Episode 363
“You can’t meet the Pope? What does that mean, Cardinal Tracy?”
The moment Harmon frowned, a violent atmosphere took over the office.
Tracy felt goosebumps growing all over her body.
‘Damn it.’
The power of ‘Saint Aura’, which can only be shown by those who have surpassed human limitations in both divine power and force, was completely opposite to the magical power of the Kassel Magic Tower.
It was the same even if she was a mage who, as an elder of the Soul Wizard school within the Kassel Mage Tower, possessed the attributes of life and light rather than soul and dimension, which was rare. No matter how unusual the magic was that could fool even a cardinal-level high-ranking priest, the essence was the same.
‘I feel like my soul is being eaten away.’
Wouldn’t the power of the Geomsin Ilmaek, which the Tower had long ago managed to exterminate despite being prepared for mutual destruction, be no less powerful than this?
Tracy suppressed the feeling of her skin trembling and tried to give a warm smile. A smile that I have practiced countless times since I infiltrated the church in pursuit of the traces of the founder’s relic, the Supreme Bracelet.
“You need rest because you have been so busy with work ever since you ascended to the papal throne. He told me to tell you that I will refuse all interviews for the time being.”
“Are you saying you won’t even look at the face of a fake saint whom the Pope ‘directly’ ordered to be excommunicated?”
Tracy’s brows narrowed slightly at one particularly emphasized word.
‘…Doubt it?’
okay. That might be the case. If you personally captured the saint and brought her to him, you would have felt in the process that the saint’s stigmata were real.
‘So the saint must have gone all the way to the Kingdom of Gaia on purpose.’
Otherwise, it is impossible to explain how the leader of the Knights Templar dispatched to the southwest corner captured the saint.
The good news is that Shingeom transported such a saintly woman rather than helping her, which made it even more difficult for her to meet her.
At least for now.
“Oh, as you know, His Holiness is old, isn’t he? It’s because he was shocked by the saint’s terrible actions, so he will need time to gather his body and mind.”
“A terrible thing?”
“Oh, didn’t you know? The imperial superman who volunteered to protect the saint was murdered in his residence. And the saint escaped, disobeying the Pope’s order to remain alone.”
Max Ileiya, who was sent to secure a saint who could replace the Pope, volunteered to serve the Holy Kingdom.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but because of that, the pressure from the empire is increasing. The apex of the empire’s superhumans, the Sword Soul and Cut Wind Mage, even issued an ultimatum saying that they will visit the capital in the near future.”
He blames the increased pressure on himself because he is refusing orders from the imperial family.
But there was no way Harmon could know that, so Tracy’s expression was just confident.
“The saint couldn’t have done something like that alone. It certainly seems like there was outside help… but haven’t you seen any other helpers?”
“…hmm.”
When Shingeom immediately nodded with an indifferent expression, Tracy smiled in victory.
‘Stubborn principled person. It’s very easy to use.’
As he thought, Shingeom obediently spewed out the truth.
“…It was there, but I missed it. The saint stopped me.”
“The leader is a saint, or is he someone who is blocked just because she is blocking him? This is something that is hard to believe.”
“…I couldn’t help it because the saint was trying to stop me, saying she was going to commit suicide.”
Tracy couldn’t help but clear her throat at those words.
“Hmm, that woman has already been excommunicated. The title ‘saint’ is a bit…”
It was said because there was only one flaw to be found, but Harmon simply cut Tracy off in a calm tone.
“I checked the saint’s stigmata several times while transporting her. I also plan to formally protest to the church about the excommunication.”
“You confirmed the stigmata… Then why did she run away?”
“hmm?”
“There is already a precedent from previous popes. It wouldn’t be too surprising if we deceived the leader.”
“….”
Tracy smiled inwardly as she looked at Harman, who seemed to have been stabbed in his weak spot and could not reply in any way.
“Wasn’t it the leader who served the previous pope for decades? Are you sure that the saint is real? Since she was in the same situation, wouldn’t it have been easy for the church to find out?”
“Huh…”
As a sigh filled with laughter came out of Harmon’s mouth, Tracy struck the final blow, anticipating victory.
“Her trick hasn’t been revealed yet. When I was about to reveal it, she ran away. She killed the Empire’s superhuman!”
Tracy continued to scream indignantly as she looked into Harmon’s eyes, who were looking at her.
“He deserves to be put to death just for endangering the Holy Kingdom!”
If you do this, you won’t be able to say anything.
‘Because a principled person cannot break the principles.’
While Tracy was smiling to herself, the leader of the Knights Templar, who thought he had completely subdued her, spoke out again.
“So the Holy Father will come for the trial?”
“…That is a matter for His Holiness to decide. But for now, he left it to me.”
“Do you mean the disposition of the saint?”
“Yes that’s right.”
“Then, His Holiness…?”
“His Holiness will resume his official activities as soon as his body recovers.”
As long as you are in the Saints, the Pope is going to stay sick.
The true feelings were hidden behind a smile.
But at that moment, Harmon, who had had a calm expression throughout the conversation, smiled fiercely.
“Definitely suspicious.”
“Huh? What kind of rude words…!”
“Do you know that, Cardinal Tracy?”
“Yes? What… do you mean?”
“The previous pope, no, that impostor never let me come within 10 meters of him. No matter what excuse he made, he avoided such situations. Even during the last trial. Of course, I didn’t understand it at the time, but…” Just
one step.
Harmon suddenly took a long step forward.
And in doing so, the distance between the two became closer to the 10m he said.
“I think I know why now.”
“What are you talking about?”
Tracy’s voice trembled from the sudden surge of anxiety.
visor!
The sword was pulled out with a clear sound and aimed at Tracy’s neck like lightning.
“Would you like to explain why a wizard without even an ounce of divine power is in the position of cardinal?”
Kkkwang!
Is this what it would feel like if lightning struck your head?
Tracy was momentarily dazed as the secret she had kept hidden for decades was revealed. However, when he soon realized his disgrace, he hurriedly stepped back and waved his hand.
“What are you doing, Captain?”
Tracy protested with a trembling voice, but it was she who created the stand alone, conscious of the gaze of those around her. That meant that there was no one who could stop Harman.
“Even the previous pope, the impostor, was weak, but he had divine power. Even the corrupted cardinals at the time were holding on to the edge of the collapsing divine power! But…” Of course, no matter
who there is, there is no one who can stop the divine sword that reveals its unfiltered life like now. I doubted whether it would be possible.
“What are you doing!?”
As the murderous spirit in the resounding voice filled the office, Tracy had no choice but to keep retreating from the force.
“Everyone, leader! Calm down! I don’t understand what leader Choi is saying.”
Actually, I understood it perfectly.
However, since it was true, I couldn’t admit it anymore.
‘How on earth?! ‘I didn’t recognize Cardinal Austin or the saint?’
There was no such thing in the history of the Kassel Tower.
“Nonsense…!”
But at that moment, was it because Harmon’s voice and spirit became too loud?
bang!
The paladins, that is, Harmon’s men, who were waiting outside the office, opened the door as if to break it down and rushed in.
“Captain!”
“Captain Da! You can’t do this here!”
Each of them threw away their dignity as a paladin and clung to Harman’s arms and legs. In the midst of the chaos, his lieutenant, Line Harper, whispered something in his ear, and Harman stopped and put his sword away.
Still, he uttered a word with a cold face.
“Who judges whom? This is absurd.”
“Captain!”
Only after Line Harper got scared and screamed again did Harmon have no choice but to keep his mouth shut with a stern expression.
Looking at that scene, Tracy realized that her aim had been completely shattered.
And yet, he screamed as if it were his last struggle.
“The Knights Templar cannot interfere in the politics of the Order!”
I don’t know how the author discovered his secret so quickly, but he probably won’t be able to prove it.
And proof cannot be forced. The Knights Templar, the backbone of the religious military power, was completely excluded from politics due to its danger.
The Knights Templar are merely an executive branch that carries out the results of the Pope or the Council of Cardinals.
But despite those words, Harmon just chuckled.
“Fortunately, the reputation this person has built up so far is not bad, so public opinion may be able to move. So be prepared, Tracy Chugi… no, you are a fake priest.”
If the priests of the order, not the Knights Templar, make the request, she too will have to be impeached like previous popes. And if that Harman proves something on the spot, that will be the end of her fate.
However, Tracy, who was confused about what came to her mind, quickly managed her expression and politely lowered her head.
“Hmm, there must be some misunderstanding, Captain. I don’t know why, but of course I accept all inquiries and am prepared to prove myself.”
A face that looks as if it has ever been embarrassed.
Harmon just snorted at that.
“Lessman Harper. From this moment on, closely ‘escort’ Cardinal Tracy…”
“yes!”
“Do not interfere with what she is doing and do not take away her freedom of movement, but do not allow her to go outside Noviense. This is my order as the leader of the Knights of the Temple who is responsible for the security of the saints.”
“yes!”
The method that can put the most pressure on the cardinal within his authority.
“Surely you won’t reject this too, right? Sir Chu. Your Majesty.”
As Harman said that, his cold eyes flashed.
“I have no choice. I will accept it.”
Tracy just accepted it with a wry smile.
Was that surprising?
Harmon frowned slightly and just turned around.
On the other hand, Tracy politely bowed her head and saw him off despite his rude appearance.
The remaining paladins who saw this tilted their heads and looked alternately at their leader and the impressive cardinal.
They must have been elite members of the Knights Templar, but their expressions showed that they felt nothing.
That put Tracy’s mind at ease a little more.
“You will have a hard time for a while. Please take care of me, brothers.”
“Oh yeah.”
“Yes sir.”
Still looking confused.
I was confident that I could control this level of subordinates, even though they were not even divine swords. Of course, I didn’t feel good anyway.
‘…This number is wrong.’
It was clear that everything had gone wrong. Rather than executing the saint, he plans to impeach himself and cross-examine the Pope.
But it didn’t matter.
‘Well, there’s no need to force it.’
Anyway, I had to disappear soon.
Her mission ends by colliding the empire and the Holy Kingdom and causing turmoil in the world.
Now the only thing left to do was to escalate the situation so that the emperor could not pursue them.
In addition, all you have to do is take the founder’s relics, the Supreme Bracelet and the ‘other one’ and leave. There was no need to forcibly execute the saint and offend the divine sword.
‘The worst thing I was worried about was that Shingeom was forced to meet the Pope. ‘I stopped it, so it’s done.’
If Shingeom tried to turn the tide by force, there was no way to stop it. In the end, although it was the exact opposite of the original intention, the idea of tying up the new sword due to the saint’s problem came true.
‘If they want to move public opinion, Shingeom will rather go to other places.’
If the situation turns out the way he wants, he will not break his principles and take drastic measures.
‘All we have to do is move the cardinals who have been selected as puppets to pass the time.’
Thinking like that, Tracy calmed down her shocked heart. If I had known who Shingeom was meeting when he left his office, I wouldn’t have thought so easily.
* * *
“…I heard that the imperial prince was staying at the central temple, but I didn’t expect to see him like this.”
Shingeom’s face hardened slightly as he saw a handsome young man with black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin who suddenly appeared in front of him.
But on the contrary, the other person smiled brightly and bowed his head to him.
“Ahaha. It’s a shame that I’ve finally met the world-renowned leader.”
“But what’s going on?”
There is no need for formal greetings. Just state your business.
Considering the general etiquette of nobles, this was no different from a cold treatment that would be too much to give to a prince of an empire, or even to a prince of a small country.
However, Baros did not lose his smile and got to the point as if he had been waiting.
“Do you know that the current Pope is being controlled by someone?”
At those words, Harmon’s eyes shook violently.
