Children of the Holy Emperor - Chapter 407



Only Noblemtl

407. Head Tower (5)

Brrrrrr… … .

Even as the outer top spins round and round, the inner needle stubbornly asserts itself. Embarrassingly, it is aimed straight at the prince of Seonghwangga.

Sir Robert, who had been blankly staring at the needle, was startled for a moment and quickly put the gyrocompass back into his bag.

“Big. Why is this… … .”

Sir Robert, who seemed particularly stiff and dry from the first impression, suddenly started to panic and panic.

“I am sorry to show you such a worthless item, Your Majesty. Perhaps it is broken… no, contaminated. I have neglected the consecration recently… … .”

Oh, it’s okay, Sir Robert. There’s no need to try so hard to cover up an obvious situation.

“I will also properly complain to the equipment department. As the work hours in the mainland have gotten longer, these guys have become undisciplined… … .”

Don’t even think about tackling that strict department. You and I both know that there’s nothing wrong with that gyrocompass.

“Perhaps it is because of the injustice, the blessings bestowed by the fairies… They say it is called the ‘trial of misunderstanding,’ but indeed, the test that the Lord’s apostles undergo is not easy.”

“… … .”

Seongjin didn’t respond and just looked at Sir Robert carefully.

Now that I think about it, this guy must feel a strange energy right next to me, but doesn’t he mind?

‘Even Francis, who doesn’t have particularly strong divine powers, flinches every time he sees me lately.’

But Sungjin soon found out the answer, because Sir Robert kept making these suggestions.

“Your Majesty. If you can’t use the gyrocompass, you’ll have no choice but to detect magic with pure divine power. While you’re at it, how about inviting another paladin to the demon squad?”

“…another knight?”

“Yes. Looking at the personnel you have organized this time, aside from you and me, there are no knights, right?”

Of course, it would be a bit of a stretch to call Sungjin a proper ‘paladin’, so the only person who can actually use divine powers is Sir Robert.

“But my tiny bit of divine power is specialized for [Evil Extermination]. That’s why I had to become more skilled than others in using exorcism tools.”

It’s the same for him, who has good eyesight, to wear blessed glasses. Since his ability to detect magic is so weak, he needs help with special detection glasses?

“I see.”

Somehow, I wondered why this friend was granted permission to enter the Pearl Palace so easily.

“I have a fellow exorcist who recently returned from a tour of duty. She has incredible tracking skills. How about bringing her along?”

“Hmm, well?”

Seongjin shrugged his shoulders.

Isn’t that necessary? I already know how to track down the Penitent Order without needing the help of other knights. The person who was the parish priest there until recently is now one of my followers.

Rather, if you carry around someone who has no connection to the demon task force, the source of the information may be suspected for no reason.

Or maybe he’ll rush in and try to exterminate me. The more divine power you have, the stronger the feeling of unease you get from the Holy Spirit.

“For now, let’s just go with this.”

What we’re looking for is Giacomo Milozi, not the devil he made a contract with, right?

“It’s a job to investigate the dark cult hiding underground. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to move covertly with a small group.”

When Seongjin said that, Sir Robert did not recommend any more reinforcements. He just let out a small sigh of concern with a slightly pale face.

“I don’t know how much help I, with my dull senses, can be in tracking down demon contractors. To my shame, I’m one of the exorcists with the weakest divine powers.”

“It’s okay. Performance is more important than that.”

Seongjin remembered that the demon subjugation history written on his transfer report was very impressive.

“And look at Sir Leander. He has no divine powers at all, and he’s the leader of the Knights Templar.”

“That’s true.”

“But aren’t all the exorcists who have achieved the greatest successes all that guy?”

Sir Leandros is the only human among the five captains of the Paladin Order who has no divine powers. How great must his power of destruction be to be able to take the position of captain?

As I thought about that, this question naturally followed.

“But how on earth does Sir Leander go about subduing demons alone? Without divine powers, he can’t even detect magic. Does he use various tracking tools like you?”

It’s hard to imagine that heavy-looking man walking around carrying a bunch of exorcism tools like Sir Robert.

“well.”

Sir Robert sat thoughtfully for a moment, adjusting his spectacles on the bridge of his nose.

“I’ve never traveled with him overseas, so I don’t know if he uses any exorcism tools when dealing with actual demons. It seems like he rarely requests anything from the supplies department.”

“Then how?”

“But I have some idea. Commander Leandros is the owner of a precious relic that has been passed down through generations in the Knights Templar.”

“… Holy relics?”

“Yes, the twin curved swords, ‘Sanghyeon’ and ‘Hahyeon’, which are recorded in the scriptures as having been wielded by Saint Terbakia himself.”

Sang-Hyeon and Ha-Hyeon,

They are one of the few weapon-shaped relics that exist on the continent. I vaguely remember hearing about them when I was inducted into the Order of the Holy Spirit.

They were so powerful that at the time, there was no demon that could withstand even two attacks from an adult.

That’s why it ended up becoming something of a symbol of the Knights of St. Terbachia. The crossed silver hooks, which are the symbol of the knights, are actually not hooks, but a pair of shotels.

“The power of the twin curved swords is not limited to [Evil Extermination]. It is said that if a demon appears nearby, they will sound a long sword sound to warn their master.”

Twin Shotels, passed down from generation to generation to the Grand Masters of the Knights of St. Terbakia. Thanks to these legendary weapons, Sir Leander was able to rise to the ranks of the strongest Grand Masters of the Knights, despite having no divine power.

And long ago, when the Imperial City was almost consumed by the demon race, he became one of the people who defeated the most demons by the Holy Emperor’s side.

“The upper and lower swords are the second highest rank weapons among the existing holy relics. Rank is the strength of a weapon, so Commander Leandros always carries the second strongest tool of ‘destruction’ in the world.”

“Hmm? The second one?”

Seongjin blinked.

“Then what about the first one? Who uses it? If the upper and lower ones are that strong, wouldn’t the first weapon also be incredibly useful for exterminating demons?”

Then Sir Robert looked at Seongjin with a puzzled look.

“…yes?”

“Huh? Why? What?”

“No, that… … .”

Sir Robert, who had been making a bewildered expression, slowly moved his gaze downwards. Seongjin could soon tell where his gaze was directed.

“Nutcracker?”

“…You really didn’t know?”

Nutcracker.

A strong sword that can break tens of thousands of heads without leaving a single scratch.

-Now play with it instead of a wooden sword. No matter what you do with it, it won’t break easily.

These are the words that Seonghwang said to Seongjin as he personally handed him a weapon.

‘If you think about it, is this something to be expected?’

It is a sword that the representative of God carried for half his life. If we consider its status as a standard for nobility, then perhaps the nutcracker is worthy of praise as an eternal treasure.

“Hoo… … .”

The handle of the nutcracker, which was now completely familiar to his hand, fit snugly. A satisfied smile appeared on Sungjin’s lips as he stroked it gently for a moment.

Yeah, that’s what I’m saying?

‘Wouldn’t it be okay to see this as my father’s tacit permission to do whatever he wants?’

The most powerful relic on the continent is in Seongjin’s hands. While the energy he exudes may be unsettling, who would dare to hinder his progress?

Besides, no matter how you kill a high-ranking demon, no one will be able to carelessly suspect you. If you are the owner of the strongest relic, the Nutcracker, then it is only natural that you would perform one or two such miracles!

‘Okay. That’s great! There have been a lot of things that have been bothering me lately. Now I just need to find them one by one and crack my head open!’

But it was just then.

Sir Robert, who had been maintaining his composure despite Sungjin’s aura until now, suddenly turned pale and flinched back!

‘Huh? Why is that guy acting like that all of a sudden?’

Then, the demon king who had been sitting quietly on the glass bowl until then sent a thought to Seongjin with a deep sigh.

[… Lee Sung-jin. How many times have I told you to please stop laughing like that, okay?]

* * *

“…hmm?”

Suddenly, Pajong felt a strange chill and raised his head.

“What? It’s not like the weather got that cold… … .”

No, even if the temperature had really dropped, it would have been strange. There was no way that a high-ranking Demon Lord like him would feel the cold from a small temperature difference.

After a moment of puzzlement, Sow soon came to a reasonable conclusion.

“Doll! This bowl seems to be nearing its end of life. Isn’t there another bowl that would be better?”

Then, Romain, who was busy preparing her clothes, stopped what she was doing and answered obediently.

“There is one more brother of the sowing that I captured while preparing the body. I will leave it here, so use it as you wish, lord of diseases.”

“Really? Thanks for that… … .”

Pajong, who had been responding absentmindedly, suddenly frowned.

“Wait a minute. Aren’t all the brothers of the sower my servants anyway? Should I be angry that you stole what’s mine, or should I be happy that you gave it all back to me?”

“At that time, there was no other way to obtain the vessel, Your Majesty. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Well, really? Well then.”

Sowing scratched his empty head and asked.

“But doll, where are you going? Why are you suddenly packing all your bags?”

In fact, Romain was in the process of stuffing all the things he had temporarily stored in the cave – which were mostly just sewing supplies and a few hand puppets – into his backpack.

“Haven’t all the plans you’ve been working on gone down the drain? We’ll have to find another way. I’m going to Cyprus now, Sow.”

“In Cyprus? Why there all of a sudden?”

“Now that there is nothing left in the zodiac, I plan to retrieve what was placed there long ago.”

In Cyprus there remained a few objects prepared by Romani – a puppeteer, to be precise.

Now that most of the plans they had prepared have been rendered useless, they may become their last remaining trump card against the Holy Emperor.

And above all, there is a race of borderline beings hiding in the ocean of Cyprus. Their leader would have been reduced to a mere mortal by now, so if we were to do well, we could easily take the [Race Key] from it.

“Originally, we were planning to head there a long time ago. However, due to some issues, we were delayed a little.”

If only Prince Leonard could have lured the princess out in time as he boasted.

If gates had opened simultaneously throughout the zodiac as planned.

And if [the puppeteer] hadn’t suddenly fled for some reason and run away to the last doll he left behind in Cyprus.

But now that Romain has lost everything, he must compete with his former self, the puppeteer, to win all the arrangements.

“If all goes well, I will bring you good news soon, Lord of Diseases. I hope to see you again in Asain next time, together with the Lord of Famine.”

Romain bowed politely and slowly walked out of the cave.

“… … .”

Pajong looked at the sight and thought for a moment.

‘He’s really leaving? That guy is annoying. Should I just kill him now?’

But I soon changed my mind.

Anyway, I said that the doll isn’t the main body. Even if I kill it now, its real body will still be alive somewhere and will be extremely wary of [sowing] from now on.

He possessed the lost art of Ionia. The ability to create [code] directly may not seem like much at first glance, but depending on the situation, it can sometimes lead to very annoying results.

‘And Greed said the same thing. He knows the hidden entrance to the [Labyrinth].’

Well then, should we wait a little longer?

Having decided to do so, Sojong went into a corner of the cave and carefully examined the new body that the doll had left behind. It was a truly unsightly looking man, with a gaunt physique and a bushy beard, having not taken care of himself recently.

‘Clemence… … .’

Sowing could tell the man’s history just by glancing at him.

He is the brother of the one who originally pledged to come into his arms, so he can spy on and control his memories at will.

He was another brother of the sower who had long ago gone into hiding in the Imperial City along with the vessel he was using now.

After being captured by a doll by some unlucky coincidence, I continued to follow them without any sense of humor. Now, I could not find my former faithful self even after rubbing my eyes.

It was a little difficult, but that was it. Sowing quickly lost interest.

‘None of this is very good. I must have used up a lot of magic power recently. I should just go back to the underground church and rest for a while.’

The sower, who had made up his mind, left the old man’s body without any regrets.

dump!

Then, the old man’s body loses control and falls to the floor, his breath stopping.

The old man’s soul had already been destroyed by the high-ranking demon king. As even the demon king’s energy that had protected his body disappeared, the black mushrooms that had spread here and there began to rapidly expand. This was a phenomenon of erosion caused by demonic energy.

Passus… … .

After a while, the old man’s body disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only his soiled priestly attire.

“… … .”

Then, a tear slowly flowed down from Clemens’s eye, who had been standing there blankly until then.