Then I decided to enter another important topic.

  “Aria, could you access Moonlight Daw?” It was the main objective of the second phase of her pilgrimage.

  “Forgive me, your holiness. I have failed. Something unexpected happened.” I could feel that she was disheartened about it. We have to wait for another 5 to 6 years for another opportunity. However, I was not bothered by it. So, I tried to comfort her.

  “Don’t worry. Its existence is just a legend after all.”

  When I saw her remain silent, I looked at Paul. I saw his troubled face. A thought came through me, and I asked them if they encountered any obstacles. It was inside the forbidden area after all.

  “Did you encounter anything strange when you visited that place?”

  “I could not reach it. On the way there, I met Duke Melbon and his knights.”

  “That stubborn man?” It came as a surprise. Although it was located on the border between the Central and Northern regions, the forest cover was predominantly found in the Central region. He should not have been there. It was very famous that he rarely left the North. When the North requested help, he was summoned to the capital. At that time, he refused to bow down to the central nobles. He never wanted to step into the Central region.

  And I found a need to check one more thing. He was never stable to begin with. He could even kill a pregnant woman if needed. That was why we secretly referred to him as a mad beast.

  “Did he hurt you?”

  “Ah, no, he did not. And because of that accident, I could make a deal with him.” She gave me a small smile when she talked about the deal. I knew it was a good deal, at least, from her perspective.

  “I see. May I know what your deal is?”

  “...” Paul looked troubled when she heard my question.

  As for Aria, after she looked back at Paul, she took hold of my hand. “It is also what I wish to inform you of.”

  “…” Lucy, do you know what your mother told me at that time? That was the only instance in which she gave me a detailed account of that revelation. After that, she never disclosed any more details about it, citing the butterfly effect. What she told me about the future was within my speculation; however, the things they decided to do were not something I could accept. Even now…, everyone involved also agreed with me, so you should pursue her to reconsider it.

  “…. Your holiness, this world will be hit by a plague followed by farming in the near future. It can be in five years or 10 years.”

  “…. I presume the reason for your pilgrimage is to prepare countermeasures for it, correct?” At that time, I reflected on her persistence in going on pilgrimage. The things she did, the achievements she gained, the support she gathered, and the preparations she made pointed in that one direction.

  “….. Yes. Your holiness. I asked for the assistance of Marquise Larose and Count Issac in exchange for healing their daughter.” She began to list the things she had done during the pilgrimage.

  “In return, Marquise Larose and Count Issac will sell us the excess grain at the market price.”

  “What did you use to pay them? Is this why you are desperately in need of money?” When we reached that part, I looked at her in concern. From our previous discussion, Aria was short on money to the point that she needed to sell all her personal belongings. Was that the reason she became poor? Or was she poor from the start? If so, how could she pay them? At that time, I still had some personal funds left. Although it wasn't much help, I planned to give it to her. I could no longer allow her to accept bribes indiscriminately.

  “That is one thing. I pay Count Issac with the money from the offering I received. And I pay Marquise Larose with...” She was hesitant at the end, as her words trailed off. Then, she lowered her head to me again.

  Then, would you happen to know what she said to me next? It was outside the norm. At that instant, I realized that your mother, although wise, sometimes lacked common sense. Only in such an instant, that I could feel that she was also just a normal girl.

  “Your Holiness,……….. I used the goddess's blessing for my own selfish reasons. I trade the Holy Water with Marquise Larose.”

  “………… Aria. ……………… First of all, your reasons are not selfish. Secondly, it is for the people. From the goddess’s teaching, the blessing is for everyone. It is the church that is wrong in limiting its access. What you did, in my eyes, is not wrong at all. I believe that Marquise Larose needs that Holy Water for his people, too. I won’t say it is the correct way of doing it. But it is not wrong either. You have not sinned, Aria.”

  Thus, I began to explain things to her in a roundabout way. As you may know, it was the norm for clergy to sell Holy Water. Although it was publicly distributed in exchange for a ‘donation’, at its core, it was a business transaction. The demand always exceeded the supply. Therefore, many clergy members even secretly sold them on the black market at a higher price. That was also how the North survived without actually bowing to the main church. To my shame, I also built up my secret personal fund from it.

  “…………. Thank you for your kind words, Your holiness.” Yet, she took it as if it were my attempt to comfort her. Your mother could be a bit of a challenge to deal with at times. Don’t you think so, Lucy?

  Even Paul looked restless when he saw that. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't find the words to do it. He always follows his principle of not giving too much advice, which was also to blame.

  He always said that Aria should not take advice from her close association. Some opportunist would wiggle their way in and lead her astray. However, he always kept everyone at bay for her. Then, what was the point of it? I really could not understand them. Can you understand them, Lucy?

  Ah, I got sidetracked again. Back to the topic, I interrogated her again.

  “So, what else did you do?”

  “I asked Marquise Larose to help distribute the grain and medicine we collected to other regions in secret.”

  “I see. No wonder he cares so much about you.” So, they worked closely together from the beginning. “... Is this the reason he became your teacher?”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  I was curious about it. Marquise Larose was a difficult man. It was hard to please him. Even before he took over his house, he was invited to be a professor at the Royal High Academy. Yet, he refused it. He was famous for not accepting any students.

  “… I don’t know.”

  “So, did you request anything else from him?”

  “………. I asked him to help procure the medicine supply, too,” she replied to me after looking back at Paul.

  I really want to smack that poker face of his at that time.

  “With your support, I plan to expand the scale to other countries in the future.”

  “………. Aria, … You leave me speechless.” It was too much even from my perspective. Although the main church established representatives in each country, aside from faith and teaching, those representatives operated independently. That was why ten years ago, the main church did not send them any support. She was extending her hand beyond her means.

  Seeing my tired face, she cautiously added.

  “……… during my attempt to reach Moonlight Daw, I also made a deal with Duke Melbon. I asked him to support us when we establish the merchant guild and the sellsword company in the north.”

  “I can understand the need for the merchant guild. Why do you need the sellsword company? It is hard to control them.” Indeed, it was beyond her means. I could understand if it were a merchant guild. It was Marquise Larose's suggestion, and it proved to be a wise decision.

  Then, why, of all the places she chose, did she choose the North? Was she trying to tap the untapped resource in the North? However, that mad beast would likely not allow it. And the risk was too much; many died at the hands of the monster there because of their greed.

  However, regarding the sellsword company, it was a bottomless pit. Some nobles even went bankrupt trying to raise one. And they did not hold chivalry or fealty to you. I looked at Paul. Was it the suggestion from Paul? I thought that at that time. Well, that decision turned out to be one of the greatest we ever made.

  “I…….. during my pilgrimage, I witnessed the fragility of human life. I failed to protect Lucy’s parents and other people. Monsters and beasts are a treat for those people. With all the chaos in the future, I wish I could, at the very least, save a few more of them.”

  “……….. Aria, it seems your pilgrimage has left a lasting impact on you, better or worse. ……………. I won’t deny it. During my time, I never gave it a thought. So, I have no right to comment on your effort. However, it is not good to try to shoulder everything.” I could see that her decision at that time was not made impulsively. It came after her careful consideration. She always feels guilty about your parent, Lucy.

  Sensing the air was getting heavier, I tried to change the topic.

  “How will you pay them?”

  “I will pay them with my money and Holy Water.”

  At that time, I noticed that most of her transaction was done with Holy Water. The value of that transaction was not small. Even with the offering and her personal fund, she would still need a lot more funds. The amount of Holy Water required was enormous. So, I asked if she had any more helpers.

  “….. Aria, where can you get that much Holy Water? Although it is traded at a high price. The supply is limited.”

  “I made them,” I told you, right? Your mother was amazing. Things that took a dozen adults to complete, she could do alone, although she was still young. I did not exaggerate.

  “… How much can you make in a day?”

  “I can make around one hundred in a day. If I solely focus on it, I can make three hundred in a day.” Yet, she nonetheless reported to me as if it were a normal thing.

  For your comparison, during my younger days, I could only make around fifty of them a day, and the quality could not be measured up to hers. That, too, because I had the largest divinity pool as I was the saintess. Yet, she could make several more with her small divinity pool and damaged divinity sea. Even now, I can only make around a hundred of them if I push myself to the limit. Your mother was too much.

  “………… Aria. You are not saying that to reassure me, right?” At that time, I, too, could not believe it. I was not saying she was lying or exaggerating it. However, I had to confirm it.

  “... I dare not, your holiness.”

  I could sense it was the truth. So, I asked her to show it to me.

  “… can you make one for me right now?”

  “… Yes.” Yet, she just lightly touched the surface of the tea in her cup with her finger. Yes, she causally creates Holy Water with the moisture on her fingertip. Then she presented it to me.

  “…. This tiny marble?” After that, I examined it in detail. It was indeed Holy Water; however, the purity, the concentration, and the density were better than those of the one I made.

  “It is the modified version for easier storage, Your Holiness.”

  “... I see. Where did you learn it?” It was new to me. I wondered whether the quality of the saintess candidate’s education had improved without my noticing it. If it were true, I would lose face in front of the younger generation.

  “I learnt about it from the library. Mr. Tuk gave me a book about it,” And it turned out to be that old man who taught her. He never taught me anything when I asked him since I was young. Yet, he always pampered Aria.

  “Please show it to me later.” I carefully place that Holy Water on the table. Then, I decided to drop my pride and ask her to teach me.

  As I felt embarrassed about it, I tried to change the topic. I had to, you know? At that time, Paul was staring at me intently. He did not take his eyes away from me. I felt that he sensed that I was not as good as Aria. “……….. then Aria, this is not all the content of your deal, right?”

  “… I told them to prioritize the support to the South before sending support to the North. The South will suffer the most damage. And my father will make it worse because of his resentment toward the South.”

  “… Yes, Duke Willow…. Iris is also there.” It was understandable. I have long realized his grudge with the South. He was unnaturally hostile to the South. We could not reason to explain it. I have the feeling that Aria knows about it, but she never wants to talk about it.

  Sorry, I keep sidetracking all the time.

  You know, Lucy? At that time, Aria said something that I had never agreed with before. Can you believe it? What makes her think that I can live comfortably with that shame? Even now, I am still unable to accept it. So, please help talk with Aria about it? I can no longer live with this same. Please help your grandma, Lucy.

  “ I ask them to later publicly announce that it was your idea to prepare for it.”

  “Aria!!! I cannot accept it.” I stood up and knocked the chair down. I even hit the table with my two hands. That was how violently I reacted to it. Everyone outside could hear it too.

  “… the church needs you, your holiness. You must rise to power.” Yet, she earnestly pleaded.

  “But, Aria, you. No, I won’t accept it. I will never accept it. It is you. It is not me. I cannot live with this shame.” Who can live with this same? Where can you find a mother who can enjoy all that glory while your daughter suffers?

  “…………… Your holiness. I apologize if I offend you. But it is for the best for everyone. We need you to regain control of the clergy faction.” In panic, she kneeled at my feet. Then she tried to reason with me.

  “…………. What about you, Aria? What about you?” My voice was getting louder and louder. Even with what we went through today,… I think she was already aware of it. The road she was taking would lead her to more despair. Everything was her achievement, everything was her doing, yet she gave me all the credit. What was left for her was disdain, dishonor, humiliation, and hostility.

  “……… I, I am nothing but a liability. ………….. We cannot allow Father to amass more power than this.” Yet, I could feel the resolve in seeing it through. From the very beginning, she never regarded herself as someone who deserved salvation, although it was she who had been bringing salvation to everyone. So, Lucy, you must not let Aria continue down this road.

  “Aria……………, I won’t…………………..” I tried to argue more with her. However, when I saw her eyes, I was at a loss for words. Her determination was too much for me to dissuade lightly. Then, I felt that my body reached its limit. I will fall into a coma shortly. “Haa, let's leave this topic for later. I am too tired.”

  “…………… I understand. I will inject you with the divinity before I leave.” Aria also sensed it.

  “No, need for it today. Please rest, Aria. I, too, want to rest.” I refused her help. It was because I wanted to have some time to think alone. I needed to find a way to change her mind.

  Then, Paul came to my rescue.

  “Milady, it seems you also have the talent for upsetting the people.” He came to stand closely behind Aria. After he helped Aria get up. He looked back at me. “…. Saintess, please rest well. No need to feel down too much. I will take care of Milady.”

  “… I will leave it to you. You have my gratitude.”

  I took up his offer. He has always been a reliable figure for us after all.

  After they left, I began to brainstorm on how to change Aria’s mind until I fell into a coma.