Chapter 113 : Chapter 113

Chapter 113 : Audience (8)

Only the Saintess and I remained in the once bustling Aquiris Temple of the Holy Order.

It was a private audience requested by the Saintess, Serel Iagar.

At a single word from the still-young woman, the renowned clergy of the Holy Order bowed their heads and withdrew.

Immediately after I was proclaimed the new apostle of the Holy Order, Serel dismissed the people.

An apostle proclaimed by the order was not always present.

This was because an apostle was not chosen by humans, but by a god.

The position of apostle had been vacant for nearly 100 years.

For that reason, the clergy, who were all the more interested in the newly appointed apostle, had no choice but to look forward to the next time.

“Is there anything you wish to say to me privately?”

“Yes, there is. Lord Polarin, you have also met God, haven't you?”

“Yes, I had the opportunity to meet God.”

“It is unusual for the God of Peace to grant an audience to a non-believer. Of course, meeting a god itself is unusual.”

“Indeed, Lord Everchen also told me that he had never spoken with God.”

Serel smiled brightly at the mention of her brother’s name.

Just like Everchen, they seemed to be a very affectionate pair of siblings.

“Everchen is a paladin who is greatly loved by God. But it will still be difficult for him to meet God.”

“It seems there are few even within the order.”

“In this era, you and I are the only ones who have had an audience with God, Lord Polarin.”

I had some inkling that meeting a god would be rare, but I hadn't known that the Saintess and I were the only ones in this era.

However, the reason Serel had a private audience with me was probably not just for the sake of camaraderie.

“So, what was it you wanted to talk about?”

“The Holy Order will spread the news of the new apostle’s appearance far and wide, and thereby gather the strength of the believers. In other words, we will be using you, Lord Polarin.”

“That is fine. I, too, will be able to benefit from the Holy Order.”

At first glance, it was a calculated exchange.

It was no different from saying that we would each use the other to our best advantage.

I didn't think of her as a worldly religious figure.

I knew well that just because someone was a religious figure didn't mean they were beings who selflessly served the world.

The luxurious streets of Aquiris were probably not born out of thin air.

They must have grown into what they were now through transactions, built upon what the believers had offered by opening their pockets, little by little.

Becoming the greatest religious group on the continent was proof of their great skill.

“I like that we can get straight to the point. But I don't mean that we will just use you. We also intend to support you, Lord Polarin. What is your current goal, Lord Polarin?”

“I will conquer Myeolji.”

I answered at once, without hesitation.

I had confessed my purpose in this world not infrequently.

Yet, it was not tiresome.

The more I spoke, the more my will solidified and it was interesting to see the different reactions of the people who heard my purpose.

Serel’s reaction was befitting of a Saintess.

As soon as I said I would conquer Myeolji, divine power began to spread from her body.

Feeling a sense of novelty at this unprecedented reaction, I rambled on about my plan.

Serel listened attentively, sometimes nodding, sometimes adding a word of encouragement.

I spent quite a long time explaining what I intended to do and the necessary steps.

And finally, I put all my strength into my voice.

“I will bring peace to the new Demon King of Myeolji through death.”

“Perhaps because you met God, you speak quite like a believer.”

Serel smiled brightly, just as she had when Everchen’s story came up.

But there was something I wanted to resolve.

For Everchen and Serel to be able to laugh as they did now, Serel must not abuse her divine power as she was doing.

The cure for Divine Petrification was only a temporary treatment, not a fundamental solution.

In the end, I had to get the promise I hadn't been able to hear before Serel collapsed.

“Please refrain from using divine power now.”

“I cannot… As an apostle has the role of an apostle, a Saintess has the role of a Saintess.”

I didn't know what the role of a Saintess Serel spoke of.

But it was true that she seemed to feel a compulsion to use her divine power.

When I played Tune World, the role of a Saintess certainly existed, but there was no obligation to use divine power to the point of compulsion.

“What is the role of a Saintess?”

“The Saintess of the Holy Order has, for generations, had to devote her miracles to the divine magic that forms the dome of Myeolji. It is an important task to prevent Demonic Energy from leaking out of the dome and polluting the world.”

As Serel continued to speak, no sense of responsibility or suffering could be seen on her face.

She was just smiling, as if she were happy to have been entrusted with a noble duty.

“This is a duty that only I can perform. It is not something I can ask of others.”

“No, stop.”

“If I stop, the cracks in the dome will grow larger, and the dome may break even earlier than it would now.”

“The dome will eventually break anyway.”

“That may be so, but I must suppress it as much as possible…”

“No, do not sacrifice yourself for that. Rather, take care of the people. I will solve the problem of the dome.”

I cut off Serel’s words and spoke firmly.

Serel’s voice began to tremble.

“How?”

“Did you not say that an apostle also has the duty of an apostle? On the day the dome opens, I will lead an expedition and conquer Myeolji. Until then, you, Saintess, should not bear it all alone, but trust in people.”

Serel may have thought she was fulfilling her self-imposed duty, but it could also have been that she didn't trust others.

“Many people know that the dome will soon break and many are working hard to prepare for that time. You, too, Lady Serel, instead of trying to suppress the dome, should take care of others in the name of the Holy Order and encourage them.”

Serel finally nodded.

“I will do as you say, Lord Polarin. I will try to trust people more. …I think I also understand why the God of Peace made you an apostle, Lord Polarin.”

And then she continued with a surprising story.

“The God of Peace said that you and Lord Adjak are connected.”

“Yes, I am Lord Adjak’s successor.”

“Lord Adjak was also once an apostle of the Holy Order. He said you inherited a lot from him.”

I had never openly revealed to others that I had inherited the power of the Dragon Heart or the Tunes that Adjak had.

But it seemed meaningless to hide information from Serel, who had heard the story from God.

“And he also told me that you, Lord Polarin, possess the power to drive out Demonic Energy.”

“…Yes, that’s right. It’s probably thanks to the Dragon Heart.”

She really knew everything.

Since I had decided to be honest, I admitted everything.

But Serel shook her head firmly at my words.

“No, it is by no means the power of the Dragon Heart alone.”

“It’s not?”

“If the Dragon Heart could drive out Demonic Energy, all dragons would have been able to do so. Many dragons participated in Lord Adjak’s expedition, but among them, only Lord Adjak could drive out Demonic Energy.”

“What you mean is…”

“Yes, the legacy you inherited from Lord Adjak, Lord Polarin, is not the Dragon Heart, but the nature to overcome Demonic Energy. It is a trait that only you in this world possess.”

Hearing Serel’s words, I felt as if I had been hit hard on the head.

It was an obvious thing to say, but why hadn't I thought of it?

I remembered the last voice of Adjak I had heard on Earth.

My descendant, I leave my legacy for you.

You can do it.

Surpass me.

And as soon as I was born in this world, I recognized that a Dragon Heart was beating inside my body.

So, I naturally thought that what Adjak had passed down to me was the Dragon Heart.

But after hearing Serel’s words, it became clear.

Many of the things I had done so far were accomplished with Adjak’s legacy.

I didn't know exactly how I had been able to drive out the Demonic Energy that had possessed Derix’s body.

Nevertheless, I thought I could do it naturally, and I actually did it.

Even drawing a three-dimensional magic circle seemed to be a similar principle.

The traits I had from birth were not just the Dragon Heart.

‘Adjak’s legacy’ itself was no different from a trait.

Just by realizing that fact, a change occurred within me.

The way to deal with Demonic Energy became clear in my mind.

And I could understand my Mana better.

It was a mysterious phenomenon.

Just by understanding the traits I possessed, many things, including my Mana control, had improved.

“The power to drive out Demonic Energy, that is what made Lord Adjak an apostle of the Holy Order. Since you possess the same power as Lord Polarin, you are fully qualified to be an apostle.”

Serel smiled brightly and said with a powerful voice,

“We must welcome the birth of a new apostle. Let us proceed with the coronation ceremony.”

***

I had achieved everything I had set out to do in Aquiris Sanctuary.

No, I had obtained more than that.

I had learned the true identity of Maron, and I had also found a way for Maron to regain his power and divinity.

That wasn't all.

I realized that I had, without my knowledge, become the apostle of the God of Death, Maron.

And I had become the apostle of a being of the same kind, the Holy Order, the largest religion in the present world.

Furthermore, by healing the Saintess, I was treated as a benefactor by the clergy of the Holy Order.

Among them was Itilus, one of the Twelve Swords of Adjak and the Vice Grand Master of the Holy Order’s Paladin Order.

Itilus swore to be my strength at any time.

This was much more than I had initially aimed for.

I could have left the island immediately and prepared for the next step.

But under the Saintess’s support, I was waiting for the coronation ceremony to announce the birth of a new apostle in the Holy Order.

The Holy Order immediately announced the birth of a new apostle and was busy inviting the influential figures of the continent to hold a grand coronation ceremony.

Aquiris Sanctuary was a place difficult to set foot in unless invited.

It was extremely rare to invite non-clergy to a sanctuary event.

Thus, influential figures from all over the continent were gathering on the island for the coronation ceremony.

Among them were some people I knew well.

“Lady Labella, it’s been a while. Thank you for coming.”

“Lord Polarin, you truly… always surprises me.”

“Haha, I didn't expect this either.”

“Everyone in the Magic Research Department wants to see you, Lord Polarin. Mumbel was so angry at not being invited that he tried to destroy the entire research department.”

“Lord Mumbel is really something… I will definitely visit Ostrum someday to greet him.”

“Will you be able to? It seems you’ve become too famous, so it might be difficult.”

From Labella of the Magic Research Department, to Marquis Rodos of the Western Noble Coalition, I greeted them.

“I will set a date for your speech at the Imperial Plaza as soon as possible.”

“Yes, please do.”

“Now, it is I who must make a request. Congratulations on becoming an apostle of the Holy Order.”

Although the influential figures of the continent had been invited, many of them were close to me.

It was thanks to the consideration of the Saintess, Serel.

Among them was an unexpected person.

‘The legendary agent of Tello, Agamben, is here?’

Seeing the leader I had never met since joining Tello, I braced myself without realizing it.

And for good reason.

I was still an agent of Tello.

Tello was also the only group I officially belonged to.

“It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time, I am Tello agent Polarin Adjak. It is an honor to meet you!”

“Nice to meet you. No need to be so formal. Are you not the one who has best found his own path in Tello?”

Agamben was a middle-aged man with sharp features and neatly slicked-back hair.

When he was staying in Ostrum with Eidon, he had praised Agamben until my ears bled.

He was the person he respected the most and wanted to be like.

However, I had only thought of Agamben as a legendary figure within Tello, so it was hard to know how he had been invited here.

And for good reason.

Even Marquis Renwood, with whom I had first formed a connection in the Western Noble Coalition, had not been invited.

“You have a lot of questions on your face. Do you have any plans after your coronation?”

“No! Is there anything you wish to command?”

“Actually, that’s why I came. I thought it would be best if I told you myself.”

Tello was an organization that basically operated on the autonomy of its agents.

But on the other hand, there were rumors that everything was moved by Agamben’s hand.

It was rare for Agamben to personally step forward and assign a mission, but I had heard that whenever he did, the most important events in Tello took place.

“As soon as the coronation is over, could you go to Myeolji? The situation there is unusual.”

“Yes, I understand. I will go immediately after the coronation.”

“The sooner the better. I’ve already told the Holy Order to lend you a ship, so don’t worry and go. Because…”

Did Agamben’s influence extend even to the Holy Order?

Even Eidon didn't know Agamben well, so I couldn't guess.

However, a story I had truly not expected flowed from Agamben’s mouth.

“Sir Tayon Adjak is in danger.”

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