The Saint’s Manual for Redemption - Chapter 35

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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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Chapter 35
The story Vivian carefully revealed was quite shocking.
“The Director Priest tried to forge my documents?”
“Yes, I heard it clearly. Fortunately, the Director Priest didn’t see me, but…….”
“He conspired with a priest from the Main Temple to forge the records saying I came to the Orphanage when I was seven years old?”
Counting backward from the date Vivian mentioned, it matched perfectly.
Two days before the “Judgment’s Fabricated Flames Incident” unfolded in the Plaza.
It seemed clear that the Director Priest had orchestrated this with the Heretical Sect’s forces to paint me as a mole they’d secretly planted.
Even if I somehow survived the flames without burning to death, they could immediately refer me to a heretical inquisition and place me before the tribunal, manufacturing “evidence” to conclusively brand me as a heretic—the justification they needed.
At seven years old, old enough to understand everything, I would enter the Orphanage attached to the Main Temple, do cleaning work there to learn the internal layout, gather intelligence, leak the Religious Order’s secrets to the Heretical Sect, and ultimately, the heretics would orchestrate my placement in the position of Saint, the Order’s supreme leader.
One complete fabrication.
This alone would bring a conviction for burning at the stake in the Inquisition tribunal, no question. Even if they executed the sentence that very day, no one would object.
Well, considering how the Director Priest pushed children into temple labor without hesitation the moment they could walk and talk, he wasn’t exactly fond of the children.
Rather, it was the working priests like Amelia and the others who truly cared for and loved us. So the Director Priest’s betrayal wasn’t really shocking to me.
“Now that I’m recognized as Saint, won’t the Director Priest be quite nervous?”
“He should be. He’s completely miscalculated. You’re not the gullible type, and besides, you’re the kind to repay exactly what you’ve received. He’s probably anxious wondering when you’ll find out.”
I laughed lightly and spoke in jest, and Vivian, finally easing her worries, laughed along with me and added to my words.
“Be careful, Ciela. I’m worried because I have to leave you in a place where you have no real allies…….”
Vivian, like me, had been conscripted into the Main Temple’s labor since childhood, so she couldn’t help but know the Religious Order’s corrupt reality.
In such a corrupt Order, just how much of a thorn in their side must I be—genuinely chosen by God, a legitimate Saint.
“Oh, right. Speaking of which, have you decided on an escort knight? The previous Saint always had a handsome escort knight beside her. Is that person now the Holy Knights Commander? Surely they didn’t leave you without one?”
“They assigned one. Though I had no choice in the matter.”
“They didn’t assign you an ugly one, did they? Or someone weak?”
“No, he’s quite handsome. But he’s not as strong as me.”
“You’re honestly in a league of your own anyway.”
Vivian jabbed me lightly in the ribs. As she rose to leave, I pulled her into a brief embrace and exchanged farewells.
“Let’s meet once more before the Inauguration Ceremony.”
“Got it. I’ll change cleaning sections somehow and come find you.”
Vivian winked. To have someone I could truly confide in like this—it was surprisingly comforting.
“Let the ground beneath my feet be consecrated as God’s domain.”
After seeing Vivian off, I returned to my room and proclaimed a sacred space. I removed all dust and impurities from the floor and air, then collapsed onto the sofa and picked up a Green Apple, just as I had yesterday.
The sweet flesh of the fruit, with noticeably less tartness than yesterday, rolled across my tongue. At least Vivian didn’t know just how poorly fed I’d been, unable to taste decent fruit.
***
The day of the Inauguration Ceremony.
Arden, who had concentrated solely on escort duties for the past several days without conversation, entered my room while I was still arranging accessories after changing into my ceremonial attire.
Since I’d already finished dressing early and was simply selecting accessories, it didn’t particularly matter.
Arden, approaching directly, handed a purse to Rillet, who had been fastening my earring.
Rillet, quick to read the situation, tucked the purse into her breast and left the room.
At this rate, Rillet’s making quite a tidy sum each time. She probably earns more than what I made doing three shifts of labor a day.
While I was wondering how much Rillet earned in a month, Arden spoke to me.
“My apologies, Your Highness. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to discover why the upper echelons of the Order made contact with the underworld.”
“That’s fine. If they’d leaked something that important to you, that would’ve been even more suspicious. Did you at least find out why they changed the parade route?”
“The original route appears to be under maintenance. I found no other irregularities. Though I did notice the passage back to the Main Temple is slightly narrow for carriages to traverse comfortably.”
I recalled what Vivian had told me when she’d visited under the pretense of cleaning the day before.
“Sister, be careful during the parade. You know that route where we always have parades on holy days? They suddenly started repair work there. But I pass through there every day for my shifts, so I know it well. That place was fine.”
“And, there’s a physician at the Main Temple? Usually we heal with Divine Healing, so there’s no reason for a physician to visit, but that seemed strange to me.”
Clearly they’ve set up some kind of scheme for the parade. But no matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn’t figure out why they’d called in a physician.
Arden picked up the earring resting in my palm and, with deliberate slowness, fastened it for me himself. Then he pressed gently on my earlobe.
As though nothing had happened, Arden withdrew his hand from my ear and offered his arm for escort.
“Well then, shall we go see what scheme they’ve set up this time?”
“Let’s.”
I smiled softly and rested my hand on Arden’s arm.
It was time to participate once more in the power game between the Temple and myself.
***
The Inauguration Ceremony finally began.
Though I’d been the Religious Order’s Saint twice before, this was my first actual Inauguration Ceremony.
Which made sense. During my time as the third Saint, there was no such ceremony. The Temple didn’t even have operating funds, so where would the means come from to waste on something unnecessary like an inauguration?
This wasteful pageantry is only happening because I’ve revitalized the Order, so now they’re getting fat and sloppy! Tsk!
Caritas, would you mind appearing in Archbishop Marius’s dreams for once instead of only in mine, and perhaps convey the message that he should stop wasting money on unnecessary things?
I understand you’re selective and only communicate with me, your appointed representative—but wouldn’t you benefit from meeting more people? That might help you develop better social skills, yes?
As this happened, grand bell chimes rang out, and the path toward the central altar of the Main Temple opened before us. Every eye in the plaza turned at once, and I glided forward to take my appointed place.
Archbishop Marius stepped forward.
“I shall now preside over the Inauguration Ceremony of the thirtieth Saint, chosen by Caritas.”
He proclaimed the opening of the ceremony in solemn tones. The first ritual was a vow sworn to Caritas.
I had been told beforehand that since this ceremony asks the divine will on our behalf, I should kneel before the Archbishop—but I simply pressed my hands together and bowed my head lightly instead.
Besides, Caritas had already declared me Saint long ago, so the divine will could go to hell.
And if the Saint knelt before the Archbishop, wouldn’t everyone think the Archbishop outranked the Saint?
When I remained standing, stubborn and unmoved, the Archbishop eventually gave up and continued with the ceremony.
“Do you swear before God, and before all the faithful gathered here, to represent the will of Caritas?”
“I do.”
“Do you swear to wield mercy without falling into partiality, and to render judgment without succumbing to pride?”
“I do.”
I answered still with my head bowed.
“Do you swear, as God’s representative, to honor the traditions and order of the Religious Order?”
At that final question, I could barely suppress my laughter. Fortunate that my head was down.
“Yes, I swear.”
Now I’ll show them what the Religious Order’s true original traditions and order really are. You damned corrupted fools—I’ll give you a taste of what real tradition means.
The ceremony proceeded exactly as written in that document the Archbishop had given me. So the next stage would be the God’s Response Ritual.
The very stage I had been watching most carefully.
Why watch so carefully? Because in my view, it was the ritual most ripe for manipulation. And Arden agreed.
“Now, let us perform the God’s Response Ritual.”
The altar before me began to split open slowly.

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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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