What the hell?!
At Igeon's words, everyone's expressions were a sight to behold.
Even the ten-star Kali and Gote, and the Cheon siblings who were actually appointed as Saints.
Of course, among them, Hugo's expression was the most remarkable. He was the only Saint among them, and he knew the Saint system better than anyone.
Thus, he knew better than anyone how absurd the current situation was.
Sure enough, Hugo gaped at Igeon.
"Are you crazy? Do you think it's common sense to have two Saints?"
"R-right. Naturally, there is only one Saint...!"
But at that, Igeon sneered.
"Which bastard decided that there has to be only one Saint?"
"Huh?!"
"Ours can have up to two."
"What are you talking about!"
What do I mean?
Igeon smiled.
Actually, it wasn't that strange. From the beginning, the Ophiuchus could select up to two Saints.
[The Ophiuchus is a divine seat possessing two divinities.]
[Its vast power cannot be handled by a single Saint.]
[Please select Saints to protect each divinity.]
So he simply chose the two most suitable ones.
And at those words, everyone was astonished.
Especially Hugo, who looked like he couldn't believe it.
'Two of them!'
Of course, it wasn't theoretically impossible.
'A Saint is ultimately a proxy of the god and the representative of a group.'
The domain grows, the divinity grows.
Eventually, if the Divine God becomes a being that transcends dimensions, it might have a Saint for each dimension.
In other words, theoretically, they could select more than one.
But that was only a theoretical possibility.
In reality, it was almost impossible.
'How much of the Divine God's energy do you think a single Saint consumes?'
A Saint was on a completely different level from an ordinary devotee.
If the power an ordinary devotee draws per use is like a sip of water, a Saint's was like releasing a massive dam.
Simply put, from the Divine God's perspective, the maintenance cost was beyond common sense. Hence, they never dared to have more than two.
'Moreover, if there are two or more Saints, civil war is inevitable.'
But what?!
"You didn't get greedy and forcefully pick two, did you?"
But at that, Igeon snorted.
It was because of a notification that seemed to bristle at Hugo's words.
[A mere single Saint cannot sustain the immense power of the Ophiuchus.]
[To maintain the Ophiuchus Divine Seat, at least two are absolutely necessary.]
Unlike other devotees, a Saint receives and uses the Divine God's power directly.
But the Ophiuchus sent down so much water that a single pipe would burst.
Moreover, it meant the Divine God was too vast for a single Saint to support the seat.
'Because it has two divinities from the start.'
I had mentioned and . I don't know why there are two.
'Maybe it's related to when I became an Awakened.'
And whether he knew it or not, Gote looked worried.
"Isn't it a burden on the Divine God?"
"Not at all."
Far from being a burden, his mana stabilized the moment he designated the Saints.
It was as if mana that had been leaking out like holes in his body was now neatly channeled into only two places.
And the mana that flowed out would be used by the two Saints to manage the devotees and retinue gods.
He felt that he could use his power more completely than before, as there were no places where energy was wasted.
Indeed, after designating the Saints, his power increased.
[With the Saints, you can now use all of the Divine God's power.]
[The Divine Seat Seals have been granted to the two Saints.]
[New skills are activated with the joining of the Saints.]
[Total mana increased by 20%.]
[The total amount of divine seat energy you can store increases.]
[Experience gained.]
[The morale of the retinue greatly increases (+ Faith increase, Stamina increase)]
[The Ophiuchus has been officially registered in the divine realm as a formal Divine Seat.]
Igeon immediately activated the Virgo Seal.
[You can delegate the Sanctuary Defense Skill to a Saint.]
[If delegated, that Saint will gain the Sanctuary Skill (Defense).]
[Which Saint will you delegate it to?]
Igeon delegated the Sanctuary Defense Skill to Cheon Seongjae. He planned to give the Attack Skill to Yuha.
Cheon Seongjae was happy about the new skill, but regardless, the devotees seemed unable to recover from the shock.
"Two Saints...!"
And to top it off, those two were the Cheon siblings.
Thanks to that, Hugo was escaping reality.
Setting aside his good-for-nothing son who would sell his own liver and gallbladder, the fact that Yuha also became a Saint of Ophiuchus was a critical blow.
'I was trying to bring Yuha to Sagittarius...!!'
And since Seongjae became a Saint, he had inwardly rejoiced that Yuha would have no chance, thinking he could lure her away at any time. But what was this!
Hugo despaired, but it still seemed okay.
"W-well, it's fine. If it's the Ophiuchus Divine God, it's fine."
Honestly, the power of the Ophiuchus Divine God was so strong that even he had been greatly tempted.
Even though it wasn't designated as a combat divine seat, the power-up in combat strength was on that level!
And on top of that, his magnanimous personality!
Maybe that was why. Hugo looked at his daughter as if he still had lingering attachment.
"Yuha. They say the Ophiuchus Divine God is beautiful. Get close and introduce him to Dad later..."
At that, Cheon Yuha looked at him as if he was talking nonsense.
"The Ophiuchus Divine God is Uncle, you know?"
At that, Hugo twitched his eyebrows and grabbed Yuha's shoulders.
"No, Yuha. Both you and Seongjae are just mistaken."
"Mistaken?"
"Yes. Remember when Dad became a temporary Saint of Ophiuchus? At that time, Geon-i said he wasn't the Divine God. And no Divine God can ever lie to a devotee. Right, Geon-a?"
"I am the Divine God, though?"
...Huh?
"I said I am, you idiot."
Hugo's neck creaked as he turned. He looked incredulous.
His face said, 'What are you suddenly talking about?'
"You said you weren't the Divine God then. A Divine God can never lie to a devotee..."
"You were a temporary Saint then, so strictly speaking, you weren't my devotee, right?"
"?!!!"
"Well, you don't have to thank me. I'll raise your kids well."
Having realized he was scammed, Hugo screamed.
"#*($&*!"
At the same time, Hugo realized something and wailed.
It was because he remembered the moment he had immersed himself in the Ophiuchus and praised the Divine God.
"You son of a... Ah, no way. Ah!"
Above all, a Saint is the servant of the Divine God.
From the Saint's position, if necessary, they had to serve as a servant for another Divine God.
But who is the Divine God?!
Meanwhile, Kali was biting her lip as she watched the situation.
It was impossible for her not to notice what this situation meant.
"You intended to pick those two from the start."
"!"
The Cheon siblings flinched and looked at Kali. Hugo also looked at Igeon as if bothered.
However, Igeon spoke as if apologetic.
"Still, I couldn't appoint someone I barely know as a Saint."
Especially if they were from Giselle's side, I couldn't accept it easily.
Of course, looking at their faith, they didn't seem like they would betray me, but even if they had no intention of betrayal, you never know how the situation might turn out.
They might be used without even realizing it.
At that, Hugo understood.
'It's suspicious that Geon-i's power could be felt.'
It must have been when he was a temporary Saint of Ophiuchus.
Perhaps because his stats had increased compared to when he was in Leo, he saw things that were normally invisible.
It was the same with Kali.
'That was definitely Geon-i's power.'
Well, so he asked if she had a long-lost daughter or something, but got smacked.
Of course, it wasn't without a hint.
'Surely Sophie used to strengthen her summons with the Divine God's blood.'
The Saint of Aquarius, the Cup Bearer.
Though now I can't find her anywhere, she had healed Igeon in the past.
For Sophie, diverting Igeon's blood would be nothing.
And Kali, who had been glaring at the Cheon siblings, bit her lip.
The fact that she had been used stung a bit, but she fully understood.
It was a natural choice for Igeon.
The other party was the children of Igeon's most cherished friend.
So Kali's eyes flashed.
"It's fine. I can just take the Saint position. And I was in a hurry. I'll start with Ophiuchus and go step by step."
At that, Cheon Seongjae glared.
"What are you saying, the bus has left! The Saints are already decided..."
But then.
"Right. The Saint positions can be changed at any time."
"?!!"
At the thunderous words, the Cheon siblings' heads creaked around.
But as if asking why they were making such faces, Igeon smiled.
"I won't go easy on you just because you're my nephews. If you can't grow, I'll change the Saints immediately."
"......!!"
Well, he wouldn't really change them outright, but there was a reason Igeon said that.
'Saints also have levels.'
Basically, any Saint could carry the Divine God, but that didn't mean they could utilize 100% of the Divine God's abilities.
Just as some can use the Demi-God State and some cannot.
And compared to the other twelve Saints' abilities as Saints, Yuha and Seongjae were still chicks.
"There are some with extremely high Saint levels."
Especially Virgo, Gemini, Cancer, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Pisces were high.
And the others were at least above average.
Especially Virgo, though I don't know why, had an extreme aversion to the Demi-God State, but just looking at the ability and destructive power she displayed at that time, it was truly overwhelming.
"Your dad would also be incredibly strong if he uses the Demi-God State."
At Igeon's acknowledgment, Hugo's heart fluttered anew, and the Cheon siblings broke into a sweat.
Because the responsibility came that the power of the Divine Seat and the Divine God changed according to the Saint's growth.
And since the Divine God was so strong, it might be fine, but the fact remained that it was still a small constellation.
They were the ones who could make the seat prosper or not.
"Well. I trust you. But if you're useless, I'll switch you out for Taeksu right away."
"Change now!! Don't make our kids Saints!!! It's so hard!"
"Fine. Then go fetch some water first. And buy some chocolate bread."
"...$#*&*!"
And as the Cheon siblings looked tense, Igeon smiled.
'Well, their potential is the highest among the fourteen.'
They surpassed not only their own father but also other high-ranking Saints. That was why he chose them, after all.
Anyway, it was good.
'It's not over yet.'
He meant the culprit who had dropped him into the trap. And that bastard was the traitor of humanity and the perpetrator who had orchestrated everything.
'Well, now that their plans have collapsed, they'll probably show themselves on their own.'
Sure enough, right then.
[The temporary sanctuary is under attack.]
[A total of four different divine seats have invaded.]
[You can activate a sanctuary skill.]
[Natural Disaster] [Divine Punishment] [Retinue Release] [Act Forbidden by God]
Igeon's lips curled up. He immediately picked up Kevin's prosthetic arm and turned his head.
"Yuha, get ready to go to the Red Zone. Seongjae, you teleport. To the European sanctuary."
"Are you going to the Virgo sanctuary?"
"An interview came in about what happened to Igeon-nim in the tower."
At that, Igeon smiled.
"Well, there's something more important."
"!"
"Some trash has invaded my sanctuary, after all."
Most importantly.
"There's a guy I'm going to catch there."
Well, if I go there, I'll probably meet him.
The one who stabbed me.
Then I'll find out. Why he stabbed me.
'There is definitely a reason I was trapped in the tower.'
As murderous intent rose in Igeon's eyes, Hugo flinched.
Because the prophecy he had seen came to mind. Could it be that the scene he witnessed was because of that bastard?
'Well, Kevin will be there too.'
Then Kali spoke.
"Then I'll help the Divine Seat...!"
"Start with the application form. Including 100 copies of a self-introduction."
"?!"
As they disappeared simultaneously, the devotees who had been listening to the story were thrown into confusion.
"Hey, hey, what did we just hear?"
"Saints? There are more Saints besides the twelve?"
"And it's not even Igeon?!"
The shocking news spread throughout the world.
(To be continued in the next episode)