Chapter 212
Chapter 212
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 212
Chapter Title: The Imperial Summons
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Helsta subtly averted his gaze and cleared his throat before forcibly changing the subject.
“Come to think of it, Lead Hero Hector. We should examine your body as well.”
“I’m fine.”
There were several ways to build resistance to demonic energy, but the most efficient was to possess numerous blessings.
Hector, as a Lead Hero, had more blessings than even active heroes.
Since he hadn’t taken a direct hit, it made sense that prolonged exposure wouldn’t leave any major issues.
Helsta nodded readily, clearly aware of that fact.
Afterward, Bishop Helsta focused his examinations on the cadets who had lingered longest in the Shadow World...
And personally healed those with lingering demonic energy in their bodies using his holy power.
“Wow! I feel so much lighter now.”
“Take it easy for a while. Eat frequently to recover your stamina—meats, mushrooms, garlic, that sort of thing.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
“...”
Helsta’s shoulders trembled faintly each time a cadet thanked him, though Hector couldn’t fathom why.
He could only watch the bishop’s back with a somewhat surprised expression.
He’d heard that a priest’s holy power was essentially church property—something they couldn’t use at their own discretion.
The church had ways to measure the holy power remaining in a priest’s body, and any discrepancies with their reports led to severe reprimands.
These sect rules applied even to high-ranking clergy.
‘No.’
High-ranking priests faced even stricter scrutiny because their holy power was purer.
‘The 72 Churches’ rules are far harsher than the Sun Church’s.’
Of course, with the info coming from Heresy Inquisitor Teacher Juniang, he shouldn’t take it at face value...
In any case, Hector hadn’t expected a bishop from the 72 Churches to use his holy power so freely on mere cadets.
‘He’ll surely face reprimands upon returning to the church...’
Helsta couldn’t be unaware of that.
Yet the man had examined and treated the cadets calmly—no, obsessively so.
As if he couldn’t tolerate even a strand of demonic energy remaining in the children who were the empire’s future.
That unflinching attitude hit a snag for the first time when he met Karon Woodjack.
Helsta, who had wielded divine miracles freely until then, stiffened upon seeing Karon lying on the sickbed.
“Hmm...”
“How is it?”
“Not good. The location is particularly bad. The demonic energy might have spread to the brain via the optic nerve.”
“Then what happens?”
“I’ve seen cases at the church where demonic energy eroded the brain. They generally end up looking ‘possessed by a demon.’”
“Ah...”
Screaming grotesquely, flying into rages at random, unrecognizable even to friends and family.
Hector grimaced inwardly.
Karon Woodjack wasn’t exactly likable, but he was a comrade who’d braved hell together and irreplaceable on the battlefield.
Hector didn’t want to see him reduced to a beast.
“...Is there no way?”
“I’ll do everything I can. I stake my honor on it.”
For Helsta, this truly was a matter of his name, honor, and everything he’d built...
But Hector, unaware of the circumstances, couldn’t help smiling faintly at the words.
“Why are you smiling?”
“I was just thinking rumors aren’t always reliable.”
“What...?”
Hector continued with a steady smile.
“I’ve observed many religions since childhood. I never wanted to belong to any, but if I’d met someone like you back then, Bishop, I might have felt differently.”
“...”
Helsta’s expression turned subtly strange upon hearing that.
“What’s wrong?”
“...How do you see me?”
“To me, you’re the reason I’m rethinking the vague teachings of the gods.”
“The teachings of the gods...”
“Driving out evil, aiding the weak, benefiting the world at large.”
At that moment, Helsta’s face flushed red. Hector wondered if he was embarrassed.
Or perhaps he’d crossed a line.
The bishop was of noble status, after all. Hector’s own standing was no small thing, but...
With the age gap, Hector bowed his head politely.
“My apologies.”
“No, it’s just...”
“...?”
Helsta chewed his lip for a long moment before hanging his head and sighing.
“Are you all right?”
“...I just did a bit of penance.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. More importantly, leave Lead Hero Karon to me. I’ll do my utmost.”
“I leave him in your hands. I’ll check back tomorrow if time allows.”
But Hector wouldn’t keep that promise.
That afternoon,
A summons from the imperial court arrived.
* * *
Naturally, the official imperial decree came to Hector.
The moment he saw the messenger delivering it, Hector felt a twinge of annoyance.
But he showed no sign of it, kneeling on one knee to receive the formal proclamation.
It boiled down to something simple.
The young heroes who had saved the capital from the Dark Cult’s demonic beasts were to present themselves at the palace by tomorrow to receive the emperor’s praise.
‘...So they didn’t summon everyone after all.’
The decree named three.
Hector, Ruan, and finally Seren.
He understood the selection criteria. It wasn’t merit, but family prestige.
In the old days, he’d have seen it as fitting...
But now, for some reason, it left a bad taste.
There were Lead Heroes far more accomplished than him.
The assault team had played the decisive role.
Not just Ruan and Seren, but Mir, Karon, and Evan who’d accompanied them... They were the true heroes deserving praise.
Of course, he couldn’t question an official imperial decree, so Hector bowed and inquired.
“May I say something?”
The messenger delivering an imperial decree wasn’t lowborn.
It meant Hector had to observe protocol.
“Speak.”
“Ruan Bednicker has yet to recover from the battle’s aftermath. I beg you to excuse his absence.”
He’d heard Ruan was already up and about...
But who knew when that wanderlust-driven guy might vanish again. It was a spur-of-the-moment ploy.
Seren Goodspring had improved greatly, so attending posed no issue.
The messenger nodded as if he’d anticipated it.
“His Benevolent Majesty Purgator has already considered such circumstances.”
“Then...”
“We permit a proxy. The proxy’s selection is left to Hector Bednicker.”
“...I shall obey the imperial command.”
Suppressing a sigh, Hector said it while racking his brains.
He’d dodged the troublemaker little brother for now, but choosing a proxy was a headache.
‘Has to be human, noble. Not on Bednicker or Goodspring level, but at least not falling short in stature. Obviously a Lead Hero swept into the Shadow World...’
Even as he pondered, Hector bid farewells to academy acquaintances.
Fame was fleeting. Unless you piled up absurd feats like the Iron-Blooded Duke every moment, it faded quickly.
So Hector seized the attention focused on him now. These faint connections could become vital networks later.
Of course, such politically motivated socializing drained his mental energy.
Except for one person.
A young Sun Church heresy inquisitor with her distinctive languid face.
“I’ve heard the palace atmosphere’s been off lately.”
Heresy Inquisitor Teacher Juniang said.
As both a Sun Church inquisitor and the Bednicker Grand Master Teacher, she was the most trustworthy among the academy crowd.
She was family, after all.
“With a Demon King nearly descending in the capital’s heart, that’s no surprise.”
“That’s part of it, but the vibe I mean is different.”
“Pardon?”
“This awarding ceremony at the palace—it’s not just to praise your feats.”
“...What do you mean?”
“You know relations between the palace and Heros have soured lately?”
“Yes, but isn’t the rivalry between those powers longstanding?”
“It’s not just a talent poaching war. We see that often enough ourselves.”
Juniang said with an annoyed look.
Indeed, the 72 Churches and Sun Church.
Even seemingly similar faiths had complicated ties.
“The tension’s heated up these past few years. Heros’s exploits are too impressive, and for the imperial court—the mightiest of the empire’s three pillars—it’s unwelcome.”
“...”
“Now they can’t afford enemies on both sides.”
Imperial court and Heros.
Plenty had crossed both.
Like the Iron-Blooded Duke, Middle Name and Heros’s S-rank hero.
“What are you getting at?”
“Your path is with Heros, right?”
“Yeah, but... how did you know?”
His ultimate goal was Iron-Blooded Duke’s recognition and becoming Family Head...
But to achieve that, allying with Heros over the court made sense.
He’d travel the continent often, naturally encountering church forces—opportunities to rack up merits.
‘If I’m lucky, I might even join Father on missions...’
A secret hope of Hector’s.
“You already got a Hero Badge at the Bednicker training camp. Temporary or not, it means you’re with Heros, so rumors reach you. Like how Iron-Blooded Duke plans to send all his kids there.”
“Ah...”
Now that she mentioned it.
Among Iron-Blooded Duke’s children, the eldest son Hiro and second daughter Nero boasted the greatest fame...
And both were currently with Heros.
Hector and Ruan had coincidentally earned temporary Hero Badges too amid their exploits.
“Then the palace summoning us personally to praise our deeds is...”
“They want first dibs. They’ll treat you not as Heros heroes, but as scions of noble houses. Subtly probe your paths, lure you to the court.”
“What if we refuse?”
“...The court’s stacked with powerhouses now. More Seven Colors Archmages or Middle Names wouldn’t surprise anyone.”
“They’d intimidate with force? The imperial court, to me, a Bednicker heir?”
Juniang flashed her signature cynical smile.
“The imperial court. Sounds like they value courtesy and law, but they don’t. To me, they’re a group blinded by maintaining dominance. Honestly, if you weren’t a Bednicker, I’d block you from going.”
“...”
“Of course, they won’t strike first, as you say. They’ll provoke you. Don’t bite. Let whatever they say go in one ear and out the other.”
“Understood.”
Hector nodded, thanked Juniang,
Then headed to the palace with Seren and the proxy he’d selected.
The imperial palace, first time setting foot inside.
Before he could marvel at its overwhelming grandeur...
“Bednicker genius, eh? Heard you’ve got some skill with the sword. Let me teach you a move. Draw.”
“Gracious offer, but I’ll decline.”
“Why? It’d broaden horizons narrowed by Bednicker’s crude swordplay.”
“...”
What did this bastard just say?