Chapter 204 (1): How Dare She? He’s Still a Child!

After failing to get a recommendation quota as she had wanted, Flora left the office, still smiling. Silvia watched her go with a frown. Although she hadn’t wanted to bargain, it didn’t mean that there was no room for bargaining. The fact that Flora had just walked out was suspicious.

The Church of Nature had seven branches in the Chosen Land. Each could recommend two candidates, while the headquarters could recommend four. There would be eighteen candidates in total.

Flora didn’t get a quota from Silvia, and it was even less likely for her to get one from another branch, even though Flora was the previous Holy Maiden, had good looks and grace, and enjoyed the support of a large fanbase.

Only regular people chased after an idol. Her popularity had no effect on the higher-ups.

When Flora was still the Holy Maiden, the High Reverends of each district showed her respect; now that she had left her post and became a retired official, with a rank no higher than a priest and less authority than a district high reverend, showing her respect was no longer beneficial.

After analyzing the situation, Silvia concluded that Flora could only get a recommendation quota from the headquarters.

However, the headquarters was in a messy power struggle where both the Pope and the High Prophet wanted control over the next Holy Maiden, and the Oracle High Reverend was eager to make a move, too. Who among them would give their precious recommendations to Flora?

Silvia couldn’t see any of them doing that at first, but on second thought, they all might help her.

Flora had been the Holy Maiden for close to twenty years. Aside from the beginning years when she stayed in Palis, she had been at the headquarters for fifteen full years. That was enough time for her to build quite extensive connections.

Why would an ambitious former Holy Maiden seeking to return to her career peak transfer to one of the districts to serve a woman she had once defeated...? The more Silvia thought about it, the more suspicious she got. Flora had to have already gained support from someone at headquarters.

“But that can’t be right. The demand far exceeds the supply at headquarters, and they have always been a closed-off clique. After losing twenty years ago, they will want a victory for sure. Unless Flora is certain that she will win, and she’s found a partner with an unchallenged status.”

Silvia fell into deep thought while staring at the recommendation forms on her desk. She shook her head after a moment. Compared to a recommendation from the headquarters, she was more inclined to believe that Flora hadn’t given up on using trickery. Something would happen soon.

***

Lando Estate.

In the study, Veronica and Wayne sat upright as Silvia placed the recommendation forms before them. “The Church of Nature is going to elect the new Holy Maiden. Are you two interested?”

Veronica cocked her head curiously at Wayne. “Mother, can he be the Holy Maiden, too?”

“Yeah, I’ll be totally honest with you. I’m actually a girl.”

Veronica rolled her eyes. That was disgusting.

“Stop joking around, Wayne.” Silvia chuckled. “Due to our goddess, the Church of Nature has traditionally selected Holy Maidens, but there is no such restriction in the rulebook. If there is a remarkable enough male mage, he can become the Anointed One and receive divine oracles.”

Silvia began to explain the multiple duties of the Holy Maiden or Anointed One: relaying the divine oracles, defending the goddess’s image in the human world, serving as the vessel when the goddess descended, and so on. Outside of those duties, they would be mainly in charge of promoting the church.

Wayne nodded in understanding. Usually, the Holy Maiden or Anointed One was a mascot, but when needed, they could be the ultimate weapon.

“At the same time, as the Nature disciple closest to the goddess in the human world, the Holy Maiden or Anointed One will have the chance to listen to the goddess’s voice, which will be an invaluable opportunity to any mage.”

Silvia turned to her daughter and student, expecting to see anticipation in their expression, but reality disappointed her.

Veronica tilted her head, looking at Wayne from her peripheral vision, while Wayne had an obedient look on his face, lacking interest in becoming the Anointed One.

Silvia rubbed her temple. They were her two best candidates, but both were showing a lack of ambition—well, that wouldn’t be entirely accurate. The two of them were quite enthusiastic about faith magic, but not so much about faith itself.

Silvia blamed Auston. The bastard had tried to dictate her life in the past; he had to have tried to instill in her daughter and student the belief of free faith behind her back. Remembering that period of time, she suddenly found Auston’s face punchable.

She would make him fly a few more times tonight!

“Veronica, do you want to be the Holy Maiden?”

“Huh? Oh! Um...” Veronica gave it some serious thought. “Being the Holy Maiden comes with too much trivial work, and I’ll have to be stationed at the headquarters. I don’t like being so far from home. Besides, with my bad temper, I may end up offending many...”

Instead of just saying no, she expressed her wish to be the Holy Maiden and her concern for her lack of competence.

Since she was so conflicted, Wayne helpfully translated her thoughts for her: “Master, Veronica meant that she wanted to date.”

Bam!

Veronica punched Wayne in the face, telling him not to spout nonsense through gritted teeth. She would not date, not ever in her life.

Silvia blinked.

Silly girl, you’re already dating someone.

“How about you, Wayne?”

“I’ll do whatever you say, Master. If you tell me to apply, I will.” Wayne patted his chest, showing his devotion as a student and son-in-law.

Veronica huffed, turning away.

“Don’t you want to be in a relationship, Wayne?”

“Compared to love, you’re more important to me, Master.” Wayne loudly talked himself up before throwing a sudden curveball. “Besides, my love has an uncertain future. The girl I have feelings for told me to give up, claiming that she’d never date anyone in her life.”

Silvia chuckled, feeling a pang in her heart. Veronica was just like her in the past. Even if she applied for the post, she would give up everything for love at the last moment. Wayne was also in a similar situation.

Indeed, for young people at their age, love was far more appealing than faith.

Silvia would like to reprimand them as a parental figure, telling them that relationships could wait, that they should prioritize their career and establish themselves professionally before starting a family. But one of them was the young lady of the Lando family, and the other was the Lando heir, and both were Silver-ranked mages despite their young age. They were already established enough career-wise.

Even disregarding that, Silvia was in no place to criticize them, given the decision she had made when she was young.

Her daughter was just like her!

She laughed self-deprecatingly before telling Wayne to reconsider. Although being the Anointed One came with a heavy burden, the benefits were substantial. She believed that with his talent and dedication, he would be able to reach Legendary rank after becoming the Anointed One and receiving the teachings of the goddess.

Veronica couldn’t help but chime in as well, urging Wayne to enter the competition for all the benefits rather than making a decision he would regret.

Wayne was celebrating on the inside, but maintained a poker face. “Master, you don’t have to try to persuade me. I told you that I’m good with anything. Your wishes matter more to me.”

“To tell you the truth, a certain someone has flaunted his past glory to me and boasted how he fooled the Holy Maiden candidate of the Church of Nature into giving herself away twenty years ago, as well as how he coaxed her into marrying him and having a smart, lovely daughter with him...”

“I remember his smug face in great detail. You don’t know how satisfied with himself he looked, Master!”

“This is how he was laughing. Kekekeke—”

“I won’t name him since I’ve promised Auston Lando that I’ll keep his secret and avoid saying his name.”

...You already did!

The mother and daughter shared the same thought.

Silvia raised an eyebrow, planning on making Auston fly even farther tonight.

“Master, I heard that the Holy Maiden candidate in the story wasn’t happy after getting married. She gave up her career for love, but was only met with misery.” Wayne stood up from the sofa and enunciated every word dramatically. “She’s been waiting for a chance—a chance to prove herself. She isn’t trying to reclaim what she has lost, but to tell everyone that yes, she is remarkable! She’s fighting for her pride!”

“As her student, I’d rather stay loveless my whole life so that I can help her reclaim her pride!”

Veronica gaped at the scum in shock. The trash suddenly seemed much more noble in her eyes, at least more so than Trash Sr.!

“Good boy, I knew you were the best.” Silvia couldn’t be more touched. She took two steps toward her student and held him. She knew it. She knew she couldn’t have made the same mistake in judging people. Wayne had spoken her mind. She was hesitant because of her selfish desire to prove herself through her student, for nothing if not the humiliation she had suffered over the past few years of being pushed around!

The more considerate Wayne seemed, the more hesitant Silvia was. Her obsession let on, and she wiped her tears with a smile. “Forget it. I’ve been there. I know that young people your age should be seeking a memorable love. Twenty years is too long. You shouldn’t give up your youth for someone else.”

“You’re not someone else, Master, but my most important family.”

Touched, Silvia wrapped her arms tightly around Wayne, and since there was still room, she pulled Veronica into the embrace, too. The family of three gathered, having a warm moment together.

It wasn’t warm for Auston.

(눈言눈)

There was no soundproofing barrier in the study, and he happened to overhear their conversation as he happened to pass by. Feeling like something was missing in the room—or some

one

—he huffed from outside the door.

It elicited no reaction.

Ignoring him, Silvia conjured a soundproofing barrier with a wave and said to Wayne, “The story the man told you isn’t complete. The Holy Maiden candidate might have been fooled into a marriage, but she doesn’t regret it. She has a lovely daughter and a considerate student, and she’s happy. She doesn’t want to lose that happiness.”

As she spoke, she put Wayne’s and Veronica’s names on the recommendation forms.