Chapter 128 : Chapter 128

Chapter 128

A few hours after Killian heard the Pope's one-sided order to leave, he returned to his room, escorted by a Holy Knight.

The first person to visit him was Sharle.

“I heard you’ve woken up.”

“Yes. You seem to be alright?”

“I do not take the dangers of Divine Objects lightly.”

She chided that both Killian and Lan had acted on useless pride and almost gotten into big trouble.

“I’ve had enough nagging from the Pope.”

At the word ‘Pope,’ Sharle’s delicate brow furrowed.

“Don't tell me you met him?”

“He was right in front of me when I woke up.”

“……”

“To get straight to the point, I was not granted permission to use the medium-sized gate.”

“But……”

“There's no reason to stay here any longer. Let's go back.”

We had already spent enough time, but with no results.

Now we had to go back, report this, and think of a way for Eurasia to survive without a Warp Gate.

That was the thought behind my words.

“Instead of that, how about we meet him one more time?”

“The Pope’s mind seemed made up. Unless the situation improves with Julian staying behind, it’s a waste of time.”

Just like when I first dealt with Pierre, the Pope was pushing Eurasia away without revealing his true intentions.

Nor was he an opponent I could subdue with force like Pierre.

‘If I caused such a scene in the Papal Office, a war would break out.’

“What if we use your biological response to the Divine Object as a condition? It’s surely a condition that would tempt the Holy Nation……”

“Sharle, I refuse any more biological experiments. My decision to return remains unchanged.”

“……I understand.”

A short while later, a stern-faced Julian came to visit.

After pouring out the obvious greetings like he was worried because I had collapsed and asking if my Mana Heart was okay.

“The Imperial envoy has arrived. It seems they plan to have an audience with the Pope.”

He told me the reason for his stern expression.

Killian’s face wrinkled.

“Even more reason not to stay.”

“Huh?”

“I met the Pope. The negotiations have broken down.”

“What does that mean……”

I once again summarized my brief conversation with the Pope.

“If that’s the case, my achievements……”

“Did you enjoy your tour of the Holy Nation? Consider it a study abroad.”

“Th-that……”

Just as Julian’s face crumpled, unable to accept reality.

This time, Lan came to visit.

“I heard the story from His Holiness. It's a shame things turned out this way.”

“If you had refused from the beginning, we would have been spared the trouble of coming.”

“That’s true. Seeing you speak the truth, did your synchronization with the Divine Object affect you in some way?”

Killian silently met Lan’s eyes.

Unwavering and calm.

I could tell after spending a few days with her.

Her words and actions were a bit rough, but she was not a bad person.

She probably would not have said anything disadvantageous to Eurasia.

‘If she wasn't some kind of apostle of the Gods, we might have become closer.’

“Wait a little.”

“……?”

“It hasn't been long since the Consistory ended. There probably won't be any available slots for the Warp Gate right now.”

“We will travel by Warp stone.”

“If you come by gate and return by Warp stone, it will start rumors.”

If that happened, Eurasia’s diplomacy would face difficulties from the start, she said, showing an uncharacteristic consideration.

‘Well, even if it faces difficulties, how many places would want to engage with a country hostile to the Empire anyway?’

“You’re taking my consideration lightly?”

“I was under the impression our relationship wasn't good.”

“I may not care about you, but I can't treat these people poorly. Isn’t that right, Julian?”

“Lady Lan… I don’t know how to repay this kindness……”

“There is still a tremor in your voice when you call me. You can be at ease.”

Tap.

Julian’s body trembled slightly at the touch of the Saintess’s fan.

“It is an honor.”

His face was red, and his eyes were shaking violently as if they had lost their way.

‘This Julian fellow acts strangely if I leave him alone for even a moment.’

Just as I was about to refuse Lan’s offer.

“Sir Killian has a tendency to only see what's right in front of him.”

Sharle interjected.

“Even though we failed to achieve our goal, we are still here on an official visit representing our country.”

“……”

With even Sharle saying this, it was difficult to just push forward.

After all, I was the one who had brought Cornelia in to make the negotiations more favorable.

“How long will it take?”

“Wait four days. I’ll prepare everything so you can go to the Pantera Temple as quickly as possible.”

She said she would tell the Holy Knights not to get entangled with the Imperial envoy during that time.

She showed a continuous, unexpected consideration.

‘Four days. It’s a short time for a final stay in the Holy Nation.’

It did not take long to realize that thought was wrong.

***

The last day in the Holy Nation.

Since I could no longer hide the energy of the Grotesquery, Killian was in a more dangerous situation than before.

Of course, the fact about the Grotesquery and the severed connection with the Gods was known only to a few Cardinals and Chief Priest-level individuals, but.

‘There’s no harm in being careful.’

Sharle had gone with Lan to see the place where the Divine Objects were stored, and Julian had left to observe the training of Hector and the Holy Knights.

Killian had no choice but to remain alone in his room.

No, he was not alone.

Slurp.

In front of Killian, the Old Priest was emptying his teacup.

“In the end, you’re spending the last day with me.”

“I'm fine being alone.”

“No, you are a guest whom Pierre personally saw off. It is only right that I take responsibility until the end.”

“You seem bored.”

“Hehe. Was I caught?”

Bergo smiled and continued.

“I heard your conversation with His Holiness did not go well.”

“Yes. It seems the news has already spread.”

“You’ve gone through a lot of trouble for nothing.”

“Fortunately, it wasn’t entirely without results.”

“……?”

This time, Killian sipped his tea without answering.

Through the reaction experiment, I had confirmed enough that the Divine Objects held a grudge against me.

‘Until now, it was hard to be sure.’

Meeting Veritas through the Divine Object made it certain.

‘Apart from the emission of the Grotesquery’s energy, the Gods are still hostile to me, who was once Adamas.’

And that even though the shell had changed, the eyes of the Gods could not be deceived.

Killian recalled Veritas's meaningful words.

‘That one, she spoke as if the Gods hiding themselves had something to do with me.’

Though she avoided answering in the end, she had definitely hinted at it.

‘In any case, the Gods, as well as the Holy Nation that follows them, are still not a trustworthy bunch.’

Not being able to use the medium-sized gate was a shame, but I would have to find a new way.

‘I’ll be busy when I get back.’

“Is Pierre doing well?”

“……”

It was a bit too late to be asking after his adopted son's well-being.

“He’s healthy. So healthy it’s almost burdensome.”

Come to think of it, Pierre had never mentioned the Old Priest before me.

“Weren't you in frequent contact?”

“We haven’t had direct contact since that child went to the Pantera Temple.”

“What an ungrateful Chief Priest.”

“Hahaha. It's true he has his shortcomings, but please don't think too badly of him.”

Suddenly, Bergo's face turned serious.

“Sir Killian.”

“Please speak.”

“Do you believe in the Gods, Sir?”

“I do not.”

“That’s an overly honest answer for someone in the Holy Nation, right where the Papal Office is located.”

“I’m just like that.”

“Well, I thought you might say that.”

‘Why is he suddenly asking this?’

I had various conversations with Bergo during my stay here, but not like this.

“Sir, what do you think of the current Holy Nation?”

“I see it as a nation of hypocrites.”

Hypocrites who entrusted the fate of humanity to the Gods.

And the ignorant masses who followed such people.

It was an assessment that only someone with lingering hostility towards the Gods could make.

“Hypocrites… I see.”

After being lost in his own thoughts for a moment.

“What about the king of the Holy Nation?”

Bergo suddenly threw a new question.

Killian recalled the information about the Holy Nation’s king that he had learned through the Annihilation Squad.

France de Saint.

Unlike the Priests, who took the name of the God they served, the royalty took the name Saint.

Six hundred years had passed since the era of rampant temples had passed, and the religions had been unified into one Holy Nation.

During that time, numerous Popes and kings had changed, but there had never been a time when the king’s authority surpassed the Pope's.

“A scarecrow.”

“……”

“If you wish for an objective assessment, that is how I can answer.”

At the direct answer, Bergo opened his mouth with a strange expression.

“What if, the one who was nothing more than a scarecrow, tried to regain his power.”

He paused for a moment before the following words, which were meaningful.

“And thus, tried to become the true sun.”

“……”

“Sir, whose hand would you take?”

My intuition told me.

“Are you now plotting a rebellion……”

“A rebellion is.”

Bergo, cutting off Killian’s words, smiled brightly.

“A word used when an unjust person usurps the throne of a just one.”

“……”

“Wouldn't it be more appropriate for administrators to manage things like Warp Gates rather than Priests?”

I had heard something I should not have.

‘This has become a headache.’

“It seems I have taken up too much of your time.”

Bergo ended the conversation with a hearty laugh.

“Please rest now.”

In the place where the Old Priest had left.

Killian, left alone, emptied his teacup.

The Papal Office, which had wielded its power for a long time without wavering.

In that place, protected by numerous Divine Objects.

“……”

Something ominous was stirring.

In the evening, the party that had gone out returned.

Julian, who came to see Killian first, chattered with a flushed face.

He said he had gone to see the sparring match with the Holy Knight Order that Lan had arranged.

Instead of participating himself, he had put Hector forward.

It would be an utter disgrace if the prince of a nation were to be defeated, but it was a different story for a Centurion.

Hector had won against 3-star level Holy Knights but had lost to 4-star Holy Knights.

‘That Hector fellow. His speech and actions are no different from a mercenary's, but his swordsmanship and stamina are at the level of a knight.’

I could assert that his skills were superior to most 4-star knights.

The knights of Eurasia did not teach the sword carelessly.

‘Does that mean even someone like him has a hard time against opponents of a similar level?’

Unlike knights, whose Mana Heart’s rank was divided by stars , a Holy Knight's Hollyheart was proportional to their faith and talent.

They strengthened their sword and body by cloaking them in Divine Power and used their Authorities like magic.

It must have felt like facing a Magic Swordsman.

“I’ve gained a lot of experience from this visit. I plan to strengthen the training of the Blue Knight Order when I return. If only we could produce a 5-star knight……”

“We’re leaving tomorrow.”

“What……?”

“Prepare to leave.”

At the sudden words, a look of bewilderment crossed Julian's face.

“But didn’t Lady Lan tell us to wait?”

“An offer is just an offer, there’s no need to follow it.”

“But if we do that, Eurasia's prestige……”

“Julian.”

Killian looked at his brother with a firm gaze.

Julian’s body flinched as a bad memory resurfaced.

“Something unusual is happening in the Holy Nation.”

“……!!”

“We will leave as soon as the sun rises tomorrow. Inform Hector quietly. I will tell Sharle.”

“Ah, I understand.”

He was truly a simple-minded brother.

‘The Holy Nation Luminescia.’

A country built for the Gods who were my ancient enemies.

But in the end, a land of hypocrites corrupted by human desire.

“Then and now, it’s as gloomy as ever.”

The next day.

“I cannot permit it.”

In front of the Warp stone they had sought out early in the morning, a Priest informed them that it was unusable.

“That’s strange.”

Sharle, who was watching, interjected.

“Lady Lan said we could go whenever we wished.”

“That is an order I have not heard.”

A Priest I had never seen before.

The man, who looked to be in his forties, shook his head firmly.

“Private use of the Warp stone is not permitted until permission is granted.”

“Where is Lady Lan now?”

“I am not in a position to know her whereabouts.”

He reacted as if troubled by the question.

“What about Priest Bergo?”

“I am not a Walker.”

He answered with a stiff face, managing the situation.

“……”

Killian’s eyes narrowed.

‘He’s not lying.’

I could tell even without using Insight. This man was simply carrying out his assigned role according to procedure.

Killian turned his steps.

“Are you backing down just like this?”

“We cannot use the Warp stone as we please.”

If we did that, it would truly become a diplomatic issue.

“First, we need to meet Saintess Lan. Sharle.”

“Yes. Let’s go to her office.”

During their stay, Sharle had privately frequented Lan’s office.

She was the one in the group who could most easily approach her.

It had certainly been that way, but.

“She is not here.”

“When will she return?”

“I do not know.”

“Please return to your assigned rooms.”

The Holy Knight guarding Lan's office gestured with his chin, and the group was practically escorted back to their lodgings.

And so, evening came.

A group of people came to the place where they were staying.

“Julian Eurasia, Killian Eurasia, Sharle Cornelia, Knight Hector.”

When they went out at the call of their names, there were twenty Holy Knights.

The man at the front opened his mouth.

“I hereby arrest the four individuals above as suspects in the attempted murder of His Holiness the Pope.”

“What kind of nonsense is this?!!”

Julian shouted, but.

“The sinner’s voice is loud.”

Thump.

“Ugh……”

Julian's knees buckled under the sudden Haki.

“Commander!!”

Hector stood in front of Julian, but.

“Gah……”

He was spitting blood in less than a second.

“The sinners will follow obediently. If you resist……”

Before the man could finish his words.

“No. I think that will be difficult.”

Rumble.

At the offsetting energy, the man turned his gaze to the source of the Haki.

“Killian Eurasia… if you resist, your safety cannot be guaranteed.”

“If you can.”

Ruuuumble!

Releasing an even stronger Haki, Killian stood in front of Julian and Hector.

Sharle, who was watching, let out a sigh.

“If you do this, there will be no turning back.”

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