In a courtyard filled with seasonal flower beds, at the end of a pristine white jade path, stood a small pavilion.
The pavilion was entirely made of marble, with seamless joints between pillars and roof—as if carved from a single massive block of marble.
Beneath the pavilion, the Halloween Queen—wearing a platinum-gold crown, a blazing red gown, and hair as radiant as the sun—gazed boredly at a photograph.
It was a photo of a knight holding a beautiful holy sword, clad in silver-blue armor, smiling brightly.
More precisely, it was a photo of the best knight in her heart, Arthur—unfortunately…
(The knight I loved most fell to protect me.)
"Your Majesty the Queen, Maria requests an audience!"
Beside her, Scathach—wearing a straight, form-fitting maid uniform—suddenly appeared and bowed respectfully to the Halloween Queen.
"Haaah, she really dares come see me."
The Halloween Queen sneered, putting away the photo, tucking a strand of hair behind her temple, and lightly touching up her makeup.
Scathach remained bowed, not daring to move an inch.
Since the Halloween Queen returned, the entire Sky Garden's atmosphere had been oppressively heavy—as if mourning Arthur's fall.
Of course, it would be better if Shiroyasha hadn't come to provoke her.
Otherwise, why would the mood here be so gloomy?
"Have her wait outside."
The Halloween Queen waved her hand, instructing Scathach to inform Maria.
A long while later—having changed into a black gown and black hair ornaments—the Halloween Queen sat at the stone table, silently sipping nearly cold tea.
"Let Maria in."
The Halloween Queen set down her teacup and spoke flatly.
Moments later, a plump, grim-faced woman in a black nun's robe entered nervously.
Maria looked anxiously at the Halloween Queen, walking slowly with a resigned attitude, then sat across from her.
At that moment, Maria also noticed the cold tea on the pristine white stone table.
Then, the Halloween Queen—dressed in mourning—spoke with slight heaviness and a somewhat hoarse voice.
"Sorry for keeping the Holy Mother waiting. My knight is gone, and I'm having trouble accepting it for now."
"I am deeply sorry."
Maria bowed her head deeper, sighed, took the teacup, and sipped lightly.
The tea was bitter—the worst she had ever tasted in her life.
But the tea's bitterness ultimately paled compared to the bitterness in her heart.
The Holy Son had lost—and even fallen.
For Christianity, the consequences were unimaginable. Even pushing herself to the limit to hold it together, she could only stabilize the angels in Heaven.
The once-great Christianity had now splintered into three factions: the Beato faction (those canonized), various angels, and Demon Lords and Demons who had joined Christianity as leaders.
The Hell faction, led by the Devil King of Hell.
The last was the Heaven faction, which she had barely maintained.
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. With God vanished and the Holy Son fallen, past friendships were worthless.
In just days, Christianity split into three factions—with many other Pantheons eyeing Christianity's faith share, ready to plunder.
Though Christianity's foundation was vast—even her current Heaven faction still had over a hundred Three-Digit Archangels and dozens of Special Angels (Outliers), plus many Beato she had guided, led by Jeanne d'Arc.
Without surprises, Christianity might turmoil for centuries—but ultimately be subdued by her.
However, the surprise was that the Halloween Queen would likely seek revenge.
A knight who could unleash Two-Digit power sacrificed himself to protect her—she couldn't hold back.
The Halloween Queen's mad retribution was inevitable and certain.
Thinking this, Maria raised her head, looking at the cold-faced Halloween Queen before her—so different from her former carefree attitude—and couldn't help sighing inwardly.
How could she satisfy the Halloween Queen?
She truly wasn't good at such things.
In Christianity, her role was managing internal faith, guiding angels and followers, leading them from darkness, showing them the way.
That's why she could still hold the Holy Mother position.
Most angels and Beato had accepted her kindness.
But when it came to bargaining and scheming with other Pantheons—that wasn't her responsibility, but the Holy Son's.
"Regardless, as long as the Queen is satisfied, Christianity is willing to pay any price."
Maria raised her head, staring very seriously—the resolve in her eyes slightly startling the Halloween Queen.
The Halloween Queen raised a curved eyebrow.
"Any price? Then what if I want Christianity buried with him?"
Hearing this, Maria frowned and couldn't help saying,
"That cannot be. I promised Yahweh to preserve Christianity."
"Hmm? Dystopia? You're still connected to Dystopia?"
The Halloween Queen showed an intrigued expression. Back then, Dystopia destroyed the Norse and Celtic Pantheons.
If not for the Holy Son becoming Two-Digit then, Christianity's fate wouldn't have been much better than the Celtic Pantheon.
Faith severance would be the best outcome.
Maria froze.
She felt she might have made a grave mistake.
With just that sentence, the Halloween Queen could hold Christianity by the throat until death.
"Fine—no need to be so nervous. Though I don't get along with him, I won't use it to threaten you."
The Halloween Queen smiled, but Maria's words had piqued her curiosity.
"Wasn't that group the first destroyed when he incarnated as Dystopia?"
"Then why did he ask you to preserve Christianity?"
If the Halloween Queen was Little Garden's most carefree existence, then Yahweh was the most god-like in all Little Garden.
Not like human-like gods and Buddhas—only slightly stronger than humans, with no less desire.
Yahweh was a true god without desire or selfishness.
The only thing driving his actions was his followers' wishes—but with many diverse followers, no one understood his logic.
Even now, the Halloween Queen still couldn't grasp why Yahweh suddenly incarnated as Dystopia.
"I don't know. Yahweh didn't tell me the reason. Maybe Jesus knew, but Jesus…"
Maria shook her head. In Christianity, her role was almost decorative. Her angels handled everything well.
"Is that so?"
The Halloween Queen looked at Maria, staring briefly, then lost interest.
"Fine—I thought I could squeeze something out of it."
Hearing this, Maria also felt relieved.
Though she didn't understand the other's thoughts—now the Halloween Queen resembled her former self, meaning a higher chance of agreement.
But what price to satisfy her?
At this moment, the Halloween Queen suddenly said,
"However, since I lost a knight who at his limit could defeat a Two-Digit existence, so…"
Maria's brows twitched hearing this, unconsciously staring.
Then, the golden Halloween Queen parted her red lips and said,
"I want Christianity's Holy Spirit Spirit Status."
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three Spirit Statuses split from the Monotheistic God.
Each had potential to become Two-Digit—like the Holy Son.
No—the Father couldn't; Little Garden's Central Core forbade Monotheism.
But the Holy Son and Holy Spirit had no such limit. With Christianity's scale, there should be more than one Two-Digit.
The Holy Spirit Spirit Status—or Holy Mother Spirit Status—should have long accumulated enough merits to break into Two-Digit.
"Since you caused me to lose a knight, compensate with one Two-Digit existence."
The Halloween Queen propped her chin with both hands, smiling at Maria.
She didn't feel Aslan was unworthy of the price—nor that she asked too much.
(After all, if Christianity doesn't give it, I can take it myself—and the result won't differ much.)
(I have this justification—no other existence has the right to stop me.)
Maria smiled helplessly—a heavy stone slowly lifting from her heart, feeling relieved.
"If this satisfies you, that would be excellent."
Maria didn't care much about the Holy Spirit Spirit Status. If she intended Two-Digit, she'd have been one long ago via merit accumulation.
But she remembered Yahweh's warning—not to approach the Monotheistic God's Spirit Status.
She didn't become Two-Digit—instead sealing the Holy Spirit Spirit Status. Jesus was the same. Even with realized truth, he chose not to become Two-Digit.
She just hadn't expected it seized by Judas.
"Hmm?"
This time, the Halloween Queen was surprised.
A Two-Digit-level Spirit Status—just given away? Given so easily, she began suspecting a trap.
"However, if the Queen wants to use this to surpass the Sun Star Spirit and become Two-Digit—better not use the Holy Spirit Spirit Status to become Two-Digit."
Maria paused here, saying with slight hesitation,
"This is something Yahweh once warned about."
Hearing this, the Halloween Queen couldn't help frowning.
(Is Yahweh your husband? Why do you listen to everything he says?)
(He really seems like your cheap husband.)
But Maria's words made her waver. The Sun Star Spirit position was blocked by Shiroyasha.
Unless Shiroyasha restored her Original Star Spirit Status, she'd always be stuck as Two-Digit.
But getting Shiroyasha to restore her Original Star Spirit Status seemed impossible. She knew how deeply entangled the issue was.