Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Chain Reaction
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“Highness, please proceed to the Imperial Chamber at once.”
The liaison who entered the office reported in an anxious voice.
“The ministers are all assembled already, and we’ve just received word that the High Priest and his entourage have entered as well.”
“…….”
Jess waved his hand while keeping his chair turned backward.
“I’ll be there shortly, so inform them I’ll enter soon.”
“Yes, understood.”
The liaison let out a sigh of relief as he hurried out of the office.
In the meantime, Jess struck his thigh with his clenched fist and ground his teeth.
“The High Priest? Why has that old man shown up when I didn’t even summon him?”
“To hear about Prince Claude’s exploits, no doubt. The rumors say he revived the lost holy magic of Turn Undead and single-handedly routed the undead legion.”
Phiren, who had been standing guard, replied flatly. Jess fell silent as he pictured the face of the High Priest, who had already been an old man even when Jess was a child.
Esix.
The High Priest and the only living Arch Priest. Even the Emperor couldn’t ignore the immense authority he wielded.
What if that Esix became Claude’s backer?
“Kuh…….”
Jess clutched his face with both hands as if he wanted to tear it off.
Why?
Why on earth had this happened?
He had sent a ragtag army against a formidable enemy and even pulled the dispatched priests from the roster under the excuse of urgency.
By all rights, Claude should have died in battle against the undead legion.
Even if he miraculously survived and returned, he was supposed to shoulder the defeat and bear the full brunt of the Empire’s citizens’ scorn.
But he had won.
And not through the efforts of the accompanying knight order or soldiers—he had reportedly turned every enemy to ash in an instant with his own power alone.
“Turn Undead of all things, and right at that moment…….”
Jess had thought ultimate holy magic was just a legend spun by priests.
How could such a miracle happen to Claude, who was dying from poison?
Had he somehow awakened Claude’s power?
Had feeding him that special poison unlocked some hidden ability?
Or was it destined to happen regardless of him?
“If I’d known, I never would have sent him to fight the undead legion…….”
“Highness, please make haste to the Imperial Chamber. The longer you delay, the more suspicious the ministers will become.”
Phiren advised. Jess squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them, responding.
“Fine. I’ll go welcome the triumphant Claude and bestow rewards upon him. But to have to hand prizes to the wretch I sent off to bear all the world’s infamy with my own hands!”
It felt like his insides were collapsing. Yet failing to praise his feats and grant rewards would send his own public opinion plummeting into the dirt—it was obvious.
“No, no. Ultimate holy spells or whatever…… That fool’s mind is already broken. He might have pulled it off once by sheer luck, but there’s no way he can keep wielding advanced magic like that properly.”
What Jess needed right now was a mental victory to patch up his crumbling psyche.
“Yeah. He’s more likely to get drunk on his own power and stir up new problems. Better to shower him with silver medals now and make him arrogant. Hoo…….”
After several deep breaths, Jess reverted to his usual cold expression and rose from his seat.
“I’m heading to the Imperial Chamber now. For the sake of the future, I’ll endure today’s humiliation.”
* * *
Was it because I overdid the holy magic in Fortress Village?
I ended up passing out cold for a full half-day afterward. What can you do? Saving lives comes first.
I was a bit later than planned, but right after waking, I spun a plausible tale for the surrounding knights.
-The moment I saw the dying people and the approaching undead legion, light welled up inside me unbidden.
-After that, I realized I could wield the power of light. Since I can use recovery magic, it seems to be holy magic too.
-I had no idea. Was there really a spell that could wipe out undead in one shot?
If these remarks spread and reached the capital, the priests—at least—would make a huge fuss about a miracle occurring.
Why?
Because Turn Undead is a spell impossible to acquire through normal means. How could a human train in a single spell for 60 years? They’d die of old age first.
So they’d interpret it as the gods granting a miracle through Prince Claude’s body to save the chaotic humans. I’d read records of such events in ancient texts before. Didn’t one even change the title to ‘Saint’ outright?
Naturally, my reputation would upgrade in an instant from ‘villainous wastrel Prince Claude’ to ‘Claude, recipient of divine miracle.’ Plus, I’d squeeze plenty of rewards out of Jess.
And the moment I returned to the palace and entered the Imperial Chamber, I instinctively knew every prediction had hit 100%.
“Ooh! Prince Claude! You’ve finally returned. On behalf of the temple that serves the Five Gods, I offer celebratory greetings to the prince who vanquished the wicked ghost army.”
High Priest Esix was waiting in the Imperial Chamber, accompanied by his fellow priests.
Esix himself?
I hadn’t expected that far. Everyone knew the High Priest—head of all priests—had a heavy backside.
“Congratulations!”
As the remaining nine priests joined in the greeting, the ministers lined up on either side bowed awkwardly toward me.
Hm, perfect. The atmosphere on departure and return couldn’t be more different.
Meanwhile, Jess sat on the proxy throne with his usual icy face……
No need to look—I could tell his guts were burning black just seeing me return unscathed.
The rest of the proceedings unfolded without major incident, as planned.
They lavished me with flowery praise for my victory, heard brief opinions from a few ministers, praised the absent guardian knight order captain Duron……
And finally, as Jess was about to bestow silver medals on the freshly triumphant me, High Priest Esix cautiously interjected.
“Before that, forgive me, Regent Highness. As I mentioned earlier, may I confirm Prince Claude’s ‘qualification’?”
“……Hm?”
Jess quickly schooled his momentarily twisted expression and nodded.
“Do as you wish. Just don’t drag it out—we have much to proceed with afterward.”
“It will only take a moment. Then…….”
Esix approached me with a smile.
“Prince Claude, what happened to your body in Dolton Village was truly a historic miracle. Even looking back over the Grand Temple’s thousand-year history, comparable miracles number scarcely two.”
“No, I mean…… I just lost it seeing the undead legion killing people…….”
With Jess watching, I deliberately played up a slightly dim-witted air. Esix smiled and nodded as if impressed.
“That true heart, cherishing the people, triggered the momentary miracle. Our Grand Temple wishes to bestow the title of Saint upon such a prince. If I may be so bold, could you demonstrate your power once more here?”
“Uh……. Here? That Turn Undead thing? You want me to use that?”
If asked, I’d use it—what’s the big deal? But isn’t the Saint title just a bonus that comes with Turn Undead?
“No. There are no undead here, so even if you cast Turn Undead, we couldn’t verify the result.”
Esix glanced around, stared at Jess for a moment for some reason, then smiled and extended his hand toward me again.
“Until just a few days ago, Your Highness was a complete novice in holy magic. You’ve never taken priestly lessons in your life, correct?”
“Of course…….”
“Then any holy magic will do. Cast it on my hand.”
“Alright then…….”
Without much thought, I cast a healing spell on Esix’s outstretched hand.
“O, ooh……. Indeed…….”
Esix nodded vigorously, making a bit of a fuss.
“The miracle is proven.”
“Ooh…….”
Exclamations poured from the other priests standing a short distance away. Esix reached toward my head and asked carefully.
“I am deeply grateful, but may I place my hand lightly on Your Highness’s head?”
“Hm? Uh…….”
“Then, if I may.”
Esix placed his hand on my head and declared in a thick, resonant voice audible to everyone in the Imperial Chamber.
“I, Esix, head of the Grand Temple that serves the Five Gods, hereby bestow upon Claude, sixth prince of the Payud Empire, the title of Saint, living witness to the miracle of the gods, from this moment forth.”
Hm…….
That’s it?
Since nothing special happened, it must just be an empty title that comes attached.
Still, with this, getting help from the temple should be smoother going forward? Even more than I’d planned?
“……Your Highness.”
Then the High Priest stepped closer and whispered softly.
“There are eyes watching from behind me, so I believe you’ll find it uncomfortable here as well.”
“Uh, yeah?”
“I’d like to discuss the details at the Grand Temple. I pray you’ll visit tonight.”
He then stepped back, smiling as if nothing had happened.
Well, well? This old man has some agenda, doesn’t he?
In that case, I’d play along. I just grinned vacantly, as if thrilled to receive the title.
But from the High Priest’s perspective just now, the ‘eyes’ behind him…… Wouldn’t that just be Jess?
Could the High Priest already know Jess’s true nature? That wouldn’t be something to brush off lightly.
Through my nine previous regressions, I was confident I’d grasped everything key about the High Priest.
Of course, he was important, but not particularly variable.
The essentials: this old man was absolutely not a traitor. And he wielded overwhelming influence over the priests of the ‘Five Gods’ across the Empire and the entire continent.
But there’d been no hint he knew Jess’s identity…… Was I overthinking? Or did the High Priest have some other secret I didn’t know?
“Hm, then with the Grand Temple’s title conferral complete…….”
Jess rose and resumed the interrupted medal ceremony.
“To Claude, sixth prince of the Empire who subjugated the undead legion, I bestow fitting silver rewards in His Imperial Majesty’s stead. First, as per precedent, 3,000 Imperial gold coins shall be granted. Additionally, half of Verit—currently under rotating temporary lordship—shall be divided and awarded as territory.”
“Half of Verit!”
The previously silent nobles began murmuring.
“To that wastrel, such a vast territory…….”
“Hush, be quiet. Isn’t he the triumphant general who just earned great merit?”
“Still, isn’t the reward excessive? Verit is no small plot of land!”
“It’s large, yes, but hardly prime real estate, is it? Most of the populace are refugees anyway…….”
Right. Verit was definitely no gem.
Its one merit was proximity to the Lunenbreth estate…… Anyway, accepting it now would be trouble. It’d derail the tech tree I planned to pursue soon.
“Silence, all! The decision is final. Details on the territory’s location and size will be issued in documents within days…….”
“B-Brother, I don’t need the territory.”
I interjected into Jess’s words, feigning a maximally trembling voice.