[Vol. 7] Chapter 34: The Divine Relic, the Book, and the Vanished King
Because Violet used the [Sword of Origin] to alter history, the Holy Empire no longer has faith-based magic. Instead, it now uses a variant of light magic called [Holy Arts].
People who wield this magic are still referred to as clerics, but unlike before, their ranks have changed. Now, only those with natural talent and an affinity for light can become [Holy Art] users. Those who lack this ability but still choose to serve the [Primordial Light] remain as ordinary clergy members.
Violet had already heard about these changes when she briefly returned to Angel City, the Holy Empire’s capital, through an invisible spatial portal to meet Leila and Rene. However, since she was short on time, she hadn’t been able to fully grasp all the details.
Unlike the old faith-based magic, which was once monopolized by the Goddess Church, the [Holy Arts] are no longer exclusive to a single religious order. Even so, the Holy Empire still controls over 80% of the world's [Holy Art] users.
With faith-based magic disappearing, new healing professions have started to emerge. However, for now, [Holy Art] practitioners are still considered the world’s top healers and remain a symbol of the Holy Empire. The prestige of the temples has taken a hit, but not to a critical extent.
The fact that Rashid directly referred to Violet’s power as [Holy Art] subtly hinted at which side he believed she belonged to, or at least where her faith lay. Whether intentionally or not, his use of Holy Empire etiquette seemed to be a deliberate gesture in this context.
With this in mind, Violet glanced at the golden-haired man beneath his sailor’s cap, slightly raising an eyebrow. Choosing to ignore the implied message, she casually responded.
"You flatter me. We just happened to pass through this region and ended up working with Her Majesty by pure coincidence. There’s nothing particularly important or secret about it. Let’s just get to the main topic."
"Haha… Miss Violet, you truly are as humble and discreet as the rumors say. Very well, let’s not waste any more time."
Nodding slightly, Rashid smoothly shifted the conversation and turned to Queen Anies, who sat elegantly at the head of the table. His expression grew more serious as he spoke.
"Your Majesty, since you specifically summoned me here today, should I take it that you have made a decision regarding the proposal I previously submitted?"
Queen Anies, regal and composed, briefly glanced at Violet and her two companions, who had just taken their seats at the table. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her expression unreadable.
"Rashid Bachiri, before we discuss this matter, I must first confirm something else… My daughter, Princess Nitila Mingjiao, has gone missing in the depths of the [Ghost Sea]. Her situation is extremely dangerous. Tell me clearly, do you have anything to do with her disappearance?"
"Oh... So it's already begun. No wonder..."
Muttering to himself in a voice barely audible to anyone, the Pirate King seemed to have a moment of realization. His gaze swept across the queen's personal guards, Silisa, and the three women, as if he was searching for something.
Finally, his eyes returned to Queen Anies. He cleared his throat a few times and, as if exchanging a secret signal, deliberately put on a more serious expression.
"Your Majesty, you should know very well that I have neither the reason nor the ability to do such a thing. I deeply regret the princess’s disappearance. If there is anything within my power that I can do, please just say the word."
"......"
For a brief moment, Queen Anies’ gaze met the Pirate King’s in the air.
Was it just Violet’s imagination, or did their conversation feel oddly scripted, as if they were deliberately putting on a show for someone? Yet, when she thought about it, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with what they were saying...
What are they up to...?
Before the priestess could think too deeply about it, Anies swiftly followed up, as if she had just reached a decision.
"We need you to lead our forces into the [Ghost Sea] to rescue Nitila. If you succeed… then I will believe the claims you made before."
"I see… entering the [Ghost Sea], huh? That won’t be an easy task."
The golden-haired, sharp-witted man nodded slightly, then, from seemingly nowhere, produced a thick, hardcover ancient book and placed it gently on the table.
"Very well, I accept this request."
"What?! That book…!"
Before anyone else could react, Hongyan shot up from her seat like a startled bird, her face filled with fear.
She stared at Rashid and the ancient tome before him, her entire body tense.
In an instant, her hand went straight to the hilt of her sword!
"Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!!!"
Hongyan’s sudden, extreme reaction acted like a fuse, instantly triggering a response.
Although they didn't fully understand the reason, the merfolk royal guards, who had been on high alert around the Pirate King from the start, immediately rushed forward on instinct, positioning themselves protectively in front of the Queen.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of sharp weapons were drawn, all pointing directly at the golden-haired man.
The atmosphere turned tense in an instant, like a drawn bowstring ready to snap.
"Relax, miss… it’s just a book."
But Rashid remained completely unfazed. He showed no hostility and calmly raised both hands, as if to prove he meant no harm.
Even Anies, who had been startled by Hongyan’s sudden outburst, quickly regained her composure and cleared her throat with authority.
"Stand down. It’s fine."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Led by Alex, the royal guards swiftly lowered their weapons and returned to their positions.
Meanwhile, Le Qiaoqiao, noticing how tense Hongyan was, had also stood up. She gently patted the gray-haired girl’s back, trying to soothe her.
"Hongyan… what’s wrong? Is there something dangerous about that book?"
Yet, despite the attempt to calm her, Hongyan remained vigilant. Her entire body rigid, ready to react at any moment.
She looked like a frightened cat, one that had been bitten by a venomous snake before and instinctively bristled upon seeing another.
Her wariness had reached its absolute limit.
Before Le Qiaoqiao could press further, the pale-faced swordswoman lowered her voice and spoke urgently to the black-haired girl still seated calmly nearby.
"Miss Violet! That book… the energy it gives off, it’s exactly like what I sensed last night…!"
"Mm, I feel it too. It’s similar… but not quite the same."
"Don't worry, I'm here. Everything will be fine."
With those reassuring words, Violet gently took Hongyan’s stiff hand, letting a warm, calming energy flow from her fingertips into the swordswoman’s body.
The warmth gradually eased the panic threatening to consume Hongyan, melting away her tension.
Only then did she finally start to relax, her expression softening in relief and embarrassment as she slowly sat back down.
"I… I’m sorry, everyone. I lost control."
"It's fine."
Queen Anies shook her head dismissively, clearly unbothered, while Violet simply smiled reassuringly.
"It’s fine, really. That reaction is completely understandable. Those two things do feel incredibly similar. Even I didn’t recognize it immediately when I first saw it."
That book… it had to be the source of divine energy surrounding Rashid.
It was clearly a relic connected to the gods. Not quite a true [Law Artifact] or a [Primordial Artifact], but still something beyond normal comprehension.
What was interesting, though, was that the divine aura surrounding the book felt eerily similar to the contamination Violet had encountered before.
But upon closer inspection, there was a clear difference.
It was like comparing two different melodies. Both were sounds, yet the information they carried was completely distinct.
At the very least, the aura from this book lacked the aggressive spreading and corrosive nature of the contamination.
It was… hard to grasp, but safer in a way.
And its appearance, it was exactly the same as the mysterious book Violet had glimpsed in King Willipol’s secret chamber through her retrospection ability.
It was highly likely that this book was either identical to the one Willipol once possessed or something extremely similar.
Rashid’s book. Willipol’s book.
The two had met before, but their meeting ended badly.
Then, soon after, King Willipol vanished.
And immediately following his disappearance, the [Deep Sea Ghosts] appeared. The Contamination began to spread.
It felt like the scattered pieces of this puzzle were finally coming together.
As the tension in the room settled under the authority of the two major figures, Rashid, who had been watching Hongyan’s expression curiously the entire time, finally spoke up in a testing tone.
"Miss, judging by your reaction… could it be that you’ve heard some kind of… voices before?"
Then, with a slight frown, he added,
"No, that can’t be right. If you had reached that level, your mind wouldn’t be this stable. And you don’t seem to have any kind of divine protection either…"
Violet didn’t bother answering his suspicions.
Instead, she simply gestured for Hongyan to remain silent and, with a mix of speculation and certainty, dropped a statement that made most of the people in the room tense up.
"King Willipol isn’t dead, is he?"