The Freed Slaves Are Obsessed-Chapter 226: The Ring Goes on the Ring Finger

The long, long night had passed, and the sun had risen.

The Holy Kingdom had found peace once more.

Zero casualties.

The once-destroyed city had been restored so perfectly, it was as if nothing had ever happened.

A true miracle of God.

Even though an unbelievable series of miracles had occurred, no one questioned them.

They simply believed that because they had lived devoutly, God had blessed them with His divine intervention.

Of course. That’s how it should be.

The only thing left to do now was to pass judgment in God’s name on those reckless enough to invade the Holy Kingdom—except those very criminals had escaped amidst the chaos.

The general consensus was to issue a continent-wide bounty on the Slave Reaper.

However, Elise personally opposed the idea.

“A divine revelation has been bestowed.”

“Oh...! What did He say?”

“That vengeance only begets more vengeance, and that the reason the world remains balanced is precisely because such wicked people exist.”

Under normal circumstances, even if it was the Saintess speaking, there should have been at least some opposition.

After all, they were discussing criminals so heinous they had dared to invade the Holy Kingdom itself.

“I see... To think He would hold such profound wisdom. We mere mortals could never have conceived such insight.”

But everyone knew that these people’s understanding of common sense had long since strayed from the ordinary.

Except, of course, for the believers themselves.

Bringing up divine revelation ensured there would be no objections.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Elise decided to correct this wretched system of order.

“As the Saintess of the Church of Order and Balance, I command all believers: From this moment forward, baseless persecution and discrimination—including witch hunts, unjust punishments of slave traders, and prejudice against demons—are strictly forbidden.”

“Baseless? Just the fact that they are witches is more than enough justification, Saintess.”

“One cannot choose their origins, so how can we condemn someone solely based on their birth? I, too, was once a wretched orphan, yet I have risen to the position of Saintess. They should also be given a chance.”

“To compare yourself to such wicked beings is—”

“This is divine revelation.”

The invincible shield of divine decree.

The believers had no means to verify whether it was true or not.

And should they even dare to question it—

“Why are you silent? Surely you’re not doubting the words of the Lord... or His representative, are you?”

“N-No, of course not! If it is divine revelation, then we must follow it.”

Elise nodded in satisfaction.

“Then, I leave the Holy Kingdom in your hands. I must be on my way.”

“Huh? Leave? Where... Where do you intend to go, Saintess?”

“This incident has made me realize just how lacking I still am. I have not yet reached enlightenment. I will journey across the continent and return once I have grown into a true Saintess.”

“You must not, Saintess! What will we do if you leave us?”

“His Holiness has returned. He will guide you in my absence.”

“But...”

Elise simply smiled.

“This is divine revelation.”

****

Having fully exploited her authority as Saintess, Elise declared her intent to embark on a pilgrimage.

A preemptive divine revelation always guarantees victory.

The believers had no way to oppose her.

Still, they refused to let her leave without resistance, so they turned to Antonious, begging him to dissuade her.

However—

“What can be done? A divine revelation has been bestowed... Sigh.”

With even Antonious saying this, that was the end of the discussion.

Once the hall of the temple was cleared of all believers, only Elise and Antonious remained.

Now, Antonious no longer wore his rags.

Instead, he stood dressed in the traditional robes of the Pope.

A garment that fit him perfectly.

Seeing him like this, there was no mistaking it—he was the Pope.

“I never imagined you were actually His Holiness, Grandpa. Why did you hide it?”

Elise sat at the table, swinging her legs playfully—an act entirely unbecoming of a Saintess.

“At the time, I truly was just a common believer. I never lied.”

She had always found it odd.

Even in the smallest of gestures, there was an unmistakable dignity about him, something no ordinary old man could possess.

Of course, no one would expect a former Pope to be begging on the streets.

Karami had often referred to Antonious as “that old raccoon,” and now, Elise finally understood why.

“Master must have known who you were from the start.”

“Master? Ah, that bastard. Yes, he figured it out the moment we met. Even now, I still don’t know how.”

Antonious clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Elise covered her mouth and giggled.

“What’s so funny?”

“I just think it’d be hilarious if the believers found out that the father of their church once assisted an outsider in spreading his heretical faith.”

Hilarious, indeed.

The mere thought was horrifying.

She truly took after her master.

Even their sense of humor was alike.

They were the type of people who found joy in toying with others.

“So? Have you finally heard the voice of God?”

“No. In the end, you were right, Grandpa. I never once heard His voice.”

God does not act.

He simply remains.

It was not that He had abandoned her.

She had questioned Him countless times, but her divine power had never once faltered.

What God grants is the strength to move forward.

He does not lead the lost to the exit—He simply provides a lantern so they can find their own way.

If God were to do everything for them, that would be nothing but disorder.

“But there’s something I still don’t understand.”

“What is it?”

“Why am I the only vampire who can wield divine power? Every other attempt has failed.”

The other girls who were experimented on.

The clergy Elise had turned into vampires.

None of them had succeeded.

No one had ever become like Elise.

They had either died or become ordinary vampires.

“Child, have you ever denied the existence of God?”

“...I don’t think I ever have.”

She had resented Him, she had doubted Him—but she had never denied Him.

Even as she questioned God, she longed for His voice, desperately yearned for salvation.

And when things went wrong, she always believed the fault lay with herself, the one bathed in blood.

“Then are you saying that the others denied Him?”

“It is only natural for a child to resent their parent. Children are immature. That, too, is part of their growth... a trial they must face.”

“......”

“They may stray from the path for a time, but no matter how long it takes, they will eventually reach their destination. And when they do, they will come to understand—what was in their parent’s heart all along.”

Antonious spoke as he gazed at Elise.

She now understood exactly what his words meant.

“But if a child outright rejects their parent, then nothing can reach them—not their voice, not their love. They will see it all as a nuisance.”

Vampires, inherently vulnerable to divine power.

The moment they became vampires, they had denied God, rejected divinity altogether.

They had believed that if they still possessed divine power, they would burn away instantly.

Even though a child remains a child forever.

God does not change.

It is humans who believe in Him that change.

In other words—Elise had doubted God, but she had never denied Him.

That was the difference.

“Now, let me ask you another question. Have you found salvation?”

Elise let out a dry laugh.

Such a pointless question.

“I found something far greater than salvation.”

“I cannot understand your choice in the slightest, but if it satisfies you, then that is enough.”

Compared to when they had met before, Elise's expression was immeasurably brighter.

Antonious felt no need to say anything further.

“Master is calling me, so I should be going. I’ll stop by every now and then, so make sure you live a long life, alright? Otherwise, it’s just going to be a pain for me.”

“You insolent brat... You’re just like your master. Get lost already.”

If it were up to Antonious, he would have left everything behind as well.

But he couldn’t.

Because, somewhere along the way, even his own heart had changed.

"Is it the master's role # Nоvеlight # to take responsibility for their slaves...?"

In all his years, he had never seen a slaver like that.

A slaver, despised everywhere, who never once faltered in upholding his own beliefs.

And Antonious, a former Pope, had no right to abandon his followers after all that.

If one person could topple an entire system of order, then perhaps that order was in need of change.

Under Antonious’s watchful farewell, Elise stepped out through the back entrance of the temple.

As she left the prison-like Holy Kingdom, her steps felt lighter than ever.

It had taken far too long.

Outside, three of Karami’s slaves were waiting for her.

“Did you finish your conversation?”

“Yes. I’ll be back from time to time. I am still the Saintess, after all—I can’t abandon my position forever.”

“You’re going to keep being the Saintess?”

“I worked hard to get here. I’m not just going to throw it away. There are still too many things I don’t like about this system, but if I want to fix them, it’ll be easier to do it as the Saintess. And also...”

Maybe...

Just maybe...

The girl who once dreamed of becoming a Saintess could at least feel a little bit of satisfaction.

Such a trivial reason.

“If it’s what Elise wants, then she should do it. I think it’s a good choice.”

“I figured you’d say that.”

She knew now.

No matter what she chose, Karami would always support her.

But if there was one thing she wasn’t satisfied with—

“Why are you looking at me like that? You’re making me nervous.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Hiding her hands behind her back, Elise fidgeted with her fingers.

Her fingertips brushed against the hard, familiar texture.

The one thing that bothered her.

The ring Karami had given her... was still on her index finger.

That was the problem.

‘You said it yourself—you love me more than anyone in this entire world.’

So, wouldn't just a little greed be okay?

Elise slipped off the ring... and moved it.

Two places to the left.

From her index finger—to her ring finger.

Yes, this is where it belongs.

“If we’re done here, let’s get moving.”

“We’re going to pick her up, right?”

Arpia’s thoughts turned to a slumbering Snow White.

“Of course.”

The four main slaves had finally gathered.

And whether four or five, it really didn’t make much of a difference.