Episode 425
“Meet the Holy Father.”
“Welcome, Sir Harman.”
As Harmon knelt down with a formal greeting, Ilya looked at him and then tilted her head.
“It’s still about half way through. This is a bit unexpected.”
“yes?”
Even though he guessed what was being said, Harmon asked back as if he had no idea what was being said.
Then the saint immediately spoke up.
“No, no. I received the report via communication, but I really want to hear it again from your own words. It’s a little different from what I heard…”
Seeing her eyes shining, Harman immediately said the words he had prepared.
“My sword pierced his heart. Rumors say he is in critical condition, but he will never be safe.”
The saintess laughed at the false report.
“Hmm. Good job, Director Harmon. It must have been out of character.”
“No. How can there be hesitation in following God’s will?”
It’s something I’ve thought about countless times, but even taking that into account, it came out very naturally. Perhaps it is a natural result of habits accumulated over a lifetime.
The saintess also nodded with satisfaction.
“Anyway, thanks for saving you a lot of trouble.”
“yes?”
“You know that a demon appeared in McLane, right?”
“Oh yes. I heard that too, but…”
Harmon, who was concentrating his mind on finding out the status of an apostle nearby, expressed doubts about the sudden question, and unexpected words came out of the saint’s mouth.
“It was said that the beast that Logan McLane handles is not a divine beast, but a demonic beast. If something goes wrong, I was going to declare a holy war for that reason, but fortunately, I can postpone it.”
“…You’re…wearing it?”
Not cancellation?
Harmon asked back with surprise without realizing it.
Then the saintess looked at him in confusion and then shook her head with a small laugh.
“It certainly appears that Aria’s intentions have not yet been fully conveyed to the leader.”
“I’m sorry. I’m inexperienced…”
“I understand. You must have been busy. But now that you’re back, I hope you’ll be more faithful in your prayers.”
Be faithful in prayer.
Even though he knew that those words were no different from a banquet, he could not back down. Because I had to confirm the infinitely ominous words I heard earlier.
And we have not yet been able to clearly determine the combat power of the saint or the apostle. More time was needed.
“Yes, of course, Your Holiness. But is it really necessary to go on a holy war?”
Ilya’s eyebrows furrowed slightly at that question.
It looked like he was bothered, but fortunately the answer came easily.
“Have you ever heard of the ‘outcasts’, leader?”
“…Ah, yes. I think I’ve heard it. Sometimes, in every generation, one or two people appear who are incapable of divine power…” “
Those non-standard products are just like defective products that come out occasionally, but the current case in that kingdom is different. ”
This time, the corners of Harmon’s mouth trembled for a moment at the word “defective product.” I don’t know if it was because I was already full of distrust, but with just that word, I felt like I knew for sure how God views humans.
Ilya, who had no way of knowing Harman’s feelings, continued calmly.
“There are a lot of abandoned people in McLane right now.”
“ah!?”
“And it all happened because of the devil’s squire, Logan McRain.”
“yes?”
“They are also said to be the ones who change fate. This time, the variables have become too big because such a person is a descendant of Zibrik Cassel…”
Sado, who was frowning with a troubled expression, soon spat out shocking words with an expressionless face.
“Even in ancient times, this happened occasionally. And every time, the apostle who descended at that time would raise up a temple and dry up the seeds of those outcasts. In order to restore fate to the right way.”
“!!?”
I couldn’t help but widen my eyes and open my mouth. Because the content was too shocking for me to control my facial expression.
‘Woah, sure, there were records of the temple when the apostle appeared…’
I never thought that would mean that.
I got goosebumps again.
Ilya continued calmly, perhaps because he didn’t see that expression on Harmon’s face, or because he didn’t pay any attention to it.
“So this time too, the holy war must take place.”
Is it for your benefit?
Harmon barely swallowed the sound of sincerity rising in his throat.
I tried to quietly accept it and move on, but my boiling heart couldn’t help but spit out a single word.
“…Wouldn’t the sacrifice of innocent subjects be great?”
this.
Even as I said it myself, I felt like my heart was sinking.
‘Now was the time to please others.’
Harmon, who felt Ilyani Apostle’s gaze on her, bit her lip and blamed herself, but after a moment of silence, she said something strange.
“A long time ago, there was a person called by the mad name of Geomsin. He was also a person who could change fate.”
“yes?”
“In order to deal with Zibrik’s remnants, the gods chose to watch over him.”
“Uh…”
What on earth are you talking about?
Harmon couldn’t understand it at all, but she continued speaking regardless.
“It was a big mistake. You still don’t know how much price ‘we’ paid to erase him and deal with his descendants to correct his twisted fate.”
You don’t know yet.
‘I don’t even want to know about these things.’
He talked about the sacrifices of his subjects, but he only said nonsense. To the apostle, it meant that the gods had no regard for human sacrifice.
Harmon gritted his teeth inwardly, feeling his betrayal towards them growing again.
Of course, on the outside, I tried hard to control my facial expressions.
Seeing him like that, Sado chuckled.
“You may not know what I mean yet, but you will soon understand. So pray hard.”
“Yes I will.”
I will never pray for you again in my life.
As Harmon lowered his head and gave an answer that was completely different from what he was thinking, she said something unexpected again.
“Oh, and please prepare for the return trip.”
“yes?”
“I have confirmed that Zibrik’s incarnation has been taken care of, but even so, there are still others left. I need to find a holy relic outside and pray to God.”
Harmon’s expression hardened at those words.
Why?
now?
Although it was predictable what his intentions were, Harmon tried to keep a surprised expression on his face.
“You mean a sacred object?”
I felt my eyes trembling and the corners of my mouth becoming stiff. Failing to manage facial expressions.
Harman gritted his teeth inwardly, but fortunately the saint did not seem to find it strange.
“Hmm. You might be confused. I don’t know why the sacred relics of the Nine Great Gods are scattered across various temples. But now is the time when we need that power.”
You guys will need it.
“It is time for renowned priests on the continent to use holy relics to fulfill God’s will.”
Are you going to increase the number of apostles like that?
I expected it, but it had to be this time.
Harmon hurriedly turned his horse around.
“…I understand that there are still two holy relics left in Noviense.”
Licentia, one of the three sacred objects that maintained the Great Heavenly Barrier, was in his possession. The other two are….
“On the day the leader departed for McLane, I delivered Flama to former Pope Austin and Terra to Priest Zyle.”
“yes!?”
“I know you may be surprised, but if you and others fully use the power of the holy object, it will become a greater power than the Great Heavenly Barrier.”
“Ah…”
The sacred relics of Anima, the god of fire (Flamma) and food, were given to Austin, the highest priest, and the sacred relics of Adgar, the god of earth (Terra) and death, were given to Zyle, the highest priest.
Sententia, famous as the Pope’s judge, was originally a holy relic of Amunda, the god of the sea and change, and was also the highest priest of Arya, the god of sky and freedom.
I felt like I could finally be sure of the minimum conditions for the Advent of the Apostles, which I had vaguely guessed until now. Of course, that realization will not solve the current situation.
‘Could it be that there are already three apostles?’
Probably not.
It shouldn’t be.
Harmon bit his lip to hide his nervousness.
“So, are you trying to find the owners of other holy relics as well?”
“Because this is the time of need. The descendants of the great evil Zibrik Cassel must be exterminated this time. That is the will of the gods.”
Harmon could not add any more to those firm words.
“So, please prepare for the return trip. Former Pope Austin and Priest Jayle will also be there.”
“…Yes, Your Holiness.”
I have to hurry more than I thought.
With that in mind, Harman hurried out of the reception room, and only after walking a few more steps outside the room did he realize a fatal fact.
‘…I couldn’t read it.’
Although I was distracted by the unexpected story, I had enough time. Nevertheless, he was unable to read the status of the saint’s soul.
Was it because it was an incarnation of God?
Or is it because even the rank of the Avatar is higher than himself?
‘If it’s the latter…’
It’s the worst.
There was already not enough time. The Pope’s departure was scheduled to be escorted by numerous holy men and priests and followed by a countless procession.
‘We have to deal with the apostle before that.’
Harmon chewed his lip and walked quickly.
Because unexpectedly, there are two more people I need to check on.
…
_ If we disappear from Noviense together, our mission will be over.”
After hearing Harman’s words, Victor let out a small sigh and opened his closed eyes.
Work progressed faster than expected. And there were other problems as well.
“Are you going to hand over the sacred item so easily?”
“I’m going to say that I want to compare it to Richentia and study it. I don’t know about Priest Zyle, but Master Austin will definitely give it to me. If he says he doesn’t like it, I’ll have to put pressure on him to get it.”
The current status of Hamon in the Holy Kingdom is not just that of the leader of the Knights Templar. That statement may be quite feasible.
“I see. So will Evelyn and Cassandra be okay? They have work to do in just two days.”
The original plan was for a week.
Of course, it was still a short time, whether it was two days or a week, but the difference in experience was bound to be bigger.
“…Evelyn and Cassandra seem to have settled in well. They are both quick-tempered and friendly. If we introduce them to the saint tomorrow and there is a formal dispute, there will be no problem issuing an order of introduction the next day.”
“Still, it seems like it’s too urgent…”
“I can’t help it. Since the official order to prepare for the expedition has been given, we only have three more days to delay.”
Victor, who realized that what Harmon said was the best option, had no choice but to nod in the end.
But as I was speaking, the most important thing was missing.
“Can you guess the saint’s fighting power?”
“that is… It’s a problem.”
Seeing Harman’s face suddenly become cloudy, Viktor couldn’t help but sigh again.
“It’s highly likely that I didn’t feel it because he was just the incarnation of God. So you don’t have to worry too much.” It was
just too hopeful without any basis. Words.
But Victor nodded slowly at those words.
It was not because he believed Harman’s words.
– Sir Victor, when you come to visit, then I….
The last words left by the person I respect and love the most
. Because I believe in the words,
‘Saint, I will rescue you soon.’
I don’t know how many teardrops fell between my tightly closed eyes,
and the two days passed by in the blink of an eye.
