Chapter 127 : Chapter 127

Chapter 127

“……”

He was just a human like me.

The man’s eyes created the illusion that I was being seen through by a God’s Insight.

Unlike the reports that he was in his late 50s, he looked ten years younger.

Amidst that, his snow-white eyebrows seemed to hold both gentleness and strictness.

‘The Pope.’

Claudio de Cronis.

Having sat up, Killian faced the man before him.

‘This man is the pinnacle of the Holy Nation.’

The Holy Nation was a country established for the believers who had gathered to serve the Gods.

The king existed merely as a formality for the country's structure, and not many were unaware that the true power in the Holy Nation was the Pope.

Although the Holy Nation's power was no match for the Empire, his personal influence was a force that did not fall short of the Empire's emperor.

That was the power and value the man before me possessed.

“Killian Eurasia.”

The Pope’s voice was deep and resonant.

“You’ve finally awakened.”

Furthermore, kindness and generosity were mixed within that resonance.

“I greet the representative of the Gods. I apologize for showing myself in this state.”

Killian’s attitude was different from when he dealt with Pierre or Lan.

Chief Priest Pierre de Pantera, Saintess Lan de Styx.

‘He’s different from them.’

Killian politely bowed his head to show his respects, at least from his hospital bed.

“You don’t resemble Simon Eurasia as much as I thought.”

The nuance suggested he had met the king of Eurasia at some point.

“……”

The atmosphere felt from his tone was like facing an unwelcome acquaintance.

‘Is there something going on?’

Although Killian had come to possess a great deal of information after becoming the Annihilation Squad Leader, he knew nothing about the connection between Simon and the Pope.

‘Right now, I need to focus on achieving the purpose of my visit to the Holy Nation.’

It would be best to set aside personal questions for later.

“I heard you were in a meeting.”

“The Consistory ended two days ago.”

“……”

I had been lying down for longer than I had thought.

‘It’s no longer possible to hide the energy of the Grotesquery.’

Chief Priest-level individuals who handled Divine Objects would be able to feel the energy of the Grotesquery from Killian.

Sure enough.

“I can feel an impure energy from you.”

“……”

“Were you suppressing it?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t deny it.”

“I am not foolish enough to lie to His Holiness the Pope.”

For a moment.

“……”

The Pope, who had been silently staring at Killian, opened his mouth.

“You fainted because Veritas’s Divine Object caused a reflux.”

“I was in the middle of a Divine Object reaction experiment.”

“I have received the report.”

“……”

“Lan told me. When she came to her senses, you were holding the Divine Object.”

The Pope emphasized the words ‘Divine Object.’

“Not only did you hold the Divine Object, but you also managed a partial synchronization.”

He explained that as a result, uncontrolled Divine Power had exploded, and everyone who had participated in the reaction experiment had fallen into a reflux.

“Saintess Lan……”

“You need not worry about that child. She overexerted herself to remove the mirror from you, but she does not hold that position for nothing.”

The position of Saintess was granted only to a special individual among the Divine Maidens, who were comparable to Chief Priests.

The Pope defended Lan, whom he had publicly adopted as his daughter.

“But this is surprising. I heard you two don’t get along.”

“……”

“There are not a few who have witnessed Killian Eurasia and Lan de Styx setting their blades against each other.”

‘That delinquent Saintess. She makes my position difficult to the very end.’

The current Pope, Claudio, was known to be conservative.

And yet, rumors of discord had spread with the person he was supposed to build a relationship with as an envoy.

It was not unexpected, but having him harp on it from the first meeting was an unwelcome reaction.

As I was thinking about how to explain it.

“Summoning you was also my personal decision. I have no intention of finding fault with it now.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you know whose Divine Object Veritas’s is?”

“I heard it was the possession of the previous Saintess, Tatia de Veritas.”

“Indeed.”

Veritas’s Divine Object, ‘The Mirror of Truth.’

A Divine Object that no one but the previous Saintess had been able to awaken.

“An object that didn’t even react to the Chief Priest reacted only to you.”

Suddenly.

The Pope thrust his face forward.

Close enough to feel his breath.

“You, what is your relationship with the Grotesquery?”

As if not to miss even the slightest change in expression, the Pope’s eyes stared intently at Killian.

“I believe Chief Priest Pierre has explained it sufficiently.”

I gave the answer I had prepared for the expected question.

“Impudent one. Just as Lan said.”

He reacted as if he had heard an answer he did not like.

“I received a message from Pantera’s Chief Priest. It was so long-winded and rambling that it reminded me of a saint defending a sinner.”

“……”

“Considering that man’s usual disposition, I even thought it was excessive.”

The Pope’s eyes, facing me, were shimmering with a gentle Divine Power as if blessed by a God.

“I will ask again, Killian Eurasia.”

A stern voice echoed in the pure white room.

“What are you plotting?”

Why I was exuding the energy of a Grotesquery, and why I had hidden that energy and accepted his invitation.

“Was your participation in the Divine Object reaction experiment also for the purpose of contacting Veritas’s Divine Object?”

“……”

The Pope simply asked and watched.

Nevertheless, I felt a pressure as if I were facing an 8-star Knight.

‘Did he come here knowing something?’

The Pope’s gaze was still fixed on me.

“Eurasia needs a medium-sized Warp Gate. Chief Priest Pierre gave a positive answer, and I only came to the Papal Office for the final approval.”

I answered with the truth, neither denying nor affirming anything.

The Pope still had a displeased look on his face.

He was different from Pierre, who had been hostile but comparable, or Lan, who had simply tried to play a prank and held no animosity.

‘He can use the Authority of time.’

His deeds of performing numerous miracles while serving as the former Chief Priest of the Cronis Temple proved it.

A man elected as Pope by the unanimous vote of the College of Cardinals.

‘Not only that, but this man is using an incomplete form of Insight.’

I would have to be as careful as when facing a manifested God.

The Pope was expressionless.

‘I can’t read his thoughts.’

He knew that Killian Eurasia had mastered the 7-star level.

Even so, it was impossible to block his Insight so perfectly.

‘As I thought, there is something about him.’

Without avoiding his gaze, Killian opened his mouth.

“I have done nothing. Eurasia and Cornelia were originally kingdoms.”

“Continue.”

The Pope nodded, permitting his defense.

“There was a piece of a Grotesquery in the basement of Brussels’ main castle.”

Also.

“There was also a piece of a Grotesquery deep in the Flask Mountain Range.”

The truth faced while fighting two wars.

“I know why the Holy Nation was keeping an eye on Eurasia and Cornelia.”

But.

“That has nothing to do with the two kingdoms.”

On the contrary, the two families had fought against the Grotesquery and had been pushed to the frontier for a long time, only recently regaining their status as kingdoms.

Therefore, he argued, they could have nothing to do with the Grotesquery.

“Small gates are installed in the Brussels Kingdom and the Romero Kingdom.”

“With those, we cannot supply the frontier.”

Warp stones were not stable enough to transport supplies.

A medium-sized Warp Gate was essential to connect the frontier and the capital.

“The frontier was never meant for humans.”

Humans were the rulers of the continent, but the frontier, adjacent to numerous mountain ranges, was not land for humans.

Living exposed to the threat of monsters inhabiting the mountains was a life that no one would choose unless they were pushed out from the continent.

The frontier was a place where such people gathered, and they formed factions and lived for a long time, blocking the waves of monsters.

Though small, they became families, and though weak, they formed alliances.

“That is also why our Holy Nation built temples in the four frontiers of the east, west, south, and north.”

A barren and worthless land.

“But I am not unaware that it is also a barrier that stands between humanity and the monsters.”

“The capital of Eurasia is no longer a frontier.”

We unified the eastern frontier and established a nation.

“We have to be responsible for numerous citizens and respond to foreign invasions.”

“So a medium-sized Warp Gate is essential?”

“That is correct.”

“That’s sophistry.”

The Pope shook his head.

“To me, it sounds like Eurasia is holding the frontier hostage to expand its power. But even if a wave occurs, the monsters will not be able to cross the frontier.”

If there were signs of a wave, he would dispatch the Holy Knight Order using the temple's Warp Gate.

Moreover, if they procured knights and mages from the numerous kingdoms that received the Holy Nation’s aid, they could easily block the wave.

Even the Empire would not be able to ignore the Holy Nation's request and would send a Superhuman.

“Your words sound like nothing more than Eurasia wanting special treatment from the Holy Nation to grow.”

‘Sophistry.’

A thought that came to Killian’s mind.

“I do not permit the construction of Eurasia’s medium-sized gate.”

‘An irrational choice.’

“We will maintain the existing small gate that was installed in Brussels. The connection with the Grotesquery has not yet been clearly resolved, after all.”

‘Claudio de Cronis. Why is the man who is the de facto ruler of the Holy Nation… making such a foolish choice?’

“You look like you can’t understand.”

“I cannot understand.”

“Politics is not accomplished by military force alone.”

“……”

“Unless one possesses overwhelming military power, that is. Your father knew that as well, which is why he has been holed up in the frontier, holding his breath until now.”

“It sounds like you’re telling me to show you my strength.”

“An arrogant thought. But if you wish, you may do so.”

Sssk.

Mana surged from Killian’s body.

I had determined through our conversation that the reflux had completely recovered.

“The youngest Sword Master, they say. You have the skills to be confident.”

The Pope bent his thumb and index finger.

He twisted the materialized blue Mana as if savoring it.

The Mana scattered powerlessly.

“But this level of military power is common on the continent……”

Rumble.

Uncontrolled Haki was released over the surging Mana.

The Sword Master’s presence, released as if he would listen no more, shook the recovery room.

“I see why you are called the representative of the Gods.”

“You’ll need to be re-educated on etiquette by the Matriarchs.”

Fwoosh.

The Divine Power that bloomed from the Pope’s body neutralized the Haki.

“As for your arrogant attitude.”

Even without using a Divine Object, he made me feel a pressure incomparable to Pierre’s.

“You’re the spitting image of Simon Eurasia.”

Ruuuuuumble!!

Mana and Divine Power clashed, shaking the entire space.

‘He’s trying to induce me to use Carpe Illusion.’

If I failed, it would result in a reflux, and even if I succeeded, it would not put much pressure on the man before me.

‘I hate to admit it… but he’s a monster.’

Just then.

The door to the recovery room opened, and two Holy Knights appeared.

“Your Holiness!!”

“Are you alright?!!”

The two Holy Knights drew their swords in a flash and were about to strike Killian.

“Stop.”

The Pope raised his hand to stop them.

Sssss.

The Mana that had been shaking the area mixed with the Divine Power and subsided.

“There’s no need to make a fuss. I was just indulging a brat’s tantrum.”

His gaze turned to Killian, who was glaring at him.

“The conversation is over.”

“……”

“The use of Eurasia’s medium-sized Warp Gate is not permitted.”

As if driving a final nail.

“Return as soon as your body has recovered, Killian Eurasia.”

The pinnacle of the Holy Nation added.

***

A space prepared in the center of the Papal Office.

Lan de Styx visited the Pope’s office.

“I heard you rejected Eurasia’s proposal.”

“I did.”

“……”

At the answer given without a moment’s hesitation, Lan folded her fan and watched his expression.

“That’s unexpected.”

“Why?”

“Veritas’s Divine Object reacted to him. From the moment he activated Saintess Tatia’s Divine Object, he became a necessary existence for us.”

“Why did you do such a thing?”

“……”

She was not foolish enough not to understand the meaning of the question.

“He was arrogant.”

His attitude towards her, the Saintess, seemed to disregard the authority of the Holy Nation, so she had intended to punish him.

If he had met the Pope in that state.

“I thought Father would wastefully use his power.”

“As for power, I have wasted enough of it recovering that man. Do you have any other excuses?”

“Afterward, curiosity arose.”

The existence named Killian Eurasia, who drew Divine Objects as if he were resented by the Gods.

“I began to wonder.”

Why the Divine Objects reacted so strongly only to him.

“Is that why you brought out Tatia’s Divine Object?”

“Yes.”

Lan nodded her head.

“Because of your petty curiosity, you almost died.”

A being blessed by the Gods.

She had handled not only Styx’s Divine Object but numerous others without ever experiencing symptoms of a reflux.

Such a woman.

“You almost died when two of your hearts ruptured due to the Divine Object’s rampage.”

“But I am alive like this.”

“The God Styx must have helped you.”

Haah.

Claudio sighed.

Sometimes she showed a meticulousness that even he found astounding, but at other times, she did not hesitate to carry out such reckless plans.

“It’s in the past. So, how was he?”

“What was?”

“That man must have made contact with Lady Veritas.”

“It was a coincidence.”

“Father, you have a tendency to dismiss situations you don't like as coincidence.”

“……”

After a silence, Lan opened her mouth.

“Since you seem reluctant, I will not ask further.”

“Thank you very much.”

“How did the conference go?”

As she had also been unconscious, she had not yet properly heard what had happened at the Consistory.

“It seems the king has joined hands with the Empire.”

“He finally… made a foolish choice.”

“For now, watch quietly. The Cardinals will surely make a move.”

“If we act after they have made their move, it will be too late.”

“That is the only ‘best result’ I have seen.”

“……”

“……”

The gazes of the father and daughter met in the air for a moment.

“You may leave now.”

“I understand.”

After Lan left, Claudio, alone in his office, took a sip of tea.

“Tatia.”

Tatia de Veritas.

He spoke the name of the previous Saintess.

Her clear eyes, smiling, came to his mind vividly.

“I still do not understand your choice.”

A bitter smile formed on the Pope’s lips.

“Why did you trust a man like Simon Eurasia?”

He was the one who could see into the future.

Why.

“Did you bet the future on that man?”

In a place protected as securely as an iron fortress by numerous Holy Knights and Divine Objects, it was a monologue that no one could hear.

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