Reincarnated as a Doomed Extra

[Solon's Perspective]

After we all walked through the magnificent and intricately carved hallway, we arrived at the Saintess' supposed room, or the Sacred Voice, as she is called.

Being at the front, I didn't realize there were about four people silently following us until one of them opened the Saintess' room door. They didn't emit any presence that I, as an Awakened, could detect.

I stepped forward and entered the room with anticipation, immediately met by the sight of an incredibly vast room. Golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and paintings adorned the walls, depicting angels engaged in battles frozen in time.

Vases emitting a soothing fragrance were scattered throughout the room, and an aura of holiness enveloped the place.

"This is amazing..."

The place was overwhelmingly golden. I felt out of place.

Selas and I had a respectable amount of money after Uncle Jared bought our parents' farm, but we hadn't splurged on it, hoping it would last us for years to come.

Fortunately or unfortunately, once we awakened, our lives took a drastic and unexpected turn.

And now, here I am, meeting the Saintess of the Holy Church of Light as the chosen hero, as they say.

This image people had of me confused me, and it felt very unnatural.

It's just... everything happened so fast.

Even though it's been two weeks since we awakened, it feels like it was yesterday…

Sensing my nervousness, one of the men placed his hand on my shoulder with a gentle smile.

"Relax."

He gestured with his chin towards the front of the room, where a miniature statue of the same woman depicted in the church's emblem stood.

In front of the statue, a woman sat, wearing an elegant white priestess robe with gold embroidery on the edges. Her garment clung to her body like a second skin, accentuating her slender figure.

It was clear she was praying.

Devoutly worshipping her goddess.

From behind, I could only see her lustrous white hair. Her locks reflected light with an uncanny and unnatural precision.

When I looked to the men with me to ask if it was appropriate to interrupt her, I realized we were in a girl's room.

Even though the place looked like a miniature prayer hall, I found it odd.

For a reason I didn't understand, the idea of five men being in a lone girl's room didn't sit well with me…

I shook my head, dismissing these thoughts, and stepped forward quietly.

I want answers.

Real answers for my being here.

The question gnawing at my mind was, why me?

I awakened three elements unexpectedly, yes, and I gained a physique, which was a huge deal.

But still... Selas was just like me.

My older brother not only awakened three elements, but he was also smarter than me, and from what I saw when he fought Jared, he had to be a naturally gifted fighter, and I was sure he would become one once he fully healed.

So, why?

Why did it have to be me?

My steps grew heavier as I approached the Saintess, step by step.

When I got close enough, she raised her head and tilted it to the side.

Only then did I see her eyes.

Her eyes were…

Nothing.

The place where her eyes should have been was hollow, without any scars, as if her eyes had been gouged out by a craftsman, leaving behind a beautiful but marred masterpiece.

I involuntarily stepped back in shock. This was the last sight I expected to see when I met the woman dubbed the Saintess.

Seeing my reaction, her perfect lips curved upwards slightly in amusement before she stood up with divine grace. She calmly took a bandage lying on the side of the statue and lightly placed it over her head.

When she turned this time, she had concealed her hollow eyes behind the bandage.

She smiled and said, "I apologize for the sight you saw earlier."

"N-no, it's okay. I just didn't expect it," I stammered.

I felt a mix of anxiety and anticipation as I stood before her. The constant smile on her face was unnerving, to say the least, as if everything was within her expectations.

Her hair cascaded as she lowered her head slightly with a smile, as did the other men.

"I welcome you to our humble church, hero. My name is Luracilla. You can call me Cilla."

"We greet the child of the Sacred Light," the others echoed her greeting, increasing my embarrassment.

"Please, raise your heads," I requested awkwardly.

After the awkward greeting ended, the Saintess looked at the other men with a smile before saying, "You may leave now," eliciting various reactions from them.

"Huh?"

"But what about the ritual?"

"..."

"Yes, there should be at least four bishops to receive the blessing..."

I was confused by what they were saying, especially their talk of blessing.

Is that it?

Was the reason we came here to receive a blessing?

Again, the hero symbolism they were throwing at me was playing its part. Blessings weren't even for faithful followers, let alone someone who didn't believe in the church's goddess…

Nervously, I looked at the quiet place that was now a chaotic hall filled with discussions I couldn't understand.

"Silence."

The Saintess' stern voice cut through their skeptical chatter with an authoritative tone, causing them to lower their heads in disappointment. For a reason I didn't understand, the look in their eyes pleaded for them to do me a favor.

But the Saintess ignored all their pleas and gestured towards the door.

"Now, all of you."

After a moment of hesitation, all the bishops dragged themselves out of the room with slumped shoulders.

Saintess Luracilla shook her head and let out a weary sigh before speaking, "Again, I apologize for making you witness such a thing. Everyone was just excited to see you."

"Oh, it's okay."

With a relieved smile, the Saintess suddenly took my hand in hers and led me to the goddess's statue.

"Sit."

I pulled my hand away from hers and sat as she asked.

"What now?" I asked.

I didn't even know what they said in their prayers…

I feel extremely embarrassed right now.

She sat next to me and extended her hand towards the featureless face of the statue. It made me wonder what the goddess' true face would look like.

"Now, touch it," the Saintess replied.

Eh?

Just that?

Despite my confusion at the unexpected request, I did it to maintain the formalities she herself was also following.

I extended my hand towards the featureless face of the statue. As soon as I touched the featureless face, something happened.

My vision went completely dark, and just as quickly, it turned blindingly white.

My thoughts were completely distorted in a tangled vortex as I felt my consciousness slip away to a place other than the Saintess' room, the mortal realm.

To somewhere…divine.

I stood rooted to the spot, unable to move or see.

Even with my eyelids closed, I felt them burning from the intensity of the light that was hitting them.

'It hurts...'

I felt my eyes burning behind my eyelids, and the inability to raise my hands for more protection from the light was terrifying, to say the least.

Was I going to die like this?

Amidst the swirling thoughts in my head, another thought crossed my mind.

A blasphemous thought.

Was I going to meet the goddess herself?

Even I was shocked by the mere thought crossing my mind.

In the state of fear and uncertainty I was in, a voice echoed from near and far. Angelic and demonic at the same time. It carried multiple layers at once.

"Open them."

It was only two words, but it was more than enough to make me feel like my head was splitting in two.

'But it hurts...'

I opened my eyes and felt them burning even more from the density and intensity of the light they were absorbing. My tears flowed and evaporated before they could trickle down my cheeks.

In my miserable state, I felt something small approaching my limited sensory range, but I couldn't see it despite opening my eyes.

Everything was just bright.

The whole world was white.

And then, the small thing entered my body, sending me into a state of extreme ascension.

It felt like an external force was invading my soul, diving deep into it and settling within.

After I adjusted to the invading sensation, a familiar floating screen appeared before me.

[You have been granted a blessing!]

"In return, you shall vanquish all demons from existence."

The voice echoed again, adding more layers of pain to my head and carrying a promise of doom this time.