Chapter 188: Spiritual Awakening
"This is…?"
Gideon did not take it immediately.
"The heart of the Devil's Child," Leia explained.
"Inside it lies an immense source of corrupted power. Many would covet it. I only need the nest—this is your rightful spoils."
Gideon nodded.
He had originally intended to purify the thing on the spot. But seeing her sincerity, he instead produced a wooden reliquary, sealed the heart inside, and layered the lid with meticulous wards.
Leia soon finished extracting the nest.
After that, under Gideon's guidance, the two women helped him cleanse the surrounding area one final time. When everything was done, the three parted ways.
"Father Gideon, if you ever need me, send word to this address," Leia said, handing him a slip of paper.
He accepted it with a nod.
After the knight departed, Gideon escorted Jenny back to Green Town.
---
Hillside Diner
By coincidence, it was exactly the fifth day.
Jack had been waiting there for a long time.
Gideon stood aside, quietly watching the father and daughter reunite. At his request, the meeting took place outside the diner.
Only afterward did Jack finally tell the whole truth.
Jenny was indeed a witch's descendant. Her mother had been a member of the Rosicrucians, a secret order founded by witches and warlocks that had existed for centuries—even appearing during the Holy Land wars. She was persecuted after violating the order's laws.
To protect his daughter, Jack had lived under an assumed identity for years. This journey had been a calculated risk—meant to awaken Jenny's latent power.
Fortunately, it had worked.
"What will you do next?" Gideon asked.
Now that they had exposed themselves, the pattern was familiar. In stories like these, the Rosicrucians would come hunting. The father would die protecting his daughter. She would fall into darkness, seek vengeance, perhaps even turn to Gideon for help—only to perish tragically in his arms after revenge.
Predictable. Too predictable.
So Gideon, in what he considered a thoughtful gesture, warned them.
To his surprise, Jack already had a plan.
"I'm taking Jenny to Louisiana. In New Orleans, there's a witches' academy. Her mother had a close friend there…"
Gideon raised an eyebrow.
Louisiana—New Orleans, no less.
That place was anything but peaceful.
Witches who cheated death, aliens, demons…
A land where the supernatural never truly slept.
Those witches were always far too good at stirring up trouble.
Not to mention the plague zones.
All Gideon could do was warn Jenny to be careful around "bitches," then gift her a cross as protection.
The girl's cheeks flushed slightly. She carefully put away the holy relic and nodded in earnest.
After watching Jack sign the Confirmation of Contract Completion, Gideon bid the father and daughter farewell.
---
Dey Church
Gideon first returned to the House of Rest, where he ran into Judy.
Ed had been recovering well lately, and since Gideon had been away on assignments, Judy had voluntarily come by to help at the shop.
Without Gideon around, business had improved considerably.
Sure enough—running a shop really did require a normal proprietor.
When she learned that Gideon was heading back to the church, Judy skipped out from behind the counter.
"Today is Awakening Day. There should be lots of people at the church. I wanted to participate, but Mom said I should wait another year."
Gideon stroked his chin.
What she was referring to was clearly Spiritual Awakening.
For most ordinary clergy, this ritual determined whether they could step into the supernatural realm.
Gideon rarely went out before, and since the ceremony was held only at the Exorcism Seminary, he hadn't yet witnessed it firsthand.
Since I'm here anyway, I might as well take a look, he thought.
After sealing away the Demon Heart, Gideon headed for the church.
---
Seminary Grounds — Ritual Plaza
By the time Gideon arrived, the plaza was already crowded with clergy.
There were young men and women, as well as elderly priests with white hair.
Everyone wore tense expressions, clutching Bibles or holy relics while praying quietly.
A temporary curtain had been set up at one side of the plaza, reserved for female clergy.
In public ceremonies—especially with crowds this large—male and female clergy were still strictly separated.
"Professor Gideon?"
A voice suddenly called out from behind him.
Gideon turned around to see a middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses. Beside him stood a young clergyman in a black mantle, a silver cross stitched onto his sleeve.
"Rich Kay, lecturer at the seminary," the man introduced himself.
"This is Roland Hall—the child of a friend of mine. He'll be participating in the Spiritual Awakening later, so I brought him along to observe."
The young man bowed slightly.
"May the Lord bless you," Gideon replied, drawing a cross over his chest.
After the brief exchange of pleasantries, Rich spoke again.
"I heard from Flora that it was you who submitted Hanns's evidence to Archbishop Borha, preventing the students from being persecuted."
"Bente and the others were also able to complete their commission thanks to your help. As a member of the seminary, I sincerely thank you."
He bent deeply at the waist, his manner solemn.
Gideon hurriedly helped him up.
Rich's eyes brimmed with curiosity.
He had heard plenty about this priest before, but hadn't expected him to be so young—far beyond his own students in capability.
"You're here to submit a commission report, correct?" Rich asked with a smile.
"The seminary originally arranged for me to serve as your guide, but later I heard you accepted an assignment and left."
Gideon nodded. "I got lucky this time—the objective was completed."
"The commission office staff are all busy helping today. If you go now, there probably won't be anyone there."
"That's fine. I was planning to watch the ceremony anyway."
"Then may I accompany you? That way I can at least fulfill my duty as your guide," Rich said warmly.
"That would be my honor," Gideon replied.
With Rich accompanying him, Gideon entered the official ritual area without difficulty.
---
"This is where Spiritual Awakening takes place," Rich explained, pointing toward a small chamber.
"Clergy will sense the Unknowable Space here, entering it through their consciousness."
The chamber had been converted from a confessional booth. Complex and meticulous ritual relics surrounded it, leaving only a single door as an entrance.
On either side of the chamber, without any barriers, sat several elderly clergymen.
From Gideon's perspective, every one of them radiated formidable power.
"They've gone to great lengths with these preparations," Gideon remarked.
Rich shook his head.
"It can't be helped. Acquiring the Holy Brand is extremely dangerous. One misstep, and the participant may be tainted by evil."
"Death from overload would be one thing—but if an evil imprint takes hold, it could threaten the entire Church."
At that moment, Roland spoke up.
"Professor Rich, can you explain the Brand to me now?"
"Of course," Rich replied with a gentle smile.
"Genesis records that the Lord created the world in six days.
"But evil spirits and demons also came into being, tempting humanity and leading them toward corruption.
"To cleanse the world of evil, the Lord bestowed the rites of exorcism. However, ordinary clergy lack holy power and cannot wield it.
"So the Lord left behind imprints within the Unknowable Space.
"By sending their consciousness there, clergy engrave the Holy Brand upon themselves, allowing them to resonate with the holy power of Heaven.
"From that moment onward, humanity truly stepped into the realm of the supernatural."