Chapter 18
Chapter 18
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Incompetent Minister Wants to Retire
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘I have never witnessed the Minister looking so profoundly disappointed before...’
At the pathetic and lackluster display of his subordinates, who had finally forced him to explain matters himself, the Minister had let out a heavy sigh for the first time in memory.
Celine believed that the sheer terror she felt in that fleeting moment was something she would never forget for the rest of her life, even as she quickly moved her pen across the parchment.
Her task was to issue the formal ‘directive’ summoning the heads of intelligence departments from every country in the world, strictly as per the Minister’s orders.
‘Those spineless cowards would never dare come to the Empire, so he must have stated he would go to them in person.’
She found she could not stop her thoughts from racing.
She felt compelled to keep expanding her tactical thoughts endlessly into the future.
She might not be of any significant help to him, but at the very least, she was determined not to get in his way.
‘For his personal escort, we will naturally dispatch all the former members of Owl, and though I personally dislike it, I should contact the Knight Order as well.’
In particular, Francesca Chirner, the Captain of the 3rd Knight Order, viewed the Minister as her benefactor, so the moment the opportunity was mentioned, she would surely jump at the chance to accompany him.
Even if she were not involved, the Emperor would never allow the Minister to travel into foreign lands alone.
Celine compiled and organized various logistical elements like the specific date, the venue, the exact time, and more. A few days later, with a somewhat haggard and weary face, she submitted the comprehensive plan for the ‘World Intelligence Ministers’ Conference’ to the Minister.
A World Intelligence Ministers’ Conference?
“Yes. Please prepare to head to the Fraus Holy Kingdom by this specified date.”
Celine suddenly informing me of a new schedule was not exactly a new occurrence, but... even so, wasn't this particular announcement way too out of the blue!?
On top of that, the Fraus Holy Kingdom—if I truly wanted to arrive by that designated date, I would have to leave as early as tomorrow?
For starters, what in the world even was this so-called World Intelligence Ministers’ Conference!?
I was a Minister myself, so how come I was the only person who did not know about it being held until now!?
Am I being deliberately ostracized by my own department!?
More than that, this schedule was insanely and cruelly tight—I wanted to complain loudly about it, but I simply did not have the courage to say a word to Celine, who was staring at me with bloodshot eyes wide open.
All I could do, as I always did, was nod my head nonchalantly.
“Got it.”
The moment I arrived home that day, I hurriedly and frantically packed my bags for the journey. Oh no, I completely forgot to ask her how many snacks I would be allowed to bring along.
The next morning, when I arrived early at my workplace, I saw Francesca leading her Knight Order right in front of the Intelligence Department building.
“Francesca.”
Why on earth are you and your knights here?
“Yeah, Erwin. Do not worry. We will ensure you get to the Fraus Holy Kingdom safely.”
Huh?
The entire 3rd Knight Order is coming along with me?
Why is such a large force necessary?
Before I could even voice the question, Celine led a group of subordinates out of the Intelligence Department building in a formal group.
What exactly is going on here?
“Please take great care on your long journey, Minister.”
As Celine bowed her head low while saying that, the others behind her bowed in perfect unison toward me.
...Am I going off to my death or something? Did everyone in the world know about this except for me again?
“Minister.”
Turning at the sound of a familiar voice, I saw the guys in their distinctive owl masks gathered around me before I even knew it.
Whoa, you truly scared me with that sudden appearance.
“Christina.”
“Yeah. I am all better now, so I will be the one to escort the Minister.”
The girl who was just recently stabbed through the stomach is already fully recovered?
As I suspected, that is not a human-level rate of recovery.
“Do not push yourself too hard.”
I muttered those words casually and fled the burdensome, heavy gazes from the Intelligence Department and Knight Order by boarding the carriage.
Nothing of much consequence happened on the long road to the Fraus Holy Kingdom.
The real trouble only started after we finally arrived.
Precisely, it began at the guarded entrance to the Holy Kingdom’s capital city.
“Welcome to the Holy Kingdom, Minister Barrmut. I am Johanna Faust, ordered by His Holiness the Holy King to escort you personally.”
Officially, the Holy Kingdom possesses no formal intelligence department.
However, that fact does not mean they lack a sophisticated intelligence organization.
There is a secretive, shadow group operating under the name ‘Collectors,’ and its leader is this woman, Johanna Faust, standing before me.
Or she goes by another, more revered name—
“The Saintess.”
“To be called that by the esteemed Minister Barrmut himself... it is quite embarrassing for me.”
Johanna Faust, the Saintess, covered her mouth and smiled softly at me, but upon seeing the Knight Order gathered behind me, she spoke with a troubled expression.
“I am truly sorry, but we cannot allow a foreign Knight Order into the capital, no matter the circumstances. Could you please ask them to wait outside until the conference concludes?”
“What did you say...!”
Francesca became angry right away, but honestly, I thought the request made perfect sense.
No one would feel comfortable about a host of fully armed foreign knights barging into their private bedroom.
“Wait here quietly, Francesca.”
“...If Erwin says so, then fine. But you called yourself a Saintess? Remember this well. If I sense anything even slightly off, we will storm right in.”
That would surely start a full-scale war immediately.
“Hehe, that is quite scary. But there is no need for worry. The safety of Minister Barrmut and all the other ministers is guaranteed upon the sacred name of the Fraus Holy Kingdom.”
See? The Saintess herself is guaranteeing our safety on the name of the Holy Kingdom.
There should be no problems at all.
“...Be extremely careful, Erwin.”
“Yeah.”
Leaving the Knight Order behind me, I followed the Saintess and her group alone into the heart of the Holy Kingdom’s capital.
As I walked, a fundamental question popped into my head—why am I even here at all?—but it quickly faded as I took in the Holy Kingdom’s exotic and beautiful sights.
“I hate to bring this matter up before you have even rested from your long journey, but would it be alright if you first paid an audience to His Holiness the Holy King?”
“Of course I will.”
Come to think of it, a certain thought occurred to me regarding the Holy King.
“Is the Holy King’s health doing alright lately?”
‘That is strictly classified information, for now.’
Johanna was momentarily flustered by Minister Barrmut casually and bluntly blurting out information more sensitive than anything else to them, as if he were aiming for a vital spot. But she was, after all, a Saintess.
She nodded her head without showing even a trace of agitation.
“Yes, our Holy King is quite robust and healthy.”
“That is a great relief.”
A relief. Just what exactly about that was a relief to him?
“I heard that Red Flower Disease is incurable. Yet he is doing fine... it truly is a relief.”
“......”
Thinking This guy is absolutely for real, the Saintess did not let her practiced smile slip.
“Yes, indeed it is a relief. The kingdom can only remain stable with our Holy King in such good health.”
To hide her lips and eyes which were trembling with a surge of rage, Johanna stared straight ahead as she walked, grinding her teeth in secret.
Red Flower Disease. It was named for the crimson, flower-like spots that appear all over the skin of the afflicted.
It brings about a severe fever causing intense delirium, but the scariest part of the illness was not that.
The most terrifying aspect was the fact that the areas with those flower-like spots eventually rotted away while the victim lived.
‘To mock us so cruelly while knowing our secret full well... as expected of the man they call Iron Blood.’
She knew she could not afford to let her guard down for a second.
The opponent before her was a monster wearing a human skin. The human appearance was nothing more than a facade.
Eventually, the Saintess led Minister Barrmut to the Holy King’s palace and arranged his formal audience with the waiting Holy King.
“Welcome, Minister Barrmut.”
Minister Barrmut flawlessly and elegantly performed the courtesies toward Holy King Havier Fraus, who was barely maintaining an outwardly healthy appearance through all sorts of drugs and potent holy magic enveloping his body. It was a performance impressive enough to draw genuine admiration.
Someone unaware of the truth might praise it as a display befitting a high noble, but those who knew the reality could only feel cold terror.
He was a non-human entity mimicking humanity all too naturally.
“May the Sun God’s blessings be with you, who stepped forward first for the sake of world peace.”
“Thank you for those words which are far beyond my station. I will do my utmost not to disappoint Your Holiness.”
Just how much was he sneering inwardly while saying those empty words?
Johanna realized she had clenched her fist so hard that it drew blood and she quickly forced her hand to relax.
‘I cannot do this. In a fight against a monster, the one who shows their true emotion first is the one who loses.’
After calming her boiling heart with a small, deep breath, she approached Minister Barrmut as soon as the audience concluded.
“If it is alright with you, may I show you around the sights of the capital?”
It was a sneer disguised as a question, asking if a desk-bound wretch like him even had the stamina for such a walk, but Minister Barrmut responded gladly as if it were nothing.
“I was hoping to see a few things anyway. I am grateful for the offer.”
“Are there specific things you want to see...?”
“I have always wanted to see the Fraus Cathedral with my own eyes.”
Johanna’s face stiffened once again at Minister Barrmut’s blunt words.
Fraus Cathedral. It was the Collectors’ primary outpost and their secret headquarters.
Strictly speaking, the exact location of the base was underground, but even so, his request was no different from asking to be shown around a foreign intelligence department.
‘If I refuse him here, he will simply ask why he, as the only guest, cannot see the publicly open cathedral. Fine. He will not be able to go underground anyway.’
He had come without his dangerous escorts as well.
Thinking he could not possibly do anything else under their constant watch, Johanna agreed and guided him toward the cathedral.
“Wanting to see the cathedral... does Minister Barrmut have much interest in the Mythic Age, by any chance?”
“Not none at all. There are many intriguing stories related to that era.”
An era far before the ancient times of 1,000 years ago, back when gods truly lived and breathed among men.
That was the Mythic Age.
Upon arriving at the cathedral, Johanna led Minister Barrmut toward the innermost, sacred part.
“As you know, the Sun God Fraus is the absolute deity who slew the wicked Moon Goddess and saved the world from eternal darkness. Thanks to his divine intervention, humanity’s era barely dawned.”
Before that time, humans were merely slaves and playthings of the various gods, it is said.
“But the threat of the wicked Moon Goddess lingers in this world still. Just before her final defeat by the Sun God, she ordered her brother, the demon Laplace, to hide seven ‘Stars’ throughout the world.”
[He who obtains one Star shall bring humanity to ruin. He who obtains all seven Stars shall bring the entire world to ruin.]
It was a famous line from a fairy tale known across the entire continent, the Moon Goddess’s final curse.
“Thanks to the Sun God’s protection, no Stars have appeared, but our doctrine is that we must always remain vigilant against them and live in gratitude for the divine protection... Minister Barrmut? Are you listening to me?”
Having continued her explanation with confidence, Johanna frowned at the lack of response and turned around, only to be startled by what she saw.
Minister Barrmut was gazing up at the Sun God’s towering statue.
He had a deeply contorted face.
And his eyes were full of pure hatred.
Ah, so incredibly dazzling.
But the statue itself is quite cool.