Finally, the Light Spirit ceased its playful bouncing around the hall and floated to a stop before Calliphe.

In full view of everyone, it delicately touched its nose to Calliphe’s forehead.

― ◜▽◝

A gentle light radiated from Calliphe’s forehead.

The Spirit’s intention was clear, even to those unfamiliar with its nature.

“The Spirit has chosen Lady Offensa…”

A spirit choosing a human outside of a saint’s contract was an exceptionally rare occurrence.

This act served as an absolute oracle.

‘I never discussed this?’

When Calliphe looked at the Light Spirit in surprise, it spun through the air with a grinning face.

That’s when it happened.

Thud… thud…

The dull sounds echoed through the hall as priests and holy knights slowly knelt one after another.

They bowed their heads in the highest form of respect.

Toward Calliphe.

The saint too adopted the same reverent posture to honor the Spirit’s choice.

“From this moment forward,”

Allen’s gentle voice carried authority.

“We, the Reparatio High Temple, swear in the name of the holy Spirit to be Lady Calliphe Offensa’s eternal ally.”

The priests and holy knights followed with their oaths.

“We will respect your name as we do the saint’s—”

“Your dishonor will be consoled by our righteous anger.”

The High Temple’s support of a specific individual was nearly unprecedented.

Even those rare instances had been limited to the royal family.

This unprecedented situation sparked both surprise and shock among the witnesses.

Some felt privileged to witness what seemed like a sacred painting coming to life, while others quickly calculated potential advantages.

The latter included the retainers of House Offensa.

“…”

Several retainers attending the blessing ceremony exchanged startled glances.

And another faction.

“…I don’t understand. How could a woman like that.”

The young Crown Princess, who had silently observed the entire event, quietly furrowed her brow.

Beside her, the silver-haired man merely smiled without comment.

Deep-set eye sockets housed pitch-black pupils. His gloomy gaze held a slight reddish tinge, emanating a strange sensuality.

The man, a prince serving as the Crown Princess’s guardian, quietly observed Calliphe before averting his gaze.

This extraordinary blessing ceremony quickly became the talk of the entire system.

To Calliphe’s existing epithets of ‘villainess’ and ‘tyrant’ came the addition of ‘the Spirit’s mistake.’

[Quest Complete!]

[You have avoided the false accusations at the blessing ceremony prepared by Young Marquis Caiman. Moreover, you were chosen as the Light Spirit’s friend in front of everyone!]

[Now everyone at the Reparatio High Temple acknowledges you as an ally and benefactor. The ‘saint’ not only remains a candidate for Noah’s guardian but voluntarily submits to you. Those who follow the God of Light show you unconditional favor.]

[Another guardian candidate shows interest in you.]

* * *

After the blessing ceremony, the retainers of House Offensa supporting Young Marquis Caiman gathered spontaneously in one place. For a while, silence prevailed.

Among them, Viscount Gallard, absent from the blessing ceremony, attempted to lighten the mood.

“But when you think about it, nothing will change, right?”

“Do you think so?”

“Because look, isn’t the High Temple’s influence gradually weakening? There are also talks about their increasing dependence on spirit stones. So even with their support…”

“How foolish.”

A noble slammed the table.

“Spirit stones are irrelevant now. With the saint and Light Spirit alive and well, concerns about spirit stones become meaningless!”

“What? Then…”

Another noble nodded.

“It means the High Temple’s status will recover, and Lady Calliphe’s value, with their support, will rise.”

Even with strong imperial authority, the temple remained beyond the emperor’s direct control.

Therefore, sacred protection represented an enormous privilege.

Viscount Gallard attempted another argument.

“Even so, nothing changes! Won’t the lady soon become the mistress of House Ortega anyway? So the position of House Offensa’s head is still…”

“Viscount, are you suggesting we should only do things that benefit House Ortega?”

Anger erupted immediately.

While these people supported Young Marquis Caiman, they remained devoted members of House Offensa.

They backed Caiman because they considered him more suitable than Calliphe to lead House Offensa.

This revealed their underlying generational rivalry toward House Ortega.

“If the lady becomes Ortega’s person, won’t that only benefit them! House Offensa will face mockery for missing the High Temple’s protection!”

Their personal desire for family protection also played a considerable role.

After a lengthy pause, Viscount Gallard spoke.

“…Still, House Offensa is a long-established magic house. Even if the temple’s protection is regrettable, Young Marquis Caiman should be the successor.”

“…”

Silence descended again among the retainers.

However, the atmosphere had shifted notably.

Their solid alliance supporting Caiman began to crack as each calculated their individual benefits.

* * *

In a remote village where magical beasts roamed instead of people.

Henrik, the Special Magic Unit captain, barked orders.

“K*ll them all right now! K*ll them all and bring the cores!”

His recent foul mood drove the Special Magic Unit to attack the magical beasts with heightened intensity.

They swiftly subdued the creatures while channeling magic through their artifacts.

They pursued and eliminated even the fleeing beasts without mercy.

Yet this satisfying sight failed to improve Henrik’s mood. The same thought that had plagued him for days resurfaced.

‘To think the blessing ceremony I worked so hard on would be ruined like that! It ended up only doing that wench good!’

After the ceremony, conversations centered on ‘Calliphe Offensa.’

However, the tone carried curiosity, interest, and even favor instead of mockery or ridicule.

The label ‘tyrant’ that typically accompanied ‘Calliphe’ noticeably diminished.

‘D*mn it!’

Henrik clutched the fragment of Lumen’s heart hidden in his clothes.

‘I could have received greater power from the Young Marquis. To think it would crumble right before my eyes!’

This fragment of Lumen’s heart remained small.

Yet its power proved tremendous.

Despite using dark magic in several villages, he had never faced troublesome consequences.

Initially, the absence of any price seemed suspicious.

Dark magic traditionally demanded ‘life force’ proportional to its power.

But now he completely believed the Young Marquis’s words that ‘no price is needed.’

“The reason I don’t use it myself and entrust it to you is because I trust you as my right hand…”

Beyond accepting the claim about avoiding payment, he had grown utterly loyal to the man who spoke those words with a quiet smile.

“Cough, cough.”

D*mn, perhaps a cold?

The coughing interrupted his thoughts as Henrik watched his subordinates gathering with the cores.

“Good. Now let’s quickly pack up and move to the next location.”

“Please wait a moment.”

A gentle but firm voice.

Henrik twisted his head back in exasperation toward the sound.

The priests from the High Temple stood there.

This time, however, High Cardinal Willien led them instead of another high-ranking priest.