Chapter 64
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 64
God's Tear—a restaurant perched precariously on a coastal cliff, offering a panoramic view of the Meteor Archipelago's stunning beaches and harbor.
While the other club members were busy indulging in a feast of delicacies back at the academy, Elena and I had slipped away to meet here.
It wasn't exactly a private rendezvous.
Including the female student accompanying Elena, there were three of us at the table.
Typically, female students at Seintea chose the path of a priest, while the males became holy knights. This girl was a rare exception, having chosen the way of the sword.
Adler Bonart.
She was one of Elena’s closest confidantes. She also served as Elena’s partner for various tests and evaluations, as Elena had yet to form an official "pair" with another holy knight.
“…”
As I stared intently at Adler, who sat across from me, Elena spoke up.
“Does she make you uncomfortable? If you wanted to speak in private…”
“No, it’s not that. I just don’t recognize her, is all.”
“This is Adler. Please, introduce yourselves.”
Adler, sporting short-cropped blue hair, gave a curt, professional nod.
“…I’m Adler.”
“Roen.”
After the brief introductions, I cut straight to the chase.
“So, why did you ask to see me separately?”
There was plenty of great food back in the clubroom. Dragging me out to a restaurant like this meant she had an ulterior motive.
“It’s nothing special. We’ve never really had the chance to share a proper meal, have we? I just wanted to treat you to something nice since we’re here. At an expensive place, no less.”
I recalled turning down her dinner invitations several times in the past. Still, I couldn't quite pin down her true intentions.
“I’ll gladly accept a free meal, but I doubt that’s the only reason you called me out. We could have just eaten with the others.”
“Oh, don’t be so prickly. I did you a massive favor last time, didn’t I? You owe me one.”
“…”
She had a point. Her actions might not have been born of pure altruism, but in the end, I had benefited immensely.
“Fine.”
There was no need to be overly hostile. I nodded and scanned the menu. This was God's Tear, one of the most expensive establishments in Seintea's dining district. After a moment, I simply ordered the Special Course A.
Elena opted for the sweet Honey Carrot Grill, while Adler chose the Veal Steak.
“Your order has been placed.”
Once the waiter departed, Elena gazed out the window at the harbor.
“What do you think? The view is lovely, isn’t it?”
I followed her gaze. The beautiful coastline and harbor were currently bathed in the warm, golden hues of the setting sun. Shadows lengthened as time ticked by, and one by one, the colorful ships began to flicker with light.
Every landscape in the world of Myrillin Saga was like a meticulously crafted work of art.
The stunning harbor visible through the glass was Stella Harbor, the largest of the five great ports in the Meteor Archipelago, collectively known as the ‘Pentaport.’ It was said that thirty percent of the continent's maritime logistics flowed through this hub.
It supplied food and goods for the archipelago's population of over 100,000 and served as the transit point for high-quality mana stones and materials headed for the mainland. Since it also functioned as a forward base for expeditions to the new continent, the sheer volume of cargo was staggering.
Elena pointed toward a pure white sailboat docked at the pier.
“That white ship belongs to our Holy Kingdom. It carries priests and holy knights seeking to aid those lost in sorrow, those who cry out for God’s mercy. Even now, many are being dispatched to uncharted territories. They are on the front lines, healing the sick and battling monsters.”
“…”
“And… God’s radiance reaches not only this archipelago but every corner of the continent.”
Elena shot a subtle glance my way. Reading the subtext, I replied calmly.
“It seems you’ve already settled things with Eleina.”
“You’re quick. I received her confirmation a short while ago. The King of Izelin has granted the Lu Cult permission to proselytize. We will be establishing a diocese in Izelin in the near future.”
“That’s good news.”
It wasn't the most subtle method, but through this incident, the Holy Kingdom had successfully secured a foothold for expansion into the southern continent. The growing influence of the Holy Kingdom and the Lu Cult—who would eventually stand against the demons—was beneficial to me as a player.
“But as you know, this is only the first step. Spreading the faith in the southern continent won’t be easy.”
The southern regions were strongholds for indigenous religions. Even for the Lu Cult, putting down roots would be an uphill battle.
“You seem remarkably well-informed about the continent’s religious and political landscape,” she noted.
“I know the basics.”
I nodded. Players who chose the holy knight or priest paths usually ended up aligned with the Holy Kingdom’s Lu Cult, so I knew as much as I needed to.
“At the very least, I know the King of Izelin didn’t approve that diocese for purely military reasons.”
“…”
Elena’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second before a look of curiosity crossed her face. Seeing her reaction, I mentally reviewed the southern situation.
‘Izelin is a fledgling nation that gained independence from the Jeromia Federation—the predecessor of the military powerhouse, Jerome.’
Because of that history, Izelin shared many ethnic, cultural, and religious similarities with Jerome. It was a situation not unlike the post-Soviet states in the real world.
The First Prince’s "Appeasement Faction," which included Roland, used these similarities to argue for an alliance and eventual annexation by Jerome. It was a dangerous ideology that threatened the very legitimacy of the Izelin royal family, who had led the bloody war for independence.
As the internal conflict intensified, an impatient Jerome had begun eyeing an invasion.
‘But Jerome’s invasion plans were spectacularly thwarted because of me.’
Through that incident, the Royal Faction in Izelin had succeeded in crippling the Appeasement Faction. To drive the final nail into the coffin, they had permitted the Lu Cult to establish a diocese. This was a strategic move to erode the Appeasement Faction’s support base.
If a foreign religion spread within the kingdom, the shared national identity with Jerome would be diluted, and the calls for annexation would naturally lose their steam. It was a choice made for political and cultural survival as much as for military deterrence.
Of course, it was a double-edged sword, but it was a calculated gamble for the Izelin royals. Well… assuming the Holy Kingdom didn't try to use this to manipulate Izelin from within.
I pointed this out directly.
“Elena. You’re not planning to use this as an opportunity to swallow Izelin whole, are you?”
I asked it half-jokingly, but her response was telling. Elena gave me a faint, enigmatic smile and shrugged.
“Who can say?”
After a brief pause, she turned back to the window.
“That is a matter beyond my authority. I cannot give you a definitive answer.”
“…”
Elena simply fiddled with her teacup and said no more. Was she being honest because she couldn't lie, or was she being bold by refusing to deny it? Either way, she was no simple Saintess.
It was then that Adler, who had been listening in silence, spoke up carefully.
“Lady Elena, if we were going to make an enemy of either Izelin or Jerome, wouldn't it have been better to side with the stronger power? Jerome has a much larger population; we could have spread the faith much further there.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“It would have been best to remain neutral and stay out of the conflict entirely. But even if we had to get involved, was there a need to provoke Jerome by siding with Izelin? It would have been more advantageous to establish a diocese in Jerome instead.”
“Hmm, a valid point.”
Elena nodded slightly, then turned to me, her voice softening.
“But Roen sided with Izelin. I owed him a debt, and I was simply repaying it.”
“…You’re saying you did all this for me?”
“I would be grateful if you chose to see it that way.”
Elena smiled, daintily covering her mouth.
Seeing that beautiful smile, I scoffed inwardly. It would be incredibly naive to believe Elena acted as an observer and established a diocese in Izelin just to settle a personal debt with me.
‘In Jerome, the indigenous religion worshipping the God of War is so dominant there’s no room for the Lu Cult. A kingdom that values the law of the jungle would never accept a "lenient" faith like theirs.’
Besides, the Holy Kingdom, which preached love and justice, could never openly side with Jerome—a nation built on the conquest of the weak.
I shot a glance at Elena, who was leisurely admiring the night view, and closed my eyes.
‘With this, Elena has repaid her debt to me while securing a foothold in the south. On top of that, she’s gained influence over Izelin and the moral high ground of protecting a smaller nation.’
Rather than trying to digest the indigestible Jerome, she chose Izelin, which she could secure with certainty.
‘Forget it. It’s just a headache.’
The matter was out of my hands now. It was best not to get bogged down in international politics. I was busy enough just surviving.
Feeling a dull ache in my temples, I changed the subject.
“Anyway, why bring this up? It has nothing to do with me anymore.”
“I didn’t bring it up for any grand reason. Think of it as a status report. You were involved, after all. By the way, I heard you brought Miss Eleina into the Student Council as a secretary?”
“Yes, though it’s just an honorary position.”
“An honorary position, you say.”
“Why, are you interested? I can find a spot for you. For someone of your talents… Head of Medical Affairs would be fitting.”
“Oh my, you want to use me as the Student Council’s exclusive healer? How luxurious.”
“The Student Council is nominally the highest authority in the Union. It’s not beneath you.”
Nominally being the key word.
“I’ll consider it. Ah, and what happened with your offer to Miss Freya regarding the Vice President position?”
“What’s there to say? There’s been no progress since she rejected it.”
“Hmm? That’s surprising. I heard you took an exam with Miss Freya, and that you even nursed her while she was in the infirmary.”
“…”
How did she know every little detail?
I shrugged. “It was hardly nursing. I just read a book next to her for a while. I need to stay on her good side.”
Despite my schedule, I had been studying in my spare time to keep my grades up. To be precise, it was less "studying" and more "cramming answers from the System Encyclopedia into my brain."
“Hmm, I see.”
Elena seemed to ponder something for a moment, then nodded as if reaching a conclusion.
“Since we’re on the topic of Miss Freya, let me ask you something.”
“No guarantee I’ll answer.”
“That’s fine. Answer as you see fit.”
Elena chose her words carefully before speaking.
“It’s about the recent practical exam. Miss Freya said she collapsed due to the high concentration of mana in the mist, correct?”
“…That’s the official story.”
In reality, she had been knocked unconscious by the demon Demer, but we were sticking to the cover-up.
When I confirmed it, Elena’s expression shifted.
“A mana concentration dense enough to make Miss Freya—who has the highest mana resistance among the students—faint. And a high-level barrier powerful enough to shroud the entire exam site. There are very few beings in this world capable of such an absurd feat. Even the seven Tower Masters would find it nearly impossible.”
“…”
I realized exactly where she was going with this.
Elena tilted her head slightly, her gaze turning sharper, more piercing than before.
“Roen, do you have any idea who might actually be behind that incident?”