Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Riding the Tightrope on the Holy Sword (2)
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- His Majesty's permission has come down.
Klein stared quietly at the crystal orb.
- They will soon summon Chris to the imperial palace.
"..."
Klein's mouth remained shut.
It wasn't because the news was shocking.
He simply had nothing to say.
If he had to say something...
"It's already too late."
- ...Too late, you say?
The voice from the crystal orb grew serious.
It sank low and turned rigid.
The familiar tone dispelled the awkwardness Klein had been feeling.
His old friend Parmon suited this manner of speech better.
He had spoken this way for the past several decades.
- Explain in detail. If something happened under the pretext of heresy...
"...."
- You will face the wrath of a Sword Master and an elf.
As the atmosphere grew heavier, Klein awkwardly opened his mouth.
Even he was still dumbfounded.
"It's already over. The moment Chris got involved, it all ended in a flash."
Excluding the time Chris had spent preparing something, it had truly been a short affair.
Everything wrapped up before the sun had even set and risen again.
"They rounded up all the traitors. Honestly, even I'm stunned."
- It's something you experience often when traveling with Chris.
Hearing the calm tone, Klein let out a chuckle again.
Parmon's speech had shifted the moment Chris's name came up.
- I'll come pick up Chris soon.
"That might be difficult."
- Is there a problem?
"The Saintess is about to be born soon. Chris prepared for it... and he'll probably have to go along."
For a moment, the sound from the crystal orb stopped.
It was news of that magnitude.
- Wonderful tidings at a time like this.
"And the person in question has passed out cold."
- That happens often too.
"...."
After a few more exchanges of idle banter, the communication cut off.
The two shared one common thought.
All their preparations had ultimately proven meaningless.
Even what Parmon had arranged for Chris was no longer needed.
It would have been a great help before dealing with Verter.
Detaining someone summoned by the emperor on charges of heresy would have sparked a political firestorm.
"I can hardly believe it even after seeing it myself."
Klein, who had paused for a moment, lowered his head toward his hands.
Swipe—
Hands moving with utmost care, as if afraid of leaving even a scratch.
A pristine white cloth, free of even a speck of dust, wiped the holy sword.
"The holy sword..."
Swipe—
"Trampled by feet..."
How could such blasphemy occur?
Who would step on a sacred relic with their feet?
No one would believe he had even danced atop it.
"..."
Chris, barefoot, swaying his body atop the holy sword.
Klein cautiously brought his finger to the blade.
Swipe—
The slightest graze.
With that tiny motion, blood trickled from his fingertip.
"....Hup!"
Klein flinched in surprise and hurriedly wiped the holy sword with the cloth.
With utmost care...
"Master, preparations for departure are complete."
The procession to welcome the Saintess was about to begin.
"Where is His Holiness?"
Hans's finger pointed in one direction.
"Excellent preparations."
It was handled with impeccable precision.
As Klein walked toward it, he spotted one person.
Chris, lying pale-faced and still.
A frail figure impossible to reconcile with the man who had once flashed fierce eyes.
"Sir Klein, you've arrived."
"We shall depart shortly."
The Pope nodded with a faint smile.
It suited his neatly attired white robes perfectly.
He wasn't the only one who had changed clothes.
Everyone present wore the same attire.
Clothes of pure white alone.
The ceremonial garb for welcoming the Saintess.
"But... what is Serena doing?"
Klein smacked his lips as he watched Serena moving about.
Flowers began piling up beside Chris, who lay on a large plank.
He too had been curious enough to ask about it.
"...She says it's a tribute for Chris."
"Oh..."
The Pope watched Serena's actions with interest.
They observed for quite some time.
The Pope's eyes then drifted subtly to the holy sword.
"We could call Chris our benefactor."
"As Your Holiness says."
"Having received his grace, should we not offer our own tribute in return?"
Klein nodded vigorously.
The man had aided in the Saintess's birth, after all.
Perhaps the event itself stemmed from Chris.
"My thoughts are these."
"Please speak."
"While Chris travels with us, if he bears the holy sword, wouldn't his weary body heal that much faster?"
Klein stiffened.
The image of the holy sword being ruthlessly trampled by Chris's feet flashed in his mind.
"Ha... however, the holy sword is not meant for anyone to carry..."
"He's the one who appeared in the Saintess's revelation, is he not? I believe it's fitting..."
How could he object further?
The man from the Saintess's revelation, the church's benefactor.
That alone was sufficient.
"...Understood."
The holy sword was moved to Chris.
Blade pointing toward his feet, it was placed atop his body.
Chris's hands were folded over his chest, resting on the sword.
"The holy sword's divine power will heal Chris's body."
Serena, arranging the flowers, nodded at Klein's words.
A small voice then leaked from her lips.
It was unusual for Serena, who never spoke except to Chris.
"...People's tributes are needed."
"Tributes?"
"Chris has always performed special rituals. He called them offerings of sincerity..."
At Serena's words, Hans, who had been pacing nearby, rushed over.
"I know that ritual!"
"How do you know of it?"
"I watched it in the elf forest. I even participated myself."
The gazes of the Pope and surrounding priests gathered.
"Explain."
"First, prepare food. Red foods go here, white foods there."
Serena, who had offered sincerity alongside Chris, nodded, confirming Hans's words.
"Then perform the special ritual of bows."
Hans demonstrated, bowing toward Chris.
It was done slowly so everyone could see clearly.
"Parmon emphasized something."
"Ramon, you say? Speak quickly."
Klein's expression changed at his friend's name.
If Parmon had emphasized it, it must be crucially important.
"In swordsmanship, the most used moves are the basic ones."
Nod.
Nod.
The holy knights around nodded in unison.
Klein did the same.
"And the basis of this ritual is the bow."
"Oh..."
"Two bows is the basic of basics."
"Two, you say?"
"Parmon said the heart matters more than the act, so everyone must put sincerity into it."
All wore resolute expressions as they positioned themselves.
They surrounded Chris, lying amid the flowers.
"In the elf forest, we prayed to the World Tree, so we should pray to the Lord God and Lady Illia. Let us begin the ritual."
Suddenly, Alard's voice interjected.
Alard, who had vanished somewhere, had returned.
"No."
The Pope turned to Alard with an intrigued look.
He knew Alard wasn't one to nitpick over such things.
"May I ask why?"
"Chris..."
Alard spoke with a hesitant expression.
"Right before collapsing, he said not to bow."
"Oh..."
After a moment's thought, Alard continued.
"In my humble opinion... Chris probably wished for us to pray to the divine in the church's way."
"I see..."
"Indeed... Sir Alard's words ring true."
With the surrounding agreement, strength entered Alard's voice.
"Chris spoke atop the holy sword: 'Do not lose your way.' I believe it means to proceed as we always have."
It was a logical argument.
Alard's words were convincing enough.
Even the Pope nodded.
"Well said."
"Thank you, Your Holiness."
The Pope addressed everyone.
"It is only natural that we offer our sincerity to the church's benefactor."
All nodded.
"Following Chris's words, let us take a moment for prayer."
As the Pope bowed his head, all lowered theirs, clasping hands.
Prayers poured toward Chris.
Most beseeched the divine to be with him.
And amid them, Serena's flute melody wove in.
"...Serena?"
It was an achingly mournful flute sound.
Anyone could sense the emotions within.
All bowed with solemn faces.
Then, as the flute played, the Pope spoke.
"On the way to receive the Saintess, Chris will join us."
Holy knights moved at his command.
"Let us depart."
With that, Chris was lifted.
The holy knights hoisted the wide plank he lay on.
Onto their shoulders.
"All must carry Chris's sacrifice with reverence."
"We obey Your Holiness."
And behind Chris.
Alard took position, holding something.
"What is that?"
"Chris always shook a rattle when serving the divine."
What he lifted while speaking was a fairly large bell.
The size of a child's torso.
Alard raised a striker in his other hand.
"I brought it thinking it might help."
"Well done."
Soon, the bell tolled, blending with the flute.
Dong—
It was a sound that would have earned Chris's approval.
The procession set off, forming a wave of white.
Dong—
All walked with solemn expressions.
And Chris's body, borne by the holy knights, twitched.
"P... procession... better to bow..."
Dong—
Chris's faint voice drowned in the tolling.
"Am I a corpse..."