Holy Nation (1)
The enormous Imperial Court of the Holy Nation's capital.
Before a round table, high-ranking individuals were gathered for a conference.
At the head was the Pope, the leader, and his son, the High Priest Tyrone, as well as the family heads of the families wielding significant influence in the Holy Nation.
And seated among them was Bellain, the one chosen as the Hero of the Holy Nation.
"There's only a week left until our visit to the elf village. I'm curious how the sacred stone production is progressing."
When Brute Weissman, the representative of the nobility, asked, Bellain responded, as he was in charge of that matter.
"For now, I can say things are going smoothly. In fact, the rate of production is faster than before, so it's highly likely we'll exceed the quota."
At these words, most of the people attending the eting brightened.
After all, nothing was better news for them than an increased production of sacred stones.
"I suppose this is thanks to the cooperation of the prophesied Saint?"
"The Saint candidates we've made until now are nothing compared to her."
"That's right. Compared to the real prophesied Saint, they were just 'fakes'. It's only natural to discard them."
Those at the eting voiced favorable opinions about the Saint.
None of the Saint candidates had managed even half of the sacred stone output of the true Saint.
In fact, the Saint candidates gathered so far were just girls who had learned a smattering of sacred arts.
Lured by the promise that they could beco Saints, they'd been educated in the Holy Nation to beco Saints.
Because holy power is greatly influenced by etiquette, they were instructed in proper manners as a foundation.
After that, a proper ritual was carried out to awaken the holy power within the girls.
Usually, a successful ritual would lead to a girl being reborn as soone possessing great holy power.
In other words, transitioning from candidate to true Saint.
Of course, even this was 'artificial,' but for the Holy Nation, it was still a significant achievent.
Conversely, if they failed, the girl would beco a shell of a person.
While she'd obtained holy power, the side effects of failure destroyed her brain.
In the end, a failed candidate was just a doll with holy power.
So, they could only be put into capsule-like magitech devices and used to siphon their holy power.
Even the holy power thus extracted had its limits.
"But unlike those disposable candidates, that won't be necessary for the Saint."
When no longer of use, they simply discarded them.
Those seated at the table accepted this as natural and smiled.
"The Saint's power will greatly contribute to reviving the World Tree. It's certain she's the one from the prophecy."
Along with the prophesied Hero, the prophesied Saint is also believed in the legends to save the world.
They viewed the production of sacred stones as the realization of that legend.
"You're absolutely right. The sacred stones needed to revive the World Tree, the heart of all life on the continent—what the Saint is accomplishing is practically the prophecy itself."
"Exactly! Once the World Tree regains its strength, driving out the demon realm will be nothing!"
The demon realm that was disrupting the continent.
As long as it existed, there could be no peace.
Who knew when that death would encroach upon their land?
To survive that catastrophe, borrowing the power of the World Tree was essential.
"If we use the restored World Tree to banish the demon realm, there's no doubt who'll be the true power on this continent. Don't you all agree?"
"Hahaha! Just imagining it swells my heart with pride!"
Naturally, the Holy Nation would be at the center of these accomplishnts.
Thus, the Heart of the Continent would beco the Holy Nation, and the continent itself would change into a Holy Continent.
"But do you truly think the prophesied Saint will last until then?"
"What do you an?"
"At the end of the day, even the Saint is only human. There must be a limit to how much holy power she can produce."
There was always the possibility the prophesied Saint could end up like the other candidates.
Even if the continent was saved, the Saint herself would likely be reduced to a powerless husk.
"You need not worry about that."
At that, High Priest Tyrone spoke up.
"At present, the Saint will remain on our side until her dying breath. I made sure of it."
Currently, the Saint was thoroughly brainwashed by Tyrone's sches.
No matter what humiliation she endured, she would never show any complaint or grievance.
This reassured those attending the eting.
"That is truly a relief."
"No wonder she's producing sacred stones without issue."
Since she was completely obedient to their orders, she accepted even unreasonable requests.
There was no reason to worry about the Saint rebelling.
"Of course, the Saint still has natural limits, such as lifespan. By the ti our plan concludes, she might truly beco a shell of herself. But that, too, needn't trouble you."
The Saint was no longer capable of making rational decisions.
Thus, regardless of her own will, they could do as they pleased with her.
"When that ti cos, we just erect a grand statue in honor of the Saint who saved the world. The people will then revere her as a deity, and we'll wield even greater authority in her na."
If she truly saved the world, it wouldn't matter if she was idolized.
Whenever the Saint spoke, it would be as if the divine itself had spoken, and the populace would bow their heads.
Of course, the ones controlling those words from behind would be the Holy Nation.
"In that case, we'd also like to take this opportunity to et the Saint in person."
"Now that I think of it, aside from Head Weissman, none of us have t her."
"What do you think, High Priest Tyrone?"
The others at the table also held significant influence within the Holy Nation.
Given their close ties with the Pope, eting the Saint should be trivial for them.
"Normally, as you say, I would gladly arrange such a eting."
But there was one issue.
"At this ti, I recomnd against eting the Saint."
Regarding that, Bellain, who had been silent up to now, explained.
...
...
...
The underground facility of the Holy Nation where sacred stones were produced.
Pram was sitting on the floor, where a magic array was inscribed.
As Pram released holy power from her body, a massive spirit stone was ford at the center of the magically stimulated array.
Simply by channeling her magic power, a large sacred stone had taken shape.
Throughout this, Pram continued to wear a gentle, loving smile.
Bathed in sacred light from the holy power she released, she was the image of the Saint herself.
But the mont she opened her eyes—
"Big brothers~ Can I rest now?"
Suddenly, Pram spoke in a childlike voice.
"I'm tired, so I'm going to sleep~"
Bellain and High Priest Tyrone, who'd watched the whole ti, sighed.
After eating the fruit of the World Tree, becoming like that was normal.
It regressed a person to a childlike state, paralyzing their ability for normal thought.
That was the expected result after being injected with an extract from the fruit.
But the problem was...
"I'll dream of young master while I sleep!"
Bellain and Tyrone watched Pram, wondering.
Just... who on earth was this 'young master'?
"Saint. I've asked you before, but could you please explain in detail who this young master is?"
Bellain had always been curious.
All the other Saint candidates whose true feelings ca out after eating the fruit had called out for Bellain.
They had all been seduced by Bellain and couldn't forget him, even after eating the fruit.
But Pram, instead of calling for Bellain, cried out for soone else entirely.
Bellain was intensely curious about that person.
"The young master?"
"Yes. Is he soone better than ?"
He had seduced Pram with his handso face and fine character.
Usually, every girl would have fallen for him.
"Umm... He was a real weirdo! He didn't have an ounce of fine character. Should I say it that way?"
"What?"
Pram's answer was positively shocking.
"And it's not as if he was better looking than older brother. Not that he was ugly, but... I guess he was about average for a noble?"
In short, this person was neither superior in character nor looks.
Yet Pram seed filled with longing for him.
"Why, though? From what I can tell, there's nothing about him that's better than . Why are you stuck on him?"
"Why, you ask?"
Bellain pressed her, forcibly.
"Hmm... Because he's my benefactor who saved my life."
Pram spoke frankly about her feelings toward that person.
"He really was a weirdo in everything he did. He was always strict with and constantly yelled at ."
"And that's supposed to be a good person?"
"I told you—he saved my life."
Bellain made a bitter face at that, but Pram continued.
"If he hadn't been so strict, I wouldn't have survived the 7th Legion. And above all, without the young master, I probably would've fallen to being a plaything in that hellish place."
In short, this was the person who'd saved her life.
Certainly, it made sense to harbor fondness for soone like that.
And yet, Bellain could not understand.
"He doesn't seem like a bad person. But no matter what, he can't possibly be better than ! Just saving your life—surely that's not enough for you to like him more than !"
Bellain had gone to great lengths to win the Saint's heart.
No one in the Holy Nation could match his looks, and he'd even given Pram gifts that would appeal to her.
It was easy to find out her hobbies and what she liked.
Based on that, Bellain spent a great deal of effort to beco the ideal man for her.
"So you're saying I'm inferior to this young master?"
Bellain's eyes, handso as they were, grew bloodshot.
Facing this reality, almost mad with denial, Pram spoke with a bright smile.
"Older Brother, you weren't bad... but I like the young master most! He's a little scary, but no one else ever saved my life like he did!"
"......"
Bellain was left speechless by this answer.
"But hey, big brothers! If I keep making these sacred stones, you'll let et the young master, right?"
"What? Oh, uh, yes! Of course!"
"Then I'll rest, then make more later!"
So Pram fell asleep on the magic array as if it were her bed.
Watching her sleep with a childlike expression, Bellain seethed inside.
"Is that guy really better than ? Even though I spent so much ti courting a girl like her?"
The thought that all his efforts and ti had gone to waste twisted Bellain's expression.
"High Priest Tyrone. Have you ever investigated this 'young master'?"
"Of course."
Since the Saint kept singing 'young master, young master,' it was only natural to be curious.
"Do you know about the special task force established in the Imperial Court four years ago?"
"Yes. I also know the Saint is part of it."
"There's an officer who commands the squad mbers in that force. One's a woman, and the other is a boy not even twenty years old."
Their exact identities weren't publicly known, as it was a secret unit.
The only things known were minor details.
"Especially, that boy officer is called 'young master' by the squad mbers."
The young master Pram referred to was clearly that officer.
Despite being in a re hierarchical relationship, he'd captured Pram's heart more than Bellain, who had tried so hard to look good for her.
Bellain bit his lip at the thought.
"High Priest, do you think I'm worse than that guy?"
The White Knights, the Holy Nation's prized elite.
They always thought highly of themselves and took enormous pride.
Bellain, as a top-rank White Knight, was especially so.
"As the Hero chosen among the White Knights... there's no way I'm beneath so naless trash!"
He spoke with a hollow smile.
On his face was visible anger over being outdone by such trash.
"If I get the chance, I'd definitely like to et him."
Bellain always had his hand on his sword, ready to cut down anyone at any ti.
At the sa ti, an aura equivalent to the highest rank in the nation gathered in his hand.
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