Chapter 9
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Saintess Gransesia (1)
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All the episodes taking place on this Rakmes Ridge numbered four in total.
Three of them had already occurred or were set to happen in the near future, but just one was different.
Episodes 204~225, Dragon Calamity.
This episode, which pierced through the story's core progression, wasn't scheduled to occur for several years.
==
[Episodes 204~225, ‘Dragon Calamity’]
Summary: Having finally learned the whereabouts of the seventh calamity known as the ‘Dragon Calamity,’ Fabian and his group head to Rakmes Ridge.
While investigating the Dragon Calamity with Michel's help, Fabian uncovers a shocking truth.
The Dragon Calamity is none other than Riya Asktalin, the missing princess of the Asktalin Empire.
He also learns that she was the monster who annihilated the Talua Kingdom's army on Rakmes Ridge five years ago, right on the verge of awakening as a calamity.
Michel discovers that the cause of Princess Riya Asktalin's awakening as the Dragon Calamity lies in the ‘Curse of Dragonization.’
He also realizes that to defeat the Dragon Calamity, they need the saintess's relic, the ‘Eye of Simosa,’ and hands it over to Fabian...
==
‘I get why Father said it was all over.’
That was exactly how I felt when I first saw this.
Who would've thought a being threatening the world's very survival would pop up out of nowhere.
And calling it the seventh meant there were at least seven or more of these ‘calamities.’
Fabian, the one meant to take them down, didn't exist in this world.
No wonder Father was in despair.
‘To think I'd end up joining an operation that's doomed to be annihilated... Damn it!’
According to the synopsis, in the operation two weeks from now, our army would encounter the Dragon Calamity, get wiped out, and lose to the Kainzel Kingdom.
My head spun.
It meant the operation I'd be joining in two weeks was fated for total annihilation.
‘Riya Asktalin...’
The seventh calamity, the Dragon Calamity.
The synopsis revealed that monster's true identity as ‘Riya Asktalin.’
She was the princess of the Asktalin Empire, which dominated the continent, a figure known as the empire's treasure.
Since I was already acquainted with her, the shock hit me harder than most.
‘Whew... For now, let's think about what to do next.’
Right now, I needed to focus on how to survive.
I slowly turned my head to look at the man approaching.
A man with blond hair, green eyes, and a refined impression.
The one smiling kindly was Michel Atel, descendant of the saintess.
The makeshift tent barracks were littered with what appeared to be his belongings.
Duke Gail spoke first as Michel drew near.
“Priest Michel, would it be alright to ask a favor?”
“Your Grace, there's no need for titles. I'm just an ordinary priest, not even a high priest.”
“But Lady Saintess's...”
“That's solely because Lady Gransesia was remarkable, not me. I didn't inherit the blood she possessed.”
“Mm.”
Duke Gail couldn't find words to continue and simply nodded.
“Understood. Then, please treat him. A promising young man with a bright future.”
“Leave it to me.”
With that, Michel approached me, laid out on the stretcher atop the sickbed.
“Sir Banheart, I'll begin the treatment right away.”
“Yes, please do.”
As I watched the white glow gathering around Michel's hands, I sank into thought.
‘An unexpected situation, but this works in my favor.’
Michel Atel possessed the ‘Eye of Simosa,’ essential for defeating the Dragon Calamity.
I didn't know its exact function, but according to the synopsis, it was indispensable against the Dragon Calamity.
If I could obtain it, I'd be able to respond more proactively to the events ahead.
“First, I've healed all visible wounds. Do you feel any discomfort when you move?”
By the time I organized my thoughts, the blinding light had gradually faded.
I propped myself up at the sight of Michel speaking with a gentle smile.
‘The title of saintess's descendant is well-earned.’
The excruciating pain that had wracked my entire body was completely gone.
In fact, I felt overflowing with energy. Bones that had been cracked moments ago were perfectly mended, and minor wounds had healed.
I'd received healing from priests before, but this was far beyond ordinary.
“Your Grace, then now...”
As Michel turned to Duke Gail, the duke nodded with a stern expression.
“Mm. Of course. We won't hold back support for the investigation you mentioned.”
Investigation?
At the ominous word, I got down from the stretcher and asked.
“Your Grace, may I ask what you mean?”
“As I said earlier, the priests came here because of the silver pillar that fell from the sky. They believe it to be a divine revelation...”
“Ah...”
At Duke Gail's words, I subtly glanced at Michel.
Michel gazed in rapture, reminiscing about what he'd seen.
“Yes, it must surely be a divine revelation. The sight is still vividly etched in my mind.”
I narrowed my eyes at Michel raving about how incredible the silver pillar—a divine miracle—had been.
‘This is something I can use.’
Nothing was easier to manipulate than blind faith.
‘He’s got quite a lot of luggage, though?’
While Michel went on about the silver pillar and divine miracle, I surveyed the inside of the tent.
Most were simple items, but one thing stood out.
‘A casket?’
Not just any casket, but an extraordinarily ornate one, drawing my eyes inevitably.
‘There’s something to it.’
They wouldn't have brought a casket here for no reason.
I narrowed my eyes and checked the casket's settings.
==
[Saintess Casket]
A casket containing the remains and relics of the legendary saintess, Gransesia Atel.
Currently being transported by Priest Michel Atel for the saintess pilgrimage.
==
‘Saintess Casket?!’
A casket holding the remains and relics of Gransesia, hailed as the greatest saintess of Supreme God Altair.
‘So Michel was nearby because of the saintess pilgrimage.’
I was familiar with the ‘saintess pilgrimage’ noted on the Saintess Casket. Though I hadn't realized it involved carrying the casket itself.
‘Can I view the saintess's settings too?’
Confirmed settings of others could be added to my own once plausibility was achieved.
It had worked with Byan's Silver Star Sword, so maybe the saintess too.
Even gaining just one of her abilities would be a huge boon.
“You seem curious why a casket is here.”
At that moment, Michel approached with a calm smile.
Oops, had I stared too intently?
“Ah, sorry.”
“No need. It's natural to wonder about a casket in a priest's tent.”
He smiled as if it were nothing, but gazed at the casket with complex eyes.
“Of course, I can't tell you who lies sleeping inside, so please understand.”
Though Michel said that, I knew whose remains were in that casket.
‘Perfect.’
I smirked inwardly.
While Michel was distracted by the casket, I'd properly confirmed its contents.
As I mulled over the saintess's settings, Duke Gail, who had been silently observing, spoke up.
“Priest Michel, shall we go now?”
“Ah, I didn't expect help so quickly. Thank you truly.”
“No need. It was promised from the start. Ah, speaking of which...”
Duke Gail glanced at me as if it had just occurred to him.
“Wasn't the spot where that silver pillar fell the same place where you collapsed, Sir Banheart?”
“Yes?”
Caught off guard by Duke Gail's sudden remark, I turned to Michel.
Given how he'd just been talking about the silver pillar, his reaction was predictable.
“Is that true?!”
“I'm not certain. Things were chaotic then... Come to think of it, the pillar seemed to fall toward the base of the cliff.”
“The base of the cliff? Could there be a holy relic down there?”
Since outright denying seeing the pillar would arouse suspicion, mentioning the hard-to-investigate cliff base naturally shifted the topic.
Something undiscovered at the rugged cliff base wouldn't be strange.
“The base of the cliff... That might require considerable preparation.”
“Could we perhaps have Sir Banheart's assistance?”
“Sir Banheart? Mm, unfortunately, he has other duties, so it may be difficult.”
“I see. That's a shame.”
My heart skipped at Michel asking if I could help with the investigation, but Duke Gail's follow-up let me breathe a sigh of relief.
‘I can't waste time on pointless errands.’
Every minute was precious; no room for meaningless investigations.
The ‘other duties’ Duke Gail mentioned were surely the impending ambush operation.
‘Byan must have already leaked the operation details to the Kainzel Kingdom this time too.’
In the original story, Duke Gail dies, and Artam Marquis takes command.
Byan succeeds in poisoning Duke Gail but ultimately dies at the protagonist Fabian's hands.
However, right before his death, he'd already passed the operation intel to the Kainzel Kingdom.
‘This time, I took him down instead of Fabian.’
Regardless, the fact that he'd leaked the info remained unchanged.
The timing confirmed it.
So the Kainzel Kingdom forces were likely moving now to turn our ambush against us.
But that hardly mattered.
The key was the Dragon Calamity we'd encounter during the operation. Fail to stop it, and we'd lose the war against Kainzel anyway.
“Whew.”
I took a small deep breath, steeling my resolve.
This was the true turning point.
* * *
“Haa, haa.”
Tedric Eaton.
The eldest son and heir of the Eaton Marquis Family wiped sweat from his brow and lowered his sword.
Having been detained as a suspect for the past few days, he hadn't properly trained with the sword. Only after Duke Gail awoke and all suspicions cleared could he pick it up again.
‘If not for Sir Banheart, I don't know what would've become of me.’
Recalling his imprisonment still sent chills down his spine.
Had he not grasped and handled the situation, even as the marquis family's heir, his life would've been in grave peril.
Even lying in bed, those events replayed vividly.
Crushed by despair and screaming, Clay had approached him alone and made an offer.
「Sir Eaton, may I make a proposal?」
It sounded like a devil's temptation to Tedric. Whatever the proposal, he lacked the courage to refuse.
Yet he'd bluffed, saying he'd judge after hearing it.
Could he recall being that tense since turning thirty?
To him, Clay said this.
「Join my side.」
An unimaginable statement. It was what Tedric wanted to beg for.
He agreed immediately.
If Clay helped him, he'd gladly draw his sword as a true friend anytime.
What happened after blurred in memory.
When he came to, he'd shed the suspect label and returned as one of Talua Kingdom's top knights.
“Sir Eaton.”
Wiping sweat and catching his breath, Tedric turned at the familiar voice.
His friend stood there.
“Could I ask one favor?”
Of course, it went without saying.
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