Chapter 150
Chapter 150
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Papal Palace (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Julian looked puzzled at Galen's dumbfounded reaction.
"Didn't you come expecting something like this?"
"What... what do you mean?"
"You showed up without an invitation. I figured you must have business at the Papal Palace. If it involves you and the church, nine times out of ten, Bishop Lilia's involved. Isn't that why you're here?"
"No, I just came along without much thought..."
He figured they'd called her for the archbishop ordination, so he'd tag along to congratulate her. Nothing else pressing, and he could sightsee the central region while he was at it.
"Then start thinking about it now. No need to worry about separating you two based on your character anymore."
"...Was this a test?"
"A young cleric barely twenty, fresh-faced regardless of her skills—what kind of bad influence would she get hanging around a twisted Gem mage? We'd have to cut her loose, tears in our eyes. Lucky we don't have to. I didn't want to incur Bishop Lilia's wrath."
"Ah, yeah. Lucky, but... it feels awfully sudden."
"No need to overthink it. She's just becoming an archbishop—nothing else changes. She can travel freely like before. Or settle down and start a family, if she wants."
"We're not at that discussion stage yet..."
Drinking the kimchi soup already? Pope-level scale. How many steps is he skipping at once?
"Not yet? I've seen more than one or two reports saying things are serious between you two."
"Anyway, not yet. No need to rush."
"Hm, is that so? Well, if you're saying it, it must be true."
Julian nodded understandingly, but cleared his throat a few times under Galen's irreverent gaze. The old man quickly reverted to a serious demeanor.
"Anyway... The real reason we're not stopping Bishop Lilia's pilgrimage is something else. Clerics aren't as free to act as you might think."
"The church is always swamped with work. Hard to just up and leave on a whim."
"Exactly. Bishop Lilia's been floating free from duties, making her the perfect person to assign tasks without burdening the system. Especially now..."
Julian trailed off, then gave a wry smile before continuing.
"No point hiding it from you, the person involved. Remember that string of commissions from the east to the northeast?"
"You mean the demon blades."
"That's right."
"Of course."
A fallen noble's daughter got her hands on a sea-manipulating demon blade and crippled the entire Dawn Archipelago in the east for a time.
They'd chased the culprit, a guy named Vantis who supplied it, all the way to the black market and finally assassinated him.
"Then last winter, demon blade wielders popped up on the opposite side of the continent, in the southwest. At least three of them."
"Too many to pass off as coincidental finds. Similar effects, too."
In the village where the Holy Knights executed their plan, the squinting man used a sword that granted power rivaling a Gold warrior.
Coincidentally, the squinting man next to the armored freak in Cairoan, who tried to kill Galen, wielded a weapon with nearly identical effects.
One could argue they just stumbled on two demon blades with the same effects.
But Vantis, who used a flame-manipulating demon blade in the past, had his underlings wielding eerily similar flame demon blades.
"It's like they're mass-producing them in batches and handing them out. The similarity isn't something easily shared. So we're assuming they're from the same group."
"I agree. Unfortunately, that ramps up their threat level."
"It means their operations span a wide area, they're burning through demon blades like consumables... and they've even linked up with orcs. They might be the craftiest and strongest foes the church has ever faced."
"In short, things are about to get busier."
"You got it. It might not reach you, but Bishop Lilia will be swamped."
"Her workload's exploding. Well, better to grind now while young."
Galen shrugged it off nonchalantly. The church wasn't at fault; it was just more bad guys crawling out of the woodwork. Blame them, not the church.
"Anyway, to belatedly answer your earlier question: we're coordinating with Gems stationed worldwide to prepare for this. Their level of cooperation determines our response scale—like how many Holy Knight squads to dispatch."
"Doesn't the church have absolute authority on demon-related matters? They'd have to cooperate, even if unwilling."
"In theory, yes. But if a Gem slacks off, what can we do—whip them? Unless demons descend right in their front yard, most take it easy."
"Must be tough."
Galen said sincerely. He'd felt it watching Daimus headache over Steelwall family business before—archbishops and popes had it rough.
"It's just our duty. No room for complaints."
Julian replied calmly.
"Fortunately, not all Gems are uncooperative like you. Some non-clerics are dead set on slaying demons, others are belligerent types who help the church to satisfy their battle lust."
"So we can count on some help."
"Sadly, no other mages. You're unique."
"Oh."
"Regretting it?"
"Nah. More work for me means more gains."
Galen grinned, baring his teeth. Julian responded with a faint smile.
"I count on you."
"No problem."
"Could you fetch Bishop Lilia now?"
"Sure. I'll take my leave."
"Brother, brother."
Galen, dozing lightly, woke to a familiar voice and the gentle shaking of his body.
After his audience with Julian, he'd returned to the parlor and switched with Lilia, but must've nodded off waiting. The chair was too comfy.
Lilia had returned and was nudging him awake.
"You must be tired."
"The carriage ride wasn't that bad. Maybe facing His Holiness too long wore me out."
"Your eyes were intense. I was shocked at first, too."
"He said you could do it someday."
"The ninth miracle condition? Preparation? He said he'd teach me the trick, so learn as much as I can."
"He's teaching you?"
"Yes!"
Lilia chattered brightly about her audience with Julian.
"The ordination's in two months. All the other archbishops are coming!"
"All of them?"
"Yeah! Can't realistically get all the bishops below them, so the central diocese bishops are coming as reps."
"Big turnout. Makes sense for an archbishop ordination."
"He'll teach me miracle techniques on the side till then."
Bishop ordinations were low-key, but archbishops warranted city-scale events due to their status.
Lilia was an exceptional case; normally, archbishops ran one of the nine dioceses.
Exaggerating a bit, it was like dividing the world into nine and claiming leadership of one—huge deal.
But Lilia didn't seem to care about that.
"Know what, brother?"
"What?"
"They said I can keep pilgrimaging even after becoming archbishop!"
"Ah."
"You knew?"
"Heard a bit. His Holiness graciously considered our situation."
"Then you should be happier!"
"Can't you see the joy in my eyes?"
"All I see are eyes fresh from sleep!"
"I was rejoicing in my dreams."
Galen teased. Lilia pouted playfully before breaking into a smile.
"Honestly, I was a little worried. Figured they'd tell me to stop now that I'm archbishop."
"Don't you find travel tiring or boring, Lilia?"
"D-Do you, brother?"
"Not yet. We're less traveling and more handling jobs with side trips, really."
"Phew."
"Why?"
"Because... if you quit traveling, I'd have to too, and it wouldn't be a pilgrimage anymore."
"We've stopped for rest pretty often, though. One or two months at a time."
"Th-That was just long breaks!"
"Right. No need for strict lines. Relax, rest easy, pilgrimage easy."
Galen smiled warmly.
"I'll travel with you as long as you want."
"...Yeah."
Lilia smiled shyly.
Two months flew by.
Staying long in one city, they'd considered renting a mansion like in Mezaia, but decided against it this time.
The main reason back then was secret magic training without prying eyes.
No need to hide non-water magic anymore.
"Use our training grounds."
"This is too much trouble."
"Nonsense. It's nothing."
Thankfully, Diana offered the Holy Knights' facilities first.
One reason the Papal Palace was grand: it housed the Holy Knights, with dorms and training areas.
Vast and top-notch, borrowing a spare field was easy.
Galen focused on Deathshroud Mist. Self-study efficiency made it priority one.
Self-study cap might be an issue.
Deathshroud Mist Lv.69
Progress to next level: 100%
No worries needed.
Stolen under duress from a Gem mage, self-study punched straight to Gold cap.
Proper exposure to Gem-level magic seemed to fast-track Gold. Earth Bind and Spiral Eddy did; Territory Advance didn't, for some reason.
While Galen digested his southwest gains, Lilia stayed busy.
Minimal event prep for her; mostly intensive tutoring from Julian.
Discernment miracle tips alongside ninth miracle awakening training.
She'd just mastered the eighth—seemed rushed, but he called it long-term foundation building.
"Might not be that long-term. Like everything so far."
Julian said casually, passing Galen.
Rare chance regardless of future, so Lilia absorbed eagerly.
Thus, event day arrived.
Lilia's ordination was in the Papal Palace's grandest chapel.
Even with select clergy, the sea of white filled the place.
"......"
Not church but related, Galen watched from the back pews.
Chapel huge; Lilia tiny upfront, but distance didn't dim her presence.
New vestments looked same, but overlaid cloth, embroidered sash, hat made her nobly radiant, multiplied.
As Galen warmly memorized her image,
"So young... so very young..."
A low murmur from a wrinkled old man nearby.
Galen's eyes flicked sideways. Unusually ruddy face for his age.
"Age doesn't matter."
Galen muttered softly.
The old man's eyes turned to him.
Clearly aimed: "Don't dismiss the value of experience."
"Not dismissing."
Galen grumbled curtly.
"Just not prizing 'experience' alone."
"Fair enough. Uncomfortable truth for the youngest Gem. Right?"
The old man's lip curled.
"Youngest is up front."
Galen snorted, finally turning to face him.
First time seeing him, but Galen knew who he was. Pre-checked attendee list.
"Got a problem, Lord Michael?"
Before words, the Gem warrior's icy glare pierced Galen.