I'm really not a Sanctuary Warlock.

The bad news is that this mount, like itself, is now a pathetic piece of junk with an extremely low level.

That's it?

This level 3 thing can actually help Anna seal the Gates of Hell?

It's likely that once the karmic fire erupts, it will be the first thing burned to ashes.

Lisa was completely stunned.

The unicorn that appeared out of nowhere was more beautiful and sacred than any depiction in any picture book or book she had ever seen.

Its pure spirituality is far beyond what those "unicorn descendants" that have been crossbred for dozens of generations can compare to.

Anna instinctively used her identification spell on it.

However, the expected information panel did not appear.

The light of the appraisal skill fell on the unicorn, and all that returned was a series of question marks.

how come?

Anna's heart was in turmoil.

Just now, in the illusion, she could clearly identify its information, so why can't she do it now?

Chapter Fifteen: The Wrath of the Cowards

"What? You can't detect it anymore?"

Anna told Lynn about the situation, which completely dispelled his last bit of worry.

He was genuinely afraid that someone might use an appraisal skill to identify it as a Holy Spirit Unicorn that only existed in ancient texts, which would cause him a lot of trouble.

This is much better now.

A series of question marks could easily be explained by the horse's special bloodline, giving it some kind of anti-detection ability. As long as it's not recognized on the spot, any story can be told afterward.

"Here, take this."

Anna seemed to have thought of something and took out a pendant from her storage ring.

The pendant is strung on a simple silver chain, with a fingernail-sized stone hanging below. The stone is milky white and emits a soft halo in the morning light.

"This is a moonstone, given to me by a mage I saved before."

"Putting it on your mount will disable other people's appraisal skills."

Anna handed the pendant to Lynn.

"Wear it, and even if others find a series of question marks when you examine it, they won't doubt it too much."

Lynn took the pendant; it felt slightly cool to the touch.

This is truly a timely help.

Without hesitation, he hung the pendant around the unicorn's neck, the moonstone hanging perfectly against its snow-white chest.

"Alright, let's go."

Lynn flipped over and mounted the unicorn.

This time, there was no resistance in their minds, but rather a sense of intimacy and joy.

The unicorn snorted docilely and pawed the stone slab gently with its front hooves, appearing somewhat impatient.

The three of them walked straight toward the church gate without saying a word.

……

The central square in front of the church is bustling with people, a scene of prosperity.

When the three magnificent steeds emerged from the church gates, they instantly attracted everyone's attention.

Leading the group was Anna, the saintess known to everyone in Windrise City. She wore a white cloak, her face was holy, and her temperament was aloof, like a celestial being untouched by worldly affairs.

Closely following behind was her ever-present disciplinary nun, Lisa, dressed in a smart outfit, looking dashing and heroic.

However, everyone's attention eventually fell on the third person.

It was a person whose entire body was shrouded in a wide black robe, making it impossible to see their features or tell if they were male or female.

What's most eye-catching is the mount he's riding.

That horse... was absolutely gorgeous.

It was pure white, without a single blemish, with a lithe and graceful form, and a faint air of spirituality.

"Mommy, that horse is so beautiful, I want one too!" A little girl with pigtails pointed at Lynn's unicorn and said to the woman beside her in a childish voice.

The woman's expression changed, and she quickly covered her daughter's mouth, fearing that her child might offend Her Highness the Holy Maiden.

The surrounding area was filled with murmurs and discussions.

"Who is that man in black robes? How come he's walking with Her Highness the Holy Maiden?"

"I don't know, I've never seen it before."

"It seems that Her Highness is about to leave the city to carry out a mission."

Lynn pulled his hood down even lower, ignoring the comments.

He could feel countless curious gazes falling on him, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.

Fortunately, this feeling of being the center of attention didn't last long.

The three of them quickly crossed the square and arrived at the city gate of Windrise City.

Upon seeing Saint Anna, the city guards immediately bowed respectfully and cleared the way.

The moment the horse's hooves stepped out of the city gate, a fresh breeze carrying the scent of grass and earth rushed towards them.

Oh hoo!

The air seemed to smell sweeter.

Lynn ripped off his hood and let out a long sigh of relief.

The vast wilderness stretched out before me, and I no longer had to stay in that city filled with malice and suspicion. It felt wonderful.

The three of them did not linger, but rode off at full speed along the road heading west.

……

The top of the church bell tower in Windbreak City.

Theodore stood with his hands behind his back, his slightly overweight body overlooking the entire city from the railing.

"Pass down the order."

Without turning his head, he gave instructions to the messenger who was bowing and standing behind him.

"Saint Anna, bewitched by the cursed son Lynn, defected with church secrets."

"Effective immediately, her status as a saint is revoked, and she is listed as a traitor to the Church."

"Announce a citywide notice that anyone who can provide information about Anna and her associates can come to the church to receive a generous reward."

The messenger trembled slightly, but immediately responded.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

The messenger hurriedly left.

Theodore stood alone atop the clock tower, a smug, cold smile playing on his lips.

“Hayes, Hayes,” he murmured to himself, “though I don’t know why you specifically instructed me to spare the life of that cursed child.”

"But since he chose to go to his death with Anna, I can't blame myself."

Given Anna's strength, going to the Gates of Hell on Mount Nikolay would be a certain death for her.

They won't live much longer.

……

The news spread rapidly throughout Windbreak City.

Under the Church's powerful pressure and deliberate manipulation of public opinion, most citizens believed the story of the saint's defection.

They began to vilify the saint they had once worshipped, believing she had betrayed everyone's faith.

Of course, many people who had been personally helped by Anna expressed their doubts.

But their voices were too weak and were quickly drowned out by the angry roar, having no effect whatsoever.

……

Church, clergy rest area.

Every pastor who comes from home must change clothes and take a bath here.

Nigel had just arrived when he heard the announcement of the saintess's betrayal.

He sat dejectedly on his bed, surrounded by several pastors who often bullied him.

"Haha, Nigel, did you hear that? The saintess you've been fantasizing about for so many years has run off with a cursed child you've only known for two days. Aren't you jealous now?"

A tall, thin priest gave Nigel a shove on the shoulder without any politeness, his face full of mockery.

"Useless trash, what are you standing there for? Get up and change my bathwater!" Another fat priest threw an empty wooden tub at his feet. "Now that the saintess isn't backing you up, you'd better be our servant!"

Nigel's lips trembled slightly as he stared blankly at the ugly faces before him, his mind a complete blank.

“It shouldn’t be like this…” he murmured to himself, “I work for the church, I am a servant of the world, not yours.”

He believed that the church could return to the right path under the guidance of a kind saint like Anna.

He thought that the bullying he had suffered before was just because of some minor problems within the church, and that these problems would be resolved soon.

Now, Anna is gone.

His dream was shattered completely.

The church will always be the same church; nothing will change.

Dirty, selfish, and profit-driven.

"Sometimes, what we think is right can cause a lot of trouble for others."

Anna's cold words from last night seemed to echo in Nigel's ears once again.

Yes... how could I possibly compare to Her Highness's foresight?

She probably saw through all of this long ago.

Suddenly, many images that he had deliberately forgotten surfaced in Nigel's mind.

Clergy abused their positions to oppress ordinary citizens; pastors in charge of supplies embezzled relief food meant for the poor; and some even used God's name to abduct young women...

When he first entered the church, he was full of hope, thinking it was the warmest and holiest place in the world.

When he first discovered these sordid dealings, he chose to deceive himself and forget everything.

Because in his parents' words and in his imagination, the church should not be like this.

From then on, he grew up numbly in the church, numbly being bullied.

Until Anna appeared.

Nigel had forgotten who Anna's previous saintess was, only remembering that the saintess's reign was very short and she had no presence whatsoever.

But Anna, in his heart, was like the sun, rekindling his long-dead world.

It was only at this moment that Nigel finally came to his senses.

"I really am... a coward."

He looked up at his colleagues who were still chattering and bossing him around.

"How could someone like me be qualified to be Her Highness's follower?"

The dagger he had intended to use to assassinate Lynn last night appeared silently in his hand.

This is the rest area for clergy.

For convenience, most people here wear only thin, close-fitting clothing and are completely unprepared.