The Hero’s Brother Is Bound To Be Depressed - Chapter 452



453 – An unexpected gift

I opened my eyes as the carriage stopped. What comes into my field of vision is a huge world tree. I stared blankly for a moment at the sight of the gigantic World Tree that obscured even the endless sky, a recreation of my imagination, and then got off the carriage.

I watched as a grumpy-looking nobleman and a woman in an uncomfortable-looking dress came out of the carriage and headed towards a nearby building with their arms crossed. There were more buildings around the World Tree than expected. There were churches, shops, hotels, and several other buildings under construction on the outskirts. It is different from Ludwig, which grows into a huge city. I would say it has a strong resort feel rather than a city.

Perhaps it was a choice that took into account that Ludwig’s power would weaken if a new city were built here. Since the World Tree is clearly included in Ludwig’s territory, it seems that there is no need to divide the city into two.

The largest building closest to the World Tree was, of course, the church cathedral. In a way, it is natural for the church to be located where the world tree is. Although the growth of the World Tree has nothing to do with the Church, it is the Church’s specialty to insist that the World Tree’s appearance is clear evidence of the existence of God.

Since I wasn’t interested in the church, I turned to a nearby store. I followed the people around the store, but most of them were souvenirs related to the World Tree. It seems that only these things can be sold. Since most people can purchase everything they want at Ludwig, it seems that it was designed to only serve as a store in a tourist area.

I wasn’t particularly interested in buying souvenirs, so I headed straight to the World Tree. However, a barrier blocking people’s entry and exit appeared around the World Tree again. Just like before, I offered my golden identity card to the soldier guarding the door, but this time, unlike before, I was coldly rejected. I was amazed by this, so I asked the soldier who refused entry the reason.

“Can’t I get a closer look at the World Tree even with this identity badge?”

“Yes, no noble person can access the World Tree without a special permit issued by the imperial family. “These are rules for the safety of the World Tree.”

I can’t help it. I was scratching my head and staring at the World Tree, hoping for a flash of light, when I felt someone come up behind me and stop. As I raised my guard and twisted my body, a face that I had never seen before caught my eye.

“It’s been a while.”

It’s an unforgettable face and voice. He was the church’s inquisitor and the one who directly tortured me.

Benedick.

“I’ve heard a lot of rumors. Now that I’ve seen you in person, I can see that you’ve grown a lot since then. Was the experience you had with me a good turning point in your life? Hehehe.”

At those words, I unconsciously took a step towards Benedict. Then, the Holy Knights hiding nearby surrounded me as if they were protecting Benedict. Like instinct, he recognized all the spatial coordinates around him and was ready to raise his magic power at any time.

“Ah, calm down. I didn’t come to you with the intention of fighting. Look at my outfit. “He’s not the interrogator he used to be.”

Unlike before, Benedict was not wearing red priestly robes. Rather, it was an outfit full of decorations and uncomfortable movement that was only seen at imperial festivals. From the church symbols on his clothes, I could tell that Benedict had ascended to a higher position.

“A cardinal?”

“Yes, unfortunately, I don’t have the qualifications to be Pope yet. In time, he will eventually get it.”

I said, scratching my chin as I looked at Benedict, who was smiling kindly and gently brushing off his clothes with the palm of his hand.

“Then you shouldn’t have appeared in front of me. “What will be written on your tombstone will be today’s date and your title as cardinal.”

As I slowly increased my momentum, the paladins in charge of guarding the Cardinal also increased their momentum. However, I could clearly see an opening through the head of Benedict, who was hiding behind the paladin’s shoulder. He could do it without using space magic.

“… I told you. I have no intention of fighting. I just came to invite you to the cathedral. “Entering the cathedral closest to the World Tree is an honor that only a few specially permitted people can access.”

“If you thought I would get your invitation just because of that, I don’t think you would feel resentful about dying for me.”

In fact, I barely remember the torture Benedict inflicted on me. I have a feeling that something like that happened, but at the time, I was unconscious due to my indomitable will. Still, the anger clinging to my unconsciousness remained, seething beneath my skin.

“… Tsk.”

Benedict clicked his tongue, glanced at me for a moment, then let out a long sigh. Then he smiled kindly as if he had never done that before.

“Of course, I would like to send you an invitation to clear up any misunderstandings about me, but the reason I am inviting you this time is to deliver the ‘gift’ I left for you.”

“gift?”

Perhaps because he thought I was interested, Benedict pushed the paladin aside and took a step forward.

“Yes, it was a gift to give to you whenever you visit the World Tree. So I had no choice but to wait here for you to come. The cardinal has a lot to do in the capital. Hehehe.”

I said, laughing at the irritation in my voice.

“I should have come a little later. Or should I go back and come back a few years later?”

“Then, of course, we have no choice but to discard the gift. “I met you, but no one would say anything if I refused the gift.”

On the contrary, I gestured with my hand as if I was annoyed by the way he raised the corner of his mouth as if he was hoping for it.

“Guide me.”

Benedict frowned reflexively at the attitude toward those below him and stroked his thick chin.

“Are you trusting your brother and then being picky like this? Hehehe. Well, I heard that you later dropped out of the academy. I think it’s a good choice. “One year is such a waste of time to be compared to someone of the same blood and realize that you are inferior”

“Benedick.”

After cutting off my random chatter, I used my intangibility to move right in front of Benedict and looked straight down at him. The paladins, unable to keep up with my speed, belatedly raised their hands to their sword sheaths, but I was already completely close to Benedict, so they could not take any further action.

“Do you know why people have two eyes?”

At the friendly question, Benedict swallowed his saliva and lowered his gaze. I don’t know if it was fear or humiliation that made me shake my head, but I wasn’t interested in that and slapped Benedict on the cheek as if to urge him to answer.

match-! match-! I could feel the paladins flinching every time a sound rang out of their palms, but they couldn’t even keep up with my movements. Everyone had already realized that if they moved too hastily, Benedict’s head would disappear first.

“Benedict, do you want to know why?”

Benedict, with a hard face, rolled his eyes. Benedict, who noticed that the number of his eyeballs would change depending on the answer he gave, moved his chapped lips and answered.

“… “Oh, no.”

“If you say shit one more time, I’ll just let you know.”

When I tapped his cheek and spoke, Benedict nodded enthusiastically, suppressed his emotions, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and spoke.

“… “I will guide you to the cathedral where the gift is.”

*

The interior of the cathedral was so huge and beautiful that it could be compared to cathedrals in the capital, perhaps because the intention was to make it another cathedral that symbolizes the church. Looking at the fact that a cathedral of this quality was built in a short period of time, you can see how much money the church had.

Some parts were still under construction with curtains installed, but even excluding that, the cathedral was more than satisfactory. As I was looking at the statues, I realized that they were not all ‘statues’. There would be no material more suitable for a statue of a sinner than a member of a religious order.

Benedict, whose face was all messed up, gestured, and several nuns carefully placed a box the size of a person on the table. The gift didn’t seem heavy enough to require multiple people.

“This is a gift.”

“Who is this gift from?”

Benedict showed signs of not wanting to answer my question, but eventually opened his mouth.

“… “I am a saint.”

“A saint?”

It has not yet been made public that the saint has died. I don’t know if the church doesn’t know, or if they are planning to use the right moment to make it public, but only a few people will know about the saint’s death. Is Benedict included among them? A cardinal might know. But, that’s not important now.

I slowly reached out and opened the lid of the box. The box contained a wooden spear with a design that seemed as if it had been created by nature itself, and a letter. Somehow that window felt very familiar. But first, I checked the letter the saint left behind.

It’s a short article.

– This will be very useful to you. You probably already know how to use it. I didn’t say goodbye on purpose. I believe you will definitely succeed.

P.S. I like apples. Enough to eat 3 at once.

“… .”

After reading the letter one more time, I carefully placed it in my arms and took out the wooden spear from the box. The moment I touched it, I realized the familiarity it felt in my hand. That I had obtained the weapon used by Ross, who had reached the end of his spear skills.

Window of the World Tree.

It came into my hands.