Why Is He Here? (1)
Isaac smiled brightly.
Wait, what? I need good grades to become the execution officiant? And it's a team evaluation, so doing well alone isn't even enough to take first place?
Well then, no choice!
If I just eliminate every single competitor, even a last-place slacker gets to be number one!
Puh-he-he-heh!
When Isaac smiled that innocent little smile, as if to say it couldn't be helped, everyone around him relaxed in relief. Honestly, not one of them had dreamed this child would take an interest in the execution of the Fourteen Six Demons.
Of course, the execution ceremony for the Fourteen Six Demons was ferociously competitive.
Executing the Skeleton Demon King's minions?
It was the highest honor and glory any priest could dream of.
What better way to make a name for yourself?
Even the highest-grade priests went mad with desire for the chance—and this year, that chance had been handed to the newly ordained?
Word is this year's apprentices are already at each other's throats.
Well, Isaac did carry the symbolism of having overcome the Skeleton Demon King's curse, and there had even been talk in the council of letting him participate in the executions.
House Eshua, of course, had intended to refuse.
Why?
Why, you ask! Because if Isaac got any closer to the Skeleton Demon King, the damn boy would walk down a one-way road to becoming a goddamned dark prie— ahem, an irreversible path!
For now he seemed to be cleverly keeping the Demon King's mana under control, but what if the Demon King's subordinates caught wind of Isaac?
Either Isaac would fall to corruption, or the Fourteen Six Demons would try to devour that mana and kill him for it!
Worst-case scenario for House Eshua, every which way!
So the head of the Blue Faith had been racking his brain over how to refuse when—
— "The boy was elevated to priesthood on a recommendation. If we let him into the executions as well, people will cry favoritism."
— "Agreed. He should at least have to meet the qualifications."
— "You mean the standard of apprenticeship graduation—the Five Faiths' Pentagon?"
— "Precisely. Once he achieves that, he may participate."
House Eshua had cheered inwardly, all at once.
The Pentagon was the baseline competency evaluation for priests!
There's no way Isaac passes that!
No chance. With that much piety? Please.
Eliminated. Eliminated for sure.
They'd had no way out of the priesthood itself, but elimination? Let him try.
Then we drag him straight home!
Anyway, that had been the situation.
So while Isaac was hardly likely to meet the Skeleton Demon King's minions in person, just having that thought made him ever so praiseworthy!
"Good, you thought it through. It's not like I can carry the whole team alone, so there's nothing to be done."
"Exactly. Nothing to be done."
So I'll just kill off every team but mine.
"I'll work hard, so don't worry."
I'll screw them over with everything I've got.
That smile set Rillai's heart completely at ease.
Thank the gods this child is walking the straight and narrow path……!
He'll never commit a sin and fall into dark priesthood now!
Which left only one problem……
"Oh, right—I forgot to ask. Which god chose you?"
Flinch.
At Shuri's question, both uncles jolted and whipped their heads toward Isaac. Don't tell me—did Isaac hear something about the god he drew?
At the same time, Isaac narrowed his brow.
"Couldn't tell you what it was, but it was a crest so repulsive I nearly threw up."
Fuck. Knew it. An evil god!
Granted, from Isaac's perspective every divine crest was disgusting, and with the Supreme God of all things having appeared, nausea was only natural—but there was no way anyone else could know that.
"The notification that came later said he was matched with a nameless Lower God."
What kind of horrifying evil god did he draw that they wouldn't even tell a child its name?!
"And the Gold Cardinal asked to see him briefly."
"What? That insufferable man?!"
Why does that human keep summoning the child alone?! Don't tell me he plans to execute him on the spot?
"I-Isaac. If that's really true……"
"Not going. Why should I have to go to the papal house?"
"Isaac……!"
Everyone gazed at him as if deeply moved, though Isaac himself was glaring daggers.
Who the hell does this brat think he is, summoning me around?
What actually mattered to Isaac right now was his evaluation as an apprentice priest.
At the execution ceremony, dealing with the other teams and climbing the ranks would be easy enough. But he needed a decent score to get into the central Holy See.
Only then could he become Saint—and spit in the gods' faces while he was at it.
The , was it? Heard the evaluations are pretty brutal.
With zero piety to his name, how to pass was one concern—but the real problem was the team score.
Granted, the easiest way to win any game was to crush it with raw specs.
But this year's cohort, billed as a gathering of history's greatest geniuses, weren't idiots. And where exactly was he supposed to find a legendary cheat code to cover the gap……
Which meant the best move was to recruit someone with power that crushed the competition outright……
And that was when it happened.
"Isaac Eshua!"
"!"
Someone appeared before Isaac.
"I have business with you."
At the sight of the newcomer, both uncles—and even Shuri—recoiled in shock.
Why is HE here?
Who the hell is this kid?
Isaac's eyebrow twitched at the figure in front of him. The other Eshuas' eyebrows were trembling for an entirely different reason.
And no wonder.
That's Kina Berith!
Eye-catching white hair. The kind of boy who could gallop past on horseback from a hundred meters away and radiate I am of noble blood from every pore of his body.
Naturally, the uncles and Shuri were thrown into complete chaos.
"…Elder brother! Why on earth is that boy here to see Isaac?! What is going on?!"
"How would I know?!"
"If you don't know, who would?!"
"Argh! Shuri, don't tell me you know?"
"…I know even less than you do."
They whispered among themselves, sneaking glances at Kina Berith.
But Kina Berith paid them no mind whatsoever, fixing Isaac with what was nearly a glare.
No—less a glare than pure fighting spirit, but still……
Did he come to dispose of him personally?!
After hearing from his father?
Gutsy of him, standing before an 8th-tier Holy Knight like that. But Kina Berith was already being hailed as a Little Pope in his own right.
There was no doubt he believed he could deal with Isaac even in the face of an 8th-tier Holy Knight.
I have to drive him off before he lays a hand on Isaac——
Just as Rillai's eyes went frost-cold and his hand drifted toward his sword,
"I thought you were some stray they'd picked up."
…Excuse me?
"But you spent ten years training in secret, never showing your face. To keep your skills from being averaged in with the others."
…Excuse me??
"I saw you at the Ordination—you stand apart from the rest, incomparably so. Someone like you has no business entering as an apprentice. No, frankly, it'd be a waste. So train with me, under my grandfather's direct instruction!"
…Excuse me?!!
"We're going straight to the professional league!"
What did that boy just say?!
The uncles and Shuri were on the verge of screaming. Kina Berith showing up for Isaac was already abnormal enough.
Say that again?
He'll throw out the apprenticeship entirely and get him private tutoring from the Pope himself?!
"Everyone I've watched until now has been trash. But you're different. You're the only one who can stand against me."
"……???"
Goel grabbed Rillai's sleeve, his face more baffled than ever.
"Was Isaac actually skilled enough to warrant words like that?"
"…Ah, well, when we tested him, his skill wasn't bad……"
If the genius Rillai calls it 'not bad,' that puts him around 5th or 6th tier. No—factoring in how utterly whipped this guy was, maybe a shade lower.
Which made it even more incomprehensible.
And for good reason: Kina Berith habitually looked down on every other priestly child.
Not with the childish scorn of a rival like Niger Sephet. He simply, as naturally as breathing, considered them a different class altogether—the way a human doesn't think of itself as equal to ants.
And this from the boy who'd once given the Saintess an unfavorable assessment?
Is this some new harassment scheme from the papal house?
No—the look in Kina Berith's eyes seemed far too sincere for that.
"Eshua. Behead the Skeleton Demon King beside me, and lead the Holy Empire together with me."
And Isaac's disgust-soaked expression was undeniably genuine too.
What did this brat just say?
[He says he wants to behead you, Master?]
Yeah. That's what I heard too.
But Kina Berith, apparently reading something entirely different in Isaac's expression, said in surprise:
"Ah, don't worry. I can have my grandfather's permission right away. He grants my requests instantly. If you want, I'll lend you anything from the papal house. If you wish it, I can even show you the Gold Faith's secret arts."
This brat is dead serious??
What is he thinking??
The stunned expressions on his family's faces were a treat to behold.
No, more than that—an offer like that went beyond mere priestly ambition… no, beyond ambition entirely. Frankly, it was outrageous. Sacrilegious, even.
Any priest would be called a fool for turning it down……
"Get lost."
Uh, he says get lost.
"Not interested. I'm starting from apprentice like everyone else."
And he's looking at Kina like he's a bug.
Startled, Kina Berith hurried to clarify, as if to head off a misunderstanding.
"Ah, if it's the priest credentials you're worried about, don't be. I'm not suggesting training alone—you'd skip the half-witted apprentice stage entirely and be granted the rank of a ten-year veteran. You'd hold a position teaching this year's graduating class, in fact. Even bishops would be your subordinates. That'd suit you better anyw——"
"Do papal-house brats just not listen? I'm going through the apprenticeship, same as anyone. Unlike some people."
That's the only way I can save my minion at the Sacrificial Offering Festival!
"Besides, why do you want to take me along? If you're going to recruit someone, there! Take HIM!"
H-him??
Shuri, freshly pointed at, contorted his face at his cousin as if to say what is wrong with your mouth.
"Take him instead—he'd at least make a decent informant!"
But at those words, Kina made a face as if he'd been gravely insulted, then spoke as though explaining something to a child for the tenth time.
"He and you are not the same class."
"No, that part's true."
Bloodshot veins crept into Shuri's eyes.
These little cousins of mine—after everything, they're BOTH disrespecting their elder??
But Isaac tilted his head. Why on earth was this papal brat so desperate to study with him?
Kina Berith leaned in and whispered.
"You have the talent to drive out demons with your eyes alone."
Ah. There it is. The reason.
[This brat is talking about when you repelled the demons with your pressure, Master?]
[That's a demon technique. Why is a priest rating it so highly?]
Yeah. He must have witnessed that scene.
[And it's a demon art. Why would a priest praise it?]
The Pope can do something like it too. Different lineage, but the result looks similar.
[Puh-hat! So this fool believes you can use the Pope's technique, Master?]
Well, apparently so.
From the outside, they'd look identical.
And if his guess was right, the boy probably wanted to learn that very technique. It might even be the one secret art he'd never managed to extract from the Pope.
But even if Isaac wanted to teach it, he couldn't.
No—he wouldn't.
He'd exploit this instead.
"Why do you get to order people around to your house? If you're the one who wants something, YOU come to ME."
"…Wh-what?!"
"Well, if you help me out, I might consider studying together."
Isaac waved a dismissive hand.
"But private lessons? Get real. Tutored by the Pope? Wow! Fuck, I think I'm gonna puke."
Kina Berith stared as if he couldn't trust his own ears.
The face of someone who had never once imagined such a thing.
"…Don't tell me you dislike my grandfather?"
"Obviously I do! I'll wring his neck right n— mmph!"
At that moment, a black shape whisked Isaac away in the blink of an eye.
"Mmph! Mmph! (You little sh——!)"
Isaac's mouth was gagged. The old man who'd collected him like luggage turned to look at the stunned Kina.
"My grandson is busy."
It was the head of the Blue Faith.
"And stay away from our boy from now on."
"……!"
At those words, Kina Berith's chest clenched.
These Eshua bastards. Are they seriously just snubbing the papal house to my face?
"Watch your tongue. Even the Blue Faith's head cannot be permitted to cross the line—"
"I don't want your trash stench rubbing off on him."
"……?"
…Excuse me?
While Kina Berith stood there dumbfounded, the Eshua family scooped up Isaac and bolted.
"Mmph! (Eshua, you cursed wretches! I swear I'll exterminate your whole damn line!)"
Isaac's muffled cursing rang through the air, but they fled headlong without a glance back.
Threatening the Pope's neck, no matter how you sliced it, was outright treason. An executionable offense.
And after they'd vanished, the lone Kina Berith clicked his tongue, feeling something close to humiliation.
Frankly…… I never imagined he'd refuse my offer.
And why would he? The Pope's tutelage was coveted by every soul in the Holy Empire!
There were people who stood in line for Kina just for the chance to share a cup of tea with him!
And he REFUSED?!
No. Is it because he's afraid his inflated reputation would crumble?
So it was all hype after all?
Come to think of it—had he truly been that caliber of figure, the Blue Faith's head would have promoted him as Saint long ago.
Kina let out a hollow laugh, winded by disbelief. So his skills were merely middling after all, and the demon-repelling glare had been his own misread.
Thinking that made him furious.
To think such a lowly brat dared insult the papal house.
One report to the Inquisitors and he'd be dragged away in chains.
Right. I'll ignore him. He was never worth my attention to begin wit——
That was when he heard it.
"That's Eshua for you! I knew that boy would make waves!"
"Really?"
"Really! Even as a suckling, he drove off the magic beast that appeared in the Academy cafeteria! It took one look at him and fled in terror!"
Kina Berith's head whipped around.
What? What did they just say?
Fled? In terror?
Passing Academy students snickered among themselves.
"Oh, come on. A magic beast scared off by a guy's eyeballs?"
"Right?! Must've been my imagination!"
Kina Berith's pupils trembled as something clicked into place.
Damn it. He really is no ordinary child after all!
"You Eshua bastards! The second I get my strength back, I'm going to destroy every last one of you!"
Isaac grumbled all the way to the apprentice priests' dormitory.
Just as the kidnapped Isaac could bear it no longer and started to let the Skeleton Demon King's mana leak out, the family head had pressed a gold-dust nugget into his hands.
Of course, there was no way something like that would placate him.
"Mmmmph! (Fuck! I'm scalping every one of you!)"
Then the family head had said:
"Mmmph! (Fuck! I'm scalping every single one of you!)"
"Among the goods that just came in, there's a 304-carat diamond. I've been wondering what to do with it. Well, I could always give it to whoever keeps his mana under control during his apprenticeship."
Mmm. 304 carats. Fine, I'll hold it in.
You bastards. This time I'll overlook the scalping—gold dust will do.
Anyway, I got assigned to a team, right?
And these weren't stingy little groups of a handful, either.
Roughly thirty per team. And the assignment wasn't random—they'd been grouped with close families and similar faiths.
At this point it was practically a faction war.
In fact, the Saint candidates had supposedly been building their factions since their Academy days.
Well, with future heads of noble houses flocking around the next leaders of the Holy Empire, networking was a given.
But honestly? Things had worked out fine.
Best of all, he'd been placed on the same team as Shuri, and according to Shuri, every single member was one of his close classmates.
"You're the youngest ever admitted, but… they're priests, after all. They won't openly bully a child, so don't worry. They're my classmates—they'll treat you well."
Ah, my well-raised little colt, repaying kindness with kindness.
Sending him ahead to school really paid off.
Granted, befriending priests gave him the creeps, but fine—they were all a good six years older than him, and it was a team event, so cooperation was required.
Above all, he needed to stay on these people's good side to pass the Pentagon and go rescue his minion.
No point building a bad reputation for nothing.
Isaac smiled sweetly, every inch the good little boy.
The youngest always got the cuteness privileges by default. Just a little extra charm and these suckers would adore him to deat——
"Right. Tie him up."
…Huh?
Isaac doubted his ears as he stepped into the dormitory. But Shuri's so-called close classmates—all of them—were snickering as they looked him over.
"So you're the problem child who bullied our Shuri? Some manners-deprived little colt, aren't you?"
"Can't have you pulling that on us. As your seniors, we'll teach you what respect means."
"Oh, right—you do know we keep family out of it here, don't you?"
"Keep it secret from Shuri, okay? Tell him you had a fun time playing with your big brothers."
"They're my close classmates. Don't worry—I already told them to take good care of my little cousin."
…Ha. Kim Shuri, you little bastard.
That's not what you said, you son of a bitch.
Isaac slowly drew out his rattle.