Ailette could see Hestio and Ephael's faces through the semi-transparent display of the system message.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before."
It couldn't be helped, but she did not ask for their understanding. Instead, she drew clear lines on what she was sorry about. She had no reason to apologize for not being a follower of Order and Goodness. And now that they understood each other's stances, it was time for them to go their separate ways.
Hestio and Ephael were still in shock, so it fell on Ailette to seal the end of their friendship. Ailette's light green eyes looked sad as they shifted their gaze down to the floor, and her voice sounded just as blue when she spoke again.
"You will have trouble with your religious order if you keep staying here. I will send you back to the Vatican right away. Hestio, Ephael. It's beenâ"
It had been a true pleasure and joy to be with them. But before she could finish, Hestio cut her off harshly.
"Are you telling me the saintess of the Divine Advent has been a heathen all along?"
The tough young, good-looking man sounded particularly cold, such that Ailette, and even Ephael, flinched upon hearing his words.
"Wow," he interjected cynically. "I've been tricked." He continued, "I can't believe how I've been played for a fool all this time."
His disbelief at her betrayal dug into Ailette's heart and made her breath shorten into quick bursts.
"Come on, Hestio! You don't have to be so harsh! Ailette, he's just in shock right now. I'll try to calm him downâ"
"God has fooled us all."
Hestio's remark immediately changed the atmosphere in the room.
"What?"
Ephael turned around to ask in surprise, while Ailette raised her head to look at Hestio. Only then did she realize his amber eyes harbored no resentment against her.
Suddenly, Hestio started talking as if a dam had broken inside him. "We were raised as orphans inside the Vatican, so we had no choice but to become either a priest or a holy knight. Honestly, I practiced faith because that was the only way to survive there. And yet, I never doubted God's existence for a second. Do you know why that is?"
Ailette kept her silence.
"Come on, I thought you'd know. It's because I experienced a miracle when I was little."
"What miracle?"
"The one in Count Orshe's mansion."
She didn't know what to say.
"I thought God had given me a miracle when a saintess saved us through Divine Advent."
Ailette felt bewildered and was lost for words when she heard Hestio talking about her.
"But as it turns out, she doesn't follow Order and Goodness. I've been fooled all this time!" Hestio continued his emotional outburst. "The same goes for the recent incident. Ailette, you saved us and the entire world on the Litennial Plains, but Order and Goodness branded you a heathen! What kind of heathen creates miracles? Don't you find that ironic?"
She could only listen in silence.
"I've been serving the wrong faith all this time. It's ridiculous."
The holy knight let out a dejected laugh. Hestio was crushedâeverything that he believed in since childhood had come crashing down around him. They all felt somber as he listened to the anguish in his voice.
Ailette couldn't find the right words to comfort her friend, even though her lips kept moving in an effort to say something.
Hestio spoke once again to help her out. "Ailette. I don't know how you think of me, but I consider you and Tesilid to be my friends. And, you see, I can't afford to side with a religion that persecutes my friends. I don't have many to spare."
"Hestio..." Ailette trailed off.
Then Ephael chimed in as well. "I'm with him on this one. It feels like I chose the wrong god. Do you think it would help if I start believing in the right one now?"
"Wait..." Ailette finally managed to say something. "Does that mean you will convert?"
"Yeah," Ephael responded without hesitation. "I don't want to go back to the Vatican."
"Well, I'll consider it," replied Hestio.
This was quite a grave topic, so Ailette was moved that they responded so openly to her suggestion at all. She unconsciously brought her hand over her lips and, after some time, her quivering voice escaped from behind it.
"Ephael... Hestio... I really appreciate it, guys. Thank you so much."
"Don't mention it."
"I mean... I only said I'm considering it."
"Welcome to Voiceism," Ailette said, ignoring Hestio entirely. "I should tell you that the god of Order and Goodness has left this world a long time ago, which means there is no hope for that religion. Lord Voice is the future, so you both made the right choice today."
"Hey! I didn't say I'm joining yet!"
Despite his words, Ailette had the ability to read one's inner thoughts.
â¬Â«System» You have converted a heathen into a follower.â
â¬Â«System» You have converted a heathen into a follower.â
She noticed two conversion alerts, so she knew Hestio was simply too shy to admit his change of heart. The three managed to salvage their friendship, but it was too early to celebrate since one of them was still missing.
"I'm not sure how Tesilid might take all this."
"Yeah, he's a pretty devout guy."
Hestio and Ephael expressed their concerns and asked for Ailette's opinion.
"Do you think he'll be fine?"
They were counting on the Divine Emissary's omniscience, but Ailette wasn't sure either.
"I hope so... But that's just my wishful thinking," she answered hesitantly. "Honestly, I don't have a clue how Tez might react since he is..."
Not the Tesilid Argente she knows. She didn't finish her sentence. Ephael and Hestio noticed her sorrow from the silence and tried to console her.
"We'll convince Tesilid when we see him."
"Yeah, we'll make sure he doesn't do anything rash."
But it only made Ailette ask them another question out of concern.
"Then you will be branded as apostates, and the religious order will try to kill you. Are you okay with that?"
"Well, I'm sure you'll keep us safe."
"Yeah. I'm counting on you, Your Eminence."
They did flinch at the thought of the religious order hunting them down, but they wouldn't go back on their word. It made Ailette smile again. She took a deep breath and spoke with determination.
"Let's see if we can talk this over with Tesilid in two days."
â
The weather was particularly pleasant that day. There was not a cloud in the sky, and the radiant rays of sunshine reached the earth like blessings from above. I got up early in the morning and went out to the balcony to enjoy the sights around the castle's courtyard. The autumn breeze brushed through my hair as I breathed in the cool, crisp air it brought with it.
"The air is so nice here. I almost feel like it's helping clear my mind."
«Did you get some sleep?» Agnes asked.
"No." I didn't pretend to be fine. "I was so excited about seeing the most handsome face in the world again that I could hardly fall asleep."
I peppered the truth with some humor.
«Everything will be fine.»
"Yes. Thank you, Agnes."
I lowered my right hand from the cross-shaped pendant and moved it over to my left hand. The matching rosary ring Tesilid and I got was still on my ring finger. The artifact had the ability to amplify one's divine power according to the influence of one's religious order. It was now synced with the system to tell me the current state of Voiceism.
â¬Â«Status Information» Voiceism
Main god: The Voice that Shapes the World
Grand priest: Ailette Rodeline
Class: D+ (â½ Details)
Percentage of the population: 0.00012% (E)
Number of Tier 8 followers: Two (A)
Registered saints: Two, including Agnes Azlette (B)
Number of parishes: One (F)
Note: The establishment of the Church of Saint Agnes and the efforts in stopping the Doomsday event has greatly increased the percentage of followers in the population. An explosive growth in the number of followers is expected following the designation of Voiceism as the official religion of the Duchy of Heathfenrir.â
There was a need to spread the name of Voiceism far and wide before it got adopted as the official religion of the duchy, and that was the job I meant to carry out today.
"Your Eminence."
I turned around upon hearing a gentle voice call me. It was Edgar, who wasted no time updating me on some important news.
"A number of holy knights from the holy kingdom appeared near the southern gates of the castle via teleportation just now."
"I see. So, they are here." I paused for a moment and then asked, "Is he there?"
"Yes, Your Eminence."
"Then I'd better get going."
I started to dress in the clothes Edgar had just graciously provided. Since I no longer belonged to the religion of Order and Goodness, I needed a new uniform.
It was an outfit of sky blue and white fabric adorned with golden tassels, and overall was far fancier and more elegant than my old uniform.
â¬The Scale that Judges Souls enjoys your new look.â
â¬The Voice that Shapes the World beams with pride upon seeing Voiceism's superior uniform.â
I put the white chlamys cloak over my left arm and shoulder and finally stepped out of the door. My colleagues from the knight division were waiting for me in the hallway.
"Hey, division commander. Good morning."
"Are you all ready?"
"We came to escort you, big Sis."
"L-let me stand on your right side."
I looked at Ephael, Hestio, Ash, and Hilde in their new uniforms and remarked with a smile, "This really makes me feel like I'm being escorted for once."
"Well, guarding the Divine Emissary happens to be one of the Silver Citadel knight division's duties."
"Oh, you're right. I almost forgot because I'm the most powerful among us."
Hilde let out a light chuckle at my barb at Hestio.
I then made a serious face and barked a command. "Knight division of the Silver Citadel, move out toward the heathen judgment officers."
â
The boulevard that traversed the fertile farmlands ended at a magnificent gate, the path lined with plane trees stood that tall on either side like two rows of mighty guardians. The autumn leaves they shed created a lush carpet of yellow and orange that was perfect for welcoming any visitors traveling toward the southern gate of Feronsa, the capital city of the Duchy of Heathfenrir. A number of holy knights were standing by the area, seemingly ready to lay a siege on the castle.