Anna has become the Saint of Purification. At those words, Simon felt the blood in his entire body turn cold. He hadn't even fully recovered from Flema's nightmare, and now his mother had become such a being? He was so shocked his mouth wouldn't close. "......Even so, Teacher Anna seemed to be in great pain while using the Saint's power." Lete, sitting next to him, retorted. Richard calmly nodded and spoke. "It's impossible for a human body to accept two types of 'Essence of the Saint' at once. Anna was originally the Saint of Miracles, and although the essence was removed, its remnants still remain in her body. But now a new essence has entered, causing a repulsive reaction." Anna had an innate talent and high compatibility with the essence, becoming the youngest Saint at the tender age of 11. It wasn't strange that the Essence of Purification, which was seeking its next owner, chose her, now a civilian. Ultimately, the two essences were causing a repulsive reaction within Anna's body, and she was dying without fully awakening as either Saint. Simon, listening to the explanation, asked anxiously. "Then what will happen to Mom now?" "......." Richard's lips parted. He, too, was doing his utmost to maintain composure in front of the children. "Her body can't endure this. Even if we suppress the power this way, it will be difficult for her to last more than three months at most." Simon lowered his head at the cruel reality. He couldn't lose her like this. "However, there isn't no way at all." At Richard's words, both of their heads shot up. "The 'Essence Removal Surgery' Anna received when she returned to being a civilian. We just need to do that again. If we can somehow remove the Essence of Purification, the remnants alone won't cause a major repulsive reaction." Simon sprang to his feet. "Who can do that?" "The noble person who first performed the procedure on Anna has already passed away, but I watched that surgery from beginning to end with my own eyes. I remember it 100% clearly in my head even now." Richard tapped his forehead and continued. "The surgery is possible. However, it requires ingredients that cannot be obtained in the Dark Alliance." "Are they in the Divine Federation?" "Yes. The Federation's holy relic, the 'Tree of Life'." Richard subtly shifted his gaze towards Lete. "The white leaves that only grow on that tree. Those are what we need." Thump! As soon as Richard finished speaking, Lete bolted from her seat and ran out. Richard watched her silently, then let out a quiet sigh. After a short while, Lete rushed back to the house. "Two weeks!" She panted as she continued. "The broker said they'd adjust the schedule and prepare for us to cross into the Divine Federation in two weeks. I'll go and get the ingredients." Richard shook his head. "No, this is our family's matter. We can't impose on you any further......" "You said it for me to hear anyway, so what are you talking about now?" Lete strode into the master bedroom. She quietly gazed at Anna, who was wrapped in black bandages and breathing precariously. "......." Her eyes held a strong resolve. "I don't care what you say. I'm going solely for Teacher." "I'll go too, Lete." Simon stood up abruptly and said. Lete made a bewildered expression, saying, "Huh?" "Are you crazy? A Necromancer going to the Divine Federation?" "You're here in the Dark Alliance right now, aren't you? What's stopping me from doing the opposite?" Saying that, Simon clenched his fist tightly. "Mom's life is on the line. I can't just sit here." Lete crossed her arms. "Your filial piety is admirable, but do you know what the situation in the Federation is like right now? Because of this Death Witch incident, there's a top-level alert, and within the Federation, heretics are burning down villages and killing people. Inquisitors with bloodshot eyes are guarding everywhere because of these heretics. If they catch a Necromancer, it's immediate execution. Even I, who brought you, would be hanged first, Efnel or not." She pointed a finger at Simon. "If an Inquisitor comes, how will you prove you're not a Necromancer?" Richard also nodded. "Yes. Your heart is admirable, but the situation in the Divine Federation isn't good right now. I've heard the vigilance there is much stricter than here." "I'm confident I won't get caught." Simon spread his palm. "It's a bit late to say this, but." "?" And then, at the power Simon unleashed from his palm, both Lete and Richard gasped in shock and recoiled. The white light blooming in Simon's left hand was unmistakably it. "Actually, I can use 'Divine Power'." The house was turned upside down. * * * Lete contacted the broker again via the communication crystal ball, asking if they could secure a disguised identity for a male in his teens or early twenties. If the answer was no, she was prepared to go alone without hesitation, but the broker happened to have one acolyte identity for a teenage boy left. An acolyte meant a novice Priest who had just awakened their divine power. And the most crucial factor was Anna's words. When Anna briefly regained consciousness, Simon confessed to her that he could use divine power and said he would go to the Divine Federation. Anna expressed worry and concern about Simon going to the Divine Federation, but she was delighted to hear that he could use divine power. -Half of Simon is made of Mom, after all. I hope Simon takes an interest in the place where Mom was born and lived. After much deliberation, Lete had no choice but to allow Simon to accompany her. 'I'm sorry, Goddess.' Even if it was to save her benefactor, bringing an impure being into holy land... When she returned to Efnel, she'd have to add three months of fasting. And so, to act as the disguised acolyte, Simon decided to take lessons from Lete for two weeks. They went up a shallow hill behind the burnt house Simon often visited. It was secluded and spacious, perfect for lessons. 'Hmm.' Lete stopped walking, slightly admiring the natural scenery. Colorful wildflowers bloomed in the lush green fields, and the cool breeze carried their fragrance. She had been taught that all the lands of the Dark Alliance were cursed, unable to grow a single blade of grass, and emitted a terrible stench, but the sight was somewhat different from what Efnel had described. Even in the Divine Federation, such beautiful natural landscapes were rare. "Please take care of me." Simon said with a smile. Lete glared at him with a displeased look, then sighed deeply. Teaching white magic to a Necromancer, how did it come to this? "Alright, let's begin." Lete knelt respectfully at Simon's feet. '?' Simon stood dumbfounded, and she frowned, pointing her finger down. "What, are you just watching? You kneel too, you punk!" At her words, Simon awkwardly knelt as well. She irritably brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Ugh, it's such a pain to explain everything one by one. From now on, in all our lessons, you'll do this. A reverent posture leads to a reverent heart." "Is a reverent heart related to manifesting divine power?" "Ah, of course! Divine power comes from faith in the Goddess. Stop talking and let's begin. Mutual greeting." She, still kneeling, placed her hands together over her navel and bowed her head respectfully. Though usually rough and tomboyish, her posture exuded high grace and dignity. Simon was a little surprised internally and, sensing the mood, followed her movements. Next, Lete recited a prayer. Simon clasped his hands and listened silently to the prayer's content as she did. With that, all the rituals before the lesson were complete. She opened her eyes with a satisfied expression. "Do you feel a reverent heart before the great Goddess now?" "......." Not at all. He felt nothing at all. No matter how many times she recited those scripture verses, they didn't resonate with him. Rather than greatness, they just sounded like stories from a narrative or myth. If Simon were to think of the Goddess, only one phrase came to mind. -Because the Great Goddess commanded it. The reason Flema terrorized Kizen. He only felt a strange sense of hostility. "Sorry, I don't feel any of that." "Haaah." Lete pressed her hand to her forehead and sighed as if the ground would collapse. What am I doing right now? It's like reading scriptures to a cow. She felt pathetic, sitting a Necromancer down and reading scriptures to him. "Remember this." She said in a voice that radiated coldness. "If I don't see the results I want in two weeks, I'll just go to the Divine Federation alone. I absolutely refuse to suffer because of you." "I know." Simon looked at his palm, lost in thought. "......Divine power comes from faith in the Goddess." "That's right." "Faith." Come to think of it, 'willpower' was important in controlling Jet Black. Perhaps faith and willpower were just a hair's breadth apart. Simon focused all his senses. Faith. 'I will.' Not faith in the Goddess. 'I will save Mom. I will manifest divine power. I will go to the Divine Federation. And I will—' Absolute faith in himself. 'I can do anything!' Whoosh! Lete gasped in fright. Her legs gave out, and she fell backward, sensitive to posture as she was. A large, dazzling divine power had erupted from Simon's left hand. "Is that enough now?" Simon said with a grin. Unique across the entire continent. A Necromancer who could use divine power had appeared.
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