Allen knelt beside the collapsed High Cardinal, passing by Calliphe and Lynen.

He displayed a complex expression while examining the High Cardinal and emanated silver holy power.

The warm holy power seeped into the High Cardinal’s body, stopping the blood flowing from his mouth as color gradually returned to his face.

Rising from his position, Allen surveyed the still-amazed crowd.

“From my examination.”

He declared.

“The High Cardinal’s collapse has nothing to do with Lady Calliphe Offensa.”

“…!”

Once again, murmurs rippled through the crowd.

The holy knight commander asked in confusion.

“But Saint, look at that waterfall. The High Cardinal performed his specialty magic power verification, and the result showed such an ominous black color. Don’t you know that’s the color of corrupted magic power?”

“Yes, that’s certainly true. So we should ask the High Cardinal what happened once he recovers.”

“No, Saint…!”

“Above all.”

Allen smoothly interrupted the holy knight commander’s words.

“If Lady Offensa were truly a dark mage, she wouldn’t have saved me.”

“What…? Saved you, what do you mean by that?”

“And the Light Spirit wouldn’t have acknowledged her either.”

“…?!”

The clergy members, previously confused by the incomprehensible statement that Lady Offensa had saved the saint, all widened their eyes simultaneously.

“The Light Spirit… you mean the Spirit has returned as well?”

This revelation stunned them because the Light Spirit had vanished alongside Saint Sister Imelen during her disappearance.

“Of course. They will specially manifest themselves for your faith. Now, Holy Spirit.”

Allen discreetly used Dovion’s potion while calling the Light Spirit.

The ‘Eye-Deceiving Fire’ potion that mimics another subject’s form with light to deceive others.

‘This is the way for Imelen to stay together…’

He recalled Calliphe’s plan.

“The Light Spirit needs more time to fully return, right? But let’s show them early. Using the Eye-Deceiving Fire to imitate the Light Spirit. Didn’t you say the Light Spirit usually only shows itself to saints?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Let’s use that point. Listen carefully, the form you need to create with the Eye-Deceiving Fire is…”

Flash!

A sparkling light cluster materialized, seemingly responding to the saint’s call.

“Th-that’s really the Light Spirit!”

“Good heavens…!”

The light cluster gradually took shape.

“Look at that, so very holy…!”

Rabbit-like long ears.

“Holy…”

A thick log-like stubby body.

“Holy…?”

Thump.

A peculiar animal appeared, combining a capybara’s body with rabbit ears.

An awkward silence descended.

When Calliphe kicked Allen’s shin from behind, he instinctively spread his arms in a benevolent gesture.

“…This is the Light Spirit.”

“…Ooh!”

People were startled by the chunky reality of the Light Spirit, which religious paintings had portrayed as the sun, angels, or at least fairies.

But questioning the saint’s words would be blasphemy. They began rationalizing it.

“Spirits are… the soul of nature. Animals are nature too. So… that’s right!”

“Yes! It’s the form of nature. A perfect and extraordinary nature.”

Just when everyone started convincing themselves.

“That is not the Light Spirit.”

Young Marquis Caiman stepped forward.

His relaxed smile suggested he had already uncovered the deception.

“How disappointing that the saint would play such a prank. I’m merely curious why you would go this far. Perhaps you’ve made a secret alliance with Lady Offensa?”

“Mind your words!”

The priests warned angrily, but the young Marquis’s smile only widened.

“Then let me prove it. If, as I say, this is a mere magical trick, what will you do?”

“That’s…”

“I suppose we can assume the entire High Temple, including the saint, tried to cover for a dark mage?”

“…!”

That would spell the end of the High Temple.

The priests hesitated at such enormous stakes.

The person who had been at the center of the incident, silent until now, finally spoke.

“What if you lose?”

Calliphe maintained her haughty expression while staring directly at Caiman.

“Young Marquis. What price will you pay if you lose?”

“How surprising that you can hold your head so high despite possessing corrupted magic power. Do you have no shame?”

“Did you expect me to cry and whimper? You still have such poor judgment of people.”

Caiman’s eyes narrowed.

Their sharp hostility crackled in the air.

Finally, Caiman spoke with a twisted mouth.

“…If that is truly the Light Spirit, I will formally apologize for my statements and sell a fixed amount of spirit stones to the High Temple annually for the next 10 years at half the market price.”

Allen and the priests widened their eyes at these shocking terms.

Such conditions would effectively solve their longstanding problems.

Their gazes naturally shifted to Saint Alensis.

Allen maintained his peaceful smile.

However, internally he was sweating.

‘What should I do? This is really just the effect of a simple magic potion…’

Though not by bloodline, Caiman was the Archmage’s disciple and the young Marquis of House Offensa.

He had clearly seen through the simple trick. His incredible offer stemmed from pure confidence.

“Then, may I prove it now?”

Young Marquis Caiman twisted his lips and raised his magic power.

“I will cast magic nullification over this entire place. If that is a trick made with magic power, it will disappear immediately.”

Soon, a veil nullifying other magic spread throughout the chapel.

Woong―

An orange veil emanating from Caiman’s raised hand enveloped the entire chapel.

The magic nullified all other magic within the designated area.

The effect was immediate.

The waterfall’s stream stopped, and the magical lights illuminating the ceiling vanished.

And.

Slowly…

The uniquely shaped animal created by the Eye-Deceiving Fire disappeared.

“This can’t be…”

“The Light Spirit was fake!”

“Did the saint really try to cover for that dark mage?”

People grew agitated while the priests turned pale, speechless. Allen trembled his lips in silence.

He unconsciously looked toward Calliphe.

Would she be troubled too?

“…?”

But Calliphe appeared unbothered.

No, beyond that, she wore a pleasant smile.

Caiman frowned when their gazes met.

“Why are you smiling, young lady?”

“I’m looking forward to seeing your face crumple soon, Young Marquis.”

“Still being stubborn—”

“Stop playing around and come out now?”

When Calliphe raised her voice, everyone stared at her like she had lost her mind.

However, the next moment.

Whoosh.

A small cotton ball materialized, illuminating the darkened space.

The cotton ball wriggled in the air, transforming into the chunky capybara that had vanished earlier.

Calliphe’s curving lips announced the identity of this mysterious being.

“Light Spirit.”

Flash! The Light Spirit raised its head.

―◕▽◕ !!

The glowing capybara pranced through the air, fluttering its rabbit ears.

Light clusters scattered like snow wherever its stubby feet passed, creating a mesmerizing scene.

“Ah…”

“Beautiful…”

The fallen light snowflakes bloomed into more light flakes, resembling dandelion seeds.

The scene transported them to a mysterious forest.

Only the real Light Spirit could create such magic.

“The saint has returned… and the Holy Spirit too…”

Tears welled up in the eyes of the priests and holy knights.

This moment felt like a reward for maintaining their faith through difficult times.

Calliphe lowered her gaze after watching the excited Light Spirit at home.

She observed Caiman standing there with wide eyes.

Toward him, Calliphe deliberately mouthed her silent declaration.

‘I won.’

Crunch. The sound of Caiman grinding his teeth was almost audible.