Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Cardinal Coup (5)
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After morning arrived.
Our 13th Unit handed the Holy Grail over to Epitraus.
Contrary to our initial expectation of a grand affair, the handover ceremony proceeded quite simply.
“With the unprecedented incident of a cardinal attempting to eliminate another cardinal alongside the Guard Corps, it’s difficult to hold a lavish event. My apologies, Sion Ironclad Knight.”
“I understand, Your Eminence.”
“Even so, given the magnitude of your achievement, the Holy Spirit Church will express its gratitude to the Holy Knight Order at a later date. I’ll make sure to speak well of you to Knight Order Leader Ianus as well.”
Once the handover concluded, Epitraus summoned me to his cardinal palace and personally expressed his thanks.
“So… where should we begin.”
Having wrapped up the Holy Grail discussion, Epitraus finally got to the main point.
“How long have you suspected?”
“Well.”
I had already grasped that the Pope was alive and in poor health from Igzard’s information the moment we entered the Papal Territory.
But all the doubts cleared up after entering the Papal Palace.
“There were many suspicious aspects to Your Eminence’s behavior.”
“…….”
“Your Eminence was acting exactly as if disguising the Pope’s death. It was only natural for Versachio to grow suspicious.”
He blocked others from meeting the Pope, unreasonably replaced the Pope’s attendants… and there were various other circumstantial evidences.
“So at first, I wondered if everything was Your Eminence’s scheme from the start. A trap to eliminate Versachio, that is.”
“Versachio claimed as much even as he was dragged away. But that is not the truth.”
“However, if this isn’t Your Eminence’s trap, it’s hard to explain the suspicious actions Your Eminence has shown all this time.”
“Then how should it be explained.”
“I struggled to find that answer myself. But I realized it once we set foot in the Papal Palace.”
Last night, Epitraus had led us into the Papal Palace.
At that moment, I vaguely grasped the truth, and entering the bedchamber confirmed it.
“Your Eminence was blocking people from entering the Papal Palace. But this time, you let several in at once.”
“What was the reason?”
“It was the middle of the night when His Holiness was asleep. Your Eminence didn’t want people seeing him awake.”
“…….”
Epitraus must have been on pins and needles.
Worried that the noise might wake the Pope, no doubt.
“Even if age has made it difficult for him to move, as long as he can properly offer prayers, he can remain Pope.”
“…….”
“Conversely, no matter how hale he is, if he cannot properly pray, he must step down from the papal throne.”
Epitraus remained silent as he listened to my words.
“His Holiness… isn’t he in a state where anyone seeing him just once would think, ‘It’s impossible to keep him as Pope any longer’?”
“…….”
“That’s why Your Eminence let people in at midnight. You thought a soundly sleeping figure could fool them.”
“Khmm….”
Epitraus let out a small groan.
Here, I decided to add one more thing.
“And one more detail.”
“What is it?”
“There was a strange incense burning in His Holiness’s bedchamber. The scent of herbs known to restore brain damage.”
“I didn’t realize you were so knowledgeable….”
A long sigh.
Epitraus shook his head as if he couldn’t take it anymore.
“You’re right, Sion Ironclad Knight.”
In the end, he revealed the truth before me in a somber voice.
“His Holiness suffers from severe dementia. He doesn’t even remember that he is the Pope.”
This was why Epitraus had kept the Pope hidden away in the Papal Palace.
“If this became known, His Holiness would have to abdicate immediately. Abdicating due to dementia is an immense dishonor.”
“Dementia is an unavoidable illness. I don’t think it’s particularly dishonorable.”
“But the people of the Holy Spirit Church do not see it that way. In the end, His Holiness would go down in history as the Pope who abdicated in disgrace due to dementia.”
So Epitraus had concealed the Pope’s current condition.
He sealed off access to everyone, waiting for the day the Pope would pass naturally.
“He devoted his life to the world. I did not want that honor tarnished.”
“…….”
Even during my time in the Dialogue Church, I never heard ill of the Pope.
He was a man who led the Holy Spirit Church with pure, devout faith.
“So I did my utmost in my own way. Though in the end… this unfortunate incident occurred.”
He bowed his head with a complicated expression.
It seemed he regretted that his efforts to hide the Pope’s dementia had sparked Cardinal Versachio’s coup.
But I felt no sympathy whatsoever.
“Your Eminence.”
“Yes, Sion Ironclad Knight.”
“Though you say that, aren’t you relieved to have this chance to eliminate Cardinal Versachio?”
“…….”
Now Epitraus’s position was unrivaled.
No one in the Holy See would defy him.
“No one remains to hinder Your Eminence from becoming the next Pope.”
“…….”
“Your Eminence must have been certain our Holy Knights would intervene. Isn’t that right?”
At my pointed remark, Epitraus gave a faint smile.
“Sion Ironclad Knight… you’re a knight who moves with remarkable boldness and audacity. Moreover, you seemed ambitious.”
“…….”
“I thought that if a massive incident erupted within the Papal Territory, you’d surely intervene to claim the benefits for yourself.”
That was why Epitraus delayed the Holy Grail handover.
Expecting us to linger in the Papal Territory and step in against Versachio’s faction’s coup.
“Thank you for meeting my expectations, Sion Ironclad Knight.”
In the end, Epitraus had schemed as well.
To fully cover up the Pope’s dementia and secure the next papal throne for himself.
“Thank you for resolving my curiosity, Your Eminence.”
I lightly bowed my head.
I had no intention of condemning Epitraus. I had deliberately let Versachio’s rebellion play out and used this opportunity to rack up a major achievement myself.
“By the way, Sion Ironclad Knight.”
At that moment, Epitraus addressed me again in a gentle tone.
“With Gabrius’s arrest, the position of Papal Guard Captain has become vacant.”
“……?”
“Would you consider taking the role of Papal Guard Captain?”
“Me?”
“Yes. Leave the Holy Knight Order and command the Papal Guard Corps.”
“My grandfather would hate that.”
“We can obtain Knight Order Leader’s permission.”
“The Papal Guard Corps has little authority and limited scale, doesn’t it? Not very appealing.”
“That was true until yesterday.”
“…….”
Until now, the Guard Corps had been under Cardinal Versachio’s control.
But Versachio had fallen, and the Guard Corps was set for a complete purge.
Thus… Epitraus intended to place me in the new Guard Captain position and back me fully.
The Guard Corps would now fall under Epitraus’s command.
“If Sion Ironclad Knight took command of the Guard Corps, it might grow into a force surpassing even the Holy Knight Order.”
“…….”
“For an ambitious knight like Sion Ironclad Knight, I imagine it would be tempting.”
An intriguing proposal.
Accepting Epitraus’s offer here would make me the embodiment of the Holy Spirit Church’s military might.
“My apologies, but it doesn’t appeal to me.”
“Why not?”
“My faith is lacking. Life at the Holy See would be burdensome.”
“…….”
Epitraus’s eyes widened.
Then he burst into laughter.
[That guy thinks you’re joking to refuse.]
‘It’s sincere. Even the Holy Knight Order feels stifling at times.’
Coming from the Dialogue Church, it was hard for me to hold faith as a Holy Spirit Church follower.
Not that I believed in the Dialogue Church’s teachings either.
“Understood. I won’t bring it up again.”
“Thank you for the offer, Your Eminence.”
“But Sion Ironclad Knight, please remember that I hold you in very high regard. And that I feel indebted to you.”
Epitraus said with a smile.
“I look forward to the day you ascend to Holy Knight Order Leader.”
“It’ll take a long time before I sit in the Leader’s seat.”
“Is that so? Still, you’ll become Leader before I die.”
Epitraus was quite advanced in age, and by the time I normally rose to next-next Leader, he’d likely have passed… .
“In any case, Sion Ironclad Knight.”
“Yes, Your Eminence.”
“Separate from the Holy Grail handover, the Holy See will issue rewards for suppressing Cardinal Versachio’s coup. Is there anything you personally desire?”
“Shouldn’t you discuss that with Kurt Sky Rank Knight?”
“Apart from your father, this is a question for Sion Ironclad Knight himself. As a cardinal of the Holy Spirit Church, I can grant most requests.”
“I see.”
“Anything at all. As long as it’s within my power.”
In truth, I had been waiting for this.
I never thought Epitraus would let me walk away empty-handed.
Now that I had pierced his innermost thoughts, he’d surely offer a gift to maintain friendly ties going forward.
“Then there’s one thing I’d like to request.”
“What is it?”
He said anything goes.
So let’s aim big.
“I’d like you to give me the Demon Spirit Sword Xantia, which the Holy Spirit Church has kept since the subjugation of Archbishop Adonis twenty years ago.”
Epitraus’s mouth fell open.
* * *
Not only had Sion and Kurt safely completed the Holy Grail transport, but they had also suppressed the coup in the Papal Territory and protected Cardinal Epitraus.
When word spread, the Holy Knight Order headquarters was turned upside down.
“Intervening in a coup inside the Papal Territory? Taking down the Guard Captain and capturing a cardinal?”
“Have they lost their minds? Drawing swords in the heart of the Holy Spirit Church—what will they say later?”
“That part seems fine. Cardinal Epitraus is taking responsibility.”
“They say he already contacted His Excellency the Leader to express gratitude.”
A Holy Knight drawing a sword without permission inside the Papal Territory was unprecedented.
Many worried it was a disaster, but Epitraus’s faction sent an official message of thanks, proving the concerns unfounded.
“This is huge. They saved the life of Cardinal Epitraus, who’s the top candidate for next Pope!”
“An incredible achievement. Has the Holy Knight Order seen merits like this lately?”
“Looks like Kurt’s close to the next Leader position.”
“Cardinal Epitraus specifically praised Sion Aleyas. Said he played a vital role!”
“The power dynamics in the Holy Knight Order are about to shift.”
The buzz stemmed from Knight Order Leader Ianus Aleyas openly beaming with joy.
Whatever rave reviews he got from Epitraus, Ianus had been grinning nonstop lately.
“It’s been ages since Father looked this happy….”
“Because his youngest son and grandson received massive praise from a Holy Spirit Church heavyweight.”
“Damn it!”
Sershes Aleyas summoned his younger sister Helena Aleyas and vented his frustration.
“How the hell did only Kurt and Sion pull off such feats! Why do only they get all the golden opportunities?!”
“If it were us, we’d probably fumble even if given the chance.”
“What?!”
“Brother or I—we’d be too scared of political fallout to draw swords in the Papal Territory. Right?”
“Urk….”
“Kurt could do it because he thinks simply. Sion probably egged him on.”
“Helena, why are you so nonchalant? Kurt and Sion racked up huge merits!”
Sershes glared at Helena’s apathetic response.
“Weren’t you dying to devour Sion not long ago?”
“Somehow… stressing over that guy just hurts me now.”
“Helena!”
“If you want to check Kurt and Sion, do it yourself, Brother. I’m sitting it out.”
“You—last time Sion took down Archbishop Gerkius, you subtly took his side… Have you given up on Leader?”
“No? I just realized cooperating with you to check Sion and Kurt yields no gains. You’re my rival anyway.”
With that, Helena rose from her seat.
“As Inquisitor General of the Heresy Tribunal, I’ll work hard and earn Father’s recognition. Good luck on your own, Brother.”
“Helena!”
“Then I’ll be off to teach Cain and Robel swordsmanship.”
Helena left Sershes behind.
Left alone, Sershes vented by hurling nearby objects.
It was unbecoming of the Aleyas family’s cold eldest son, but he couldn’t contain his emotions.