Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Unburned Contract
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Sephard Marquess Household.
This was the second most powerful house after the Remediar Marquessate, the family of the First Queen, and it was a faction supporting the Second Prince.
Moreover, the head of that house was soon to die from an illness of unknown origin.
"Ah, so that's it."
Enoch muttered as if something had just occurred to him. He picked up a fragment from the floor.
"What's that?"
"After hearing Rachel's story, I wondered what I could do."
Enoch had proposed the possibility of Demon King summoning based on Rachel and Abyss's information, and afterward, the priests' investigation uncovered signs of it.
Thanks to this, Enoch's influence within the church had grown, and he didn't miss the opportunity to make one suggestion.
"I was concerned about how numerous nobles were dying, so I proposed dispatching priests primarily to those nobles who had donated, to bless them."
The donating nobles were pleased by the unexpected blessings, and the priests could inspect the nobles' mansions and territories in advance, checking for ominous objects or traces of black sorcerers.
"After proposing it, I hadn't heard anything and thought it had been rejected, but it seems my idea was accepted."
Enoch spoke as if it were no big deal, but it wasn't that simple. Dispatching numerous priests required significant manpower and funds.
"It must be a considerable burden for now, but compared to the disasters to come, it's a small cost. And we even got results this quickly."
The results Abyss mentioned were the items the two priests were holding. The wooden fragment in Enoch's hand bore a pentagram-like shape drawn in blood.
It meant the Third Prince's faction was already checking the Second Prince's side, and at the same time, it showed the church could prevent nobles' deaths from curses.
"The curse itself was weak."
"Compared to the one we saw at our house?"
"It's a bit stronger than that. It felt like a curse set to activate in six months to a year. We've examined everything now."
As Enoch set down the fragment and stood, the two priests finally began picking up the dropped pieces and gathering them.
When Rachel tried to help, the two priests stopped her, saying it was dangerous, and Enoch also said it was fine as he helped her up.
"I've felt this before, but Rachel, you shouldn't go near curse mediums."
"Who would want to get close to something like that?"
Rachel emphasized that she hadn't approached it because she wanted to.
Even that item, which Paris Emporus hadn't prepared, had nearly caused an accident.
Her life had just been in danger moments ago, yet her danger level hadn't decreased, meaning it was an accident that wasn't supposed to happen originally.
"From the aura the item was giving off earlier, it didn't seem dangerous."
As Enoch said, the curse on this object was weak. It was probably a curse that needed to accumulate over time with other curse mediums to activate.
Yet right after getting close to Rachel, it fell to the floor, and those fragments nearly covered her.
"This might be rude to say, but like at the mansion before, and just now too, it seems when a curse medium gets close to Rachel, its power maximizes, causing the curse to activate immediately."
It didn't matter who the target was or when it activated. When Rachel got near, the curse would trigger and head straight for her.
Rachel let out a shrill scream.
"I suspected it, but I didn't want to hear it confirmed!"
Rachel hadn't forgotten the 'death curse' on her. It was the curse that kept trying to kill her without her knowing why in the early stages.
The nature of that curse was presumed to be drawing all other curses toward her.
Abyss stealthily edged away from Rachel's side. Seeing him put distance between them, Rachel stuck right next to him.
"Where do you think you're going? You were all about scouting me earlier, and now you're running away?"
"It'd be trouble if I got hurt alongside you for no reason. Let's keep our distance."
"I'm fine with whatever curse is on Rachel. From now on, I won't overlook even the slightest aura and will check again!"
Rachel burst into laughter at the two men's contrasting attitudes.
As they kept walking, they reached the end of the corridor, and a grand hall opened up.
Light filtering through the stained-glass ceiling painted a vivid picture on the white stone floor.
"Wow!"
Rachel exclaimed in admiration at the spectacle. The colorful shadows pouring down from above were beautiful.
At the center of the hall burned a massive brazier with pure white holy fire.
Ordinary braziers blackened with soot, but the one at the hall's center was pristine white, giving an otherworldly feel.
"That's the Brazier of Purification. We'll burn the token in that holy fire."
Rachel snapped to attention at Enoch's voice, soft as a gentle breeze in her ear.
The brazier towered far above human height, surrounded by steps shaped like a tripod. Enoch began ascending them.
Once the token burned, one of her worries would be gone. The hall was filled with priests, who clasped their hands together as they watched Enoch climb the steps.
Caught up in the atmosphere, Rachel clasped her hands too, but Abyss remained unmoved.
"Don't you need to pray?"
"Why? I believe gods exist, but I don't serve them."
"Oh?"
But Rachel kept her hands clasped, hoping the token would blaze in the holy fire and vanish.
Enoch, now at the top of the steps before the fire, drew a yellowish book from within his priestly robes.
Soon, the family register dropped into the pure white flames.
From below, they couldn't see what happened to it. But Enoch's expression, looking up from below, was bright.
'It's burning well.'
However, contrary to that thought, Enoch's expression soon changed.
He reached his hand into the flames and grabbed the burning object.
It was too thin to be the family register he'd just thrown in. Soon, the flames on the item in his hand died down, leaving only a single sheet like parchment.
"Oh God."
The watching priests suddenly called out to God with sighs. Enoch's face was stiff.
He tucked the remnant into his bosom and hurried down the steps.
"What happened?"
To Rachel's question, he lowered his voice and explained.
"It seemed like the token was burning completely, but one single page—the part of the initial contract—didn't burn."
"You mean!"
"The contract with the demon hasn't been severed."
"Let's get out of here first."
Abyss urged them to leave. The other priests' gazes were fixed on the object that wouldn't burn in the holy fire.
"Yes, let's move for now."
Even if they moved, other priests would likely question him about the item later, but Enoch chose to leave the spot now.
With Enoch leading, the group left the hall and headed to a reception room.
As soon as they arrived, Rachel slumped into the sofa like she was sinking into it.
Enoch, looking dejected, took out the remaining token and stared at it. Abyss peered intently at what Enoch held.
Rachel offered Enoch some comforting words.
"You don't need to be too disappointed. If the demon fails to fulfill the contract, it breaks, right? We just proceed with the original plan."
In the end, the operation to bring down Emporus became essential. She'd thought destroying the token would eliminate the risk factor, but that was now impossible.
"But I wanted to help you, Rachel. I couldn't even remove something like this."
Enoch drew his sword to slash the token, but it repelled the blade with resistance.
"It won't work, as expected."
"Even if it doesn't, once Baron Emporus's crimes are exposed and his assets confiscated, it'll disappear on its own. Don't waste energy on pointless things—focus on what we can do now."
"Abyss is right. Enoch, our plan is going smoothly. The baron believes the fake family register is real right now."
Rachel smiled brightly.
"And if I add one letter, he'll have no choice but to bite the bait."
***
Carian wore a troubled expression as he looked at the pure white letter his close aide had delivered.
"It's really from the youngest?"
"That's what they say. Why else would I bring it myself, pushing past the other servants?"
At the words of his close aide and friend who shared the palace's secrets, Carian closed his eyes briefly.
After his brother, the crown prince Herion, died, he as the Second Prince became a leading candidate for the throne of the Kingdom of Cudas.
He'd lived without interest in the crown, thinking his excellent brother would handle the kingdom well, but that brother had been poisoned.
And the culprit remained unidentified.
The ministers, suddenly bereft of a crown prince, wanted the king—afflicted with chronic illness—to quickly name the next heir, but the king couldn't decide.
Naturally, the noble factions split into Carian and Demian's camps, fostering a competitive atmosphere that only increased Carian's worries.
"If only Demian's temperament were a bit milder, I wouldn't hesitate like this."
Carian muttered as he brushed back his fiery red hair from his forehead.
He had little interest in the throne. Even if it was Demian, born to the Second Queen, he could yield it if convinced Demian would be a good king.
However, Demian was not only ferocious in personality but lacked the qualities to be king. Carian couldn't yield the throne, fearing he'd ruin the kingdom built by their ancestors and father.
"But now I've received this letter."
The letter detailed Paris Emporus, a baron among the nobles supporting Demian, engaging in illegal activities, urging a personal investigation and punishment.
Such a letter from someone whose identity absolutely couldn't be ignored. Louis, at his side, egged him on.
"Why hesitate? It's not just anyone—it's him siding with us. He didn't ask you to handle one of Demian's underlings but came to you directly because he trusts you, right?"
"Emporus, huh..."
Carian fluttered the letter in his hand, the familiar name catching his eye.
"He must have thought it through before sending it."
"Anything bothering you?"
"No, I just know a cute little lady with the Emporus name."
Carian shrugged as he spoke.
"Your Highness, who only cared about books, is interested in a lady? I want to see her."
Carian ignored Louis's words. He fluttered the letter again.
"He's someone who's never sought our help before, and he sent this directly, so we should pay attention."
"Obviously. It's a chance for the royals and the church to cooperate amicably. If this goes well and you ascend the throne, history books will record you as a sage king—King Carian I, who forged friendly ties with the church!"
"Oh, that does sound appealing."
At his friend's words, Carian immediately sat at his desk, pondering whom to assign this task to.
"Then, who's a good fit?"
"I know just the right person."
Louis Sephard stroked his chin as he spoke. He told Carian about the suitable candidate he knew, and Carian accepted right away.
"Good. We'll go with him. I'll prepare the appointment letter now, so handle it."
Carian picked up his pen. The nib, dripping with ink, raced across the paper.