Chapter 4: How Many People Are Buried in This Garden?

Lynn felt a slight chill on his ankle.

The shackle, known as the Ankle Shackle, was exquisitely crafted.

It even featured a thoughtful layer of soft velvet on the inside.

Aside from its slight weight, he could barely feel any friction when wearing it.

But in its essence, it was still a chain.

It was a chain held personally by the Saintess, representing absolute dominance.

“Let’s go.”

Alicia’s voice held a hint of joy.

Holding the other end of the Platinum Chain like she was leading her favorite pet, she took the lead and walked out of the room.

Lynn had no choice but to follow.

The heavy oak door closed behind them, but there was no sound of a lock clicking.

It wasn’t needed anymore.

When one end of the chain was in her hand, any door lock became meaningless.

The corridor was empty.

Dead silent.

The long hallway was covered in a thick, deep red carpet that swallowed all footsteps.

Portraits of past Popes hung on the walls, their solemn gazes seemingly watching this bizarre “stroll” in silence.

The air was thick with a heavy scent—a mixture of lilies and some kind of detergent—clean to an unnatural degree.

Lynn’s gaze quickly swept over his surroundings.

This was the core area of the Shrine, the Saintess’s private palace.

Logically, there should have been attendants, servants, and Temple Knights… but now, aside from him and Alicia, there wasn’t the breath of a third living creature.

“Where had they all gone?”

Lynn remembered Alicia’s casual remark about them being “purified.”

A shiver ran up his spine.

He didn’t dare think about it further and could only focus his attention on the path beneath his feet.

Alicia’s pace was steady, neither fast nor slow.

The chain in her hand always maintained a perfect length; it wasn’t tight enough to choke Lynn, yet it never gave him the slightest illusion that he could break free.

Lynn could feel her steady heartbeat traveling through the metal.

It was as if this Platinum Chain had become a part of her body, an extension of her nerve endings.

Every step he took and every rise and fall of his breath was clearly perceived by her through this chain.

This sensation of being completely controlled made the hair on the back of Lynn’s neck stand on end.

Finally, a massive glass door appeared at the end of the corridor.

Outside lay dazzling sunlight and a sea of emerald green.

Alicia pushed the door open.

A gust of fresh air hit him, carrying the fragrance of soil and green grass.

It was an incredibly beautiful garden.

The lawn was trimmed as neatly as a chessboard, with flowerbeds meticulously arranged by color and species.

In the center stood an Angel Fountain carved from white jade.

The sunlight spilled over him, bringing a hint of warmth.

Lynn greedily breathed in the air of freedom, even if that freedom came with a chain.

“Standing here is fine.”

Alicia led him to an open space in the center of the garden where the sunlight was most abundant.

She let go of the chain, allowing it to drop onto the grass.

However, she stood only three steps away from Lynn—a distance where she could step forward and reclaim the chain at any moment.

Her gaze never left Lynn’s body for a single second.

It wasn’t admiration; it was an inspection.

She was checking whether her “treasure” had developed any flaws under the sunlight, staying vigilant against any “dust” that might approach.

**[Blackening Value: 85%]**

The value was stable, but it remained in a dangerous range.

Lynn didn’t dare move recklessly.

He could only pretend to enjoy himself, closing his eyes and tilting his head back to accept the so-called Holy Light Baptism.

He could hear the splashing of the fountain and smell the fragrance of the flowers.

But he couldn’t hear any birds chirping, nor could he hear any insects.

In this perfect garden, there were no living things besides the plants.

This wasn’t a garden; it was an immaculately manicured green tomb.

Lynn’s heart sank bit by bit.

He had originally hoped to find clues for an escape here or encounter someone he could call for help.

Now it seemed he had been overthinking.

This palace had been transformed by Alicia into an isolated cage that belonged only to the two of them.

Just then, a small disturbance broke the dead silence.

A colorful butterfly flew in from somewhere, fluttering its wings as it danced among the flowers.

It was the only dynamic thing in this stagnant sea of green.

Lynn opened his eyes.

Alicia saw the butterfly as well, and her brow furrowed imperceptibly.

**[Blackening Value: 86%]**

The butterfly seemed attracted to Lynn standing in the sunlight.

It circled once before landing lightly on his shoulder.

The brilliant patterns on its wings shimmered under the sun.

Lynn’s body froze.

He could even feel the slight sensation of the butterfly’s thin legs gripping the fabric of his clothes.

**[Blackening Value: 90%]**

**[Blackening Value: 95%]**

**[Blackening Value: 98%]**

The red numbers in his vision surged like a bursting dam!

Before Lynn could react, a white afterimage flashed before his eyes.

It was Alicia.

Her movements were far too fast for a member of the clergy.

One second she was standing three steps away, and the next, she was right in front of Lynn.

A saintly smile remained on her face, but her outstretched right hand was as fast as lightning.

She didn’t swat at it, nor did she shoo it away.

Her palm stopped a few inches from Lynn’s shoulder, her fingers spreading wide as a ball of soft but undeniable white light erupted from her palm.

The beautiful butterfly didn’t even have a chance to struggle.

It was directly decomposed by the Holy Light, turning into particles finer than dust before vanishing into the air.

“No sound, no ash.”

“True Purification.”

After finishing this, Alicia reached out with her other hand and used a snow-white handkerchief to meticulously wipe the shoulder where the butterfly had landed, as if it had been contaminated by the world’s most terrifying virus.

**[Blackening Value: 99%]**

Only one point away.

Just one point away from reaching 100.

Cold sweat broke out on Lynn’s forehead.

‘I have no doubt that if I had made any move to protect that butterfly just now, the one being “purified” would have been me.’

“Filthy thing.”

After Alicia finished wiping, she tossed the handkerchief aside.

It spontaneously combusted in mid-air, turning into a wisp of blue smoke.

Her gaze fell back onto Lynn, filled with scrutiny and warning.

Lynn knew this was a test.

He couldn’t show fear, as that would imply a guilty conscience.

He also couldn’t act indifferent, as that would suggest he didn’t understand the importance of “purity.”

He had to stand on the same side as her.

Lynn frowned, a well-timed expression of disgust appearing on his face.

He reached up and patted the spot that had just been touched.

“You’re right. How disgusting.”

His tone was full of distaste for the butterfly, as if his most precious possession had been tainted by something foul.

Alicia’s tense expression finally relaxed.

The madness and vigilance in her eyes receded slightly.

**[Blackening Value: 92%]**

**[Blackening Value: 88%]**

The numbers slowly dropped back down.

Lynn let out a long breath in his mind.

Once again, he had danced on the edge of death.

“I am so glad you understand,” Alicia said, a smile blooming on her face again.

“It seems this baptism was very effective. Your Divinity is returning; you already know how to distinguish between the pure and the vile.”

She had found a perfect explanation for Lynn’s behavior herself.

Lynn could only nod along with her words.

Taking this opportunity, he let his gaze drift toward the distance, pretending it was casual.

At the edge of the garden stood a towering white wall, its surface shimmering with visible Magic Runes.

That was a top-tier Defense Barrier.

Forget a human—even a fly wouldn’t be able to get out.

The only exit was the glass door they had come through.

Despair.

From one room to another, slightly larger room.

That was all.

“It is about time.”

Alicia glanced at the angle of the sun.

“Being exposed outside for too long will allow the dust in the air to attach to your body. We should head back.”

She bent down, picked up the Platinum Chain from the ground, and gave it a gentle tug.

The chain tightened, creating a slight pull on his ankle.

It was a prompt.

Lynn turned around and followed her back.

As they passed a flowerbed of exceptionally vibrant roses, he paused.

Those roses were so red they looked as if they were about to drip blood.

“What is it?”

Alicia turned to ask him.

“These flowers…”

Lynn’s gaze fell on the soil of the flowerbed.

The color of the dirt there seemed darker than elsewhere.

“They bloom so well. You must have used a lot of fertilizer?”

He asked with an air of “innocence.”

Alicia followed his gaze, an incredibly sweet, angelic smile appearing on her face.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“The soil here has always been very nutritious.”