Chapter 128
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Enthronement Ceremony - 5
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There's an idiom called "bolt from the blue."
It refers to a situation where something utterly unexpected hits you like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, leaving your mind too stunned to think straight, as if your brain's been smashed with a hammer.
That's exactly how I felt right now.
'What the hell is this crazy bitch talking about?'
Monstrous gods lurked in hiding spots around the world, threatening humanity.
To confront those demons, miracles infused with immense divine power were essential.
But to manifest miracles, you needed priests born with holy power—and modern humanity, never having witnessed gods, had seen that power dwindle across generations.
And right on cue, the Titan gods from the mythic age had reappeared.
That was me, and the emperor wanted to breed me to increase their numbers.
"Do you see people as stud horses?"
"For the empire's sake, it's a necessary sacrifice, I believe."
I faltered at the emperor's brazen madness.
Colin, the village chief's grandson and my father's disciple, had been called a madwoman at the adventurer's guild—but the real lunatic was someone else.
That bitch trying to breed people? Pure insanity.
"Wouldn't that suit you just fine? I hear you fancy women."
"It's not women I like. It's the woman I love."
"Is that so?"
"You can stare at me all you want with suspicion; it won't change my mind."
"Hmm... What a shame."
The emperor drained the wine from his glass, then fixed me with an intense, predatory gaze.
Now it was downright scary.
That affectionate look belonged to a mad scientist who wanted to breed people for superior offspring—I couldn't treat the emperor casually anymore.
To shake off her attention, I spouted nonsense.
"Besides, there's no guarantee any child from me and a human would be a Titan, right?"
"True enough. But you've already proven the possibility isn't zero."
"Proven?"
"Your eldest daughter is a Titan, isn't she? One who can wield both mana and holy power—a new breed of divine human, from what I hear."
"..."
Her mentioning Ciel by name made it impossible to stay friendly.
"Don't glare like that. I learned about her while investigating you."
"If you've investigated me, you know my temperament, don't you?"
"Hmm, I overlooked that. My apologies. If you wish, I'll bow my head and apologize personally."
"Y-Your Majesty..."
A nearby minister jumped in alarm.
The emperor, the empire's nominal master, was about to bow to me—a mere prospective earl.
It could tarnish her prestige.
And spark backlash against me, so I cut her off.
"Hah... No need."
"You're forgiving me?"
"Forgive or not, you'll do whatever you want anyway, won't you, Your Majesty?"
"You're sharp; I like that. If only my subordinates gave up so astutely."
"I'm not giving up on you, Your Majesty."
"Planning to defy my orders?"
"Naturally."
Sure, I was a sex-crazed monster, but only for my women.
I wasn't so lacking in self-control as to sleep around without love.
"Besides, I'm not part of the empire—I'm from the Holy Kingdom. If I followed Your Majesty's decree, what would the Pope think?"
"You have a point."
Invoking the Pope made her pause in thought.
Even the empire's ruler couldn't easily dismiss the Pope—her blood kin and the first emperor's child.
"Then I'll negotiate with the Pope myself. You there—prepare for an outing. We're heading to the temple right now."
"Eh?"
"Why so surprised?"
"Your Majesty, you're going to the Holy Kingdom at this hour?"
"You didn't know? The first apostle, who was set to officiate tomorrow's enthronement, got injured. So His Holiness the Pope came here in person."
"What..."
The Pope never left the Holy Kingdom due to his unique condition.
Not in a thousand years.
And he'd emerged for my enthronement?
'This is heading in a bad direction.'
I wanted to bolt, but with the emperor's arm linked through mine, dragging me along, I couldn't.
...
The grand temple in the capital, Carnestia, brimmed with Holy Knights from the Holy Kingdom standing vigilant guard. Among them were those dubbed the Holy Swords.
"Sir Peredil, is Sir Clark alright?"
"Yes. He overexerted himself with excessive miracles, but his life isn't in danger."
"I feared we'd lose pureblood Sir Clark. Thank goodness. Sir Peredil, don't guard me anymore—go tend to him. If his kin looks after him, he'll recover faster."
"No. As a Holy Knight, I will protect His Holiness the Pope."
"I'm fine. Even without you, Sir Orona, Sir Thomson, and Sir Harte will safeguard me."
Why had they gathered here from the Holy Kingdom?
To protect what might be the world's most noble being.
The Pope, Esther A. Astiren—born of the first emperor Astiren and the primordial nymph.
"This is my mother's domain, after all. I'll be safe no matter what."
"We are grateful for Your Holiness's consideration."
"I'm the grateful one. Please watch over Sir Clark. I still need his aid."
"As you command."
As Sir Peredil vanished, Pope Esther turned to the approaching group.
Platinum hair flowing, she faced the current emperor, Kaina, with a resolute expression.
"What brings Your Majesty to this place?"
"Your words imply impropriety. Does the master of this temple need a reason to visit it?"
"Your Majesty, mind your tongue. The Twelve Gods granted you dominion over this land, but do not place yourself on their level."
"My mistake. I apologize."
"No need to apologize to me, the Pope."
Edge laced their voices.
Just an exchange of words, yet the air grew as tense as crossed blades.
Weaker nobles and knights instinctively stepped back.
The Pope broke the silence first.
"So, what do you want from me?"
"The Pope dislikes sudden guests, so straight to the point: Hand over the Titan to me. In exchange, the Holy Kingdom guarantees continental peace."
"Sigh... Where do I even start?"
Exasperated, the Pope lifted her veil.
Revealing her radiant, breathtaking beauty to the world.
'I knew His Holiness was beautiful, but this...?'
'Good thing my training was strict, or I'd have fallen for that beauty.'
Ignoring the stunned nobles, the emperor spoke amid the Pope's allure.
"Hm? Why uncover your face? Rebelling against me?"
"Not at all. I merely wished to confirm Your Majesty is in your right mind."
"And? What do those keen eyes tell you about my state?"
"Regrettably, Your Majesty is quite sane."
"Of course. Did you think I was drunk?"
"How could Your Majesty entertain such foolish notions?"
Her words bordered on insolence, but no noble dared challenge the Pope.
She was imperial blood, after all.
By lineage, her claim was even more legitimate than the current emperor's.
"Foolish how?"
"First off, Sian is Hero of Hestia. We have no authority to command him."
But this claim couldn't be brushed aside.
The Pope placed the Hero above the emperor.
Yet the emperor didn't seem offended.
"True, as Hestia's chosen Hero, he warrants careful handling."
Hestia held a special place among the gods—the sole deity benevolent to all humanity.
She united the Twelve Gods to share necessities with mankind and, after the final war drove the gods away, sent nymphs as their proxies out of concern for mortals.
A Hero she personally chose deserved commensurate respect.
"Fine then. Let the Titan choose: follow me, or you."
"...Your Majesty has given me a headache after so long."
The emperor glanced at Sian beside her.
But oddly, I was nowhere near her.
She'd dragged me here arm-in-arm, hadn't she?