KFBRV Pt 2 Ch 25

Rolf finally grasped Count Albrecht's desperation. He understood the Count's absolute mandate to pour money into their only viable option, regardless of the abysmal odds.

The Albrecht house absolutely must recruit Charlotte to our side.

He entirely agreed with the Count's ultimate objective to adopt the new Purifier.

---

[Charlotte] "After orchestrating the miracle, the volume of water in my dream decreased drastically. Now...... it is steadily rising once more."

Priest Raphael responded enthusiastically on the surface, yet he harbored deep skepticism regarding her claims.

Trusting her narrative proved difficult. As a High Priest, he possessed vast academic knowledge concerning Saintesses, Divine Beasts, and Calamities.

This particular phenomenon eluded even his extensive studies. Frankly, her account bordered on the absurd.

However, he couldn't outright deny her assertions.

[Charlotte] "That must explain the outcome. It explains my A-class Purifier rating."

The continent's entire history recorded only two instances of a Purifier triggering a miracle upon awakening: Rosaline and Odette.

Such an unprecedented event occurred exclusively with S-class Purifiers.

Furthermore, historical texts documenting Rosaline never specified whether the dream-water volume remained static or depleted following a 'miracle'.

In Odette's case, she perished before anyone could interrogate her.

Raphael sank into deep contemplation.

Divine providence dictated a specific reason for projecting purification capacity as 'water' within an Awakening Dream.

The fundamental nature of purification mirrored water, necessitating that specific manifestation.

Therefore, Charlotte's claim held logical merit; expending a colossal amount of purifying power would naturally drain the reservoir.

[Raphael] "If you eradicated the Calamities directly without a Transcendent intermediary, then you orchestrated a monumental miracle. Furthermore, obliterating such a staggering volume of Calamities defies all precedent."

Above all else, the sudden cessation of Calamity manifestations following Charlotte's emergence weighed heavily on his mind.

Do the scriptures not prophesize that God's most beloved Saintess will permanently sever the lineage of Calamities?

If her claims proved true, her utility vastly eclipsed the deceased Odette's value. It branded her as the supreme Saintess, uniquely cherished by God.

[Charlotte] "My confession doesn't end here, Priest...... The truth is, Lady Odette is alive."

[Raphael] "Pardon?"

[Charlotte] "The corpse was a fabrication. She deceived the entire world and went into hiding."

A sharp rustle erupted from the shrubbery near the wall. However, the stunned Raphael completely missed the noise.

[Raphael] "Impossible......, that can't be true."

This reaction lacked any calculated manipulation. The sheer absurdity of the claim dragged a genuine denial from his throat.

Her previous story possessed a functional internal logic, but the assertion of Odette's survival crossed into pure delusion.

[Charlotte] "I apologize, but I can't offer physical proof for this revelation. God Himself descended into my dream to deliver the truth. Simply erase it from your memory, just as you do with every other believer's confession."

Her divine justification effectively blocked any further interrogation.

Indeed. The claim regarding Odette's survival registers as utter madness, so I will set it aside.

He analyzed Charlotte's initial claim of eradicating the Calamities.

A two-year global cessation of Calamities defies the parameters of mere coincidence.

Even if the entire narrative constituted a blatant lie, the crucial factor remained Charlotte's intelligence. Instead of displaying arrogance, she constructed a flawless narrative that withstood a High Priest's academic scrutiny.

If she fabricated this tale, selecting me as her confidant represents a calculated maneuver.

That proven intellect confirmed she was no fool. The situation boiled down to two absolute possibilities.

Option one: she remained innocent, and her entire testimony represented the absolute truth.

Option two: she delivered a lie, proving herself cunning enough to manipulate a High Priest.

Regardless of the reality, backing her guaranteed Raphael zero losses.

Ultimately, Charlotte reigns as the Empire's sole living Purifier.

The previous Purifier's immeasurable rank merely skewed the perception of power. An A-class Purifier still wielded an exceptionally rare and potent ability. Charlotte currently stood as the highest-ranking Purifier across the entire continent.

He required no further calculations. The Grand Cathedral had already committed its absolute resources to elevating Charlotte's status.

I desperately needed a decisive advantage to secure my position as a papal candidate.

S-class Transcendents wielded such overwhelming power that they refused to worship Purifiers rated A-class or below.

However, if she truly manifested as the Empire's third S-class Purifier—an immeasurable entity—the four S-class Transcendents would inevitably bow to her once her purification capacity fully regenerated.

I require a definitive power play. If she becomes my absolute backer.

Blindly accepting her potential fabrication carried a minimal cost for Raphael. Conversely, the potential rewards were astronomical.

His youth had taught him a brutal lesson: riding the current of power dictated one's destiny far more than mere effort or talent. And Charlotte embodied that absolute current of power.

He deliberately crafted an expression of profound awe for her.

[Raphael] "I have received your confession, Saintess. Bearing the mantle of an S-class and orchestrating such a monumental miracle must have placed an immense burden on your fragile form. Thank you for entrusting me with your truth."

[Charlotte] "I should be thanking you for listening, High Priest. Unburdening my soul has brought me immense relief. I shall go change into the tunic now."

She beamed a radiant smile at him before stepping into the designated dressing room.

While she donned the sacred tunic, Raphael swiftly marched toward the quarters of his most loyal subordinate priest.

By the conclusion of the candlelight service, every single member of his faction would learn the absolute truth: Charlotte reigned as an S-class Purifier.

---

Snatching the wrist of the hallucination, Zion froze in surprise. The phantom limb imprisoned within his grip possessed a vivid, physical reality.

---

To support the original author and publisher, please consider rating the official release on Kakaopage.