Ophelia froze in her prayers. The unimaginable had happened. She immediately figured out what was going on, her complexion turning blue.
“O Mighty Goddess… This is… I’m…”
Ophelia searched for an excuse, an escape, her emerald eyes darting in their sockets.
But no matter how much she digged, she couldn’t come up with anything that could pass off as an excuse.
What she had said, what she had muttered to herself was nothing short of blasphemy.
And it was nobody else, but the Goddess herself listening on the other end.
There was no way out for her.
“That, that’s not true…”
– Ophelia, my daughter. You have always been lacking in faith.
“Uh, me?”
– Indeed, you. Unlike the other Saintess Candidates, you haven’t put your faith in me. On the contrary, you’ve have always doubted my actions.
“No, no. O Holy Goddess, I always…”
– The suspicions weren’t enough? Now you want to lie to me too?
“…sorry. Please forgive your foolish daughter.”
Ophelia realized she couldn’t make excuses, so she begged for forgiveness. There came no response from the Goddess. Just as she was beginning to feel flustered, the voice of the Goddess came again.
– Ophelia. As you know, there are many believers who are more apt than you in the Church of the Kingdom of Prona. Even so, I chose you as the candidate for the Saintess. Why do you think I did that?
“…As a lowly devout, I cannot fathom the Goddess’ intentions.”
– You doubted my meaning, but you did not speculate to understand. Ophelia, I’m disappointed.
The chilling voice of the Goddess intoned.
Ophelia, a mere mortal, felt considerable fear from that alone.
It was the fear of a child being abandoned by her parents, thrown into the world without a pillar to lean on.
It was natural for her to feel such fear, for she had incurred the wrath of Goddess Iris, the ruler of the world and the mother of all things.
Struck by fear, Ophelia couldn’t even keep her mouth from trembling, but Goddess’ rebuke had just begun.
– The reason I chose you as a Candidate for Sainthood despite your lacking faith, was because I wanted to see how you’ll change. Because I wanted to see you overcome the changed environment and the burden of duty and become a proud daughter of mine. But you’ve betrayed my expectations.
“O Goddess… I…”
– You weren’t satisfied with your improved life. Despite not starving, sleeping in a warm bed, and being respected by everyone, you were more dissatisfied with the increased control than grateful. You couldn’t give up your greed.
“That, that…”
– You haven’t been able to control your lust, not even tried to control your sexual desire. Indulging in the pleasures of intercourse, forsaking your duties and obligations.
Ophelia’s head became dizzy facing the endless accusations of the Goddess.
– You doubt me on every subject, and in the end, you even criticize me. I’m so sorry, Ophelia. All expectations I have for you are gone.
Expectations… gone…
As soon as those words were finished, the divine power that had been dormant within Ophelia began to dissipate.
“Goddess?!”
Flustered, Ophelia tried to rein control on the divine power somehow, but it was impossible.
It was no longer her power.
The divine power within her was dissipating, and the light that maintained her barrier was weakening.
“O Goddess! Forgive me, please forgive me! Please forgive this foolish and stupid daughter of yours!”
– I have already forgiven you so many times.
“I will never doubt you again. I will only pursue a life of servitude and dedication. Please forgive me…”
– Like I just stated, I’ve already forgiven you many times. Still, you were the same. I don’t think it will change even if I add one more attempt to your list.
Kang! Khang!
A thin tentacle penetrated past one side of the barrier. The tentacles wrapped around a priest who was praying and dragged him out of the barrier.
“Aaaagh!”
The priest who was dragged out of the barrier was sucked of his life force and instantly turned into a withered mummy. The tentacle crushed the cleric in half and tossed it away, before lashing back into the barrier.
“Kyaah!”
“Move! Get out of the way!”
People ran and lunged away from the slimy limb.
However, there was a limit to escaping within the space-limited barrier, and in the end, a strong man was caught.
“S, Save me!”
The man grabbed another person.
“Let go, let me go! Aww!!”
Then one caught another and so on. They were woven together like sausages, and as many as five people were dragged out.
Shhesh!
Meanwhile, a new hole was opened into the barrier. A new tentacle forced its way in and snatched a lady away, who had considered her safe on the other end.
“Quaaaaaaaa!”
Creepy screams ensued.
Ophelia’s eyes trembled.
“Ah… Agh… O Merciful Goddess, forgive them… please forgive them. I may be a sinner, but they are not. Everyone is someone’s child, father, or mother. Please have mercy…”
– Ophelia, my foolish daughter. Don’t ask me for mercy. You could have saved them. The failure to do so is entirely your fault.
“My… is it…? This..?”
How was this her fault?
She did her best to stop the Heavenly King.
However, others did not cooperate and participated in the effort, creating danger.
– And why didn’t they listen to you, a candidate for Sainthood? Why? It’s because you’re not trustworthy enough to entrust their lives with.
Not trustworthy?
– I… I did my best…?
– Best? Don’t talk lacking tact. You lack faith in me. A Saintess Candidate who doubts her faith? No matter how glamorous your title looks, in the end you holed it into an empty shell. They must have felt it subconsciously.
An empty shell…
– You wonder why my other sons and daughters didn’t come to help, right? Then I’ll ask you back. Why should my children seek you and risk their lives to help?
“That, that’s because… Love and devotion are the teachings of the Church, so dedication to the people…”
– My children are already committed.
“…huh?”
– They’re already committed. They’re saving people all over the city.
“Well, then this…”
– Yes. Even after seeing the light barrier you created, they didn’t join. Because you’re not trustworthy. Judged from what you’ve shown them all these years… They couldn’t help themselves into making that judgment.
Kang! Kang! Kang!
The barrier was broken at the same time Ophelia’s divine power completely dissipated.
– So everything that happens from now on is your fault.