The concern within Schicksal over Theresa had reached a tipping point, ready to boil over at any moment.
So what was Theresa doing at this very moment?
She was leading a prayer service.
In the dimly lit cavern, the glow of candles cast a dusky, flickering light.
At this moment, nearly a thousand people knelt on the ground, palms pressed together in devout prayer, facing Theresa—or rather, the cross towering behind her.
Their clothes and appearances were more or less disheveled, yet their spirits remained remarkably calm.
The priest stood not far from Theresa, quietly watching the scene before him, memories flooding his mind unbidden.
It was a week ago, an ordinary day.
Though the arrival of foreign believers and merchant caravans had stirred subtle changes in this little town, peace and tranquility still reigned overall.
Having chopped the church's stored pasta and dried meats into small pieces, they continued their unconditional aid to the refugees within the chapel that day.
Most of these supplies came from the church's own relief efforts and donations from the faithful.
The bonds and kindness between people allowed the church to support these lambs living in hardship time and again.
Lady Theresa, who had been visiting for two days to better understand this country, arrived punctually as usual.
As a girl who shared his faith and clearly held a significant position within a foreign church, the priest was exceedingly patient, explaining in detail everything he knew.
Though he was now a priest, he had once been a missionary.
While he hadn't traveled the entire nation, he had traversed most of its regions and could still recount many strange tales and anecdotes.
The girl across from him, though her knowledge in this area couldn't match his, proved to be an excellent listener, offering the priest a steady stream of emotional validation.
This stirred a sense of paternal affection in the childless priest, making him all the more eager to share his experiences with her.
Had things proceeded as usual, they would have parted on pleasant terms once more. But a sudden shadow shattered this peaceful life.
"Is that... a dragon?"
"It... it won't come this way... right?"
"Of course not! The God we worship will protect us and punish any who dare attack!"
"That evil dragon could never break through the Lord's protection."
Just as the priest and Theresa were conversing, a flurry of voices suddenly rose outside—not only from panicked refugees but also from resolute believers.
"What is...!?"
The priest, naturally noticing the commotion, rushed out of the church and looked in the direction everyone was facing.
Sure enough, a colossal creature covered in crimson scales, nearly twenty meters long, was flying straight toward them.
Alarm bells rang loudly in his heart, but clinging to the piety of his faith, he, like the other believers, chose to remain silent, preparing to begin prayers.
"What are you all doing!?"
However, a young, bewildered voice interrupted them.
The girl carrying a massive cross on her back drew everyone's gaze. Her expression was anxious as she continued, "Why aren't you evacuating immediately!?"
"This..."
The priest's hand tightened slightly around the cross pendant on his chest.
"Lady Theresa, as a fellow believer in our Lord, you should understand His great power."
A believer from within the church explained slowly, a smile of admonishment on his face, as if confident his piety surpassed that of the white-haired girl before him.
"Please, do not panic. That evil dragon cannot harm us."
"What kind of nonsense is that? The Lord does not save those who seek death! His trials are not unconditional protection for all; they are a sifting of those worthy of salvation!"
Theresa knew the church in this world hadn't developed with much speed or authority.
It served more as an organization offering sanctuary and hope in people's hearts. After all, gods truly existed in this world. Who dared claim they fully understood a god's will?
Acting like this, far from receiving divine protection, they'd be lucky not to be smitten on the spot.
But... for Theresa, this was actually very good news.
After all, while the 'god' remained silent, the ultimate right of interpretation would fall to those closest to divinity.
And in the common understanding, the higher one's religious status, the more trustworthy they were deemed.
"This..."
Theresa's words took the believer by surprise.
He wanted to refute, to say what he understood was different, but her next question cut him off:
"Are you saying the Lord saves all equally, regardless of virtue or vice? Then why does hell exist?"
"This... this..."
"To recklessly entrust your own safety and future to the Lord—how is that different from the sin of sloth? If humanity does not forge its own future with its hands and face hardship with noble souls, why would the Lord bestow His favor upon them?"
"This... I..."
Theresa's relentless questions left the man pale, and the surrounding believers and priest stared at her in stunned silence.
"Bishop Theresa!"
At that moment, efficient and respectful calls from the Valkyries rang out from outside.
Before anyone could react, fifteen figures rushed into the church, performing a uniform, precise salute toward the white-haired girl.
"Bis... Bishop?"
Not just the believers, even the priest's eyes widened.
This girl he'd conversed so pleasantly with, so unassuming—she was a bishop from a foreign land? Why would a bishop come to such a place?
No one thought the title 'bishop' was a lie or some self-aggrandizing abstraction. In people's minds, a member of the clergy would never do such a thing.
Thus, they held no doubt about Theresa's identity as a bishop—only shock.
"That evil dragon is heading straight for us! Please evacuate immediately!"
The Valkyrie's face showed clear urgency.
From the intelligence they'd gathered over the past two days, dragons were as unreasonable as magical girls—even more terrifying calamities than magical girls or evil overlords.
Even with their entire squad of A-rank Valkyries, they couldn't guarantee protecting Theresa from a dragon's attack.
[Note: In this world, treat A-rank as equivalent to a normal C to B rank. The power range for A-rank Valkyries in the Honkai system is also quite broad.]
"Where is this town's shelter?"
Theresa looked toward the priest beside her.
"...This..."
The priest opened his mouth, sweating slightly. "This town... has no shelter. There is an underground ice cellar, but..."
The ice cellar couldn't house people—not enough space, and the environment was unsuitable.
Panic began to spread among the refugees and believers.
If before they could question or cling to hope, now, knowing Theresa's identity, they had completely transformed into mindless super-topic moderators chanting 'following her lead is definitely right.'
"...Then head for the mountain behind us. There's tree cover there, and it's not on the dragon's flight path. Tifa, your team will lead them to safety."
Hearing this, the lead Valkyrie immediately furrowed her brows. "But what about you, Bishop Theresa?"
"I... will hold off that big fellow. To buy you all some time."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.