The Protagonists Of The Novel Escaped – Chapter 35

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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One could never contain more than two holy blessings or holinesses within them.

Because a single soul could only hold one holiness.

Therefore, if a cult follower who worshiped a forgotten god attempted to accept the holiness of the Earth Mother, their entire body would explode with the overload of “divine collision.”

The same applied to blessings.

Fundamentally, a blessing was the power of holiness bestowed by a god.

Even if one worshiped a god, if they forcibly accepted the blessing of another god, they would inevitably face divine collision.

Fearing that blessing users were most wary of the desire for apostasy, they sought out new powers.

‘A soul that has accepted holiness should only be one, so why… I knew he had resistance to the holiness of the Earth Mother, but…’

Zebeline, who had extended her hand, froze in place.

If the blessing of the forgotten god engraved in Edanant’s soul had been activated, she had intended to secretly withdraw the holiness of the Earth Mother.

Zebeline had stubbornly tried to preside over the baptism ceremony to conceal Edanant’s identity from the bishops and inquisitors dispatched by the Holy Kingdom until the end.

However,

The situation took an unexpected turn.

She expressed astonishment at the bizarre phenomenon.

As if to prove it, her brilliantly shining blue eyes trembled.

‘How can two souls exist within one body?’

A soul containing the holiness of a forgotten god.

A soul containing the holiness of the Earth mother, Gael.

The two souls existed horizontally as if coexisting.

It was an extreme state that narrowly avoided the divine collision.

Zebeline, who had seen through it with the blessing of the White Dragon, inwardly screamed.

“Saintess-”

“Yes? Ah, yes…”

Edanant raised his head and spoke.

Only then did Zebeline come to her senses, cutting off her thoughts and answering simultaneously.

“Is it over now?”

“No, lastly, I need to pour the holy water.”

Turning her head and confirming that numerous crowds were watching, Zebeline dripped the holy water in a small glass bottle onto Edanant’s head.

Contrary to the expectation of worrying about divine collision with trepidation, the holiness of the Earth Mother did not cause any harm.

Instead, it even sprinkled white radiance as if blessing the holy sword wielder.

It was impossible.

The holiness of the Earth Mother fully accepted a follower of a forgotten god.

It must be a miracle granted only to him.

The girl with silver hair flowing down sighed deeply and grasped the rosary.

“With this, Young Master Edanant has officially become a believer of the Earth Mother.”

“I don’t have any particular feeling, though…”

It was an answer without a shred of faith.

In fact, Edanant regarded the Earth Mother’s baptism as equivalent to peer pressure.

It must be done.

If you don’t do it, you’ll be criticized by the people around you.

It’s unnecessary to receive it, but you have no choice because of pseudoscience.

Edanant, who had finally received the Earth Mother’s baptism that he had been delaying and delaying, shrugged his shoulders indifferently.

“Such an answer is very disappointing. This flawless and beautiful saintess has baptized you.”

“Indeed, your words are correct.”

Edanant showed a convincing expression.

And he politely paid his respects and expressed gratitude to Zebeline, who had presided over the baptism ceremony.

“I am simply honored that the First Saintess of the Holy Kingdom has baptized me. As a new believer of the Earth Mother, I will repay the grace bestowed upon me by the saintess little by little from now on.”

“Y-You’re teasing me right now, aren’t you…!”

As he bowed his head with exaggerated flattery, the gazes of numerous nobles focused on him.

In response, Zebeline blushed and confronted him.

Indeed, you’re terrific.

You can accurately see through my intention.

Edanant burst into laughter.

‘Two souls within one body… Does that mean there are two Edanants? No, there’s no way that’s possible. How is it even possible?’

She pondered the question while staring intently at Edanant, who showed a mischievous playfulness.

But the question remained unresolved.

Rather, it only amplified.

Could I have seen it wrong?

Unconsciously, Zebeline began to doubt the blessing of the White Dragon.

While the saintess continued her heavy doubts, the princesses watching the scene approached.

They must have unconsciously felt jealous seeing Edanant conversing cheerfully with the saintess.

They looked at the saintess with wary eyes, fearing that the Holy Kingdom might take Edanant away from them.

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The only person who discerned Edanant’s abnormality was Zebeline.

Although bishops and inquisitors dispatched from the Holy Kingdom attended the baptism ceremony at Sophia Cathedral, no one detected the abnormality.

The baptism ended successfully.

Edanant von Hohenberc became a new believer.

The bishops who had attended the ceremony would report it that way so there would be no suspicion from the Holy Kingdom.

Zebeline was greatly relieved that the Holy Kingdom had been successfully deceived.

“Since the baptism has been completed without incident, the cardinals will be convinced.”

“Yes, now Sir Edanant is a genuine believer of the Earth Mother!”

The bishops joked in response to Zebeline’s words.

They seemed to be greatly encouraged by the devout faith at the baptism ceremony filled with pure white holiness.

‘I hope there’s nothing unusual about Young Master Edanant…’

What should I ask him first?

Why do you have two souls?

Do you get two servings simultaneously, like two of a restaurant’s main dish?

Perhaps a silly joke suddenly popped into her mind because she had been thinking about Edanant for several days.

At that, Zebeline tightly closed her eyes.

She seemed to feel embarrassed for unconsciously thinking of such a silly joke.

“What’s wrong, Saintess?”

“Just… Some dust got into my eyes.”

Even though she had completed the baptism ceremony that she had been worrying about with great concern, the anxiety did not subside.

Instead, an even heavier anxiety weighed on the saintess’ slender shoulders.

Edanant was a follower of a forgotten god.

He was a cult follower.

But even though Zebeline was a saintess who should despise followers of forgotten gods and cult members more than anyone else, she had overlooked Edanant’s existence.

She had even helped him from behind to prevent his identity from being revealed.

If the Holy Kingdom discovered the truth, the saintess would be excommunicated.

Moreover, despite being a saintess, she would be subjected to extreme punishment for colluding with a follower of a forgotten god.

‘Still, if it’s to repay the favor… I must endure anything.’

While showing apparent reluctance, she had a faint smile on her face.

It seemed as if she was recalling a cherished memory that was happier than ever, albeit brief.

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The Valtarian Imperial Family announced they would bestow rewards to the knights who had participated in the subjugation through solemn, meritorious service.

Titles and fiefs would be granted.

Also, the honor of bravely subjugating the cult followers would be given.

The knights would say loyalty to the imperial family and the empire was a natural duty.

But inwardly, they would be expecting the imperial family’s merciful reward.

People were always faithful to their desires.

“To think you discerned the identity of Meiros, you’re indeed amazing. As expected of the mascot of the Saintess Party.”

“Ahem! I think I’m amazing too!”

Ludmilla visited the villa as soon as noon arrived.

Was it to hint at the meritorious service?

As if that prediction was correct, Ludmilla greatly praised Rue’s performance.

“I’ve prepared 500 jelly candies.”

“Yay!”

When Ludmilla clapped her hands, the knights waiting outside brought in sacks of barley.

The crudely made sacks of barley were filled with sweet jelly candies.

The number reached a staggering 500.

It must have been cumbersome to bring them all the way here.

Witnessing the overwhelming quantity, Rue froze on the spot.

Her brain seemed momentarily stopped due to the reward surpassing her expectations.

“Even if she’s a child, how can you give jelly candies as a reward?”

“O-Of course, we’ll separately bestow a monetary reward as well. The candies are just a facade. You’ll manage the monetary reward for her.”

Ludmilla delayed the reward payment, concerned that the scatterbrained fairy might develop a habit of wasting money.

She discreetly hinted that the guardian should manage the reward on her behalf.

Indeed, you are wise.

You can’t entrust a fortune to a little one just like that.

Let me have at it.

“The Hillidar County adjacent to the Hohenberc County will be granted. The Hillidar County will be merged into the Hohenberc County. And a part of the imperial family’s directly governed territory will be incorporated into the Hohenberc County.”

“The Hillidar County… Isn’t it a territory that has become ownerless?”

The Hillidar County had participated in the Racial War with numerous reinforcements.

Unfortunately, the head of the family and all the servants died in battle, leading to its downfall.

There weren’t any collateral relatives to continue the family, so the Hillidar County had fallen into a desolate haunted house.

However, being ownerless meant something other than it was a useless wasteland.

There were long-standing gold mines.

It was also renowned as a fertile granary and had numerous specialty products.

How many nobles had coveted the valuable Hillidar County?

Ultimately, it was predicted that the Valtarian Imperial Family would swallow it, but who would have thought it would be handed over to the Hohenberc family…

“The Hohenberc County will become very vast. Just like the old days when the Hohenberc family was renowned as the founding family of the empire.”

“And your father will be elevated to the rank of Marquis.”

When Ludmilla made the proclamation, I froze like Rue, who had received the jelly candies.

Oh, my goodness!

Will my bald father ascend as a great nobleman governing a vast territory?

The Hohenberc Marquis Family.

It was a name that made my entire body cringe with embarrassment.

Excluding the imperial family and the ducal families representing the Valtarian Empire, wasn’t it the highest rank?

I wondered if my frail father could bear the weight of the Marquis title.

“Next time, work hard for the imperial family and the citizens. Perhaps next time, the Hohenberc family may be granted the all-powerful ducal title.”

“Ah, yes… I will do my best.”

“That’s a good attitude. To become a family worthy of the Valtarian Imperial Family, you naturally need to reach the ducal rank, don’t you?”

“……”

What was that?

Did she have some ulterior motive?

As I answered reluctantly, Ludmilla gave me an alluring smile as she licked her lips.

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