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Chapter 305: Funeral (Part 2)

The church was very quiet, his only companion was Marina.

"She truly has aged," Chen Xuan said softly.

Joan’s once dazzling golden hair had turned white, and deep wrinkles could be seen on her forehead and at the corners of her eyes. At this moment, she had also taken off the armor she almost never parted with, changing into linen clothes. This outfit she had worn when she went incognito, living as a cowherd woman in a mountain village. It could be seen that she did not resist this period of her life much. Instead, she considered death as another retreat.

"I still don’t believe in the existence of divine beings... but at this moment, I hope her Lord can accept her," Marina prayed with both hands clasped.

"I guess... you must be the Divine Envoy Joan spoke of, the one who brought miracles?"

Suddenly, a voice full of age spoke from behind the two.

Chen Xuan turned around to find the speaker was an elderly woman leaning on a cane, her entire body cloaked in black robes. Only after scrutinizing her for a few seconds did he realize that this was the formal gown of the Witch Gathering Hall; this woman was also a witch.

"Master Joy!" Marina exclaimed softly, placing her hand on her chest in salute.

Who? Chen Xuan couldn’t recall immediately.

However, he noticed that the other person did not use honorifics when referring to Joan, and seemed quite affectionate.

"I’m Idal Joy, leader of the Witch Gathering Hall... naturally, until today," the elderly woman introduced herself, "Your resemblance to the statue is uncanny... no matter how many years pass, still radiating as ever."

Chen Xuan suddenly remembered—among the three statues standing outside Versailles Cathedral, one was of her. Yet, the woman before him was the witch leader whose long hair fluttered and posture was striking? Now, he could not connect the person before him to the statue’s image at all.

"You’re not planning to continue as a leader? Why?" Marina exclaimed in surprise.

"There’s not much why—just tired of it," Idal shrugged indifferently, "Without Joan accompanying me, I couldn’t be bothered to deal with so many matters."

"But..."

"Stop right there, today’s theme isn’t about me." The elderly woman slowly walked to Chen Xuan’s side, extending her hand, "I hope I’m performing your customs correctly?"

She knew even this... was it Joan who told her?

Chen Xuan grasped the other’s hand, "Quite accurate."

"Ah, I didn’t expect our first meeting would be under such circumstances," Idal lamented, "Previously, when you accepted Joan’s commission in Paris, I was at the front line of a battlefield. Later, when coalition forces crossed the sea for a counterattack, I retreated because of injury. I always thought there was plenty of time, no hurry for the moment, yet now that we’ve met, she’s no longer here."

"Your relationship must have been very close," Chen Xuan consoled, "Please accept my condolences."

"Heh... it indeed was close. She extended an olive branch to me in the Witch’s most perilous moment, and the Gathering Hall gave back plenty during this prolonged war. Our story could go on for days and nights," Idal looked at Chen Xuan with meaningful eyes, "But many of the topics she mentioned were about you... what I knew of you basically came from her recount."

"..." He fell silent, unsure of how to reply.

Idal chuckled, "Alright, let’s not dwell on these somber topics. I came to find you to fulfill Joan’s entrustment. Here... this is the item she wanted you to have."

With that, the elderly woman pulled out a letter from her robes and handed it to him.

Chen Xuan was somewhat surprised, "For me?"

"Yes. She said it’s her greatest secret. To be entrusted with its delivery is truly an honor," the other party nodded.

He took it, puzzled as to why Joan didn’t leave the letter to him directly.

She could come to the store anytime if she desired.

"Don’t overthink it. Joan said it must be delivered to the Divine Envoy only after she passed away," Idal seemed to have guessed his confusion, waving him off. Having said that, she nodded to Marina, and the two moved to the other side of the church, clearly leaving him space to read the letter.

Chen Xuan opened the envelope.

Inside was a piece of sheepskin parchment; surprisingly, the text was in Chinese—of course, that wasn’t too strange, after collaborating for so long, most witches and senior cultivators were bilingual. It wasn’t difficult for Joan to learn another language.

"Your Excellency, Divine Envoy, greetings."

"Please forgive me for choosing this moment to reveal the truth to you."

"In others’ eyes, I am a devout follower, the Holy Maiden of the Lord, but only I know that my faith is not as staunch as they imagine."

"Actually, when we first met, I suspected that you probably weren’t an envoy of the Lord. However, the effect of the medicine was real. Under these circumstances, I lied to boost the morale of my subordinates. Seeing you take on this identity, I secretly heaved a sigh of relief, which at least showed that you weren’t an enemy of the divine. But I didn’t expect the power you granted me next was akin to a miracle, making me waver at that moment—perhaps the divine indeed exists, but it was not the deity I believed in."

"Later, when I was wrongfully imprisoned countless times, I prayed to the Lord, never receiving a response. Eventually, who appeared before me was still you... Even then, though I continued to call you the Divine Envoy, the name of the divine became blurred."

"Later on, you answered my calls again and again."

"I gradually realized I was no longer a follower of the Lord."

"You walked the earth but never cared when your name was overlooked by others. While I knew all this, I dared not share the facts publicly. The chaos faith brings is a bitter lesson learned by the witches; I could only continue being this poorly suited Holy Maiden, even the Lord’s spokesperson."

"You always knew everything but continued to collaborate with me in my performance as a Divine Envoy. Was this another form of test? I didn’t dare ask you, and several times I wished to reveal the truth. Yet, unclear battlefield situations and fear of the unknown stopped me from speaking out."

"If this was a test of faith, then undoubtedly I disappointed you. But I still held a sliver of hope in my heart; as long as the play continued, the royal family and people would not divide, in the name of the Lord maintaining societal stability, even if it had drifted far from me."

"I feel guilty towards you."

"After my death, I will likely fail to return to the embrace of the Lord, but I don’t regret my choice."

"I don’t seek forgiveness for my sins from you, only hope you continue to protect France."

"Your follower, Joan."

Oh come on... the thing weighing on your mind all this time turned out to be this?

So for thirty years, you never went into that guest room, nor visited the store even once.

Just because of guilt and a sense of sin?

Chen Xuan put away the letter, looking at Joan with mixed emotions... such a trivial matter, couldn’t you just tell me directly? Then I could have made it clear to you that it doesn’t matter which deity you believe in, and I don’t need followers at all; you’re just a customer of the Ability Store... and my friend, that’s all.

"Finished reading?" Idal Joy approached with Marina, "Can you tell me what she said in the letter?"

"I’m sorry, it’s a secret," Chen Xuan shook his head.

"Too bad... I’m genuinely curious," Idal feigned regret with a sigh.

"But..." he paused, "She truly was a stubborn person."

The elderly woman was momentarily stunned, then lightly laughed, "Indeed, I think so too! From the day I met her... I’ve felt that way..."

As she laughed, she turned her head, using her hand to cover her face.

In the evening, Holy Maiden Joan was moved to the grass outside Versailles Cathedral by a grand escort team, cremated before a multitude of Paris citizens. Accompanied by the choir’s loud chants, the fierce flames quickly engulfed the wooden bed and her body. However, this time the raging fire didn’t bring her pain, but supreme brilliance and glory.