Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Papal Envoy
Setting aside her inner irritation, Idnia had already assumed the elegant and dignified demeanor befitting a ducal lady by the time she greeted the captain of the guard.
“Yes, I am Idnia Kache Betelgeuse. What is your business?”
“I heard that a robbery occurred here yesterday and would like to know the details.”
The town guard asked his questions with a friendly tone, wearing a broad smile.
Honestly, she would have preferred not to waste her rare time outside the dorm by giving statements about such an incident, but as a member of an imperial elector family, she could not ignore someone approaching her with such a smiling face.
“I understand the culprits were taken away by the guards. Were you unable to extract any useful information from them?”
“Yes. They claim they have no memory of the past week. It seems they were subjected to a memory erasure spell, so we require your testimony, Lady.”
As expected, a memory-erasing spell had wiped their recollections, rendering them unable to testify.
Idnia gave a rough account of what had happened to the captain.
Of course, she did not reveal that Fanelly had been investigating the secrets of the academy or that she had formed a cooperative relationship with him. She spoke only as a victim of a sudden roadside robbery.
Then the captain asked,
“By any chance, do you think these individuals were not mere bandits, but were targeting something you possessed, or perhaps targeting you yourself?”
“I am not certain about that.”
“Even after such an incident, you appear to have gone outside the village again. May I ask why you went beyond the village? A typical robbery victim would likely be too afraid to leave the safety of the village.”
“……”
Hearing the guard’s question, which seemed to imply suspicion toward her, Idnia hesitated for a moment.
The Black Wolf interjected instead.
“Honestly, this is ridiculous.
We were robbed right in the middle of the village, weren’t we?
You only feel safe staying inside a place that’s actually secure!
Isn’t this happening because you people are doing such a poor job maintaining public safety?!”
“Ah.”
“And on top of that, because of your outrageous prices, I’m living in a tent on the outskirts of the village. Honestly. You raise rent so high, yet the village security is this bad.
It gets dark when it rains, and you skip patrols because it’s not your shift—that’s exactly why something like this happens.”
“Haha. My apologies. However, rent increases are not related to the town guard.
With many visitors coming from outside, landlords have been raising lodging fees, and even when we ask them to restrain themselves, there’s little we can do.
We are also doing our best with limited personnel.
Given the large number of visitors, we are trying in our own way to maintain public order, but it has not been easy.
As you know, although those who have come from various regions are nominally servants, they are all formidable individuals.
Since such people continue going outside the village and scouting the surroundings, we felt compelled to raise our concerns.”
“Scouting the surroundings?”
Idnia asked in surprise.
“Yes. The area where Dunaise Academy was established… it seems that many believe this region contains the ruins of an ancient civilization, and they are attempting to locate the entrance to those ruins.
So… yes, the village itself is dangerous, but the outside is also dangerous.
Ah, of course… perhaps the lady is also interested in the ancient ruins?”
The guard subtly posed a pointed question.
The servants from the Principality of Mazdari and those from the Principality of Ansbach were not ordinary retainers of nobles.
They were all desperately searching for the power of an ancient civilization—the very power that had established Dunaise Academy.
And Scarlet Pimpernel was no different…
In such a situation, it was unrealistic to expect a mere village guard to maintain proper security.
“I understand. I see that the situation is difficult. Fortunately, I was only taking a light stroll.”
“In that case, that is a relief. Please still be careful. While the security inside the village cannot be called good… it is still better than outside.”
After asking a few more formal questions, the guard released Idnia.
“I understand. Thank you for your cooperation. Then. I apologize for taking your time.”
The town guards all saluted Idnia in unison and withdrew.
Before her leave from the village ended, Idnia stopped by a general store to purchase the items she had missed the previous day, then headed to a restaurant.
After ordering her meal and finishing even dessert cleanly, she sat for a moment to rest when a man approached the table opposite her.
He was a bearded middle-aged man with a muscular build and a stern expression.
“Lady Idnia Kache Betelgeuse. You are a candidate for sainthood, correct?”
“Yes.”
“May I join you for a moment? I am a retainer of Lorenzo Medici, son of the Mazdari Duke. And…”
He carefully revealed a badge hidden in his palm.
It was a badge bearing the symbol of the Trinity Order, the Papal See—a double cross emblem.
“You are from the Papal See?”
“Yes, that is correct. Did Bishop Betelgeuse not inform you? About the duties of a saint candidate.”
“Hmm. I’m afraid I don’t know much about it. What exactly are you referring to?”
Idnia asked as if she did not know.
‘In truth, Bishop Betelgeuse didn’t really say anything.’
Then the Papal envoy explained.
“According to a revelation received by the Papal See, the demon lord that will appear this time is said to be the end-bringer of the world.
A being stronger than any demon lord in history, one who will end the era of humanity and usher in the era of demons.
In order to prevent the catastrophe he will bring, the Papal See… is attempting to uncover the secrets of Dunaise Academy.”
Scarlet Pimpernel, the Papal See, and even the Emperor of the Empire all shared the same thought.
Within Dunaise Academy lay a source of immense power, a force capable of conquering and transforming the world, and whoever obtained it would rule the world.
Scarlet Pimpernel sought transformation, the Papal See sought to protect humanity from demons, and the Empire sought to maintain its rule. All of them coveted the hidden power of the academy.
“Ah, you mean the secret that could even allow a human to ascend to godhood?”
Idnia asked in response, and the Papal envoy was taken aback.
“That is a highly blasphemous statement. The Trinity Order does not recognize the idea that humans can ascend to become gods. In earlier times, such words alone could have led to a witch hunt.”
“A witch hunt?”
Idnia asked in surprise.
In the past, when the Papal See’s authority was at its peak, those who committed blasphemous acts were often branded as demon collaborators or witches and burned at the stake.
However, those who suffered such fates were powerless individuals without backing, not someone like Idnia, a lady of an elector family. Not to mention, as the sole daughter with inheritance rights, accusing her of witchcraft would have been impossible even at the height of papal power.
Moreover, the Papal See’s influence was no longer what it once had been.
Although the Pope still held the authority to participate in the election of the Emperor of the Holy Eldar Empire, the current Emperor Franz had already appointed Rudolf as Crown Prince with the consent of the electors other than the Pope, so there was no need to heed the Pope’s opinion.
Furthermore, a cardinal appointed by the Pope had suddenly died two months after taking office, and all the pro-papal bishops refused the position, resulting in a pro-imperial bishop loyal to the Emperor becoming the cardinal instead.
With such suspicious events occurring one after another, the Pope’s influence within the Holy Eldar Empire had further declined.
In such a situation, a mere Papal envoy had no standing to question Idnia, the heir of an imperial elector family.
“Cough… my apologies. That was a foolish remark.”
The Papal envoy realized his grave mistake in mentioning witch hunts before a ducal lady and quickly apologized to Idnia.
“However, it is impossible for a mortal human to ascend to godhood. Still… whether the secret hidden within the academy is a legendary form of magic, a massive magical artifact, or a device capable of opening a multi-dimensional gate, it will undoubtedly be of great help in stopping the demon lord of destruction.”
“So that’s why you are here. But… coming here as a retainer of the Mazdari prince… does that mean the Duke of Mazdari holds a particularly strong devotion to the Pope? Is that a fair assumption?”
Idnia carefully rephrased her words, essentially asking whether the Principality of Mazdari had aligned itself with the Papal See rather than Emperor Franz.
“The Duke of Mazdari is a devout believer, just as Duke Betelgeuse is. Our Pope holds Duke Betelgeuse’s virtuous achievements in defeating the previous demon lord in very high regard.”
The Papal envoy’s answer was effectively affirmative.
The Principality of Mazdari was aligned with the Papal See, opposing the current Emperor.
Moreover, the envoy seemed to already assume that Duke Betelgeuse had effectively become the Pope’s man.
‘It seems Bishop Betelgeuse has been exaggerating quite a bit in between.
Well, the Papal See has invested substantial resources into rebuilding the Betelgeuse Principality and caring for refugees, so from their perspective, it probably already feels like their own territory.’
Idnia had wondered just how desperate the Papal See must be for a saint candidate to provide such extraordinary support to the Betelgeuse Principality. It now appeared that Bishop Betelgeuse had been embellishing things quite a bit in the process.
‘Duke Betelgeuse has already expressed dissatisfaction with the Emperor, broken off his engagement, and retreated to his lands!
Trust me. They are already on our side!
Even if we continue to support them generously and help them grow stronger, they will never betray our favor.’
It was easy to imagine that such words had been spoken.
“Which brings me to this, Lady Idnia Kache Betelgeuse. As a saint candidate, please investigate the academy from within.
The administrators of the academy are entirely consumed by its secrets and refuse to disclose them, no matter how much we appeal to their sense of the greater good.”
It seemed the Papal See regarded saint candidates as a kind of internal spy for investigating the academy.
Considering the funding Idnia received as a saint candidate and the investments made by the Papal See into the Betelgeuse Principality, it was natural for them to assume she was already under their influence.
“But I am merely a student. What would you have me do?”
“The five professors known as the Five Prisoners of the Empire. They are the core of the secret. Win their favor and, if possible, observe them. Share whatever information you uncover. And if possible… achieve excellent grades and become a teaching assistant.”
“…Pardon?”
Idnia widened her eyes at the suggestion that she become a teaching assistant.
“You want me to become an academy teaching assistant?”
“Yes. We do not expect ordinary graduates to reveal the secrets, but if you become a teaching assistant, they are likely to share the academy’s secrets with you.”
“But…”
“Should you wish to learn even more powerful magic, you will surely be able to become a teaching assistant.
Given that you were able to secure leave from the village at this stage, Lady, you must have already earned their favor.”
The Papal envoy seemed unaware of how the academy actually functioned, treating teaching assistants as something akin to apprentices of great mages.
‘That’s not entirely wrong, but it’s basically the same as telling me to become a graduate student… Still, even if I explain it, he wouldn’t understand.’
Idnia anticipated that explaining it would be difficult, so she decided not to argue further about the matter of becoming a teaching assistant.
“Understood. Putting aside whether it is feasible or not… may I ask whether you intend to make the same request of the other saint candidate as well?”
“Yes, of course. If both of you unite your efforts to demonstrate your faith, it is possible that both of you may be recognized as saints.”
“Ah…”
Idnia herself had little interest in whether she became a saint or not, but it seemed this Papal envoy believed she was desperate to be recognized as one.
To the point that she would even volunteer for a teaching assistant position to achieve it.
“Very well. Then I assume I may share this situation with her?”
“We would be grateful if you did.”
“Understood. In that case, may I request financial support from the principality?”
“Pardon…?”
The Papal envoy doubted his ears.
What had this ducal lady and saint candidate just said? Was she asking him to give her money?