An Invitation to the Holy Kingdom
The next day, Evan summoned the two priests from the Holy Kingdom and handed them the saintess doll infused with the curse.
“One curse lifted, as promised.”
The abrupt statement left them blinking at the doll in front of them.
“...You say it’s lifted?”
“More precisely, it would be accurate to say I transferred it. In any case, the curse of Alteration no longer remains in the saintess’s body.”
“How are we supposed to believe that? Who’s to say you didn’t pull some clever trick?”
Instead of answering, Evan pointed toward the window. Outside, Iris stood before a sunflower sprout, continuously pouring out her divinity in the form of blessings. The two priests knew better than anyone that simply releasing divine power could not shape itself into a true blessing bestowed upon an object.
“Need further proof?”
“...No. Thank you for your efforts.”
Rowena accepted the saintess doll without resistance. Evan issued a warning.
“If the doll breaks, the curse will be released. You’ll need to seal it inside a barrier along with the doll itself, or spend the time to lift the curse contained within it.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“It means don’t come bothering me later claiming the curse returned to the saintess because you failed to manage the doll properly.”
Rowena nodded readily while Alphonse did so with visible discomfort.
“Now then, let’s discuss my business. How long do you intend to remain uninvited guests in my home?”
“...That is...”
“I’d appreciate it if you returned to the Holy Kingdom soon and delivered my conditions.”
The two priests wore troubled expressions.
“Do you really think we can leave the saintess in your hands and simply return?”
Alphonse spoke through gritted teeth, but Evan ignored him completely.
“This is my mansion. As the owner, I have every right to expel uninvited guests.”
“Will you not consider our circumstances, King of Abaddon?”
“I already did. That’s why I gave you time to persuade the saintess. What exactly have you accomplished in nearly two weeks?”
The two priests fell silent, as though they had nothing to say. Of course, Evan already knew the truth. Even if I gave them fifteen years instead of two weeks, they could never persuade Iris. Her stubbornness was no ordinary thing. He had confirmed it himself just last night.
- Sorry. I can’t do that.
- But I won’t get in your way, Evan.
The saintess had spoken those words and refused his deal.
“Two options. At the very least, I want you out of my mansion.”
“......”
After a long silence, Rowena finally spoke.
“King of Abaddon, then how about this instead?”
Her expression showed she had come to a decision.
“I will invite you to the Holy Kingdom.”
“...Archbishop!?”
The one most shocked by the statement was none other than Alphonse.
“You would bring a man like him into the Holy Kingdom!”
“Alphonse. In that case, do you have another method to persuade the saintess?”
“That is...”
Unable to offer any alternative, Alphonse clenched his fist and lowered his head.
Evan was momentarily flustered by the unexpected proposal, but he slowly rested his chin on his hand and considered it.
“You’re inviting me to the Holy Kingdom?”
“That is correct.”
“And why should I trust you?”
“We did not trust Abaddon’s Devil either, yet we came here with our lives on the line. Are you saying you cannot do the same?”
So that’s the angle. Evan fell deep into thought. Refusing the proposal would mean he did not trust the Holy Kingdom. That would give them justification to distrust him in return and dispatch dozens of priests later, using the saintess’s safety as an excuse. While they might not be able to enter the mansion, a properly prepared force could certainly stage a prolonged standoff in Abaddon.
Yet accepting the proposal carried clear risks. Without the Black Sun, facing the Pope, the cardinals, and nearly dozens of archbishops all at once would mean death, even for him.
“You’ve thought this through quite cleverly, haven’t you?”
“If it is difficult, we can give you more time. We will send a letter to the Holy Kingdom along with the doll. Contact can be made without us having to go ourselves, can it not?”
“No.”
Having finished deliberating, Evan shook his head.
“That wouldn’t be so bad either. Fine. I’ll go once.”
“...Pardon?”
“Why the surprise? It was your own suggestion. As the King of Abaddon, I accept the Holy Kingdom’s invitation.”
Rowena looked utterly bewildered. She clearly had not expected him to actually agree. Evan, however, had not made the decision thoughtlessly just to spite them.
After all, if I’m going to obtain the holy relic, I would have needed to visit the Holy Kingdom at least once.
Even if they promised to hand over the relic and actually brought the stored item, there was always the risk of it being lost in an “accident” or replaced with something else by “mistake.” It was better to go personally this time, settle matters directly, and claim his reward.
“......Hmm.”
Rowena let out a heavy sigh.
“Are you truly serious?”
Watching her ask again, Evan wore a surprised expression. He had expected her gaze to hold only discomfort, confusion, or anxiety. Instead, he read an unexpected emotion within it.
...Worry.
Finding the emotion almost amusing, Evan answered with a voice laced equally with disgust and pity.
“Do you want to avoid responsibility by claiming you tried to stop me, but I chose this path anyway? Archbishop?”
Rowena flinched as though struck at her core, her face flushing red.
Evan clicked his tongue.
“You really can’t manage to become shameless, can you?”
She lacked the ability to completely abandon her conscience and deceive herself into believing the coming consequences weren’t her fault. Yet she also lacked the courage to step forward and take responsibility for those consequences herself.
“If you can’t do either, why not just quit? The role of clergyman doesn’t suit you.”
It was Alphonse, not Rowena, who reacted first to Evan’s words.
“Abaddon’s Devil! How dare you speak to the Archbishop in such—”
Furious, he stepped forward as if ready to hurl insults, but Rowena’s arm blocked his path.
“Stand down.”
“Archbishop! Will you truly tolerate such an insult?”
“Alphonse!”
Rowena scolded him in a stern tone, then pointed outside.
“Go wait out there.”
“Archbishop!”
“Now! Must I issue a formal order using my authority before you obey? If you truly respect me, then listen to what I say!”
Alphonse clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white, hung his head, and answered in a voice that seemed to splinter.
“...Understood, Archbishop.”
With eyes burning with rage and resentment, he shot Evan one last glare before leaving the room. The door slammed shut with a heavy thud, leaving only the two of them.
Rowena turned to Evan.
“Do you know what I fear?”
“Who knows? The massacre that will occur in the Holy Kingdom?”
At his casual reply, she glared at him sharply before continuing.
“It seems you haven’t considered the possibility that you might die there. King of Abaddon. Do you hold the Holy Kingdom in such low regard?”
“Hardly. Inside Abaddon it might be different, but if I face a full-powered assault at the heart of the Holy Kingdom, even I wouldn’t be able to escape alive.”
Evan did not overestimate his own abilities. He was not arrogant enough to forget that the majority of his power was bound to the Black Sun, leaving him significantly weakened beyond Abaddon’s borders.
“Yet you still intend to accept the invitation?”
“I will certainly die. But I’m confident I can take at least half the Holy Kingdom’s forces with me before that happens.”
“......”
“Afterward, the Holy Kingdom would lose any remaining method to lift the saintess’s curse. They would also suffer relentless attacks from uncontrolled undead. I simply don’t believe the Holy Kingdom is foolish enough to overlook that calculation.”
Rowena did not dismiss the future Evan described as mere exaggeration or bluff. Although she had not witnessed his full power directly, he had subdued and brought back the warrior of the Holy Spear—even if imperfectly—and an undead dragon waited outside the mansion. The fact that he had accomplished both without a single wound made denying his strength foolish.
But that was not her true concern.
“What I fear most... is not you.”
Even by Rowena’s own assessment, the chances of the Holy Kingdom overpowering Evan through force were extremely low. They might coax, appease, and drag matters out through endless annoyances, but the kingdom lacked the luxury to rush into all-out war.
However, that was merely the decision of the upper leadership.
“There are many radicals within the Holy Kingdom. On the surface they will pretend to agree, but there will certainly be those who tolerate the rampage of fanatical believers. They will try to use them—even by sacrificing them—to gain an advantage in negotiations with you.”
“And?”
Rowena’s voice trembled.
“I fear that you, having obtained justification, will kill the young priests in the Holy Kingdom. Priests who know nothing and have simply been incited. What terrifies me most is that I would be the one inviting an existence capable of causing their deaths.”
She slowly lowered her head.
“I know it is shameless of me to say this after proposing it myself. However... please show them mercy, King of Abaddon.”
“...I’ll need to correct what I said earlier. You’ve become shameless in a slightly different way, Archbishop.”
Evan closed his eyes for a moment as though pondering, then spoke.
“Fine. While I remain in the Holy Kingdom, I promise not to injure or kill a single priest.”
“...It seems you have a condition.”
“That’s right. There is someone I want you to find in secret.”
“In secret...? Who exactly?”
Instead of answering, Evan conjured a contract in the air. He quickly scrawled his name across it, then floated the document toward Rowena.
The King of Abaddon shall not harm, injure, or kill any priest of the Holy Kingdom during his stay.
In exchange, Archbishop Rowena shall secretly locate the designated individual and provide all necessary information without revealing the search.
Breach of either term shall result in severe magical backlash.
“Sign it, Archbishop. This is a binding contract spell.”
Frowning, she examined the document before nodding and adding her signature. The moment she did, information slammed into her mind. She staggered, letting out a small groan. It was the image of a woman who appeared to be in her thirties, hugging a young child and fleeing.
“Once you find this person... what do you intend to—”
“Archbishop.”
Rowena froze at the voice that had turned ice-cold.
“Is that important?”
“...My apologies.”
She hurriedly bowed her head, afraid the reason behind her question might be discovered. In the memory she had just received, the woman’s voice could not be heard. But the shape of her mouth was perfectly clear.
The woman’s lips moved with desperate clarity.
“Mom is sorry.”
“Evan.”