While My Mage Wife Grinds, I Power Up Idly-Chapter 40: So You Finally Admit You’re a Cidi Worshipper

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: So You Finally Admit You’re a Cidi Worshipper

Even the standing Paladins had been disbanded to cut expenses.

If you wanted to engage in a frontal battle, you’d have to call on the law enforcers, the city guard, or that small crusader force raised by the Kylelaw Enforcers.

But there was no doubt that all of those forces were now firmly in the hands of the Kyle family.

Once that precedent was set, it would forever place the Guild beneath the Kyle family in terms of military power—and the Holy Cultivator Guild’s headquarters would never tolerate that. The Guild’s authority must be equal to or exceed the local regime’s; it must never be inferior. If it were, the headquarters would hold the branch’s bishop accountable, even replacing or disbanding him.

"Eliminate them," Bishop Midaldas said decisively, turning his back.

At his words, Kidopriest drew in a deep breath. "They’ve always been our army. If we’re to eliminate them, we’ll only have to bow down to the Kyle family."

"Just pay the Kyle family off," Midaldas replied. "All the tithes collected from the townsfolk over the years, plus the ’protection’ fees from Cidi worshippers—that’s more than enough to buy off their entire house. Hiring an army is nothing."

Kidopriest bowed his head. "Understood. I’ll arrange it."

...

Swiftly, Kidopriest made his way to the Kyle family manor. This house was as ancient as the town of Riven itself. The manor before him bore the marks of time in a classic, almost vintage style—an aesthetic that, even today, remained elegant.

He approached the entrance, where a guard clad in blue, wearing scale-skirt armor, blocked his way. "Please present your invitation."

Though anxious, Kidopriest maintained a calm smile. "I have come to see Erwin Kylelaw Enforcer."

"He’s not yet awake," the guard replied expressionlessly. "Please come back another time."

Kidopriest seethed inwardly—he never forgot anyone who stood in his path—but for the sake of business he forced a smile and said politely, "Then please inform Lady Lirwin Kyle that Kidopriest of the Holy Cultivator Guild is here to pay his respects."

Only then did the guard relent, saying "One moment," before hurrying into the manor.

After a short wait, he reappeared—alone. "Lady Lirwin Kyle says, ’Greetings, Kidopriest. I’m busy treating my reckless brother. That cultist mess was no place for him to be on the front lines. Unless your matter is of critical importance, please return at another time.’"

Damn! Kidopriest cursed inwardly. The Town Mayor had been off enjoying some beauty, and now he blamed the Guild for inaction?

He kept his tone gentle. "My visit today is indeed for a matter of great urgency. Please convey that."

This time, the guard stood firm. "Lady Lirwin says that if Kidopriest insists it’s truly important, he must state his business clearly before he may enter."

A blatant insult! As a guest, Kidopriest had no obligation to pour his secrets into the ears of a mere servant.

His chest rose and fell three times before he simply said, "Very well."

"Please speak your mind."

"’The Holy Cultivator Guild must raise a crusader army to root out the cultists hiding in the city, acknowledge that the former Town Mayor was corrupted by cultists, and officially ratify the righteous actions of Erwin Kylelaw Enforcer. I’ve brought the funds—let the Kyle family lease a detachment of Cultivator Guild troops to us,’" Kidopriest announced in one breath, offering the entire concession. Then he bit his lip and turned to the guard with a thin, mocking smile: "That’s all. You may go."

"Please wait here," the guard said.

This time, he beckoned Kidopriest forward.

Moments later, Kidopriest emerged from the Kyle mansion flanked by twenty-five fully armed soldiers.

"Move it! Please—speed up! Intercept those cultists! How dare they storm the sacred, inviolate cathedral in broad daylight!" Kidopriest practically shouted.

The twenty-five-man unit surged down the street toward the steps outside the cathedral. One flight of stairs would bring them into the forecourt, and fifty more yards would bring them to the great doors—a final boundary none should cross without facing wrath.

Ashu watched Kidopriest and his armed squad, but by now he and Anna had peeled off to the sidelines to observe.

"Kido! Give us back our Bishop!"

"Kido! You offered up a Nun to Cidi! You violated her—her shattered soul still wanders here!"

"Kido! Heretic! Kido! Heretic!"

"Kido, today we sacrifice ourselves to beseech Cidi to reclaim that Nun’s spirit!"

Ashu had coached them on these proclamations during the march. Baseless accusations, hollow and impotent—until the believers began to act.

One by one, the Cidi devotees pressed daggers to their veins. Blood poured down, mingling on the pavement in front of the cathedral to form a ritual circle that Kidopriest recognized at once. He lunged forward to stop them—only to see several cultists suddenly aged by decades in an instant, their life forces near spent.

It was Ashu’s Forbidden Sacrifice (×19 Amplification)! That ability sacrificed the devotee’s remaining years to grant a burst of overwhelming power.

The cultists, knowing they were doomed anyway, chose a grand, defiant end. They slit their arteries and channeled their life’s blood into the runic circle, igniting it with raw Magical Essence and unleashing the blast upon Kidopriest and his soldiers.

The force cracked the very steps of the cathedral. Although Kidopriest’s strength spared him fatal harm, the concussion hurled him a hundred yards away. At that distance, it was already too late to react.

Above the ritual circle, a column of blood-red light shot skyward, stopping every citizen of Riven in their tracks. The evil aura billowed in front of the sacred cathedral as though even the evil god Cidi sensed the Divine Mother Goddess’s wrath—He laughed in rapturous fury.

Dark power spread over Riven like a storm-wracked sea inverted above the rooftops. Though the ceremony had been incomplete, Cidi, seized by perverse delight, granted the devotees’ plea.

Thus, a soul was drawn from the River Styx by Him. Since suicide barred her from Heaven’s gates, the Nun’s spirit had wandered the Styx—and, lacking a mortal vessel, she could only return as a disembodied soul.

Yet even in that form, Kidopriest recognized her, Ashu recognized her, and so did the cathedral’s other nuns—and a few bold townsfolk. She had been the most beautiful young nun in the church, the one who’d thrown herself from the tower not long ago. Kidopriest had blamed her death on heresy, though the true cause remained a mystery.

The soul—confused—opened her eyes. At first, she thought herself rescued by divine mercy and about to ascend to Heaven. But in the next instant she saw Kidopriest rushing toward her, and fear threatened to scatter her very essence.

In that moment, a swift black shape flashed between Kidopriest and the soul-form. Ding— with barely a motion, Vivita Taan blocked the murderous intent. She had watched from the shadows all along—ready to crush any cultist who harmed the innocent. Under Ashu’s brainwashing they had instead chosen self-sacrifice.

"What..." Kidopriest stammered.

"Tell me," Vivita Taan said, turning to the soul, "were you harmed by this man?"

The young soul looked up at Vivita with awe. "Y-you... you are one of the Twelve Demon-Hunting Nuns?"

"I am Vivita Taan of the Twelve Demon-Hunting Nuns," Vivita replied solemnly. "I pray to the Divine Mother Goddess to bear witness—I will certify the truth of this matter."

The soul-form gazed at Kidopriest, who lay recoiling on the ground. "It was he," she said, voice trembling. "On that night he asked me to clean his garments... then he took advantage of me. I prayed to the Divine Mother Goddess until dawn, but received no reply—and so I chose to jump."

"No! She’s lying!" Kidopriest shouted, snatching up the sacred codex. "She’s an undead summoned by cultists, slandering a Holy Cultivator Guild priest!"

Whoosh— a silver arrow streaked through the air, knocking the codex from his grasp and driving his arm into the cathedral’s great doors.

"I can tell an evil revenant when I see one," Vivita Taan said coldly.

In Ashu’s mind came the system’s triumphant chimes:

[Vivita Taan: Holy Demon-Hunting Arrow proficiency +1]

[Critical Return! Vessel gains Holy Demon-Hunting Arrow proficiency +10]

Vivita turned back to the soul. "The Divine Mother Goddess has indeed heard you—She bids you live on with courage. Now I pray for your ascension: your spirit belongs in Heaven, not the cold Styx. May holy light guide you."

With her prayer complete, a blade of pure radiance sliced through the storm clouds and bathed the soul in celestial light. The tether to the Styx severed, and the young nun’s spirit rose heavenward. The opposing forces of good and evil annihilated one another in that moment, and all returned to calm.

Vivita’s grey eyes found Kidopriest once more, her gaze now one of absolute judgement.

"No, no..." Kidopriest whispered, knowing full well he could never escape the Demon Huntress Nun’s wrath.

"Ashu! It was Ashu—Ashu is a rabid Cidi fanatic who controlled all of this. I demand to report him! I saw him swear allegiance to Cidi, and many worshippers witnessed it!"

"So," Vivita said quietly, "you finally admit you are a Cidi worshipper?"