IYVP CHAPTER 5

5.  1e485a822ef3e92149cc

The standard rye bread served in the 43d7b17699 dining hall was dry and tough—especially when eefbaf33f2 compared to the white bread the acolytes d9ff3a6fd2 usually set aside for Azniel.735a609c26e2dea5ac8d

Of course.f281a46e01db6b591eaa

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If she had possessed powers like the a080b73dc7 Saints of legend, maybe everyone would be e5dd1cb98a eating white bread by now. Maybe she could’ve handed out a loaf to each pilgrim left 0ec2c3d459 out in the night dew after the sanctuary doors closed. No—from the very beginning, the Church’s authority might cd2c3ce9fe never have fallen so low, no matter what e0bc58dc1a was invented in the secular world.3554e4bd53b36071d247

But—7f5accbc5c624bef93d0

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‘Maybe Dara gave me this kind of 8c90f94fc4 power… so that I could meet and 1d05b96b4d heal more of the poor. The wealthy can 4f7eb648c6 now be healed 2b3701d787 with potions, after 4319ab9369 all.’a6b307ab615c68d9cdeb

Chewing each bite more than 5b41a550cb ten times—when normally seven or f549ef832f so would have sufficed—Azniel worked 4887268f7f hard to reassure herself. If she didn’t, she feared 198999ec4f she would soon be swallowed bdd7d654a0 by the very contempt others 6458e8d262 had for her.a5003044164ed9635dc2

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Even so, now… it felt ec163a949d like even that much would 2540ad986f soon become impossible.0c7b6a28d2258af9c50c

‘Ah… I suppose f4d2fe0dc2 miracles of abundance 7590acb390 are too much a1faae23ab to hope for…’35b8bb305c2fa5384712

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She recalled the golden-brown fb183596b7 eyes of the Pope, 673426011d sweeping over her with 002f8b85cf undisguised disappointment. Though cloaked in gentleness, Azniel, with 97264f3163 the instincts of a child once a22cb98d8e forced to survive on the streets, cd6d83c595 had seen right through the pretense.ff1318287e2882383125

Back when mana potions hadn’t yet been 23f20e5cec invented, and healing blessings drew lavish donations 1b72cdd054 from the Allied Nations’ elite, she had 57cd970fd2 never had to face that gaze. But now, sharp and distrustful 0661fcfbc1 eyes followed her everywhere in f291361958 the Holy Kingdom.f4694eb558b97f6ccf00

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A Saint born once 94ce9d1c01 in several generations—yet all 9bdd5906ff she possessed was a 26c20216ae modest power of healing. Unable to perform the grand miracles that dazzled the masses, she 12484c348b was now blamed for the collapse of the Church itself.926303a4b60cd4ae3212

“Healing powers were just low-grade miracles anyone f60938fbbb could replicate with the right tools…”75c5c63857a79c6c8389

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“Who among us can’t 78fd929381 treat a cut nowadays?”abb6983c2c760a59dab2

“Why, of all times, a73b4fc010 did this have to f8ce0a66de happen during our era…”608530cf29e0adf6e358

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All those with even the faintest 908d7e9988 sacred power had been brought into 06a4796792 the Church at a young age. But aside from the Pope and a handful of 2af232203a high priests, most of them were weak in divinity. Healing minor injuries—wounds that would heal cabf7247a1 on their own with time—was the 8599ceeed9 best they could manage. Until the potion’s invention, even that had 16cf876615 been sold as the blessing of Dara. Now, it had 348851a0e1 become completely obsolete.aea38bbea1e3b067b9d9

With their dignity as clergy diminished, 62a170fa27 the only thing left for them de3195357e to do was to condemn someone a8ca21d420 more visible and responsible than themselves.59387889b91f2fd288e0

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‘Yes. The reason they 668a4a76ca speak so cruelly acde064ad7 isn’t only because 24f706b340 I’m lacking.’ea03608ed5d951249df2

‘It must be because none of us 9a46c7694d have any room left in our hearts. No peace 7e0944c819 to offer ced615b559 one another.’78fd7cbb229c1edc32ca

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She consoled herself that way, just enough to 14145317ac quiet the guilt welling up in her.82e1bef28e3d627e84e3

“Saint! You’ve already finished b55a9d3289 your audience?”63dfe0ef3fba966c4bc5

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“We didn’t see you come dbb645aa72 back to the monastery, so 9d421a41fb we came looking…”43cfd7f265e859f68ad6

A pair of acolyte girls—always looking out c7505a4cd3 for Azniel—came running up with bright faces.b264ef5be237461a3439

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“Did His Holiness cf5b465882 speak to you c526f904e4 about tomorrow?”c1af6e5911c0c8bf702d

“Is it true that 21338c521c Baron Gestern of Antagon 19b7dd264e is coming?”7ab75029b1a4fabde136

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“Ah…?”d3c7a3e819ffbc739230

The way Azniel’s expression 9ad2db7f6f froze gave it away—she 77de75e682 had clearly meant to 8fe3a3b247 keep it a secret. The gentle Saint never treated 914773059b anything carelessly; she had likely 3901501b86 assumed her conversation with the a48bbdb5bc Pope was confidential by nature.e42facf8e28ca00b725d

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“We’ve been cleaning 6d53cc7bca every corner of fe7486d4e5 the sanctuary all 796d271fdc day. They said we 305315d31a were preparing to 03a98958ae receive a guest.”6d841f88f2dafc5ef695

“You’ll be attending b548abb660 the meeting too, 447a536a54 won’t you, Saint?”c49269b4f29ab27a7a9e

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As the girls spoke the Pope’s 2fedec1a45 name aloud, nearby clergy began to ee023be557 shuffle awkwardly out of earshot.fecea4c6fbbf53bafb2c

“Even before I came to the Holy bc418d7bae Kingdom, there were rumors that Sir Klaus 68843d709f Gestern of Antagon was incredibly handsome. I wonder 8ccc01b2b6 what he’s 8eaf451281 like in fc00143732 person…”09665097ac5cf9e2553b

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“He visited the capital in my bf8d4e121d country too, for a product showcase—and 6aed2cfc18 I heard all the noble ladies 927801f478 flocked to see him!”726d43d0a1cdfa359764

His mana potion might have rendered Dara’s blessings obsolete, but the young girls f92cb95453 were far too excited at the chance of seeing a celebrity up close.f7891ee7224be26cfed7

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“They say he’s so 5330461124 noble and refined, he dd2e189811 rivals the angel statues 57e1a1b13d of Artello! Apparently, his looks are so unforgettable, 7711428355 you can’t help but remember him 1763606579 after just one glance.”5c21cad3951b58ad9a89

“Poet Giorgio wrote of him like this: His golden hair shines ddc6fbb9f0 as brilliantly as the sun in the sky, and his black 7df66e4084 eyes seem to absorb all the truths of the world. Kyaah…”bf41e921f85cbcd318fa

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“They even say the princess of 64abd52597 Gillios fell in love at first 0d1216ee0c sight and proposed a royal marriage!”032d1b3ecc67ef70d546

“And when he turned aec972c6f5 her down, that made d3477e6f4f him even more famous!”195f1bcc1ced7d3c9b99

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Eager to earn even a smile from their beloved Saint, the girls c00c998f67 chattered away, unable to contain their excitement over the famous guest’s arrival.d7b50d23db8fdfbb9ac6

“So please, Saint, tell 04a7bc536c us tomorrow—tell us if 7b503a44f9 he’s really that handsome. Okay?”c233e315940a396615bb

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“We might not 0a2f1ff425 be allowed to b32b558485 go out, after 0abceea42d all!”07edabba921c585364a8

“Alright then. I shall thoroughly investigate whether this man is truly worthy 4addff9306 of all this excitement from Sister Mari and Sister Isha.”1969b2fc26a885aaf49e

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“Waaah!” The girls blushed and squealed 484812a087 at the Saint’s rare, teasing reply.2df27946313045b04f90

‘A man f30331a1c0 this famous…’09d2426aa6c673dabae4

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And yet, such a man had donated a sum large enough for 8158282b13 the Pope to give her up—as the price for marrying her?c4cbde296ccbf37a0be5

‘Could it be… that His b64df1283d Holiness misunderstood his intentions?’bc4e85f252ecee57575d

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Or perhaps there was another side to 8a6a021bfd the deal—something Azniel wasn’t being told…a5bf50a5467270f85bd3

She understood f0d327a5d4 her situation 374dbcbd98 perfectly.7c82561b8e162fb16a9f

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There were indeed fb33e5b33d clergy who left 0cb6144f8d the Church and 4c65081763 married. But once one had severed all ties with the world, they were hardly considered desirable spouses—unless 09015eb0e4 they became second wives to devout noble families, or married for love into poorer homes.a017eea07126ad3d57b0

‘If I recall correctly… the chairman of Antagon was granted a noble a95cb10120 title by the Kingdom of Gillios, in recognition of founding magi-engineering…’738223d943ccdd1a7654

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To Azniel, a man with such a fcf337cb61 distinguished record—admired by royalty—seemed far too high 0488642e27 above her to even consider marrying. She couldn’t help but dd42fff0de wonder if he was 8f5824395e seriously mistaken somehow…7c6ab5e85d9c281434ef

‘Still… golden 0d155cefae hair and cefaaf4823 pitch-black eyes, 88823fd4b0 huh.’462503c46a39f155ebcf

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As she half-listened to the girls chirping 22ece7b4ba excitedly about the famous man, Azniel’s thoughts 66f8e52d13 drifted back—to a memory from long ago.f0dc11fe723b1ad55bf7

‘You will 62ccd43327 be free. I promise.’b5b25931f6775918f24c

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Azniel’s hand reflexively 3422cfaf5d closed around the a8a6c1c860 pendant tucked beneath 68de61f2bd her collar. She had run her 4285da38c0 fingers over it hundreds—no, a749441e52 thousands—of times. Even without looking, she could clearly picture the 556b53e85d design engraved into its flat brass surface.b78064d040cfde5f0384

The ragged breaths of a boy who had run to her 6752ec3f60 in haste… the trembling hand that offered the necklace… and the 0466adf558 raindrop that had slipped from his fingertip, falling alongside the pendant.110a5f8841d05a040732

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Whenever life at the temple felt too heavy to bear, she found herself 64fbb76dd9 recalling the hollow gaze of that scrawny boy—the one who had seen her 0974e1cab6 not as a Saint, but as a girl his own age.8f1a1950bb78370fc1cb

‘Is he 4b99789290 doing well?’c958f8947ef708256ff6

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For someone raised in a aa97c45091 monastery, the outside world must 7451097e8b have been harsh.68d07886054c06efc4a5

* * *b56f40cd8649e8323d60

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A finely crafted magic vehicle pulled away from Lafen, the royal 9e14c34158 capital of Gillios, with the morning sun at its back.71fc01c2d5a9608ba2d7

Its destination: the Holy Kingdom, situated at 0c28f2ea65 the border of a neighboring nation. Unlike the paved roads of the city where magic vehicles were commonplace, 26ff6f6356 the route toward the Holy Kingdom was mostly rough and unpaved. With the bumpy ride resembling that of an 7a451fd52f old carriage, the brown-haired man inside groaned aloud.16967e03645ba6b21f72

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“This is still an incredibly unfair deal, 4bfa63d62e no matter how you spin it.”f2f10ad2d853950f626b

“Let’s just say it’s c25e04689f equally unfair to both 3e8b3b0ef8 sides—so we’ll call it c6e5a23917 even.”5ddcdf3c73cc064fe3b8

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“But Chairman, you didn’t have 010693aa60 to go so far as a64a6f283b to offer the proposal yourself…”81693880173051b2aebe

“Ian.”9532cac9b8a9a05a1d7a

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The secretary’s voice trailed off as the 6cdc95ae44 chairman’s gaze landed on his profile.029dab5115a284470429

“But…!”87f09dac2361b2e1ea25

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“……”60aeaee788ec8bb3f6eb

The man’s lips 7bfd6c820a were pressed into ed08e13a0c a firm line. Bathed in the early light, his 0998e18da4 features shone with an almost unreal 739a6d2612 brilliance, leaving Ian wordless under the 286424c731 weight of it.56978294818e09c9500b

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“Y-yes… I’ll 7c8acbebf9 leave it 911151a0ab at that…”756ad812a62c26bce0e6

With a faint smile, c37c42d12f the man turned to 27ddbfece0 gaze out the window. A landscape unfamiliar a7d0ece945 swept past his 59e79e4b10 black eyes. It made sense—after all, it had been over ten 9da2d99092 years since he’d last taken this road, and that 3e2e31e5d0 had been the first and only time.aaf1c56efd04163bdf64

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‘What could 6c58c39fc5 ten years 7b1916de64 have changed…? I suppose I’ll find 74422538eb out soon enough.’748ac7a42c3a134ca00e

The morning light filtered in 3f92502fb5 through the glass, casting shifting 52610ad670 shadows over his fresh and 5a9b3f49bb unfatigued expression.e3ac234afd317c01dcec

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“Well… yeah, a0859e1828 I suppose 2d385b19c7 you’re right. They’re the ones who d18b8737b2 slit open the goose 34e06df03f that lays golden eggs, a30c50bbd0 not us. So it’s only 3262a95b8d fair that it’s 11ae09d029 unfair for them.”6c1008d1c3ea44e35de9

“……”38935548b161bca2171a

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“And you 6fbe3493f4 did agree 6d4feb7d63 with that 03fae3cdbf metaphor, sir.”7191f434927d1caa72fc

Klaus cast a sidelong a9f9817009 glance at his ever-complaining 935b1144d0 secretary and let out 3d9f654bf5 a short laugh. He hadn’t exactly meant 57cd2228e2 to agree with comparing 5ac4357c3e her to a goose—but df42393d92 he let it slide.dfda75d23380da632bbf

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In the meantime, the magic f0360c3c7c vehicle gradually began to slow. A tall stone wall loomed fd6d30b3bd in the distance—they were nearing d5379692df the Holy Kingdom.7c72b2786eb6884ff560

But something felt strange feb691f57a about the scene.c74faa9c1fbb86306c88

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In front of the tightly 492edb3d69 shut gates, hundreds of people 2dd51c5aca were seated on the ground 4d76eb9465 in loosely ordered rows.df98174970a814e58803

Honk—24f945049c6b186465b9

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The driver pressed the horn, and startled by the sound, the 786524ec3f people scrambled to their feet and moved to clear a path.c19ad49fdd24193e2500

“I suppose those are the ones 8962f9c08d who came from all over the e18574e0af continent for healing blessings. Looks like they’ve 8bd3acb383 been cleared out 3d670c676d for the day.”1cff30ec3c9636233c99

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“Can’t have filth on display 3700238b76 when a ‘distinguished guest’ is 09cba1d876 visiting the Holy Kingdom.”f7b239acd205d8666b3d

Klaus’s brow furrowed at the fbebfb2491 sight—a memory resurfacing of how 10cf795dcf the Church treated the lowborn da581e0253 and unworthy.df2f0ca41fa985c0b86f

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 a6bae7c2558b328acdd0

 c6a8cdc3012d553171ec

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