The Heroines Who Framed Me Are Clinging to Me

Chapter 53 - Saintess Aria (2)

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 53 - Saintess Aria (2)

Everyone in the conference room was staring at Aria.

Among them were some eyes filled with sympathy or pity. But those glances didn’t reach her.

Because the contempt and scornful stares, solely meant to blame her, were far too overwhelming.

The intensity of those accusatory glares was unbearable for Aria.

'I already said I was sorry...'

Those eyes bore into her no matter what she said.

It had always been like this since she became the Saintess.

It probably started with jealousy and envy.

In the Church of Deus, priests had to undergo grueling efforts to rise through the ranks. Only after countless trials of faith could they obtain titles like High Priest.

But what about a Saintess?

One day, due to some circumstance, a candidate is chosen to receive a divine revelation and ascends to sainthood.

And once a Saintess is crowned, she is placed just below the Holy Emperor in rank.

Depending on the situation, she might even be treated as his equal—or higher.

So, at first, Aria had tried to understand.

She thought they were envious and jealous of her.

If she just worked a little harder, eventually they would acknowledge her, she believed.

So she worked diligently.

She prayed earnestly, observed her surroundings carefully, and strove to be a good Saintess.

But those eyes never changed.

Like shackles, they followed her everywhere.

They always criticised her.

Maybe if I try a bit harder, things will get better.

Maybe if I do just a little better.

'...But it was useless.'

They condemned her, just like today.

You’re a useless Saintess.

Everything is your fault.

At some point, Aria found herself nodding along to their criticisms.

It really did seem like everything was her fault.

"I... I’m sorry."

That was all she could say.

"Sorry isn’t going to fix anything."

"At this rate, we might have priests starving to death. You need to come up with a solution."

"I... I don’t know how to do something like that..."

"Sigh."

"And this is supposed to be a Saintess."

"No wonder the believers are leaving. If we hadn’t expanded so recklessly, this wouldn’t be happening."

Aria clenched her fingers tightly.

She hated this feeling.

She couldn’t even say something like, 'None of you complained when the number of believers was growing, so why now?'

What if Lee Han were here at this moment?

The conversations they’d had echoed in her mind.

'Without the Demon King, your popularity will rise for a while. But will it last? I doubt it.'

'Think about it, Aria. If the Demon King is gone, why would people still believe in god?'

'The hearts of the masses burn bright like fire, but they can be extinguished just as quickly. People may praise us in a moment of joy, but that moment doesn’t last forever.'

He had been so smart.

The words he’d spoken years ago were still relevant now, as though he had predicted this very moment.

Even the clueless archbishops sitting around the conference table, unable to grasp the true cause of the problem, were no match for Lee Han’s insight.

She could just repeat his words.

"Th-that..."

But she couldn’t get the words out.

Her face turned red, and all she could do was bow her head.

—Look at the Saintess. Tsk, tsk.

—No wonder the believers are leaving.

Even as the archbishops muttered their complaints “daringly” in front of her, all Aria could do was flinch and shrink back, unable to say a word in protest.

She had been completely devoured.

So they blamed her.

The Saintess had failed, and that was why the church was in decline.

Aria didn’t have the courage to express her frustration.

And though their words weren’t entirely justified, there was some truth to them.

"Saintess Aria, the recent decline in holy relic sales is also largely due to the Harold Trading Company. After our relations with them soured, they started selling products that compete with our relics."

"Th-that’s..."

"You’re on good terms with the Harold Trading Company, aren’t you? You need to speak with them."

Since Lee Han’s death, relations among the Three Heroes had rapidly deteriorated. The Harold Trading Company’s attack only sped up the Church’s crisis. Even paying the wages of the expanded clergy had become a struggle.

Though the blame lay with those who couldn’t manage the personnel properly.

"I..."

But Aria couldn’t even point that out.

If Lee Han were here now, he would’ve spoken up and defended her firmly.

But Aria knew.

She wasn’t worth Lee Han’s protection.

Even if he were somehow resurrected as foretold, she couldn’t trust him. Even now, she wasn’t entirely certain whether he had really hypnotised or brainwashed her.

But…

If, by some chance, he had been innocent...

The empty, broken expression he had worn before his death.

That face, filled with betrayal.

The way he seemed to give up on everything.

...The profound hollowness of his final smile.

If that had been genuine...

"I... I’m sorry."

She would have to atone.

For the rest of her life.

—Plop, plop.

Tears fell from her eyes.

One of the priests nearby quickly collected them in a vial.

?

"What... what? Thirty million krones for a single vial?"

From behind them, the village chief’s exclamation echoed.

Lloyd turned his head.

He didn’t want to be seen as part of the same group as the chief.

He exchanged an awkward glance with Yulia, who had also turned away.

"......."

"......."

They both quickened their pace.

This was the ‘Holy Land,’ where the Holy Office of Holy Constantine was located.

As expected, the marketplace in this city was bustling with tourists.

And no one looked more like a tourist than the village chief.

'Let’s just pretend we don’t know him.'

'Good idea.'

As Yulia and Lloyd attempted to distance themselves, a large hand suddenly grabbed their shoulders.

"Hey, take a look at this. This is holy water! Huh... thirty million krones for a single vial! Do you think drinking this will really cure all illnesses?"

Yulia looked flustered.

With a sigh, Lloyd snatched the vial from the chief and handed it back to the merchant.

The merchant, who had been rushing over in panic, cursed under his breath as he returned to his stall.

"Chief, holy water doesn’t have any special powers."

"But it’s called holy water! Surely it’s filled with divine power!"

"Well, yes, but."

"And it costs thirty million krones! Surely it must be worth that price? Or is it a fake?"

"It’s not fake."

Lloyd had used his sensing ability to check when he took it from the chief.

It was infused with a high concentration of pure holiness, something that couldn’t be easily replicated. It was genuine.

"But just because something is expensive doesn’t guarantee its value. Rarity, maybe."

Divine power.

Despite its grand name, it wasn’t an overwhelmingly extraordinary force.

Unlike mana, which had complex elemental affinities, divine power worked uniformly across all mana types and excelled at cleansing evil. That was its primary strength.

Of course, its healing and support abilities made it seem like a “divine power” in the eyes of ordinary people.

"It might help with minor ailments."

"That alone is amazing!"

"You could get the same result from visiting a healing priest for one-tenth of the cost."

"Oh..."

That was about the extent of the efficacy of these overpriced relics.

Although, who knew?

If it was pure holy water from the Saintess herself, its potency might extend to incurable diseases. But the watered-down version being sold in the market wouldn’t do much.

"Maybe if the Saintess herself spit in it, there’d be a chance. Assuming it wasn’t contagious."

With those words, Lloyd quickly strode off.

He didn’t like this place.

Divine power was ultimately a force born from faith—the pure belief in god.

The fact that genuine holy water was being sold in the market meant the Holy Office was monetizing faith.

"What are they trying to do with all that money?"

As if reading his mind, Yulia muttered softly.

Come to think of it, this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

"Have you learned some kind of mind-reading magic?"

"What?"

Seeing the incredulous look on Yulia’s face, Lloyd felt relieved.

"It’s nothing. Anyway."

"...?"

"If those who play god need money, what would that be?"

"...Playing god. If someone heard that, we’d be arrested."

Yulia hurriedly looked around, and Lloyd reassured her.

"It's okay. I checked for priests in the vicinity with my senses."

"To waste your abilities like that...!"

"Anyway. The reason why they are obsessed with money is simple. It’s greed."

"...Greed?"

"Yes. They’ve finally secured a Saintess, public opinion is on their side, and their influence has expanded. Meanwhile, the Empire, their long-time rival, is in chaos with the succession dispute."

"...You’re not suggesting."

Yulia asked in disbelief.

Lloyd shrugged.

"Maybe they’re not planning a full-scale war, but at the very least, they’re positioning themselves to intervene in the Empire’s succession battle. A large nation like the Empire is easier to control from the shadows than to rule outright."

"But the Holy Office has never intervened in the Empire’s affairs before. They’ve had plenty of opportunities."

"That’s what puzzles me. Why is this leadership of the Holy Office suddenly so eager to meddle in the Empire?"

It’s always the unexpected moves that are the scariest, more so than the obvious misdeeds.

That was one of the reasons Lloyd had chosen Holy Constantine as his destination.

"Something smells fishy."

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]