Chapter 271
Chapter: 271
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 271
>Chapter Title: Penitent Offering (3)
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>Somehow, the inquisitor had an unsettling demeanor unlike his usual self.
A zealot of the dark cult, his eyes dripping with venom and madness.
Yet what had been grating on Seongjin's nerves since earlier was something else entirely. It was Masain, visibly stiffening behind him.
He wasn't stepping forward to rein in Seongjin like he used to. He merely gripped the hilt of his sword tightly with a rigid expression.
But the knuckles straining with force had drained of color, and tension was plain on his face.
‘I won't be able to stay long...’
Seongjin checked his condition briefly before turning to Belinda. He needed to ask just a few truly pressing questions quickly.
"Since you claim to be above reproach before the Lord God, I'll believe you and ask. Why are you distributing that herbal tea in the north? Do you even know what its ingredients are?"
That was the most important thing to Seongjin right now.
To grasp in advance what Sigmund Margrave had been plotting—and what he was still plotting. And ultimately, to thwart whatever his father had in mind.
Belinda blinked in confusion before letting out a snicker.
"Herbal tea? Ah, that must be another name that wretch Giacomo calls the 'Awakening Brew.'"
"Awakening Brew?"
"That's right. Another spiritual blessing bestowed directly by the Lord God! The Awakening Brew is a precious treasure granted only to the brothers of penance!"
Crystals that produced combustion, and tea that stimulated those crystals.
If they called it 'awakening,' it was a fairly intuitive name.
"Sure. Then why not just share that precious treasure amicably among yourselves underground? Why distribute it through merchant caravans and stir up trouble?"
"Heh heh. Foolish heretics. The Lord God is not so narrow-minded."
As Belinda cackled, flecks of blood pooled in her mouth sprayed out.
"The Awakening Brew is ultimately meant to save all humanity! We gladly share it with you heretics, even at great risk to ourselves, because it is the Lord God's will that all people across the continent awaken spiritually!"
She shouted with triumphant zeal, truly believing without a doubt that she was doing this for the world's sake.
Her steadfast eyes even held a kind of martyr's purity.
[That one's dead serious.]
'Yeah, this is why zealots are...'
Seongjin clicked his tongue softly and pressed on with his questions.
"You still haven't answered one thing. I asked what its ingredients are."
"Why, it's the treasure of penance that the archbishop distributes directly to the brothers!"
"So what are the ingredients of that treasure?"
"It's the sacred grace bestowed by the Lord God!"
...She has no idea at all.
‘In any case, it means the archbishop of the Penitent Order is the one supplying them with Roperum eggs. To find out exactly how they procure monster eggs, I'll have to track down and squeeze that guy.’
Having reached that conclusion, Seongjin moved to the next question.
About the demonic tree of the demon realm that devoured everything around it upon sprouting—the Penance Tree.
"I heard a report like this before. You testified that on the archbishop's orders, you sprouted it to exterminate Giacomo Millo, who had defaulted on a promissory note."
"...Y-yes."
For the first time, Belinda's voice faltered uncertainly in response.
Whether because she'd boldly declared herself blameless before the Lord God, or because she was simply bad at lying.
[She's lying.]
Yeah, looks like it.
Seongjin crossed his arms and repeated the question.
"Did you try to exterminate Giacomo Millo with a demonic tree?"
Belinda snapped her head up and shouted.
"Yes! That vile heretic dared to betray the brothers of penance! I could never tolerate that!"
"So the archbishop ordered you to do it?"
"Y-yes."
See that?
"It was entirely your own initiative to bring the demonic tree."
"...Anticipating His Grace's profound will and supporting him flawlessly without gaps is the duty of us brothers..."
Spare me the excuses, zealot.
Why go making huge trouble with your needless assumptions?
Seongjin glanced briefly at Masain before posing his final question.
"Do you know Gael Bertrand?"
Belinda's sullen face twisted savagely.
"Are you joking? You don't think I'd know that famous name, do you?"
"Yes. That Gael Bertrand."
At that, Sir Valerie, who had been listening intently from the side, lit up with intrigued excitement.
Seongjin must have been asking questions completely out of left field, easing his tension.
Instead, the inquisitor's instinct for gossip and trivia was kicking in.
"Did your Penitent Order kill him?"
For a moment, everyone in the warehouse looked dumbfounded.
"...Hey. If you're going to make wild accusations, at least give a plausible reason. Now you're pinning even a death from the civil war on us..."
Belinda muttered in disbelief, but Seongjin glared at her and asked lowly.
"I'm not asking again. Did you kill him?"
"......"
Belinda clamped her mouth shut and bowed her head.
Heh heh heh heh heh.
Soon, an eerie laugh echoed through the blood-scented warehouse.
"Yes, now I see why you asked. Come to think of it, you're that Moreth prince..."
"......"
"You do know something! Well, it's something that'll come out eventually, so I'll gladly answer!"
Flash.
Belinda lifted her head and locked eyes with Seongjin. Her face had transformed entirely from moments ago, now rippling with a bizarre ecstasy.
Her eyes blazed with chilling madness at him, like sparks from a frayed wire.
"Hahaha! Yes! He was the 'offering'! Probably not so unfamiliar to you!"
Twitch.
Sensing Masain and Valerie tense up simultaneously in an instant, Seongjin commanded coldly.
"...Explain in detail."
"Gladly. He was meticulously selected by the archbishop of penance, offered solely to the Lord God as the 'Penitent Offering'! He was chosen as the sacrifice, and his nation as the exalted Lord God's domain!"
"Chosen as the Lord God's domain? Then what was all that long civil war about?"
"Haha! To our great archbishop, the apostle of penance, what's so big about wiping out one puny kingdom!"
The archbishop of penance again.
Suddenly, something flashed in Seongjin's mind—the soul of Hayes, weeping black tears and pleading fervently.
-O Lord of Souls! Noble Archbishop! Apostle of Repose!
A question naturally arose.
"To you, what is the archbishop?"
Then, kekeke kekeke.
Belinda burst into wild laughter, as if she found it hilarious.
"...What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just absurd hearing that question from you of all people. Do you truly know nothing about your own [Reserve]?"
"Reserve?"
It was right then.
"...Your Highness!"
Sir Masain called out lowly from behind. His voice was desperate, as if his throat were being strangled.
And Sir Valerie, watching from the side, swiftly blocked Seongjin's front while gagging Belinda with a muzzle. It happened almost simultaneously with Masain's cry.
"Mmph!"
"Don't grit your teeth like that, Belinda."
Valerie pressed her mouth roughly, speaking in a feigned gentle tone.
"Mmph mph? Mmph?"
"Oh dear, the teeth I just reimplanted for you are already loosening? Close that mouth now. Understood?"
"......"
Seongjin checked pale-faced, ragged-breathing Sir Masain once more before turning.
"Yes. Can't push it any further. Interrogation ends here."
Of course, before leaving the warehouse, he didn't forget to warn the inquisitor.
"But Sir Valerie?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I'm letting it slide quietly today for Sir Masain's sake. But if you block my way like that again, I won't spare you even as a member of the monster task force. Got it?"
"......!"
Sir Valerie flinched as if seeing something startling, then bowed his head solemnly.
"...Yes. I will keep it in mind, Your Highness."
* * *
"...Why's the mood like this?"
That night, Logan returned to the lodging after dark and panicked greatly.
A gloomy aura hung thickly between Seongjin and Masain, who sat silently in their seats.
"Did something happen while I was gone? Why are you like that, brother?"
At Logan's worried voice, Seongjin looked up with a troubled expression.
‘Gael Bertrand was sacrificed as a penitent offering. What if Logan finds out?’
According to Belinda, that was it. Ortona might have fallen because it was the nation where Gael Bertrand was born.
Facing Logan's innocent, clear face made Seongjin's mood sink even lower.
"...Sigh, poor guy."
"......?"
Silence lingered between them for a while longer. Even Masain, who would normally welcome Logan warmly, now stayed sunk into the sofa, not lifting his head.
Unable to stand it, Logan rose and said.
"I don't know what happened, but you both look out of sorts. I'll call your dedicated maid right away for some warm tea..."
He was strongly rebuffed by both Seongjin and Masain at once.
"No! Not Edith!"
"The tea's fine, Your Highness!"
Stunned by their sudden intense reactions, Logan blinked for a moment.
But knowing nothing, he soon jumped to his own conclusion.
"Well, it's too late at night to call a maid. Should I brew some myself?"
And surprisingly, the tea the sword master hurriedly made was quite decent.
Seongjin sipped the sweet, warm milk tea curiously a couple times and soon felt his mood lighten a bit.
Nice.
It evoked nostalgic memories of his childhood on distant Earth.
Sensing the relaxing atmosphere, Logan smiled faintly.
"It's been ages, hasn't it? I used to brew it occasionally in the Blue Rose Palace, and you both liked it."
"Is this Melbourne tea?"
Amid the familiar scent, Seongjin asked, and Logan nodded.
"In the north, we drink Melbourne like this. Perfect for warming up in the cold weather."
"Mm. I see."
But after a few sips, he felt oddly tipsy, his body growing languid.
"It's really good. Is it the warmed milk? Kinda sleepy..."
From across, Logan, gulping his tea, replied casually.
"You've always conked out after this. Probably the rum in it."
"...What?"
Seongjin startled and asked.
"Kids drink alcohol here?"
"Hm? Rum's used a lot as a seasoning. Why?"
No, even so, is it okay for a kid to get tipsy?
Of course, a sword master who could metabolize a few drops of alcohol in seconds might manage.
As Seongjin frowned in thought.
"His Highness Moreth used to call this tea the 'sleepy brew' back then."
The two turned to Masain at his sudden voice from the side. Thanks to the boozy tea, fortunately, his complexion looked much improved from earlier.
After that, light conversation flowed for a while. Mostly Logan sharing palace gossip, with Seongjin and Masain listening attentively.
Then Seongjin heard the shocking news that little Saint Aurelion, whom he'd sent to Logan, was enshrined at Bastian Church.
"Oh, that reminds me. Actually, there's something for you too, Sir Masain."
"Pardon?"
"I bought it with the others, but since you're traveling with us, I thought of giving it to you. It ended up forgotten in my luggage."
Seongjin rummaged through his bags and pulled out a small bald saint statue.
"Here, give it when the chance comes."
"Your Highness, why to me..."
Seongjin looked puzzled at Masain's surprised question.
"Hm? Because you're family, and we bought it together?"
"......!"
Masain's face suddenly welled with emotion.
Watching with a pleased expression, Logan said.
"When we return to the capital, learn to make hats with me first. Brother Masain."
"...Hats?"
"Putting cute hats on little Saint Aurelion is all the rage in the palace now."
And not just that—custom pouches and display stands for little Saint Aurelion...
Listening to Logan's bizarre chatter from the side, Seongjin unwittingly chuckled.
Is it the booze after so long? My mood's way better.
"Alright! While we're at it, want me to show you something fun?"
Inspired by the gift, Seongjin jumped up.
"Actually, I wanted your opinions on something."
With that, Seongjin pulled an ice heart from his bosom.
He already knew Lady Amelia's firm tastes well. Preparing a gift to match was easy.
Logan had grasped what was needed and prepared accordingly.
But Seongjin still didn't know what Sisle liked.
They hadn't known each other long, and perhaps maturing quickly, she rarely voiced wants like 'I want to do this' or 'I want that.'
Asking others yielded no clear answers either; she'd lived as an ascetic saint all this time.
"So I prepared something a girl her age would like. You could say it's the one I put the most effort into—a cute doll. But just in case, I want your opinions first."
With confident flair, Seongjin shouted.
"Come out! Ice Bear No. 3!"
Then, thump!
A massive shadow suddenly summoned from thin air crashed to the floor. It was a giant bear doll made of ice.
[Kyuu!]
The bear bellowed powerfully, gazing at Seongjin with sparkling eyes.
"...A doll?"
Logan, who had imagined a small porcelain doll in a dress, asked in confusion.
"Yeah! A teddy bear."
"Teddy... what's that?"
"What do you mean? It's just a regular bear doll..."
Seongjin tilted his head mid-reply.
What? I chose it thinking it was a timeless design, but maybe bear dolls aren't common in this world?
Fine, if the design doesn't sell it, show the features!
"It's not just any doll. In short, it's an amazing talking bear."
The ice bear flapped its short, chubby arms and bellowed loudly—a high, noisy voice like a recorded electronic tone.
[Al~le~view!]
"Gasp!"
Startled, Logan and Masain's hands flew to their sword hilts.
Whoa whoa, too early to panic. I've got plenty more to brag about.
"That's not all. Look, it can even dance to music."
Ding ding dududung~
The giant ice bear sang an incomprehensible tune, shaking its plump rear.
"......!"
As their faces paled more and more, only the booze-flushed Seongjin, oblivious, spread his arms proudly.
"And the best feature is separate. It's got built-in light bodyguard functions to fend off bad guys targeting Sisle!"
Then, crackle!
The dancing bear's eyes glowed red, and sharp, menacing ice spikes protruded from its chubby paws.
[Al! Le! View!]
"......?!"
"How about it? What could be more perfect as a kid's toy?"
Still looks awesome!
Worth all the effort.
"Your Highness..."
Sir Masain, mouth agape in a daze, finally spoke in a trembling voice. His pupils shook violently, like an earthquake.
"At the very least, I don't think the Saintess would like something like that..."
Seeing Masain's face darken sharply again, Seongjin panicked greatly.
"Huh? Why? What's with the reactions?"
"......"
"Logan? Say something. Why?"
...Isn't this pretty cool? Am I the only one?