Chapter 88 - Investiture Ceremony (4)

Myaon’s mind could not quite keep up with what was happening. The whisper in her ear was distinctly out of place in this friendly atmosphere.

Unable to answer, she only lost her smile and frowned several seconds later.

Of course, she knew she needed to control her expression. However rude the remark had been, the woman before her was one of the Holy Kingdom of Rosario’s cardinals. Even faced with such an unreasonable remark, she needed to calm down and talk things through first.

But despite knowing that, her face had already twisted into a deep scowl, and the anger characteristic of catfolk began to knot inside her, forcing an irritable response from her lips.

“What did you just say—”

An instant later, Myaon stopped speaking.

No.

She had not stopped herself.

Her speech simply stopped.

Her parting lips.

Her tongue, moving to form the words.

Her scowling face.

Everything.

Stopped.

“!”

The moment she realized it, Myaon suddenly noticed that the world had changed.

The sunlight, warm only moments ago, had turned red. The subordinates who had come with her to carry out the commission were red as well. The paladins who had been beside Yutia moments earlier stood frozen.

As though time itself had stopped.

‘What—’

Instinctively, Myaon tried to look around, but unfortunately, she could not move either. All she could see were lines like trails of blood being drawn across the bodies of her subordinates and the paladins, who had been moving only moments before.

The lines marked off their bodies as though dividing boundaries. Instinctively sensing danger, Myaon struggled to move however she could.

“Listen carefully.”

At the voice from in front of her, even her breathing stopped involuntarily as she stared straight ahead.

Then she saw her.

The cardinal of Rosario looking at her, the only one who retained her own colors in this red world.

Yutia Bloodia.

Fear began to seep into Myaon’s instincts.

Because she had lost control of her body?

No.

Because she thought Yutia Bloodia would harm her?

That was not it either.

It was simply incomprehensible.

There was no discernible reason for it.

Yet the fear being instilled in her, as though it were only natural, swiftly took control of her mind and began to torment her.

As though Myaon’s condition did not concern her in the slightest, Yutia moved alone through this world where everything had stopped. Unrestricted, she approached Myaon and met her eyes.

Myaon saw crimson eyes redder even than the world around them, and a face so utterly devoid of feeling...

...that its anger was all the more distinct.

Looking at Myaon, Yutia said,

“He—”

She laid a finger on Myaon’s right hand.

“—is not someone you can toy with as you please.”

The warning in her voice was unmistakable.

“I hope you understand me perfectly.”

The moment a faint smile formed on her lips,

“—Huh?”

Myaon realized the world had returned to normal.

She stared blankly up at the sky.

It was blue.

The forest, too, had regained its original colors. And Yutia, approaching from in front of her, was no longer expressionless, but wore a flawless smile like a saintess.

The only thing unchanged was the vivid crimson of Yutia Bloodia’s eyes, visible between her smiling eyelids.

“You seem to be here on separate business, but I’ll guide you into the Holy Kingdom.”

With that, she turned without hesitation and started toward the Holy Kingdom. Myaon stared blankly after her.

She still could not fully comprehend what had just happened.

No, more precisely, she could not even tell whether it had been a dream or reality.

“...??”

Just as a puzzled expression crossed her face—

“Boss, is something wrong?”

“H-huh? Why?”

She turned toward her subordinate’s voice behind her. Looking a little concerned, he asked,

“Well, you don’t look very well. You’re sweating a lot.”

“Oh.”

Only then did Myaon realize her entire body was drenched in cold sweat.

She was clearly not in a normal state. And then—

“... Oh.”

At a faint pain in her right hand, Myaon looked down and saw a small wound.

A very shallow wound on the hand Yutia had touched in that red world.

The moment she saw it, Myaon looked at Yutia.

Even as she boarded the carriage bound for the Holy Kingdom, Yutia was watching her with those crimson eyes beneath smiling eyelids.

She gave her index finger a small twitch before climbing in, confirming that the world Myaon had seen earlier had been utterly real.

Myaon’s heart pounded and pounded and pounded and pounded—!

Fear flooded her entire body.

####

Meanwhile, Alon had passed easily through the gates accompanied by the paladins. Seeing with his own eyes the Holy Kingdom he had known only through illustrations, his first impression was this:

‘... It certainly lives up to the name Holy Kingdom.’

The outer city of the capital was not especially different from other domains. Within the inner walls, however, immaculate streets ran between orderly rows of pure white buildings.

Alon entered a vast cathedral beside the Great Temple, Rosario’s central building, and soon met Yutia again.

“It’s been a while, Teacher.”

“It has. Have you been well?”

“Of course I have. Though I do get sad sometimes when your replies to my letters come a little late.”

Alon smiled involuntarily at Yutia’s lighthearted joke.

Unlike his meetings with the other Five Great Sins, this reunion did not feel particularly awkward, perhaps because he and Yutia had kept up a steady correspondence.

After they had spent some time catching up, he asked,

“Then the investiture will take place in a few days?”

“Yes. The chief cardinal, who is currently at prayer, needs to come out first. Hmm... Tomorrow, the person in charge will briefly explain the ceremony and walk you through where you need to go. After that, you can simply relax until then.”

Alon nodded as Yutia smiled, then cleared his throat and spoke.

“Yutia, if possible, I’d like to ask you a favor. Would that be all right?”

“Anything. What would you like?”

“If possible, I’d like to enter the Chamber of the Holy Spirit once. Could that be arranged?”

The Chamber of the Holy Spirit.

It was a special room accessible only to Rosario’s highest-ranking figures. According to the lore, one could speak there with Shironia, the goddess Rosario worshipped.

... But of course, an ordinary person could not simply enter and speak with the goddess.

Only those chosen by Shironia, or those of bishop rank or higher with exceptionally deep faith, could hear even the faintest trace of her voice.

In practice, almost no one other than Rosario’s saint could hear the goddess.

In other words, entering would not allow Alon to speak with her. But he wanted to enter the Chamber of the Holy Spirit to obtain something useful, rather than to converse with the goddess.

Of course, gaining entry was exceedingly difficult unless one held at least the rank of cardinal—and, above all, had permission from Rosario’s current saint.

He had asked with the attitude that it would be nice if it worked out, but no great loss if it did not.

“Certainly. If that’s what you want, Teacher, it’s no trouble at all.”

“... Really?”

“Yes.”

The approval came so easily that Alon felt a little bewildered behind his expressionless face.

“... No, is that really possible? I realize it’s odd for me to ask after making the request myself, but I heard you need the saint’s permission to enter the Chamber of the Holy Spirit. Won’t it be difficult?”

“It’s all right. If you want it, Teacher, I’ll find a way, whatever it takes.”

“...”

Yutia’s declaration was utterly firm.

Alon was deeply grateful, but he did not want to put her through any hardship, so he said,

“... If it proves difficult, tell me straightaway. Don’t push yourself.”

“Yes, don’t worry. There are limits to what I can do, too.”

Watching Yutia smile as though she understood his concern, Alon felt quietly pleased.

Seeing her argue with Seollang in Coloni had worried him a little, but now that they had talked, he was certain.

Of all the Five Great Sins, she had been reformed the most successfully.

And so—

‘Her religious life really has given her the right attitude.’

Feeling satisfied, Alon continued chatting with Yutia about this and that.

... It was the afternoon of his first day in the Holy Kingdom.

####

The Kingdom of Ashtalon.

Duke Comalon’s office.

“... Dark Melody was annihilated overnight?”

“Yes.”

Duke Comalon sighed and looked at the dark elf standing before him. Unlike the one who had delivered the previous report, this man stood silently with his head bowed. After a lengthy silence, the duke asked,

“Who did it?”

“We have already deployed our people to investigate, but we have yet to identify precisely who was responsible. We do have a suspect, however.”

“Who?”

“It was likely someone connected to Count Pallatio.”

“Why do you say that?”

“We had also passed the orders you gave us last time to Dark Melody.”

Duke Comalon considered the dark elf’s answer before speaking.

“... So you’re saying this is similar to what happened to Pigule a few months ago?”

“Yes. It appears they retaliated.”

“Retaliation...”

The duke murmured with a hollow chuckle, then fell silent. As the silence lengthened,

“... How should we proceed?”

The dark elf asked cautiously, and Duke Comalon spoke again.

“... Did you say your last investigation indicated that Deus Makalian was the one who dealt with Pigule?”

“Yes. We aren’t certain, but he is one of the most likely suspects.”

“And you said Count Pallatio was Deus Makalian’s benefactor?”

“That is the rumor circulating publicly, at least.”

“Their relationship must be far from ordinary.”

After that murmured remark, he gave an order.

“Enough. Let us stop concerning ourselves with this.”

“Would that be all right?”

“Yes. The ‘results’ that should emerge soon are more important than Count Pallatio right now. We can deal with the count after we have those results.”

The dark elf was silent for a moment before replying.

“... Actually, I have something to report on that matter as well.”

“What is it?”

“Count Pallatio is reportedly in the Holy Kingdom at present.”

“... Count Pallatio?”

“Yes. From what I hear, he went there for his investiture.”

The dark elf nodded.

Duke Comalon’s expression turned curious. Then, as though this were all for the best, he murmured with a smile,

“Then there’s even less reason to concern ourselves. Very soon—”

“—the Abyssal Core’s results will emerge there. Then we’ll be able to dispose of Count Pallatio as well.”

It was an ominous smile.

####

The next day, Alon was able to meet the cardinal in charge of his investiture and review the schedule for the ceremony, which would take place in a few days.

He was able to meet him, but...

“G-g-good day, Count Pallatio. I-I-I am Sergius. I look forward—to working with you.”

“...”

He was trembling violently.

Alon looked at Sergius, one of the Holy Kingdom’s eight cardinals, who was shaking like a leaf—

“...”

—No, more precisely, he looked at the gently smiling Yutia, toward whom Sergius had clearly already cast dozens of wary sideways glances, and thought,

‘... She is leading a proper religious life, isn’t she?’

... For some reason, he felt a little uneasy.