Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Chain Reaction
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This was a hidden space within the Grand Temple that most people didn't even know existed.
Of course, I'd been here three times before, so I knew the layout like the back of my hand. But if I acted too nonchalant, it might raise suspicions, so I touched the walls here and there with an anxious expression.
"I had no idea there was a space like this in the Grand Temple. Is it maybe a secret liquor storeroom?"
"Haha. Liquor is nice, of course. But we store things here that are far more precious—and dangerous—than alcohol."
Right. I knew exactly what that was.
Books.
The underground route of the Grand Temple was important because this was where the priests had gathered and protected books over a thousand years.
It was a treasure trove of information that couldn't be found anywhere else in the world. Esix, having descended all the stairs, stopped midway between the torches lining the narrow corridor on either side.
"We should be able to talk quietly here."
"Here? You want to talk here?"
A bit further in was the entrance to the sealed library, and there was even a small table in front of it where we could sit. So why here of all places?
"First, I must reveal what I know."
"What?"
"That over the past few years, the Regent Highness has been continuously administering impure drugs to you, Prince."
"......"
I bit my lip with a shocked expression.
Well, well?
He knew about this? About Jess's project to corrupt Claude?
But why hadn't he ever mentioned it in my previous regressions? Had he just wrapped up his investigation in the last few days?
No, no. I needed to think about this from a different angle.
During my nine previous regressions, I'd thought I'd built the best possible relationship with the temple at least three times.
But in reality, an even higher level of trust had existed!
This time, I'd broken through that level by receiving the Saint title alongside Turn Undead.
Which meant from here on, it was uncharted territory. I lowered my head and averted my gaze to probe his reaction further.
Come on, I'm putting on this anguished prince act, so spill more of your story, High Priest.
"Our priests and followers are spread widely across all the Empire's territories. So we can confirm various pieces of information at every moment."
"......"
"However, the imperial palace is heavily guarded, making it hard to ascertain every detail accurately. Still, we could guess it wasn't a good drug. You've been taking it for over two years while in the palace, and even after moving to your residence, you continued via deliveries through Prince Albert."
"That was..."
"It's not to corner you, Prince. There must be many difficult circumstances. But with no ears listening here, allow me to speak boldly this time."
Esix fell silent for a moment with a pained expression before speaking.
"Prince, all those misdeeds and villainous antics you've committed over the past few years... weren't they actually a stratagem to protect yourself from the Regent Highness's clutches?"
...What?
What was this brilliant interpretation? A stratagem? That I'd deliberately acted like a wastrel?
"I became convinced after facing you directly today. You're intentionally mimicking a foolish, inadequate person right now. Otherwise, it might provoke even greater wrath from the Regent Highness. Isn't that right?"
That part was correct. But before that, Claude's actions had just been madness induced by the drug.
Still, when one thing looks good, everything else does too—human nature. This let me clearly grasp how Esix evaluated me.
Even if it wasn't true.
But so what?
People are like that. When their deductions and predictions are confirmed as fact, they feel satisfied and gain even firmer belief.
So this time, it seemed best to play along appropriately. It wouldn't affect my pre-planned tech tree anyway.
"Brother Jess..."
I let out a pained sigh.
"He wants me to become an idiot and face people's scorn. That's why he fed me that poison. Surely because my mother was different, and because I monopolized His Majesty's love in my childhood..."
For dramatic effect, I stopped there and shut my mouth. Esix let out a long sigh, leaned down, and met my eyes.
"I thought as much. The Regent Highness is incredibly jealous, despite appearances."
"......"
"First, I must apologize. The temple had grasped some of this to an extent but hadn't revealed it outwardly, letting it slide."
That was because I had no connection to the temple.
But now, things would be different?
"But Prince, you have now become the most important person to our temple—more important even than me."
"More than the High Priest?"
"Yes. Our temple's greatest enemy is the Necromancer Army."
Of course, I knew that. Remembering what the priests did to me when I sided with the Necromancer Army and learned necromancy...
"You've already repelled the Necromancer Army's invasion via Turn Undead, Prince, and you've declared you'll protect this land from their ongoing assaults to come. That is a miracle, and the word of the gods. Right here and now, you are the Saint who will fulfill our temple's long-cherished wish."
Hmm... What was this about?
It was obvious the temple and Necromancer Army were mortal enemies, but what were they getting at right now?
Were they telling me to fly straight to the Necromancer Army's headquarters and eliminate 'Crock'—the Necromancer Lord?
Of course, that was something I'd have to do eventually. But it wasn't the next step in my tech tree. What now?
"Oh dear, it seems I've said too much too suddenly. I'm sorry if I've burdened you."
Esix checked my expression and bowed his head. I quickly shook my head in response.
"No. I just don't understand what I should do next... Do I just keep protecting the Elstone Earldom as planned?"
"That's important too. If you wish, you may deploy as many of our priests as needed for the Elstone Earldom's protection—or for anything else you desire."
For real? Seriously?
If true, this was an enormous, unplanned gain.
If I could mobilize priests en masse, I could accelerate several planned routes far ahead of schedule!
But more than that, this old man had been blatantly signaling some other agenda since earlier... What exactly was he going to ask of me?
"But before that, may I proceed with the true verification we couldn't do at the palace earlier today?"
"You mean Turn Undead? But don't I need undead around for that?"
"There are undead right here."
With that shocking declaration, Esix grabbed the torch on the wall beside him.
Clunk.
The torch moved up and down, and just like before, the wall opened to reveal stairs descending below.
Huh? What was this?
Wasn't this the end of the Grand Temple's underground route? There was something even more hidden here?
* * *
"There are fewer than ten people in the world who know of this place."
Esix pulled out the torch himself and descended the stairs. Feeling my heart pound, I followed.
"These stairs go really deep. How far down?"
"Just a little further. It's unavoidable, given what dangerous thing we store here."
Something so dangerous? What could it be?
Anyway, I was incredibly excited. How massive must it be that they'd dug this deep into the earth to hide it?
But when the stairs ended, contrary to expectations, we'd arrived in a narrow room barely five pyeong in size.
In the center, a skeleton huddled under a burlap sack, surrounded by three priests extending hands that emitted transparent light.
‘Anti Evil?’
This was Anti Evil, corresponding to the holy magic 'Evil-Breaking' spell.
In simple terms... a minor version of Turn Undead.
It could annihilate weak undead like zombies, and for stronger ones, at least seal their movements and suppress their power.
Even this was considered high-tier holy magic. And here they were pouring it from three priests onto a single skeleton...
"Kyak!"
Suddenly, the huddled skeleton lifted its head.
"Well, if it isn't Esix. How many years has it been? I've been bored seeing the same faces—show up more often."
Well, well? A talking, intelligent skeleton undead?
Then this was a lich.
Excluding the Necromancer Lord, it was the highest-grade undead in the Necromancer Army. Virtually impossible to kill permanently, making it the most headache-inducing foe.
So why was such a dangerous creature huddled in the Grand Temple's basement?
"......"
Esix ignored the lich's taunt and turned to the surrounding priests. They appeared to be in their thirties on average, wearing baffled expressions.
"High Priest, what brings you here at this hour?"
"Is something wrong with Royce's body while he's on break?"
"Who's the one who came with you? He looks awfully young..."
"......"
Esix fell silent at the three priests' questions for a moment. Then he abruptly grabbed my hand and declared,
"This is the Saint."
"Yes?"
"We didn't inform you all, but a few days ago, something miraculous happened in the world."
"A miracle..."
"The very miracle we've awaited for hundreds of years. And now, here, we will prove that miracle once more."
The dazed priests simultaneously turned shocked faces toward me. I gave a slight wave and introduced myself simply.
"So they say. Name's Claude."
"......Claude?"
"Claude—as in, that wastrel prince Claude?"
"Hmm? Who's that? A prince?"
"No, I heard about it when I took a day off and went out once..."
Even now, the priests who'd heard of my infamy began whispering.
Sigh... I got pissed for a second, but hold it in. This was all part of being famous.
More importantly, it had been days since I'd exterminated the Necromancer Army with Turn Undead—hadn't they heard yet?
"Everyone, quiet!"
Esix swung his empty hand through the air.
"Maintain reverence and faith. We will now perform the Saint's proof ritual."
"Kukuku... Haha!"
The skeleton burst into laughter.
"Haha! Ha, whew. Hahaha! This is hilarious. But if you're putting on a play, do it right. Who'd believe you calling this brat a Saint?"
"This has nothing to do with your faith. Rablts."
Esix called the lich's name in a dry voice. The lich sneered with unusually expressive facial movements for a skull.
"Ha, funny. A Saint? You'd need to bring someone as old as you to fool me even briefly. You're trying to scare me into spilling info—pointless."
The skeleton cackled, glaring at me through its empty sockets.
And right then, I couldn't hide my surging delight and burst out laughing.
What was this?
A lich imprisoned in the temple basement, sealed by priests?
This was a completely new development!
It was such a fresh experience I was nearly moved. I'd never dreamed the temple route had a hidden event like this—let alone with a lich!
"Hmm? The kid's suddenly laughing? Is he crazy?"
The lich clattered its jaw and asked Esix. Esix tightened his grip on my hand with an anxious look.
"Prince? What's wrong?"
"Huh? Oh, well... It's just ridiculous—a skeleton clacking away while talking. What even is this guy?"
"A lich. The strongest undead sorcerer, and humanity's greatest enemy."
"A lich... I think I read about it in the palace library once. But why's a lich in the Grand Temple's basement?"
"A lich's body is immortal. Unless you destroy the phylactery hiding its life force, no matter how thoroughly you shatter it, it will revive elsewhere someday."
Esix sighed. Meanwhile, the lich gaped its mouth toward the light pouring on it and thrashed in fury.
"That's why these damn bastards have tormented me for centuries without killing or freeing me! Just wait! The moment one of you slips, I'll kill you all and bust out!"
"We never let our guard down!"
Suddenly, the three priests shouted in unison and intensified the light's output. The lich spewed white smoke from its body and writhed in agony.
"Kyaaak! Kyaaaak!"
"Everyone, calm your hearts! Do not fall for his provocations."