The Celestial Maiden’s Young Master in Another World - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 13. One Plus One
Let me turn back time.
“The Rookie of this Baptism Ceremony is Lian Rudersck!”
“Waaahhhhh—!”
The moment I stepped out, the rankings for the Baptism Ceremony mission were announced and I got my share of cheers. Then came the highlight reel on the edited footage, which was actually enjoyable—I had to admit my performance looked sharp.
Right. This is what rebirth tastes like, I thought.
When the actual main event of the Baptism Ceremony finally drew near, all I could think was: I’m finally going to get the Holy Power Crystal. I just wanted them to hurry and hand it over. Nothing else mattered.
By this point, I’d genuinely forgotten about the Mark of the Seer, the Holy Flame, the Elysian—everything. I was too exhausted to hold any complex thoughts.
Was that my fatal mistake?
The moment Nagrim, the Archbishop, performed the Baptism ritual—dipping Holy Flame on his fingertip and pressing it to my forehead—an Angel descended.
“Ah—!”
A sharp intake of breath sounded right beside me. Oh, no.
‘You cursed Angel. The timing isn’t now, is it? And of all the Angels that could have come, why did it have to be the winged one?’
What descended before my eyes was a winged Angel—identical to the winged Demon I’d encountered in the Labyrinth just moments ago, except for the color.
The Angel spoke to me without the slightest hesitation or shame.
[-I understand thy bewilderment, Seer. Yet forgive me, for the urgency of my errand left no choice but to appear thus.]
Yes, I understand. So could you just state your business and disappear?
Lumiel was mid-hiccup, Adrian’s eyes had gone wide as saucers, and Corin—well, after gulping hard several times a moment ago—had already fainted.
[-I have come to bestow upon thee the Mark of the Seer.]
‘Now?’
[-Indeed.]
Left to rot for five years since the Naming Ceremony, and now I was finally receiving it.
‘Isn’t this supposed to be hidden from Demons and Infulim?’
[-That is also true. Yet thy condition has grown grave enough that I had no choice but to descend thus.]
My condition grew grave? Surely not.
‘Is it because of the Demonic Energy?’
[-It is.]
Damn. So I really am a time bomb.
No matter how quietly I behaved, Demonic Energy remained Demonic Energy. The fact that the Angel felt compelled to descend with such urgency proved as much.
[-With the Mark of the Seer, thou shalt be able to perceive Demonic Energy. Moreover, as an additional effect, thou canst purify it and convert it into usable power.]
‘Does that mean I’ll be able to absorb Demonic Energy whenever I defeat Demons going forward?’
[-Indeed.]
Oh, that’s damn useful.
I’d been dreading the Mark of the Seer because I assumed Infulim and the Demons would pursue me like moths to flame, which seemed tedious. But if there were benefits like this, accepting it wouldn’t be so bad.
Besides, looking at how they attacked during both the Naming Ceremony and the Baptism Ceremony, trying to hide seemed pointless from the start anyway.
[-However, since it would be troublesome for “Seer” to be openly revealed, I shall inscribe it where it cannot be seen.]
It was as if the Angel had anticipated my concern. Since they were offering to hide it somewhere unseen, there was no reason to refuse.
My strength was still far too insufficient; drawing more attention here would not serve me well.
As I continued this exchange with the Angel, Nagrim Hiloribben’s gaze—the Archbishop conducting the Baptism—grew steadily more intense.
It was uncomfortable. The thought that everyone in the Grand Hall, not to mention every citizen of the Empire watching the broadcast, was now staring at me like this made cold sweat bead on my skin.
‘By tomorrow, everyone in the nation will recognize me—except for the word “Seer.”‘
First place overall, Rookie of the Baptism Ceremony, and now an Angel’s descent. I was consuming every headline imaginable.
-If you’re going to debut this spectacularly, shouldn’t you accept the attention? Hehe, personally I think it’s like a major idol debut.
No, Eli. I didn’t ask for a debut this grand.
I swallowed a sigh. Right, so if I’m a noted talent, then at least my internal rivals won’t dare make a move openly. Whatever.
I’d resigned myself to it, but my head was still spinning.
Angel, please. End this quickly.
Whoooosh—!
Wind swept across me as light poured forth from the Angel, enveloping me whole.
‘Isn’t this a bit too… flashy?’
At this point, I didn’t know anymore.
[-Henceforth, I shall convey thy mission through the Mark of the Seer.]
‘I’m sorry?’
Before I could even ask what she meant, the Angel spoke her piece and vanished.
“…….”
“…….”
Silence fell.
This cursed Angel.
“Ahem. Lian, there are many things I would like to ask you. But first, perhaps we should continue with the Baptism?”
“Yes, understood.”
‘I suppose so….’
It was Nagrim who moved to manage the situation first. Since Lian’s turn wasn’t last, there were still children waiting behind who needed to receive the Baptism.
Nagrim transferred the Holy Flame to his hand and brought it to my forehead.
A gentle light seeped inward, flowing upward toward the crown of my head. The divine power of the Holy Flame that arrived near my crown began to spin slowly, creating a focal point around which the Holy Power Crystal would form.
The divine power that entered my body through the Baptism of Holy Flame laid the foundation for the Holy Power Crystal, then flowed back out again. Thus, the first crystal that took root near the crown of my head became a passage connecting the divine, humanity, and the cosmos.
‘Now it’s time for it to withdraw… wait?’
But the divine power isn’t going upward—it’s descending? What?
“Hmm?”
Nagrim had noticed the anomaly as well.
The divine power flowed downward along my left shoulder blade and began to spin again.
‘Could this be… a second crystal?’
What moved in response to the divine power’s guidance was not Holy Power. The Demonic Energy hiding in my lower abdomen began to stir and shift.
“Ugh.”
The unpurified Demonic Energy moved differently than before, tearing through the inside of my body and causing pain as it traveled.
‘Ah, so that’s why they said to filter it first.’
I held my churning stomach and waited a moment. As the divine power circled and flowed through, it began to burn away the murky essence of the Demonic Energy.
“Lian, what in the world is this…?”
Nagrim was startled by the aura emanating from Lian. He had not been surprised to learn that Lian was a Seer—demon invasion in the Labyrinth and the descent of an Angel were both entirely plausible given such a status.
But this time, he was genuinely shaken.
‘A second Holy Power Crystal…’
What was granted through the Baptism was, strictly speaking, merely opening the channel to the Holy Power Crystal. A second crystal had to be drawn forth through one’s own achievement and effort.
In particular, since it came immediately after the first crystal, the most crucial element was Enlightenment. Wisdom accumulated through attempt and trial would lead to the generation of the second crystal.
‘But to advance to the next stage immediately after obtaining the first crystal…?’
There were realms impossible even for a prodigy. For a child born with the qualities of a saint or holy maiden—or even a sacred sovereign—to achieve Enlightenment at merely five years old was near impossible.
Each household conducted preliminary education to accelerate the timing of the second crystal’s achievement, but that didn’t make Enlightenment itself any easier.
It defied all common sense.
‘As if I’d walked this path before—it feels so natural.’
Moreover, the process from the first crystal’s formation to the second’s creation had been flawless, without any awkwardness.
Of course, Lian had never actually created a Holy Power Crystal before; his body had simply grown accustomed to divine power through spending long hours with Eli. But Nagrim had no way of knowing this.
“For now, let us conclude the Baptism here.”
Nagrim watched Lian’s receding figure as he descended from the platform with a distant gaze—one burning with intense curiosity, a fervent desire to speak with Lian immediately, both as a clergy member and as a scholar.
***
I think I might actually live through this.
I sprawled across the sofa like a limp spinach leaf. On the table before me lay the Lace Crown I’d been wearing on my head just moments before, now cast carelessly aside.
‘To think it didn’t come loose at all through all that chaos.’
How exactly was it fastened to my head?
I was currently resting in a lounge located in the Main Sect’s Annex.
After managing to get through the Baptism in the midst of all manner of incidents, I finally had a moment to rest. Though I couldn’t rest immediately, of course.
‘Lian! Are you truly certain there’s nowhere that hurts?’
‘Lian, come now, remove all your clothes for inspection.’
‘Y-yes… huh?’
Both of them were so worried they were beside themselves. I underwent a thorough body search from every angle.
I’d worried that the Mark of the Seer might be discovered, but it turned out fine.
‘They said it’s inscribed in a place you can’t see. They really couldn’t find it.’
-I guess so.
The problem is, I don’t know where it is either.
-Maybe it’s inside your mouth or something like that?
‘No way.’
Still, I should figure out where it is so I can be careful.
I stood in front of the full-length mirror and opened my mouth wide with a dubious expression.
‘It doesn’t seem to be in my mouth.’
-What about your eyes?
‘I can clearly see there’s nothing there.’
-Who knows? It might be behind your eyeball.
No way, surely not.
With lingering doubt, I turned my eyelids inside out for Eli to see.
-Huh? Wait, wait…?
‘What is it, Eli? What’s wrong?’
-Um… it’s there?
‘What?’
—It’s here! The Mark of the Seer or whatever it is!
…Really?
The Mark of the Seer was inscribed on the back of the left eye. It sat plainly on the white of the eye.
‘Angel does have rather esoteric tastes.’
—Well, it’s not a place you’d find unless someone rolled their eyes back and fainted.
Even marking it there, I can’t believe she’d choose somewhere so theatrically awkward.
I shuffled back to the sofa with a heavy sigh and sprawled across it. There was still time before the after-party.
‘I wonder if we can actually pull this off.’
Because the ceremony had been broadcast live, everything appeared peaceful on the surface, but Father and the high priests were scrambling behind the scenes.
At least the party that followed the Baptism Ceremony wouldn’t be broadcast, which was a small mercy.
‘The festival outside will work well to scatter public attention.’
Once the Baptism Ceremony at the close of the year concludes, the entire Empire falls under a spell of celebration.
The timing was almost too perfect for damage control. My parents had left some time ago and still hadn’t returned.
‘Might as well check on my progress.’
I closed my eyes and felt the energy of the Crystal forming within my body.
‘Oh. The first one’s almost complete.’
The swirling Holy Power had nearly taken the shape of a perfect sphere. And then, moments later—
Shine—
Light radiated from my entire body, and the room flashed blindingly white.
The first Holy Power Crystal had been fully formed. Simultaneously, pathways of Holy Power branched out from the Crystal throughout my entire being.
“Wow.”
This was genuinely different.
The difference was night and day.
Before, it had felt like moving with weights strapped to my limbs; now my body was completely free.
When I gathered Holy Power, it flowed to my fingertips with almost no delay, and a thrill ran through me.
The Holy Power that would have scattered before now held its form perfectly.
‘Now I understand why Holy Power Crystals are so important.’
—The Holy Power inside your body is now far more stable and contained.
I felt as though I’d recovered a freedom I hadn’t even known I’d lost. Satisfied, I turned my attention to the second Crystal.
‘This one will take a while.’
The second Holy Power Crystal was forming very slowly.
Because Demonic Energy had mixed in when the Crystal first began forming, the pace was agonizingly gradual.
‘The Mark of the Seer acts like a power filter that screens out the filth of Demonic Energy.’
But did it really make sense for a priest to absorb and use Demonic Energy, no matter how carefully filtered? I sensed no immediate problem, though.
‘Eli, is the Demonic Energy in my body being purified properly?’
—Yes. Completely clean. One hundred percent pure energy.
So she’d filtered it to remove the nature of the power itself, leaving only pure energy. But if that’s the case, can’t I absorb and use any kind of power?
Mana or Spirit Power, for instance. It was worth testing at least.
The Holy Power I originally possessed came entirely from Eli. That was power I could naturally receive because our souls were connected.
With the Mark of the Seer and the Holy Power Crystal, I gained the ability to use Holy Power granted by Elysian.
And the energy I filtered from the Demonic Energy that flowed into me when I defeated demons.
So three distinct powers were necessarily coexisting within my body.
‘In martial arts stories, this is usually when someone’s body explodes or their core breaks or something.’
—Demonic Energy feels similar to Holy Power.
‘What do you mean by that?’
—The fundamental nature of the powers seems alike. Maybe Demonic Energy comes from demons the way Holy Power comes from somewhere?
I see. So the three powers had different origins but similar essences.
Knock-knock.
My thoughts scattered at the sound of knocking.
“Yes—”
I assumed it was my parents returning from their cleanup work. I opened the door with a light heart to find—
“Lian. Good evening.”
“G-good evening…?”
A saint with pure white hair stood before me, smiling warmly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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