Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 1249

Minhyuk had a deep and strong connection with Loyna. As a member of Bender and the Attention Seekers, she had always stepped up whenever something happened to Minhyuk. Looking back, he had only ever received help from Loyna every time.

Even so, he had one small wish of her.

‘I want to ask her to help me tend to my garden and make fruits and vegetables that are extra fresh!’

Of course, he did not go to the Athenae Religion’s church this time for that. His main reason for coming to the church was to ask for advice on injecting holy power into the Nine Fruit Tree. After all, Minhyuk still had a conscience.

‘I’ll also give them some wild vegetable bibimbap.’

Yet, when he arrived at the church and found out Loyna was being executed, he became flustered and panicked.

‘Loyna is being executed?’

‘The first reason is that Loyna had used the money she received from the kingdoms and empires for the children and not the church. As for the second reason… it’s because the believers of the Athenae Religion love her more than Athenae?’

Their grounds for executing her were ridiculous. Well, perhaps this was only natural. In the first place, the Athenae Religion was filled with problems. The priests and the people in higher positions who should have served God were all busy and distracted, trying to line their pockets and fill their stomachs.

But this? This was something that had completely crossed the line.

Ring!

[Sudden Quest: Athenae’s Request.]

Rank: SSS

Requirements: The one who received Athenae’s request.

Rewards: ???

Penalty for Failure: Loyna’s death. A drop in Athenae’s favor.

Description: God of Origin Athenae does not want to lose Loyna. Go and rescue Loyna.

“Athenae…” Minhyuk mumbled in shock.

Gods could use this method to intervene in the affairs of humans. However, they generally would not do so, especially for Athenae, who governed and watched over billions of people. Perhaps, in her eyes, Loyna was just one of the many people in the world. The fact that God had created a quest like this to protect someone was amazing in and of itself.

Minhyuk immediately called out, “Obren.”

Since he had a question, the best person to call for was his smartest friend, Obren.

“Why would Pope Kahlua choose to kill Loyna even though he knows that it will have a severe backlash? It might even endanger his position, right?”

[It’s because he’ll get something out of it.]

Obren was once a close friend to Kronad, one of the Eight Pillars.

[Those who sit on the throne of the Pope will gain the authority to control holy power. Perhaps Saintess Loyna’s the purest and noblest vessel of holy power in this world.]

[I think Pope Kahlua is trying to take away Loyna’s holy power so that he can create the Absolute Saintess.]

“The Absolute Saintess?” Minhyuk tilted his head in confusion when he heard an unfamiliar name.

Obren immediately explained what kind of existence the Absolute Saintess was. Just to be sure, Minhyuk also asked the priests around.

“By any chance, is there a candidate to become the next saintess?”

“Yes. It’s the priestess named Eyah. She’s someone Lord Kahlua has brought over.”

At this moment, Minhyuk was certain that Obren’s guess was correct. However, there was one problem.

“Can I even attack Pope Kahlua?”

Minhyuk was the emperor of the Beyond the Heavens Empire, but the Athenae Religion was the most significant, largest, and most influential church in Athenae. In fact, its size was comparable to that of the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

What would happen if he attacked Pope Kahlua so suddenly? For now, Minhyuk decided that he should not physically harm the man. He had to at least keep it at that.

At that moment, Minhyuk thought of a trick. He said, “How much holy power does one need to become the Absolute Saintess?”

[I think it should be at least 50,000?]

That was when he thought of something: to help and allow the birth of the new Absolute Saintess. Besides, it was the perfect opportunity to use that unusual item he got from Reikan.

‘The Stat Transposer!’

Minhyuk immediately sent a whisper to Genie.

[Minhyuk: Genie, please send everything related to holy power to the Athenae Religion’s church right now.]

***

Everyone witnessed the white lily's last petal falling to the ground. Then, at that moment, more than a hundred petals from somewhere flew in and wrapped around Loyna, creating the largest and most beautiful spread of white lily blooms.

[The noblest and most honorable epitome of “good.”]

[Saintess Loyna has started to walk down the path of the Absolute Saintess.]

The world message rang all over the world.

[The corresponding Absolute Demigod Class has more power than a god class.]

[The Absolute Saintess is free from gods’ influence and oppression.]

[The gods cannot dare to punish her.]

[The noblest and most honorable epitome of “good” can use strong measures to punish evil.]

Minhyuk was delighted. The petals fluttering around the priestess named Eyah were pitiful compared to those fluttering around Loyna.

[You have used the Stat Transposer. You have transferred 90% of your Holy Power stat to Saintess Loyna.]

Minhyuk did not have an ounce of regret for what he had done as he looked at Loyna in delight. Anyway, the holy power stat was no longer useful to him.

On the other hand, Pope Kahlua looked at Eyah and Loyna alternately, disbelief coloring his face. He thought, ‘Eyah was obviously the one becoming the Absolute Saintess.’

Unfortunately for him, Loyna’s holy power rose and turned everything upside down. At this moment, Pope Kahlua realized that his plans had been ruined.

‘Why aren’t there any movements?’ Minhyuk looked at Loyna in confusion.

Loyna had already pretty much become the Absolute Saintess. Now, she was free. God Athenae could no longer punish her, or anyone else, since she had become the Absolute Saintess. Even if Kahlua was the pope, he could no longer do anything to her.

That was just what the system told them. In truth, Loyna’s mind was left buzzing. She felt conflicted and complicated. Initially, she had existed for Athenae and Athenae alone. But now? She was free and out of Athenae’s control.

Although Minhyuk proceeded with this method without her opinion, she fully understood why he did it. He wanted to save her. Nevertheless, she could not bring herself to stand up.

Loyna just remained kneeling there in prayer.

‘I exist solely for Athenae.’

At that moment, Pope Kahlua had already chosen a different path.

“Loyna. How dare you trick us?!”

He thought Minhyuk and Loyna had discussed this beforehand, so he believed there was still a way to salvage the situation. All he needed to do was make Eyah have a higher holy power than Saintess Loyna.

Only five minutes had passed since everything unfolded. Pope Kahlua believed that the results would turn out differently if he could kill Saintess Loyna and take away her holy power to make Eyah’s holy power higher than her. He thought it would be like earlier, like how Loyna was chosen so suddenly instead of Eyah.

Crackle–!

Pope Kahlua stretched his finger and shot out a blazing flame of punishment toward Saintess Loyna.

[Evil cannot bring punishment upon the noblest and most honorable “good.”]

Kahlua was once a paladin. He was strong enough to the point that the other paladins idolized him. He was able to take the pope’s throne because of his overwhelming power and strength. Even so, the amount of damage he dealt to Loyna seemed to be pitifully insignificant.

Regardless, seeing her passively accept his attacks, Kahlua could not help but cackle. “Bitch! It’s because of your blind faith! Yes! That’s right! You cannot bring punishment upon me because of that blind faith of yours!”

The pope was also chosen by Athenae. Because of this, Loyna decided to remain passive and meekly accept the pope's attacks on her.

‘Right now, it’s tough to kill Loyna.’

Kahlua immediately changed his tactics. He drew the sword on his waist and swung it fiercely.

Bang–!

An explosion erupted among the popes and paladins gathered at one side of the church.

Boom–!

With every swing of his sword, an explosion would erupt. The church was filled with countless outstanding priests and the strongest paladins. Although the explosions did not kill them, it left them severely injured.

At this moment, all of the people present held doubts in their hearts. Based on the voice they heard after Loyna was attacked, Pope Kahlua was the evil one. They thought him to be good, but he turned out to be hideous.

Minhyuk saw these people try to deny how evil Kahlua was, even though he only hid behind his position as pope. When they realized the truth, he thought they would draw their swords. He even thought the priests would immediately prepare to counterattack.

Alas, none of them moved. They just looked silently at Pope Kahlua with disgust and contempt. Even if someone had lost an arm, fallen and was groaning in pain, or was left crying and moaning, none of them drew their swords.

At this moment, Minhyuk realized why. It was because of their unquestioning and fanatical beliefs. Even if Kahlua was evil, they could not attack Athenae's chosen pope. In a way, it was similar to how an empire worked. Even if the tyrant killed thousands of his people, the people would not choose to rebel right away.

“This is crazy…!”

After witnessing this, Minhyuk realized that the Beyond the Heavens Empire would become the Athenae Religion’s true enemy if he dared to move and attack Kahlua.

Bang, bang, bang–!

At the very least, the priests raised their shields to protect themselves and survive this ordeal. Even though they were struggling, they seemed to still fear death.

As the pope, Kahlua could take away and plunder the others’ holy power. Using this power, he took away the priests’ holy power. Their holy powers manifested and turned into light spots the size of a fingernail that floated in the air. All of these holy powers would soon be sent to Eyah. By then, Loyna would again be sent to the path of death.

At that moment, Kahlua saw children jumping onto the platform. The children, trembling with fear, found warmth in Loyna's arms. The dozens of children cried and sobbed in her arms.

“Saintess, I’m scared.”

“Saintess… waaaaaaah!”

“It hurts!!!”

Despite seeing the fear and panic in the children, Loyna remained conflicted.

“Mother. Please give me the answer…” She mumbled as she listened to the explosions that were filling the world. A few more explosions and the people below would truly die.

Kahlua looked at Loyna and the children and scoffed, “Your blind faith? It’s disgusting.”

Then, he began to chatter away.

“Praying for the comfort and warmth of a god who will never respond to you is pathetic. Instead of that, I’d rather become god himself.”

At this moment, Kahlua resembled Kronad.

“At the very least, I will respond to you once I become god. Go. Get lost. Just go to Athenae’s arms.”

Rumble–!

The ground beneath Loyna’s feet shook and trembled. It was a sign of an impending explosion. Still panicked and conflicted, Loyna turned her head. She was met by the sight of the arms of the paladins exploding, blood spilling like a fountain, and holy power floating in the sky above them.

Loyna’s pupils shook. Just like Kahlua said, Athenae remained indifferent. She did not give any response to her even though they were in a situation like this.

‘In the end, does Mother Athenae think our deaths are trivial?’ A self-deprecating smile appeared on her face.

At that moment, Minhyuk called out, “Loyna. The one who sent me here is Athenae.”

The words that rang in her ears left Loyna’s heart racing.

God did not respond to prayers. To be exact, it was not easy for God to answer. And how did God respond? Of course, she responded with the best and most optimal solution. Perhaps this was what she wanted to tell Loyna.

-Become the Absolute Saintess.

-Save the people.

-Respond to their cries.

The most brilliant and blinding light shot out from within Loyna’s clasped hands.

[Saintess’ Blessings.]

The light spread, devouring all the explosions and making them disappear. Then, another light wrapped around the dying and those whose limbs were sent flying to the sky.

[Saintess’ Recovery.]

Flash–!

The light covered the sky and lingered around those on the verge of death and despair. The severed limbs were reattached back to their bodies, and even the blood that was spurting wildly from their injuries returned as though time was rewound.

The light left behind no trace. The crowd had just been twisting and writhing in pain, but now, they were all free of pain and were even feeling comfortable. Minhyuk had never seen such amazing healing ability in his entire life.

Then, the white dress that covered Loyna’s body burned and turned into a black dress. Whether she was good or evil at this moment? It was debatable. No one could tell.

Loyna slowly touched the ground.

[Evil can never punish the good!]

The signs of impending explosions disappeared without a trace. At the same time, black energy currents shot out from the ground and turned into a spear in her hands.

An ordinary saint could never bring direct harm to another living being. That was not the case for the Absolute Saintess. The Absolute Saintess was someone who saved people and also brought judgment upon them.

Loyna pulled the children behind her, saying, “Mother has responded.”

[Your holy power has gone wild!]

[Your holy power has gone wild!]

[Your holy power has gone wild!]

An overwhelming amount of holy power surged out from within Loyna, its appearance a stark contrast to the black dress adorning her body. Then, she raised the black spear and pointed it at Kahlua’s chest.

[Athenae Religion’s Saintess Loyna has given her orders.]

“Paladins, draw your swords!”

The paladins drew their swords without an ounce of hesitation.

“Priests, raise your hands in prayer!”

All of the priests clasped their hands in prayer. Then, a bright and white light rose from underneath the feet of the paladins and the priests.

“The time for judgment has arrived.”

[The Absolute Evil’s Judgment.]

[The noblest and most honorable epitome of “good” has begun meting out the punishment of the Absolute Evil.]

[The light of the Absolute Saintess has started illuminating the entire world.]