novelraw Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Chapter 13: A Wicked Woman's Wicked Schemes!
The news of Hero Fred defeating the Hidden Boss and obtaining a Class Reset Card spread far and wide in no time at all, and Bedrock Town immediately burst into a frenzy. It should be understood that once an ordinary person's Class was determined, it was essentially impossible to change—and the level cap was locked in just as firmly. Many lower-tier Classes had a cap of only Level 20, leaving their holders completely outmatched when facing high-level monsters.
The only Classes currently known to have a cap of Level 100 were three: Hero, Holy Maiden, and Demon King. And since attributes doubled with every ten levels gained, Classes capable of reaching Level 100 possessed an extraordinarily terrifying base stat pool. All other Classes had a maximum cap of only Level 80, and simply could not compete with the top-tier Classes.
Splash!
A bucket of cold water came pouring down over her head and drenched Lilu to the bone, instantly shattering her far-flung train of thought. She was currently kneeling in front of the Goddess Statue in nothing but a thin undergarment, trembling violently. The water-soaked fabric clung to her body, leaving her slender, delicate frame completely on display.
Following yesterday's Boss battle, Lilu had shot straight from Level 9 all the way up to Level 20 after taking the MVP—and then her experience bar had hit its cap! Based on Lilu's many years of gaming experience, this sort of situation normally called for a Class Advancement or a Class Change. Given that a Class Change was impossible in a world with a fixed Class system, Advancement was the only option.
So she had come running back to ask, and Serina had explained that Class Advancement was only possible twice a year—on the Winter Solstice and the Summer Solstice—though she could make an exception for Lilu. The condition, however, was that Lilu had to undergo a Baptism in Bedrock Town to formally become a registered believer of the Church and receive the Goddess's recognition.
For the sake of continuing to raise her own level, Lilu had no choice but to accept the Baptism. What she hadn't anticipated was that the final step of the ritual involved two nuns pouring bucket after bucket of cold water over her—under the high-sounding name of: purifying the soul.
A cold wind swept past, carrying a few fallen leaves along with it. Lilu shivered uncontrollably, but was held firmly in place and could not move.
"Lady Holy Maiden, this is the last bucket."
"Wuuu wuuu!"
Splash! Co——ld! Lilu shuddered from head to toe. Her lips had turned purple, her body gone rigid with the cold, and she needed the two nuns to support her on each side just to stand up.
"Huu
…… it's so cold." She chattered through chattering teeth. "I'm freezing to death."Clap, clap, clap. The sound of applause reached her. Lilu turned her head—and saw Serina smiling at her. She seemed rather satisfied with Lilu's compliance. There was nothing easier to manipulate than an obedient little girl. But she quickly tucked those thoughts away, because Lilu's jade-green eyes had not been tainted by even a speck of dust from her little machinations—they remained utterly, unnervingly clear.
Impossible to meet directly! Serina averted her gaze, as though locking eyes with those two orbs would expose every last scheming thought she harbored. She had clawed her way to this position through every means available, and if she could make use of this once-in-a-century Holy Maiden, she might truly be able to ascend to the highest seat of all—to become the living representative of the Goddess on earth.
Ambition stirred and writhed within her—but Serina was a master of concealment, and she never let her schemes show on the surface. So it had always been, and so it would remain.
"Um…… can the Advancement Ceremony proceed now?"
The girl's careful, tentative voice broke through Serina's thoughts. She immediately produced her signature warm smile, as though the dark thoughts of a moment ago had never existed from the very beginning.
She tilted her head down to look at Lilu's little face. The fond adoration in her eyes could no longer be concealed—every feature on the girl's face hit her aesthetic preferences perfectly, and not just any kind of aesthetic, but the kind that made one desperately want to bully her. How she longed to lock her away in a dungeon, bind her limbs, and torment her to her heart's content. The way she would cry was sure to be even more adorable.
Phew~
Taking a deep breath, Serina drove away the darkest of her desires entirely. She instructed the nuns to help Lilu change. By the time Lilu arrived at the deepest part of the Sanctuary dressed in her white Vestments, Serina had already been waiting for some time. Oh my, that white Holy Maiden uniform truly seemed tailor-made for Lilu! It looked absolutely stunning! Especially the snow-white legs peeking out beneath the high-slit skirt hem—it was a perfect fusion of purity and desire, that sensation of being both innocent and alluring was simply irresistible!
Just then, Serina's gaze landed on Lilu's pointed ears, and her smile faded by a fraction. This child was not human—if only she were human, she would be perfect! She didn't quite understand why the Goddess had chosen an Elf as the Holy Maiden's "vessel," but the Goddess must have had her reasons! Ahh, beautiful and sacred Goddess—please torment me, flog me with all your might!
Lilu, standing at the entrance, was quietly studying Serina. The Archbishop was at this moment praying with an expression of profound devotion. Lilu didn't really understand the power of religious faith—after all, back on Earth she had been a complete atheist. But this world did have gods, and she had even been targeted by the very Goddess who governed it!
What was even worse was that she seemed to have no way of resisting the Goddess at all—she could only be swept along by the great tide of fate, moving forward one step at a time. Lilu had never been a particularly strong-willed person to begin with. Ever since childhood she had developed a rather soft and pliant character—if someone were to ask her to be a Hero, she probably genuinely couldn't do it. But if she looked at the Holy Maiden position as a government job that came with room and board, it didn't seem entirely impossible to accept. The end of all roads in the universe truly did lead to a civil service exam.
"Lady Holy Maiden, please follow me."
Click! A golden key unlocked the sealed door. Serina took Lilu's little hand and led her into a small circular Sanctuary. The stained glass windows surrounding it cast a rainbow of colors across the space, images of saints and heroes pieced together panel by panel in vivid colored glass.
At the center of the small Sanctuary sat a golden metal sphere. About one meter in diameter, it was suspended in midair by a mysterious force, completely still and motionless.
"Please place your hand on it."
"Alright!"
Lilu placed her hand on the sphere. An endless stream of information poured into her mind in an instant—she seemed to hear a million voices murmuring in her ears all at once—and then it was all over almost as quickly as it began.
(Advancement process initiated—beginning qualification authentication.)
(Authenticating…… Authentication complete!)
(Applicant: Lilu Serandil Windchaser.)
(Class: Holy Maiden.)
(Level: 20.)
(Advancement conditions met—Advancement commencing!)
White radiance lit up the intricate, enigmatic patterns etched across the surface of the metal sphere. Lilu couldn't help but close her eyes—yet the characters continued to float before her vision even then, refusing to disappear!
(Advancement successful—Status Screen updating.)
"Status Screen."
The Status Screen appeared at her call, its blue light panel spreading open.
Name: Lilu
Race: Elf Race
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Class: Holy Maiden (Novice)
Skills: Healing Arts (Intermediate), Purification Arts (Intermediate), Pharmacology (Beginner), Alchemy (Beginner)
Talents: Undying Body, Beloved by All (New), Rapid Learning (New)
Title: Church Believer (Common)
The Status Screen now had a Title slot—was that the sign that her registration had gone through? Lilu examined her other information carefully and found that the (Apprentice) after Holy Maiden had changed to (Novice)—that should mean the Advancement had succeeded, right?
She summoned her Class Card and glanced at the level shown on the back—it read Level 21! It seemed the experience bar continued accumulating even after it was full. Was that good news? If experience simply stopped accumulating the moment the bar was full, then the Church's rule of only two Advancement opportunities per year would surely be cursed out by every believer in existence.
Phew……
Lilu let out a long breath. She lifted her head and looked up at the solemn dome of the Sanctuary, and the sense of unreality that had lingered in her heart slowly began to fade. Even now, she still could hardly believe she had truly transmigrated—not only arriving in the Other World, but becoming a beautiful girl in the process.
If she truly had to survive in this world from now on—then she would live well. For herself, if for no one else.