Chapter 89: Judah

"I see... Understood. Thank you for your hard work. And thank you for waiting here all this time!" Kallen replied with gratitude, then walked over to the large chest beside the nun.

Kallen wasn't surprised that these nuns knew where she would be landing. She had told Otto, and he must have informed them.

As for whether these nuns might report her to Schicksal, she felt no concern. If Otto had sent them to deliver her belongings, they must be trustworthy.

A man as shrewd as Otto would never keep disloyal subordinates around. In fact, he likely had none.

"It's no trouble at all, Miss Kallen. This is our duty. But... the Schicksal elders have completely portrayed you as Europe's greatest sinner now. You're being hunted across the continent. So please, Miss Kallen, be extremely careful. Don't let anyone discover you, or else..." The nun leading them, a red-haired young girl with a single ponytail, looked earnestly at Kallen, unable to resist offering this warning.

Kallen's position in Europe had become precarious. The Valkyrie who once protected the people, known as their shield, had now been transformed into a criminal.

Even the Kaslana family couldn't protect her anymore. Or perhaps... none of the other Kaslanas had ever considered defending her.

Now it wasn't just Schicksal's judgment. The entire European populace harbored resentment toward Kallen.

Their anger over the Black Death had been redirected onto her.

If Kallen hadn't stolen the holy relic, the Black Death might have already been resolved.

Thus, Kallen had become a pariah, a "rat crossing the street."

In all of Europe, only Otto remained to support her. No one else stood by her side.

"I know," Kallen acknowledged her predicament. Yet she harbored no regrets...

Had she not acted as she did, countless more lives would have been lost.

Moreover, without that choice, she might never have met the most important people in her life.

Kallen opened the large chest before her, revealing an enormous golden cross inside. The cross was bound with massive iron chains, each link roughly the size of a baby's arm. This cross and its chains... seemed designed to bind someone to it.

It immediately brought to mind the story of Christ... where the Son of God was crucified on a cross to atone for the sins of all humanity.

Thinking about the crucified Son of God wasn't wrong, because it was Judah who betrayed and killed him.

Judah, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, also known as Judas Iscariot. Born in Kerioth, he later sold out Jesus to the Roman authorities for thirty silver coins. After Jesus was crucified, Judah finally woke up to his sin and hanged himself in remorse.

However... he had spent three years with the Lord, walking with him, eating with him, and sharing the same table.

In the end, he sold out Jesus to his enemies for thirty pieces of silver! The Lord Jesus had given him many chances to repent, but he remained hardened to the end, refusing to change.

Judah's life story shows how someone who could have been praised by God instead met a tragic end. If he had died before reaching Jerusalem, people would have remembered him as one of the twelve apostles.

If he hadn't revealed his true nature at the end of his life, he wouldn't have become infamous.

Now, his character is exposed to the world for a purpose - to serve as a warning to all who might betray sacred faith.

Judah symbolizes "betrayal" and "regret."

The cross before Kallen now was not the same as the one in Serenade's warehouse, though both bore the name [Oath of Judah].

Yet the game's cross had no chains.

The Oath of Judah, the strongest binding key, could transform even a peak-era Herrscher into an ordinary person if its full power were unleashed.

The golden cross before her stood nearly two meters tall, appearing incredibly heavy. A conservative estimate placed its weight at over a thousand kilograms.

Thus, several powerful Valkyrie nuns had to transport this cross together; no single person could move it alone.

Facing the impossibly heavy cross, Kallen ran her hand over its surface in familiarity before lifting Judah from the ground.

With a burst of strength, she hoisted the colossal cross onto her back.

"Where is Master Otto now? I must see him," Kallen recalled Serenade's words as she glanced back at the ship. The nightingale remained aboard, having not emerged.

After all, explaining two Kallens appearing before the nuns would be difficult.

"Master Otto is at the suburban estate. I can escort you there," a nun responded immediately.

"No need. I know the way. Thank you for your help. You may return now."

Kallen refused without hesitation.

"Very well! If Miss Kallen requires anything further, please don't hesitate to ask. And stay safe!"

"Understood." Kallen waved dismissively.

"..."

The nuns cast one more look at Kallen before departing.

After the nuns had left, Kallen turned back to look at the ship.

"They're gone now. Come out!"

"Kallen, aren't you tired carrying such a big guy?" Serenade asked as she walked ashore with Higokumaru, noticing the cross on Kallen's back.

"Not at all. I'm used to it."

"Alright! Now... let's go find Otto first. Don't forget what you promised me," Serenade said with a mischievous grin as she approached Kallen.

Despite Europe's continent-wide manhunt for Kallen, Serenade remained unconcerned. After all... as long as she wanted, no one would ever discover their connection.

"I know, but you can't pull any stunts!"

"Don't worry!"