Chapter 87
Chapter 87
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Picaol Grand Temple (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Oh! I’ve heard so much about you, Sir Heinrich. As expected, you’re every bit the fine talent they say!”
“You flatter me, Your Eminence. I’m grateful you took the time to greet me personally despite your busy schedule.”
“This isn’t just any matter—it concerns the holy sword, and the Saintess herself recommended you. How could I not at least meet you face-to-face? Hahaha—”
Heinrich arrived at the Picaol Grand Temple, was assigned lodgings, and soon met Donovan, the cardinal in charge.
His first impression was of a kindly neighborhood grandfather, complete with wrinkles of wisdom, a long white beard, and a gentle smile.
But that image flashed through his mind the instant their eyes met, only to vanish the moment he glanced below the neck.
Whoa… those shoulders.
His body was anything but ordinary.
“Hoho, as expected of youth—such impressive muscles. Sigh, getting old means my body isn’t what it used to be. Back in my day…”
His broad shoulders and ramrod-straight posture didn’t match the benevolent expression at all, and the bulging muscles rippling with every movement created a striking contrast with his face.
They said he was a former paladin.
He’d heard the man had risen to cardinal thanks to his immense popularity, yet even after reaching that position, he’d never neglected his training for a single day.
Muscles like that, even past sixty.
“So, Sir Heinrich? I heard you’ve become the Saintess’s personal guard. How’s the work treating you?”
“Until now, I’ve mostly spent my time training to prepare for the holy sword’s trials, per her instructions. She seems to stay within the holy land, so…”
“I see. And how has she been? It’s been a while since I last saw her. I wonder how she’s faring now, especially after that big incident recently…”
He was referring to the Immortal King’s assault on the Roselika Grand Temple.
For some reason, he seemed unusually interested in the Saintess, and it wasn’t Heinrich’s imagination—soon, the cardinal launched into a rambling monologue.
In short, it was all boasting about how close he was to her.
“Sigh, it’s been over three years since I last saw the Saintess. Once you reach a position like mine, you can’t just step away whenever you please. If I’d known it’d be like this, maybe I shouldn’t have accepted the cardinal post.”
But it was a bit much.
The Saintess Riesta had been adopted as the foster daughter of the current Pope, Hatianus II, at a very young age. Raised in the holy land, she was beloved by everyone in the Church.
How many could look unkindly on a small, adorable child scampering about with her innocent smile?
And Cardinal Donovan, a paladin at the time, had been no exception.
“Do you know, Sir Heinrich? The way she’d put an earthworm on her tiny hand and hold it out, saying ‘look at this!’—it was so adorable.”
“Y… yes, I can imagine.”
He had no children despite being married, so to him, Saintess Riesta was like a daughter or granddaughter.
Nearly a decade had passed since he’d watched over her as she first entered the Church.
Then Donovan was elevated to cardinal and assigned as head of the Picaol Grand Temple.
“But this place is no small headache, I tell you. The kingdoms refuse to cooperate, so there’s never any breathing room.”
Resk Kingdom, where the grand temple was located, was comparatively better, but the other kingdoms banded together to subtly check the Church’s growing influence.
Of course, the worst offender was Talia Kingdom, where Heinz 2nd was.
Heinrich nodded solemnly at the cardinal’s words, his face a perfect mask of ignorance and deep agreement.
But why’s he telling all this to me?
He was going along with his superior’s chatter, but he couldn’t fathom why the man was sharing these internal matters with him.
As he puzzled inwardly—
Squeeze—
Cardinal Donovan casually threw an arm around his shoulders, and those thick muscles began slowly choking off Heinrich’s air.
“C… Cardinal?”
“Yes, Sir Heinrich. What I’m saying is…”
Even in that situation, his kindly expression and warm tone remained unflustered.
“That bright smile of the Saintess is etched too deeply in my mind. I simply can’t bear to see her sad.”
Veins bulged on the arm around Heinrich’s neck as the muscles swelled further.
“She was raised solely in the holy land since childhood, so she’s too naive about the world. I worry she’ll get hurt needlessly. For example… if some scumbag tries to seduce her innocence.”
The cardinal spat the words with venom, his smile gone.
His blazing eyes locked onto Heinrich’s.
“Do you understand what I mean?”
“…Yes, of course. As her ‘personal guard,’ I’ll vigilantly protect the Saintess. No need to worry.”
What else could he say to this overprotective grandpa?
Better to give the answer he wanted.
Meeting his gaze boldly with his perfectly honed acting skills, he watched the cardinal’s expression soften back into a smile.
“Hahaha! With the Church’s top prospect by her side, I feel secure. I’m counting on you going forward.”
“Yes, sir! It’s my duty.”
Their amiable chat didn’t last long. Having carved out time just to meet him, the cardinal rose to handle his backlog.
“I must return to my duties. I pray you become the holy sword’s master, Sir Heinrich. With the Immortal King revived, we can’t afford further delays.”
After Cardinal Donovan departed, the archbishop overseeing the holy sword’s seal approached.
“All preparations are complete. When would you like to proceed?”
“No reason to delay now that I’m here. I’ll challenge it right away.”
As the holy sword was the core of the sealing barrier, reaching it required complex procedures.
Thus, the annual challenges were limited—and this time, Heinrich had secured one.
Even renowned paladins have failed, so it’s a bit daunting…
Still, he had his own ace up his sleeve.
He had a special connection with the Main God, after all.
Probably get some favorable treatment this time too, right?
Please take care of me. I’ll do better from now on!
Following the archbishop, Heinrich offered a devout prayer to the Main God.
With just a tiny bit of self-interest.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Talia Kingdom, Bright Duke’s mansion.
“So, still no new information?”
“Yes. Thanks to the Church sweeping through in connection with the Immortal King, no major black magic factions remain nearby.”
“And building the intel network?”
“It’s underway, but gathering info from farther afield will take more time.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
It was a long-term project from the start, but the immediate lack was frustrating.
“Understood. Report any black magicians we spot, even small fry. And anyone hindering the work—I’ll handle them from here.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Mulo bowed lightly and left. Heinz walked to the window, parted the curtains, and gazed at the night sky.
Hans isn’t planning anything yet, so if there’s trouble brewing, it means others are scheming… But no way to get intel.
He needed to expand his forces faster.
And right now, he had the continent’s top human resources.
Flutter—
The moon swallowed by clouds, the night sky cloaked in darkness.
Hans looked down on the land with abyssal-tainted pupils.
Nothing pressing for now, so might as well help Heinz.
He planned to recruit slave… no, extra/staff members he could use freely.
Of course, it wouldn’t be an unfair contract.
He’d pay with something precious to all: their ‘lives.’
Can’t take responsibility for work accidents… but hey, there’s a chance of survival if you’re lucky.
Better than dying right away.
[Kuhuhu… Oh, one’s hiding over there.]
No being of the demonic realm could escape his Abyssal Eye.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Azerion Empire, bordering the holy land.
“Whoa! Got a signal!”
In a comfortably furnished room, a blond man bolted upright from his corpse-like slump in the armchair, eyes snapping open.
“Unbelievable. I half-doubted it, but he really is alive. The Immortal King this time around is a real mystery. Why no signal until now?”
His unique skill, Trajectory Observation, was optimized for intel gathering.
It could even read the past, after all.
He’d heard about the incident at Roselika Grand Temple and probed it for details, uncovering the Immortal King in the process.
Couldn’t check the site directly due to the massive barrier where he appeared, but intel basics are checking the surroundings.
Many had been mobilized for the battle against him, and gathering their info was relatively easy.
Every careless word they let slip was valuable.
Of course, it was only possible because he’d farmed karma through various exploits to upgrade his skill three times.
“Tch, befitting a big shot. Even after all those upgrades, still can’t observe him fully. As expected.”
His ability had limitations: needed detailed target info, and couldn’t read foes too far above his level.
An Immortal King was naturally beyond it.
But there was a reason for his reaction.
Previously, when he’d tested Trajectory Observation just in case, the result was bizarre.
Not ‘unknown’ due to insufficient power, but ‘impossible’ because the target didn’t exist.
He’d worried the Immortal King died at Roselika, but his comrades dismissed it as absurd.
No way he’d die that easily if fully revived.
Since then, he’d habitually checked once a day—and today, it changed to ‘unknown.’
“So they were right… He must’ve been hiding in some dimensionally isolated barrier to recover.”
He smacked his lips and ruffled his dull blond hair.
Still, the situation wasn’t bad.
The big event was imminent, and the Immortal King stirring again was good for them.
Perfect timing. Is luck on my side?
He had just enough karma left for a fourth upgrade.
Nail this, and he could upgrade without issue.
And this operation was just the beginning—not the end.
How much karma for contributing to a world’s destruction?
He chuckled, reclining in the armchair.
Just gather intel from a safe spot, and the rest handle themselves. Creator economy, baby.
He knew his current allies were extremely dangerous, but it didn’t matter.
By the time this place got truly risky, he’d be back on Earth with ample karma.
“Ah~ Can’t wait. Back on Earth, I could conquer the world? National secrets, all mine… heh heh heh.”
Another Awakener sent to the Outerica dimension thus indulged in sweet dreams alone.