kscans

Chapter 233 - The Church and the Empire

Before Yorune’s report arrived, as evening fell after the battle with the monsters…

The city of the Saint's Church was a whirlwind of activity. The returning knights and adventurers lined the main road. The number of injured—both minor and severe—was staggering. There were about twenty confirmed dead, but with many having been dragged off into the forest, their final fates known only through recovered belongings, the exact count remained uncertain.

The severely wounded from the battlefield were receiving intensive care and rest in the infirmary.

For the others, there weren’t enough beds. They lay on sheets spread out along the roadside. Even for those with minor injuries, a full recovery would take at least a week.

Meanwhile, Pope Altorine was receiving treatment in her private chambers at the church’s headquarters.

Though her ‘Recovery’ skill was healing her, the wounds she had sustained after depleting her magic were severe and required a doctor’s attention.

…Outside her chambers, the cardinals and knight captains sat with worried expressions. The knight captains were also badly injured, but they refused to go to the infirmary, citing their concern for Altorine-sama as they received treatment right there.

A short while later, the doctor emerged.

"She’ll be fine. She hasn’t woken yet, but she should come to in a little while."

Relieved by these words, a cardinal spoke.

"Thank goodness… Everyone, please go and share this news. I will check on Her Holiness with my own eyes before I follow."

The equally relieved knight captains saluted sharply and headed back toward the city.

Now that the two of them were alone, the cardinal asked, "So… assuming she wakes up, when can she get back to work?"

To this, the doctor replied, "I wouldn’t recommend it. Even if her wounds heal, her exhaustion won’t vanish. Her Holiness was fighting even as her skill was healing her… Because of that, fatigue has accumulated deep within her body. I must insist that she refrain from any further exertion."

The cardinal listened to the explanation. "Thank you. Please, take care of the others as well."

He bowed.

…The doctor bowed in return and departed.

Now alone, the cardinal entered the room.

…The interior was decorated predominantly in white. A single work desk stood to the side, and a row of bookshelves lined one wall. At the far end of the room, directly opposite the door, was the luxurious four-poster bed where Altorine lay sleeping.

The cardinal approached and looked down at the slumbering Altorine.

"You’re awake, aren’t you?" he said.

At his words, Altorine’s eyes opened halfway. "You caught me… When did you realize?"

To this, the cardinal replied, "Just after I entered the room. I sensed you were about to sit up." He answered with a deadpan expression.

"Haaaah… I’m fine. I need to get back to work…" Altorine said, but as she tried to rise, the cardinal stopped her.

"Please, don’t push yourself. You are severely exhausted right now, and your complexion is pale. It will only worry the knights and the people. Everyone will be relieved just knowing that you’ve survived."

"But while everyone else is working, I can’t possibly rest…"

She tried to force herself up again, but the cardinal interjected.

"Besides, what will you do about the Empire? They likely came out of this rather well. It’s possible a report will arrive by nightfall. That, at least, is something you must handle personally… Your Holiness?" he said, his eyes narrowed.

Breaking into a cold sweat, Altorine relented. "Ugh… F-Fine. But please, let me know immediately if anything happens."

With that, she lay back down on the bed.

"Of course," the cardinal said. "Ah, I’ll leave the wireless transceiver right here for you."

He placed the wireless transceiver and a mirror on the small table beside her bed.

Altorine thanked the cardinal and obediently closed her eyes.

After the cardinal left the room, he murmured to himself, "Well, if anything does come up, I’ll just handle it myself. I can simply tell Her Holiness it was a minor issue that I could deal with."

He walked on with a smile on his face.

…To some, it might have looked like the smile of a man hatching a wicked scheme. But those who knew the cardinal well could confidently say he was not that kind of person.

Someone approached him.

It was the bearded knight captain.

"How is Her Holiness?"

"She’s fine. She’s just taking it easy," the cardinal replied.

The knight captain breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good to hear. Knowing her, she’d probably say ‘I’m going to work’ the moment she woke up. I wish she’d rely on her elders a little more."

Seeing his somewhat lonely expression, the cardinal said, "It’s because she is the Pope. As a leader, she likely feels she cannot rely on or consult with her subordinates. A mistaken belief born of youth, I think. To be honest, I feel Altorine-sama became Pope far too soon."

"That couldn’t be helped," the knight captain said, his face full of pity. "The former Pope committed certain transgressions, and the official story is that Altorine-sama defeated him. She had to become Pope. No one would have accepted me."

He wore a bitter expression.

…The knight captain was well-respected, but not to the extent Altorine was. Above all, she carried the blood of heroes. It was a foregone conclusion that she would become Pope, sooner or later.

"That’s exactly why I wish she would rely on us," the cardinal said. "But she is so stubborn… Haaa. Well, let’s get to our own work. We must lighten Her Holiness’s burden as much as possible for when she returns."

His face was now full of vigor.

"Indeed," the knight captain replied. "We have to show the young ones that we’ve still got it. Her Holiness would probably worry herself into an all-nighter otherwise."

Laughing, the two men headed back to their posts.



The Empire. The Royal Castle.

After his meeting with the other kings had concluded, Emperor Yorune was working alone in his office when he heard a knock.

"Forgive the late hour… Captain Magnes wishes to speak with you," said the maid from outside.

"Send him in," Yorune replied.

The door opened at his single command, and Captain Magnes entered.

"My apologies for the intrusion so late at night. However, there is something I must ask, and so I have come. What did my father and the others witness?"

Seeing his serious expression, Yorune asked, "Why do you ask such a thing?"

"Because the way the monsters retreated was filled with an unnatural terror," Magnes replied to the question. "If their leader had simply been defeated, there should have been some confusion along with their fear. But there was no confusion; they fled as if terrified by something else. That vibration we felt at the time… thinking back on it now, it seems impossible. Is there some connection?"

His face was filled with dread.

Yorune thought for a moment. "What I am about to tell you must not be spoken of to anyone."

He explained the entire sequence of events.

After he finished, Magnes said, trembling, "A Dragon… I thought they were only fairy tales."

…It couldn’t be helped. A being thought not to exist had proven real. It would be stranger not to be afraid.

"But from what I’ve heard, it’s best to assume the Dragon will not appear again, correct?" Magnes asked hopefully.

"You should think so," Yorune replied. "I cannot see the future. However, it will likely make adjustments to ensure we humans are not wiped out."

His opinion was one of detached observation.

In other words, as long as that line wasn’t crossed… there was a chance it might meddle to some degree.

Though shaken, Magnes calmed himself. "Hmph… By the way, what will be done with the one in the dungeon?"

He changed the subject. There was no point in discussing the Dragon further.

"Execution, of course," said Yorune. "For his disrespect toward me, and for his sabotage of the capital’s defense… there is no other option. However, it will be carried out in secret."

"A public execution would be better, would it not?" Magnes questioned the decision. "A rebel of his stature would make a perfect deterrent."

Seeing his dissatisfied expression, Yorune explained. "Normally, yes. But this situation can only be described as an anomaly. Monsters and humans joined forces. If we were to publicize that and execute him… certain individuals might get foolish ideas."

His expression was cold.

…Magnes considered this. Monsters and humans were incompatible. The Guild might use captured monsters for adventurer registration tests, but it wasn’t safe. The captured monsters are put in cages, subjected to harsh discipline, and during the test, they are told, ‘Kill the human in the arena and we’ll let you go back to the forest,’ to motivate them.

The reason was to prevent humans from developing affection for monsters, and vice versa. Because if they did, it wouldn’t be a proper test.

If treated with affection, attachment could form, leading to unforeseen incidents during the test. To prevent that, monsters and humans had to maintain a level of hatred for each other.

…However, if this incident came to light, some humans might start to think that some monsters could be reasoned with. It was easy to imagine what they would do next… use monsters to attack and plunder villages.

Since monsters act on instinct more than humans, they would be efficient. The only reason this hadn’t happened yet was because of the widespread belief that monsters and humans could not coexist.

"Then the Guild Master…?" Magnes asked.

"He escaped the capital, and a search party was dispatched," Yorune stated, laying out the narrative. "When he was found, he had been killed by monsters. His body was unrecognizable, and only his personal effects remained. That will be our story."

"Understood. I will make the necessary arrangements on our end. Now, if you’ll excuse me."

As Magnes was leaving, Yorune called out to his back. "Does it not pain you to see both you and your father endure such hardships?"

At the sound of his concern, Magnes turned back. "That is the duty of my family… and of those who serve the royal house."

He bowed once more and left the room.

…Yorune stopped his work and looked out the window.

Gazing at the brilliantly shining moon, he murmured, "I am truly blessed… How was it for you, Grine?"

He posed the question to his sister, who was no longer there.

Of course, no answer came.