Chapter 68 – Saintess Candidate

Whoosh!

Hanna’s state after accepting Pheidippides’ unstable Primal Spirit God was similar to having unleashed the Eightfold Annihilation.

Moreover, thanks to the Guarantee of the Righteous Will effect applied when Lee Hanseong possessed her, Hanna’s Grade soared to the level of 4-Star through Second Stage Transcendence.

However, from Hanna’s perspective, it was as if the Starlight of a foreign being had invaded her body, even if there was a Connection Point.

Crack.

“Ugh…!”

Rebellion was inevitable.

Of course, since Lee Hanseong immediately suppressed the rebellion with Primordial Chaos Gang Qi, the pain was only momentary.

‘Whew, that was close.’

His heart trembled at the thought that if he had been even a little later, Pheidippides’ history would have ended in vain, but fortunately, he made it in time.

Pheidippides’ Primal Spirit God, using Hanna’s body as an anchor, had barely stopped its Annihilation and entered a state of recovery.

At that moment, someone called Hanna’s name with a worried voice.

“Sister! What was that just now…?”

The face of the boy Hanna had saved in the previous Historical Alteration came into view.

The moment Pheidippides possessed her was right after the last point observed in the previous Historical Alteration.

The moment Hanna, who had recovered through the Miracle of Regeneration performed by Bishop Candidate Alex Million, had just woken up.

“Has the Holy Spirit descended upon you?”

“……”

In Alex’s eyes, Pheidippides’ Primal Spirit God was a human-shaped figure made of light.

It was not strange for him to have such a misconception, as a being emitting an overwhelming Grade, something he had only felt briefly from the Pope of the Church of Radiance, had suddenly appeared and taken residence in Hanna’s body.

Moreover, since the Sun Constellation and the Brilliance Constellation governed closely related concepts, it was not easy to distinguish the differences between the Spirits belonging to the two Constellations without detailed knowledge.

Lee Hanseong first vaguely answered while immersing himself in Hanna’s memories.

“Am I… alive?”

Hanna’s memories ended with her fainting while blocking the assassin until the very end.

So, she shouldn’t know what happened afterward.

“Ah, I asked an unnecessary question to someone who just woke up.”

Only then did Alex realize he had chosen the wrong person to question, and instead of resolving his doubts, he explained the current situation to Hanna.

He said the assassin had been defeated and that he had healed her with the Miracle of Regeneration.

“…So that’s what happened. Thank you.”

“No, I should be the one thanking you. If it weren’t for you, Sister, I would have already been killed by the assassins’ hands.”

Lee Hanseong reacted as if hearing this for the first time, even though he already knew the content, while in one corner of his mind, he used Parallel Consciousness to assess his current state of possessing Hanna.

【Hanna (★★☆) (Guarantee of the Righteous Will Applied)】

General Skills: <Theology Knowledge>, <Vow>, <Bewilderment>, <Endurance>.

Rare Skills: <???>, <???>.

General Awakening Skills: 《Healing》, 《Defense: Protection》.

Vocation Awakening Skill: 《???》

【Lee Hanseong (★★★☆☆) (Transcendence, Guarantee of the Righteous Will Applied)】

Rare Skill: <Healing Sacred Art>

Unique Skill: <Unyielding Indomitability>, <Geass>.

Legendary Skill: <Primordial Chaos Gang Qi>.

General Awakening Skills: 《Transcendence》, 《Consecutive Transcendence》, 《Group Transcendence》

Vocation Awakening Skill: 《???》

With the change in the subject of the Historical Alteration, there was a slight change in the types of Skills that were Unlocked.

Unyielding Indomitability and Geass remained, but the Stamina Major Enhancement and Prayer of the Phoenix Skills, which Hanna’s Skills had not been included in, disappeared.

Instead, Healing Sacred Art was newly Unlocked.

‘Huh?’

But suddenly, one strange point came to mind.

‘Then how did I use Parallel Consciousness?’

Just now, he had naturally used Pheidippides’ Skill, Parallel Consciousness, through Hanna’s body.

Even though he had lost control over Pheidippides due to the change in the subject of the Historical Alteration.

‘Did Pheidippides’ Holy Light Body, residing in Hanna’s body, function like a Skill Circuit, allowing me to use his Skills?’

Considering that the Starlight consumed to activate the Skills belonged solely to Hanna, this was a plausible hypothesis.

If the Starlight from Pheidippides’ Primal Spirit God, which had just found stability, had decreased, it wouldn’t have been strange for instability to return.

Come to think of it, the legend of the Guarantee of the Righteous Will also mentioned receiving the Blessing of a Divine Spirit.

‘If we broadly consider Spirits, they fall within the category of Divine Spirits as spoken of in Japanese Shinto, so it makes sense.’

It seemed that the Guarantee of the Righteous Will also played a part in allowing Hanna to borrow Pheidippides’ Skills.

To test further, he activated Skills that wouldn’t be too conspicuous.

Whoosh.

‘Fatigue Ignore.’

The fatigue that had unknowingly accumulated in the body due to rapid regeneration, albeit through a Miracle, dulled.

Hoo.

‘Lung Capacity Enhancement.’

The breath drawn in and exhaled became deeper.

Ziiing.

‘Aerial View.’

A bird’s-eye view, as if a bird were looking down from the sky, unfolded in his mind.

Thump!

‘Two Hearts.’

A second heart formed in the Imaginary Space, adding a new life.

Kiiiiing!

‘Taiji Constitution.’

The circulation of Taiji took root in the body, sprouting resistance to spacetime.

However, these effects were all temporary, applying only while consuming Starlight and disappearing immediately once the supply of Starlight was cut off.

As it was literally borrowed power, it was different from Skills acquired directly.

‘But that doesn’t mean it’s meaningless. There’s also a saying that debt, in a broad sense, is an asset, right?’

Originally, Divine power itself was about borrowing power from a Constellation, so it wasn’t much different.

[Conditions met. Rare Skill <???> Blooms into <Borrowed Power>.]

The realization gained from repeating the process of borrowing Pheidippides’ Skills several times solidified into a single Skill, engraved onto Hanna’s body.

At that moment, a new sensation came to Lee Hanseong, who was activating the Historical Alteration.

Flash!

The sensation of the path of possibilities leading to Hanna’s future greatly expanding.

[Keyword ‘Saintess’ has been opened.]

[Spirit Hanna’s growth limit has been expanded.]

Focusing on it, a System Message that hadn’t been visible before came into view.

It was a Keyword showing the direction Hanna should take.

“Saintess…”

Perhaps hearing the mutter that escaped unknowingly, Alex, who was moving alongside, reacted.

“Do you wish to become a Saintess? Certainly, with the Miracle you showed, you could become a Saint Candidate.”

“Me…?”

“Of course, to become a true Saintess, you would have to go through numerous proofs, but if it’s just about becoming a candidate, I think I can help.”

According to Alex’s explanation, to become a Saint Candidate, a recommendation from a Bishop-level figure and proof of Miracle manifestation were required.

Although Alex was still only a Bishop Candidate, thanks to having performed the Miracle of Regeneration this time, he would be able to become a Bishop immediately upon returning to the Diocese.

So, if Alex recommended her, it was entirely possible for Hanna to become a Saint Candidate.

“Moreover, if what I saw is correct, the Holy Spirit even descended upon you, so the qualification proof should go smoothly.”

“Come to think of it, you asked about the Holy Spirit when I woke up too.”

“Yes, it seems the Lord of Radiance looked favorably upon your sacrifice.”

Having experienced the core doctrine of sacrifice firsthand when performing the Miracle of Regeneration, Alex’s expression held upright conviction.

The knight of the Million family guarding Alex nodded silently, as if agreeing with his opinion.

“I hope so.”

Smiling with Hanna’s face, Lee Hanseong decided the direction of this Historical Alteration.

‘All the Clues to complete the Three-star promotion have been gathered.’

The Borrowed Power Skill, touching the essence of Divine power.

The connection with a Bishop (to be) who could recommend her as a Saint Candidate, just in time.

And even Pheidippides’ Primal Spirit God, mistaken for the Holy Spirit.

All of this pointed to Hanna needing to become a Saint Candidate.

* * *

A few hours later.

Arriving at the church of the Million Diocese of the Church of Radiance, Alex’s party, escorted by knights, knocked boldly on the church door.

Thud- Thud-.

“Announce that Bishop Candidate Alex Million has arrived.”

As the knight relayed the message, the gatekeeper hurried inside to inform them of their arrival.

A moment later, from inside the church, Priest Prang, who was handling the duties of the main altar in place of the vacant Bishop, came out to greet them.

“Welcome. Young Master Alex.”

“Is that so? You don’t look very pleased.”

Since the other Bishop Candidate suspected of sending the assassin was the priest right before his eyes, Alex’s reaction was not kind.

But Priest Prang responded skillfully, not revealing any connection to the assassin.

“Frankly, it doesn’t look good that you visited accompanied by secular knights, but if my reaction has made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”

“We were attacked by bandits on the way. The knights are a bit sensitive, so there was no choice. No matter how much I told them there wouldn’t be an attack inside the church, they wouldn’t leave.”

“Attack… you say? It’s truly fortunate you arrived safely.”

Even when Alex directly brought up the attack, Prang only pretended not to know.

Responding to Prang’s feigned ignorance, Alex got straight to the point.

“But, how long are you going to call me Young Master? Isn’t it about time to start calling me Your Grace?”

“What do you mean? It hasn’t been decided yet who will become Bishop.”

“No, it’s already decided.”

Swish.

Suddenly, Alex drew the sword hanging at the knight’s waist.

“Why the sudden sword…?”

Prang quietly drew up Divine power so he could immediately block if Alex suddenly attacked.

But Alex’s sword was not aimed at Priest Prang, but at his own arm.

“Watch closely.”

Slice! Thud.

The severed hand fell to the floor from the wrist.

As Prang was bewildered by the unexpected situation.

Whoosh!

“Regeneration: Recovery.”

A pure white light burst from Alex’s hand, which had released the sword.

Soon, a hand regrew from the severed wrist.

“You said I couldn’t become Bishop yet because I couldn’t use Miracles. That you, who could perform various Divine arts even with insufficient Divine power, were more suitable as Bishop.”

“…That’s right.”

“But as you can see, I can now use Divine arts too. And the Miracle of Regeneration, fitting for a Bishop-level.”

Originally, to learn Divine arts and perform the Miracle of Regeneration required decades of training.

Because one had to start from the lower-level Sacred Arts as a foundation and gradually raise the stages step by step.

But as with Alex, there were exceptions.

“……”

One who had caused a Miracle even once could thereafter reproduce that Miracle through Divine arts as much as they wanted.

Moreover, learning higher-level Divine arts through a Miracle in that way naturally shortened the speed of learning lower Divine arts.

Having witnessed the Miracle of Regeneration, Prang now realized he could no longer stop Alex from becoming Bishop and bowed his head deeply.

Looking at Prang, Alex continued as if declaring victory.

“So tell me. Who is more suitable for the Bishop’s seat now?”

“…You are. Bishop Candidate Alex.”

At Prang’s acknowledgment, Alex nodded and smiled.

Originally, Alex had higher support between the two Bishop Candidates.

Otherwise, Prang wouldn’t have gone so far as to hire assassins to kill Alex.

“You seem to know well, so that’s enough.”

“……”

That day, Prang voluntarily withdrew from the Bishop Candidacy.

However, just because only Alex remained as a candidate didn’t mean he could become Bishop immediately.

To become a Bishop, an ordination ceremony was required.

“The ordination ceremony seems to be held a month later. This isn’t a bad thing for you either, Sister. To become a Saint Candidate, a test is needed.”

“A test?”

“Yes, not only Divine arts but also knowledge in various other areas will be required. At least knowledge at the level of general education.”

Since Hanna’s knowledge level, having lived as a nun in a small rural convent, was almost blank except for theology, she needed to newly learn the basic state of the continent.

“A month from now, when I become Bishop, I will recommend you as a Saint Candidate right away, so please learn the necessary knowledge by then.”

“Understood.”

Thus, for a month, Lee Hanseong decided to dedicate himself to learning the knowledge Hanna needed to possess as a Saint Candidate.

However, regarding Divine arts themselves, thanks to the experience of having already performed the Miracles of Healing and Protection, he learned them on the very first day.

[Conditions met. Rare Skill <???> Blooms into <Divine art>.]

Since Lee Hanseong already had Healing Sacred Art among his Skills, the introduction itself wasn’t difficult.

Afterward, he spread parallel thinking to the extreme, absorbing knowledge about the Otherworld’s geography, history, politics, etc., like a sponge.

By the time he gained confidence that he had grasped at least the state of the Arcadia Continent where Hanna was situated.

“I appoint Alex Million as Bishop of the Million Diocese.”

Finally, a full month had passed, and Alex was ordained as Bishop.

And as soon as the ordination ceremony ended, Alex recommended Hanna as a Saint Candidate as promised.

“I, Alex Million, in my capacity as Bishop of the Million Diocese, recommend Sister Hanna as a Saint Candidate.”

The gazes of the church officials, including Alex, turned toward Hanna.

‘The preparation is already sufficient.’

Amidst the many gazes, she stepped forward with confident steps.

Her attitude showed she was confident no matter what test came.