’
‘Wait a minute, why am I still worried about her? My own life is the one on the line here, right?’
‘But she gave all her life-saving magic to me. Can she really manage on her own? Besides, if it weren’t for her, I probably would have been dismantled a long time ago…’
‘I hope she’s okay. I hope I’ll be okay too…’
***
“We meet again, lady… I wonder what brings you to my humble stall?”
Fran had finally mustered the courage to “swindle” another passerby.
But as soon as she opened her door, she saw a familiar figure.
Idledra was draped in a cloak.
Upon closer inspection, the Black Mist over her eyes had grown thicker.
Compared to her previous demeanor, she was now swaying unsteadily, which looked somewhat comical.
‘My eyes are starting to burn again… My vision is turning dark more and more often. Is even the Black Magic beginning to backfire?’
Idledra’s Black Magic carried a curse that eroded the host.
Her blindness was a result of that very power.
By forcibly using Black Magic to restore her senses, Idledra was only accelerating the erosion.
Before the erosion consumed her, and before she fell back into total darkness, she had to find Hailey.
She had to be faster…
Fran had intended to simply close her tent and stay inside, but a hand grabbed her with such force that she couldn’t break free.
Now, looking at Idledra as she coldly surveyed the surroundings, Fran only hoped this lady wouldn’t cause any more trouble.
“What a crude and messy environment. Never mind, since this is an emergency. I remember you’re a fortune-teller, right? And you saw through my Mana.”
‘Should I nod or shouldn’t I? She was the one who told me to keep it a secret.’
‘Is she here to ask for help, or is she testing to see if I leaked the secret? Is she going to silence me?!’
“T-this… My lady, have you remembered incorrectly? Last time, you only did a reading about your love life, and that girl who was with you…”
At the mention of that name, the previously calm look in Idledra’s eyes was instantly replaced by murderous intent.
However, that killing intent lasted only a moment before it subsided.
She didn’t bother speaking.
Instead, she reached out and grabbed the Crystal Ball.
It was that very Crystal Ball that had allowed Fran to sense her peculiar Mana.
Now, it was time for a different kind of “silencing.”
As black Mana began to surge from Idledra’s hand, Fran watched with a terrified and frantic expression as the Crystal Ball shattered completely.
“No! My Crystal Ball! My family heirloom…!”
It was actually just a magical prop she had managed to scavenge from a street stall, and she had been planning to wait for some fool to buy it…
“Someone capable of perceiving Mana certainly wouldn’t rely on a piece of junk like this. Now, I need you to do something for me…”
Idledra had realized back then that this fortune-teller wasn’t as ordinary as she claimed to be.
Being able to discover her hidden Black Magic was something even the Holy See’s sacred tools couldn’t always do so clearly.
Trying to find Hailey among the more than ten altars in the Empire was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
The only clue she had was the Blessing she had left for Hailey.
For that, she needed Fran’s sensory magic.
Fran wanted to refuse immediately, but then she saw that abyss-like darkness, manifesting like a ghostly shadow.
Idledra clutched her aching eyes and looked at her threateningly.
In her other hand, she held the crushed remains of Fran’s Crystal Ball.
It was a clear warning: if she didn’t comply, she would end up just like the Crystal Ball.
“Let’s get one thing straight. I am here to command your help, not to beg for a favor.”
“Use any method possible — no matter the price I must pay — find her!!”