[Vol. 8] Chapter 111: The First Trial of the Goddess’s Chosen
After pausing for a moment and seeing that the crowd below was still silent, clearly drawn in by the series of shocking announcements, Frederica nodded to herself with satisfaction and continued speaking loudly:
“The Holy Empire is a nation built on the foundation of faith and the divine. This has never changed throughout history. Joining the Goddess Church does not mean getting special treatment or privileges. Only after showing sincere faith to the Goddess does the Church, as Her servant, reward believers and share Her blessings.”
“In the past, there may have been flaws in our rules and systems. This allowed certain people with bad intentions to slip through and use the name of the Goddess for their own gain. But from today onward, the Church will strictly check and examine the faith of all its members. No one will be above the rules, there will be no more tolerance!”
Standing high on the platform, the golden-haired girl looked around. Her sharp, clear eyes, like mirrors reflecting every hidden emotion, swept across the silent crowd. Then her tone shifted slightly.
“The Goddess’s Chosen Heroes are special individuals selected personally by the Goddess, with help from us, Her followers. These heroes will receive Her blessings and take on the great duty of fighting disasters and leading the people.”
“Many of your hometowns may already be facing unrest or even war. Some may still enjoy a short peace. But I, Frederica Cecilia, speak here as a Saintess and say this with full responsibility, true world-level chaos, true disaster, is very close. This is not just a rumor.”
“Not long ago, I led my companions to the academic city of Sainz, where we joined the World Academy Joint Exchange Conference. This event was meant to bring knowledge and peace through collaboration. But the reality there, many of you may have already heard something about it, was very different.”
“Even in Sainz, a place thought to be one of the safest in the world, the summit was filled with chaos. There were several serious terrorist attacks, and in the end, even god-like beings became involved. A real, earth-shaking divine battle broke out!”
“Thanks to the protection of the Goddess, the divine battle ended safely, and Sainz was saved. But on our way home, we still faced great danger. We were even caught up in a sudden war at the border between two countries. There, we had to face the terrifying threat of an evil god. I personally experienced everything I just mentioned. None of it is made up.”
“Of course, I’m not saying this to blame or hint at some secret mastermind. What I, Frederica, want to tell all of you today, what I want everyone to understand, is that the Goddess’s warning is not just talk.”
“Since the Mythical being era ended and the Holy Empire was founded over a thousand years ago, this is the first time the Goddess has come down to the mortal world herself. That means our world is about to face the worst disaster in a thousand years, and the ones who will face it first... are the Chosen Heroes.”
“The Goddess is kind and loves all people. Even those who don’t believe in Her are still allowed to compete for a place among the Chosen. But this does not mean it is a shortcut for anyone to gain power or status. The Goddess’s blessings are never free. Before receiving that great power and honor, one must go through training and trials far beyond what normal people could imagine, even life-and-death dangers.”
“To pass this trial, you need great wisdom, great courage, and strong determination. So I advise everyone here. If you’re not ready to protect your home with your life or serve the Goddess with all your heart, it’s better to leave now. In front of the all-knowing, all-powerful Goddess, your little tricks are just a joke. Rather than waste the trial’s resources, embarrass yourself, or even die for nothing, it’s smarter to give up early.”
“That’s all... I tend to speak directly, and my words might not sound pleasant. If I’ve offended anyone, I hope you can forgive me.”
After this mix of warning and kindness, the silent crowd below finally started to stir and whisper among themselves.
Hidden among the people, Violet also nodded quietly.
Some of Frederica’s words were harsh, but everything she said was true and necessary. After all, when the priestess had discussed the trial with Edwina, the first requirement she gave was that participants must be mentally strong and have good character. Strength and power could be gained later in other ways, but those qualities could not.
That was probably why the Pope had chosen Frederica, her older sister and the Church’s most firm and serious public figure, to speak first. Her job was likely to scare off those who were clearly unqualified right from the beginning.
And just as expected, after some noise and unease, about one-fifth of the crowd left the plaza, frightened by the Saintess’s warning. They slipped away quietly through a path opened by the Holy Knights, giving up their place in the trial.
The priestess looked over them briefly. Most of those leaving were from outside the Holy Empire, not followers of the Goddess, and had no strong beliefs. They had just come for fun or thought, “It’s free to try, so why not? If I pass, I’ll be lucky.” It made sense that they left after being scared like that.
Even so, no one laughed at them. Wanting to stay alive is a basic instinct for most living beings. These people had no real connection to the Church and no strong desire to risk their lives or rise to greatness. In fact, choosing to walk away at a time like this showed they understood their own limits, it was a smart choice.
There were nearly ten thousand people signed up for the trial. Even though about a thousand had left, the scene still looked very full. After waiting a little longer and seeing that no one else was leaving, the Saintess gave an order to the Holy Knights to close the entrance to the plaza again. Then, she clapped her hands to draw everyone’s attention.
“Since all of you have made your decision, I, Frederica, will say no more. The first round of the trial now begins, and the test you will face is right here.”
As she said this, she stepped aside, revealing the huge statue of the Goddess standing tall in the center of the plaza. The smooth white stone of the statue glowed softly in the warm morning light. Frederica gave a respectful bow to the statue before turning to the crowd and speaking again.
“As everyone knows, this statue in the center of the Grand Church has been worshipped by countless believers day and night. Over time, it has gained a sacred spirit. It is now one of the objects in the world most closely connected to our Goddess.”
“When the Goddess herself came to the Holy Capital not long ago, she placed a small piece of her divine power into this statue and awakened its spirit through her divine authority.”
“You could say that this statue is now a part of the Goddess left behind in the world. The Church has temporarily activated it to host this trial. Those who pass the test and make the statue resonate with the power of the Goddess will earn the right to move on to the next stage.”
“And now... the first round of the Trial of the Goddess officially begins!”