Chapter 1
Fluffy silver hair. Sky-blue eyes peeking out from beneath long, thick lashes. A frail, emaciated body that contrasted with her soft, chubby cheeks.
The child blinked and murmured,
“…Why am I alive?”
She had definitely died.
Before she had even reached the age of thirty.
* * *
Rain poured relentlessly from the sky as a baby wrapped in a tattered blanket wailed pitifully.
“Waaah!”
A young priestess named Noel discovered the infant. Startled, she hurriedly picked the baby up and carried her to the High Priest.
Because an injury to her vocal cords had left her unable to speak properly, Noel communicated with sign language.
“High Priest. Someone abandoned a baby in front of the temple. What should we do?”
Long ago, the temple’s creed had been:
Love and embrace everyone in the world.
But those days were long gone.
The overweight High Priest cared for nothing except money and power.
“Must you bother me over something so trivial? Send the child to the nearest orphanageā”
But the moment his eyes met the baby’s, his expression completely changed.
“That child… possesses divine power!”
Divine power.
The miraculous ability to heal any illness or injuryāa blessing granted only to an exceptionally chosen few.
“A baby with such a precious gift… abandoned in front of our temple…”
This was an opportunity.
A chance to restore the fading prestige of the temple.
The High Priest practically snatched the baby from Noel’s arms.
“From this day forward, I shall raise this child myself.”
He gave the baby the name Liriette, after the legendary saint who had once saved the continent.
Soon afterward, he spread news of her throughout the land.
“A child blessed with divine power has come to me. She is a gift sent by the Goddess herself.”
Countless people flocked to the temple just to see Liriette.
Cradling her proudly in his arms, the High Priest proclaimed,
“She is still too young for her divine power to awaken, but when she grows older, she will accomplish miracles. She will be able to heal every wound and every illness.”
His words lit up people’s eyes.
They competed to make generous donations.
“When her powers awaken, please have her use them to heal me.”
Watching the money pile up, the High Priest could hardly contain his delight.
But contrary to everyone’s expectations…
Years passed, and Liriette still couldn’t use divine power.
Rumors spread.
“The High Priest lied. The child has no abilities at all.”
Driven nearly insane, the High Priest roared,
“Why?! She definitely has divine power! Then why won’t it manifest?!”
Little Liriette trembled violently before his rage.
“I-I’m sorry, High Priest. I’ll… I’ll try again.”
Holding back her tears, she recalled the method he had taught her.
Gather the divine power within your body.
Release it outward.
Then it would manifest as a brilliant white light.
But no matter how desperately she tried…
Nothing happened.
“Useless child!”
Having reached his limit, the High Priest swung the staff in his hand.
Agonizing pain exploded across Liriette’s tiny body.
It was hell.
And yet…
She managed to endure because of Noel.
Applying medicine to Liriette’s battered, bruised body, Noel silently wept.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Liri.”
If only I hadn’t brought you to the temple…
Liriette gently shook her head.
“Don’t say that. If you hadn’t found me, Noel, I would’ve died out there in the rain.”
“Thank you.”
At those kind words, tears streamed from Noel’s dark eyes.
She wanted to protect Liriette.
But she was only a timid, powerless junior priestess.
The High Priest, meanwhile, was the absolute ruler of the temple.
There was nothing Noel could do except cry as she treated Liriette’s wounds.
Years passed.
On the day Liriette turned seventeen…
Noel held out a heavy pouch and signed,
“Take this money and leave the temple, Liri.”
Liriette’s eyes widened.
“Then… come with me.”
“I can’t. I swore to devote my body and soul to the High Priest in repayment for the great kindness he once showed me. I can never leave this place.”
“…”
“But you can. Leave this place and live freely, Liri.”
Tears welled in Liriette’s eyes as she nodded.
That very night…
She decided to escape.
“I’ll lure away the priests guarding you. While they’re distracted, run.”
With Noel’s help, Liriette slipped out of her room and headed toward the exit.
I’m finally going to get out…
Just as that thought crossed her mindā
The High Priest appeared.
“So… where do you think you’re going without my permission, Liriette?”
“H-How…?”
“This temple belongs to me. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice a little kitten trying to run away?”
Step by step, he approached with fury burning in his eyes.
“Liriette. I cherished you like my own child.”
“I fed you. Treated you whenever you were sick. I even taught you how to use your divine power, despite your utter incompetence.”
Unable to utter a single word, Liriette backed away in terror.
“And after everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?”
“I’ll make sure you never dare pull such insolence again.”
The High Priest raised his staff.
Just thenā
Noel suddenly appeared in front of Liriette, shielding her.
She signed frantically.
“High Priest! Liriette has done nothing wrong! I was the one who persuaded her to leave! If anyone deserves punishment, let it be me!”
The High Priest knew the two girls were close.
But he had never imagined Noel would go this far.
Especially Noelā
The obedient subordinate who would have gladly died if he ordered it.
His anger exploded.
“You insolent wretch!”
CRACK!
The staff came crashing down onto Noel without mercy.
“No!”
Liriette threw herself at him, desperately grabbing his arm.
“Stop!”
But he shoved her aside and continued swinging his staff.
Again.
And again.
Like a child stomping on an insect.
Thenā
CRACK!
A sickening sound echoed through the hall.
“Cough…”
Dark red blood spilled from Noel’s lips.
Then…
She stopped moving entirely.
Only then did the High Priest regain his senses.
I didn’t mean to kill her…
Well…
It hardly mattered.
This was his temple.
He ruled here with absolute authority.
Covering up the death of a mere junior priestess would be easy.
His bloodstained staff slowly turned toward Liriette.
“Look carefully, Liriette.”
“Noel died this meaningless death because of you.”
“It’s all because you entertained such foolish thoughtsā”
At that instantā
Liriette pulled a small knife from inside her clothes.
The High Priest instinctively flinched.
But the blade wasn’t aimed at him.
It was aimed at Noel.
Dropping to her knees beside Noel, Liriette sliced open her own palm.
Fresh crimson blood welled from the wound.
She held her bleeding hand over Noel’s slightly parted lips.
Drip.
Drip.
Scarlet drops fell into Noel’s mouth.
Tears streamed down Liriette’s face as she prayed.
“Please…”
“Please…”
Moments later…
A miracle occurred.
“Haa…”
Noel drew a breath.
Life returned to the body that had already begun to fade.
Overcome with relief, Liriette burst into tears and tightly embraced her.
Behind her, the High Priest spoke in astonishment.
“You… can use divine power now?”
No.
Liriette still couldn’t manifest divine power as radiant white light.
But by sheer chance…
She had discovered something.
Her own blood could heal other people’s wounds.
She concealed that fact with everything she had.
Because she knew exactly what the High Priest would do if he found out.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
Step.
Step.
Liriette slowly turned around.
The High Priest looked down at her, the corners of his mouth curling into a sinister grin.
“So…”
“Now I can finally make proper use of you.”
It was the smile of a devil.
* * *
Liriette’s long eyelashes trembled.
“That…”
“…was when the real hell began.”
The High Priest imprisoned her in the deepest chamber of the temple.
Whenever someone came seeking healing, he mercilessly wounded Liriette and drew her blood.
No matter how much she screamed in pain…
No matter how bitterly she cried…
He never stopped.
Exactly as she had feared.
She lived like that for ten years.
And before reaching the age of thirty…
She died.
Clutching her tiny body with trembling hands, Liriette whispered,
“I definitely died…”
“So why am I alive?”
That wasn’t the only strange thing.
She no longer looked as she had at the moment of her death.
She was much younger.
About ten years old…?
Confused, Liriette stared into the mirror.
Just thenā
The door opened.
The moment she saw who entered…
Her heart plummeted.
It was Noel.
