Chapter 267: Me...? (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 267: Me...? (3)
‘...Why is the Golden Moon acting like that?’
That was the first thought that crossed Hidan’s mind as he stared blankly at the scene.
It was only natural.
Hidan was currently near Rosario, far from the Colony. In other words, he shouldn't have run into the Golden Moon here at all.
And yet, there she was, right before his eyes.
And why—
“Go back, you wolf! I’ve told you over and over...!”
“No—way—!”
—was she locked in a confrontation with a total stranger, clutching him by the hair?
‘No, calling him just a "stranger" doesn't do him justice. That man is unusual too.’
Hidan observed the man’s appearance.
He had an aura similar to Seolrang’s. He didn't look very old. But above all, the murderous intent radiating from his entire body was equal to the Golden Moon’s. That alone was enough to realize he was no ordinary man.
‘Is Lady Golden Moon holding back? No—are they equals?’
There was no way Hidan could dare to measure the skill of those two. As he watched the overwhelming powerhouses, he returned to his fundamental question.
‘...Just why are they doing that?’
No matter how much he looked, he couldn't understand it. For a moment, he wondered if he should help the Golden Moon, but—
“....”
He soon decided to turn around quietly and slip away from the area. He knew all too well that adding his tiny, feeble strength wouldn't be of the slightest help.
Besides, look at the nature of the fight. Why were they grabbing each other's hair in such an undignified manner instead of using proper martial force? They looked like neighborhood children brawling.
Whatever the reason, getting involved would surely only complicate things. The choice was clear.
“....”
Guided by instinct, Hidan quietly distanced himself from the spot while the two powerhouses were still unaware of his presence.
* * *
Until the moment Alon entered the Room of the Holy Spirit, a certain thought lingered in Yuman’s mind.
To be more specific, it was a thought he would never normally have: ‘Could it be that Marquis Palatio isn't the Hidden Saint?’
Of course, Yuman had seen with his own eyes that Marquis Palatio—Alon—was a Saint like himself. He had even confirmed that Alon was a Hidden Saint, destined to walk a path of thorns even more grueling than his own.
Despite that, a small seed of doubt had sprouted because of what happened yesterday.
‘Saint-nim.’
‘I’m sorry, but I am not the Hidden Saint you speak of.’
‘It is exactly as I said. Saint-nim, I don’t know what you saw that led to this misunderstanding, but I am not the person you think I am.’
It was a denial without a hint of hesitation. Alon was fundamentally a man with a stoic expression, making it difficult to distinguish truth from lies regardless of what he said.
But his eyes. Those eyes were etched into Yuman’s memory. They were the sincere eyes of someone who truly had no idea what was being talked about. Yuman had momentarily wavered before those eyes of pure innocence.
Of course, even that could have been a high-level strategy employed by a brother walking the path of thorns to avoid breaking his covenant. A Hidden Saint, by definition, must deny being a Saint.
Still, a small flicker of doubt had taken root in Yuman’s heart. Perhaps it really was a misunderstanding. Furthermore, even if Alon were the true Hidden Saint, at this point where all communication with Lady Sironia had been severed, he wouldn't be much different from—
“...Ha.”
However, the moment Alon stepped into the Room of the Holy Spirit, all those worries became utterly vain.
The statue of the Goddess Sironia had begun to glow with an incredible radiance.
Standing before the shining statue, Marquis Palatio looked like a vision. Watching the scene, Yuman couldn't help but marvel. Despite walking his lonely path of thorns, he had never let it show, even under Yuman’s persistent questioning.
No, he had gone beyond merely hiding it; he had practically fooled Yuman—all to protect his covenant.
‘As expected... my brother is truly remarkable.’
Yuman’s misunderstanding was reinforced and solidified. Just as that bizarre faith born of delusion grew firmer, Alon himself was panicking behind his expressionless mask.
‘So suddenly?’
For a split second, he wondered if it had reacted to his Detection, but he quickly shook his head. If that were the case, it should have reacted the moment he used Detection last time.
As he racked his brain to grasp the situation, a voice he had heard years ago—the voice of the Goddess Sironia—reached him.
However, there was one thing that felt out of place.
‘Honorifics?’
Her way of speaking had changed. She had definitely spoken informally before, so the sudden shift to formal language was jarring. After a moment of bewilderment, Alon spoke up urgently.
“Great Goddess Sironia, I am Marquis Palatio of Asteria.”
[I... see.]
Her response was short and halting, as if she were uncomfortable. Alon was about to ask why, but she continued.
[Sara— No, Marquis Palatio... Please save my greatest servant. If you do, all these disasters will naturally be resolved... You should be able to do it.]
“...What does that—”
[Then, I shall leave it at this for now. We shall continue our conversation after you have saved my great servant.]
Goddess Sironia vanished after saying only what she wanted to say. Soon, the light from the statue faded away.
In the middle of the silent Room of the Holy Spirit, Alon stood frozen like a stone statue.
“...What was that?”
* * *
Immediately after, he tried using Detection one more time just in case.
“....”
The statue didn't budge. After staring at it for a moment, Alon walked out of the room.
“Brother.”
“Marquis-nim.”
The Cardinals immediately surrounded him. Alon relayed Goddess Sironia’s message exactly as he had heard it to the Cardinals, including Yuman.
“...Does that mean...”
“Could it be... His Holiness the Pope!?”
“Brother, did the Goddess truly say those words?”
“She did.”
As Alon confirmed it once more, the expressions of the Cardinals turned grave.
Then, one of the Cardinals bowed his head to Alon.
“Marquis Palatio—no, Brother, thank you so much. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have even realized that something had happened to His Holiness.”
He clenched his fists tightly, looking frustrated with himself.
“I am truly ashamed... To think I believed those ridiculous rumors about someone as devout as you.”
Following his lead, the other Cardinals standing nearby began to chime in.
“Indeed.”
“Cardinal Yutia’s decision was correct. I was like a frog in a well, knowing nothing... I lament my own ignorance. Please forgive me.”
The Cardinals began to offer their penance one after another. Alon was puzzled by the repeated mention of Yutia’s name, but—
“Brother. I am truly sorry, but since time is of the essence, we will offer our formal thanks later.”
“...Do not worry about me.”
He let the Cardinals hurry away. Faint traces of hope now lingered on their faces. Once the commotion died down, Yuman, who had remained behind, approached him.
“Brother.”
“Saint-nim.”
“I am truly ashamed of myself.”
He suddenly grabbed Alon’s hand.
“Excuse me...?”
“It’s just that after our talk yesterday, I fell into the delusion that perhaps I was mistaken. It was truly a foolish thing to do.”
Yuman laughed awkwardly.
“...Actually, it wasn't a delusion; you were right to think you were mistaken.”
Alon reflexively spoke the truth once more, but—
“Yes. I know, Brother.”
As if all his doubts had been cleared away, Yuman nodded vigorously. Seeing that exaggerated gesture that screamed ‘I understand everything now,’ Alon simply resigned himself inwardly.
He really didn't understand a single word.
“Then I shall take my leave as well, Brother. I will visit you again once this urgent matter is settled...!”
Soon, even Yuman disappeared into the distance.
“Congratulations, Teacher.”
Yutia, who hadn't moved with the other Cardinals, finally approached. She was smiling, her eyes curving enough to slightly hide her red pupils.
“...Is this something to be congratulated for?”
“Of course. You’ve won over the hearts of the Cardinals who were uncomfortable with you all at once.”
“That’s not wrong.”
Even though the situation was built on a misunderstanding, it was true that he had won them over. Alon nodded, then suddenly remembered the Cardinals' conversation from earlier.
“Yutia.”
“Yes, Teacher?”
“I heard it in passing earlier... something about Cardinal Yutia’s decision. Was there something involving me?”
At that moment—
“Cough!”
“?”
“Ah, my apologies. Something went down the wrong pipe for a moment—”
It wasn't Yutia who reacted to Alon’s question, but Sergius. He coughed as if uncomfortable and gave an awkward smile. Yutia stepped forward, shielding Sergius from view.
“No. It wasn't that big of a deal, Teacher.”
“...Really?”
“Yes. There was just a bit of a controversy regarding the rumors surrounding you when the news of your supposed death broke. I simply spoke briefly about that part.”
Alon could see Sergius’s shoulders shaking behind Yutia, but if Yutia said so, then that was that.
“I suppose it wasn't a major issue then.”
“Yes, it really was nothing, so don't worry too much. It died down quickly anyway.”
Her smile was warm and her voice calm. As Alon accepted her explanation, another question occurred to him.
“Ah, come to think of it, there’s one more thing I’m curious about.”
“What is it, Teacher?”
“It seems like all the Cardinals have changed. Did something happen in Rosario while I was gone?”
It was something that had been bothering him. Yutia slowly shook her head.
“No, nothing particularly serious happened. There was just an unfortunate incident.”
“An incident?”
Yutia raised her index finger to her cheek.
“Yes. The Cardinal Meeting Room suddenly collapsed.”
“...It collapsed?”
“Yes. Because of that, with the exception of myself—as I was away on a mission—all the other Cardinals unfortunately passed away.”
Yutia delivered the news in a tone one might use to say, ‘I went to the lake earlier and there were so many fish.’
Dumbfounded, Alon asked back.
“Is that... not a big deal?”
“It isn't. Goddess Sironia must have taken them because she needed them. All the Cardinals were very devout in their faith.”
“....”
Alon briefly recalled the Cardinals of Rosario from Psychedelia. They were all corrupt pigs who didn't have a shred of faith in them.
Alon shifted his gaze slightly to look at Sergius behind Yutia’s back.
“....”
Sergius was now staring intently at a distant mountain. He seemed determined not to look in this direction.
“Teacher?”
At Yutia’s clear voice, Alon met her red eyes once again.
‘...I don't think the Apostle of Revenge has appeared yet.’
For some reason, Alon felt a sense of unease.