Chapter 24: The Archdeacon Meets Saori

Feng Zhe couldn't help but smile inwardly as he watched Kyoko blush after exchanging just a few words with him. The body chosen by the Goddess of Discord was, in fact, none other than the younger sister of the Sagittarius Saint Kyoko standing before him.

This brought up two parallel timelines. In the story of the Golden Apple, due to certain unexpected circumstances, the Golden Apple fell into the forest during its flight and was discovered by Hyoga's girlfriend, Eriko. She then became the Goddess of Discord, thus igniting a divine war.

The other timeline was even more intriguing: the Golden Apple successfully lured in Kyoko's younger sister, Shoko, who was destined to be the Saintia. At the crucial moment, Kyoko, the Sagittarius Saint, sacrificed herself to save her sister, becoming the vessel for the Goddess of Discord instead.

That second timeline seemed almost like a trial designed especially for Shoko, yet even there, the Goddess of Discord failed to obtain the body she had specifically chosen.

The difficulties of the two timelines differed greatly. In the Golden Apple arc, the Goddess of Discord could only summon five deceased Saints, all of whom were of Silver rank and rather weak.

But in the Saintia Shoko storyline, a whole array of dark spirits appeared—such as Atë, Phonos, and Eris—most of whom were, at best, on the level of Silver Saints, with only Black Saga and Rigel showing any noteworthy power.

The reason Feng Zhe sought out Kyoko first, instead of Shoko, was his concern that if the evil goddess succeeded in possessing her chosen host, her powers would increase too greatly. If that happened, he might not be able to defeat her, which would be a disaster.

“High Priest, is there something you need from me?” Kyoko asked.

Feng Zhe nodded. “I have some business in Japan, and I’d like to invite you to come with me.”

Kyoko was taken aback. “Japan? I just came to Sanctuary from Japan to study…”

Feng Zhe smiled gently. “I need your help…”

Kyoko’s face flushed crimson, her head dropping shyly. “Alright…”

Girls with romantic hearts are indeed easy to persuade—she agreed so readily.

Afterward, Feng Zhe went alone to Aries Temple, where he encountered Mu, the Aries Saint, standing at the entrance.

“You are… the High Priest who vanished years ago?” Mu’s expression changed, especially when he saw Feng Zhe wearing the Altar Cloth. He was filled with disbelief.

“Mu of Aries, I need your assistance.”

“High Priest, what would you have me do?” Mu dropped to one knee before Feng Zhe, showing utmost respect.

Feng Zhe couldn't help but feel a little elated. If only Mu from his own timeline were this deferential.

Indulging in this thought for a moment, he then leaned in and whispered something to Mu.

“What! You want to take Saga’s remains to Japan for burial?”

“No, that’s impossible. All Saints must be buried in Sanctuary, without exception!”

Feng Zhe sighed and took a shield from his robe.

“The long-lost Athena’s Shield?!”

Mu was clearly shocked to see Athena’s Shield in the High Priest’s hands, but he understood the significance of such a divine artifact.

“There’s nothing I can do, then. I must obey your wishes.”

…

A few days later

A cemetery by the sea in Japan

“What! High Priest, you brought the late Pope’s remains to Japan?” Kyoko’s mouth formed a perfect ‘O’ of astonishment. She hadn’t expected that the long, heavy luggage they’d been carrying these past days actually contained the late Pope Saga’s corpse.

Feng Zhe rubbed his ears, clearly displeased. “Why shout? This was his dying wish. I’m only helping him fulfill it.”

“But… but he wasn’t Japanese!”

“Saga loved Japan. There are cherry blossoms… and beautiful women. Is that not reason enough?”

“I’ve never heard the other Saints mention this!”

Seeing Kyoko’s disbelief, Feng Zhe leaned in and whispered in her ear, “The late Pope had… unusual preferences.”

“Preferences? You mean… strange ones?”

“Yes, yes. The kind involving little belts dipped in salt water…”

“Uh…”

From then on, Kyoko began to look at Feng Zhe in a completely different way, as if he were a close confidant.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No… Would you like to meet the Goddess?”

“The Goddess? You mean that headstrong heiress?”

At this point, Miss Saori had not fully merged with the Goddess; her own will remained dominant, and she was still quite willful. For instance, instead of staying in Sanctuary where she belonged, she insisted on returning to Japan…

“High Priest, she is the Goddess…” Kyoko puffed out her cheeks in indignation, which made Feng Zhe scratch his head.

What normal man wouldn’t be charmed by a girl like this?

“Alright then, take me to see the Goddess.”

Feng Zhe laughed, for he had another motive in coming—to see for himself if the Goddess was as he imagined.

…

The Kido Saori Villa

When the doorbell rang, Tokumaru Tatsumi was overjoyed to see Kyoko.

But as soon as he spotted Feng Zhe, he was overcome by a strong sense of threat, and his demeanor grew serious.

“And this is…?”

“He is the High Priest from Sanctuary, here to see Miss Saori.”

Upon learning this guest was from Sanctuary, Tatsumi instantly assumed the air of a dignified butler, his every gesture exuding nobility.

Feng Zhe found this all rather amusing; in his own timeline, he was also one of Mitsumasa Kido’s hundred sons, yet here, Tatsumi had no idea who he was.

As the grand doors swung open, it wasn’t the Goddess who greeted them, but her personal guards—the Four Bronze Saints.

Seiya, Hyoga, Shiryu, and Shun stood on either side of her, their eyes full of suspicion.

It was Feng Zhe’s first time seeing the Goddess. Her expression was solemn, her bearing dignified—at a distance, she looked every bit the wealthy young lady.

The Four Saints glanced at Feng Zhe, none of them recognizing him. They looked at one another, confused.

“So this is the High Priest? The man whose rank in Sanctuary is second only to the Pope?”

“How come we never saw him during the Twelve Temples?”

“We mustn’t be rude. He deserves our respect.”

“Him? We even defeated Saga!”

At this point, Miss Saori spoke up. “The High Priest is the keeper of Sanctuary’s sacred flame. In every generation, his role is to assist the Pope. Especially when the Pope is absent, he can command all the Saints!”

“Acting Pope?” Seiya was shocked, unable to believe it.

By now, Feng Zhe had already entered, kneeling before Miss Saori.

“Alex, Altar Silver Saint, pays his respects to Lady Saori!”

With such humility, even the most discerning Goddess could find no fault.

Seiya leapt forward. “So you’re the High Priest? I challenge you!”

As he spoke, he donned the Pegasus Cloth and struck an ostentatious pose.

Feng Zhe frowned. This timeline’s Seiya didn’t know him, but his arrogance was exactly as expected.

Miss Saori made no move to stop him; she too was curious to see what kind of power this High Priest possessed, and how he’d earned the right to serve as Acting Pope.