Chapter 540: The Dark Side of Humanity
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
While the Voidwalkers prepared for a surprise attack by the Church, the Church was at a loss for what to do. Tensions were rising on both sides, and the person responsible for this was unaware of unfolding events.
Noirciel had not left the clocktower since she arrived. It was as though she had forgotten that she could only stay in Isythre for three days. The next morning, the High Priest and the youths returned to the observation deck of the clocktower and found the angel in the same spot as the day before.
This time, however, she was not hovering; she was seated at the edge of the deck, swinging her legs idly as the gentle breeze made her hair flutter. At that moment, the angel did not exude the pride that otherworld beings did; she was reserved and quiet.
“Lady Noirciel sat in the same spot the entire night?” One youth gasped. “Is that person really that hard to find? I thought the scripture states that angels can see all mortals, and not a mote of dust can escape their sight.”
“Just because she can see everything does not mean she can find everything,” another youth said.
“How can that be? How can there be a person in existence that an angel cannot find?”
Someone suddenly spoke up, “Guys, am I the only one that thinks Lady Noirciel is just daydreaming?”
Everyone looked at the youth with expressions of disapproval on their faces. “Hus.h.!.+ Angels don’t daydream!”
“It is not impossible. Her Grace possessed Greta, right? Do you remember what Greta loved doing? That’s right; she loves daydreaming and sitting in high places. She also loves wearing really short skirts, so every day, everyone at the cathedral would know the color and patterns of her panties…”
“Okay, stop. That does not prove its possibility. Lady Noirciel has taken complete control over Greta’s body; there is no way a mortal’s feeble soul can affect a divine being’s like that! Greta’s conviction may be strong, but she can’t influence an angel’s mind!”
Even though the youths were standing close to the angel, the debate got more heated. The High Priest’s loud cough was what prompted them to shut their mouths. When the deck was silent once again, the High Priest approached the angel.
“Blessed morning, Your Grace,” he greeted, bowing low. “May the G.o.ds look…”
It was at this point that the faint sound of snores reached his ears.
‘Were… Were those brats actually right?! Has Her Grace been daydreaming for so long that she eventually fell asleep?! ‘ Beads of sweat rolled down the High Priest’s forehead. ‘Even if she is off her rocker, she should still be an angel, right? Was there any mention in the scripture of angels going to bed?! No, because they don’t sleep, e ver ! d.a.m.n! According to the scripture, angels can stay in the sky for days, and they never get tired, as they are to accept the prayers of the believers!’
In obvious discomfort, the High Priest inched closer to Noirciel and said loudly, “G-good morning, Your Grace!”
The angel jerked and yelped in surprise. As she hurried to regain her composure, she stuttered, “I-I-I wasn’t sleeping!”
In her panic, Noirciel did not sound as cold she should have; her voice sounded like that of a little girl.
It took all the High Priest had in him to wipe the expression of disbelief off his face. He began to fill Noirciel in on the tale that the Pope had prepared, about the great challenges that the Church had faced in dealing with a great evil, which sought to destroy all that was good and pure.
Some details in the made-up story were grossly exaggerated, and the High Priest made sure to refer to Hope as the ‘devil’. The little disagreements that the Church had had with the Voidwalkers in the past were made to seem like a huge fight between good and evil. The High Pope made Baiyi out to be the prince of h.e.l.l — the incarnation of darkness.
If any spirited youth that sought justice heard the High Priest’s tall tale, their eyes would lit up with anger, after which they would go and engage Baiyi in a duel to the death. Although angels were too composed to fly into a rage, they would still get angry enough to raise their holy blades and declare war!
If Noirciel chose to do this, the Church’s goal could be considered achieved.
Ever since the heads of the Church — the Pope, Chief Judge, and other members of the Church’s upper echelon — discovered that the angel they summoned was an incompetent child, they had been debating on how best to proceed. Many of the ideas raised were sacrilegious. In the end, they all agreed that every angel — no matter how useless they were — would be driven by their innate desire to vanquish evil. If things went according to plan, Noirciel would draw her sword and charge at the devil, even if she would rather do nothing but sit in the clocktower.
Furthermore, news of the angel’s attack had to be hidden from the public. The Church would only need to send a small group of military elites to support her. If they deployed more units to accompany the angel and she still embarra.s.ses herself, what would happen to the Church’s image?
The Church was also willing to accept an outcome where Noirciel returns injured, or a corpse. After that many resources were used for the summoning, the least the stupid girl could do was to become cannon fodder to gauge the devil’s powers! If she died at the devil’s hands, other angels would be infuriated, which would be a great turn of events.
The plan was a cruel and blasphemous one. After the meeting, the men all hurried away for confessions, at which time they also pleaded for divine forgiveness.
To the High Priest’s dismay, he was chosen to carry out the most crucial and sinful part of the plan: make Noirciel angry enough to charge into battle. He was reluctant to do so, though, but he could not afford to test the Pope’s patience. In the end, the High Priest had no choice but to succ.u.mb.
However, despite the High Priest’s best efforts, Noirciel was not enraged. She only c.o.c.ked her head to the side in confusion. “I do not see this devil you speak of anywhere in this realm. Why?”
“Your Grace, I believe he got wind of your arrival and rushed to his hidey-hole, a place called Da Xue,” the High Priest replied. “It’s an academy located in a micro-realm, so it’s not exactly here.”
“Is that so? Then, I’m afraid there is little I can do. You see, I’m forbidden from leaving this realm,” Noirciel replied, after which she continued staring into s.p.a.ce, searching for Mia.
The High Priest froze when he heard that. His expectations had been shattered!
As the Church’s upper echelon hurriedly gathered for an emergency meeting, Umbra delivered its latest report to Baiyi and the Voidwalkers. This time, the famous guild of a.s.sa.s.sins had acquired pictures of an angel, which was taken via magical holograms.
“That’s it? That’s our nemesis?!?!” The Archmage exclaimed in disbelief. “Why does she look so… weird? Why is there a collar on her neck? Is this why you’re the way you are, Sir Cleric? Is every other high-ranking member of the Church a closet pervert?!”
“No! This angel is the only exception!” The Cleric Walker exclaimed. “Her appearance matches the scripture’s description of angels. However, there was no mention of collars. That being said, I can’t be the only one who considers the collar a welcome addition, right? A cold otherworldly saint, humiliated with the mark of a sinner. Doesn’t it just make you feel , huh? [1] Oh, oh yes! Excuse me; my tongue is — slrrrpp ! [2]”
“Holy s**t! Can you be any more disgusting ?! You’re perving after a f***ing Angel — the G.o.ds’ weapon of destruction! This isn’t a loli-pop, you insatiable moron!” Baiyi bellowed, aghast at his colleague’s depravity.
He returned his attention to the pictures and muttered, “Why does she seem so familiar? She can’t possibly be Noirciel, can she? She looks different now, but she has that kitty plush toy hanging from her waist again. What other angels would do this?”
“Dude, who are you to judge? Have you ever seen other angels before? You don’t have enough evidence to such a conclusion, man. This kitty plush toy thing might be a fas.h.i.+on trend up there, for all we know!” The Alchemist Walker said, making known his disapproval. “Even the War G.o.d’s messenger is a Kitty Cat Maid!”
“Attie wasn’t like that when she started!” Baiyi retorted. “She was a king! King of the b.l.o.o.d.y Steppe!”
“You rang, Master?” Attie’s voice rang out from a corner of the room. Baiyi turned around and saw her playing with the Jawflower, Santa, and Anna.
“None of your business,” Baiyi replied, after which his attention was returned to the matter at hand. “Regardless of who the angel is, she spent her first day in that clocktower, daydreaming. Do you know what we call people like that? A ditz. She’s a ditz. However, she’s an adorable ditz, and she is a pretty lovely sight…”
Nota, who had long since removed her hair dye, suddenly b.u.t.ted in, exclaiming, “No, Mentor! Please reconsider; she is an angel!”
“Sir Hope, she is an angel!” The Soul Armature Pract.i.tioner voiced his agreement.
“Yea, Doofus. She’s an angel!” Lady a.s.sa.s.sin Walker said.
The room seemed to have become a YouTube comment section, where everyone copies the comments of others. This annoyed Baiyi greatly, and he soon bellowed, “The h.e.l.l? Of course, I know she’s an angel!”
“We’re just concerned, you know? We are worried that you might run off to, I don’t know, capture her — out of that Pokemon collector impulse — just because she looks nice,” the Archmage explained. He slapped his student’s shoulder solemnly and continued, “Son, you must consider this. She’s an angel!”
“Can just one of you show some faith in my integrity? I know my priorities. Besides, why would I go out and get another girl when I’m already surrounded by a ton of beauties? I’m not that lonely!” [3]
“I wouldn’t be so confident about that. You still lack a kuudere, ice-princess type in your collection,” The Archmage thoughtfully said.