While My Mage Wife Grinds, I Power Up Idly

Anna stared intently at the Demon Huntress Nun, fully aware that, at her current level of strength, she had no chance of defeating the woman.

Even if she used "Forbidden Sacrifice" and burned all her remaining life to gain a fleeting moment of power, she still wouldn't be able to win.

The gap between the two of them was simply too vast.

At the moment she was fully on guard, Vivita suddenly dropped her cold demeanor.

"Let's hope you're alone," she said without room for argument. "You have to come with me to be certified before the Divine Mother Goddess."

To be certified before the Divine Mother Goddess meant to find a statue of the goddess. No ordinary human had the ability to meet a deity directly.

Looking around this remote area, the only place with a statue of the Divine Mother Goddess was the town of "Riven." That meant Ashu would have to return there—a place he had just escaped from.

"Why should I listen to you?" Ashu asked deliberately. Although he had already learned Vivita's identity through the system, others didn't know that he knew. He had to go through the process to avoid suspicion.

Without saying a word, Vivita raised her hand. A fully silver bow and crossbow appeared out of thin air.

"This is the Demon Slayer Holy Crossbow. If you don't listen to me, you'll listen to it," she said clearly and directly. If he didn't go with her to be certified before the Divine Mother Goddess, he'd be nailed to the wall with the holy crossbow.

At that, Ashu felt no fear in his heart at all—he even wanted to laugh.

Thankfully, he had come to assassinate the five Cidi cultists with Anna, which allowed him to bind Vivita with the system in advance.

After the system's Critical Return granted him the holy points, he no longer feared the judgment of the righteous. Because he *was* the righteous.

With over four hundred holy points, he felt as if the Divine Mother Goddess was holding him in her arms and kissing him. A sense of confidence naturally arose in his heart—he was confident about his position within the righteous order.

But Anna didn't know any of this.

She only knew that Ashu had been forced to join the Cidi cult. If he blindly went to be certified before the Divine Mother Goddess, his identity would surely be exposed. Whether he had been forced or had chosen it, he would inevitably be thrown on the pyre.

"Reverend," Anna stepped forward half a step, standing protectively in front of Ashu. "You'd better be clear—this man is from the Witch's Guild. He hasn't touched any taboos, and he's on a secret mission. You have no right to know the details. If you interfere with the mission, you and your Cultivator Guild won't be able to withstand the wrath of the Witch's Guild."

Looking at Anna who had stepped forward, Vivita took a deep breath.

"Your Grace, if I may be so bold, these eyes always focus on the prey first. I just noticed you now."

Anna looked into Vivita's gray eyes and replied, "Hmph."

"But the Cultivator Guild also has its own rules," Vivita changed tone. "Punishing heretics is a sacred covenant between the Holy Pope and the Witch's Guild. As a Demon Huntress Nun, I can only follow procedure. I beg your forgiveness... if this process damages your mission, I will personally make it up to you afterward."

"He is not a heretic," Anna said coldly, one word at a time.

"But even after the Divine Mother Goddess certifies him, we'll have to see," Vivita said, maintaining a respectful exterior, but her inner confidence seemed unshaken.

At this tense moment, Ashu gently took Anna's right hand.

"Anna, I can go. Don't worry."

"Ashu?" Anna raised an eyebrow, her deep blue eyes filled with concern. She had thought Ashu was willing to sacrifice himself to avoid a conflict between her and the Demon Huntress Nun. "You can't go. You..."

"Trust me," Ashu patted her hand and then said firmly to Vivita, "I'll go with you. But this will definitely interfere with my mission. Afterward, you have to personally make it up to me."

As long as he could get the certification from the Divine Mother Goddess, he would gain a powerful ally. With the Demon Huntress Nun's strength, eliminating the cultists near the Riven town, and even clearing out the double agents of the Holy Cultivator Guild, would be a breeze.

"Of course," Vivita Taan replied.

"Then let's go."

...

Anna wasn't at all reassured, so she followed Ashu to the town. The two of them avoided Forest Elf Leia, since she was still with that vacant woman. If Vivita discovered her, it would only cause more trouble.

The three of them soon returned to the town of Riven.

With the mayor's death, the town had begun to fall into chaos. But along the way, they could see people dressed in Kyle family robes working busily. They were clearly taking over Riven Town. Who would become the new ruler was obvious.

As soon as they entered the town, Vivita's eyes turned sharp, as if she had returned to her own home, only to find it full of rat holes.

"Here... this place..."

"What's wrong, nun? We're supposed to go before the Divine Mother Goddess for certification. Why are you stopping?" Ashu asked.

Even a regular Cidi believer like him could feel the lingering presence of cultists in every corner of Riven Town now. Let alone a Demon Huntress Nun with heightened senses.

"Nothing," Vivita's gaze grew more determined, and her pace quickened. Her long, well-shaped legs took each step with such force that her tall boots clanked louder against the floor. This time, she wasn't just going to certify Ashu before the Divine Mother Goddess—she was also going to confront the head priest of the Holy Cultivator Guild branch for his dereliction of duty!

In the distance, inside the Holy Cultivator Guild branch church, a man with short black hair, dressed in a priest's robe, saw the three figures walking down the street through the latticed window.

"Hmm? The Demon Huntress Nun arrived so quickly? And the one with her... Oh, my Divine Mother Goddess in heaven!"

Kidopriest hurriedly adjusted his appearance, his face unable to hide the excitement.

He would personally receive her.

...

Soon after, Vivita led Ashu into the church. It was the second time he had entered this place. The only thing Ashu remembered was the nun who had jumped to her death last time. Other than that, he felt nothing strange.

The statue of the Divine Mother Goddess still shone brightly, and a few townspeople were still praying in the church.

A familiar figure approached the three of them.

He had disguised himself well, not even glancing at Ashu, but directly addressed Vivita, saying, "The Holy Cultivator Guild branch welcomes your arrival, Reverend."

Ashu observed Vivita and Kidopriest from behind. Vivita had sharp insight, and Kidopriest's true nature didn't need to be explained.

Yet, for a long time, Vivita didn't attack him, nor did she say a single word of suspicion.

Why?

Could Kidopriest's hidden abilities truly deceive one of the Twelve Demon-Hunting Nuns – Vivita Taan?

"I brought this man to see the Divine Mother Goddess. Make the arrangements," Vivita said directly.

Kidopriest gave a professional smile, feigning ignorance. "Oh, isn't this Mr. Ashu from Gorn Village? I often preach in Gorn Village. Mr. Ashu is a humble villager. I don't know what he did wrong. Why did you have to come personally?"

As Kidopriest spoke in a sarcastic tone, Ashu remained expressionless, staring at him.

Vivita didn't explain further. She simply said, "Do it. We're in a hurry."

"Oh, of course. Please wait a moment."

Kidopriest rushed into the back and quickly retrieved the tools for interrogation. It wasn't torture instruments, but a kind of religious tool resembling a ruler.

Without a word, Vivita grabbed it and led Ashu to the statue of the Divine Mother Goddess.

"Kneel."

"If I don't?" Ashu muttered, "You can start the certification like that. Let everyone see, even if I'm so disrespectful, the Divine Mother Goddess will still shine her holy light upon me!"

At this scene, Kidopriest was taken aback. He had personally witnessed Ashu's performance in the Cidi temple. This man hadn't believed in the church for eighteen years, but once he stepped on the stage, he could instantly become the chosen of the church.

Still, this time, Ashu didn't say much.

Vivita, seeing this, also took the opportunity to test him. If he was a devoted believer, the Divine Mother Goddess would not blame him. If not...

"By the name of the Holy Radiant Nun, I welcome my God..." Vivita began to recite an exclusive prayer—one that only the Twelve Demon-Hunting Nuns were allowed to speak. Anyone who tried to steal it would not only fail to achieve any effect, but would instead be consumed by the very power they sought to use.

Soon after, under her recitation, the statue of the Divine Mother Goddess began to emit golden light. This golden light quickly enveloped Ashu.

If there was sin within him, the golden light would burn his body.

If there was illness or disease, the golden light would expel it.

Of course, if he were a true model of the righteous path, this golden light would be bestowed upon him, becoming a source of strength that would help him move forward in his journey.