Gospel of Blood-Chapter 595 : That’s not true faith, that’s an Evil God!

The Judgment Knight’s promise was fulfilled within a few days.

On the first day of the second month, an apprentice knight affiliated with the District Nine Inquisition personally delivered 300 gold tana to the Gray Swan Orphanage.

300 gold tana…

This amount is equivalent to the annual income of six ordinary households in the Holy City. For the Gray Swan Orphanage, it was a considerable sum, enough to support their operations for two months.

With Susan’s monthly stipend of 60 gold tana added to this, the orphanage could even expand its aid, providing more black bread to the homeless and the needs.

But Susan couldn’t feel happy about it.

In the Holy Court, a trainee clergy’s monthly salary is 15 gold tana. After ascending in rank, it multiplies three to four times, roughly reaching 50 to 60 gold tana. Upon becoming a Silver Moon, it nearly doubles again, reaching 100 gold tana.

Since the time when the siblings’ affinity for holy power was discovered, Daniel had shown greater talent and ascended to Silver Moon earlier than Susan, becoming the biggest support for the Gray Swan Orphanage.

However, even as a Silver Moon and a Judgment Knight, his monthly income couldn’t possibly reach 300 gold tana.

Susan wanted the financial situation of the Gray Swan Orphanage to improve.

But not in such a worrying manner.

“This definitely isn’t a legitimate offering, Bell. I know you’re a knight trained by my brother. Tell me the truth, what exactly is he doing?”

“Sister Susan, Captain Daniel is a knight highly regarded by the Cardinals. Apart from the normal offerings, the rest are subsidies from the Cardinals.”

“Subsidies from the Cardinals? That… can’t be, my brother is no longer…”

“What about the Captain?”

“No… nothing…”

“Sister Susan, don’t worry. The Captain is upright in his actions. These gold tana are his legal income. I heard the Captain was even selected for the Saintess’ guard! That’s a commendation from Cardinal Filiberto!”

“The… Saintess?”

“Yes, the Queen of Starfall, Charlotte de Castell. You must have heard of her, right?”

“Mm… I know.”

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“Right, right. No one in the Holy City doesn’t know her. Although there are many rumors about her, I have a distant relative working in the Castell mining area who personally saw her manifest holy power! Not only that, but she is also said to have elven blood and is as beautiful as an angel. There’s even a portrait of her in the Holy Palace, though I haven’t had the chance to see it.”

The apprentice knight was very excited talking about the upcoming visit of the Saintess.

Susan’s expression was complicated.

Being a cleric, Susan had naturally heard the various rumors about the Saintess.

Moreover, due to her brother Daniel’s influence, she had specifically paid attention and learned more.

For instance, the origin of the portrait in the Holy Palace was said to have been drawn by a passing artist when Charlotte de Castell triggered a miracle in the Crescent Kingdom and later gifted to the Holy Palace.

And the rumors of the Saintess’ connections to heretical cults, Daniel had mentioned that the Queen of Starfall was closely associated with the bloodborne and might even be one herself.

Susan didn’t know which of these messages were true and which were false.

The world of adults is always full of lies, only the faith in one’s heart remains the final sanctuary.

But Susan knew her brother harbored enmity towards the “Saintess.” She knew her brother’s faith was no longer devout.

Yet… in such circumstances, he was still chosen for the guard.

Was this her brother’s decision?

Was this the Inquisition’s decision?

Was this the decision of the Cardinal Council?

What exactly was her brother planning…

What was the Inquisition and the Cardinal Council planning?

Recalling her brother’s anger when discussing the church and his hostility towards the Saintess, Susan’s unease grew stronger.

She knew her brother had embraced “heresy.”

But all along, she thought this “heresy” might just be an internal faction within the church that didn’t align with mainstream beliefs.

The evidence was that her brother still loved the light, upheld justice, and aspired to the sun symbolizing holiness.

Such “factions” were not uncommon in history. Though contrary to mainstream beliefs, they were often harmless and overlooked by the Holy Court.

But now… it seemed otherwise.

“No… no, I must see my brother again!”

Susan muttered to herself.

But Susan never got to see Daniel again.

…

“Lord Daniel? He was reassigned by the Cardinals. Seems like he went for the guard training.”

“Daniel? Haven’t seen him for days. Probably sent on some mission again?”

“Don’t worry, Susan. When I see that rascal, I’ll let him know you’re looking for him.”

…

Days passed, and the festive atmosphere in the Holy City for the change of office grew stronger.

Archbishops from other dioceses arrived one after another, and the number of priests and nobles in the city increased.

But Susan never heard from her brother again.

“He joined the Saintess’ guard. When the Saintess arrives, I’ll definitely find him!”

Susan thought.

But when the renowned Saintess finally arrived in the Holy City, Susan still couldn’t find her brother.

That was the first time Susan saw the legendary “Saintess.”

Though it was only a distant glance, the exquisite beauty of the girl, seemingly crafted by the Gods, left an indelible impression on her heart.

An angel…

Susan found the apprentice knight Bell’s description quite fitting.

She could even feel a warm glow from the beautiful girl, a manifestation of holy power.

“She truly is the Saintess.”

Susan couldn’t help but think.

But this didn’t bring her any peace. Even though she scanned the Judgment Knight’s guard thoroughly, she didn’t see her brother’s figure…

Susan had another nightmare.

She dreamed of a sea of fire, an endless abyss, where she was constantly falling.

She saw the end of the abyss, a sea of black and red blood, filled with numerous grotesque, deformed monsters holding up a bizarre sun emblem, fervently singing praises.

She saw one of the monsters wearing clothes identical to her brother’s. It struggled, turning its head with difficulty, and its disfigured face met her eyes.

Its rotting, pus-filled mouth opened slightly, and a faint glimmer appeared in its hollow eye sockets.

“Run… away…”

That was the last voice of her brother in the nightmare.

Susan woke up suddenly.

Not long after, she heard a series of shocking news.

Cardinal Filiberto was seduced by an Evil God and attempted to assassinate the Saintess, but was ultimately captured.

All the Judgment Knights involved in the assassination were arrested and sentenced to the punishment of the holy flame.

The Cardinals fell into depravity, becoming heretics’ minions. Various scandals about the church’s internal heresies were exposed, including human experiments, human trafficking, and blasphemy.

Pope Gregory XII, in anger, ordered a thorough investigation of all heretics within a week.

Instantly, the Holy City was in turmoil. Every day, new clergy were arrested, and heretics were burned at the stake in the Holy City Square.

Even the District Nine Inquisition experienced an unprecedented upheaval, with nearly half of the Judgment Knights arrested.

The charge was heresy.

Susan panicked.

“Where’s my brother?”

“Where is he?”

“How is he?”

“My brother is an upright person, a true knight. He would never harm others. Even though he can no longer use holy power, I know he still believes in the core doctrines of the Lord.”

“What he disagrees with is the current church.”

“No, I must find him as soon as possible! I need to know the truth. I have to… find a way to save him!”

Susan clenched her fists, planning to go to the Inquisition to investigate.

But just as she was about to leave, she heard a weak knock at the door.

“Who is it?”

Susan instantly became alert.

“Miss Susan… it’s me… Leon…”

Susan’s spirits lifted.

Leon was her brother Daniel’s deputy, a First Tier Judgment Knight.

She quickly opened the door, and a strong smell of blood hit her.

The young Judgment Knight was severely injured, his knight’s uniform soaked with blood, his face unnaturally pale, and several deep wounds on his body exposing the bone.

“Leon?! What happened to you?!”

Susan exclaimed.

“Miss Susan…”

The Judgment Knight bit his lip and pulled a blood-stained letter from his pocket, struggling to hand it to the young priestess.

Susan’s gaze fell on the letter.

Gradually, her eyes widened, and an indescribable fear and shock appeared on her face.

“This… this is…”

“This is a letter from Sir Daniel…”

“Sir Daniel was betrayed. We were all betrayed!”

“That’s not true faith, nor heresy. It’s an Evil God! A real Evil God!”

“They want to summon an Evil God! They want to destroy the Holy City and sacrifice everyone here!”

“Please, you must find a way to deliver it… to the Starfall Saintess!”

Without waiting for the girl to respond, he struggled to stand up and staggered out of the orphanage.

Soon, chaotic noises came from the street.

“He’s there!”

“Stop him! Kill him!”

The sound of swords clashing quickly followed, ending with the Judgment Knight’s scream.

Shortly after, a series of footsteps approached, getting closer and closer.

With the footsteps came low murmurs.

“Did he just go in there?”

“Seems like it.”

“Wait, the Gray Swan Orphanage? That’s Daniel’s old home!”

“So it’s here. No wonder…”

“Get in! Search—!”

A hoarse voice commanded, indifferent and vicious.

Susan’s face turned pale.

She shielded the startled children behind her, then gritted her teeth, crumpled the letter, and swallowed it…