Chapter 111:
Her followers often called Melaine a flower that had bloomed in a knight family. It was their own little nickname, but it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.
Yuna was also a beautiful woman, but as the Knights Captain, she wasn’t particularly interested in dressing up.
Even today, Yuna was away from the capital, escorting the Crown Prince on his short-term study abroad trip to the western Locor Kingdom.
The tea party went more smoothly than expected. Melaine, the hostess, led the gathering with confidence, as if her recent disgrace had never happened.
Throughout the tea party, words that could upset Melaine, such as “engagement,” “Acrea,” and “Reeves,” were, of course, implicitly forbidden.
There was constant chatter, but Sue couldn’t find a way to join in. The tea party was essentially Melaine and her followers’ time.
Sue didn’t want to dampen the mood, so she just nibbled on the brioche and chuckled at appropriate moments.
Summer was beginning, but the scent of flowers still lingered in the garden, carried by the wind. It was so strong that Sue couldn’t even taste the cookies properly.
Unable to taste the tea and pastries, and unable to participate in the conversation, Sue started to doze off. She was jolted awake by Melaine’s sudden words.
“I met Master Rampleld, the high priest from the north, the other day.”
“Oh my, the high priest from the north…?”
“Yes, the one who serves Saint Esuclyde(Eskläd). I consulted him about various things, and under his guidance, I joined a subordinate religion.”
“Lady Melaine, you joined a subordinate religion?!”
Everyone knew what those “various things” she had consulted him about were.
What was surprising was the news that she had joined a subordinate religion.
A subordinate religion was a branch of the Atlantis national religion.
It had originally been a policy to incorporate people from other countries as the empire expanded, but recently, more and more people in the mainland were creating subordinate religions.
As long as they didn’t break the law, had proper doctrines, and worshipped the same god, subordinate religions were generally accepted.
‘So that’s why she’s so calm. She found solace in religion.’
Sue took a bite of her croissant, surprised that Melaine would ever turn to religion.
Melaine had always been lukewarm about religion. So it was unexpected news that she had joined a subordinate religion, but Sue was glad that she had found a way to cope.
Of course, that was before she heard the name of the religion.
“Lady Melaine, what kind of religion did you join?”
Sue deeply regretted that the foolish follower had asked that question.
Melaine’s eyes sparkled, as if she had been waiting for it.
“It’s the Holy Demon Religion!* A subordinate religion called the Holy Demon Religion. There’s a region called Dande, right near the capital. It’s a mainland subordinate religion based there.”
Holy Demon Religion.
Sue slowly raised her head, her croissant still in her mouth, as she heard those three words clearly.
Melaine, ignoring Sue, touched the raven pendant on her neck.
‘Raven… Raven? Don’t tell me…’
“I officially met the high priest a few days ago and was baptized. I’ve finally found salvation.”
Sue’s eyes darted around, unable to find a place to focus, as she heard Melaine’s sweet voice and saw her glazed eyes.
“That’s wonderful!”
The clueless young ladies, just relieved that the beautiful Lady Melaine was back to normal, expressed their gratitude to the Holy Demon Religion.
Azette, who wasn’t a follower, tilted her head.
“I’ve never heard of the Holy Demon Religion. My territory also has a subordinate religion…”
“That’s because it’s a newly established religion.”
Melaine cut her off abruptly. She clasped her hands together and looked up at the sky.
“All beings must realize their duty and serve the world accordingly. That’s the first doctrine of the Holy Demon Religion. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Oh my, what a beautiful doctrine!”
Sue couldn’t hear anything after that. She forced herself to swallow the croissant that was still in her mouth.
Her vision blurred slightly.
‘Why is the Holy Demon Religion suddenly appearing here?’
The Holy Demon Religion was a notorious cult that would become infamous throughout Atlantis.
In the distant future.
That’s right.
The Holy Demon Religion was a powerful force of evil that wouldn’t appear until Halo was in her eighth year.
It was a hellish place that forcibly recruited followers with brainwashing magic, exploited them for money, and built up its power.
In the novel, Halo’s friends were brainwashed by the high priest, so Halo, enraged, eventually disbanded the Holy Demon Religion and gained recognition for her efforts.
But the Holy Demon Religion was a plot point that wouldn’t appear until the middle of the story, and it wasn’t mentioned this early in the novel, nor was there any mention of Melaine Vava joining it.
‘Is this also the butterfly effect?’
What a shitty butterfly effect.
Sue chewed on her lip.
“Master Rampleld guided me to the Holy Demon Religion. I’m eternally grateful to him.”
‘Rampleld… the high priest… Ah, don’t tell me…’
One of the reasons why the insignificant Holy Demon Religion had experienced such rapid growth was because of the involvement of a high priest.
‘Wait, so Rampleld was that high priest…?’
Sue pressed her hand to her forehead, feeling dizzy. The mop-bearded old man she had met at the academy infirmary was the deputy high priest of the Holy Demon Religion.
“It’s still a small place, and all we do is pray. But I’m sure more people will join the Holy Demon Religion.”
Melaine, like a fish in water, gave a long speech, blurring the line between a tea party gazebo and a religious recruitment event.
Even her followers, who usually giggled at her every word, were exhausted by the end and had to stifle their yawns.
“Lady Melaine! I want to attend the next Holy Demon Religion service!”
But there was always a traitor, no matter where you went. One of the young ladies, hoping to gain Melaine’s favor, raised her hand timidly.
“Would you mind taking me next time?”
“Of course!”
Melaine’s eyes sparkled, brighter than they had all day. She grabbed the girl’s hands and said,
“Thank you, Sally. I was just about to suggest it. The Holy Demon Religion isn’t a strict place. The high priest and the followers are all kind. Let’s go to the chapel and pray together.”
No one knew that the kind high priest was a psychopath obsessed with money and power. Melaine’s followers, seeing Sally receiving her favor, started raising their hands one by one.
“Lady Melaine, I want to attend the service too!”
“Me too!”
What was happening?
All of her followers had decided to attend the next Holy Demon Religion service.
Azette, who had her own religion, politely declined, and now the only one left was Sue.
Melaine asked,
“Sue, you’re coming to the service too, right?”
“What?”
Why was she acting like it was a given?
No one understood Sue’s frustration. For the first time at the tea party, all eyes were on her, but it wasn’t in a good way.
Envy, jealousy.
Why are you even here?
Don’t come.
But those glares only gave her strength. The strength to refuse, no matter what.
“I’m sorry, my family is having a dinner party at our mansion that day. You know how much my father values our dinner parties, Lady Melaine.”
Surprisingly, it wasn’t a lie. Thanks to the incredible luck of the service date coinciding with her family dinner party, Sue was able to make an excuse without any burden.
Her father was actually being helpful for once.
Sue clenched her fist under the table, a victory fist.
Melaine, not wanting to force her, just looked at her with pity.
“Right, if you want to help your family, you have to live within your means. Let’s both do our best, Sue.”
To help your family, you have to live within your means.
The words Melaine always said felt a little bit painful today.
***
The Holy Demon Religion.
It was a subordinate religion that had originated in the Dande region of the mainland. It had started with a harmless doctrine: “If everyone realizes their value in their designated position and serves the world accordingly, they will receive God’s blessings.”
But as time went on, the high priest of the Holy Demon Religion revealed his true colors, and eventually, it became infamous throughout Löhn as a vicious cult.
The most sinister aspect of the Holy Demon Religion was the high priest’s advanced brainwashing magic.
The brainwashing magic he used was a little different from other brainwashing magic.
‘What was it… He said he layers it, or something.’
Sue, who was still ignorant about magic, tried to recall what she had read in the novel.
For example, just as layers of thin blankets could become a thick barrier, the Holy Demon Religion’s brainwashing worked in the same way.
It was Halo who had played a major role in breaking through his brainwashing magic, disbanding the Holy Demon Religion, and arresting the high priest.
Honestly, Sue hadn’t thought much about the Holy Demon Religion. It wouldn’t appear for another year, and even if it did, she had assumed Halo would take care of it.
But to think she would hear about it so soon, so close to home.
The only silver lining was that the Holy Demon Religion wasn’t powerful yet. But now that a marquis’s daughter, along with Rampleld, had become a follower, it was only a matter of time before it grew.
‘What should I do…’
She was worried, but the more she thought about it, the more she wondered if it was even her problem.
‘I have no obligation to disband the Holy Demon Religion.’
And Melaine wasn’t someone she cared enough about to try to pull her out of it.
Interestingly, Melaine started casually proselytizing at the academy the day after the tea party.
She spread the word about the Holy Demon Religion as naturally as flowing water, without any coercion. Of course, people quickly forgot about the unfamiliar subordinate religion. But the fact that Melaine had joined a subordinate religion spread throughout the academy.
T/N:
성마교 (Seongmakyo): The term “성” (seong) can mean “holy,” “sacred,” or “saint,” while “마” (ma) typically refers to “demon” or “devil,” but can also connote “barrier, trial” or “hardship,” among other meanings. The “교” (gyo) simply means “church” or “religion.”
Alternative translations: Holy Demon Religion, Holy Demon Church, Holy Order Church, Holy Barrier Church, Holy Religion of Trials
I will leave the translation as ‘Holy Demon Religion’, we as readers can notice the ‘demon’ but in itself ‘ma(마)’ can have several meanings for them.