Chapter 375: The Witch Desires the New God's Authority
The Twelve Holy Maidens were essentially twelve individuals he could form contracts with.
This was somewhat similar to the previous Seventy-Two Demon Gods cards.
Through these contracts, the twelve chosen could wield Renji's authority.
"Holy Maiden?"
Lucretia was taken aback.
Such a title felt rather incongruous with her identity.
Although Witches were sometimes revered as Holy Maidens, the title seemed utterly mismatched with her persona.
In her case, the term "Witch" was far more fitting.
"So, has the young girl behind you also become a Holy Maiden?"
At Lucretia's words, the great knight of the Copper Black Cross—Lord Paul's niece—frowned in displeasure, clearly offended by the term "young girl."
"Correct."
"Aside from the difference in wording, what distinguishes these two choices?"
Choice one: become his possession.
Choice two: become his Holy Maiden.
In a way, it seemed no different, so Lucretia asked with a hint of curiosity.
"The difference is that Option One is forced, while Option Two is voluntary."
This answer made Lucretia pause briefly before she understood.
If she had rejected the first option before the second was presented, he would have directly chosen for her—Option One, forcibly transforming her into his—Saintess.
And if it were forced, her subsequent treatment would likely be unfavorable, given her resistance.
"Then, if I voluntarily choose Option One, aside from enjoying the same status as Lord Paul's niece, are there any special rewards?"
This made Erica unable to hold back.
"Lucretia, don't push your luck!!!"
It wasn't that Erica felt the Witch before her was being rude or overstepping; she was simply displeased that this newcomer Witch dared to try and climb above her.
Doesn't she understand seniority?
How dare a latecomer try to outrank her?
"I'm not pushing my luck. As a Witch who has attained the Earth's Zenith, the assistance I can provide is something I doubt the underage Lady Erica can match~"
Lucretia said with a light laugh, provoking a strong emotional reaction from the young lady.
She really is too young.
"Yes, I'm still underage. How could I compare to a centuries-old granny like you in experience?"
Erica retorted sarcastically.
The woman before her appeared to be a stunning beauty in her early twenties, but her true age was far from that.
Of course, it was unclear if she had lived for centuries, but her actual age was more than enough to be Erica's grandmother.
"Oh, Lady Erica, don't you know? The more mature a woman is, the more charm she exudes, and the more men are drawn to her. If given a choice between you and me, I believe any sensible man would pick a beauty like me. As for age? Sorry, men hardly care about anything beyond beauty."
As she responded, the Witch subtly swayed her graceful figure.
And her words held truth—though Erica refused to acknowledge that older women were more appealing.
The reality here was that Lucretia, despite being decades older, undeniably possessed greater allure in both beauty and figure than Erica.
Though only fifteen—soon to be sixteen—Erica already boasted beauty and a figure rivaling that of a supermodel, she still fell short compared to the woman before her.
So—
"Hmph, you only have a few years left anyway. Soon, you'll be a withered old granny, all wrinkled."
Erica could only lash out in the one area where she held an advantage.
"Precisely. Since I truly don't have much time left, Lady Erica, why not yield a little to your elder?"
Lucretia remained unruffled, replying with a gentle smile that made the young lady purse her lips, unwilling to continue the war of words.
Pushing further would only lead to her defeat.
So, Lucretia turned her attention nervously to the man before her, as power radiated from him, infusing the ground and altering it.
Suddenly, the ground appeared to be carved with a magic circle—one that Lucretia could not comprehend...
Thus, under the sheer force of his power, Lucretia's body was moved into the magic circle.
"Let thy body..."
Her lips began chanting on their own, uttering words of power she had never known.
What was this incantation meant to summon?
"Thou who achievest all that is good in the world, thou who gatherst all the evils of the world..."
As the chant reached this point, Lucretia faintly sensed a connection forming with the person before her.
The magic circle beneath her feet grew increasingly brighter.
"...thy guardian."
With these final words, the magic circle blazed with light, and Lucretia felt a spot on her body grow warm.
Looking down, she saw a mark emerging just below her navel.
Through this mark, she could feel her connection with the person before her growing stronger.
Then, a book in his hands transformed upon opening into a book-shaped box, from which a card flew out and merged into her body.
Only then had she truly become what he called his "holy maiden."
With that card, she could receive the Divine Authority he bestowed, acting as a proxy to wield divine power.
However, the authority she currently possessed was blank.
"So, Lucretia, what authority do you desire?"
"May I choose something other than what Lady Erica has left behind?"
Renji found this remark intriguing as he gazed at the Witch before him.
He didn't think she wanted the authority of his Apocalypse Knight, which meant she had another plan in mind.
She wanted to obtain authority from a new Heretic God.
"There is another Heretic God on Sardinia."
As she spoke these words, Lucretia's eyes gleamed with an eerie light.
In the past, she would never have entertained such an idea.
Though she was a top-tier Witch, she was still no match for a Heretic God.
But now, with the assistance of her current master, she naturally harbored such ambitions.
It wasn't merely a pure desire to possess divine authority; rather, she was deeply curious to study the very nature of so-called divine authority.