### Chapter 13 Causes and Consequences (Part 2)
The church should have killed her the moment she refused to become a saint.
I’m serious.
Those high-ranking folks living in the Holy City were obviously overconfident in their outdated and rigid methods of indoctrination. They didn’t recognize the severity of the situation right away when Teresa informed them she couldn’t accept such a heavy responsibility. She just wanted to keep doing her nunly duties like before, staying in her lane. After she said those words, no one could see the thorny path in her heart that had already taken root and was destined to cover her entire mental landscape.
The young pope took a rather mild approach; he chose to go along with her wishes.
Maybe the pope had his own reasons. He wasn’t a fool—in fact, quite the opposite. I researched him, and without a doubt, he was a bold, meticulous, and ambitious guy. Perhaps he even wanted to use this woman to achieve greater goals.
But anyway, a devoted saint like Teresa, who didn’t seek personal gains and held a pure heart, would inevitably choose a different path if her faith was destroyed. Those saints would definitely pay the price for that.
And I will guide her down the most extreme path.
I want to turn her into the church’s most terrifying enemy.
I am confident in this.
As of now, Teresa has lost her qualification to succeed the 89th saint, and she came to me a year after losing that qualification.
In that year, Teresa worked diligently as an ordinary nun, fulfilling her duties day after day. Under the church’s strict surveillance, she didn’t show any unusual behavior. In fact, she even regained some trust from higher-ups.
Soon she would be reassigned to the Royal City of Ethanbel, responsible for important religious activities there. While managing these matters, she was secretly working behind the scenes, and in just a year, she managed to reach the Gate of Truth through the Jester route—she found me.
Impressive!
I mentally retracted my earlier judgment about her; this woman is cunning and particularly adept at disguising herself—a terrifyingly persistent one at that.
She knows exactly what she’s doing. She always knows her goals and desired outcomes, never falling for any temptations.
I need someone like her to work for me. I already have a plan.
But the biggest issue right now is the Jester.
November 20, 1182
I successfully persuaded the Jester.
Controlling that madman so he’ll mostly act according to my wishes is both difficult and surprisingly simple.
I understood what he wanted most and took considerable time to explain a series of plans to him. I told him that keeping Teresa alive and making her our representative would be far more interesting than torturing a common nun stripped of her saintly status by the church.
I also informed him that I intended for Teresa to first undergo the Goddess’ sacrificial ceremony, as this was a prerequisite for her cooperation with us. I wanted her to become a real “Heretic,” accepting the power of Infernal Fire. This was a crucial test of Teresa’s sincerity—I couldn’t just take her word for it.
Once she survived the ceremony and became a “Heretic” with the power of Infernal Fire, betraying us would be nearly impossible.
Teresa possesses a physical “gift”; she is the exact type of person I need right now. I eagerly want the ceremony to be genuinely successful with her. For that, I’m willing to bury the last Angel Egg inside her—of course, without her knowledge.
I need her to have the power of Infernal Fire. I need her successful sacrifice to stabilize people’s hearts.
The Jester seeks the essence of this matter.
A devout, worshiped saint secretly holding the identity of a member of the Gate of Truth—such an identity would undoubtedly be revealed soon, preferably right before a war, which would deal a greater blow to the church and the manipulated populace. That’s what he hopes for.
The Jester said he couldn’t wait to see that day come.
Dealing with this man requires playing to his desires to avoid letting things spiral out of control.
November 21, 1182
Teresa promptly agreed to my request, rendering all the speeches I had prepared completely useless.
I underestimated the twisted beliefs that resided in her heart. I didn’t expect that her reason for agreeing was that after learning the truth, she absolutely refused to obtain power through dishonest means that would demean the divine. In fact, during that year, she hadn’t relied on any faith-based power, yet she understood that to truly change the future and quell horrific disasters, one absolutely cannot do so without power.
And the power of the Gate of Truth is a true divine gift, bestowed upon her by the Goddess of Sin.
Moreover, the price to be paid for it would mostly be borne by herself, rather than affecting the innocent civilians—that was something she could accept. I merely nudged her with words, but that was indeed the truth.
I honestly can’t comprehend her thinking and logic. What we’re doing is extremely difficult, and even if we give it our all, we could end up shattered with no clear path ahead. Every bit of strength is precious. Setting unnecessary limits based on worries is rather foolish.
But I know Teresa is definitely not a stupid or soft-hearted person.
Yet she undeniably sets limits upon herself; maybe it’s for atonement or some other reason. In any case, I can see she is resolute.
After thinking for a long while, I can only tell myself that this woman is undoubtedly a bit mad.
A persistently calm madness.
But perhaps it is such madness that is the most terrifying.
December 28, 1182
After returning to Eborista, I didn’t head to Meiser Town. Instead, I took Teresa and Sebastian directly to Sand Valley, to meet the Goddess.
I must make Teresa believe what I say is not a lie.
In front of the divine essence, Teresa kneeled down to pray for a long time; I heard her continually apologizing.
I buried the Angel Egg inside her.
January 1183
The sacrifice was a success!
Incredible! Teresa is truly amazing! No wonder the church hails her as a genius of the century; her receptiveness is off the charts! Among humans, she is undoubtedly the finest vessel, almost on par with me!
From now on, she will become a true Heretic, the third member of the Gate of Truth. Shortly, I summoned everyone back, notified them of this event, and shared my next plans with Teresa…]
Creak—
Just as I was deeply focused, quickly skimming through my notes, the door creaked open again.
I turned my head, rubbed my eyes, and saw a little girl carefully shuffling towards me with a large plate, her reluctant small steps betraying her shyness.
“Grandpa said to bring you… food…”
