Chapter 595 - 231: Autograph

"Who is that..."

Beside him, Kleia’s expression grew more and more solemn. He gazed at the figures on the foredeck of the ship, particularly the woman lounging in a high-backed chair, her cheek resting in her hand.

"If I’m not mistaken, that should be—the Judgement Saintess, Celestia Edas!"

"It’s her..."

A look of dawning realization crossed Menor’s face. ’It *is* her!’

He vaguely remembered the war thirty years ago on the Southern Continent, the Dawn Church’s crusade against the heretics.

At the time, he had just joined the Eternal Life Association as a mere fifteen-year-old boy. But the image of the Judgement Saintess in that battle remained seared into his memory for nearly twenty years, right up until... Ales...

"What do we do now? From the looks of that ship, they’re planning to ram us straight into the Deep Sea to feed the fish."

"We’re leaving!"

It took Menor only a second to make his decision. He glanced at the terrified pirates and shook his head.

He felt a little bad for the Black Pearl, an ally with whom they hadn’t yet sealed a contract, but he had no choice but to abandon these unlucky pirates.

"Not even going to say hello?"

A brilliant smile reappeared on Kleia’s face, a smile tinged with excitement, as if he genuinely wanted to rush over to that five-masted sailing ship and start a fight.

"Are you sure? I can send you over right now!"

Menor clapped a hand on his shoulder, a flicker of a smile crossing his serious face. "Go on, then!"

Beside them, a man-sized spatial rift tore open in the void. A deep, cold gale gusted out from it, carrying countless tiny, sharp blades that ripped the fissure even wider.

Before Kleia could react, Menor shoved him into the spatial rift.

"You—!?"

"Hmm?"

"Menor, old buddy, save me, save—"

"Too late!"

The next second, Kleia appeared on the deck of the five-masted sailing ship, staring in bewilderment at the surrounding Judgment Knights, who emanated an aura of sanctity, warmth, solemnity, and something... strange.

"Who’s there?!"

The Judgment Knights noticed his arrival instantly and drew their weapons in a flash.

CLANG! CLANG!

"Me," Kleia began, glancing at the striking figure still seated in the chair ahead. He licked his dry lips. "I’m just going to say this was an accident... you believe me, right?"

"Heretic! Surrender and be captured!"

A towering Judgment Knight slammed a heavy shield onto the deck. A platinum glow flared across its surface, and that strange aura intensified.

Judge the aberrant. Judge the Extraordinary. Judge the heretic. Judge, judge, judge... In the name of the Dawn, I pass judgment upon you...

As the low chanting swirled around him, a fine sheen of sweat broke out on Kleia’s forehead.

"Hey, I won’t resist, I won’t resist..."

Just then, the figure at the front stood up and turned to face him. "A member of the Eternal Life Association?"

"Yes, yes, Your Excellency, Judgement Saintess Celestia Edas."

Kleia grew even more nervous. ’Dammit, Menor, aren’t you going to hurry up and save me?!’

"Here to see me? Is there something you need?" Celestia asked, a lazy smile playing on her lips.

"No, no... I mean, yes, there is one thing."

"Oh?"

Kleia said haltingly, "I’ve often heard Elder Menor of our association speak of you. He says you’re the only person in the Dawn Church he truly respects, not only because you’re powerful, but also because you’re a beautiful and kind woman. So..."

"So, I was wondering if I could ask for your autograph on his behalf, to make up for thirty years of regret."

’Hmph, you just threw me over here like that? Well, you’re not getting off easy!’

"An autograph?"

The other Judgment Knights were all taken aback, not expecting him to say such a thing.

’It seems... this heretic’s request isn’t... that outrageous, is it?’

’After all, that’s Lady Celestia. For a heretic to be so fixated on getting her autograph—that’s not a bad thing!’

Celestia’s smile grew even brighter. Her brilliant eyes reflected Kleia’s figure, and deep within her pupils, a sharp sword shimmering with a faint light seemed to circle around him.

HISS!

Kleia felt it. A sudden chill shot through his body. ’Is this the power of an Authority? It’s too bizarre!’

"Heh, heheh... I’ve been presumptuous. If you’re not willing, I’ll just be on my way..."

"Of course I’m willing. I’m just worried that Elder Menor you mentioned might be too embarrassed."

Celestia’s gaze shifted to the side of the ship. A hazy, phantom-like figure had appeared there at some point, as if existing in another space entirely.

"I..."

"Shut your mouth, you idiot!"

Menor appeared beside Kleia. He truly wondered how this Elder of the Eternal Life Association, who was responsible for matters on the Southern Continent, could say something so shameless.

’What a disgrace!’

"My apologies, Your Excellency, Saintess Celestia. He was joking..."

"I took him seriously."

Celestia took a step forward. Her long white dress instantly transformed into a suit of form-fitting armor, and a radiant longsword appeared in her outstretched hand.

"W-well..." Kleia shrank back. "I think we can accept it. What do you say, Brother Menor?"

Menor shot him a glare, then turned to the imposing Judgement Saintess and took a deep breath. "It’s not entirely out of the question..."

"So you agree to accept it? Should have said so earlier!"

Celestia waved her hand, dismissing the combat attire bestowed by her Authority. She had someone bring her a pen and paper, wrote a line of beautiful Oldes script, and then handed over the piece of paper, which was dripping with sarcasm.

"Next time you have a wish like this, be sure to tell me in person."

"Yes, of course."

Menor accepted the autograph with a disgusted look on his face and carefully tucked it into his robes. "Now, we won’t trouble you any further, Your Excellency Celestia."

With that, he prepared to take Kleia and leave.

"Wait!"

"Yes?"

Celestia waved a hand and chuckled. "I hear that Wei’en Loft is a member of your Eternal Life Association?"

"He is!" Menor was on guard.

"Then pass a message to him for me..."

Celestia glanced in another direction, toward a slender, buxom blonde girl, and smiled. "An old friend of his misses him very much."

"I will."

Menor nodded. Then, without waiting for the Saintess to say another word, he quickly opened a spatial rift and vanished from the ship with Kleia in tow.

"Ow, not the head..."

Hearing this faint voice drift back, the stern-faced Judgment Knights on deck all cracked a smile.

"Alright, full steam ahead!" Celestia waved her hand.

"Yes, ma’am!"

...

...

「Theater Space, the Workshop.」

Wei’en finished recording the anomaly with the Origin Core and waited for a while, but there was no response from either the wraith or the Spiritual Mystery School.

’It seems the School will need more people involved in discussing how to deal with the Dusk Sect...’

With that thought, he took out the Era Relic from his Space Ring—a book with a black cover inlaid with a gemstone.

’Clelia,’

’Let me see what this secret you said was hidden inside here really is... I hope...’