Episode 364
“Do you know that the current Pope is being controlled by someone?”
Doubts raised through the saint.
And reasonable suspicion was established after meeting Cardinal Tracy, who is now designated as the party involved.
That alone made my heart heavy, but the story came out of the mouth of the wrong person.
‘Was I the only one who was stupid?’
The miserable feeling made me tighten my fists.
But even in that heartbreaking heart, the answer came right away. Even though that may not have been what the other person wanted.
“…It’s an internal matter within the Holy Kingdom. There is no reason for anyone from the Empire to get involved.”
Words that draw a line.
But the prince who thought he would step down was still there.
“Oh, are you sure you knew?”
The subtle look in the child’s eyes seemed more like admiration than ridicule, so Harman stopped moving.
“What do you want to say, Your Highness?”
“No, no. I was giving this advice because I wanted Seongguk, one of the two axes that move the world, to find its proper place. Please forgive me if it was a useless interference.”
That polite attitude moved Harmon’s heavy heart. At least I thought it wasn’t an argument or a joke.
“If you have anything to say, please say it. I will listen.”
If what he was currently suspecting was indeed true, then Seongguk was truly in unprecedented chaos. Even though the other person was a kid in his thirties, he might have some information that he didn’t know since his status was that of a social status.
In response to that polite response, Baros also straightened his posture and bowed his head.
“I am not worthy of being treated so politely by the leader, who is called the Sword of God. However, as the situation is serious, I will say something despite the shame.”
How could someone with such a noble status as the prince of an empire show such a polite attitude?
The faces of the Paladins, including Harman, showed a look of goodwill.
And a slight smile appeared on the faces of Leos and Jerome, who were watching the scene from behind Baros.
However, what Baros said next was something that no one could listen to with a smile.
“There is an insidious group of magicians that the imperial family has defined as enemies. They are people who ignore the common sense of the world and pursue an external path, and they specialize in using human sacrifices and mind control techniques. They are. …”
– The Black Snake’s contract is a contract made by the soul. Now your choice can never be changed. No god or magic will break this contract.
Baros, who had been speaking smoothly, paused for a moment. An old, grayish voice suddenly invaded my mind. The content in that voice gave me goosebumps for a moment.
But he soon gritted his teeth and shook off the thoughts that filled his head.
‘You’re the one who broke your promise first, Tapju.’
I didn’t want to think about why those words suddenly came to mind. First of all, you have to live and see for yourself.
Cold sweat suddenly broke out all over his body, but that didn’t stop his desire to survive.
Must live. If you fail, there is no going back.
Baros thought only about that and strengthened his resolve.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I suddenly remembered what happened to those guys. I also suffered a lot because of those guys.”
The lie came out calmly because it wasn’t something I said completely.
“Anyway, they are a force called the Black Snake or the Kassel Tower. It appears that they have taken control of the mind of the new Pope by borrowing the power of an ancient artifact.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
Rein Harper, the adjutant behind Harmon, laughed as if it were absurd.
It was worth it. The mental magic known to the world so far is such as dazzle magic or sleep magic, which in fact only stimulates the brain rather than the soul to induce a specific response.
And it was known that divine power was superior to force or other mana in terms of resistance to magic that interfered internally.
“What kind of nonsense is that…!”
With those words bordering on blasphemy, Line Harper joined the conversation without Harman’s permission, and even the knights under him could not hide their angry expressions.
However, when Harmon nodded, they all had no choice but to look at their superior with surprised eyes.
“I had a rough guess.”
“Captain!”
“What is that…!”
The commotion in the back stopped when Harmon raised one hand.
He too was unable to discuss it with his subordinates because he thought it was close to blasphemy. I felt sorry for them, but now was not the time to discuss such things.
“I heard it from the saint, and I also confirmed the situation myself a while ago. Cardinal Tracy, does she belong to that group of wizards?”
“As expected, you are amazing. You even knew the person involved. That’s right, Cardinal Tracy, she is the one who brainwashed the Holy Father.”
Assuming that the fact that I didn’t want to admit was true, the only person I could point to right away was her.
When Baros praised that extremely obvious reasoning, Harman’s expression only hardened.
“…Is the identity of that group of wizards the only thing you want to tell me, Your Highness?”
That is not enough.
Baros grinned as he looked at Harmon’s eyes as he said that.
“Of course not. I came here after them, and fortunately, the time was not in vain, and I was able to understand their organization that had taken root in the Holy Kingdom. I may not have enough power here, but if it is the name of the divine sword, it is not enough to cut it out in one go. “I expect there won’t be any.”
Those words were enough to startle Harmon. Of course, I thought it wouldn’t be Tracy Hana, but it was shocking when it was confirmed.
“…I think it will be helpful enough.”
“I’m glad you said that. I was worried a lot, but I feel like a burden has been lifted. Haha.”
Harman looked at Baros’ smiling face for a moment, truly lighthearted. To be honest, I had doubts because these words seemed too righteous for a prince of an empire to say.
However, despite those staring eyes, Baros’s expression did not waver one bit. In fact, they even took a more active role.
“Ah, wouldn’t it be impossible to summarily punish priests with the authority of the Knights Templar? First, wouldn’t we have to move ordinary priests to hold an impeachment or deliberation trial?”
“…That will happen. And when that time comes, the information you have given me will be of great help.”
“But won’t that take a while?”
“We will be able to organize everything within a month.”
It was unusual for Harmon to even tell an outsider his plans.
Although these words were said with the determination to clean up, Baros’s next words far exceeded his expectations.
“Then it is too late. The Imperial army is coming here because of the damage those wizards have done to the Empire. So leave the preliminary work to me.”
* * * A typhoon blew in Seongdo. I wasn’t talking about a physical typhoon.
“Did you hear? The Pope said…”
“I heard it too.”
“Uh, me too.”
Cardinal Tracy attempted to control the Holy Kingdom by manipulating the Pope, who was in poor health.
It was an absurd rumor that was hard to believe.
The excommunication of the saint who ousted the previous Pope was also done by Cardinal Tracy in place of the suffering Pope.
She prevents anyone from entering the Pope’s residence and only she enters.
As the absurd rumors were combined with what actually happened, people began to believe in the truth one by one.
What further accelerated the situation was the fact that the Pope had not been seen for quite some time.
As a result, in just a few days, priests began to move within the church.
Strangely fast and aggressive.
As if someone was instigating it from behind.
“Cardinal Tracy, reveal the truth!”
“I want to see His Holiness the Pope!”
“Hold an impeachment trial!”
Priests gathered from all over the central shrine repeatedly held protests in front of the Pope’s residence and near Cardinal Tracy’s residence.
“You guys, everything will happen according to law! Let’s go!”
“A deliberation trial will soon be held under the consultation of the cardinals. The whole truth will be revealed then, so for now, go back and wait for instructions from the church!”
After the saint’s excommunication, priests who were appointed cardinals tried to calm down the ordinary priests, but their efforts did not work.
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
“On the topic of scarecrows chosen by Cardinal Tracy!”
“Bring the saint!”
Facts that should have been kept secret only by the high-ranking members of the church were strangely widespread among ordinary priests.
“Let’s attack! We must save the Holy Father!”
“Let us save the Pope!”
“Wow!”
Excited priests, mainly young priests, began to rush to the cardinals’ residence. The paladins and temple soldiers guarding the official residence did not dare to stop such priests.
In the end, when even the Pope’s residence was on the verge of being breached by priests, Cardinal Tracy burst out from the Pope’s residence instead of his own.
“Everyone, go back! The Pope is very unwell! You are committing a sin.”
There was sincerity in the voice that cried out pitifully with a sad expression. So much so that many of the priests who were recklessly rushing towards him momentarily hesitated and took a step back.
“Is that so?”
“If you’re really unwell…”
“…Then it’s a big deal.”
The priests who had been so excited and leading just a moment ago stopped all at once and started muttering, and the priests following them were just confused. However, they did not notice that the eyes of those leading the way had turned blank.
however.
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
puck.
Suddenly, an egg thrown by someone changed the situation.
“Open the door if you are proud! Do you think our priests will touch the Holy Father’s body?”
The shouting of an unknown person brought back several priests who were still in their right minds.
“right!”
“Who here would dare harm the Holy Father!”
“We just need to make sure he’s safe!”
Even though the dozens of priests who were shouting at the front looked blank and speechless, the atmosphere heated up again.
Then Tracy, who wiped the egg flowing down her face, shouted with a determined expression.
“Good! I am confident. The trial to determine the truth will be held in a few days! So please wait! Even a little disturbance will not help His Holiness’ health!”
And a group of people watching the scene from afar clenched their fists all at once.
“It was successful. As long as that is said, it won’t take more than a week, no matter how long it takes.”
“Before that, we need to keep an eye on Tracy and the Black Snake gang to make sure they don’t escape anywhere.”
“If you run away, just let it go. It’s actually good because it saves trial time.”
While the leadership of the Knights Templar was cheering, only Ilya, who had already been released from prison although it had not been officially announced, had a stern expression on his face.
Harmon seemed to be bothered by that expression and quietly approached her.
“Second Prince. You are certainly excellent with such means. It looks like you’ve dealt with a lot of people.”
“Is that so?”
“…Is there something that’s bothering you?”
“Yes, a little.”
“What’s the reason for that?”
Harman shook off even the vaguest doubts about her. Her face was now full of firm trust.
But what the saintly woman said was unusual.
“Why is the second prince helping us?”
“Yes? That’s right, they are the enemies of the empire…”
“…The second prince was invited after the Pope’s coronation ceremony. That means he has already been brainwashed. But why?”
Harman’s expression also darkened at those words, but the subject of the conversation was standing a little away with a hardened complexion.
“The army of the Sword Spirit and the Fallen Wind increased its advance speed?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
” Then what is the estimated time of arrival?”
“Within a week.”
Baros’ complexion became even more cruel at those words.
The timing was too subtle.
“I made the plan as best as I could… What do you think is the reason?”
” …It seems that His Majesty is planning to interfere with the Holy Kingdom under the pretext of taking down the Black Snake.”
“I can do something….”
“The army is certain.”
“Damn it. What should I do?”
“I need help from the divine sword and the saint. We have to finish everything before the Sword Spirit arrives so they don’t have anything to do.”
“Why?”
“If I’m being honest…”
“That’s not possible! If I do that, my influence will eventually weaken. I have to make the Holy Kingdom move from my hand.”
“Your Highness…”
Baros and Leos were in a serious mood.
Behind them, Jerome with a heavy face was constantly fiddling with the sword on his belt.
