"Continuing like this won't work!"

"Then what do you suggest we do!?"

"At the moment, the only option is—"

"This is utter nonsense, are you trying to send everyone to their deaths!"

"In my opinion..."

Deep within the Knight's Manor, at the end of labyrinthine corridors, there was a large conference hall that could accommodate hundreds of people.

And the scene occurring there right now could be summed up as—

"A meaningless and ugly quarrel," the Mute Girl commented carelessly from a corner of the venue.

"Indeed..."

Beside her, the Spiritual Message Catcher, who was initially tense and vigilant, nodded with a wry smile.

After the high-ranking members of the Godhood Church had gathered, and the Shield Woman made a brief opening speech, the conference hall soon fell into the current chaotic state.

This group that usually hides in the shadows, risking implicating new Nobles, had lavishly prepared such a grand venue, yet the topic of the assembly wasn't some grand conspiracy to overthrow the city, but a subject simplistic enough to be laughable.

The strategy to deal with the Shining World Saintess.

The first thing to clarify is that, although they held considerable power within the Plain Ancient City, and the conference hall was filled with head figures of the Ancient City...

But in the Kingdom at large, the Godhood Church isn't even considered a threat.

After all, Dungeon worship was merely a specialty of the Ancient City, and leaving the Inner City, you could say their influence in the Kingdom rounds down to zero.

Across the entire continent, the only Dungeon that could not be conquered was the Land of Starlessness.

But even high-tier Adventurers are not all targeting the Starless Dungeon; there are Hunters targeting other Wilderness Underground Dungeons as well.

As long as they are repeatedly conquered, the Dungeons will completely disappear and return to nature.

For most people, this perception is normal and correct.

To develop a sense of worship for such a thing is undeniably absurd.

Even the Starless Dungeon, as an exception, is mostly seen as different from other Dungeons only in scale.

As long as someone can truly reach its depths, even the Land of Starlessness will eventually vanish like any other Dungeon.

And now, the person considered most likely to accomplish this feat, without doubt, is the Shining World Saintess.

Previously, when dealing with the local Church of the Ancient City, the Godhood Church could manage with ease.

But once targeted by the entire Church Court led by the Saintess, the fall of the Godhood Church would be inevitable, counting down in days.

If a frontal conflict were to erupt, it would likely be a matter of hours.

That wasn't even a cat-and-mouse game.

No matter how good a mouse is at hiding, how robust it looks, it cannot muster the courage to challenge a lion or a tiger.

Such is the disparity between the Godhood Church and the Church Court.

Although not everyone present is ignorant of this fact, they still chose to hold this assembly, and the reason isn't complicated.

Faith makes people blind.

Even though the Spiritual Message Catcher found their current demeanor extremely ridiculous, most of them were indeed sincerely practicing their beliefs.

However, facing such an overwhelming imbalance of power, yet unwilling to choose the simple option of surrender and abandon, the venue devolved into such pointless noise, which was also to be expected.

"Are we to ignore the blasphemy of the Church Court just like that?"

"Exactly, that Church Court woman killed a Divine Envoy sent by the New World!"

"Even though a messenger was sent by the Divine Country, humankind committed such atrocities—"

"Everyone!"

Just as the topic was straying further, and the atmosphere was becoming increasingly distorted and uncontrolled, a clear shout stilled all the noise.

"Speak and act with caution."

Sitting on the main seat, the Shield Woman appeared somewhat fatigued, but still straightened her body, her expression stern as she rebuked some of the fanatic Believers.

"Remember, that Plague Elf is not some Divine Envoy from the Divine Country, but merely a Magic Creature exiled by the Otherworld...we had already reached this conclusion in the previous meeting."

Although outsiders could see that she seemed indifferent to the doctrines of the Godhood Church, she still made an effort to cooperate with this group's theatrics. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"That's what was said..."

"But what on earth should we do next?"

"Oh Otherworld Goddess, can you not bring down punishment upon that Saintess?"

"Don't pressure her unduly. The Goddess is our guide from the Otherworld, while the Church Court is the trial set by the God of Maze. If humankind cannot reach the other shore by their own Strength, then what meaning is left in anything!"

Following the proclamations of a few fanatics, the venue gradually returned to Chaos.

A few clear-headed individuals kept their heads down in silence, seeing the Shield Woman seemingly wanting to speak again, they gently shook their heads towards her.

At this, the Shield Woman let out an almost imperceptible bitter smile, the bright and cheerful demeanor she had during the banquet was completely gone, she just helplessly sank back into her chair.

Looking around, her eyes filled with complexity and distress.

Because of her, the Godhood Church had grown significantly over the years, the venue filled with many unfamiliar faces, but more were still familiar ones, people who had ceaselessly provided help and support to her.

How could she not understand that even among these familiar Believers, there were few who could be considered normal.

However, when she had awakened with nothing in the Dungeon, it was this group of Believers who provided a safe haven for her.

Not only that, in her state of amnesia, knowing nothing of this world, it was also these people who had selflessly provided everything she needed, allowing her to seamlessly ascend to Legendary status.

Even when she tentatively denied her identity as the "Otherworld Goddess," they showed no discontent, and even gladly assisted when she wanted to initiate some charitable activities.

In the end, she was even successfully promoted to a Noble.

For the Divine Basin believers who are obsessed with going to a new world, they don't have much attachment to the wealth of the old world. Moreover, her becoming a Noble could serve as their shield—although she understood that this was partly the reason, she was unwilling to deny their past contributions because of it.

Long ago, after getting familiar with this world, she knew that if she had to define the Divine Basin cult, it was undoubtedly a genuine Cult…

But despite having some ideological issues, these believers were not inherently evil or wicked people. To her, who had no past memories, they were like family and friends.

No matter how justified the reasons, she couldn't bring herself to abandon this group with peace of mind.

'But no matter what, targeting that Saintess is really too…'

Even though she hadn't regained her past memories, and couldn't remember her own name, the Shield Woman was not the ignorant drifter she once was, unable to understand the language.

Even though she had never personally seen the Shining World Saintess, just by watching broadcasts, she understood that her opponent was not someone she could contend with.

Getting into a conflict with that Saintess would end predictably, like an ordinary person colliding with a truck…

Though uncertain why, this metaphor emerged in her mind.

In the current situation, all she could do was stall for time, hoping everyone would calm down.

No matter how much they argued, they couldn't come up with an effective strategy.

As long as they got through this meeting, due to the loose structure of the Divine Basin faith, it would be hard to organize any action afterward.

If nothing is done, it wouldn't attract the attention of the Church Court.

Afterward, she could only pray that the Saintess wouldn't make any unprecedented moves…

Thinking this, the Shield Woman scanned the conference room, particularly noting those colleagues who hadn't expressed extremist opinions and had remained silent. She planned to connect with them after the meeting to find ways to calm down the other zealots.

Then, her gaze fell to a corner of the room.

[Spiritual Message Catcher's Hair Color and Eye Color]

D24=9\\D10=9 (Pale yellow-green)

There were two people she wasn't familiar with, a woman with black hair and yellow eyes, and a man with pale yellow-green hair, like that of malnourished weeds.

Although these two had appeared at previous banquets, they had not been seen in past gatherings.

However, with the organization structure of the Divine Basin faith, new brothers and sisters suddenly appearing wasn't anything unusual.

Sensing the Shield Woman's gaze, the man seemed to shrink slightly, but the woman curved her lips into a playful smile.

Then—

[Shield Woman's Perception (50+Skill Activation: My Heart is Like Fire)]

D75=51

[Mute Girl's Action (Attribute Suppression+10)]

D128+10=(91)+10=101

[Shield Woman activates Skill: My Heart is Like Fire (Stacking Charm)]

D169=(69)+51=120

[Shield Woman's check succeeded, gaining an opportunity to act]

The black-haired woman lazily stood up, not opening her mouth, yet emitted a mocking sound:

"Alright, everyone—"

"Everyone, watch out!!"

Almost simultaneously, the Shield Knight's stern shout exploded loudly.

Phantom flames suddenly erupted, engulfing the entire venue in an instant, covering the gates and ceiling, and then transforming into a massive shield wall, sealing off the entire hall.

This was the manifestation of the Legendary Knight's will, an ability unique to Otherworldly People.

"Oh my, quite a quick reaction…" Watching this play out, the Mute Girl blinked but showed no panic, merely smiling as she shook the thing in her hand.

It was a golden silk scroll.

"Unfortunately, it's a bit late."

"…Who are you?" In the midst of pin-drop silence, the Shield Woman stood up, her expression grave.

"Can't you tell just by looking?" The Mute Girl let out a mocking laugh, shaking the scroll in her hand once more.

Recognizing the true nature of the scroll, cold sweat dripped from the heads of several attendees, with some even blacking out, as if foreseeing their own doomed future.

It was an extraordinarily costly, single-use, ultra-long-range Communication Scroll capable of breaking legendary seals.

And it probably contained the entire proceedings of the meeting, perhaps even the true identities of the participants.

Despite being surrounded by the enemy, the Mute Girl remained calm and composed, enjoying the panic-stricken faces of the people, showing a satisfied smile, as she leisurely completed the words that had been interrupted earlier:

"Heretics, all raise your hands—this is the Judgement Court."

[Shield Woman's next actions—]

1.5. Attempt negotiation

2.6. Righteous brawl! (Can block the communication)

3.7. Surrender

4.8. Betrayed

9. Fortress of Oblivion

10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure

D10=2

♛: Righteous brawl!