Chapter 333:
"This is the data that Philip from the trade association forwarded. It appears Bishop Illya didn't just commence training without cause."
"......What?"
Logan grimaced at the unpleasant update he received early in the day.
"When I tried to locate the ascetic priests to indirectly reach out to her, none of them had any information about her."
"This is... not acceptable."
With the looming war against the Empire, Logan had hoped to avoid getting involved in the distant matters of the Holy Nation, but now, that was unavoidable. The unsettling feeling in his mind intensified upon hearing the news from the Holy Nation.
Initially, he thought it was a decision made for the Pope's benefit, but if that wasn't the case...
"The Pope's orders, along with Prince Barros's trip to the Holy Nation... and the disappearance of the Saintess?"
"It seems we must consider that the Empire is plotting something."
At Damian's statement, Logan growled softly. He had been contemplating a similar possibility.
The Sanctuary typically kept a distance from worldly powers and stayed politically neutral.
The Empire, cautious of the consequences of provoking such a nation, rarely took drastic actions against the Holy Nation.
'How did they manage it?'
Repeatedly sighing, Logan realized he couldn't keep dwelling on it, so he quickly gathered his thoughts and spoke.
"If we assume that Pope Austin's statement implies not just more involvement in worldly matters, but total collaboration with the Empire..."
While he was concerned about Illya, with whom he shared a close bond, Logan's primary focus was on this issue.
"At the very least, it implies we have a potential threat in the form of the McLain Diocese within the kingdom."
"Yes. Despite the priests facing criticism for their misconduct, the people are unlikely to abandon their faith. If they decide to disrupt the foundation, it will greatly impact military morale."
"Understood. That makes sense. So, what's the worst-case scenario?"
"The worst-case scenario would involve the Empire's Holy Knights intervening. Of course, we are not heretics and would not go that far."
Damian spoke confidently, but Logan couldn't shake off the foreboding thoughts that accompanied it.
His mind drifted to the words of the Archbishop of the McLain Diocese, Pamiell.
- For some time now, children have been born in this land without divine power - The Pope suspects that this kingdom has been 'abandoned by God.'
Thinking of his beloved master's daughter, Stella, the unease in his mind resurfaced whenever he thought of that innocent child.
But now, it was a matter he couldn't dismiss lightly.
"It could turn into the worst-case scenario if..."
"Excuse me?"
"No, forget it. Let's first investigate what's happening, and if the Empire is indeed playing games, we must act. We can't just passively endure."
"However, Your Majesty, even if Philip on the field is unable to do much..."
"We need to send someone to conduct an investigation."
"Excuse me?"
"Someone who can uncover the Sanctuary's secrets."
As Damian looked puzzled, Victor, who had been silently observing behind Logan, stepped forward as if anticipating this, kneeling before him.
"I will go. Please permit me, Your Majesty. I will safely bring Lady Illya back."
"Very well. You seem the most suitable for this task. You have a connection with Bishop Illya."
As Logan agreed, Damian interjected with a troubled expression.
"The journey to Noviens will take at least three months one way. By then, it might be too late. They probably won't harm the Saintess, given her importance."
While reasonable, Logan shook his head with a smile.
"Damian, you tend to generalize too much."
"Excuse me?"
"If it were me, I could complete the journey in a week, or even in three days."
"Sir Victor, you should know, even with continuous horse riding without breaks, it would take over a week to cover the distance."
"I can manage it."
"What...?"
Damian appeared perplexed by Victor's unwavering confidence, while Logan supported his words, believing in his capabilities.
"With his 'Endless Vitality' as a superhuman, Victor's endurance is exceptional. Considering that, I believe it's doable."
Furthermore,
"Take the artifacts of the ghosts acquired this time. Having previous experience with them, I trust you can handle them effectively."
As Logan patted Victor's strong shoulder, a voice filled with doubt chimed in from the side.
"However, uncovering the Sanctuary doesn't necessarily mean breaking in. What can Sir Victor achieve alone...?"
But Logan disregarded Damian's concerns, confident that Victor, along with the ghosts' artifacts and Philip's strategies, would yield results.
"If extra help is required, consult Philip and make a request. He's likely prepared for such situations. And..."
Logan looked directly into Victor's anxious eyes and calmly continued.
"Ensuring Lady Illya's safety is crucial, but uncovering the Empire's motives is even more important. If we can handle it, we should."
"...Understood."
Victor's expression darkened slightly, but Logan simply nodded and turned away.
And on that day,
Victor, the unknown superhuman of McLain, vanished from the royal castle.
* * *
Dududududu.
Heeeeeing!
A horse galloped at an incredible speed, halting in front of a trade association's camp.
No, it collapsed.
Thud.
Flop.
Before the horse could collapse, the rider dashed like lightning, standing before the leader of the merchants, bearing the 'Flame' banner.
"Long time no see, Philip."
At the calm greeting, a young man with gray eyes, appearing to be in his thirties, smiled in a flustered manner.
"Victor, is it truly you? But how did you arrive in three days...? You weren't secretly in the Empire, were you?"
"Yes, something like that."
Victor awkwardly smiled and brushed it off.
Despite personal secrets and the lack of a significant friendship with Philip since their time in McLain's territory, Victor had always avoided merchants, primarily due to Philip's strong merchant background.
"Haha, well, you've grown. You're almost like your lord now. Back in the day..."
"Philip, I'm sorry, but I need to know what my first step should be."
Philip, wanting to reminisce with his old acquaintance, licked his lips awkwardly at Victor's serious demeanor.
'He's the same.'
Philip could sense that this was one of those dull individuals he found uninteresting in the past, now even more so since he had matured.
However, recognizing the seriousness of the situation, he quickly composed himself and led Victor into the tent.
In a forest, half a day's journey from the capital of Noviens, inside a small camp, a detailed map of the main temple's layout and a large model were spread out on the wooden table.
The map outlined the innermost areas of the temple thoroughly, focusing on potential locations where the Saintess might be held, along with crucial information about key personnel and their schedules.
As Victor entered the tent, he paused, surprised by the thorough information presented.
"...Did you gather all this in just three days?"
"Of course not. This all started when I suspected the Saintess might be imprisoned."
"...Thank you for your hard work."
"It's my duty. The Holy Nation's sudden strange behavior led most raw material merchants to halt their trades and monitor the situation. They've been incurring losses every day. My funds, or rather, the nation's funds, are dwindling."
"..."
"What are you staring at? Impressed?"
This man hadn't changed a bit.
Amused by Philip's consistent behavior, Victor shook his head and got straight to the point.
"Anyway, is there any issue with the Saintess?"
"With the Saintess? What's the connection? I must say, she's remarkably beautiful, but... Hah, just kidding, just kidding. Describing her beauty is quite something."
"...Lady Illya is a crucial figure in this world."
The seemingly harmless young man now appeared more intimidating.
Muttering in apparent displeasure, Philip pointed sternly at the center temple model.
"Those corrupt elders in there usually fear divine retribution too much to even approach the Saintess. She is born once every thirty years, no, she carries a divine mark that emerges once every eighty years. They absolutely cannot, and will not, harm her. I can guarantee that. Her life is not in danger."
"Is that so?"
Victor seemed reassured by the assurances, but Philip wanted to know more about Victor's close bond with Illya.
He seldom saw Victor express emotions beyond matters related to his sister.
However, business was business.
While hoping for positive updates, Philip felt it necessary to mention the worst-case scenario as well, so they wouldn't be caught off guard if things took a negative turn.
"As I mentioned, while it's certain she's alive, no one can ensure her condition."
Pause.
Observing Victor's serious expression, Philip continued.
"Historically, divine beings haven't faced divine punishment even if they lost a limb or two. Or even if they went mad. Those higher beings can be surprisingly forgiving."
If Victor had reacted strongly to this information, Philip would have excluded him from the mission immediately.
Closely watching Victor for any signs of deep concern, Philip saw him respond calmly.
"That's unlikely."
"Huh?"
"Lady Illya is a revered figure who normalized the church."
"What do you mean?"
"At present, the Pope's authority isn't very stable, necessitating the presence of someone like Saintess Illya, who has substantial support, to the outside world. Hence, it's improbable that harm will come to her."
Click.
Philip clicked his tongue while chuckling lightly.
"...You've become sharp, you icy block."
With such astuteness paired with immense strength, Victor proved capable of taking on such a crucial role.
Beyond the orders of a monarch, Philip appointed him as the local commander, placing full trust in Victor's abilities.
And just three days later, in the evening,
As the sun began to set, chaos erupted within the central temple.
"Darn it, let me see the Saintess! My daughter is due in two days!"
"If you're intoxicated, go rest at home instead!"
"I'm wealthy! I can request a blessing from the Cardinal!"
"Such sacrilegious words! Be quiet!"
"Seriously?! Not long ago, people were paid for such tasks, and now it's sacrilege!"
"This person...!"
The disturbance unfolded at the temple's outskirts with a clash between a drunken individual and the temple guards.
"My daughter is dying! Saintess, we need your blessing! Please let me see her!"
"You can't do that! Get lost!"
With urgency, people sought the Saintess' divine intervention.
"What a nuisance! I have imperial lineage! I demand an audience with the Saintess!"
"I'm sorry, but the Saintess is currently in meditation..."
"No! Do you not recognize who I am? Are you disrespecting me now?!"
"That's not the issue, sir..."
The tensions escalated, drawing in foreign nobles seeking the Saintess' attention.
Due to the chaos, the scenes outside resembled a bustling market.
While the temple guards paid little attention, numerous figures covertly monitored the movements of the holy knights amidst the turmoil.
As the sun set, and the commotion subsided once more,
"I've identified the general direction where the holy knights are focused during the chaos. There appears to be a specific spot aligning with our suspected reports. It would be wise to commence the investigation from there."
"Understood."
From that moment, Victor, clad entirely in black, began to fade from sight.