My heart raced at the thought, ‘There really was such a religion?’

But I feigned innocence and said,

“Wow! That’s the first time I’ve heard about it. We never learned about it even once in class.”

“That’s expected. The stories of that religion were banned by national law.”

Philippo nodded as he sprinkled holy water on my wrist.

‘So that’s why no information about that religion ever reached me.’

Since it was banned by law, all related materials must have been destroyed.

‘Philippo, who was one of the thirteen apostles of that religion, must know everything in detail.’

I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

In a low voice, I asked,

“Was it really such a tremendous event?”

“Well......”

“I’m curious!”

Philippo glanced at me.

I tried to hide my excitement, but perhaps it was visible.

Philippo chuckled softly.

“It seems the duke hasn’t been lying all along.”

“Excuse me?”

“I heard that Miss Erilot has an extraordinary academic curiosity.”

‘Did grandfather say that?’

It was a bit surprising but a good excuse for my question about ‘that religion.’

“I love history!”

“To remove the lingering curse’s aftereffects will take some time. Shall I tell you the story meanwhile? Let me think... where to start.”

Philippo hummed and slowly began speaking.

“The founder of that religion was a man blessed with a special ability to communicate with the Guardian Star.”

My eyes shone as I listened carefully.

“Everyone is born with a Guardian Star, but the founder could actually converse with it.”

“I see.”

“The founder used that special ability to hear many things from the Guardian Star.”

“......”

“That the Guardian Star was the ancients, that the ancients were destroyed as punishment from the gods, and that modern humans were created from the ancients.”

“Yes......”

Everything matched what Ceylon had said.

So the founder’s words were true.

“With that special ability, the founder identified many powerful individuals.”

“Powerful individuals meaning...?”

“Those who seem unremarkable but actually possess immense latent power.”

I took a deep breath.

‘Right, it’s possible if they can see the Guardian Star.’

The stronger the Guardian Star, the stronger the human’s abilities.

In other words, even if someone seems insignificant, if they have a strong Guardian Star, they will eventually become strong.

“Commoners who can manifest blessings, those who hide their power, and so on.”

“If they found and recruited such great people first, the religion must have become very strong?”

“Indeed. In the early days.”

I widened my eyes.

“Only in the early days? Why?”

“Because they were persecuted by royalty and nobles.”

“Why?”

“The story that all humans were created is dangerous.”

“......That royalty and nobles were also created beings, no different from commoners?”

“Yes. And blessings are a special ability manifested only by royalty and nobles.”

“Yes.”

“But the founder sought out commoners with blessings, so the vested interests naturally felt threatened.”

I nodded.

“That makes sense.”

“The religion was persecuted by royalty and nobles and had to operate underground.”

“Yes.”

“It continued like that until... it disappeared in my generation.”

“Why?”

“That was on the day the religion planned to cast ‘a certain magic’ for the world.”

“Yes.”

“That day, the royal families of various countries and numerous powerful lords gathered and attacked the religion.”

“......”

“The leader of the time was killed in the hunt, and the priests scattered.”

“......”

“The underground temple that lasted over a thousand years was destroyed.”

“......”

“We didn’t intend to abolish the caste system or ruin the royal families and vested interests.”

Philippo stopped and looked out the window.

His gaze was distant.

“We just wanted to give people hope.”

“......”

“Hope that success isn’t reserved only for those with special blessings.”

“......”

“That with effort, you can achieve what you want...”

Ordinary people can’t beat those with special blessings.

For example, an ordinary runner cannot outrun someone with a blessing of swift movement.

I cautiously asked,

“Then... was the magic the religion planned to cast a spell to ‘remove blessings’?”

“Yes.”

“If so, I’m glad their wish failed.”

“...Is that because you are part of the vested interests?”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“Now everything revolves around blessings. The foundation of magic is blessing stones.”

“That’s right.”

“But if blessings suddenly disappeared from the world with no solution, it would be a disaster.”

“......”

“The poor and powerless would be the first to freeze.”

“......”

“So the religion not only planned to remove blessings, but also to find ways to survive in a world without blessings.”

“......”

“If people could live without blessings, commoners wouldn’t have to depend on nobles.”

“......”

“If blessings naturally disappeared, commoners would agree with the religion and their power would grow, so they wouldn’t have to live in hiding.”

I murmured, “Hmm, also...”

That the religion was premature.

And how it managed to survive.

Philippo stared at me wide-eyed.

“So... Philippo?”

“You’re truly exceptional.”

“Huh?”

“You’re probably the only noble child who can think this deeply.”

Philippo laughed heartily and withdrew his hand from my wrist.

“Of course, it’s not that we didn’t think the same. But we had no more time.”

“Why?”

“Because no Messiah has appeared since.”

“Messiah?”

“A being with power like the founder. One who can communicate with the Guardian Star.”

“......”

“Do you know how we survived such harsh persecution?”

“How?”

“The Messiah protected us.”

“Messiah...”

“Yes. One who can see past and future, identify special individuals and initiate them, and speak with the Guardian Star — a ‘Messiah’.”

I gasped, eyes wide.

Seeing past and future... identifying special figures... speaking with the Guardian Star...

‘That’s me─!’

I almost screamed.

‘So the founder didn’t hear from the Guardian Star.’

He read it.

In a novel...!

I swallowed dryly and looked at Philippo.

“Was the religion strong...?”

“Haha, how else could it have survived the world’s royal families and vested powers?”

“Then...”

“All the royal families and dukes of this continent participated in the religion’s purge. We were few, but we wiped out 30% of their troops.”

“......!”

Indeed, Philippo was one of the thirteen priests.

‘Even in such a powerful religion, he was the one they couldn’t kill for his ability.’

If there were twelve more like Philippo, it made sense.

Philippo shrugged.

“If the Messiah gathers the scattered priests, they might rival this empire.”

“Overdoing it.”

That wasn’t me speaking.

Philippo and I both turned our heads sharply.

Grandfather was watching us with a frown.

Philippo’s face turned playful.

“Overdoing it? Didn’t Astra suffer the worst losses in the purge?”

Grandfather clicked his tongue and sat beside me.

Philippo smiled broadly.

“At that time, Grimier, who was deployed as a boy soldier, lost both legs and the duke’s personal army was wiped out.”

“Uncle Grimier lost his legs?!”

I exclaimed in surprise, and Grandfather snorted.

“The traitor who surrendered reattached Grimier’s legs.”

“Haha, Grimier was very sensitive back then...”

“Who would be happy that the one who cut his legs is treating him?”

“Didn’t ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ the servants shout and forbid moving his luggage?”

“He has a good nature... but he suffered mentally.”

My mind raced with keystrokes clicking.

Finally, I understood.

‘Grimier discovered something during the religion purge.’

That’s why he recognized the Guardian Star.

That’s why he shouted to forbid moving the luggage — because there was something inside.

He had to be overly cautious so no one else touched it.

‘He knew I was the Messiah and sealed my power.’

That madman...!!

As I clenched my teeth, Grandfather asked quietly,

“You seem fine now, from all that chatter. Why don’t you have a meal and rest?”

“......”

“I’ll tell them to prepare your favorites─”

“Sorry, Grandfather. I have to go.”

I stood abruptly, and Grandfather’s eyes went wide.

But I bowed hurriedly.

“Grandfather, Philippo, I’ll be going then.”

“Yes. Removing the lingering curse will take time, so come visit me steadily.”

“Yes!”

I hurried to the door.

As I turned the doorknob, I looked back at Philippo.

“By the way, what was the religion’s name?”

“Chronote. The Chronote Sect.”

“Yes!”

I bowed again quickly.

And left the room.

Han Ji-hyuk, waiting outside, rushed after me.

“Why are you running like that?”

“Contact Mikelan and investigate the Chronote Sect. Search the continent if you have to.”

Judging by how no one knew, Chronote must have been known only to top-tier vested interests before.

And now it was a secret religion banned by law...

‘Mikelan was the palace steward elder.’

Maybe he can find some information.

“Why the Chronote Sect?”

“Maybe Grimier’s reason for targeting me will become clear.”

Han Ji-hyuk nodded.

At that time, in Philippo’s room.

Philippo twitched the corner of his mouth.

‘Miss Erilot is scary.’

Even the formidable Duke Astra was stunned for a moment.

The duke was greatly flustered as soon as Erilot hurriedly left.

And has been quietly frowning until now.

Philippo chuckled softly.

“Will the duke stay?”

“......”

“Well, since he’s here, let’s check his mana flow. As you get older, your mana flow becomes unstable...”

Philippo was about to lift a bottle of holy water.

“Why did he refuse to dine with me?”

“Is he busy?”

“That girl has no classes for a while. My father said to let her rest until she recovers fully.”

“Well, seems he finds dining with the duke burdensome.”

“Impossible!”

The duke shouted angrily.

“She’s loved dining with me since she was little!”

Since the first time she entered the manor, she’d followed him like a shadow.

Whenever they dined together,

“Master, it’s great!”

She’d smile brightly.

‘Sometimes when someone sent a meal invitation, she’d jump up from sleep...’

The duke looked at Philippo with a grim expression.

Philippo groaned.

“She might be dieting.”

“Dieting? Why would she do that?”

“Nowadays, both men and women think skinny people are pretty. Back in our day, robust figures were prized and some deliberately gained weight...”

“How much prettier is she trying to become here!”

“She might start a hunger strike again. Stop the divine cries and just give me your wrist.”

Philippo, tired of the conversation, casually extended his hand.

But the duke stared into the empty air quietly.

‘Continuing the hunger strike?’

Come to think of it, she still had reason to protest.

Milan and his mother’s control order hadn’t been lifted.

‘Erilot inherited her stubbornness from me...’

She never gave up on studies or training.

‘She was unconscious for a month but still continuing the protest?’

How could she be so stubborn like me!

Her beautiful looks, clever mind, broad perspective, graceful movements — all like me, and now even her stubbornness...

“Duke?”

“......”

“Duke.”

Philippo called, but the duke left the room.

Philippo looked at the doorway in puzzlement.

The duke went to the guest room assigned to Erilot.

People watching him stood tensely, swallowing hard.

Even the second and third generation came quietly to peek at him.

‘Something big must be going on.’

‘What kind of matter would make grandfather visit her room personally?’

‘Oh no, Erilot... what to do!’

Meanwhile, the duke finally spoke.