Chapter 65
Chapter: 65
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 65
>Chapter Title: Gray Plague (1)
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>The Holy Empire of Delcross was a theocratic state where church and state were one.
This led to a bizarre form of government unlike anywhere else on the continent, with the legislative body operating independently and the judiciary separated.
The [Holy Council], which interpreted scriptures and enacted holy laws.
The [Parliament], which deliberated on state affairs and managed imperial laws.
The [Heresy Tribunal], which identified heretics and punished devil worshippers.
The [Judiciary], which tried and executed crimes under imperial law.
In practice, they operated separately by custom.
However, conflicts occasionally arose, such as when something permitted by imperial law was forbidden by the Holy Council, or when a single crime led to simultaneous prosecution by both courts, resulting in double punishment in absurd mishaps.
This system had been in place since the founding of the millennium-old holy kingdom of Delcross, and it had become fully institutionalized thanks to the first Holy Emperor, who ruled for over 300 years.
Moreover, while their reigns grew shorter with each successor, no nation could threaten Delcross, which was fortified with powerful clergy centered around the Holy Emperor, the proxy of the Lord God.
Thus, Delcross maintained the continent's most inefficient system of governance while remaining its most powerful empire.
Why such a lengthy explanation?
Because Seongjin had been inexplicably summoned to the Theological Academy as a witness in the [Black Prophets] case. He was there with Katrina, captain of the Saint Aurelion Knights, his legal and religious proxy.
The students, led by Kenneth Digory, were originally slated for trial and imprisonment by the Heresy Tribunal. However, since no suitable holy law existed to punish them, the Holy Emperor had ordered a Holy Council to be convened first.
The problem was that once convened, enacting related laws took at least a month, or three to four in the worst case, as most time was wasted interpreting and debating scriptures.
Moreover, this was right before the empire's grandest event, the Holy Emperor's birthday celebration.
A formal trial with properly enacted holy laws would likely take at least six months.
For now, with no solid grounds to indict them, the students were imprisoned in the Judiciary's cells on charges of trespassing and property damage.
The investigation itself was haphazardly conducted by investigators dispatched from the Theological Academy, shuttling between the Judiciary and the academy.
It's amazing this country has functioned this way for so long, Seongjin thought blankly, staring at the investigator before him.
"So, Your Highness visited that mansion because you received an invitation..."
"Yes, the letter has already been submitted as evidence."
"Have you had any prior personal connections with these students..."
"Well? As I stated earlier, I have no memories before my fever."
Seongjin delivered his prepared responses smoothly, and the investigator glanced at Captain Katrina standing behind him. He then lowered his voice cautiously.
"If I may be so bold, Your Highness... did you know about that monster?"
"Monster?"
"Yes. According to Kenneth Digory and the other students... you seemed to know something about its true nature..."
Seongjin feigned innocence with a straight face.
"Isn't it obviously something evil just by looking at it? I naturally assumed it was a demonkin. Why do you call it a monster?"
"Hmm..."
The investigator looked troubled. His long experience told him this brazen prince knew something but was playing dumb.
Yet the knight captain standing imposingly behind him, silently watching their every move, was intimidating.
After a moment's hesitation, the investigator sighed and gathered his papers.
"Yes, that concludes the investigation. Your statement aligns closely with the students'. Thank you for your cooperation, Prince Mores."
Had the Heresy Tribunal been involved, it wouldn't have ended so easily. Seongjin rose with a somewhat dazed expression.
Is the Holy Empire's judiciary really okay like this?
"You've done well, Prince Mores."
As they left the academy, Captain Katrina said to Seongjin with a gentle smile.
Captain of the Saint Aurelion Knights, Katrina Belfayne.
The Holy Emperor's right hand and his most trusted knight captain.
According to Masain, she had been his closest aide since his childhood.
Seongjin vaguely recognized the mild-mannered middle-aged woman with her intense auburn hair tied up and silver light armor.
He recalled seeing her at the Holy Emperor's side, channeling holy power into him when he collapsed after disrupting the annex to close the passage.
"About that Bantra Moss larva..."
"Yes, rest assured about what you mentioned. I've reported it to His Holiness, and the Saint Terbakia Knights have already begun their own investigation."
Before coming to the academy, Seongjin had explained Bantra Moss to her beforehand. He didn't want another one opening a gate in the capital.
Of course, if pressed on where he got the information, it would have been awkward. But Katrina had calmly listened and even told him to play dumb with the investigator.
What was it? Because she's the Holy Emperor's right hand?
She never questioned Seongjin, just like the Holy Emperor.
Her way of quietly listening and subtly pressuring the investigator reminded him of the Holy Emperor in many ways.
When he mentioned it, Katrina laughed heartily.
"You think so too. While talking with you, Your Highness, I've thought you resemble His Holiness in many ways."
Me? Where?
Seongjin widened his eyes, and her eyes curved softly.
"His Holiness was calm and intelligent just like you in his youth."
"..."
Francis, following quietly behind her, suddenly coughed.
Yes, I know, Sir Francis.
I know, so stop that asthma-attack-like coughing!
On the carriage ride back to the Pearl Palace, Seongjin expressed his desire to visit the Judiciary. He wanted to meet Jonathan McCalpin, imprisoned there.
He needed to ask about Mores's past actions and the funding allegedly supporting the [Black Prophets].
"Hmm..."
Katrina pondered briefly before nodding.
"Well, the Judiciary should be fine. It's completely separate from the Heresy Tribunal. They're just holding the students there for convenience, and they have no interest in this case."
The carriage arrived at the main palace just then.
She opened the door and turned to her adjutant.
"Then I'll report to His Holiness immediately, so I'll bid farewell here. Sir Francis, can you escort His Highness instead?"
"Yes, Captain! Don't worry! I'll take full responsibility and see His Highness safely through!"
The tall adjutant replied eagerly with a broad smile.
Seongjin was dumbfounded.
Francis. A rabid dog ready to bite anyone else, but before the captain, he's a completely different person?
"Good. You're always reliable, Sir Francis."
Katrina patted his back and turned to Seongjin.
"Your Highness, an exorcist from Saint Terbakia will visit the Pearl Palace soon. It's just for consultation, so don't worry. The information you have on that 'beast' will greatly aid their work."
Like the investigator, she used Seongjin's term 'beast' instead of 'monster' or 'evil thing.'
It felt like proof of unwavering trust in his words, leaving Seongjin with a strange sensation. He couldn't fathom the reason for her unconditional goodwill.
As Seongjin looked bewildered, she placed a hand on her chest and bowed politely, still smiling warmly.
"Then I shall take my leave, Your Highness."
The carriage door closed, and Katrina's figure vanished beyond the window.
It was then that Francis's gentle smile twisted. His already sharp eyes narrowed further, lips tightening, transforming him into someone entirely different in an instant.
What the hell? Split personality?
"No, shouldn't we return to the Pearl Palace for your do-or-die training? Why the Judiciary all of a sudden?"
Hmph, quite insolent even before a prince.
That's the usual Francis.
"I need to meet Jonathan McCalpin."
"Why meet that guy? We subtly glossed over the sponsorship issue, so why visit the Judiciary and admit a prior connection?"
It wasn't without concern, but the key was that the glossing happened after Jonathan's testimony was secured.
Even Masain had searched the Pearl Palace and the inner palace ledgers but found no sponsorship records. There was no evidence linking Mores.
So, before the trial began, it was best to extract any information possible from Jonathan McCalpin quickly. And if feasible, ensure his silence to some degree.
But Francis's complaints didn't stop.
"Ah, seriously! Do you know how much I counted the days to see our esteemed captain again while acting as interim captain during her last seclusion?"
"..."
"But now that she's finally here, what is this? Backlog work piles up, and she's stuck by His Holiness worrying over nothing!"
Is this guy whining because the Holy Emperor stole his captain?
"Even today! She finally leaves the main palace after so long, and you're dragging me away to the Judiciary? Isn't His Holiness—or you—going too far?"
This guy...
Seongjin smiled serenely.
He'd tried to tolerate it, but it was too noisy.
"Sir Francis, I hesitated to stoop this low."
"...What do you mean?"
His fierce gaze sharpened behind his glasses.
But Seongjin had a trump card.
"I'm gonna tattle."
"..."
"To Captain Katrina. That you bullied me on the way."
"..."
Francis gaped at Seongjin in stunned silence.
What? Think I won't?
I bet Captain Katrina would take my side.
[Wow, what a childish punk. I've lived long, but never seen one like this...]
The Demon King, usually silent around clergy, finally chimed in.
What? Why? Isn't it fine if it works?
Indeed, 'I'm gonna tattle' was devastatingly effective.
Francis looked incredulous, then clamped his mouth shut like a clam, face twisted in disgust.
How's that? I found this guard dog's weakness!
Seongjin was triumphant, but the Demon King just sighed quietly.
[Who's the weirder one? The tattler or the one it works on...]
The carriage rattled on toward the Judiciary in silence.
Upon arrival, proceedings were swift. After stating their purpose and verifying identities, they were escorted straight to the cells.
As expected, the Judiciary paid no mind to young students treated as petty criminals; the visitation process was laughably lax.
But upon reaching the cells, Seongjin faced an unexpected sight and swallowed a groan. The imprisoned students sat on the cold stone floor, clutching their heads while flipping through books in a bizarre scene.
Here's what happened.
At least six months until the Holy Council finished and the trial began.
Most Council members doubled as academy professors, unwilling to let students slack off in prison for months.
And the Council's convening period coincided with midterms.
The professors thought:
-You still need to submit assignments and take exams, right?
Thus, the absurd situation where all [Black Prophets] wrote reports in their cells.
"Hmm..."
Kenneth Digory, with a skull fracture, had thankfully awakened after priestly treatment. As a senior facing graduation, his pale face buried in thick major texts.
The others had light bruises on their faces. Likely from harsh interrogation during initial Heresy Tribunal custody.
Just a day before transfer to the Judiciary, and beating unconfirmed young students like that—the Heresy Tribunal was indeed terrifying.
Especially Ashley Butcher, who looked hot-tempered, and Jonathan McCalpin, without high clergy backing; their conditions seemed severe. They huddled in a cell corner, groaning without even opening books.
They look pretty beaten up?
"Why are those two like that? Is it okay to leave them?"
The guard tilted his head.
"Well, they seemed fine when I checked yesterday."
They're half-dead!
"Sir Francis."
At Seongjin's call, Francis entered with the guard, opening the cell door.
These were students under the Holy Emperor's direct protection. If critically injured due to the Heresy Tribunal, it would spark major issues.
The engrossed report-writers finally shuffled aside.
Francis knelt, carefully examining them—touching foreheads with holy-power-wrapped hands, lifting clothes.
After some time, he looked up at Seongjin gravely.
"Your Highness, we need to isolate the students and call a physician."
That bad?
But his next words blanched not just the students, but the guards too.
"It seems like the plague."