Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? [Vol. 5] Chapter 263 - Speculations About "Her"

[Vol. 5] Chapter 263: Speculations About “Her”

Though inwardly Miss White Fox couldn’t help but silently complain, she kept her expression completely unchanged on the outside, ensuring Frederica saw no hint of it.

After a mont of reflection, the Saintess quickly concealed her guilt, returning to her usual calm and composed deanor.

“It seems little Nana and… others place a great deal of trust in Miss Dawn. Information of this level isn’t sothing just anyone could access. Since that’s the case, I see no reason to hesitate. Whatever you wish to know, Miss Dawn, just ask.”

Since Frederica was ready, Violet didn’t bother with unnecessary probing and nodded in acknowledgnt.

“If I had to na the most intriguing topic, it would certainly be the events surrounding your disappearance on the battlefield, and how you ended up in your current state.”

“The battlefield…”

Frederica nodded knowingly, taking a mont to reflect, as if gathering her thoughts and recalling details.

Soon, she began.

“There’s nothing particularly complicated or dramatic about it.”

“After being ambushed in Saint Sarnos City… I realized the situation was out of control, and our odds of victory were slim. With my last strength, I unleashed the true power of the [Judgnt Holy Sword], intending to take down the high-ranking demons who had ambushed , resulting in mutual destruction. I then ordered a retreat.”

“Initially, I intended to lead the army in a temporary withdrawal from Saint Sarnos City, planning to recover and then look for an opportunity to reclaim the city. However, it seed the demons had prepared for this. They pursued relentlessly and had traps set in advance, repeatedly dividing our forces.”

“The number of warriors around dwindled, and I was gravely injured, barely able to move. Just as it seed I’d be captured… a shadow guard trained by my family made the quick decision to swap identities with and sacrificed herself in my place. Thanks to her, and the protection of a few remaining loyal followers, I finally escaped the encirclent.”

As she spoke of the decoy who died in her stead, Frederica’s fists clenched slightly, a shadow of sorrow clouding her otherwise graceful face. Still, she continued her story.

“After fleeing Saint Sarnos City, I planned to head to nearby towns to recover and regroup the scattered forces. But one of my perceptive guards warned that if even high-ranking clergy in Saint Sarnos City, like Sybil Roland, had turned traitor, it was likely that no city in Sarnos Province could guarantee safety anymore.”

“In my condition, returning to any city might have been as good as walking into a trap.”

“The realization hit , so I decided to take a gamble and had them lead eastward, into the uninhabited forests, hills, and marshes to find a safe place to hide.”

“After that, I lost consciousness due to my injuries.”

“But I don’t know what happened to when I lost consciousness, because suddenly I was here, and even those [Light Worshippers] don’t know how I ended up here. I don’t know who rescued .”

Seeing that she had shared a lot at once, Miss White Fox refilled Frederica’s teacup. Frederica downed it in one go, nodding in agreent.

“Yes, I later discovered that the demons’ infiltration of Sarnos Province and Keller Province was even more insidious than I’d imagined. They had begun their work long ago, gradually taking control of various institutions and officials both openly and covertly. In truth, they hardly needed to use force to conquer those two provinces.”

“And that battle in Saint Sarnos City… it was ticulously designed as a trap specifically for . Or rather… it was aid at the [Judgnt Holy Sword] itself.”

The blonde-haired girl suddenly looked up, her bright eyes now carrying an unusually serious gleam.

“Miss Dawn, there’s a traitor within the Church, and it’s soone of very high rank, at least at the Six-Wing Holy Emblem level.”

“A traitor, huh…”

Hearing Miss White Fox murmur in a noncommittal tone, Frederica wasn’t sure what thoughts were running through her mind, but she nodded again to confirm.

“There’s no doubt about it. Without so high-ranking insiders helping cover things up, there’s no way the demons could have corrupted the two provinces right under our noses. However… I still haven’t identified the traitor, which is why I haven’t returned to the Church. Instead, I’m operating in secret, observing from the shadows.”

“Of course…”

Frederica gave a faint smile.

“But it absolutely can’t be an outsider like you, Miss Dawn. So, ironically, you’re one of the least suspicious people at present.”

“Oh, no wonder you chose to et with in person.”

The Saintess nodded with a quiet sigh.

“The Goddess Church is no longer safe. Although I don’t fully understand why these demons and the traitor within the Church are so determined to fra and seize the [Judgnt Holy Sword], the more they try, the more I can’t let them succeed.”

As the conversation naturally progressed, Violet thought for a mont before casually asking, “So, do you still have the genuine [Judgnt Holy Sword] with you?”

“It’s with . But… what do you an by ‘the genuine one’?”

“Well, actually…”

Taking a mont, Violet roughly described the various situations they had encountered in Saint Sarnos City, as part of a mutual exchange of information.

Of course, she left out Eudora’s identity as a succubus, rely glossing over it vaguely in front of this Saintess.

After listening, Frederica quickly fell into thought.

“You’re saying soone forged a replica of the [Judgnt Holy Sword] and deliberately guided thieves to unearth it, creating the illusion of an artifact’s ergence?”

eting Violet’s quiet gaze after recounting her past experiences, the Saintess looked puzzled.

“What special significance would that have?”

“Hmm, significance…”

Violet rhythmically tapped her white fingers on the tabletop, creating a steady “tap-tap” sound—a habitual gesture when she was deep in thought.

After a mont, she murmured, “I wasn’t entirely sure of the purpose of such behavior before. But since Miss Frederica believes there’s a highly placed traitor within the Goddess Church, and since the other side has carefully plotted to seize the [Judgnt Holy Sword], let’s assu that as a basis for our speculation.”

She raised a finger.

“Assuming the other party’s goal truly is to obtain the [Judgnt Holy Sword], then the first point and the most crucial one is to ensure that you, the Judgnt Saintess, are isolated from the Holy Capital, creating an environnt conducive to their plans.”

“Moreover, no matter what happens on your side, they must prevent the Church in the Holy Capital from initiating the sacred summoning ritual that would recall the Holy Sword back to the Goddess Church’s stronghold. Otherwise, everything would be for nothing.”

As Frederica’s brows began to furrow, Violet continued her reasoning.

“And in fact, both of these points have already been achieved. You’re hiding in a remote area in the eastern part of Sarnos Province, and the ritual the Church intended to carry out has been prevented as well. Although various forces interfered to make that happen, the outco is what it is.”

Then, she lifted another slender, pale finger into the air.

“Next, to ensure that the Holy Empire has no ti to search for the missing Saintess and the Holy Sword, the traitor must instigate an even more severe crisis to occupy the Holy Empire and the Goddess Church… so the fall of the Angel City occurred, and a holy war erupted in the worst possible circumstances.”

Finally, Violet held up three fingers.

“With the first two points unfolding as planned, the next step would be to wait until both sides are locked in battle, ensuring few would be paying attention to this remote, demon-infested region in eastern Sarnos. Then, when the ti is right, they would locate you, the Saintess who escaped with the Holy Sword, and either seize it or trick you into handing it over to achieve their ultimate goal.”

“But, since this traitor is a high-ranking mber of the Goddess Church, it wouldn’t be convenient for them to personally co here under the current circumstances. So they must rely on others: demons, remnants of the Holy Empire, or even outsiders like who aren’t affiliated with any side…”

“They need to pinpoint your exact location, Frederica Cecilia, to lay the groundwork for the next step.”

“That’s why, through the staging of a fake Holy Sword discovery and its subsequent ‘disappearance,’ they’re sending a ssage to everyone: the [Judgnt Holy Sword] is sowhere in Sarnos Province. They’re prompting all these various forces, with their own agendas, to start a storm and, in doing so, draw out the real Holy Sword.”