Children of the Holy Emperor - Chapter 402



Only Noblemtl

402. Pian (7)

Thud!

Belinda’s soul suddenly begins to shed black tears of blood.

Sungjin, who had been listening to her story carefully, had to scream silently at the sudden horror attack that struck his sight.

‘What the heck! How did he look so normal? As expected, that guy is a demon in the making!’

Cool!

Fortunately, she quickly regained her composure. Sniffing her black nose in an uncharacteristic way, Belinda continued in a wet voice.

[And so I came to welcome you there, my lord. Thanks to you, my empty soul was filled with joy and delight.]

“Um, Belinda. Sorry to interrupt your conversation… … .”

Seongjin couldn’t help but point it out.

She is a sect of penitents who claim to find peace in [penitence] through asceticism.

Even if we make a hundred concessions and Sungjin is indeed the [Archbishop of Rest] that Haze speaks of, isn’t he completely different from Belinda in terms of lineage? And is it okay to change the object of worship like this?

But Belinda shook her head firmly to that question.

[I have become the image of a pure soul, and therefore I will never lie to the Master. I could not help but know that it is you whom I must serve. O prepared one, Master of souls!]

Belinda’s logic was simple.

The reason she served [Confession] while she was alive was because she considered him to be the main god who appeared in the world under another name.

There was a reason why all the brothers of the Dark Church prided themselves on being true servants of the Lord.

But the one who was prepared for the Lord is now with [Sabbath], another manifestation of the Lord.

That is, rather than serving [Rest] itself, she serves the Lord who realizes salvation through [the prepared ones].

Seongjin, whose expression had hardened at the explanation, was silent for a moment before asking again.

“…Are you trying to escape the false salvation and serve another ‘lie’?”

[Master! Of course, the ‘repentance’ I believed in was a false salvation. However, the will I felt from your ‘seated seat’, the promise of ‘rest’ that will last forever, was absolutely not a lie.]

“… … .”

[I dare say that the only ‘peace’ that exists in the world is the place where you are.]

The large woman, her body hunched over, looked at Seongjin intently with her strangely shining eyes.

[So, I will serve you with all my heart. If you wish, I will show you the proof right now.]

“evidence?”

[Yes. I will turn my back on my previous beliefs and follow only my master. I will help my master find Giacomo Milo who has disappeared. I will tell you everything I know about the Order of Penitents, to the extent that you permit me!]

… Oh, this.

What crossed Seongjin’s mind for a moment was not joy, but a subtle sense of awkwardness.

Somewhere, the workload is piling up, and I can hear my father and Sir Martha sighing.

* * *

Premonitions rarely go wrong.

As expected, Masain, who heard Seongjin’s plan, put his hand on his upper abdomen and let out a sigh as if the ground was falling apart.

“Arrest of Milo Upper… Are you talking about that?”

“okay.”

After Giacomo Milo went missing, the trial proceeded without a defendant and he was eventually sentenced to death. This is as expected of a devil worshipper who committed mass murder by summoning demonic beasts.

The property at the top had already been appropriated to the Empire, and a small bounty was placed on Giacomo’s head. From now on, anyone who found him could legally kill him.

“Your Majesty. Giacomo Milo is probably already deep in hiding within the Dark Cult.”

“Yeah. I guess so.”

“You must know how hard it is to find him.”

Marsain continued speaking with a heavy face.

“For years, the Inquisitors have searched the continent with bloodshot eyes, but have been unable to locate the Dark Cult’s stronghold. Why should our department, which is just starting to establish itself, be involved in such a task?”

His point was valid.

It was only a few days ago that the Prince who was being treated was summoned to the Holy Assembly because of doubts about his qualifications. And now, when it would be insufficient to show proper results right away, why would he suddenly jump into a search that has no end in sight?

“Isn’t arresting devil worshippers the job of the Heresy Tribunal in the first place? The Demon Investigation Division has already done more than enough to gather evidence and bring him to trial.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Seongjin furrowed his brow slightly.

But Sir Marsain. I have a feeling that if we don’t catch that guy soon, we’re going to have a huge headache. But it’s not nice to just watch the heretic court guys work.

Besides, even though he couldn’t tell the truth, it wasn’t a completely hopeless search. Didn’t Sungjin have a high-ranking official from the Repentance Church as an informant?

Of course, there were some limitations.

– My lord. Since I have completely escaped the limitations of the flesh, I should be able to inform you of Giacomo Milo’s current location right away. However, I feel a kind of ‘restriction’ that is strongly binding my soul.

-Restrictions?

-Yes. That ‘restriction’ warns me not to carelessly reveal information that is beyond my capabilities and cause unnecessary backlash. Therefore, the information I can give you, Master, will most likely be limited to things I knew while I was alive.

That is why Belinda’s spirit did not say ‘I will tell you’ where Giacomo Milo is, but ‘I will help you find it’.

-… … .

Seongjin absentmindedly looked back at the small flame placed on the bowl. Even after hearing Belinda’s words, the peaceful Demon King still did not feel any disturbance.

Seongjin decided that it would be bad if this story got any longer, and nodded towards Belinda.

-Okay, good. Then, as ‘Belinda, the Parish Priest of the Repentance Church’, tell me everything you know about the church.

While Sungjin briefly recalled the events of last night, Masain continued to earnestly dissuade him.

“Your Majesty. The exorcists wandering around the continent have probably already heard of Giacomo Milo’s impression. It’s their job to root out devil worshippers, so why don’t you just leave this one up to them?”

“Hmm. Speaking of exorcists… … .”

Seongjin patted the neatly ironed collar of his uniform toward Masain.

Knock knock.

“Your Majesty, you must know where I belong now.”

“…ah!”

Martha’s face looks blank as if she’s been taken aback.

Yes. Even though the [Evil Annihilation] performance shown at the Holy Assembly was all a fraud, since he has officially joined, Sungjin is now a proper exorcist.

“So, if you think about it, the search for Giacomo Milo is also my mission. I said it before at the Holy Assembly. As an apostle of the Lord, I will gladly accept the trials and spare no effort in my power for Delcross.”

So, he had been bragging that he expected the Orthodox Church and the other four Knights Templars to provide generous assistance to the Demon Task Force. At that time, the faces of Cardinal Benitus and other high-ranking priests changed in a truly spectacular way.

“Huh?”

But then, suddenly, a small laugh could be heard from the side. It was Owen, who was flipping through [Apocalypse of the Other World] for fun in a corner.

“What? Did that mean you would serve the Empire? I thought you were threatening the old men by telling them that you would do whatever you wanted from now on, so don’t dare interfere.”

“… Threatening? What do you think of people?”

When Sungjin responded in a blunt manner, Owen, who had closed the book with a loud snap, cast a strange gaze at me.

“You, the more I look at you, the more unfamiliar you become. You were just lazing around in the villa, so why are you doing things you don’t have to do now?”

“Then why did you come all the way here and nag me? Don’t you have anything better to do?”

Then Owen furrowed his eyebrows and made an exaggerated expression.

“Wow, you’re really going too far! You used to beg and beg me to help you with the demon squad! But now that you’ve gotten over your illness, you’re saying you don’t need my help anymore?”

Who the hell said that and when?

“Don’t make me laugh! When did you refuse because you’re bad at administrative work! If you’re going to call me your big brother so shamelessly, you should learn from Logan first. He would have gladly come to help me even if I hadn’t asked him first!”

“That’s because Logan is a fool with no sense.”

“… Besides, you’ve been just messing around in the office for no reason since earlier. Logan worked diligently without me having to tell him to do anything!”

“Of course, that’s because Logan is a fool with no sense.”

Oh, is that so?

Seongjin, who was almost persuaded, soon gathered his courage and glared at Owen.

“Why are you saying that to Logan in the first place? Of course I admit that he’s quite sloppy and has a bit of a pushover mentality, but he’s not a thoughtless idiot like you who gives everything to just anyone!”

“You’re funny! Who would say that now? Just now, I saw someone here stepping up to do a job that isn’t even theirs. What on earth is better about what you’re doing now than Logan?”

“What, Inma? Who are you comparing me to now! Are you done talking?”

“Then you! Why are you comparing me to a fool like Logan!”

The two of them had a serious attitude once again. Of course, it looked a little different to other people.

Looking back at the distorted face of Masain, Jibril whispered in a small voice.

“Sir Marsain. Why are you two competing to insult Prince Logan right now?”

“… … .”

* * *

Fortunately, not long after, the argument between the two naturally died down.

It had been so long since Sungjin had gone to work at the monster task force that he had to somehow deal with the piled up documents.

“It seems like the entire Southern Province’s third quarter epidemic report is missing, Senator Jibril. What’s going on?”

“Oh, your Majesty! Sir Marsain reviewed that matter twice before!”

“Really? That must have been a tough task. What about Sir Marsain?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What are those documents in the corner? Counseling letters for the investigation of the ‘Devil’s Seed’ found in various places in the suburbs… …?”

“Oh, that!”

A look of confusion appeared on Masain’s face. Judging from his expression, he judged that it was not something related to his department, and pushed it aside without Seongjin knowing.

“I… am sorry, Your Majesty. I heard that the official document was circulated to every department in the administration… … .”

“okay?”

… Well, does it really matter?

This is probably something that has already been resolved. Seongjin had already deleted all the items from the world of rules at the Holy Assembly earlier.

Seongjin threw the document aside with an indifferent expression.

‘Anyway, the future is the problem.’

I knew that Sir Marsain was usually overly sensitive when it came to matters related to the devil.

But from now on, Sungjin will have to do his job as an exorcist as well. From now on, there will be frequent reports about demons and demon worshippers.

‘If I continue like this, will my chronic gastritis be okay?’

Seongjin was caught up in a somewhat complicated thought, and opened up the other piles of documents next to him. The volume of letters was so great that they were bound together like a small booklet.

-Your Excellency Mores. On my way to Cyprus, I heard a story about a madman who called himself a prophet. He was… … .

-Oh my! The more I hear the rumors, the more I see it! Well… … .

– Your Majesty! We must go to the Benso Marquisate! We must catch that mad sage and investigate him! Here is the evidence of his heresy, so please take action!

“This is… … ?”

“Ah, this is a letter from Sir Valerie. He has been sending me daily reports of an apostate known as ‘The Wise Man’ who has recently taken up residence in the Marquisate of Benso.”

“okay?”

There’s another friend who comes to buy and make work. Sungjin thought as he unfolded the attached evidence. It was a small flyer crudely printed on mimeograph paper.

-The secret of the future told by the wise man.

The continent is about to face the terrible flames of hell! Listen! Only those who awaken will be able to open the shining gates of salvation!

It was only the size of a palm, but it was packed with all the information you need to know about the underprivileged.

Even on one side of the leaflet, there is a small drawing. It is an illustration of people struggling in a fierce flame.

“hmm.”

Seongjin covered the flyer with an indifferent expression. However, contrary to Masain’s expectations that he would throw it aside like the official document earlier, Seongjin folded it neatly and put it inside the Knights’ uniform.

“… Hey, lowdown?”

“Huh? Why, Sir Marsain?”

“I wonder… if I may ask, are you planning on investigating that as well?”

Seongjin calmly responded to the anxious-looking Masain.

“Yes, of course. If Valerie is so concerned about this, it must be something very important. The more ambiguous the issue is, the more our monster task force should step in and resolve it.”

Sir Marsain’s face immediately turns pale.

“But your Majesty! No matter how you look at it, isn’t this just an ordinary conman? If you look closely, you’ll find that the entire continent is full of such pitiful authors!”

“This is a bit different. Would our Valerie Sir really be so enthusiastic about reporting such nonsense to me?”

“No, you usually don’t even listen to what that friend says… …!”

“That is a misunderstanding, Sir Marsain. I respect him enough as a fellow paladin.”

“Since when did you say you were a knight… …!”

While Sungjin and Masain were bickering like that, Owen for some reason sat quietly, lost in thought.

No one present noticed it, but a small text window was blinking before his eyes, indicating that information was being updated.

[Main Quest – Find Your Own Place! (Complete)]

A quest that was suddenly completed in vain.

‘My guess was right. This main stream can only proceed if you are next to Mores!’

Perhaps the new position he was in meant the Demon Squad. If so, then the next quest completion condition would be the same.

[Main Quest? Find the Mad Prophet! new!]

[Quest Grade: B]

[Sometimes, people’s daily lives change drastically due to unexpected encounters. What can you do? Failing to grasp the twists of fate beyond human control, weak humans can only scream helplessly. Here, there is a human who accidentally encountered an unbearable truth and chose to go crazy instead. Meet him and hear the truth of that day. You may get a chance to reflect on your own situation and a clue as to the direction you should take in the future.]

[Reward: 100 P Cash]

[*This product is available in the Pangea Chronicles store window.]

The rewards are generous for a status window. This means that it may take quite some time to progress or that you may have to struggle for a while to complete it.

“So those people aren’t even real con artists. They’re just lunatics you see all over the place on the street! If we investigate each and every one of these people, it’ll be endless!”

“Well, while we’re looking for Giacomo Milo, we might as well stop by the Marquisate of Benso. If Sir Valery is so worried about this, doesn’t Sir Marsain care at all about him?”

Owen let out a soft sigh, listening to the arguing next to him with one ear.

‘By the way, the recent quests are all so out of context. They ask me to find someone without any information. As always, I think that Mr. Status Window is just too reckless… ‘