Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Cardinal Coup (1)
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Cardinal Versachio was a representative figure of the hardliners in the Holy Spirit Church.
Cardinal Epitraus, who represented the moderates, sought harmony with the Sacred Empire's government and the Holy Knight Order.
He believed that secular power should be left to the Sacred Empire, military matters to the Holy Knight Order, and the Holy Spirit Church should fulfill its role as a religious body—guiding and protecting the people of the world.
But Versachio opposed this moderate stance.
He believed the Holy Spirit Church should bolster its strength and seize the reins of continental rule.
The Sacred Empire's governance was weak anyway. Only by having the Holy Spirit Church, with its networks spanning the entire continent, take control could the people truly find happiness.
Moreover, the excessively powerful Holy Knight Order needed to be scaled back, while building up the Papal Court's own military strength.
This was Versachio's conviction: forge a "powerful Holy Spirit Church" to rule the continent.
However, in the current Papal Court, the moderates centered around Cardinal Epitraus held greater sway.
And since the Pope had secluded himself due to old age, Epitraus had been acting as his proxy, fully grasping the reins of power.
If things continued this way, Epitraus would be formally named as the Pope's successor, pass the papal election, and become the next Pope.
Everyone thought so.
* * *
"Guard Corps, the time has finally come!"
Guard Captain Gabrius assembled the Papal Guard and raised his voice.
"For so long, our Guard Corps has been neglected within the Holy Spirit Church! And why? Because of the moderates—no, the conservative faction—centered around Cardinal Epitraus!"
It was deep into the night, but the guards listened to Gabrius with resolute expressions.
"The conservatives seek to hand over the Holy Spirit Church's authority to the Sacred Empire's government and the Holy Knight Order! They want to turn the Church into a powerless puppet and suck up the sweet rewards for themselves! That's why they've continually oppressed the Papal Guard, the true protectors of the Holy Spirit Church!"
With that shout, Gabrius drew his sword.
"But that's over now! Tonight, we will set the Holy Spirit Church right!"
"Waaaaah!"
The guards responded with fervent cheers.
"Tonight, we will expose Cardinal Epitraus's grievous sins to the world... and take his head!"
The grievous sins committed by Cardinal Epitraus.
With that secured, the justification lay firmly with Versachio's faction.
* * *
When he visited the bedroom, Kurt was already awake.
"Father."
"Sion?"
Kurt seemed to have noticed the commotion outside.
He had even drawn the Sacred Sword Erdaise.
"There's some suspicious movement within the Papal Territory, but I can't tell what it is."
"It's a coup."
"What?"
Kurt's eyes widened at my words.
"The Papal Guard has risen to eliminate Cardinal Epitraus."
"......!"
Kurt shot up from his seat.
"Is that true?"
"Yes, it's certain."
"How do you know?"
First, I'd predicted it from the various intelligence gathered since entering the Papal Territory.
And just now, I'd sent Dietrich to confirm my prediction was correct.
"There's no time to explain, Father."
"Sion!"
"The situation is urgent. With the Papal Guard drawing swords, Cardinal Epitraus's life is in danger."
Epitraus was a 9-star mage, but like Bishop Mateur, he wasn't combat-oriented.
Like most high-ranking Holy Spirit Church clergy, he specialized in healing magic and non-combat spells, lacking the power to fend off Gabrius, a 9-star knight.
"The guards protecting Epitraus's palace won't hold back the Papal Guard. The cardinal will flee in haste, but he'll be captured by night's end."
"......"
Kurt stared at me in disbelief.
"We have to move, Father."
"......"
"Right now, in the Papal Territory, we're the only ones who can protect Cardinal Epitraus."
At my words, Kurt's face grew somber.
"Sion, even if what you say is true... we can't intervene."
"Father."
"The Holy Knight Order can't draw swords in the Papal Territory based on our own judgment. If there were an official request from the Papal Court, that would be different, but we have no such authority."
"Even with a coup underway?"
"If the Guard is turning blades on a cardinal, it's still an internal Papal Court matter. But if the Holy Knight Order engages in unauthorized combat here, it could be interpreted as treasonous intent."
"Given the circumstances, we wouldn't actually be punished."
"True enough. Still, it would put the Holy Knight Order in a difficult position."
Kurt spoke in a heavy voice.
"The Knight Order Leader... might have to step down."
"......"
"So, Sion, it's best not to get involved. Pretend we don't know and wait it out."
Kurt's reaction was exactly as I'd expected.
This was on a whole different level from the time we'd unauthorizedly entered Klaus's margraviate.
It wouldn't end with Kurt taking sole responsibility; it could implicate the entire Holy Knight Order.
"Father, what if we had a request from the Papal Court?"
"What?"
"Of course, the Papal Court is probably already under the Guard's control. Rushing there now wouldn't get us an official request."
I'd already confirmed this through Dietrich.
"But there's a way."
"......?"
I turned my head and raised my voice.
"Lieselotte."
"Yes, Sion."
Lieselotte, who had been waiting outside, opened the door and entered.
But she wasn't alone.
"Ugh, what in the world is going on...?"
"Bishop Mateur...!"
Kurt's eyes widened at the sight of Bishop Mateur, who had just been roused from sleep with tousled hair.
"Bishop Mateur is a high-ranking Papal Court cleric. In emergencies, he has the authority to request the Holy Knight Order's assistance."
"......!"
"There might be some procedural debate, but it's far better than the controversy of Holy Knights drawing swords without authorization in the Papal Territory."
Mateur was still blinking in confusion, not grasping the situation, but Kurt seemed to understand fully.
"Sion, how did you even plan this? Did you get information from Lady Helena behind my back?"
"I just pieced together rumors from here and there and anticipated something like this might happen."
I brushed it off vaguely.
If it had been Sershes or Helena, they'd have pressed for details, but Kurt would accept this.
"Father, as I said earlier, time is of the essence. Calling in the Inquisition Knight Brigade from outside the walls won't be quick, so it has to be just us here."
"Just us... you, me, and your Independent Knights?"
"And Bishop Mateur here too."
"Excuse me, what sort of incident are you dragging me into?"
Mateur finally realized the gravity and looked at me urgently, but it was too late.
"Understood, Sion."
Kurt nodded gravely.
"Honestly, I still don't fully grasp the situation. But... I'll follow your plan."
"Thank you, Father."
I'd succeeded in convincing Kurt.
Now it was time to move in earnest.
* * *
The Papal Guard's 23rd Squad was lying in wait near the lodging where the Holy Knights were staying.
Their orders: if the Holy Knights showed suspicious movement, report to superiors immediately and, depending on the situation, intervene directly.
"Squad Leader."
"What is it?"
"If they move... can we stop them?"
"Are you scared?"
Squad Leader Magnus scoffed.
"I understand how you feel. The opponents are Kurt Aleyas and his son, after all."
"A 9-star Sky Rank Knight and a 6-star Iron Rank Knight... Honestly, they're beyond what we can handle."
"Don't worry. The Guard Captain doesn't expect us to take them down."
"Then..."
"Our mission is just to hold their ankles. Buy time—that's enough."
As he spoke, Magnus placed a hand on the longsword at his waist.
"That's why I'm here."
"Squad Leader..."
Magnus was an 8-star knight.
One of the top five in the Guard, he wielded sword auras and sword bullets with ease.
Deploying someone of Magnus's caliber here showed just how wary Gabrius was of Kurt and his son.
"Taking down Kurt Aleyas will be the Guard Captain's role."
"Understood."
"However..."
"Yes?"
"We can handle that son of his, right? Don't you think?"
Magnus grinned, and his subordinates smiled back.
"Exactly. Sion Aleyas is just a 6-star knight, so the squad leader can easily take him."
"To lighten the main force's burden, it'd be great if we could handle the son ourselves."
"These guys haven't forgotten that the best outcome is them staying quiet, have they?"
The superiors judged it unlikely the Holy Knights would act.
Even as they chatted like this, the chance of actual combat was slim...
"Huh...?"
At that very moment.
A dagger flew from the darkness and embedded in Magnus's shoulder.
"...?!"
As an 8-star knight, Magnus maintained a powerful mana armor at all times.
For it to pierce through...
"Kurt Aleyas!"
Magnus spun toward the direction the dagger had come from.
They were moving—and with a preemptive strike, no less.
This was more aggressive than anticipated.
"Stop them!"
"Yes, Squad Leader!"
As he issued orders to his men and prepared to charge toward Kurt, hidden in the shadows.
A nearby branch swayed lightly.
"...?!"
Slash!
A blade dropped with such speed that he couldn't react properly, and blood spurted from Magnus's back.
"Ka, ahk...!"
The follow-up attack.
A terrifyingly sharp sword aura shredded Magnus's mana armor to pieces.
"Charge!"
Seeing the Holy Knights swarm out led by Kurt Aleyas, Magnus lost consciousness.
* * *
"Using me as bait, Kurt Aleyas—what a bold move, Sion."
After subduing the Papal Guards hidden around the lodging, Kurt smiled at me.
"Still, you took down an 8-star knight. Well done."
"It was thanks to you throwing the dagger and drawing his attention, Father."
"A typical 6-star knight couldn't pierce mana armor to fell an 8-star. But you're no typical 6-star."
At any rate, we'd cleared the area around the lodging.
No escapees meant it would take time for word to reach Gabrius or Versachio that we'd begun moving.
"Father, can we head straight to the cardinal's palace?"
"We must."
Kurt nodded with a serious expression.
"Lead the way. I'll follow you."
"Understood."
The coup that erupted in the Papal Territory at midnight.
To suppress it, I led the Holy Knights toward the cardinal's palace.