While My Mage Wife Grinds, I Power Up Idly-Chapter 71: Your Holiness Comes First

On a whim, Ashu went on to test the seal across all kinds of daily situations. freёwebnoѵel.com

Until the next morning’s sun rose.

As the surrounding Magical Essence turbulence gradually subsided, Anna effortlessly ascended to the rank of Archmage.

She was already on her second lifetime, and was merely retracing her previous path.

With such a foundation, there was no danger of anything like what happened to Ashu—when his Magical Essence went berserk and surged through his veins. Her breakthrough came naturally, without any bottleneck.

To celebrate her advancement, Ashu applied the essence he’d been saving up all day and night... in the form of a "facial mask."

Vivita, seeing this, naturally wanted the same treatment.

But just then—

An elderly Theologian with white hair and a long white beard walked into Goth Manor. He wore the bishop’s robes of the Holy Cultivator Guild and had clearly come seeking lodging.

And as a Theologian, it took very little effort to learn that another of his rank—a Luminous Saint—was also staying here.

So.

He made his way to the private floor reserved for Ashu and, standing at the entrance, called out:

"I am Geoffrey, Bishop of the Holy Cultivator Guild’s ’Wood’ Town branch. Might we speak, Your Eminence, Luminous Saint? I have matters concerning Heresy to discuss with you."

Upon hearing that—

Inside the suite, Ashu frowned, thoroughly put off, just as he’d rested his manly essence... upon Vivita’s face.

Being a native of Riven Town, he of course knew the neighboring Wood Town.

But he’d never had any dealings with this Geoffrey before.

Still, when it came to heresy, that was directly related to his newly formed Cidi sect.

Whether the issue was about ’mutual development’ or about enemies plotting against him with black-gloved hands, he needed to go out and talk with this old man.

"Wait for me."

Ashu gently patted Vivita’s cheek, fixed his clothing, and turned to leave the suite.

After turning two corners, he arrived at the stairwell on this floor, where—for the first time—he laid eyes on this elderly colleague.

This man looked even older than Midaldas.

His snowy-white hair and beard curled slightly, and the broad smile spreading across his wrinkled face made his skin bunch up like a blooming chrysanthemum.

"Ashu," Ashu introduced himself.

"Geoffrey. Lord Ashu, I’ve long heard of your name." Geoffrey cast Ashu a curious look.

As a fellow Theologian, he had naturally heard of the Luminous Saint. But in his mind, that young saint had always been a delicate, scholarly sort of youth.

Ashu, on the other hand, looked impressively strong, with a firm, resolute face—nothing like someone who had just turned eighteen.

He looked more like a hardened front-line warrior.

"What did you want to discuss?" Ashu asked bluntly, getting straight to the point.

Geoffrey, however, was in no rush. He made a courteous gesture, trying to invite Ashu downstairs for a drink.

But Ashu declined. "No need. Let’s just talk here. I still have some ’holy duties’ left unfinished."

He still needed to get back and apply a facial mask to the Demon Huntress Nun.

As a Luminous Saint, when dealing with a Demon Huntress Nun, who’s to say that isn’t a sacred act?

Upon hearing this, Geoffrey didn’t dare waste any more of the saint’s time. He quickly got to the point:

"It’s like this, Lord Ashu. I recently reported the heretical activity plaguing the border region to Cardinal Kakarim. Based on my intelligence and deductions, the heresy isn’t just affecting my Parish, but likely yours as well. His Eminence Kakarim has already dispatched thirty Paladins to conduct a purge. His instructions to me were clear: I am not to mobilize a single soldier. He’s taking full control of the operation. I believe you should also inform your Paladins not to act. The Cardinal surely has his reasons for doing this."

What Geoffrey didn’t say outright was his own personal calculation behind this message.

Ashu killing Kakayather wasn’t exactly a secret. Anyone with ears around Goth Manor could pick up on it with a bit of asking.

So.

He surmised that Ashu and Cardinal Kakarim were fundamentally at odds.

That meant all he had to do was pass along the Cardinal’s orders, and he’d win favor on both sides.

Whether the Cardinal eventually succeeded in his revenge or the Church headquarters ultimately chose to protect the Luminous Saint—either way, Geoffrey would stand to benefit.

Upon hearing this—

Ashu remained entirely unmoved. In fact, he almost wanted to laugh.

Others might not see it, but he understood exactly what was going on.

Kakarim was grasping at straws. Any whiff of heresy and he immediately flew into a panic, sending troops in blindly.

What he didn’t realize was that the Bishop of the Cidi Cult was stationed right in Kakase.

Even if all the local Devotees were rounded up, not a single one of them had the qualifications to even petition the evil god Cidi for a soul.

On the contrary—

Ashu could use this as the perfect setup to reveal ironclad proof of Kakarim’s collaboration with cultists.

This time, Kakarim was digging his own grave. No one else to blame.

"Geoffrey... I appreciate you coming to inform me at a time like this," Ashu said, feigning sincerity. "Since the Cardinal has made his decision, I’ll send word immediately for my Chapter to stand down."

"Not gonna lie, our Parish has also had some cultist trouble recently. I was giving a little motivational send-off before I left."

Hearing Ashu’s seemingly cooperative attitude, Geoffrey believed he’d succeeded.

"I’m glad I could be of help, Lord Ashu. I won’t keep you any longer—your holy duties come first."

With that, Geoffrey quickly descended the stairs and made his exit.

Ashu watched Geoffrey leave, then stepped into the hallway, opened a window, and released a signal made of Magical Essence into the air.

Before long—

A ghostly figure appeared just outside Goth Manor. Hidden beneath a hood, a pair of red eyes glowed faintly. His body moved like a phantom, climbing the high wall with no visible foothold.

"Bishop," the figure addressed him.

Ashu smiled faintly and said, "Sion, as expected of you—your speed is impressive. And your stealth is excellent."

"Your praise honors me, Bishop."

"No. It’s not praise. You’re still not fast enough. Still not good enough," Ashu said flatly. "But I can make you faster. I can make you stronger. The price... is ten years of your life."

Upon hearing this, Sion grew visibly excited.

Greater strength and speed meant greater usefulness. Greater purpose.

"Bishop, please grant me power. I willingly offer ten years of my life."

"Good. Listen closely. I want you to go to Riven Town immediately. Find the Deacon known as Greenhair. Tell him to temporarily take over the role of Cidi Bishop. Then, arrange for him to be ’captured’ by the Paladins. At the same time, make sure the Devotees are safe. We cannot afford too many losses."

Ashu’s voice was low.

He was setting a trap—a perfect checkmate to knock Kakarim down once and for all, with no chance to recover.

Sion nodded hard. "Understood, Lord Bishop."

"Now, reach your hand inside."

Ashu watched as Sion extended his hand through the window. With a single gentle tap on the back of Sion’s hand, Ashu activated Forbidden Sacrifice.

Ten years. Not a day more, not a day less—instantly sacrificed. And in that instant, Sion was flooded with overwhelming power.

"Go. And remember—under no circumstances are you to be captured within Riven Town’s borders."

"Yes, Bishop!"

At Ashu’s command, Sion’s figure vanished like a lightning bolt.

Kakarim’s Paladins had already set out. Given how desperate and frantic he was, he’d likely sent his fastest troops.

Meanwhile, all the Cidi Devotees within Riven were already scattering, branching out like roots and vines.

If anyone wanted to round them up in one sweep—it wouldn’t be easy.

Strengthening Sion was a strategic move. He had to arrive ahead of any potential surprises on the other side.

Ashu returned to his room.

Vivita was still kneeling on the carpet, waiting obediently. Without a word, Ashu locked the door behind him and walked over to her.

While preparing her facial mask, he said, "Vivita, tomorrow—or the day after—you’ll need to come with me to witness Kakarim’s fall. I need you to act as a witness."

Vivita’s mouth was... occupied. She simply nodded up and down in response.

She didn’t care about Kakarim, or Cardinals, or any of that.

Anyone who dared lay a hand on Ashu had already committed a grave offense in her eyes.

Besides—

The accusation that Kakarim had collaborated with cultists had already been confirmed—by the cultists themselves. Sure, in the eyes of the Church, a cultist’s testimony was laughable. But for her, it wasn’t a matter of belief—it was simply inadmissible as evidence.

Just then—

Anna, freshly bathed using water element manipulation, walked over.

She took one look at the two of them and asked, "Kakarim’s fall? Are you saying you plan to step into this yourself?"

Kakarim, in his current state of paranoia, would interrogate and test anyone even remotely resembling a cultist.

And Ashu—was the Bishop of the new branch of the Cidi cult.

"No," Ashu said, "we’ll just be the witnesses. I’m having Greenhair pose as the Bishop. He’s already a Devotee of the God of Deceit, so he’s perfect for the role."

"Now, I’ve secured the time and the place. The rest... is up to you two—we’ll need to infiltrate unnoticed, and catch them red-handed."

Vivita, still kneeling and in the middle of her task, raised a hand to signal she was taking on the mission.

When it came to stealth, neither Anna nor Ashu could evade Kakarim’s perception.

But Vivita? Her power outclassed Kakarim’s to an overwhelming degree. Even without using stealth magic, she could rely solely on her speed and environmental cover to remain completely undetected.

Anna smiled faintly, stepped forward, and lightly pressed down on Vivita’s head.

"If the Divine Mother Goddess could see the Demon Huntress Nun being this proactive... I wonder what she’d think?"

Volunteering for duty. Offering her service with such initiative.

Vivita, uncharacteristically sparing a moment mid-task, replied without hesitation, "The Divine Mother Goddess would bless this. Your Grace, the Divine Mother Goddess would bless it. I firmly believe She’s been watching over me. That’s why my body keeps growing stronger with Holy Power—it’s Her protection."

With that said—

She promptly returned to her previous position.

Anna, hearing this, absently rubbed her own smooth, flat stomach with a curious smile. "So this is the power of us luminous saints, huh? I’m not even a Devotee of the Divine Mother Goddess, and I’m still receiving Her protection."