Chapter 124 : Chapter 124

Chapter 124

An hour after Saintess Lan's unilateral order for him to leave.

Bergo, who came to find the lone Killian, apologized and served him tea in a nearby reception room.

And he delivered some unexpected news.

“A Consistory ?”

“Yes. It is a gathering where His Holiness the Pope discusses the will of the Gods with the twenty-nine Cardinals for nine days.”

This time, it was not a regular meeting, so it had been prepared secretly even within the Holy Nation.

Bergo explained in a gentle tone.

That was not what Killian wanted to hear.

‘Whether it’s a Consistory or a Papal conference.’

Suppressing the words he wanted to say, he looked at Bergo, who was drinking tea with a good-natured face.

“Why is it being held now?”

“Representing the will of the Gods is not an easy task.”

“If you had told us from the beginning, we would have come according to the schedule.”

“Oh my, did Chief Priest Pierre not tell you? I quietly informed him when he conveyed your intention to visit.”

“……”

“Hahaha.”

Bergo smiled with a knowing look.

“There seems to have been some misunderstanding.”

‘That bastard Pierre.’

It seemed there was a reason he had been wearing that strange smile until he left.

“It began two days ago, so you will only have to wait one more week. Still, compared to others, your wait is on the shorter side.”

“……”

Killian silently emptied the tea into his mouth.

He was someone who had always coped with situations by building strength when he lacked it, and creating a justification when he needed one.

But against the Holy Nation, all those methods were awkward.

To use force would put the kingdom in a difficult position, and to create a justification was impossible when they were just now establishing the kingdom’s foundation and could not treat the Holy Nation carelessly.

The Holy Kingdom Luminescia.

A nation with the structure of a kingdom, but with an influence so great it could rival the Empire.

The current state of Eurasia was that it had no choice but to be in a thoroughly subordinate position against them.

‘One week.’

It might be an insignificant amount of time for others, but not for Killian.

‘At this rate, the potion’s duration will run out. It’s been a series of variables even before meeting the Pope.’

The Grotesquery’s energy that Killian currently possessed was not detected by the Priests.

‘The Saintess also didn’t seem to have noticed anything particularly strange.’

But what if the potion’s effect wore off?

At that point, not only the Divine Objects installed in the Papal Office but also the ordinary Priests and the Holy Objects they possessed might detect the Grotesquery’s energy.

Although Pierre had supposedly given the Pope a heads-up, that Pope was currently attending a meeting and not even showing his face.

Amidst all this, it was also a mystery why the Holy Object had attacked him.

Looking back, some Divine Objects reacted, and some did not.

‘Nothing is certain yet……. Should I have pushed myself to bring Demian instead?’

Wouldn’t he have found a way to solve the problem even while I was away?

Killian regretted it belatedly.

“During your stay, I will be in charge to ensure you have no inconveniences.”

“That is a relief.”

“Has there been no progress in your relationship with Lady Lan?”

At the mention of the Saintess, Killian’s face contorted.

“Hahaha. I understand.”

She had a rather eccentric personality, but was thoughtful and affectionate.

“Just because one is a priest doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy alcohol and tobacco.”

Bergo justified the Saintess’s deviant behavior.

“It seems to be more than just simple enjoyment.”

“Hahahaha.”

The Old Priest seemed to try to smooth things over with an awkward laugh.

Currently, she was negotiating with Sharle and Julian.

She was a woman who understood the position of the Holy Nation well and knew how to use it better than anyone.

One could tell just by seeing that she chose Julian, not him, as Eurasia’s negotiating partner.

‘There’s a limit to what Julian can promise, so if anyone’s getting fleeced, it would be the Sepia side… A religious person skilled in politics. What kind of a representative of the Gods is that.’

The Holy Kingdom, whose influence on humanity was said to be comparable to the Empire’s.

It was common for the king to lead politics and the priests to lead religion.

The Holy Nation was the opposite.

They had a system where the Pope held authority over both politics and religion.

That was likely why people like Esteban de Pantera appeared.

“In my view, Sir Killian, you have some similarities to Lady Lan.”

“You are mistaken.”

“A strong denial is also a form of strong affirmation.”

Bergo smiled faintly and continued.

“Lady Lan also became a Divine Maiden at a young age and rose to her current position. In terms of skill, she is widely acclaimed as one of the best among all the Saintesses in history.”

“Her consumption of luxury goods also seems to be among the best.”

Although he replied with sarcasm, Bergo’s words were not wrong at all.

Her Divine Power, without using a Divine Object, was not lacking compared to Pierre who had used one before.

It was an unbelievable level for someone in their thirties.

‘Well, it would be difficult to think of Divine Power in the same way as mana.’

Unlike mana, which was a result of the combination of innate talent and acquired effort, Divine Power was a force that only the ‘chosen ones’ could obtain.

Priests of an ordinary level were common in the Holy Nation, but to become a Chief Priest, one had to be chosen, as if blessed, by the respective God.

‘Without knowing that it’s a poisoned chalice.’

Then and now, I did not like it.

It was when Killian was spitting out curse-like words inwardly.

“So you were here.”

Lan entered, accompanied by Sharle and Julian.

“Are the negotiations over?”

“Yes. Lady Lan has shown us consideration. As the representative of the delegation, I don’t know how I can ever repay this grace.”

“Please keep your personal feelings to yourself.”

“……?”

“It seems we have to stay for at least another week because of the Consistory. Were you aware?”

Killian asked, looking at the Saintess.

Sharle and Julian looked flustered at his cold tone.

The corner of Lan’s lips twitched.

“Fourth Prince, it seems you need to learn a thing or two from your older brother here. A ‘boy’ with not a single cute bone in his body.”

“The way of education in Eurasia is to speak with the sword.”

“Killian! What is this disrespectful tone!!”

Julian belatedly shouted, but.

“Stay out of this, brother.”

“……!!”

He flinched at Killian’s cold response.

“You may have cooked my brother to your liking, but not me.”

“Hoh?”

The Saintess’s fine brow twitched.

It was the same reaction as when she had ordered him to leave.

“Prince Julian, it seems handling your younger brother is not easy.”

“Th-That is……”

“No need to be ashamed. Taming a wild beast is also part of the Gods’ teachings.”

“Ahem……”

A blushing Julian bowed his head.

Sharle, who had been watching, opened her mouth.

“It would be troublesome to expend so much energy from the morning.”

“Sharle, is this because you two are in marriage talks?”

“Lady Lan, I too have a position to maintain.”

“Is that so? Then it would be better for you to side with me. For the sake of national interest, it seems a more constructive conversation could be had with a sensible mage than with a self-willed knight.”

“Sir Killian sometimes shows a childish side. It is not out of malice, so I hope Lady Lan will be generous enough to accept it.”

“The direct descendants of Cornelia are all wise.”

Sharle and Lan exchanged a peculiar glance.

‘They get along perfectly. Well, if she can lead the negotiations in Cornelia’s favor, it would be beneficial for Eurasia as well.’

Sharle was different from the clumsy Julian.

There would be no reason to interfere with her conversation with the Saintess.

Above all, Killian’s purpose for visiting this place was to meet the Pope.

There was no need to waste his energy on the Saintess.

“If you are going to talk about negotiations, would you please leave? I am in the middle of an important secret talk with Priest Bergo.”

“Wrong. There is no place in the Papal Office I cannot go. If you are a guest, act like one.”

“Let us go, Priest Bergo. It seems we have been asked to leave from here as well.”

“Hahaha. Please calm down, Sir Killian. Did Lady Lan not come here because she had something to say as well?”

“Priest Bergo is right.”

Tak.

She folded the fan she was holding and pointed it at Killian.

“Something has come up that I need you to do. This matter has already been discussed with Julian here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ahem. There was an attack from the Holy Object a little while ago, was there not?”

“That is true.”

“The Holy Knight Order in charge of the Papal Office’s security also seemed bewildered.”

“……?”

At Killian’s cold gaze, Julian cleared his throat.

“In exchange for cooperating in finding out the reason while we wait for the Consistory to end.”

“In exchange?”

“She promised to increase the number of priests dispatched to the capital, Brussels, in the future.”

“……”

For Julian, it was not a bad negotiation.

“Princess Sharle here proposed it.”

‘I knew it.’

“I thought it was not a bad proposal.”

‘It certainly is not a bad proposal.’

As the number of priests increased, life in Eurasia would become more stable.

‘And I was also curious about the Holy Object’s reaction.’

“I thought that you and Lady Lan might be able to find the cause of the Holy Object’s reaction.”

I could trust Sharle, if not the Saintess before me.

‘It wouldn’t be a bad idea to damage a few Holy Objects on this occasion.’

“If you are afraid of the reflux phenomenon, you may refuse. Of course, if you do, the condition will be nullified.”

Thinking of tormenting Killian through the Holy Object.

“I was merely worried that the Holy Object might break.”

Thinking of breaking a few more of the despicable Holy Objects on this occasion.

“I accept the proposal.”

“You insolent thing.”

The two readily accepted Sharle’s proposal.

***

A villa somewhere on the continent.

A man appeared on top of a Warp stone.

“Your Highness, why have you come out here?”

The man with long, flowing white hair bowed politely.

“I was waiting to have a cup of tea with you.”

The blond man, sitting in the garden, savored the aroma of tea as he spoke.

“I can only apologize for taking up your precious time.”

“If we are to speak of the preciousness of time, wouldn’t that of a Magic Tower’s Master be more precious than that of an idler like myself?”

The First Prince, Crusty Heinrich, replied with a good-natured face.

“You are too kind.”

The White Duke, Rastian Arken.

One of only two 8-star mages in the Empire and the master of the White Magic Tower.

The man who supported the First Prince Crusty spoke politely.

“Sit.”

He sat opposite Crusty.

“The tea has a fine aroma.”

“It was sent by a Cardinal from the Holy Nation a while ago. It seems to be imbued with the grace of the Gods.”

“I see.”

The White Duke quietly drank his tea.

After a moment of silence, he spoke first.

“Your realm has also deepened.”

“It is a shameful achievement compared to my master.”

“Not at all. Throughout the continent, Your Highness’s talent is the greatest.”

He had stabilized the 7-star level before the age of thirty-five.

No matter how much he had been taught by an 8-star mage and consumed numerous spiritual and secret medicines, it would have been impossible if his vessel was not prepared to accept it all.

“Have you heard the news about Isaac?”

“Yes. It seems the treatment of his wound is not easy.”

The Second Prince had volunteered to support a small kingdom adjacent to the western Frontier, only to be severely beaten and seriously injured by a Superhuman from Cornelia.

That was the rumor circulating in the Empire.

“Isaac has always been a hot-blooded child. I hear the White Duke’s injuries are not light either.”

“It has not yet been confirmed, but it is thought to be an injury serious enough to consider damage to his very core.”

The injury of an Imperial Magic Tower Master, not just any ordinary Superhuman.

That meant there was a blow to the Empire’s military power.

It also meant that Isaac’s position in the war for the throne had become precarious.

“Well, well…… to be tripped up in such an unexpected place.”

Crusty clicked his tongue as if it were a pity.

Unlike his words, his eyes were smiling.

The Emperor was like the sun of the Empire.

There could not be two suns.

The loser in the war for the throne would have to risk their life.

In the war for the throne that had become a two-way battle, Isaac, who had bet his life on the Magic Tower of the Frontier, had collapsed on his own.

“I should take this opportunity to poach some of the Superhumans attached to him.”

“I am already doing so.”

The White Duke said calmly.

“How do you know my mind so well? I do not understand why His Majesty the Emperor does not grant the wish of someone like you.”

“How could a mage like myself presume to guess the insight of the almighty one?”

“There is no need to be so modest.”

“……”

“When I become Emperor, your dream will also come true.”

“I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude.”

“So, what is happening with the Holy Nation? Shouldn’t the fruits of our labor start to show soon?”

“As a matter of fact, I came to report on that very matter.”

Clearing his throat once, the White Duke began to deliver the news he had prepared.

“A Consistory presided over by the Pope is underway.”

He reported that several Synods would be held after, and soon a Conclave would be convened.

“A Consistory. Still a long way to go.”

“It is a matter of replacing the symbol of the Holy Nation.”

While Isaac was pouring his strength into the Frontier, they had been pouring their efforts into seizing control of the Holy Nation.

It had not been a short time.

In the meantime, they had appeased the king of the Holy Nation and made the Cardinals distrust the Gods.

“Now that I have obtained a power like that of a God.”

Ssssss.

Divine Power rippled from Crusty’s body.

“Authority. Isn’t it truly a great power? If it weren’t for you, I would have dabbled in trivial powers like Isaac.”

“If you endure just a little longer, you will reap a great harvest.”

“Yes. If you need anything, feel free to use it at any time. The war for the throne was becoming rather tedious.”

As he emptied his teacup, mana was overlaid on top of the Divine Power.

“The Pope’s head. I hope His Majesty will be satisfied with that.”

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