Archbishop Sernos 3
Late afternoon. In the vast, empty cathedral, Sernos looked down at him. The man, smiling benignly with the statue of Goddess Isteria at his back, instinctively repulsed Licht.
Has he already figured it out?
Archbishop Sernos maintained close ties with Jeron Alder, the first son and heir to the Alder Duchy. It was hard to believe there was no reason for him to suddenly appear at this hour and clear out the people.
Above all.
He's faster than I expected.
Millein Alder, the second son whose assassination he'd ordered, had returned alive. Which meant everyone involved in the job was dead. Even a top-tier Sword Expert knight had fallen, so the first son must be seeing red by now. He'd have scoured every corner to find where things went wrong.
I figured it was only a matter of time.
But the speed was beyond expectations. Or was this just a probe?
Licht silently moved his hand to the hilt of the Ascension Sword, ready to draw at any moment. Just in case the man tried anything.
"This is our first time meeting like this, isn't it? I never imagined you'd come all the way here on foot."
Sernos spoke again. He took slow steps forward, hands clasped behind his back. His short, snow-white hair gleamed. The rosary around his neck swayed faintly, and crimson sunset light poured over his violet priestly robes.
A holy relic.
Licht recognized it instantly. Dense holy power emanated faintly from the small cross at his neck. The aura of constant prayer marked him as no ordinary man. An archbishop of the Palenia Holy Kingdom—that title carried immense weight.
The ranks of Isteria Church clergy divided into seven steps: deacon, priest, high priest, bishop, archbishop, cardinal, and pope. Even a diocesan bishop managing a single parish was treated as an honored guest anywhere. An archbishop overseeing the vast Alder Diocese wielded significant influence even in the Papal Court.
In truth, the Alder Duchy held great importance to Palenia. Sernos's authority was naturally formidable.
But not on the level of the Executors.
The pope's thirteen blades. The Executors who carried out his will were in a league of their own. Even the lowest ranked among them rivaled top-tier Sword Experts. They held no formal rank—the title of Executor itself held power. Not even the nine cardinals could interfere with them lightly. A single Executor was said to surpass most Swordmasters, not just in might but in prestige and influence rivaling cardinals.
If that confidence stems from the Executors...
Licht gripped the Ascension Sword lightly. The cold hilt felt strangely warm, as if understanding its master's heart.
Thud.
Sernos halted within arm's reach of Licht, smile unwavering despite his stance.
"I don't know the reason, but there's no need to be on guard like that. Whatever the circumstances, once you're in Bailen Cathedral, we're all faithful of Goddess Isteria, aren't we?"
"Don't talk nonsense."
"Haha, you must be weary from the long journey. I understand—you only passed through Bailen's gates yesterday."
"I don't recall blabbing about it anywhere."
"I have many 'eyes' around. If that's displeasing, my apologies."
Empty words. Sernos smiled and bowed his head slightly. Licht stared back with impassive eyes.
"So, what brings the head of the Alder Diocese here?"
"Ah, you misunderstand. I have no ulterior motives. I just thought we might chat."
"Chat?"
"Yes. And... one of my cherished high priests recently returned to Isteria's embrace. Do you happen to know anything?"
Sernos smiled slyly. A high priest of Palenia—a monsignor. The very one Licht had killed not long ago. Whether he truly cherished him was doubtful, but Licht replied without flinching.
"No idea."
"Is that so? The knights traveling with him have also vanished mysteriously."
"Must've been incompetent."
"Impossible. There were two Sword Expert knights, one at the pinnacle of that realm. Sir Werner Alder..."
"Never heard of him."
"Do you still plan to stick by that pathetic second son's side?"
Licht, gazing at the stained glass on the cathedral wall, turned his head. The tone and expression had shifted completely—utterly different from before. As if shedding a layer of mask. Licht let out a hollow chuckle.
"I wondered how long you'd keep up that ridiculous act."
"You seem to prefer straightforward talk. Don't you?"
"Is that all you have to say?"
"The eldest son is furious."
Thud, thud.
"Killing the second son and cleaning up would have made everything perfect. But an unexpected mishap..."
Sernos clicked his tongue softly. Licht shot back.
"Isn't the Alder Duke bedridden from illness because of that precious first son of yours?"
"Haha, that's quite the leap. I won't deny we didn't wish for it, but the eldest son wouldn't commit such filial impiety with his own hands."
"Coincidence?"
"Exactly. Perfect timing."
"But the plan went awry, so he's pissed."
"Let me be direct."
His footsteps stopped. Having passed Licht, Sernos turned and spoke.
"Why not join us?"
"......"
"Sir Werner, whose life you took... was the eldest son's most favored knight. Loyal, esteemed—flawless in every way."
"So?"
Licht glared, as if daring him to continue. Sernos nodded slightly and pressed on.
"Losing such a devoted knight must have grieved the eldest son deeply. They'd been together over a decade, like brothers."
But.
"Doesn't that mean there's a wildcard who could turn the tables? No point dwelling on the past—better to look to the future. The eldest son has decided to show mercy. By taking in the culprit who slew his knight himself."
Sernos donned his benevolent smile again, exactly as at first.
"The assassination order was just insurance against the unforeseen. In truth, the succession race is already over. Better to pledge yourself to the promising eldest son than cling to the hopeless second one, no?"
"......"
"And for that... he'll overlook this incident. No blame, no grudge."
"That's your pitch?"
"Yes. Changed your mind at all?"
His words suggested openness, but his expression screamed certainty of acceptance. Licht glanced down, fiddling with the Ascension Sword's hilt.
Right here, right now.
Kill him? Drawing and severing his neck would take less than a second against a non-swordsman. Giving Licht this distance was already a blunder. Killing an archbishop so deeply tied to the first son here would be ideal.
No, not yet.
Licht shook his head inwardly. He could kill if he wanted. But no guarantee of a one-shot kill.
He must have a hidden card.
The visible relic was just the rosary, but that couldn't be all. A Palenian archbishop climbed that high on reputation, connections, and personal power. Failing to kill instantly would complicate things. Especially since he hadn't located the mages yet. No reason to start trouble if the man wasn't attacking first.
If he had to kill.
Make it all at once.
Not the time. Too early for chaos in the city center. Licht walked silently toward the cathedral entrance, crossing the nave between opulence and austerity.
As he passed Sernos.
"Is there a separate altar near Bailen Cathedral? Say, for rituals offering sacrifices."
Sernos froze. He turned his head stiffly, face now utterly inorganic—unlike before.
"Revival rituals require masses of sacrifices, as I recall."
"...I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Not likely they're just holding the mages, so maybe a test run? Or not?"
"......"
Bullseye.
Silence was answer enough. Licht said no more, striding steadily. At the entrance.
"What a pity..."
Sernos murmured. Glancing back, he stood in the nave's center, back to Licht, gazing at the goddess statue.
"I thought we'd get along well as fellow Isterians..."
"......"
"Truly a shame. That we'll have to see blood."
With that, Sernos stood motionless for a while. Licht glanced at the Ascension Sword at his waist and turned away.
***
"Another bust. This is getting more troublesome than I thought."
Days passed. Late evening. Licht sat in the tavern on the first floor of a high-end inn in Bailen. Inns in bustling cities like this often doubled as lodgings and eateries.
Jack, across from him, slammed back a mug of ale and grumbled.
"Who knew info brokers had mouths this tight? They'd light up at gold, but freeze up at the real question. Hit up all the big guilds and brokers—our faces are probably known now. Damn it."
No leads. Contrary to Licht's expectation of immediate action, Sernos had done nothing. Searching with Jack and Ranin for the missing mages yielded zilch.
Just watching for now? Or plotting something?
They'd sold the three horses and some gems, amassing over ten thousand gold. Handing it out like candy to Jack and Ranin, yet nothing.
Do they really not know, or are they playing dumb?
Likely the latter. With the first son's succession all but sealed, no one wanted to risk his wrath for pocket change. Life trumped gold.
If this drags on with no progress...
Licht was considering force when.
"Hey, Ranin! You made it? Dinner's already ordered—hurry up."
The inn door opened. A lean man with a seasoned look entered—veteran guide and ranger Ranin. He scanned the first floor, then hurried to their table.
"Another dud today?"
"......"
"Yeah, wasn't expecting much. Let's eat first. Tomorrow we'll—"
"I found a lead."
Jack paused mid-pat on Ranin's back.
Thwack!
Licht silently stabbed his knife into the table. The surrounding noise fragmented and died instantly.
"Tell me everything. A lead?"
"Yes. Went to one last info broker today, grasping at straws."
Ranin grimaced, lips twitching. Jack shoved aside his empty mug and poured fresh ale.
"That Sven guy or whatever?"
"Right. Pretty famous in these circles. Money talks, anything goes."
"We've got gold rotting away. No shortage there."
"......"
"So? Spit it out already—"
"Sir Licht."
Ranin cut Jack off. Staring at the food on the table, he looked up.
"The missing mages... they might all be dead already."
His eyes dead serious. Silence hung over the table.