Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Dungeon Depths (3)
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News spread quickly, and people arrived from Holy Knight Order headquarters right away.
Est Aleyas, the Heavenly Rank Knight and Director of the Pilgrimage Investigation Headquarters, came in person.
‘Est is the one in charge of dungeon explorations and relic excavations, after all.’
Est, the second daughter of Ianus Aleyas and my little aunt, was a nine-star Heavenly Rank Knight.
We had clashed several times back when I was Archbishop Hausel.
‘She was a very capable Holy Knight. Though her expressionless face made it impossible to read her thoughts.’
Just like at the last family gathering, Est entered the fortress with her usual blank face.
The surprising part was that she had brought her daughter Liz along. Apparently, Liz had started working as an apprentice knight in the Pilgrimage Investigation Headquarters.
“This must be the relic that was discovered.”
“Yes, Director.”
In Godwin’s office, Est closely examined the relic I had found.
It was a water bottle engraved with geometric patterns, embedded with five gems in the shape of a cross.
“It seems like a holy water generator that produces holy water…”
The Holy Spirit Church placed great importance on holy water, the sacred liquid.
However, the holy water used in baptisms and ordinary rituals was, strictly speaking, a counterfeit. It was just regular water treated with magic to mimic holy water.
True holy water was the liquid that naturally gathered in a holy water generator. These generators were said to have been made by ancient saints, filling with water on their own if left alone.
That water was said to contain immense divine power and to perform miracles.
“No doubt about it.”
Est spoke in a calm voice as she inspected the bottle.
“It’s a holy water generator. A Grade 1 holy relic.”
“Ah…!”
Holy relics referred to artifacts connected to people or events revered by the Holy Spirit Church.
They were ranked from Grade 1 to 3, and the Church would even go to war to claim a Grade 1 holy relic.
“Sion found this?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Hearing Godwin’s response, Est turned her gaze toward me in the corner.
“Sion.”
“Yes, Director.”
“You did well to find this. It was sunk in an underground lake, right?”
“Yes. While fighting a monster in the lake, I noticed something sparkling inside.”
“You’ve got sharp eyes. Excellent.”
Hearing praise from Est felt strangely off.
“But the dungeon depths are full of dangerous monsters. There could have been one lurking in the lake. What you did was reckless.”
“It wasn’t dangerous.”
“Hm?”
“There was already a large monster on the surface of the lake. Since I’d defeated it, I figured there was no chance of a stronger one hiding inside.”
“…”
Est stared silently at my face.
“I see. That was a reasonable judgment.”
With that, she said nothing more to me.
While Est discussed relic transportation with Godwin, I glanced at Liz, who was waiting quietly with me in the corner.
My cousin, four years my senior, stood obediently with the same expressionless face as her mother.
* * *
As I was about to head back to my lodging, Est called out to me.
“Sion, care to talk for a moment?”
“Me?”
“I’ve already spoken with Godwin.”
Est led me up to the fortress walls, with Liz following silently.
“As I said earlier, you’ve done a great deed.”
“Yes…”
In a spot with few people around, Est spoke to me in a steady voice.
Looking up, I saw that snow had begun to fall.
“Discovering a Grade 1 holy relic is a tremendous achievement for a Holy Knight. You deserve a reward and a promotion.”
“…”
“The problem is that you’re still just a candidate, so we can’t process it that way. Not even I have the authority.”
That was something I hadn’t realized.
Of course, handing out rewards to a candidate whose knighthood wasn’t even confirmed yet would be difficult.
“That’s why I’m thinking of rewarding you personally.”
“Personally?”
“Yes. Is there anything you want?”
“…”
Est seemed genuinely intent on giving me a gift.
Did this woman care for her nephew after all?
‘What could I possibly ask Est for in this situation?’
Back when I was Archbishop Hausel, maybe, but there wasn’t much I wanted from her now.
‘I can’t just ask for pocket money…’
After a moment’s thought, I spoke up.
“In that case, I have one request.”
“Tell me. If it’s within my power, I’ll grant anything.”
“Could I borrow that sword for a bit?”
“Hm?”
I raised a finger, pointing to the sword at Est’s waist.
“I’d like to swing your holy manifest sword once, Director.”
“Roangite?”
Holy manifest swords were the sacred blades held by the Holy Knight Order.
There were five in total, currently divided among Ianus and his children.
“Sion, holy manifest swords aren’t meant to be lent out.”
“I see.”
“But… you’re from the main Aleyas house, so it should be fine.”
Est handed me Roangite, still in its scabbard.
I carefully drew it, captivated by the iridescent light emanating from the blade.
‘This is… a holy manifest sword.’
I could tell just by holding it.
This blade contained tremendous divine power.
‘Igzard, no issues?’
[As long as you don’t infuse it with my sword aura, it won’t react to me, so don’t worry.]
I wondered what would happen if I infused it with Igzard’s wicked sword aura.
Tempting, but I couldn’t test it here.
“May I swing it for a moment?”
“Yes, a short time is fine.”
With Est’s permission, I slowly assumed a stance.
It was an adult longsword, too big for a ten-year-old like me.
But I adjusted the balance and found the right form.
‘A fine sword.’
If I’d had something like this, Archbishop Gateus wouldn’t have killed me even with Igzard.
As that thought crossed my mind, a snowflake drifted down onto the blade’s tip.
Before it could melt, I began swinging.
Each swing distorted the air, scattering snow.
“…”
Est silently watched me dance with the sword amid the falling snow.
After about five minutes, I returned the sword, and Est slowly spoke.
“Your swordsmanship… it reminds me of someone I knew.”
“…”
I froze.
I hadn’t even used my Archbishop Hausel techniques, so what had she sensed?
“It was a day like this back then… snowing.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Est shook her head and fell silent.
She sheathed Roangite at her waist once more.
“Sion, when does the enlistment exam end?”
“Early next year.”
“When you become a full knight, any preference for assignment?”
“Well…”
“How about joining the Pilgrimage Investigation Headquarters?”
That was unexpected.
Liz, who had been watching silently, seemed startled too.
“Liz is working there now. She’s still an apprentice, but she’ll be promoted to Grade 2 knight soon.”
“Director.”
“If you join, I can pull some strings for you. What do you say?”
Est seemed sincere about making me her subordinate.
But I shook my head.
“I’m sorry, but I want to lead an independent knight brigade.”
“Why? For big things in the Order, working at central HQ is better.”
“There are still many people on this continent unprotected by the Holy Knights. I want to lead an independent brigade, travel the regions, and help them.”
“…”
Est stared at my face for a while, then slowly nodded.
“I understand. If that’s your will, so be it.”
“Thank you, Director.”
“But if you change your mind, let me know. I’ll make it easy for you.”
“Yes, got it.”
“Our investigation unit travels the regions too, so we’ll see each other now and then.”
“I thought you usually stayed at HQ, Director…”
At that, Est gave a small smile.
“I could make a special trip to see my nephew.”
“…”
“Finish the enlistment exam well. I’m looking forward to it.”
With a gentleness I’d never seen from her as Archbishop Hausel, Est left the walls with her daughter.
* * *
“Est met with Sion?”
“Yes, Father.”
Sena Aleyas bowed politely before her father, Serxes Aleyas.
“And it seems she’s trying to recruit him into the Pilgrimage Investigation Headquarters.”
“You’re sure?”
“I heard she asked her subordinates about openings after returning.”
“If Est did that… she’s seriously considering making Sion her subordinate.”
Serxes muttered, pressing his temple with a fingertip.
“She’s playing it smart. Est making the first move.”
“First move?”
“I was thinking something similar.”
“What?”
As Sena looked puzzled, Serxes raised one finger.
“What’s your great-aunt Helena up to?”
“Great-aunt?”
“Helena wants to crush Sion to stunt his growth. That’s why she sent Cain and Robel.”
“But it doesn’t seem to be working…”
“Yes, that’s foolish. In my view, Cain and Robel are no match for Sion.”
Serxes gave his nephews a harsh assessment.
Cain and Robel were certainly talented, but ordinary compared to Sion.
“I’m not approaching it that way. I plan to place Sion under you in the future.”
“Under me?”
“Not compete with him, just bring him over.”
“Ah…!”
Sena finally understood her father’s strategy.
“If we even get Sion’s father Kurt on our side, we’ll have a huge advantage in the next Knight Order Leader race.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Kurt has no real ambition for the position anyway. If I persuade him well, he’ll step back early and support us fully.”
Eldest son Serxes.
Eldest daughter Helena.
Second daughter Est.
Third son Kurt.
To win the succession battle among the four siblings, Serxes planned to win Kurt over.
“Est was probably thinking the same. She’s clever, that one.”
“Yes…”
For a moment, Sena doubted her father’s words.
Maybe Aunt Est just liked Sion and wanted him by her side.
But she didn’t voice it.
Contradicting her domineering father could lead to who-knows-what.
“But it won’t go Est’s way.”
“What?”
“Personnel authority is mine.”
Recently, Serxes had been promoted to Director of the Holy Knight Order Integrated Supervision Headquarters.
The Director was effectively the Order’s second-in-command, holding command and oversight over all Holy Knights—including personnel decisions.
“If I want… I can bring Sion to our side.”
“…!”
It was a declaration to forcibly claim the prodigious youngest.