Earning the First Merit
The Gold Pentagon. Since it was a trial hosted personally by the Pope's own house, there was no way in hell Gold would fail to claim the King.
Yes… it was supposed to be that way. Clearly, it was.
“Isn't what Blue pulled off in the Magic Empire a little too impressive…?”
“This is far beyond anything an apprentice should be capable of.”
The senior priests made no attempt to hide their astonishment as they watched the Blue team and Isaac. This year's Blue was different — different to an absurd degree.
“Granted, the imperial treasure Gold brought back isn't exactly apprentice-level work either…”
They stole a glance toward Kina, seated in the Gold stands. That treasure had been retrieved single-handedly, from deep inside a barbarian warren — a feat worthy of an S-rank, high-difficulty mission that would normally have senior knights sweating over it. It fit the stated purpose of the Gold Pentagon, too: recovery, reclaiming what would exalt Hella's honor.
But precisely because they were priests — of all people — they understood better than anyone.
The weight of what was brought back is on an entirely different level.
Priests, by their very calling, were bound to protect the weak and serve the people, wherever and whenever. Kina had certainly brought back an object of historic significance. But that was all it was. It might restore the honor of the imperial house and Hella's past — and nothing beyond that.
And Isaac? In contrast—
Not only did he save the holy knights who were citizens of the Empire, he negotiated directly with the Magic Empire and resolved a crisis Hella is facing right now.
Just how many people, exactly, did they imagine had been delivered from suffering by Isaac's actions? If the Crashandia passage were sealed, or the tolls raised, trade goods would inevitably skyrocket in price. And those goods included daily necessities for the Empire's own citizens. Had things gone sour, the imperial people would have endured open-ended misery until substitutes could be found.
“Whether he intended it or not, he's rendered a great service to Hella and to the Empire's people alike.”
“Worthy of His Majesty attending in person.”
At the priests' words, Kina — arms crossed — bit her lip.
What? Whether he meant it or not?
No. He absolutely meant it.
Kina fixed Isaac with the eyes of a beast scenting prey. There was no way that boy would negotiate terms like that with the Magic Empire by pure accident. That sharp little brat had known all along what the perfect scenario was — one where not even Gold could bend its elbow inward for its own.
No matter how biased Gold might be, who could refuse the King to someone who saved the Empire's own citizens?
At this point it wasn't even a contest; the victory had been claimed in advance. The achievement was so universally acknowledged that withholding the score would drop a bomb on Gold itself.
Sure, you could chalk rescuing the Magic Empire's prince up to luck — but what compensation they wrung out of it was entirely their own doing. Any ordinary apprentice would have come home with whatever gold the Magic Empire happened to toss them. A slightly clever one might have tried to bring back something useful for Hella, but negotiating terms that would actually shift the political landscape? They wouldn't dream of it. Wouldn't have the guts, either.
And there was no one less capable of missing what this situation meant than Kina. Sure enough, the priests began to whisper.
“Even at the same high-difficulty rating, Isaac's is the one closer to what a true Saint would do.”
“…Shh!”
Just then, the Holy See's judging panel rose to their feet. It was time for the final verdict.
“This year, we were graced with an unusual abundance of clever and splendid offerings. With the Skeleton Demon King's return foretold, it seems a generation of exceptional priests has arrived — our expectations could not be higher.”
“There was one team in particular that, even after receiving an impossible mission, refused to give up and went back for their comrades. They will stand as an example not only to their peers but to their seniors as well. As for those who put their own lives first, betrayed their comrades, and switched teams — I trust no words are necessary.”
There was no question which teams were meant. Sure enough, the former Blue members seated in Gold's section flushed crimson. They were the ones who had betrayed Blue for profit, and they couldn't so much as lift their heads.
And small wonder. These were the very people who'd gone around sneering that Blue were fools, that they themselves had been wise to jump ship early, that the Blue vassals who'd stayed to the bitter end were idiots. Naturally, every eye in the hall swung to Count Molech, who had led the charge in badmouthing Blue. Unable to raise his face, he could do nothing but grind his teeth against his lip.
The Emperor laughed at the sight.
“Then the verdict is decided.”
In truth, when he'd first heard that Isaac had rescued the Magic Empire's prince, he had been a little worried — and with good reason. The Magic Empire was as vicious as they came. He'd feared they might seize on some pretext, accusing Hella of abducting the prince outright. But who would have guessed they'd so readily agree to return the seized goods and waive the Crashandia tolls?
The Foreign Minister must be dancing around his office with joy right about now.
The man had racked his brains over foreign affairs for years; he might scoop Isaac up and parade him around on his shoulders the moment they met. Especially considering the Magic Empire was the sort that refused to negotiate no matter what was put on the table. Whatever sorcery Isaac had actually worked, it was an enormous gain for Hella.
The Emperor delivered his final judgment.
Hardly had the words left his mouth before a roar of cheers erupted through the banquet hall. Gold's priests stood frozen in place, utterly unable to speak.
“Hey, Blue won again!”
“Insane. Has any team other than Gold ever taken the King at the Gold Pentagon before?”
“First time in Pentagon history, boys!”
“And it was Blue? At the Gold Pentagon? PWAHAHA! They've lost their minds!”
The Gold Pentagon became the talk of the town in more ways than one. The Pentagon was no longer merely a trial for apprentices. It had always drawn attention, but this year it was the only thing anyone anywhere was talking about.
And the stars of all that chatter were clutching their hands over their mouths, sniffling and sniveling with emotion. Never once in their lives had they been treated like this.
“Hey! You hearing this? Everywhere I go, people are talking about nothing but us!”
“Isaac, you absolute lunatic. You gorgeous little bastard.”
“Anything you want to eat, just say the word — your big bros here will buy it all.”
Wait, weren't you the ones telling me to go die in a ditch out there? To drop dead and stay dead?
Propped up on one elbow, chin in hand, Isaac sucked on his candy and glared at the older boys. But the corners of the Blue team's mouths were hooked clear up to their ears and showed no sign of coming down.
“Never dreamed you'd go and negotiate with the Magic Empire itself, you little monster!”
At that, Isaac snickered. Yeah — honestly, even he hadn't expected things to go this well.
Well, he'd known, of course. To wring the King out of Gold, he'd need a feat on the scale of settling something entangled with the Magic Empire.
Nothing less than an achievement everyone would be forced to acknowledge would do. He'd known perfectly well how biased Gold's judging would be. So beyond rescuing the survivors, he'd been scheming to manufacture an even bigger incident on purpose.
Shut it, brat.
Still, that Magic Empire prince definitely came in handy.
The prince had in fact told him to name his price — anything he wanted. And Isaac, thinking this was a windfall too good to waste, had asked him to withdraw from the disputed territory and stop charging passage tolls. At which Hiberius had made a face like he'd just heard something beyond belief.
“…You're satisfied with merely that?”
Strictly speaking, it wasn't "merely" anything, but—
“Yup.”
“But that benefits the Empire, not you, big bro?!”
Puhup. It's fine, kiddo. Merit was non-negotiable for anyone aiming to become Saint anyway. And raising the Empire's standing was, in the long run, ten thousand times more profitable than pocketing a few coins of gold and wiping his mouth clean after.
Well — the prince had insisted even that was insufficient payment, so Isaac had grudgingly demanded the return of everything the Magic Empire had seized from Hella as well. And even then the prince declared it still wasn't enough and pressed him to ask for more, but Isaac had waved him off. Gorge yourself on too much now, and it gets harder to squeeze… ahem, to claim things later. A former king knew these things. Deals like this were always about balancing the weight given and taken. Tilt the scales too far to one side, and the other side would use it as leverage to demand even more. Besides, if you wanted to milk them for more down the line, you had to leave them hungry for it.
That aside, one thing did genuinely puzzle him.
If even everything I asked for wasn't enough for him… just how valuable is that prince within the Magic Empire?
He'd figured the youngest prince couldn't be worth all that much. His status seemed to run far deeper than expected. Handing over concessions like those as the price of a life — and the Magic Empire approving them without so much as a blink…
Don't tell me the brat holds a claim to the imperial succession?
Well, it wouldn't matter if he couldn't collect right now. Because before heading off to meet Hella's Crown Prince, the Magic Empire's prince had said this:
“Mm. As I thought, this is still lacking, big bro. If anything else comes to mind, don't hesitate — ask me later!”
He'd said it, plain as day. So, whatever!
And anyway, that wasn't the point right now.
First merit: earned!
Only two Pentagons remained — Blue and Black! Even if he scored rock-bottom at Black, it wouldn't matter. Take King at Blue, and the execution ceremony was as good as certain. No — honestly, it was all but confirmed already. Either way — King at Blue?
Goddammit, that's a piece of cake!
And that wasn't all. Hadn't the Lord of Blue promised heir training lessons if they made it back from this Pentagon in one piece?
“From now on, you bastards pay your dues to me! Keh-heh!”
And just at that moment, a familiar figure stepped into Blue's after-party hall. The Blue knights and apprentices startled and snapped to attention.
“Gasp…! Your Grace!”
“Lord Eli!”
But the Lord of Blue pressed a single finger to his lips. Shh.
“I have come only to see my grandson. Pay me no mind.”
He truly had come for Isaac. Eli made no show of it, but he was tremendously, quietly proud. All I asked was that he come back alive.
Well — on the way he'd run into Count Molech and given him a proper dressing-down, too. If only Isaac could have seen the man's face. And who could have guessed the boy would tame those post horses and bring them back besides? The look on the Papal Court priests' faces when the lead steed pledged its loyalty to Isaac had been a sight to behold.
All I said was that you needn't die for Blue's honor — and instead, you delivered this.
Though the Magic Empire's prince had certainly been unexpected. That audacious little brat had come before the Lord of Blue in person and said:
“Lord of Blue. Might I invite your grandson to the Magic Empire?”
“As long as you're not planning to roast and eat him, do as you like.”
“Then might I take the honored Isaac Eschua as my elder brother?”
“Get lost.”
Eli could see the prince's game clearly enough. He's taken with Isaac. In a word: the boy looked like a strong Saint candidate, so the prince intended to invest early.
And the Magic Empire covets dragons. They yearned desperately for the Divine Dragon — the one dragon of all that had never exchanged words with them. And above all, the Saint was the one destined to make the Holy Empire flourish. Steal the Saint to weaken Hella, and snatch the Divine Dragon besides. That's their play. Even if it weren't, they'd simply want to stay on the good side of whoever looked likely to become Saint.
Of course, all of that hinges on Isaac actually becoming Saint.
And for that, he would first need to attain Cardinal rank — that is, claim the seat of Lord. Which was exactly why the Lord of Blue had come looking for him today. Fulfilling his promise of heir training — no, perhaps even handing over the heir's position itself — might not be such a bad idea after all. The boy's character was deeply worrying, granted, but that part at least seemed to have improved somewhat during his stay at the Holy See.
"Grandfather, this ordeal has taught me ever so much. From this day forward, I will protect the teammates who belong to me and become a man who embraces even the smallest among us."
Good. Wasn't that precisely the kind of talent Blue's doctrine called for? Yes… if it's that child, then surely now…
With a faint smile, the Lord of Blue stepped into the room where Isaac was.
“Isaa—”
“Keh-heh! The Lord's seat? Pfft, that's nothing, are you kidding me! All you gotta do is bare your teeth a little! Feed the old man a few lines he likes and it's yours, easy as candy! Say something about cherishing your comrades, recite a couple lines of doctrine — done!”
“Haah, you little brat. Yeah, exactly, you're tota… gahk.”
The Blue team froze solid at the sight of the Lord of Blue standing in the doorway.
“Uh. Isaac.”
“What? You think I'm wrong? And don't even worry about taking King at Blue, that comes first! C'mon, we're Blue. You really think Grandpa won't hand us the King? He'll give it to us just for showing up! Keh! Now THIS is the rotten good life! I'm telling you, pure jackpot…. What? Why's everyone gone quiet, bros?”
Why do you think.
Drenched in cold sweat, the Blue team answered by pointing behind him instead.
“What, why are you poin… pwuek.”
Isaac turned his head, and the candy fell from his mouth. Rarely for him, his face drained snow-white.
“…Gahk. Grandpappy. Since when…?”
The Lord of Blue, standing behind him, had wiped every trace of a smile from his face.
“…It seems I named my heir rather too early.”
“No, wait, Grandpa! It's not—!”
“…No amount of home schooling will fix this.”
“?!”
No! This is an outrage! I'm innocent!
More to the point — where the hell was Kkim-Shuri? Someone was supposed to warn him the second Grandpa showed up, dammit! Where had that little bastard gone?!!!!