Chapter 21: Trials of the Chosen

The exam for selecting the Saintess was held in the most secret, secluded part of Daeshin Shrine. Although she had visited the shrine every year on the first day of the New Year to pray, Lara had never ventured this deep before.

While Lara, overwhelmed with curiosity, kept glancing sideways, Lady Elina V maintained a quiet, almost familiar gaze, as if she’d been here countless times.

‘…What kind of exam could they possibly conduct in a place like this?’

The solemn atmosphere left no room for chatter, so Lara couldn’t even bring herself to ask.

Lara imagined the test might involve praying to God in the prayer room and receiving a response, displaying divine power, enduring tests of patience, or facing an interview where the Pope would ask questions.

Perhaps even a harsher trial awaited her. Yet Lady Elina V simply curved her lips ever so slightly, as if she already knew the answer; no hardship or adversity could shake her serene composure.

[The exam will now commence. Candidates, please enter the prayer room assigned with your exam number.]

A resonant voice booming from the ceiling, as if echoing within one’s mind, filled the room. Lady Elina V’s exam number was 5. Overwhelmed, Lara nervously pleaded with God for answers.

‘What’s going to happen next? Surely the Saintess will be Lady Elina V, right?’

‘But what exactly is the nature of this exam?’

Before Lara could fully process the weight of the voice, she suddenly found herself inside the prayer room. The sacred space was surprisingly small. As Lara casually sat on a sofa affixed to the wall, Lady Elina V stood upright, facing forward with her shoulders squared.

[The exam is beginning now. Please face forward.]

As the guide’s command echoed, the room’s brightness gradually increased. Out of nowhere, a target in the shape of a human head appeared before them.

Lara was momentarily perplexed as she tried to determine what trial lay ahead. Then, a blinding white light shot forth from Lady Elina V’s eyes.

KRRAAAAANG―!!

Without any warning, the beam burst forth and obliterated the target and the wall behind it in just 0.1 seconds. Shards flew in every direction, even embedding themselves deep into the velvet sofa where Lara sat.

“Kyaaaah!!”

‘Calm down? It looks anything but that!’

Divine power rained down like laser beams, striking other targets with unerring precision.

KRRAAAANG!! BANG!! KRRAAAANG―!!

With each successive explosion, as the walls and floor began to shake wildly, Lara was gripped by panic.

Fearful that she might be struck and killed by that beam, Lara bolted toward the door, frantically scraping at the handle.

“Help! Somebody, please save me! Is there anyone out there?! I’m going to die! Mom!!”

‘Don’t be wowed in this situation!!’

No matter how bizarre it looked, to God the Saintess appeared angelic. An exam that tested one’s ability to hit targets with divine power was unheard of. And why, of all things, were the targets shaped like human heads? Was it meant to demonstrate that when hit, a person’s head would shatter into pieces?

Having screamed so loudly that her throat soon went hoarse, Lara slumped by the door, sobbing uncontrollably as she glanced at Lady Elina V’s back. It struck her how even a seemingly diminutive figure could evoke such terror. She suddenly understood why the state went to such lengths to protect the Saintess.

‘Was divine power truly that dangerous…? And didn’t it once fire at me before?!’

‘How biased can it be towards the heroine!’

It might have been better if she hadn’t known any of this. Slowly, her vision began to blur. Amid the fading consciousness, Lara heard a voice as clear as a ray of light.

[Candidate Lady Elina V, your score is 99 out of 100. Well done.]

Lara’s eyes fluttered open to find herself in a room with ivory curtains billowing softly. The sight of pure white sunlight seeping through the curtains startled her, triggering a flash of traumatic memories, though thankfully the place seemed peaceful.

“Are you awake?”

A voice that shattered the calm came from somewhere nearby. Driven by sheer survival instinct, Lara stumbled backwards, eventually tumbling under the bed.

Despite her disheveled appearance tangled in the blankets, Lady Elina V only offered a gentle smile. It was only then that Lara noticed her attire had changed.

Adorning her head was a delicate laurel wreath crafted from pure gold, intricately framing her silvery hair parted into two. Hanging from her hair were alternating strands of gold and silver that shimmered along with a straight-cut skirt and flowing white lace, exuding a refined aura.

It looked unmistakably like the vestments reserved exclusively for a Saintess. As Lara stood agape, Lady Elina V approached to help her up.

“You have been chosen as the Saintess. It’s thanks to the relentless support from Schmord behind the scenes.”

‘No… All I did was scream my lungs out…’

“I honestly don’t know how to thank you.”

‘No… Just save my life, that would be enough…’

Every time the gentle touch helped her rise from the blankets, Lara flinched as though being hit by a delinquent’s feeble punch.

She dared not meet Lady Elina V’s eyes, worried that at any moment they might unleash another destructive burst of white light. Her entire body tensed, muscles rigid, as cold sweat trickled down her spine.

“It seems you’re still not feeling well. Last time you collapsed and today you’re sweating with a pale face.”

“I… I think it’s just a bit of a cold…”

“How did you catch a cold, anyway?”

Lady Elina V’s concern-laden words sounded to Lara as if they were the most terrifying in the world. As Lara’s complexion turned almost bluish, like someone submerged in water, Lady Elina V rolled up her sleeves.

“This won’t do. I need to use a bit of divine power…”

“Kyaaaak, no! Please, never use that on me!!”

Tears streaming once again, Lara screamed aloud. But when she saw Lady Elina V reaching for her wrist, she abruptly got to her feet, discarding even the Lady’s Teleportation Technique, and bolted from the room solely to stay alive.

“Youngae! Come back!”

A faint cry echoed from behind, but Lara couldn’t stop; she clung to the desperate desire to live—a longing she had never felt so intensely before.

“Huff… huff…”

The corridors of Daeshin Shrine proved far more expansive and labyrinthine than expected. Each wall reminded her of a maze with pure white barriers. After what felt like an eternity of wandering, Lara finally spotted a window connecting to the outside.

All she wanted was to get out of there. Wandering through a natural garden seemed a far better option for her sanity than the terrifying Daeshin Shrine.

Though it was something she would never normally consider, survival drove Lara to leap over the windowsill. Fortunately, wearing a knight’s uniform made it easier to burn through the obstacle.

‘…But where exactly is the garden exit?’

Lara found herself wandering through a garden that seemed even more vast than the building itself.

In truth, this was a private garden hidden deep within the heart of Daeshin Shrine, a space reserved solely for the Pope. Even the Emperor was forbidden from entering, yet Lara had stepped into this forbidden zone.

The garden path, scattered with glittering light like gold dust, was adorned with rare, ornamental sculptures. Passing vibrant, outstretched leaves, Lara entered a secluded area that seemed untouched by visitors. At the far end, the outer wall of an annex building was revealed.

‘Could this be where someone lives?’