They are all characters I control.

Whatever, I'm just killing time anyway.

He wasn't a real little boy, and the effects of the shapeshifting potion could be reversed at any time. It wasn't a bad deal for him to enjoy some leisure time with the acting saintess; he could treat it as a reward for his good mood.

Ophelia also felt she had won; she could clearly see that Claire had a clear goal for today.

As the head of the Inquisition, Ophelia is adept at grasping the will and understanding the thoughts of others.

Now that she knew what Claire wanted to do and was willing to accept her conditions, she at least had a reason to mobilize Claire.

You can order him around and tease him without worrying that Claire will resist or run away.

However, Ophelia still had some doubts.

"What's your relationship with that knight named William? Someone who can pique the interest of the Evil God Emperor must be quite special, right? And he's even from our Goddess Church?"

Claire is the Evil God Emperor, and anyone who can interest the Evil God Emperor must be someone special.

Moreover, Ophelia was naturally very curious because Claire had taught her how to find information on her bookshelf.

Compared to Isabelle, Ophelia didn't know much about the shrunken evil god emperor in front of her, but she didn't like to record things through books or anything like that.

Those texts recorded solely by others may be biased and influenced by their own desires and ideas; it's better to experience them firsthand.

Only by personally evaluating and understanding the other person can one truly know them – this has always been Ophelia's principle.

"Nothing, I just thought of an old friend and was curious if he was still alive." Claire opened her eyes while soaking in the large bathtub.

He looked unabashedly at Ophelia, whose shoulders and collarbones were exposed and whose long, wet silver hair clung to her neck.

Compared to Isabelle's fleshy figure and somewhat exaggerated waist-to-hip ratio, Ophelia, though not as chubby, has a more slender and graceful figure.

This must be the difference between a 'civilian' acting saintess and a 'military' acting saintess.

"Old friend? Since he can be regarded as an old friend by the Evil God Emperor, then in the eyes of our Inquisition, he is a heretic. Perhaps he has already been killed or disappeared."

Ophelia's words were full of sarcasm, and more so intended to provoke Claire into obtaining more information.

"Do you think there are church knights who can live to be over a hundred years old? Or even have children in their seventies or eighties?" Claire skipped over the previous topic.

This question is a bit too far off-topic; Ophelia is a little out of sync.

She chuckled a few times, initially thinking Claire was teasing her, but Claire's eyes were serious at that moment.

Ophelia composed herself slightly and said in a low voice.

"It's possible. If it's an ordinary church knight, he'd be around fifty years old, but if it's a church knight who's skilled in using holy magic, then eighty years old is certainly possible."

"You should know that the reason why holy magic is so highly regarded is that it can heal injuries and relieve the troubles of diseases. If we have holy magic power in our own body, it can also bring about obvious changes in the body."

"If a knight is powerful enough, not only can he live to be 150 years old, but he can also preserve his appearance."

Although Megan had said the same thing before, Claire still confirmed it with Ophelia.

But upon hearing this, Clarton immediately became wary.

He stared at Ophelia with a serious expression: "Could it be that those powerful church knights or priests from over a hundred years ago are still alive?"

More than a hundred years is a long time for ordinary people.

The same hundred years or so, for those with very strong divine magic, does not seem to be that long?

Claire had thought she would never see the faces of those who had fought her more than a hundred years ago again, but now it seemed that was not the case.

If the church knights from over a hundred years ago are still alive, wouldn't they be able to have a second round with me now?

“Yes, if the divine magic is powerful enough, but there aren’t many people with that kind of power.” Ophelia lifted her jade-like foot and deliberately placed it on the edge of the bathtub where Claire was leaning.

"Those people are either bishops or archbishops, or knight commanders. They are not immortal; they will die if they weaken."

"So such people exist, but not many are still alive; most of them are scattered in various corners of the world, continuing to contribute their remaining energy."

"And you? How old are you?" Claire looked up at Ophelia.

"I'm twenty years old."

Ophelia smiled and told Claire her age, her smile widening at Claire's surprised expression.

"What? You don't believe me?"

Claire's gaze fell on the other person's chest, and she nodded. "I don't really believe it."

Chapter 40 The Evolving Offense and Defense of the Acting Saintesses

This bath was much more enjoyable than the first one.

At least that's what Ophelia thought. She looked at Claire behind her, who was cooperating by massaging her shoulders, and proudly curled her toes.

The only person who could be treated this way by the Evil God Emperor is himself.

"Alright, I should probably head out now." Ophelia hooked her legs around Claire's waist and pinched his nose.

Before Claire could react, she grabbed Claire and walked out of the bathroom.

"When will you take me to the tower?" Claire asked, looking at Ophelia who had dressed up again.

"No need to rush. You are the Evil God Emperor. If you go outside the room, you'll run into trouble."

Ophelia shrugged at Claire with a regretful expression.

These words made Claire doubt whether she would really let her go.

Regardless of Claire's thoughts, the initiative remained in Ophelia's hands.

"Alright, wait here patiently for me. Something interesting is going to happen today, and I need to go check it out."

Having said that, Ophelia turned and left, regardless of Claire's feelings.

"This girl isn't exactly a good person either." Watching Ophelia's departing figure, Claire didn't hold much hope for this Disciplined Saintess.

However, Claire wasn't without options.

He walked to the window of the room and looked outside.

Sure enough, he saw nuns in white robes watching him from outside the window.

This is only natural, as the prayer agents who manage this 'holy city,' the white-robed nuns of Isabelle, like the black-robed nuns of Ophelia's Inquisition, are able to play the role of watchdogs.

When Claire appeared at the window, the white-robed nuns who followed Isabelle seemed to be busy.

Not long after, a holy light shone before his eyes.

It wasn't the light from Ophelia's room, nor the sunlight streaming in from the window.

It was a pure, milky-white, and slightly warm divine light that condensed into a tiny point of light in the air before him.

The light spot rapidly expanded, becoming a light screen the size of a palm.

Isabelle's face appeared in the light screen.

She wasn't wearing her formal saintly robes today, but only a plain white dress. Her hair was loosely draped over her shoulders, and she had no makeup on, with faint dark circles under her eyes.

He looked like he had just gotten out of bed, or like he hadn't slept all night.

“Claire.” Her voice was very soft, as if she were afraid of disturbing something.

Claire looked at her and greeted the prayer agent. "How did you do that? Ophelia wouldn't have let you contact me so easily, would she?"

Last time, Isabelle appeared directly in front of Claire, demonstrating her undeniable strength as a substitute prayer saint.

Although Ophelia didn't say anything at the time, she naturally wouldn't ignore Isabelle's easy reappearance in front of Claire.

Otherwise, who knows if Isabelle will just take Claire away next time?

Originally, Ophelia was the one staring at Isabelle, but now it's Isabelle's turn to stare at Ophelia.

“Her protection can’t stop me.” Isabelle’s lips curled up slightly, with a hint of smugness: “The marks on your body are transformed by me, and I left a wisp of magic in them.”

"As long as you are alive, I can sense your location through the Holy Mark and I can talk to you."

Of course, Claire won't die.

Therefore, as long as the Stigmata is present, Claire will always be able to be sensed by Isabelle and have normal conversations like this.

It seems that Isabelle had her own ulterior motives when she helped Claire transform the sealed cross sword on her body into a holy mark.

Even if Claire leaves the dungeon, Isabelle will still be able to find him.

Looking at it this way, it's actually a good thing that Claire was outmaneuvered by Ophelia? Otherwise, no matter where he ran off to, he would still have been caught by Isabelle.

It would be troublesome if she were suspected later. Right now, Claire's prison break was mistakenly attributed to Ophelia.

Claire, of course, offered no explanation.

"Fine, anyway, I'm already captured by you two acting saintesses."

Ophelia left a collar around Claire's neck to keep an eye on him.

Isabelle used her stigmata to lock onto him, enabling both teleportation and this kind of conversation.

Two acting saintesses were fighting on his neck.

"So what do you want? To take me back?" Claire asked, looking at Isabelle, who hadn't appeared directly in front of her this time.

Isabelle tried to take him away last time, and it's even more convenient this time since Ophelia isn't around.

Claire wasn't really worried about this.

After all, Ophelia had confirmed his existence, and Isabelle couldn't keep throwing Claire back into the dungeon if she wanted to take him back.

No matter where she goes, Ophelia will definitely investigate.

Although being targeted by two acting saintesses at the same time was a bit of a headache for Claire, it could be an opportunity if she made good use of it.

Claire can actually have a great deal of freedom if she can navigate between prayer and discipline well enough.

"No, there's no way this time."

Isabelle shook her head and looked at Claire with some regret.

“Ophelia has set up a magic circle in your room, so I can’t teleport directly to you this time. I can only communicate like this.”

I knew Ophelia wouldn't just leave things unprepared.

There's no way to remove the holy mark Isabelle left on Claire, but it's possible to prevent Isabelle from teleporting directly to Claire using magic.

That makes sense now, Claire thought, since Ophelia's personality wouldn't leave any flaws.

Isabelle's expression turned serious. "How have you been? Has she been bullying you? Are you eating well? Sleeping well? Has she been feeding you properly?"

Claire paused for a moment.

These questions are like those asked by a mother to her runaway child.

"It's alright," he said. "There's food and drink, and we can even take a bath."

"Taking a bath?" Isabelle frowned. "She's taking a bath with you?"

Claire did not answer.

Isabelle's brows furrowed even more, and her lips pressed into a thin line, as if she were enduring something.

"Never mind, let's not talk about that." She took a deep breath. "I came to see you because there's something I want to ask you."

"what's up?"

"The new archbishop has been decided."

Claire raised an eyebrow. Come to think of it, Bishop Simon had wanted to be promoted to archbishop last time.

As a result, Bishop Simon's proposed 'new tax' clashed with Isabelle's 'new system,' and Isabelle, who was acting as a saint, naturally gained a higher status, while Bishop Simon was nailed to the pillar of shame.

Bishop Simon has naturally lost his chance for promotion. It seems that a new archbishop has emerged?

Chapter 41 The New Archbishop

“It would be reasonable to introduce a new candidate for archbishop, after all, there is still one seat vacant in the ‘Holy Council’.”

Claire looked at Isabelle on the light screen and waved her hand dismissively.

Isabelle was making a big fuss about it; she couldn't sleep because of it?

The Church of Goddess currently has only four archbishops.

Claire also remembered Archbishop Grove of the 'South Sea Duchy' diocese, who was very close to Bishop Simon, and the Archbishop of the 'Northern Kingdom' diocese, who also seemed to be very close to Bishop Simon.