Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level?

[Vol. 5] Chapter 165 - Night under the Lanterns

[Vol. 5] Chapter 165: Night under the Lanterns

The Holy City, also known as Angel City, is undoubtedly a bustling metropolis.

Walking through the brightly lit night market with Miss Holy Knight, it didn’t take long for the Priestess to have this thought.

She had been in this world for two years already, and during that time, Violet had visited many ancient cities and grand capitals. Yet, in terms of sheer “impact” and “splendor,” no city could compare to the Holy City beneath her feet.

This city was almost a place that never slept.

In the most literal sense.

As they walked along, bright lights surged from all directions, casting their glow on the smooth contours of Miss White Fox’s mask, reflecting a soft, jade-like luster.

The night sky above the entire city was already illuminated by a platinum glow known as the “Light of the Goddess.” This was the barrier that protected the Angel City, a miraculous blessing that bestowed light upon all living beings within the city.

In fact, the concentration of light elements within the Angel City was at least twice as high as that of the outside world.

Beyond the divine light in the sky, wherever one looked in the city, countless lights shone brightly—giant magical lanterns large enough to light up half a square, children waving glow sticks and fireworks. All of these contributed to the glow, driving away the darkness of the night.

“It truly is… worthy of being called the City of Light.”

After standing and gazing at the glowing sky for a long time, Miss White Fox finally uttered this faint sigh.

“As long as Miss Dawn is pleased, that’s all that matters. This is just the outer district. If we go further in, it’ll be even brighter, although perhaps not as lively as it is here, hehe…”

There was no need to explain further—the reason being that in order to live in the inner district of the Angel City, one had to join the Goddess Church and attain at least the rank of a seasoned follower with a Silver Twin-Wings insignia. Only about one-tenth of the city’s population met that criterion.

Nodding noncommittally, the two women continued to walk side by side through the night market, silently taking in the noise of the city and the bustling crowds that persisted even in the late hours.

At a certain moment, Miss White Fox suddenly spoke again.

“Speaking of which, where’s that rat? After it sent Cromancia over, where did it run off to?”

Miss Holy Knight walking beside her was momentarily stunned, then nodded in understanding.

“Ah, Miss Dawn is referring to Mr. Prakaka, right? It has already left the Angel City. I believe it said it was heading to the eastern battlefield to gather intelligence ahead of time.”

“In fact… it was Prakaka who secretly sent me the report of a possible sighting of my sister. It asked me to pass the message to you. Given how severe the situation is over there, with the demons in control, the Goddess Church rarely holds large gatherings. Only someone as capable as Mr. Prakaka could find an opportunity to infiltrate, I suppose.”

“I see… That guy is really putting in the effort.”

Looks like all that praise wasn’t for nothing. Lilya made the right decision sending it over.

“Yes, yes… Oh? Miss Dawn, look! There’s a lantern exhibition happening over there! We’re really lucky!”

“A lantern exhibition? What’s that?”

Though her words expressed doubt, the exceptionally bright area that Edwina pointed to was already on their path. Seeing Miss Holy Knight’s genuine excitement, Miss White Fox hesitated little and proceeded to walk ahead with her.

The so-called lantern exhibition was being held in the plaza of the city park.

Even though Miss White Fox was rather petite, with her view mostly blocked by the crowd, she could still see colorful and dazzling lights flashing from the high platform.

These lights leaped beyond the crowd, outlining shapes of flowers, animals, and unfamiliar figures, drawing constant exclamations of amazement and enthusiastic cheers from the children below.

“Excuse me, please make way, sorry!”

Wearing her armor, Miss Holy Knight pushed her way through the bustling crowd, clearing a path for Miss White Fox behind her, all the while explaining eagerly.

“The lantern exhibition is really something special! To put it simply, it’s a kind of performance. But, unlike typical talent shows, the lantern exhibition is achieved through faith-based magic!”

Having made their way through the crowd to the front, Miss Holy Knight, her golden hair shimmering like crystal under the light, stepped aside to reveal the scene before Miss White Fox.

It was a breathtaking world crafted from light.

“Shooting stars” danced joyfully across the sky, while plump bears and cats struck lazy, lifelike poses as if in peaceful slumber. Thousands of flowers bloomed atop the platform, swaying to form the graceful silhouettes of young girls.

Every wondrous sight, whether real, imagined, or purely from the depths of fantasy, was brought to life by these magical lights. It was as if a fairy tale world had unfolded, captivating everyone’s eyes.

“……”

In Violet’s silver-blue eyes, the countless scenes of life were reflected, and even she couldn’t help but fall silent in awe of these fleeting moments of brilliance, her heart silently filled with wonder.

“Hehe, what do you think, Miss Dawn? Lantern exhibitions are quite rare in the Angel City. They’re usually only held during major festivals or on occasions like the ?Day of Divine Arrival?. I think… the reason they set this up today is probably because news of the Western Army’s great victory at St. Bergen Mountain has spread.”

As Edwina spoke, a touch of emotion entered her voice.

“Of course, this is also to honor those who died in the ?Blood Calamity? and the demon invasion. Each lantern that blooms symbolizes one of the countless souls returning to the heavens.”

“Honestly, ever since the demons began their invasion again, whether it’s the East or the West, all we’ve been hearing is bad news. We really need something to lift everyone’s spirits. The city hasn’t been this lively in a long time. I truly hope the war ends soon and everything returns to peace…”

“…Yes, it will.”

The young girl nodded gently but said nothing more.

The performances of the lantern exhibition are achieved by modifying basic faith-based magic, such as skills like ?Illumination?, to display specific forms as desired by the caster.

Improving faith-based magic has long been a popular topic in the Holy Academy. This power, granted by the goddess, is like a vast treasure trove, waiting for people to discover more surprises.

Of course, in the context of the lantern exhibition, it doesn’t require a deep mastery of magic. Even the lowest-level first-tier magic is enough to accomplish it.

For most of the populace in the Holy Empire, especially in this Angel City, where low-level faith-based magic is commonly practiced, the only real limitations are likely the space, gathering of people, and diligent practice.

After quietly watching the performance for a while longer, even though Violet, with her divine constitution, wouldn’t easily feel fatigued, Edwina, standing beside her, seemed to have anticipated such concerns.

During a brief intermission between performances, she suddenly pointed to some faintly visible street vendors in the park’s corner and enthusiastically suggested:

“After standing here so long, Miss Dawn must be thirsty, right? The drinks in our Angel City are quite unique too! Please wait here for a moment, and I’ll go get some!”

“Huh…?”

By the time Violet snapped out of her thoughts, Miss Holy Knight had already shouted, “Excuse me, coming through!” and dashed off through the crowd, leaving Violet to sigh slightly under her mask in resignation.

That girl… This is just like the old days, always acting on impulse. Should I praise her for being quick and decisive, or call her a single-minded fool…