Grey Saintess Grey

In fact, Iver didn't really want to contact the Saintess at this time.

In the 2.0 Plot of the game, Iver and Isabel, who were fleeing, were able to settle down in the Theocracy only after receiving help from "Pure White".

However, this also directly categorized them as belonging to the Saintess's side. As a result, they had to start from a level of "distrust" and rebuild goodwill with each Cardinal Bishop they encountered afterward.

As it turns out, Avalon is still doing well, Iver, who went to study in the Theocracy, still coincidentally encountered this Saintess... This can be considered a kind of timeline convergence.

But what surprised Iver the most was that Isabel was actually able to contact this Saintess...

This person is not someone who is easy to contact.

At this moment, Iver looked at the crowd that was gradually gathering around him and knew that he was about to become famous again.

As a guest personally greeted by the Saintess in the First Ring, Iver's image was remembered by many on his very first day in the Eternal Theocracy.

Although there are no news agencies or newspapers in the Theocracy... after all, the native inhabitants are elves, and elves don't keep track of days because their sleep cycles are different from humans. Just like humans don't particularly remember what time it is.

However, in areas where Short-lived Races congregate, there are still information venues such as bars and clubs.

—And they have absolutely no concept of "keeping a low profile".

Six Pope Guard guards surrounded them. Their white cloaks turned red in an instant, indicating that they were on a mission and that unauthorized personnel should give way.

The Saintess dismounted from the unicorn and walked alongside Iver.

Iver said softly, "It's been a long time, Your Highness Pure White—do you remember me? I'm the Fox. This is the Detective."

Pure white, head slightly tilted.

Her eyes, bound by ribbons, seemed to glance at Sherlock, who was silently following behind, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. "I remember."

"If I remember correctly, his identity was replaced by Lord Merlin. He only joined the ranks of the Ascended Ones at the very end, right?"

She answered fluently.

Soon, she asked curiously, "I have a question, Iver."

Without any hesitation, Pure White called Iver by his name.

"Please speak."

Iver answered politely.

How did you recognize me?

The Saintess eyes bound by a white ribbon, asked softly, "I've always been curious... I shouldn't have revealed my identity, right?"

Didn't you already say that?

Iver paused for a moment, then replied, "There are Pillar God watching over us—not many people can do that."

"But when I first met you, my tone of voice was probably similar to that of an ordinary person."

Pure White asked softly, "What I wanted to ask was, did you recognize me from the very beginning, or did you only realize who I was after I said those words?"

Iver knew what pure white meant.

The reason this Eternal Saintess, who had transformed into "amber," was able to come into contact with the forbidden was because she was too quiet.

While somewhat similar to Isabel's initial personality, their essence is completely different— Isabel's initial motivation stemmed from fear and insecurity, while Saintess Highness's was due to excessive calmness.

She is not socially anxious at all, nor is she emotionally detached or inarticulate.

On the contrary... she is very confident, emotionally stable, and calm.

She can even laugh! Whether she is ridiculed, insulted, attacked, framed, or facing mortal danger, Saintess Highness remains completely calm and unconcerned.

Even if you were to stew her the next moment, she would calmly discuss with others that cannibalism is wrong. If you really couldn't explain it to them and you were indeed no match for them, given her personality, she might even help prepare the spices.

Just like Iver before—careless about everything and too self-centered.

Therefore, she felt no fear whatsoever and never panicked or lost her composure in the face of anything.

Just like the code name "Pure White" given to her by the Pope, she possesses a pure and flawless spirit.

"Actually, it was only confirmed at the very end."

Iver said, "But you are all elves after all, and they treat you with great respect. So there aren't many candidates left."

It was nothing more than the Pope, the Saintess, the Cardinal, and a few saints, with perhaps the addition of the Pope Guard.

But from her very first line, "Don't you recognize me?", it's clear that she must be quite well-known in the Theocracy.

There is only one "Pure White" who enjoys high popularity and status in the Theocracy.

That is the Grey Saintess.

As the main storyline progresses, players will learn that "Pure White's" real name is Grey, which means "grey." Therefore, she is also known as the "Grey Saintess" by players.

The Theocracy does not revere the color white. The name "Pure White" is actually closer to the Pope's blessing upon her.

That's why, when Iver first heard the very common name "Pure White," he didn't realize it referred to the Saintess at all. It wasn't until the Saintess finally regained her calm and composed tone that he instantly recognized her.

—Of course, the main reason is the difference in body shape.

The "Pure White" in the Promotion Ritual was just a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, but the Grey Saintess...

Iver thought of this, he subconsciously glanced at the extremely large size of her chest.

"I see..."

Grey nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

She hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Could I take a look at... that Flame Butterfly?"

"Her name is Lia."

Iver nodded and released the Flame Butterfly that he had been hiding in his sleeve from the beginning.

The Grey Saintess carefully caught the Flame Butterfly on her fingertip, slowing down her walking pace.

She gently brought the Flame Butterfly close to her eyes, which were covered by a white veil, and whispered as if afraid of waking her, "Your relationship... is very close?"

"She is my sister... well, you could also say she is my daughter."

When Iver answered, his expression was somewhat strange.

When he was speaking to Lia in private, Iver had no idea that one day he would be publicly executed in front of a large audience.

—At this moment, they are not in any sealed meeting environment, but are right outside.

When the Saintess went on her procession, a large crowd naturally gathered to watch. Iver was among them.

At this distance, their conversation would definitely be overheard. After all, the concentration of superhumans in the Theocracy is extremely high.

So Iver could only feign composure and adopt a nonchalant attitude, as if to say, "This is normal, is there something wrong with it?"

"No wonder..."

The Saintess was not surprised at all by Iver's words. On the contrary, it seemed to make perfect sense to her.

She nodded. "His Majesty said..."

She paused, then added, "I mean, His Pope Your Majesty said that you might be a descendant of the Butterfly Angel."

"...ah?"

Iver paused for a moment.

Do I still have this component?

Am I not Swamp People? Even if I'm not Swamp People, I shouldn't have anything to do with Butterfly Angel, right?

... Or perhaps Jacob added a little something extra?

That's not impossible...

With a distrust of his grandfather, Iver was also a little uncertain. "Is... is that so? Actually, I'm not really sure..."

Because Iver really wasn't sure what he was.

But the passersby immediately perked up, and it was clear that some of them left as soon as they received the information.

"Did you hear that?! His Holiness the Pope Your Majesty admitted that Minister Moriarty of Avalon is a descendant of the Butterfly Angel! "Actually, I don't think it's very likely."

Surprisingly, Chunbai disagreed, saying, "Your Majesty's opinion differs from mine. I think her views are somewhat exaggerated and too direct."

She didn't hesitate to say, "I think the Pope is wrong," but Iver didn't dare to respond.

The inseparable and intimate relationship between each Pope and the Saintess is akin to that of a mother and daughter. In this sense, she can also be considered the only daughter of the current Eternal Pope.

The Saintess holds a high position in the Eternal Theocracy, and can even be described as a "vice -Pope".

If the Eternal Pope is responsible to those above, then the Saintess is responsible to those below.

Their job is very simple: to "play the role of the Pope".

Because the Pope carries the burden of sin and has limited freedom of movement, Saintess are generally present on his behalf for any event, speech, ceremony, festival, or occasion requiring Pope attendance—some documents are written by the Pope, while others are written by the saints themselves.

Whenever she attends as Pope, she also refers to herself as Pope. Therefore, this is not acting on behalf of someone else, but rather playing a role.

In a sense, the Saintess is the "real power Pope" of the Eternal Theocracy.

"So what do you think...?"

Iver asked.

Just then, they prepared to turn. Iver unconsciously touched the unicorn.

The Saintess paused for a moment.

Seeing that the unicorn didn't react to Iver's touch, she tilted her head in confusion.

She didn't answer Iver's question, but instead asked, "Are you tired, Iver?"

"... It's only been less than three kilometers, I think I shouldn't be... tired?"

Just as Iver was about to say that he wasn't tired, he sensed that the Saintess Maiden might have something to say, so he raised his head and tentatively answered.

Should I be tired... or shouldn't I be tired?

I think you're tired.

The Saintess replied, "You should rest for a while."

As she spoke, she grabbed Iver's waist with one hand, like grabbing a cat, and pulled him onto the unicorn.

At 1.82 meters tall, Iver experienced the strange feeling of being short for the first time in the Saintess's arms.

"So, what do you think..."

Iver pressed on with the same topic.

He was actually very curious about the Saintess's opinion of him.

Both the Pope and the Saintess were well-versed in the gods. The Saintess's assessment was extremely helpful for Iver's understanding of the "Swamp People" system.

The Saintess's question, however, stunned Iver: "Are you a girl, Iver?"

"--ha?"

Iver was immediately stunned.

... I spent the whole day playing with Isabel yesterday, and now you're asking me if I'm a girl?!

Chapter Two, updated!

I'll probably update earlier tomorrow because I'm going to get my phone repaired tomorrow afternoon; the screen broke after hitting a small stone (sad).