Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 53
Adeline fell weakly to the ground from the pushing hand.
Genevieve reached out desperately.
But once again, her hand could not reach Adeline.
Shane was not far away as he had been five years ago, nor was he standing idly by like Genevieve.
Even now, Genevieve could only look at Adeline, and she gasped with wide, frightened eyes as she fell down to the floor.
The sounds around her grew distant.
Once again, Adeline had tried to protect her and almost got seriously hurt.
Why do you keep trying to protect me again?
I told you not to do that ever again….
Even if Genevieve got hurt, she would heal quickly, and even if she was tired, she wouldn’t die. It seemed Adeline still didn’t understand that.
“…nia! Ack! My, my wrist!”
The sounds, which had momentarily faded, began to resonate again.
Genevieve saw the priest rolling on the floor with his severed wrist.
She didn’t know his name. She knew he was part of a faction that disliked her, but she never thought he would try to kill her.
The priest, writhing in pain, gasped as his eyes met Genevieve’s. Reason returned to his dull eyes.
“Wait, oh, Saintess…!”
He tried to call out urgently, but it was already too late.
Genevieve wanted to go to Adeline, but the paladins were already holding her arms.
“Wait, I need to see Lady Adeline, let go of me!”
“You can see her later. Once the situation has calmed down.”
“But!”
Genevieve gritted her teeth.
Even if she couldn’t touch or was far away, if only she could heal.
‘Why am I the only one who can’t do it? I’ve clearly awakened, I should be able to use the power of purification!’
She felt resentment and anger towards her own inadequacy. As she was being dragged away, Genevieve burst into tears.
The priest, who had finally regained his senses, screamed in agony.
***
Genevieve was immediately transferred to the imperial palace.
It was a natural measure since the second attack happened within the church, and by an insider no less.
The culprit confessed that he, who was exceptionally devout, believed that the Saintess had fallen because she was using the Goddess’s grace for personal gain.
“But, I only thought it, I never, never meant to kill her!”
“Do you think being overcome by impulse is an excuse?”
“No, that’s not it! It was as if I was possessed by a demon….”
The priest, tied to a chair, stammered, saying his body moved on its own.
Edwin narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the priest’s pitiful face. The priest, drenched in sweat, was grimacing in pain, but there was no lie in his desperate struggle and eyes.
Edwin asked,
“Do you know who you mistakenly attacked?”
“Well, I….”
The priest’s eyes rolled wildly. He flinched as he saw someone behind Edwin’s angelic face.
“I don’t know! I don’t know!”
“Hmm, it’s good that you don’t know. If you had done it knowingly, I would no longer be able to protect you.”
Edwin turned around.
Shane, who had been standing with his arms crossed, scoffed.
“Nothing will change.”
“Leave it to me for now. I won’t handle it clumsily. Besides, it’s a headache to silence those demanding we hand him over because he’s a member of the church….”
“Sure. Hand him over.”
Edwin looked at Shane in surprise, then soon gave a bitter smile.
“So, you intend to kill him either way.”
“Whether he dies at the execution ground or in prison, the result won’t change.”
“Ah, I suppose that’s true.”
As if it could be any different…
“But isn’t it unnecessary to be so harsh? The one he targeted was Genevieve, not Adeline.”
Edwin shrugged his shoulders.
“He can’t be held responsible for someone putting herself in danger, can he?”
“That’s correct, but to be clear, this is just me taking out my frustration.”
“…When you admit it so straightforwardly, I have nothing more to say…”
“The truth is, Adeline won’t care about the attack on her as long as she understands why he targeted Genevieve.”
“…….”
“Even if she knows that a few more seconds of being held by that hand would have killed her.”
Because you cut off that hand….
Edwin shook his head.
“Our investigation found no evidence of anyone behind this man. There were no suspicious circumstances, and no indication that he received orders from anyone. The Pope is furious, so if there were any traitors within, I would have known by now.”
“Then.”
“It’s either a momentary impulse or someone controlling him. It must be one of the two….”
