Chapter 127: Holy War, Holy Maiden, and Holy Grail

Holy War, Holy Maiden, and Holy Grail

“I see... Is it Lucy Silva and Oppold Thaddeus?” Tara lowered her head in thought, then looked up at Ciel and asked, “Lady Ciel, is there anything you need me to do?”

Looking at Tara before her, Ciel decided to proceed according to the previous plan.

“Go retrieve Lucy’s body.” Ciel said.

“Understood.” Tara seemed to feel no difficulty at all, agreeing immediately. “Both sealed artifacts are currently on Oppold... Does Servant need to bring them all back for you?”

Bring them all back?

Oppold was third-tier.

Last simulation, a single lightning pillar blasted Tara into debris, while Oppold could withstand several consecutively... How could Tara have the confidence to say this?

“Can you do it?” Ciel asked calmly, not showing too much emotion.

“Mission guaranteed, Lady Ciel.” Tara bowed her head deeply and said, “It is my honor.”

“Fine, act within your capabilities.” Ciel nodded.

“If you obtain the sealed artifacts, hide them first. Do not bring them directly before me.” If Tara could really resolve everything, it would indeed save Ciel a lot of time, but she had to prepare in advance.

What if putting the three sealed artifacts together triggered the same calamity as last time... Ciel didn’t want to experience being killed by a meteorite again.

“Yes.” Tara stood up, her figure beginning to flicker and dissipate. But at the last moment, Tara’s figure solidified, and she asked in a low voice, “Lady Ciel, Servant cannot fathom your supreme holy will. Could you please guide your foolish servant through the confusion...”

“May I ask if you require the corpse for the ‘Coroner’ Reconstitution Ritual?” Tara didn’t look up at Ciel, just kept her head bowed humbly and respectfully, making it impossible for Ciel to see her expression clearly.

The reason Tara guessed this was because Ciel had previously asked her for a high-success-rate Reconstitution Ritual for “Coroner,” plus Ciel needed a corpse this time.

This forced Tara to connect these two matters.

This work is hosted on mananovel.com

Tara’s question made Ciel immediately pull up the system panel.

She thought Tara had finally figured something out, like knowing Ciel was just an imposter.

Moreover, as a “Missionary,” Tara possessed an unavoidable lie-detection ability. Under such direct questioning, it would be difficult for Ciel to fool her.

If Tara truly sensed something, she wouldn’t hesitate to strike first, blasting her with 【Deadly Blood Roland】.

“Yes.” Ciel replied calmly, but her right hand had already assumed a gun-holding posture.

“Servant understands...” Tara’s figure gradually distorted and disappeared, replaced by a pure white shadow. After a few seconds, that white shadow also dissipated.

Just left like that?

Ciel paused in place for half a minute. Only after confirming Tara had truly left did Ciel shake her head.

She thought contacting Tara would trigger misfortune... Looks like misfortune didn’t arrive immediately, still waiting for her at some future point.

Unsure if contacting Oppold earlier counted as contacting a transcendent... If so, another major misfortune of contacting a third-tier was stacked upon her. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

What slightly puzzled Ciel was, didn’t Tara consider her the Mother Goddess of the Divine Advent Church?

Why did Tara show no reaction when she wanted to digest potions from other paths?

Forget it. Compared to worrying about Tara, it’s better to think about how to survive the possible misfortune later.

Just as Ciel planned to leave Clock Tower Alley to avoid being suddenly killed by some factory explosion, knocking sounded from downstairs.

Knock knock knock—

Who?

Ciel looked towards the door, frowning slightly.

She remembered the last time she consecutively contacted third-tier and other transcendents, the descending misfortune was...

...

Light rain drizzled onto the gravel ground of Clock Tower Alley.

A petite figure ran across the muddy, foul-smelling black gravel ground, completely ignoring the splashing mud staining her white socks wet.

Soon, she ran out of Clock Tower Alley and arrived at the gem processing factory in the adjacent Gem District.

Here, her steps gradually slowed. Soon, she turned sharply and entered a dark alleyway.

She moved quickly through the alleyway until passing one of the wooden doors, where her figure gradually turned illusory and disappeared, leaving behind a white shadow.

Inside the house, Tara’s figure gradually solidified. Beside her, over a dozen people dressed in various clothes knelt with bowed heads.

From merchants to nobles, their attire indicated these men and women were not of simple status.

“Archbishop.”

“Archbishop.”

“Your Excellency Archbishop.” They spoke almost simultaneously, bowing their heads towards Tara, expressing their respect.

“There’s work to be done.” Tara’s face was indifferent. She merely glanced down at the others before speaking, “I hope you won’t disappoint me...”

Returning to the monastery this time, Tara not only brought back the copied ancient text but also all her trusted subordinates.

These were bishops and high priests scattered across different regions. Under Tara’s single letter, they all rushed to Clock Tower Alley at the fastest speed.

This force was even sufficient to level all transcendent forces in Berren City. This was almost all the power Tara could mobilize.

This was also the source of her confidence in daring to propose completing more tasks for the Mother Goddess’s human vessel.

“Your Excellency Archbishop... May I ask what exactly happened?” Some had waited here for a day, some had just arrived less than two hours ago. They were all bewildered until a woman dressed in noble attire spoke up.

“Heh...” Tara smirked.

Lady Mother Goddess was concealing herself, hiding in plain sight. She wouldn’t reveal any information, not even to her own confidants.

The Saintess was protected by the Divine Servant, and she, naturally, had to become the Mother Goddess’s strongest shield and sword, clearing all obstacles wherever the blade pointed.

From the reply Lady Mother Goddess gave just now, Tara understood everything.

As the first awakened deity, descending into the world in mortal form, Lady Mother Goddess didn’t let that human vessel follow her own path, but took another...

This was stealing the authority of other deities... No, not stealing.

Taking back!

All power rightfully belonged to the supreme Mother Goddess.

This was the new Holy War.

Following the Ancient Era, another new Holy War, and this time, the Divine Advent Church, whose Goddess was awakened first, held an absolute advantage.

Previously, when studying Ancient Era literature, seeing the church collapse during the Holy War under the leadership of the weak Savior Church, Tara would never forget that feeling of resentment towards their incompetence.

Now, with the new Holy War about to begin, she had to consider if this was the only chance in her life.

Rebuilding the Mother Goddess’s glory, Tara was duty-bound.

“The new Holy War is coming,” Tara swept her gaze across the kneeling bishops and high priests, slowly spreading her arms. “Prepare to sacrifice yourselves for the Mother Goddess, everyone.”

Just a simple sentence, yet it felt like a bomb detonated in everyone’s mind. Many, after the initial shock, showed ecstatic expressions.

The high priests might not clearly understand what happened, but many well-informed bishops already knew what occurred in Berren City.

The great sacrificial event of the Divine Advent Church.

Could it be Lady Tara orchestrated this?

The sacrifice... succeeded?

What was summoned?

Saint? Divine Servant? Offspring? Or... Angel?

Unbeknownst to Ciel, a fervent religious holy war, sparked by her, began to brew.

-

“Who is it?” Ciel stood before the wooden door on the first floor and asked.

At this time, who would come looking for her?

Avena had already heeded advice and left Berren City. Adele didn’t know her current address. Amy was also obediently planting flowers at home as Ciel suggested.

People from the Blood Letter Gang? New intelligence on Oppold?

While Ciel speculated who was outside, a familiar yet unfamiliar voice sounded from the doorway.

“Church of the Savior Goddess,” a somewhat muffled voice sounded from the door. “We need to talk, Miss Ciel.”

Church of the Savior Goddess?

The thing Ciel least wanted to happen still occurred.

Previously, under the stacked misfortune, the first to find her was Hugh from the Church of the Savior Goddess.

Although Ciel used Hugh in the simulation and even obtained her Radiance Bishop emblem from her, “bluffing” for quite some time, in the current timeline, they were complete strangers.

A third-tier blocking the door, Ciel had no way to escape.

So Ciel directly pulled the door open. The moment she saw the familiar silver long hair upon opening the door, Ciel realized she was mistaken.

The person who came wasn’t Hugh, but Adele’s older sister, Uris, the High Priestess of the Church of the Savior Goddess.

What did she come looking for her for?

Fortunately... Hugh she couldn’t handle herself, but with Uris, Ciel had many ways to gain her trust.

“May I come in to talk?” Uris asked.

Uris seemed to have come alone, apparently not taking Ciel seriously... although she couldn’t see anyway.

Her eyes were vacant, her face merely turned towards the direction Ciel spoke from.

After hesitating slightly, Ciel moved aside and said, “Come in.”

Just sent Tara away, now Uris comes... Misfortune continues to stack.

Fortunately, the only third-tier she contacted was Oppold. She... should be able to handle it, right?

But coming in as No.0 also had its advantages. At least as an ordinary person, she wouldn’t attract too much attention from an orthodox church like the Church of the Savior Goddess.

“May I ask what business you have?” Ciel asked.

“I heard about the Blackwater Gang matter,” Uris faced Ciel’s direction and said softly, “The Church of the Savior Goddess considered intervening during the previous Blackwater Gang conflicts, but before intervening, you resolved them all.”

“An unstable gang only causes more believers to suffer... So I came this time as a warning.”

Gangs were a problem even the Church of the Savior Goddess couldn’t eradicate.

They couldn’t outlaw gangster organizations because they couldn’t truly fill the roles of real gangsters, like brewing moonshine or selling herbal drugs—if these niches were left empty, someone would always fill them.

Not to mention, gangs like the Blackwater Gang had connections within the nobility.

As long as grey profits existed, gangs would proliferate like filthy mold in damp corners. All the Clock Tower church could do was make agreements with the largest gang leaders to at least protect ordinary believers within the parish.

“Drugs, kidnapping, protection fees... None of these things can appear in Clock Tower Alley.”

“You can continue the Blackwater Gang’s moonshine and horse betting businesses, but if you violate the matters prohibited by the church...”

Ciel looked at Uris before her, her vigilance not lessening much.

If it was just a warning, sending an “Ascetic” would suffice. Why did the High Priestess need to come personally?

She definitely had other business here.

Whether in reality or this simulation, Ciel had no interaction with Uris. If there had to be a point of contact, there was only one.

Adele.

“Just say what you want to say.” Ciel said directly, “I don’t like beating around the bush.”

Hearing Ciel’s words, Uris stopped speaking. After a moment, she slowly said:

“Ciel, I’ve heard this name.”

“You are Adele’s friend, aren’t you?”

As expected.

Ciel wasn’t surprised. She nodded, admitting directly, “Yes.”

“You received Avena’s help, took over the Blackwater Gang, and are having people monitor Oppold... Recently, Avena also left Berren City.” Uris stated all the intelligence she knew, one word at a time, paused slightly, then continued, “Rest assured, I won’t ask about your plans, as long as you don’t cause any destruction in Clock Tower Alley and don’t accidentally injure any believers of the Church of the Savior Goddess.”

“I just want to know, will what you’re doing involve Adele.”

“No.” Ciel shook her head. “But if you don’t leave soon, you might be in danger.”

Uris only came for Adele’s safety... This should be considered a private matter.

After Oppold arrived in Clock Tower Alley, the Church of the Savior Goddess had been monitoring him. Her actions naturally couldn’t escape their notice.

After all, Clock Tower Alley was their territory, already infiltrated like a sieve by their believers.

Ciel realized that if this continued, she didn’t know how long she’d be stuck haggling with Uris here, so she decided to resolve it quickly.

Although Ciel wasn’t familiar with the third-tier “Radiance Bishop” Hugh, she was very familiar with Uris.

In multiple simulations, she not only learned about Uris’s character and background but even knew some of the most important events in Uris’s life.

Although Uris in reality had never met Ciel, she could basically be manipulated at will by Ciel.

And typically, Uris was a reliable teammate—as long as she was willing to return to the Holy See with her.

“Holy Year 739, January 17th.” Ciel spoke directly, stating a date.

The moment she heard this date, Uris’s expression changed drastically. She took two steps back slightly, looking at Ciel’s direction in disbelief.

“You said, if I mentioned this date, you would believe me unconditionally.” Ciel looked at Uris and continued, “We’ve met more than once, Uris.”

“You are...?”

“Go back, Uris. Don’t investigate my affairs anymore,” Ciel repeated her earlier words. “Staying here will be dangerous for you.”

Uris stood rooted to the spot, her expression uncontrollably shifting. After a long while, she slowly exhaled and said, “What you said is true...”

Before her was just an ordinary person... Third-tier Bishop Hugh had also been at the church recently. It was impossible she suffered a mental attack from another transcendent.

Moreover, she had undergone baptism; it was almost impossible to be attacked by a “Dream Stealer”—they wouldn’t seek such trouble.

The only possibility was that the young woman before her was telling the truth.

Who exactly was she...

“I... understand.” Uris nodded lightly, her figure beginning to flicker. But soon, she looked towards Ciel and said, “If you encounter any problems you can’t solve, you can come find me.”

Uris’s figure dissipated, leaving only a white shadow in place. After a few seconds, the white shadow flickered and also vanished.

“Sigh...” Ciel couldn’t help but sigh.

Uris from the Church of the Savior Goddess was alright, just always wanting to drag her to the Holy See to be a Saintess, trying every means to baptize her.

Tara from the Divine Advent Church was even more extreme, directly treating her as the Mother Goddess. Her fervent appearance made Ciel suspect that if she asked her to commit suicide, she would slit her throat on the spot and worry if dying too slowly would anger her.

Uris would definitely help if asked, but this time, Uris wasn’t needed.

Ciel already had a complete plan—digesting the potion and stealing the sealed artifacts—neither of these were matters Uris could interfere with.

Second-tier Tara, third-tier Oppold, second-tier Uris...

She hadn’t even been here half an hour, and already contacted three transcendents...

Under the stacked misfortune, Ciel was already considering if her house would suddenly explode.

Suddenly, Ciel thought of something.

If Oppold always carried the sealed artifact on him, then when they met just now, the condition of “three Fate Vessels” was actually met.

Three sealed artifacts were all present.

But why... didn’t misfortune descend?

Could it be that Fate Vessel didn’t actually refer to the sealed artifact...

But another word with the same root, “Chalice”?

This term, in cults, metaphorically referred to the vessel or container holding the flesh and blood of an evil god’s offspring...

Ciel felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.

Fate Vessel likely referred not just to the sealed artifact, but also the person behind the sealed artifact.

Ciel remembered the “Exclusive” tag on 【Echo of the Silver-White Timebinder】, thought of the “Strong Luck Coin” automatically returning to Lucy’s hand, and their continuous gains from completing the rules...

This was... developing containers?