Arrogance, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony—humans are never free from endless desires.
Like worms eating at the heart of a rose, like the fire of calamity devouring living beings, indulgence only leaves behind rotted, broken petals and hopeless scorched earth.
Thus, from among humans were born laws, tribunals, and judgnt courts—because even humans themselves fear the demons born from their own desires.
On this land, the threat of law and arbitration restrains most people’s actions, letting this chaotic world maintain a fragile balance, preventing all from living in constant terror.
No one is exempt.
The Church spread across the land is the most faithful supporter of such laws, and from this grew privileges such as the “right of sanctuary.”
St. Catarina Convent belongs to the Royal Capital’s Church, an outstretched hand of its expansion.
Vieya had dealt with the Church many tis. Back then, the Saint herself was one of her squad mbers, accompanying her on training expeditions.
After all, everyone across the continent knew which squad was the strongest, the safest.
The Pope had made plenty of promises to force the Saint Lilian into her team for “training.”
But benefits are never free. Pampered from birth, the Saint was always arrogant. The mont they t, she issued a duel challenge to seize leadership. How could she possibly endure beneath another?
Vieya had spent no small effort disciplining that unruly teammate, all for the sake of the Pope’s favor and promises.
And now the girl was dead.
The promised benefits were never redeed.
Vieya looked up /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ at the sky, sighing faintly:
“A lifeti of toil without rest, and when free at last, one sleeps with the mountains...”
St. Catarina Convent, Grand Cathedral.
The statues of the Twelve Apostles stood all around the main hall. Unlike those in the Tribunal Square, here they had set aside armor, bearing scales and sacred hamrs instead.
A red carpet edged in silver stretched from the front steps all the way to the prayer dais. A massive cross-shaped banner embroidered with scales and hamrs hung divided between the twenty-four white stone pillars carved with reliefs.
The half-do ceiling was covered in pale blue murals: a sun in decline, red clouds, foreign tribes defeated, humans prostrate in prayer toward the heavens, and countless sword-bearing angels spreading their wings.
Sunlight shone through the stained-glass windows, falling in shafts of colored light.
This sight alone was enough to bring shallow believers to tears, kneeling to confess their sins before the relief of Saint Catarina on the far wall.
Oppressive, majestic, sacred—this was its first impression upon all newcors.
Vieya stood alone beneath the relief, lost in thought, as though rging with the surrounding statues of apostles.
For a long ti.
Tap, tap. Footsteps approached from behind, halting only when soone ca to stand at her side.
Perhaps the silence between them was too heavy, perhaps the newcor’s hostility left her at a loss for words.
Vieya turned her face to look at the girl beside her in black-and-white nun’s robes. Their eyes t—those striking starry eyes—and she asked helplessly:
“Why must you speak to here? Why insist on keeping the Vice Abbess out of it? Lilian, I am only an innocent bystander. Shouldn’t you be attending to your proper duties right now?”
“Proper duties? Don’t mistake , honored guest.” Lilian giggled, suddenly closing the distance, the sweep of her black skirt brushing Vieya’s shoes. “Exorcising heretics is indeed one of our convent’s duties, but compared to those miscellaneous ‘ghosts,’ you—an ‘innocent bystander’ who can pass freely through twelve layers of purification barriers—interest much more~”
“Ghosts? That’s what you call those masked people?” Vieya asked.
“You don’t seem to have caught the point of what I just said, Lady Vieya!” Lilian’s voice caught in her throat.
“So the point was ?” Vieya realized, shaking her head. “The Vice Abbess gave access to enter and leave this convent. Of course I can co in.”
“My, still denying it.” Lilian reached out, her fingertip touching Vieya’s shoulder. Suddenly she smiled. “But you aren’t human. No amount of privilege could make the rciless purification barrier spare a monster. And yet you walk through under the gaze of God without a scratch.”
“But what if I said I’m not a monster?”
Vieya drew a card from her pocket, handed it to the stunned Lilian, and added calmly, “I am a monster girl with lawful residence within human lands. All explanations regarding this card fall under the Tribunal’s authority.”
Lilian glanced at the card, then fell silent, her fingertip tapping its surface as if weighing sothing in her heart.
The silence was troubling.
“A monster girl still couldn’t pass through purification barriers unhard.” Lilian gave a cold snort, fixing her eyes on the white-haired girl before her. “You must be the one who deceived little Rania and sent her to the hospital, aren’t you?”
That was... never mind.
“I did it.”
Vieya admitted readily. “If you want revenge, don’t rush. I’ll be here.”
Lilian looked at her deeply, her tone no longer sharp. “Honored guest, I only want to tell you this: you’ve already been targeted by the ‘ghosts.’ Unlike us, they’ll do anything to achieve their goals. This ti they only sent so rabble to probe. Next ti it may be higher-ranked ghosts bringing trouble to your door.”
“I know you may be hiding great strength. But the half-human, half-demon child with you is not. If you truly care about her, then stop stirring trouble at your whim.”
“...”
“Enough, Lady Vieya. That is all I wished to say. If you need it, I can later compile information on the ‘ghosts’ and give it to you, as thanks for helping Rania break through.
For now, they’re waiting for you back in the reception hall. In the future, if anything cos up, you can co directly to this convent to find . I’m usually here.”
Lilian stepped back, leaving Vieya a clear path to depart.
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