Of course, the hero nodding along to Butler and Heseh's words was merely for show. In reality, he didn't care at all. He put on this whole act to maintain his image within the church, and knowing that he was about to meet the Saint, gaining a few favors wouldn't hurt, he thought, especially given the failure of the mission.
The hero, Butler, and Heseh were guided by the priest in charge of this chapel. The latter was already familiar with the protocol to follow regarding the treatment of Demigra or the nature of the hero's visit. Everything had already been prepared.
As they walked toward the room where their meeting was to take place, the priest spoke up.
"My name is Gilam, Hero. It is an honor to meet you. Forgive us for rushing things, but the Saint will be here soon. It is in everyone's best interest that everything be ready."
"What are the reactions?" Heseh asked Gilam.
"Well, officially, the church had planned to meet the hero for discussions on the handover of the sacred sword and this matter in a week. However, we arbitrarily moved the date forward! Of course, as expected, even Lance Ixac was caught off guard. Yet, the news has indeed leaked, confirming all of Her Holiness's hypotheses."
"I see. The fact that the fish took the bait on our side as well proves it's true. But who would have thought that we were also bait in this story? We've been played," Heseh grumbled.
"Holy Paladin, am I really allowed to hear the details of this matter?" Gilam asked with a hint of resignation. Most members of the Goddess's cult, regardless of their inclinations, were driven by the desire to actively participate.
"Father Gilam, these are just details, and you already know quite a lot! Listening to Heseh's speculations isn't much." Heseh laughed after saying that.
Meanwhile, the hero rolled his eyes, bored out of his mind.
How could such a small building feel so long inside? he thought. But his restless heart was soon distracted by the pretty faces of the sisters passing by.
This was the kind of moment when he actively used his max-tier Virtuous Hero abilities—memorizing the faces of these women without being noticed.
As a normal man, when a beautiful woman passes by, one must follow her with their gaze, observe her from every angle, and at some point, even turn their head to keep looking.
This was what the hero called admiring the beauty of nature. But in a fantasy world where various abilities existed, doing so openly was archaic. No need to turn his head anymore; he could simply glance once and generate a perfect mental image of the breathtaking view.
His only regret was the attire of these women.
It hid their figures.
It was in moments like these that he was tempted to activate the second stage of his cheat skill, Charm. However, in a place like this, even the first stage was passively nullified. If he activated the second stage, maybe it would work, but that wouldn't be in his favor.
And just like that, the hero was lost in a mental struggle, proving that the church did make one reflect.
As they finally arrived before the grand door leading to the audience chamber, Gilam suddenly stopped, casting a worried glance at Butler and Heseh. He placed a hand on the finely wrought metal handle, took a deep breath, then turned to the hero.
"Hero, before we go in, there is something you should know."
The hero, still lost in his trivial thoughts, raised an eyebrow, clearly uninterested.
"Hm? What now?" he asked with a bored tone.
Gilam hesitated for a moment before continuing:
"The Saint you are about to meet... she is special. Different from the others. Her abilities surpass those of ordinary priestesses, and her gaze... It can pierce through souls. Even a man as powerful as you would do well to be cautious in her presence."
This time, a slight shiver ran down the hero's spine. Not from fear, but from curiosity. A woman capable of seeing through souls? That could be amusing.
"Interesting."
What Gilam didn't know was that this wasn't the first time the hero had met the Saint.
And truth be told, Gilam himself had never met her. Everything he knew was secondhand information from other priests.
The hero smirked and crossed his arms.
"So what? Does that mean I should behave? Confess my sins?"
Heseh chuckled.
"If only. No, it means your little games might be exposed rather quickly. The Saint is more than a religious figure; she has been trained in divine magic since childhood. Even your skills in deception won't fool her forever."
The hero shrugged, a sly grin on his lips.
"Well, we'll see about that. Maybe she'll fall for my charm, who knows?"
Butler, who had remained silent until then, let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
"Be careful not to underestimate her too much. She is not just a simple nun, and even less a prey easy to ensnare."
"We will continue this discussion in her presence after gathering all the necessary information," Heseh announced calmly.
With those words, Gilam pushed open the door, revealing a vast hall bathed in golden light. At the far end, on a raised platform, a lone figure stood, draped in an immaculate white robe.
Her gaze lifted slowly toward them, and at that moment, the hero felt something unexpected: an invisible pressure, as if a sudden weight had descended upon his soul.
He furrowed his brows.
That woman…
She was doing it again!
Of course, the audience chamber was empty.
Just a table and several chairs. But the hero knew perfectly well that she wasn't far!
After Heseh and Butler took their seats, Gilam gestured for the hero to do the same. Everyone was now present.
Meanwhile, after walking barefoot through the city, a woman arrived in front of the chapel. She was dressed so plainly that she could have been mistaken for any ordinary woman, as if she had simply come to pray. Thus, no one paid her any attention. Yet, it was still strange. After she pushed open the doors, not a single eye turned toward her—as if she had no presence at all.