Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Cardinal Coup (4)
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That sword stream was enormous enough to touch the heavens, brimming with the confidence of an emperor.
‘This is Kurt Aleyas’s Heavenly Palace Sovereign Stream!’
As the massive flash bore down on him, Gavrius drew up his mana as well.
When unleashing a sword stream, an immense amount of mana pours out from the circle. That was why sword streams were typically reserved for decisive moments.
“Hah!”
Martial Void Profound Wave Stream.
Gavrius’s sword stream swallowed enemies in waves that erupted like violent crashing surf.
‘With my sword stream…… I’ll swallow yours!’
Gavrius’s goal was to break Kurt.
To that end, he had to suppress the Heavenly Palace Sovereign Stream with his Martial Void Profound Wave Stream.
Vast mana surged from Gavrius’s circle, beginning to form the waves that would devour Kurt’s sword stream.
“Huh……?”
But.
Gavrius felt a sense of wrongness.
In his mind’s eye, his Martial Void Profound Wave Stream should have engulfed Kurt’s Heavenly Palace Sovereign Stream.
‘Was it…… always this small?’
Compared to the flash of the Heavenly Palace Sovereign Stream, the waves of the Martial Void Profound Wave Stream were little more than ripples.
It was an absurdly puny sword stream, nowhere near enough to swallow Kurt.
‘Ah…….’
Beyond the heaven-piercing flash, he felt an overwhelming presence.
‘So this is Kurt Aleyas…….’
As the flash consumed him, Gavrius felt the sting of defeat.
* * *
“Gavrius, my sword stream was puny once, too.”
Kurt sheathed his blade and spoke calmly.
“It grew to this size battling massive foes. If it got devoured by you here, it’d be an insult to all the mighty enemies who’ve faced me before.”
Kurt displayed the dignity befitting a Sky Rank Knight of the Aleyas family.
He’d given off that vibe even when fighting Archbishop Sapphirus, but age had clearly honed him to greater maturity.
“You spared his life, I see.”
Gavrius now lay collapsed, covered in blood.
The old Kurt couldn’t have controlled himself with such finesse.
“He’s a key culprit, so I can’t just kill him outright. He needs to stand trial and pay for his crimes.”
“Fair enough.”
Maybe death would’ve been kinder.
The Holy Spirit Church pioneered heresy inquisitions, after all, and they were notoriously brutal to sinners.
“Sky Rank Knight Kurt, Iron Rank Knight Sion.”
“Your Eminence.”
That was when Cardinal Epitrax approached us.
Thanks to Edwin, Lieselotte, and my other subordinates handling the Guard Knights, Epitrax had made it through unscathed.
“I saw Gavrius fall, and the rest of the Guard Knights scattered in panic. You have my thanks for your hard work.”
“We only did our duty, Your Eminence.”
“Even so, I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”
Epitrax bowed his head before us.
“Y-Your Eminence!”
“You’ve probably guessed, but I held off handing over the Holy Grail because I hoped the Holy Knights staying in the Papal District would serve as a deterrent. Things didn’t go as planned, though.”
Epitrax’s voice was grave.
“I wish I could’ve explained sooner, but I couldn’t expose the Holy Knights to the power struggles within the Papal Court. I hope you understand.”
“We do, Your Eminence.”
“Fighting inside the Papal District poses a political risk for the Holy Knights. I’ll take full responsibility to ensure no issues arise.”
“We already have Bishop Mateur’s promise on that front.”
“Bishop Mateur…….”
Epitrax looked up, startling Bishop Mateur, who’d been hanging back and watching nervously.
“Bishop Mateur, it’s been a while. You’ve grown into a man of responsibility. Well done.”
“N-No, Your Eminence.”
“I’ll remember this.”
Mateur beamed, thrilled by the unexpected praise.
It was like a regular Grade 1 Knight getting personal commendation from Knight Order Leader Ianus.
“Your Eminence.”
Kurt spoke cautiously.
“The ringleader of this plot, Cardinal Versachio, is still out there.”
“Indeed.”
Epitrax nodded with a grim expression.
“Cardinal Versachio must realize by now that the Guard Knights failed. He’s probably heading for the Papal Palace as we speak. Let’s go.”
* * *
‘Damn it all!’
Versachio cursed inwardly.
He’d already grasped that the Guard Knights had failed to secure Epitrax.
Gavrius was likely down, too, even if unconfirmed.
‘That smug bastard Gavrius……!’
In the end, the Inquisition Knight Brigade outside the Papal District hadn’t stirred.
They’d been beaten by Kurt Aleyas and maybe twenty fresh-faced knights inside the district.
‘Useless Guard Knights! After all the support I poured into you!’
Versachio had poured his heart into building up the Guard Knights.
He’d siphoned budgets from everywhere to fund them, turning the Guard into his own private army.
He’d planned to use them to eliminate Epitrax and seize control of the Papal Court in one stroke, but their defeat at the Holy Knights’ hands had ruined everything.
‘Those Holy Knight scum…… When I take power, I’ll excommunicate the lot of them!’
Grinding his teeth, Versachio led his remaining ten or so Guard Knights deeper into the Papal Court building.
At the heart of the Papal Court stood the Papal Palace, the Pope’s residence. That was their destination.
“Cardinal Versachio! Do you think such outrage will be tolerated?!”
“Quiet, Administrative Director!”
Cardinal Perfectia, who oversaw the Holy Spirit Church’s administration and resided in the Papal Court, tried to block Versachio, but Versachio shoved him aside by the arm.
“Out of my way! Were you in on it with Epitrax, hiding the Pope’s death?”
“N-No, of course not! His Holiness couldn’t have…….”
“You’re the Administrative Director, and even you haven’t seen the Pope in months! Epitrax is the only cardinal who’s laid eyes on him! How could anyone not suspect that?!”
“Urk…….”
“And Epitrax replaced all the Pope’s attendants with useless nobodies for flimsy reasons! There’s plenty more evidence besides!”
Versachio’s claims shook not just Perfectia but the neutral figures in the Papal Court as well.
Some were close to Epitrax, but none could muster a proper rebuttal to Versachio’s accusations.
“But Cardinal Versachio, barging into the Papal Palace without permission is clear treason…….”
“Treason? Against a dead Pope!”
Overwhelmed by Versachio’s momentum, Perfectia finally handed over the Papal Palace key he held.
“At last, the secret door opens……!”
Versachio’s eyes gleamed as he headed for the Papal Palace entrance.
Then, sudden commotion erupted from outside.
“What’s going on?”
“H-Holy Knights have appeared! Cardinal Epitrax seems to be with them!”
“……!”
Versachio fumbled desperately to open the Papal Palace door, but even with the key, disarming the intricate security took time.
“Got it! It’s op…….”
“Taking too long to pick a door.”
“……!”
Whirling around in shock, Versachio saw Kurt Aleyas and Sion Aleyas standing side by side.
They’d broken through the Guards outside and slipped in here already.
“You bastards…….”
“Enough of this, Cardinal Versachio.”
“……!”
Epitrax appeared behind them.
Seeing him unscathed made Versachio’s blood boil.
“Cardinal Epitrax……!”
“It’s over, Cardinal Versachio. The Guard Knights are defeated, and their captain is our prisoner.”
“D-Don’t make me laugh!”
Versachio jabbed a finger at Epitrax and bellowed.
“Over? You’re the one who’s done for!”
“…….”
“I’ve already opened the Papal Palace door! Once I go in and confirm the Pope is dead…… you’re finished!”
Even Perfectia and the others around shared doubts about the Pope’s survival.
No way could Epitrax push back with “We can’t go into the Papal Palace” in this atmosphere.
“That’s what you think.”
“What?”
“Why not confirm it, then.”
But.
Epitrax stepped forward with a composed expression.
“By the authority delegated to me by His Holiness, I invite you all into the Papal Palace. Come inside.”
“……!”
Flanked by Holy Knights, Epitrax strode into the Papal Palace.
Bewildered, Versachio followed.
‘What? What’s his game?’
It made no sense.
The Pope’s death was all but certain.
So why was Epitrax so willing to let them into the Papal Palace now?
He’d blocked everyone tooth and nail until yesterday.
‘A body double? Is that it?’
Whatever scheme he was plotting, Versachio wouldn’t fall for it.
Steeled with resolve, he trailed Epitrax.
“Thank you for your service.”
Once inside, the attendants who normally served the Pope bowed their heads.
Tradition dictated selecting Papal Palace attendants who could neither speak nor read.
“I’d like to see His Holiness.”
At Epitrax’s request, they looked troubled.
“It seems he’s sleeping. In the old days, he’d be at prayer even now, but at his advanced age…….”
“Hmph, as if that excuse will…….”
“No helping it. Let’s just peek in.”
Defying Versachio’s expectations, Epitrax led the way into the bedroom.
“Come in, Cardinal Versachio.”
“Urk…… I know that!”
Snapping back at the impudent Sion Aleyas, Versachio entered the Pope’s bedroom.
The room smelled thickly of incense.
‘Burning it to mask the corpse stench?’
Harboring suspicions, Versachio approached the bed at the room’s center.
Epitrax was lifting the bed’s canopy and beckoning.
“He’s sleeping, so be as quiet as possible.”
“…….”
Vowing not to be fooled, Versachio peered in.
And…….
“Ah!”
An elderly man riddled with wrinkles lay on the bed.
Emaciated as he was, for someone over ninety, he looked relatively hale.
The old man breathed steadily—he was unmistakably alive.
“Y-Your Holiness…….”
Versachio collapsed to his knees.
He knew at a glance. This was no stand-in.
It was the Holy Spirit Church’s Pope himself.
“Cardinal Perfectia, you confirm as well.”
“It’s His Holiness. He looks healthier than expected.”
The others verified the sleeping Pope too.
No one doubted.
The sacred aura emanating from the Holy Spirit Church’s pinnacle couldn’t be faked, no matter the disguise.
“Well then, Cardinal Versachio…….”
“Aah, aah…….”
“Any doubts cleared up?”
“Aaah……!”
Versachio tore at his hair and screamed.
“You set this trap, didn’t you?!”
“Cardinal Versachio.”
“You acted like the Pope was dead on purpose to lure me in! To eliminate a rival in the next papal election! Am I wrong?!”
“Nothing of the sort, Cardinal Versachio.”
“Don’t toy with me……!”
Screaming, Versachio lunged at Epitrax.
But Perfectia raised a hand to halt him.
“Seize Cardinal Versachio, disturber of the Papal Court’s order!”
“Understood.”
Kurt Aleyas grabbed Versachio.
He struggled, but couldn’t resist a 9-star knight like Kurt.
“Let go! It’s a trap! A trap to keep me from becoming Pope! That old fox Epitrax’s scheme……!”
As he was dragged away, Versachio kept shouting, but no one listened.
* * *
We’d known the Pope was alive since arriving in the Papal District.
Igzard had sensed profoundly deep 9-star mana from the Papal Palace direction, as Kurt reported.
Versachio’s claim that “Epitrax is concealing the Pope’s death” could never have held water.
That’s why I let Versachio revolt, then convinced Kurt to crush them immediately.
I knew it was a fight he couldn’t win.
“Iron Rank Knight Sion.”
After Versachio was hauled off, Epitrax spoke quietly.
“Thank you for sticking with us this far. You were a great help.”
“I just stood by and watched.”
“No. Without Iron Rank Knight Sion and Sky Rank Knight Kurt, Cardinal Versachio would’ve caused even more chaos. He might’ve bloodied the sacred Papal Palace.”
Epitrax sighed in relief.
“What a…… regrettable affair. If I’d acted wiser, perhaps Cardinal Versachio wouldn’t have gone this far.”
“…….”
“But it’s resolved now, thank goodness. All thanks to you Holy Knights.”
He seemed genuinely grateful.
“By the way, Your Eminence.”
“Yes, Iron Rank Knight Sion?”
Epitrax looked at me curiously.
In a voice too low for others to hear, I asked Epitrax,
“Would it be all right if I looked into the truth behind this incident?”