Ok so Sheria is clearly brainwashed right? Been drinking too much of the holy kool-aid. Seems like the story has been setting up that even if Sheria was a terrible person before, something has happened to her since going to the Holy Kingdom that has mentally changed her for the worse.
This is agenda of Pope (Pretty sure he is Player 2, Mel is player 1)
That will conquer this empire with brainwashing
Original Holy water in novel it just Healing Potion i believe, But this new Player 2 step up changing the plot aside
I like the fact that the Pope is like "They'll be resting on their laurels thinking they have won" and in reality Mel's already like: "Okay so let's get prepped and ready for the big bad to come into play because seriously it's time to take down the pope a few pegs"
He's gonna feel so dumb when he realizes he's facing an opponent who understands the simple rule of "There ain't no kill like overkill."