Chapter 279
"I guess we'll have some internal church issues to deal with for a while. Only after that can we repay Your Majesty's assistance."
Logan grinned at Iliya's face on the communication orb, her expression filled with amusement.
"Repay? There's no need for that, saint Iliya."
He genuinely meant it.
He had already received more than enough.
"The formal titles are quite a challenge, Your Majesty. Please address me as you used to."
"No, I cannot be disrespectful to an Archcardinal. I am no longer the Emperor of the Empire."
In the church's hierarchy, the Pope and Archcardinals held significant positions, equivalent to kings.
Although this tradition dated back to ancient times when the Pope yielded to the Empire, in a continent where faith in the Nine Gods reigned supreme, it was almost like law.
However...
'The Pope has fallen, and perhaps the Empire will too...'
Logan's true feelings were quite different.
"I owe everything to Your Majesty."
"How could I have possibly shaped Saint Iliya's destiny? Your abilities have brought you to this point."
"No, I am grateful for Your Majesty's kindness. The church will transform, and the temple will regain its former glory. When that day comes, I will repay my debt."
"Haha. Well, if you insist, I suppose I can't refuse."
"Oh?"
"I don't usually decline offers, especially when it comes from someone being considered for the papacy."
"Ah... Haha, yes. I will definitely repay you. But those words do put some pressure on me. It might be challenging for someone as inexperienced and young as myself to become Pope. There are others like Archcardinal Austin too."
At her words, Logan looked puzzled.
"Other Archcardinals? Weren't they aligned with the former Pope?"
"Well, they claim to be victims of the Pope's schemes... However, given the disgraceful acts witnessed by thousands of believers, even if there are internal procedures for electing the Pope from the Archcardinals, it would be hard for any of them to assume the position. The believers' public opinion cannot be entirely disregarded."
"That's understandable."
"This implies that the selection of the next Pope will take some time."
Hmm.
The election of the next Pope was facing further complexities.
While Iliya might not be aware, Logan didn't find this news troubling at all.
He had been startled by the recent temple provocation.
Changing the subject with a smile, Logan asked, "By the way, what was that object the Pope had?"
"Excuse me? I thought you were informed?"
"How would I have known?"
"I would have been surprised if you didn't."
"Ah."
"...It was merely an assumption based on the information available."
"The fact that you knew what even the Pope's close associates didn't is impressive."
"It was a stroke of luck. Even the knowledge that it could replicate a Stigmata came from you, saint."
"It seems the church and I have greatly benefited from Your Majesty's fortunes."
"Haha, that seems to be the case. So, what was this object? It must be remarkable if it could mimic a Stigmata."
Logan had his reasons for being curious.
The relics of the Nine Gods, the divine objects, were the only ones known to inherently emit divine power. This truth had remained unchanged throughout history.
In his past life, the revelation of the object during the Pope's downfall didn't concern him much. But now, he needed to be more alert to international affairs.
The emergence of an object that could alter the church's fate entirely would undoubtedly catch his attention.
"Initially, many believed it to be a relic. Even Archcardinal Tener Lainey argued that the former Pope should be pardoned for discovering the tenth relic."
"Initially? So, it's not a relic after all."
"No. I sensed a difference from pure divine power, and another individual who mastered both aura and divine power to the highest degree agreed. Thus, we concluded it's not a relic."
"A master of aura and divine power? Ah! The Divine Shield..."
The name of the Divine Shield, haman Killerbrew, was familiar to Logan.
"Yes. We both concluded that it's not a divinely bestowed relic but a fabricated imitation. This was confirmed further during the Pope's interrogation."
"Did the Pope easily reveal its origins?"
Such matters could determine one's fate.
At that logical doubt, Iliya's expression momentarily hardened before she spoke hesitantly.
"The church's interrogators extracted a confession within a day. However, the testimony is quite outlandish..."
Ah, the church's inquisitors, infamous for coercing confessions of nonexistent heresies.
Yes, they were capable of that.
Logan pondered on the rumored existence of such individuals, his face contorted into a wry smile, as Iliya continued with a bitter tone.
"Supposedly relics left by an individual with an unknown title — the Demonic Holy Child (魔道聖子)..."
Buzz.
"Ugh!"
Logan was suddenly struck by a severe headache, holding his head.
"Demonic Holy Child. Zibrick... Cassel?"
"Yes? Have you heard of him?"
"No, not yet. It's uncertain... More importantly, iliya, was that object a small sword perhaps?"
"No. It was a bracelet."
"Bracelet... Ah...!"
Memories of his past life's final moments flooded his mind – a massive magic circle.
Inside, piles of bodies, and on a body-strewn altar, two shining artifacts.
One of them was a bracelet.
"A bracelet... Resembling an orb, emitting a pure white light... is that right?"
"Yes? Yes, that's correct! You knew it after all!"
"... Ah. Well... Let's go with that."
The pain ebbed, leaving Logan with a clear head, but the resurgence of his memories brought a wave of exhaustion.
Despite the urge to rest immediately, there was still one more thing to confirm.
"Did the Pope disclose where he acquired that object?"
"He claimed to have purchased it at an Aserian black market during his youth. It doesn't seem to be false..."
"Ha..."
Logan sighed in resignation.
If even the information extracted by the church's interrogators was authentic, then it was likely true. If the item was acquired at Aserian's black market, tracing its origin seemed impossible.
The faint hope he held faded.
'Zibrick Cassel's tomb... must I wait once more for the Empire to find it?'
Perhaps that same ritual had thrown him back into the past.
But now, he couldn't concern himself with the intricate magical formations using countless lives as sacrifices, details he no longer recalled.
He had no desire to relive the hardships of the past, and even if everything crumbled, he had no intention of enduring such struggles again.
In this life, Logan had different aspirations.
'That sword, the one I dubbed the Holy Sword.'
The sword that allowed him, a mere common knight, to evade the Empire's Special Surveillance Team for over a month and infiltrate enemy territory.
If he possessed that sword, the battle against the Empire might be more manageable. However, for now, it seemed he had to let go of that hope.
"We are very curious about it too. If there are more similar artifacts, capable of granting Archbishop-level divine power to someone barely on the level of a low-ranking priest, it would be truly..."
Iliya's subsequent words didn't fully register.
'Demonic Holy Child's artifact. If it resurfaces, I must acquire it first...'
Immersed in this thought, Logan sifted through the memories of his past life that had resurfaced.
"Take good care of that bracelet, iliya."
"Of course, Your Majesty. Although not a relic, its worth is significant, so we intend to treat it as a treasured possession of the church."
"Yes. That's reassuring."
'At least I can prevent the bracelet from falling into the Empire's hands.'
Despite everything, plans to alter destiny seemed to progress smoothly.
Even if it all boiled down to fortunate luck.
* * *
"The Pope impeached? Absolutely absurd."
In the heart of the Imperial Capital, Aserian, within the imperial palace and the 2nd Prince's private residence, a voice tinged with frustration shattered the silence.
The stewards, guards, and all present held their breath, freezing at the sound; a handsome man with blue hair signaled for everyone to leave the room.
Once he ensured everyone had departed, the man spoke quietly.
"The world is deceived, claiming he possessed an artifact that could grant one the divine power of a saint."
"An artifact that bestows divine power? Does that even make sense? It's more plausible to say another relic was unearthed."
The 2nd Prince's forehead creased further, but Leos remained composed.
"The official church statement asserts that. Regardless of its veracity, is that not the source of Your Highness's distress? You are still troubled by the unscathed McLaine Kingdom."
"...Yes. Logan McLaine, that fortunate fellow, managed to escape once more. How many times now?"
A heavy weight pressed on his chest.
The discomfort left the 2nd Prince with a tense expression.
"Aren't you fixating too much on him? No matter his luck, how long can it last? Shouldn't you focus on dealing with the Lesser Kingdoms' Alliance first?"
"No, it doesn't sit right. I have this strong intuition. We can't allow it to persist. You know about the prophetic blood in our imperial lineage."
'Your obsession stems from your thwarted schemes.'
The legendary founding emperor's prophetic gifts were never inherited by any of his descendants.
But Leos suppressed his candid thoughts that rose within him.
Even as an archivist, he couldn't overstep that boundary.
In the ensuing silence as Leos remained speechless.
"I must request an audience with His Majesty."
"Pardon?"
"I must take some risks to eliminate him."
The 2nd Prince's eyes gleamed with lethal intent.