Chapter 370: The Answer

“Mister Muen really has a way with jokes.”

On both sides of the spacious platform, bright firelight flickered, casting different hues across everyone’s faces; most, when looking at the blond man who had just said they should simply leave, showed a trace of mockery.

On Freya’s supremely holy, pretty face, the crisscrossing shadows seemed to draw out a smile that grew ever harder to read.

“Saying we should turn back here and now... As a God’s Attendant Knight and also one of # Nоvеlight # the participants in this trial, are you truly not interested in what lies behind that door?”

“That’s right. I’m not interested.”

“A lie.”

“It’s the truth.”

Muen shrugged, speaking with an easy air:

“The only reason I’m attending this ceremony—or rather, this trial—is to help Liya become the Saintess. As for things like the treasure of these ruins or the lost truth, I’m not particularly interested; in fact, I’d rather keep a respectful distance.”

He snuck a glance at the girl beside him; her cheeks were faintly red, yet her gaze didn’t shy away.

“As for the method to become the Saintess... with Miss Freya’s brilliance, you must have figured it out already.”

“You mean purifying those pitiful residual souls? Indeed, that appears to be one method.”

Freya suddenly took another step forward, moving close to Muen just after he had put distance between them; she dipped her head slightly, about to deliberately make a show of intimacy—when her vision flickered, and Liya had already inserted most of her forearm between them, glaring warily.

Freya’s brows twitched a fraction, but she continued, unconcerned:

“However, you must know better than anyone how troublesome those monsters are, Mister Muen. How many did you deal with last night? Three? Five? Purifying them one by one—how long would it take to fill the crystal that symbolizes a candidate Saintess’s status? And after the Church went to such lengths to send us in here, did they really want us to do what amounts to janitorial work?”

Muen angled himself slightly toward Liya and frowned:

“What do you mean?”

“Haven’t you realized it yet, Mister Muen? What that flawless crystal records is the gratitude and goodwill released when the residual souls receive redemption—what the ascetics in the western desert would call ‘merit.’ Therefore, those pitiful residual souls that can be purified are merely a reminder to us. Combined with the Church’s additional request to seek the truth of the Lost Land, I think what the Church truly wants us to do is—

save this broken kingdom.”

Freya’s murmur sounded at Muen’s ear, full of seduction:

“What merit could be greater, nobler, and more worthy of the title Saintess than saving a nation on the verge of extinction—saving the people who remain here?”

Yes.

If the Saintess is the one who leads believers and brings redemption to the world,

then what salvation could compare to saving an entire country?

“......”

Muen fell silent, meeting the calm gaze of the Saintess candidate reputed to be closest to the throne.

Nothing could be read in those azure eyes, as if he had gone blank from Freya’s words.

But in truth, he had already suspected as much.

The Church could not be without designs.

Nor could they truly have failed to notice that this nation was being invaded by an Evil God.

In fact, the reason nothing of abnormal scale had appeared here yet—aside from the place already being at the brink of collapse—very likely had to do with the Church.

Restoring a Lost Kingdom invaded by an Evil God would indeed be a crown worthy of ascending as Saintess.

And to seize that crown, opening this door and finding the surviving natives was the first necessary step.

Yet... even though all of this flowed so logically, a faint unease still stirred deep in Muen’s heart.

An inexplicable unease.

“Feels like... we really have jumped into some peerless, world-ending pit this time.”

Sighing inwardly, Muen looked back to Freya:

“You have a way to open it?”

“I do, but we’ll need to work together.”

“Work together?”

“Yes.”

Freya smiled:

“Your Saintess candidate just said so herself: this Golden Door cannot be broken by a ‘single’ individual. But gathered here are geniuses and elites from every side—why rely on a single person?”

“Joining forces is, of course, the first idea anyone would have. The problem is...”

Muen swept his gaze around.

Moments ago, these people had nearly beaten each other’s brains out over ‘who groped whom,’ ‘disgust at public flirting,’ and ‘that guy’s team is full of girls, so why don’t I have any’—those absurd reasons. To have this lot cooperate...

One might as well find a pack of huskies; perhaps they’d unleash their nature and rip the door off.

“Relax. We’re not asking everyone to join forces and brute-force the door. That would be idiotic.”

As if seeing through Muen’s doubts, Freya chuckled:

“The only ones who can actually contribute to breaking the Golden Door are a handful with exceptional attainments in Magic and Alchemy. The rest can just watch. Nothing will go wrong.”

“I see...”

“What is it—Mister Muen, do you still have doubts?”

Seeing Muen fall silent, Freya asked curiously.

“No...”

Muen shrugged. “It’s just that you said only those with exceptional attainments in Magic and Alchemy can be of use—so this isn’t something I should decide.”

“Hm?”

Freya paused, then followed his gaze to the side.

There, Liya—who had just been guarding against the two of them getting too close—gave a little shiver, blinked dumbly and adorably, and only then noticed both their eyes were on her.

“Eh? Me?”

“Of course. Only you can decide this.”

Muen smiled gently. Looking at Liya’s adorable expression, he subconsciously wanted to pat her head; but remembering there was someone else present, he withdrew his hand without a trace.

“Don’t force yourself. This woman makes it sound easy, but there will definitely be risks. There are plenty of people here; it doesn’t have to be you. Just do what’s within your limits. With me here, no one can blame you.”

Muen’s words were like winter sunlight; Liya’s whole heart warmed without help.

She believed, just as he said, that even if she refused, absolutely no one could blame her.

And yet...

Liya bit her lip, gaze sweeping to that massive Golden Door.

No one knew the risks sealed in that door better than she did, and after her calculations just now, even gathering the best people here, the chance of success in breaking it absolutely would not exceed fifty percent.

If they failed, everyone would fall into a place from which there was no return.

And yet...

“I—I can try!”

Her voice was anxious but firm, echoing in everyone’s ears.

Liya ignored the surprised looks, keeping her eyes on those deep-blue irises.

Her Knight was cutting a path through thorns for her—so she could no longer stand behind others.

ps: I’m terribly sorry, terribly sorry. My head is still dizzy, and what I wrote is still this bad. I’ll adjust as soon as possible and make up for it.