Chapter 50
Chapter: 50
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 50
>Chapter Title: Klanos (2)
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>The Holy Emperor's audience chamber was crowded from morning with the many people summoned there. They were the five cardinals who headed each department and the five captains of the Holy Knight Orders.
The young Holy Emperor sat crookedly on the jade throne, propping his chin with one hand, looking down at them with a blank face. The cardinals and knight captains immediately realized.
'His Majesty is in a foul mood.'
The Holy Emperor's calm voice echoed through the quiet audience chamber.
"I must have caused everyone great worry by being away from my post for so long without any prior notice. The Holy Empire stands strong to this day thanks to the efforts of loyal servants like you all. How could I not commend that?"
"......"
Not one of them was unaware that the Holy Emperor hadn't called them for praise.
"And to think there's even one who goes beyond excellently fulfilling his own duties to take the initiative in helping with others' tasks as well—that attitude is truly a model for all Holy Knights, isn't it?"
Moreover, the Holy Emperor, who usually preferred to get straight to the point, was being unusually verbose today. His Majesty is in a very bad mood right now!
Sir Durand, captain of the Saint Marthius Knight Order—who had arbitrarily monitored an area outside his jurisdiction and dispatched knights—quietly broke into a cold sweat.
"Sir Agnes."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
An elderly woman with snow-white hair neatly pinned up and dressed in the purple uniform of the Holy Knights bowed her head in a rigid posture. She was Sir Agnes Mayer, captain of the Saint Grazie Knight Order and a longtime spiritual pillar.
"I heard you requested the deployment of Imperial Guard knights this time. You're planning to dispatch the 4th Missionary Order to the southern front again?"
It was a sudden mention of the southern front. The old knight was a bit flustered but answered straightforwardly.
"Yes, that's correct, Your Majesty. The southern front is stalemated, but localized unrest continues in parts. Regrettably, during the massive uprising two years ago, we lost many promising young knights. The newly reinforced young knights lack experience, so for this missionary journey, I had no choice but to request a bit of assistance from the Imperial Guard."
It was conduct befitting the Saint Grazie Knight Order, successors to the saint of service who had rushed to the empire's most grueling front without regard for their own bodies.
"That issue seems solvable without needing the Imperial Guard. Don't we have so many seasoned, excellent knights here with the leisure to help others?"
Ah. At last realizing the Holy Emperor's intent, the cardinals' and knight captains' eyes all turned to Sir Durand at once. The Holy Emperor continued toward the old knight, who was anxiously rolling his eyes.
"Extending the hand of missionary work to heretics is one of the important missions bestowed by the Lord God, but delivering the iron fist to heretics who threaten the empire is also absolutely necessary. These two must never be excessive or insufficient."
It was an order to draw as many knights from the Saint Marthius Order as from the Saint Grazie Order.
"If your efforts continue, won't the glory of the Lord God one day descend even upon the barren south?"
He meant they would continue dispatches steadily, so they should watch themselves. Sir Durand cried out toward the Holy Emperor without realizing it.
"Your Majesty! But if we do that, there will be gaps in the inquisitors' duties...!"
The Holy Emperor didn't spare him a glance and turned his head toward the stern-faced man standing to the right of the throne.
A middle-aged man in a uniform of dark gray verging on black. He was Sir Leandroth, captain of the Saint Terbakia Knight Order and head of all exorcists.
Due to the nature of his order, his duties often overlapped with the inquisitors'.
Receiving the Holy Emperor's gaze, he glanced sideways at Sir Durand with an expressionless face and bowed his head.
"We will do our utmost to ensure the inquisitors' gaps are not noticeable."
At this point, there was nothing more to say. Sir Durand's mouth worked silently, but seeing the Holy Emperor's icy eyes, he promptly bowed his head.
"We... we will prepare so there are no deficiencies."
"Good."
The Holy Emperor nodded with an indifferent face.
"Then let's get to the main topic. Since I was away so long, the morning council will drag on too much, so I'm sorting out the important matters with you all first."
Here it comes. Tension rippled across the faces of those summoned.
It would likely be the hottest topic at the morning council.
"Let's talk about the evil thing that appeared on the outskirts of the capital. Sir Katrina."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Sir Katrina, captain of the Saint Aurelion Knight Order, bowed with her usual precise movement and stepped forward one pace.
"Yesterday around noon, activity from an evil thing was confirmed at a villa on the outskirts of the capital. That villa was an abandoned property registered under Edward Digory, second son of Cardinal Digory, but for the past two years, it had been used by students from the Theological Academy, led by Kenneth Digory, as a gathering place for a cult group called the [Black Prophets]."
Sir Leandroth's explanation followed. His raspy voice, like scraping metal, rang through the audience chamber.
"That place has been under surveillance by our Terbakia exorcists for a year now. Something suspicious was found in the basement of the villa, but we judged it wasn't a demonkin, so..."
He glanced briefly at Cardinal Digory.
"And considering those involved were students from the Theological Academy, including children of high-ranking clergy, we didn't refer it to the Heresy Tribunal separately but kept close watch. This was top secret, known only to Your Majesty and the Saint Aurelion Knight Order."
Then, he continued coldly glaring at Sir Durand.
"You must report in detail to His Majesty how you obtained that information."
As Sir Durand subtly averted his eyes and furrowed his brow, Sir Katrina, watching, finished her report succinctly.
"The evil thing suddenly became unstable and caused a disturbance, damaging the basement and part of the villa. However, [just then] present there, His Highness Prince Mores rescued Kenneth Digory with two Imperial Guard knights and personally slew the evil thing, protecting the capital from the threat."
Ahem. Cardinal Digory cleared his throat with extreme discomfort. Though he had rescued his grandson, the severe injury to the back of his head was also due to Prince Mores.
Then Cardinal Benitus's sharp voice rang out.
"Ha! 'Just there'—what nonsense is this, like hiding one's eyes and crying foul? And protecting the capital from threat? Who summoned that evil thing in the first place isn't even certain yet, is it?"
The other cardinals' eyes widened. Was this old man boldly voicing suspicion of the prince right before the Holy Emperor?
The Holy Emperor gazed steadily at Cardinal Benitus for a moment before speaking calmly.
"I can guess how you intend to handle this. From now on, the Heresy Tribunal is to halt its own investigation and await the convocation of the Holy Council. Proceed with the trial according to that council's results."
Everyone except Cardinal Benitus nodded. The Holy Emperor's command was reasonable.
Many members of the Holy Council, which governed canon law, were professors at the Theological Academy. They would be the ideal personnel to decide the treatment of young students.
However, the stubborn old man's thinking seemed different. He met the Holy Emperor's eyes with blazing ones and unleashed a tirade.
"That cannot be, Your Majesty! Investigation and punishment of heretics is the exclusive authority of our Heresy Tribunal! Do you think those soft academy fools will make a proper judgment? The Lord God's judgment on sinners must be stern, and the iron fist upon them merciless! Please retract the order to halt the investigation!"
"Then let me ask you."
The Holy Emperor addressed the fuming old man.
"Heretical trials are ultimately conducted based on canon law as interpreted by the Holy Council from the Lord God's will. Analysis of that evil thing and scriptural interpretation haven't even begun yet—without relevant canon law, on what basis do you intend to try the children?"
"Th-that is..."
The old man faltered, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Of course, based on prior precedents..."
"Based on precedents, arbitrarily fitting canon law to suit? Willfully interpreting the Lord God's will is also a grave sin—a straight path to heresy."
"......"
The other cardinals unwittingly swallowed.
The young Holy Emperor was casually suggesting, with such a bored face, referring the head of the Heresy Tribunal to a heretical trial.
"Cardinal Benitus."
The Holy Emperor drove the nail home toward the pale cardinal.
"Leave the Theological Academy matter to the academy. My order not to overstep still stands."
"......"
With the old man quietly shutting his mouth, the matter seemed concluded for now.
"Um, Your Majesty."
A thin voice suddenly interjected. It was Cardinal Digory, head of the administrative department.
He was a short, plump man, visibly tense as he dabbed his forehead repeatedly with a handkerchief and darted his eyes about.
"I apologize for speaking out of turn, but those involved in this incident aren't just Theological Academy students."
The Holy Emperor silently shifted his gaze to him and gave a small nod. Go on.
"If I may be so bold, since... His Highness Prince Mores was also at the scene..."
"......"
"Entrusting it solely to the Holy Council's judgment seems too hasty a decision. So... there might be a possibility that this wasn't led by the students but instigated by an external agent..."
The Holy Emperor's face was utterly expressionless as he watched Cardinal Digory continue, sweating profusely. Yet everyone present felt the temperature in the audience chamber drop a degree in that instant.
Sir Katrina, standing beside the throne, glanced at the Holy Emperor before speaking on his behalf.
"We've already received a detailed report on that from my adjutant, Sir Francis. Apparently, he received an invitation from student Kenneth Digory and visited the villa. It was their first meeting, from what I heard."
"B-but! There was a tip that His Highness Prince Mores has been steadily sending funds to the [Black Prophets] group. What if from the start he was leading it... Of course, it's a one-in-ten-thousand possibility, but..."
"......"
"Shouldn't we thoroughly investigate that connection first? Even if a member of the imperial family, all are equal before the Lord God's canon law."
Ah. Katrina sighed inwardly.
He had finally crossed the line.
Having served at the Holy Emperor's side for so long, she could tell. Though his face looked coldly impassive as usual, the Holy Emperor was now rarely, genuinely furious.
It was slightly different from Cardinal Benitus earlier—that old man truly suspected Prince Mores. But Digory was forcibly dragging the prince in just to lighten his grandson's guilt.
And the Holy Emperor never forgave such people.
"You're right."
At the coldly spat response, Digory raised his head half in doubt. He soon paled completely, for the Holy Emperor was smiling faintly. From experience, that was never a good sign.
"Louis."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
In the suddenly freezing atmosphere, the chamberlain shivered as he replied.
"Summon Dorian immediately and have him investigate every detail of Kenneth Digory's personal funds and their sources. Since his own grandfather has tipped us off that imperial funds flowed into his hands, this must be highly credible information, no?"
"N-no, what do you..."
Cardinal Digory's eyes bulged.
In an instant, his grandson faced not just a heretical trial but the stigma of embezzling from the Holy Empire's treasury.
"If the investigation reveals no imperial funds, then we should consider foreign powers' involvement next. If there's an external instigator as you say, it must be the work of those threatening the Holy Empire, so investigate assuming the possibility that Kenneth Digory is a spy for another nation."
"No, Your Majesty..."
"Once the Holy Council's disposition is decided, hand him over to the tribunal immediately. Charges: embezzlement of the national treasury and suspicion of espionage."
Digory's hands trembled. Now, whether the charges were true or not was irrelevant.
Once suspected of espionage, his grandson wouldn't remain a living soul through the investigation.
"Of course, investigate every use of the budget allocated to Mores without exception. All investigations must be fair, mustn't they? Perhaps..."
The Holy Emperor trailed off, smirking with one corner of his mouth.
"Perhaps there are fund usage details I don't know about, perfectly hidden away."
"Ahh..."
Thud. Digory collapsed limply to the floor.
Only then did he realize the Holy Emperor had already investigated all the problematic areas.
What have I done? I just wanted to lighten my grandson's guilt a bit under others' eyes, but now I've doomed a perfectly salvageable child to a gruesome death.
The Holy Emperor watched Digory staring blankly at the floor, sweating coldly, with a chilly gaze for a moment. The smile vanished from his face in an instant, returning to his usual cold impassivity.
"Surely an innocent young student wouldn't do such a thing. It was a joke. I believe his grandfather must have misunderstood something."
Yet no one present could laugh at the joke.
Just now, Kenneth Digory had truly been on the verge of death and come back to life.