While My Mage Wife Grinds, I Power Up Idly-Chapter 43: Truly a Luminous Saint

"I think, sending her back to her original family is the best choice," Ashu said with a sigh.

As a fellow summonee, Ashu understood the psychological needs of the victim all too well.

Both of them had been summoned by the Cidi followers, though for different purposes.

At that time, despite being a traveler with the psychological strength of two lifetimes, Ashu’s first instinct had been the same as hers: "I want to go home."

"I will," Vivita said seriously. "Once this matter is over, no matter where her family is, I’ll personally make sure she gets back home."

"That’s good. Now, let’s focus our strength on hunting down the cultists."

Vivita stood up and nodded. The cultists today, it seemed, would not have it easy.

...

[Vivita·Taan, gained: Divine Point +9]

[Critical Return! Vessel gained: Divine Point +99!]

[Vivita·Taan, gained: Divine Point +11]

[Critical Return! Vessel gained: Divine Point +121!]

[Vivita·Taan, gained: Divine Point +10]

[Critical Return! Vessel gained: Divine Point +110!]

...

Ashu observed the system’s reward records. After spending a day and night together, Vivita·Taan’s return multiplier had increased from the base ten times to eleven times.

This meant her regard for him had improved positively.

He wondered when she might reach the same level as Anna, with a multiplier over twenty...

Three days later.

The scattered Cidi followers in the ’Riven’ town area had been completely wiped out. Even the weakest low-level followers were shattered by Vivita’s relentless attacks.

Ashu’s Divine Points had successfully surpassed the six thousand mark, reaching 6300.

After conducting tests, he confirmed that with the increase in Divine Points, his cultivation speed had indeed improved further.

Now, only the Cidi Bishop remained as an experience package, waiting to be claimed.

But just then, bad news arrived.

Vivita casually burned a letter and said, "The headquarters is calling me back. They want me to investigate another heretic case."

Upon hearing this, Ashu replied firmly, "Clearly, Bishop Midaldas made his move."

"Mm." Vivita nodded.

As part of The Twelve Demon-Hunting Nuns, her demon-hunting report hadn’t even been submitted, and the order from headquarters had already come. Anyone with half a brain could tell someone was sabotaging them from behind.

"I won’t wait any longer. I’ll infiltrate the branch church tonight," Vivita said, starting to check her gear. Her close combat tools were well-maintained, but her long-range tools—Arrows—were almost depleted, leaving only a few remaining. "I need to find someone to craft more Arrows."

Ashu sighed slightly. Even though he knew someone was interfering, the order from headquarters was not something The Twelve Demon-Hunting Nuns could refuse.

Perhaps there was an urgent need for a Demon Huntress Nun’s support somewhere.

If they failed to respond and something unfortunate happened, it would be a huge loss. After all, the situations that required a Demon Huntress Nun were usually critical. In that case, Vivita would face severe punishment—if not the death penalty, then certainly something close.

Therefore, they couldn’t wait for Bishop Midaldas to slip up but had to take the initiative.

Vivita’s work nature was one thing, but if Vivita left, Bishop Midaldas would undoubtedly seek revenge with all his might.

Such a person wouldn’t care about the identity of a "luminous saint." Unless Ashu went with Vivita, he would surely die.

"I’ll go too. They have secret methods of concealment. You may not see them, but I can sense the Evil Power," Ashu said.

Vivita had principles when it came to killing. She had to ensure that the target was a cultist before making her move.

Just like when she couldn’t determine whether Ashu was a cultist or a Holy Devotee with Divine Points, she had hesitated and instead taken him to be judged before the divine.

If it was only a suspicion, she couldn’t act.

Ashu could directly accuse Bishop Midaldas, but he lacked concrete evidence. The fact that Midaldas had been living in the church for a long time showed how powerful his secret methods were, and even with a formal divine judgment, it would be useless.

So, Ashu decided that if no evidence was found tonight, he would confront Midaldas directly.

Either way, they had to eliminate Midaldas with Vivita’s help.

If he wasn’t killed, Ashu’s future days would be numbered.

Vivita hesitated for a moment but finally nodded and replied, "You are a ’luminous saint’ endorsed by the Divine Mother Goddess. As long as you are inside her church, no one should be able to kill you."

"Then I..." Anna was about to speak, but Ashu interrupted her.

"Anna, you can’t go this time. Instead, you need to hide with Leia. Vivita is a Demon Huntress Nun, and I’m a ’luminous saint.’ We both have divine protection in the church, so there’s no danger for us," Ashu said calmly. "Leia, with her natural talents, can hide you in the most concealed place. What I’m worried about is that Midaldas might suspect that we’ll retaliate tonight and might target you. They’ve allied with Cidi Bishop to capture me because of the Witch’s Guild’s knowledge. I know the Witch’s Guild is powerful, but I can’t risk you even a little bit."

Hearing this, Anna couldn’t help but feel frustrated. If she had more strength, even if not at her peak, even just half of it, she could easily crush Midaldas.

Now, Midaldas was after the Witch’s Guild’s knowledge—this was going against fate!

How dared a mere branch bishop do that?!

"But what if they capture you?" Anna asked with concern.

"That would be perfect," Ashu smiled faintly. "Vivita would have the perfect reason to kick Midaldas’s old bones to pieces."

Anna looked at Vivita, who nodded. Vivita was quite confident in her strength.

"Don’t worry, Lord Ashu. As a ’luminous saint’ with the Divine Mother Goddess’s protection, they won’t be able to harm your life," she said. "Also, I’ve memorized Midaldas’s scent. I won’t let him leave the church. As long as you’re in the church, Lord Ashu, you’re absolutely safe."

Still uneasy, Anna was finally persuaded by Ashu’s repeated reassurances. She left the small house first and was met by Leia, who led her into hiding in the mountains.

Night gradually fell.

The special Arrows that Vivita had commissioned were also completed.

[Vivita·Taan, obtained: Demon-Hunting Arrow +30]

[Critical Return! Vessel obtained: Demon-Hunting Arrow +330!]

Ashu had received an elevenfold return, but he didn’t rush to collect it. Over the past three days, although the system had returned Vivita’s archery skill, unfortunately, he hadn’t bought a bow or crossbow yet. With only the Arrows, they were of no use.

The two of them, under the cover of the night, quietly approached the back door of the branch church.

With Vivita’s superb stealth techniques, even though Ashu wasn’t skilled in sneaking around, they still managed to leave no trace in the snow.

"Once we’re inside, we’ll split up. You stay in the shadows, I’ll be out in the open. I’ll act as bait to give you enough space to maneuver," Ashu whispered.

"Sir..."

Vivita’s gray eyes looked at Ashu, filled with admiration.

This person had once again sacrificed himself for the cause.

Such a noble individual, truly worthy of being a "luminous saint"!

"Let’s go!" Ashu gave the command. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Vivita nodded, pulling out a small silver knife. She gently slid it over the lock on the back door, and the lock silently split into two halves.

Then, Ashu boldly walked in.

Under the cover of darkness, entering through the back door of the church, the interior was pitch black as well.

This area was typically for resting, washing, and kitchen purposes—nothing like the main hall at the front.

The branch church didn’t have the funds to decorate the backrooms lavishly—most of the money was pocketed privately.

Ashu took a deep breath, steeling himself, and cautiously felt his way along the wall, taking slow, careful steps forward.

Before long, he saw a faint light.

Following the light, he walked through a door and into a small courtyard.

In front of him, the lights in the third-floor windows swayed, casting a faint glow over the dark courtyard.

"Sniff... rust... no, it’s the smell of blood."

Ashu rubbed his nose. The presence of blood at this hour in the Sacred Cultivator Guild’s church was nothing short of sacrilege.

He strode forward, as though he had found something valuable.

Soon, he arrived at a large door.

The door was locked tightly, with an iron chain securing the bolt, providing a second layer of protection.

"Locked from the outside..."

Ashu instinctively turned around to look. Apart from the darkness, he could see nothing else.

The smell of blood was coming from inside, but the chains were on the outside, suggesting that whatever was inside wasn’t a cultist ritual—it was something more sinister, like a trapped monster.

Ashu slowly and quietly stepped back.

He didn’t want to provoke a monster in this pitch-black space.

"Ding-ling—"

Suddenly, the chain moved on its own, rattling without any wind.

Ashu’s heart skipped a beat—clearly, someone was manipulating the Magical Essence from afar, using it to unlock the chain.

He quickly retreated. Just as he was about to leap down from the third floor, he saw a blood-red monster burst through the door.

"ROAR!!"

The monster’s roar immediately shattered the quiet night in the church, and it swiftly lunged toward Ashu, destroying the stairs along the way. The wooden steps crumbled as if they were mere sheets of paper.

Ashu, using the faint light, managed to make out the creature’s appearance. It looked like a wild leopard that had been skinned, with its bared fangs and massive jaws lunging toward him.

"Are you aware I’m coming, so instead of showing yourself, you sent a summoned beast to deal with me?" Ashu thought to himself.

He made a feint and signaled to the lurking Vivita, indicating that she didn’t need to intervene.

When he reached the small courtyard, he immediately activated his Flight Magic, shooting up into the air with a swift whoosh.

The monster tried to chase, leaping into the air after him, but it was met with twenty Water Bullets hidden in the air, ready to strike!

After days of persistent practice, Ashu had reached a level where he could launch twenty Water Bullets at once.

Although he lacked the assistance of spiritual perception to aim, in such a small space and against a large target, there was no need for precision.