209. Shoot Towards the Emperor (1)
“Hey, Your Excellency. Aren’t we on our way to victory?”
Kirhas, humming cheerfully under the warm spring sunlight, seemed to gradually lose her composure under the intense gaze of the fully armed foreign knights who had been following them throughout the journey.
“Really, they’re too much. No one seems to care about what Your Excellency has been through or how you managed to survive.”
“Since when do clerics care about worldly fame?”
“It’s not about fame. Don’t they owe Your Excellency at least one life debt?”
In response to Kirhas’s words, Abel, who was riding alongside her, gently replied.
“Kirhas. There’s no way to prove it.”
“Aren’t you angry? After risking your life to save the world, this is the treatment you get!”
“Are you angry, Fernandez?”
As Abel said with a laugh, Fernandez shrugged his shoulders. Before getting angry, his mind was already a mess.
He already understood the concerns of the secular monarchs. After issuing a military draft and even declaring a holy war, they had responded by depleting their military resources, only for the Vaitas Church to suddenly fall silent. This was no ordinary matter.
Why would they do such a thing? Politicians are more sensitive to calculations than anyone else, and they are a breed that trusts no one but themselves.
Therefore, the moment doubt arises, they will first consider the most threatening assumption: ‘Are they depleting our national defense to support another country?’
By now, such discussions must be ongoing in the governments of various nations. Discussions about the church’s interference in political power. And then, they will turn all their intelligence resources outward.
Fernandez would have done the same. And the same would go for the monarchs of other royal families. So rather than feeling wronged or resentful about this treatment…
‘I need to find a way to use this.’
Could it be that those guys have joined hands with the church to expand their influence? This kind of suspicion is widespread throughout the Eastern Kingdom Alliance. After all, the Eastern Kingdom Alliance was not formed because they trusted each other, but rather as a loose coalition with the meaning of ‘let’s stop fighting each other now.’
Just like the moment when Phaeirn and the Dane Royal Family were in opposition, the current kingdom alliance is so sensitive that they could point their swords at each other at any moment. This means that every move the church makes from now on could potentially trigger a war.
At this moment, just before losing all secular influence and reputation, is actually the time when the church can exert its maximum influence on civilized society.
-Clop, clop, clop.
Lost in thought, the horse’s hooves clattered. Merlin Port and the Inquisition Office were only three days away on foot, so the journey wasn’t long.
“Yaaawn.”
Freya stretched long and hard. The ornate crown adorning her hair trembled slightly. She looked around brightly and said,
“Well, anyway. Mortals! Isn’t it a fine day! The south is so warm. I really like it.”
“We’re planning to go somewhere not so warm now.”
“Are you saying we’re going back to the north?”
“The atmosphere might be similar. Welcome to the Inquisition Office.”
-Screech.
With those words, at the end of the road. The warning sign hanging at the entrance of the mountain path twisted and tilted slightly.
-Warning. You are entering Papal Territory.
-Arrest may result in burning at the stake.
-Saint Bartholomew Monastery.
Now feeling like he was back home, Fernandez shrugged his shoulders and passed by Freya, who was slightly frightened, and stepped forward.
-Booooom—!!
-Ding, ding, ding.
When Fernandez spotted the outer walls of the monastery, a long horn sound and the ringing of bells spread from the direction of the monastery. Now it looked like a proper victory parade.
The massive iron gate creaked open, revealing a line of monks standing inside. As Fernandez passed through, the monks silently stamped the ground with a thud.
This was their way of welcoming him. A very sincere one. At least among the monks who knew how to be as quiet as Heretica and Enmagika.
“Brother!! Oh, my God! Brother has returned!!”
“I always believed! Vaitas has watched over us! Macto!”
The monks who didn’t know how to be quiet came running, shouting loudly. With each step, the ground shook violently.
“Ugh.”
Freya, standing beside him, let out a displeased groan. Fernandez, not wanting to be crushed along with his horse, quickly dismounted. At the same time, he was swarmed by the monks.
“Brothers. I’m happy to see you too, but could you calm down a bit…”
“Praise the holiness of the Lord!!”
“Oh, brother. Let me see. Are you hurt? Two arms, two legs, and a head! You’re intact!”
“That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m intact.”
“Hahaha! Your tongue is intact too! Unbelievable! Is it true that you slayed the Great Demon without a single wound?”
“I’m worried! I need to check if your insides are intact too! Take him to the outdoor hymn hall!”
“Twenty sets should be easy! This is a test of purity against corruption!”
A cruel verification method befitting an Inquisition Officer. Fernandez grumbled as he pushed away the swarming Diemonica. He clapped his hands and laughed at the Diemonica causing a ruckus.
“Now, brothers. On my way here, I saw the Pope’s seal. Is this really okay?”
“Uh, well.”
“Well.”
Even for Diemonica. No, especially for Diemonica who have reconstructed their bodies by infusing divinity, they are even more obedient to the authority of the Pope, the representative of Vaitas.
The Diemonica quickly regained their composure and took a few steps back.
“The Pope is waiting in the grand cathedral.”
“The Monastery Head is also there. Ah, Brother Zephis. The Monastery Head has ordered you to attend as well.”
“That was my intention.”
Zephis patted Fernandez’s shoulder a couple of times and strode forward. Fernandez exchanged a worried glance with Abel and followed Zephis into the grand cathedral.
“Disarm.”
At the end of the grand cathedral’s corridor, in front of the large door leading to the chapel, a cathedral knight looked down at him with a high-handed tone. Beneath the gleaming helmet visor, blue eyes flashed.
“Personal armament is encouraged in the Inquisition Office, isn’t it?”
“Not under the direct command of the Pope. Bishop Sernerd.”
“Do you know that I am Fernandez Sernerd, a second-class Inquisition Officer, and a bishop-level figure?”
Fernandez glared coldly at the knight. The knight hesitated, looking somewhat uneasy. Fernandez smirked and threw his sword belt to the knight.
“Take it.”
As the knight reached to grab Fernandez’s sword belt, Fernandez…
