Sincerity—she had to appear sincere now, without a hint of testing.
After making up her mind, Little Monster spoke up and said sincerely, "The purpose of the investigation, in fact, is something I only learned a short while ago."
It was only after being appointed as the person to approach Silver Crow's organization that Little Monster learned these secrets.
Now, to show her sincerity, Little Monster prepared to reveal them all.
Although Silver Crow might have known these things already, Little Monster had to demonstrate some of her organization's strength to prove that the organization behind her was capable of communicating with them.
Little Monster took a deep breath and began to speak:
"The Seven Great Churches control seven Holy Ladders... no, perhaps they weren't originally called Holy Ladders. Even if they are, they are just Holy Ladders that have been broken in half."
"Aside from the Holy Potions of the Seven Great Churches, there are countless other types of Magic Potions... currently, our organization has collected thirteen different pathways."
"After research by the Hermits, it was discovered that Magic Potions and Holy Potions seem to share the same origin... although their abilities differ, they are indeed the same."
"Furthermore, one of the Hermits even found the... Magic Potions corresponding to the seven Holy Potions. Every bottle of Holy Potion has a corresponding inverse Magic Potion!"
"For example, the First Saint Rank [Investigator] of the Church of Generosity and Wisdom corresponds to the Magic Potion [Possessor], while the First Saint Rank [lamb] of the Church of the Goddess of Hope corresponds to the First Rank [Indifferent One] Magic Potion..."
"Their acting methods are completely opposite... according to the deduction, as long as you act opposite to the whispers, you can obtain the Holy Sequence, but if you act according to what the whispers say, you will transition into the Magic Potion Sequence."
"Later, a Hermit found a document from Ancient Great Saya in a ruin, which contained a complete description of these pathways—the 'Stairway to Divinity'."
"Yes, Magic Potions and Holy Potions could have led directly to the Divine Path together, but now both Holy Potions and Magic Potions are cut off at the Fifth Rank."
"As for the reason we are investigating the Saintess... it's because of a document from three hundred years ago... it records in detail how the church explored the path of promotion."
"And the method closest to success... was Sequence Fusion, conducted by the Church of the Goddess of Hope. It involved fusing a Saintess who had fallen into the opposite sequence, [Blasphemer], due to advancing too quickly, with a [Glorified One] who was also of the Fifth Rank... They almost succeeded—if that Saintess hadn't given up resisting the whispers at the last moment and turned into a monster."
"So we are observing the current Saintess of Hope, wanting to know if she has learned of these matters, and we must recruit or deal with her before she advances to the Fifth Rank."
"If the first Sixth Rank appears in the Church of the Goddess of Hope... the impact on all of Great Saya would be too great."
At this point, Little Monster had revealed everything she knew. Although the word order was a bit messy due to nervousness, it wasn't hard to understand.
Syl was the type who was completely stunned by what she heard.
Fortunately, there was a mask in the way, otherwise Little Monster would have seen the 'mysterious', 'powerful', and 'calm' Silver Crow making the same surprised expression she had just made.
Holy Potions... correspond to Magic Potions? They can be converted into each other because of different acting methods? The way to advance to the Sixth Rank is likely to devour someone of the same rank from the opposite sequence?
The previous Saintess of Hope fell into the Magic Potion sequence because she advanced too quickly, and then went completely mad and turned into a monster just before being devoured?
...Sharon, disregarding her own safety, made her take Holy Potions in rapid succession?
Everything connected in Syl's mind; she knew why Sharon wanted her to advance quickly.
Because she was just material... "Heh..." Syl let out a cold laugh subconsciously.
But this laugh truly frightened Little Monster across from her. Little Monster shrank her neck and asked, "Um... Silver Crow?"
"It's nothing, I just thought of something interesting." Syl shook her head, realizing her slip-up.
"Then Silver Crow... is your organization also investigating the Saintess of Hope for this purpose?" Little Monster asked.
"No." Syl didn't rule out the possibility that Little Monster was lying, she just shook her head cryptically and spoke a riddle, "Small. Your perspective is too narrow."
"'Perspective... is narrow?'" Little Monster was stunned again.
This news was considered narrow in perspective? This sentence changed everyone's concept of Magic Potions and Holy Potions! When Little Monster first learned of this, she felt as if her worldview had been overturned.
Because she completely didn't expect that Holy Potions and Magic Potions could actually be converted into each other... and that there were higher ranks above the Fifth Rank, even... becoming gods!
Yet, all of this was considered narrow in perspective in Silver Crow's eyes?
Little Monster was momentarily at a loss for words, wanting to ask further but lacking the confidence.
Syl knew from Little Monster's movements that if she didn't say something high-end now, she would expose the fact that she knew nothing.
So Syl looked slightly toward the ceiling, sighed softly, and murmured: "When ____ descends, these struggles will all be in vain..."
Syl mimicked The Witch of Ruin, deliberately pausing when she said the name, making it look as if it were muted and could not be spoken.
However, The Witch of Ruin, Vivian, was truly muted, whereas Syl simply closed her mouth when it came time to say the name.
But under the cover of the mask, the way Syl spoke just now looked as if she had truly been muted.
This made Little Monster's hair stand on end, her feet already pointing toward the door, seemingly ready to flee at any moment.
As a Third Rank [Secretary Master], how could Little Monster not know what this kind of muting meant? This was a reference to a terrifying existence that was unspeakable, whose name must not be directly spoken.
Little Monster swallowed non-existent saliva and asked:
"Is... Is He friend or foe?"
Syl was afraid that if she continued, she would expose herself. She just calmly lowered her head, looked at Little Monster, and said helplessly, "How naive are you to ask such a question... little cutie."
"Alright, it's easier to know nothing. What comes next isn't for your ears." Syl shrugged, then looked toward the banquet hall doors and said, "It's about to start. Let's end the conversation here."
But now, Little Monster had no mind for the banquet hall. Her head was full of reporting today's events to the Hermit Lords.
"Silver Crow... how can I contact you? There might be cooperation... I mean, if I can be of help... my name is Pasha."
Syl didn't know how to answer. She was currently homeless, and the physician card didn't come out every day. There was no contact address to give her.
"Instead of contacting me, why not go finish your own business... for example, that Saintess of Hope. As far as I know, she has already advanced to [Ascetic]."
"Okay... thank you for the information. The Hermit Organization will remember your favor."
Little Monster finished speaking, stood up, gave Syl a lady's curtsy, and then hurried out of the banquet hall as if she had urgent business.