Translator: Yang_Wenli
Messai walked into the Holy Light Parliament’s assembly hall. There were much more people taking part in this trial that she expected.
She took a glance at the people seated on the tribunal. They were all people that she was familiar with. Among them were several archbishops.
Of those archbishops, Messai was most familiar with Archbishop Monig and Archbishop Koebler. Both of them were archbishops from the Holy Church Army, the Ecclesiastical Templars.
Archbishop Monig was even Messai’s swordsmanship teacher. To be seen by her teacher as a prisoner, a sense of shame and guilt filled Messai’s heart. She lowered her head, seemingly afraid to face the archbishops on the interrogation seats.
Soon, Messai was brought to the sinner’s platform by the four templars. With the Heresy Tribunal’s archbishop as the director, the trial began.
“Messai. In the operation to suppress a Chaos Demon in Norland, she decided to protect a demon and drew her sword to attack an inquisition leader...”
One of the archbishops began to read Messai’s accusation. Messai opened her mouth slightly and seemed to want to refute the charge.
The person she protected was no demon. Instead, she was an innocent frost elf. Furthermore, she had not drawn her sword at all.
But, in the end, Messai decided to keep quiet and finish listening to all her charges.
“The Heresy Tribunal believes that she has been affected by the demon during the time she was stationed in Norland. She has abandoned god’s teachings and associated herself with the demons. She needs to receive the Holy Light’s punishment.”
After the archbishop from the Heresy Tribunal finished saying all that, he turned to look at Archbishop Monig and Archbishop Koebler. These two archbishops of the Holy Church Army were the ones that would determine the criminal charges for Messai.
“Messai, go ahead and speak all that you wish to say. The student that I’ve taught is not that cowardly!”
Archbishop Monig stared at Messai standing on the platform below and slowly spoke those words. Even though his voice was not loud, it echoed through the entire assembly hall.
At this moment, Messai lifted up her head. She was able to accept the initial slanders from the Heresy Tribunal. But, she was unable to accept their claim that she had abandoned god’s teachings. It was an accusation that she cannot tolerate.
To her, her belief in god was as important as her life...
“Lord Archbishop, I am guilty! But, the person who I protected is not a demon! Instead, she is an innocent elf! That inquisition leader lost his senses of reason and was prepared to take the life of an innocent person mid-mission. I cannot look on helplessly and allow for such an atrocity to happen! Moreover... I have never once abandoned my faith! Even in death, I’ve never!”
Very rarely do Messai get this angry. Even after her assets were stripped by the Nation of the Holy Church, even after her former subordinates treated her with such roughness, Messai never showed anger toward them. But, this time around, Messai realized that she cannot keep silent.
“Atrocity? The location of the mission is the demon’s lair. The concept of innocent or not does not exist in such a place.”
The Archbishop from the Heresy Tribunal did not accept Messai’s argument.
“Do you have concrete proof that my disciple was protecting a demon?”
Archbishop Monig appeared slightly annoyed. Messai was the most outstanding student of his. Whether it be her character or her abilities, they were all model examples for the templars. She has also achieved many outstanding military service on the battlefield.
Archbishop Monig was extremely dissatisfied with how the Heresy Tribunal deemed Messai a traitor associated with demons by a mere accusation that she protected a demon in Norland.
“Forgive me for speaking forthrightly. Archbishop Monig, the Heresy Tribunal suffered disastrous losses. The losses were all because they were attacked by the demon’s accomplices in Norland... That traitor’s rash behavior of attacking an inquisition leader has caused major disturbance to the mission.”
“Even if that is the case, I will not hand my student to you all! Both witnesses are your inquisitors! I do not believe in their claims!”
Archbishop Monig exchanged glances with another archbishop from the Holy Church Army. He seemed to have made his decision.
“Messai, your mistake in Norland proved that you still needed more training. You are to be stripped of your rank as a templar and be sent to the Icefrost Stronghold as a new recruit!”
Archbishop Monig’s decision was to send Messai far away from the Holy City. Since Messai returned to the Holy City, she was blackened as a traitor. Messai needed to regain her reputation in the Holy Church Army again. In the future, she could even become a Legion Commander. But, she would need to gain honor and glory in battles first.
Archbishop Monig desires for his student to become a Legion Commander.
Icefrost Stronghold... it was a fort that Messai has been to before. It was located on the border between the Nation of the Holy Church and the Nation of Frost. That area was covered in snow year-round. One would frequently be attacked by beastmen and demons there.
In other words, Messai would be sent to the frontier. Had it been Messai from before, she would gladly accept this punishment. But now... to Messai’s own ridicule, she actually had the desire to request to be dispatched back to Norland.
But, Messai knew that to be something impossible. Right when Messai was planning to accept Archbishop Monig’s judgement, a person stood up from the listeners’ seats and interrupted Messai.
“Archbishop Monig, I do not believe the Icefrost Stronghold will be able to provide growth to such an outstanding knight. If possible, please have her become my bodyguard.”
That was... the voice of the Saintess Herolia! Messai turned around and saw the Saintess Herolia standing up from her seat.
The person rumored to be closest to God in the Holy Church. Just by looking at her jade-blue eyes, one will feel the unease in one’s heart disappearing.
“Absolutely not... To have such a dangerous traitor become your bodyguard... wouldn’t this mean...”
Before Archbishop Monig could say anything, the other archbishops present all voiced their disapproval.
Messai was already carrying the title of traitor in the Holy City. If she was to become the Saintess’ bodyguard, it would bring about bad influences.
“How could such a noble soul be dangerous?”
Saintess Herolia was looking straight at Messai. Messai felt as if her soul was being seen through.
A misperception? Messai had no idea if that was a misperception. But, she was extremely confused by Saintess Herolia’s sudden decision.
After all, she has never once engaged in conversation with the Saintess before.
“I will also accept the sin she has committed. Archbishop Monig... she will be able to learn much more by accompanying me.”
Saintess Herolia’s eyes turned to Archbishop Monig. She looked to the Holy Church Army’s archbishop eye-to-eye with no fear at all.
The two archbishops of the Holy Church Army pondered for a while. In the end, after they saw how abnormal the expression on the Heresy Tribunal’s archbishop was, they came to a decision.
“Perhaps the radiance of the Saintess will be able to wash away the sin Messai has committed. Please guide this child to the proper path,” said Archbishop Monig.
“Thank you, Lord Archbishop.”
The Saintess Herolia expressed her gratitude toward Archbishop Monig seated on the judgement seat. Then, she turned to Messai and smiled. It was a very warm smile.