Infighter Priest (2)
"Soon, there'll be an election for the new bishop of the Fernin branch. Make sure to pass that along. And if anyone has complaints, tell them to come see me. Any problems?"
"None at all, Archbishop."
"Even after all this commotion, the high-ranking officials who haven't shown their faces at the temple are either the types who don't even bother coming to work, or they've heard I'm here and are making lame excuses to stay away. Something equally idiotic like that. I'll deal with all of them later, so keep that in mind."
"Yes, ma'am."
The holy knight knelt on one knee, head bowed low, his attitude toward Anies a complete one-eighty from when he'd held a sword to her throat moments ago.
His devout posture, as if worshiping a saint, made him look like the very model of a faithful holy knight—responding curtly and reverently.
Elenoa simply couldn't fathom what kind of sentiment had gripped this man who'd been beaten down and forced to submit to one-sided violence, turning him into such a devotee of Anies.
"Alright, I've said everything I needed to. If you don't have anything else, get going. I've got some catching up to do with an old friend."
"As you command, Archbishop."
"...And use this money to get a new suit of armor. It's kinda my fault it got wrecked like that."
"No, please! This armor that withstood your grace's fists will be my lifelong treasure..."
"Ugh, treasure it or not, I don't care—just buy a new one and wear it! You planning to go around in that dented mess and embarrass Vesta's temple? Change it right now!"
"Ah... Understood."
The holy knight's face fell into a dejected pout at Anies's irritated scowl and sharp tone.
"What's your name?"
"Arden. Arden Vers."
"Hmm, got it. Arden. I'll remember that."
"Thank you!"
Elenoa stared in disbelief as the knight's sullen expression brightened instantly at Anies's single word, like a massive dog whose tail would be wagging furiously if it had one.
"Arden... your tastes..."
Elenoa eyed him with a hint of revulsion. He was one of the few male acquaintances she had from Aiter—same year, enrolled and graduated together—and now she'd glimpsed his inclinations.
Arden, meanwhile, gazed back at her with a satisfied smile.
"Lady Elenoa, today I feel like I've met a true priestess."
"Uh... good for you."
Elenoa laced her words with polite formality to keep her mental distance from his vibe, but Arden ignored it entirely, eyes fixed only on Anies.
"Enough. Go on."
"Yes, Archbishop. If you ever need anything—anything at all—just say the word. I'll drop everything and come running."
"Yeah, sure."
"Then."
Anies ignored Arden completely as he bowed and headed out through the doorless exit. Her gaze shifted to Riod and Eunhyeon.
"Hmm, so you're really alive again? This guy?"
"Hard to believe, but yeah. For real."
She jabbed a finger at Eunhyeon, glancing at Riod for confirmation before scrutinizing him intently once more.
"Flesh with blood flowing through it—clearly a living human body, not undead... Wild. For real."
Eunhyeon gave a wry smile under her stare and muttered.
"'This guy'? Harsh, considering it's been ages."
"You're the one who only showed me the inhuman sides. Oh, that was a compliment—don't mind it."
"Anyway, Iliana's waiting outside the temple. Let's move."
"Right. Let's relocate first."
The group nodded at Eunhyeon's suggestion.
As they emerged from the temple amid stares from the gathered priests, they met Iliana waiting outside.
"What the hell were you doing in there? The whole building was shaking."
"Temple was a mess, so I gave 'em some education. So, where we talking?"
"My place."
"Come to think of it, I only heard about your wedding—couldn't make it. Sorry. And belated congrats."
"No big deal. The Holy Kingdom's been busy too."
"Oh, then I'll swing by my house real quick first."
Heading to Riod's mansion with him in the lead, Iliana suddenly mentioned she had business and peeled off.
"Something up?"
"Nah, just... got a gift I wanna give Terezia."
"...A gift?"
Riod frowned slightly at Iliana's oddly evasive tone and pressed.
Ever since learning from Eunhyeon that Iliana had egged Terezia on, he'd become acutely aware of how often his wife and Iliana met privately.
It wasn't exactly welcome—for Riod, or even for Eunhyeon.
"I'll grab the 'gift' and head straight to your place."
"...Got it."
Riod was dying to know what the gift was, but prying into wife stuff felt off, so he let it drop.
She's seriously gonna give her that...? Shit... Sorry, Riod.
Eunhyeon couldn't hide his discomfort, so Riod turned to him.
"You know what Iliana's giving Terezia?"
"...Yeah."
"What is it?"
"Can't say."
"...Why not?"
"Better if you don't know. Well, you'll find out eventually... but the marchioness'll handle it. It's not dangerous or anything. Don't worry too much."
"...I know Iliana means well. Guess I'll leave it at that."
"Yeah."
Eunhyeon sighed inwardly, unable to blurt out, 'Your wife got sex toys from my wife.'
"Then I'll go fetch Alex and the duke."
"Father?"
"Gotta report the lady's engagement rumors are squashed clean. Plus, discuss future plans—better to gather everyone and handle it efficiently."
"Might as well head to our mansion, then..."
"Already sent word to the duke. He'll come with the young lord once business wraps up. No need to go."
"Oh, really? Got it."
"Why didn't I know?"
"Slipped my mind. Sorry."
"You... seriously? That's not something you forget!"
"Sorry, my bad."
Elenoa ground her teeth in frustration, glaring daggers at the back of Eunhyeon's head as he casually turned away to chat with Riod again.
"Hmm?"
"Archbishop? Something wrong?"
Anies, listening quietly from behind as they walked, let out an intrigued hum. Elenoa asked.
"Nah, just... that guy's got more chill than I thought now."
"Chill...? You mean him? Isn't he always like that?"
"No, hard to put my finger on it, but he always seemed obsessed with something—bound by it, y'know? Now he looks like he's let it all go."
"......"
"Well, the idiot lived oblivious to the woman right under his nose till he finally decided to marry her—maybe resurrection sparked some change. And... the density of divine power in him feels higher now."
"Divine power..."
Elenoa recalled the force that had enveloped him during the sa-ryong's breath attack—similar to holy power, yet on another level.
"Archbishop... do you think it's possible for someone to die and come back?"
"Dunno. But probably? Look, he did."
She'd only recently learned Eunhyeon had died and revived.
The old Elenoa would've scoffed it off as impossible, but seeing the heroes who'd survived the Great War and the 'divine power' in him, she couldn't deny he'd experienced death once.
"He always says this: 'Nothing's impossible in this world. Only what can happen does. Don't assume others see it as impossible just 'cause you do.' Honestly, from others' views, not just him—even me or Iliana with our frozen-in-time bodies are impossibilities."
"......"
"When I was a kid, Vesta chose me, poured massive holy power into this body. Sixteen years old. Been stuck like this ever since."
Eunhyeon didn't age, for some reason.
Iliana's witch blood and immense mana halted her aging.
Anies gained ultimate physical prowess from holy power—ripping apart magic beasts barehanded—but at the cost of halted growth.
Her current form was that of her 16-year-old self: tiny, even among girls her age.
"Impossible for me, so nothing impossible exists... I think I get it."
Media was the same.
She massacred humans for energy, gaining near-immortality, then cursed her soul to sever 'death' from her body.
Impossible, can't happen, no way.
Everyone said it, yet contradictions walked the earth.
Elenoa stared at the silver-haired man's back, shattering her common sense, and followed quietly.
"Welcome. We've been expecting you."
Entering the marquis's mansion, rows of butlers and maids formed a path, with Terezia at the center greeting the guests with elegant noble poise.
"Whoa, wow..."
Anies gaped slack-jawed at Terezia's refined bow, then scowled fiercely and yanked Riod's sleeve.
Too short to grab his collar due to their height gap, she settled for tugging his arm.
"Hey! Where'd you find a babe like that? She's gorgeous!"
"Don't crudely appraise another man's wife."
"Pfft, stick-in-the-mud. Seriously, Eunhyeon's marrying Iliana too—such perfect couples, makes me sick."
"Hee-hee, thank you for the praise. Meeting my husband's friends always brings fresh energy. This one's especially lively. All four of you have such strong personalities—fascinating."
"Definitely..."
Elenoa, listening silently from the rear, nodded faintly in agreement.
"The Armitas father and son have already arrived. We'll serve dinner first—please, head upstairs."
"Right. Let's go up."
Woooong.
"Terezia, it's me."
"Oh my, sister. You've arrived."
"...Sister?"
"What?"
The two men froze stiff at Terezia calling the teleporting Iliana 'sister.'
Riod's eyes naturally drifted to the package cradled in Iliana's arms.
"That's the 'gift'?"
"You guys go on up. This is girl talk."
"Girl talk?"
Anies perked up with interest at Iliana's words.
"...Riod, let's go."
"...Fine."
Eunhyeon, reading the room, hustled Riod toward the dining hall. Terezia swiftly dismissed the lingering staff to their duties.
Left in the vast hall: Iliana, Terezia, and the intrigued Anies. Terezia took the package from Iliana.
She gulped, peeked inside—and went blank for a moment.
"Oh my..."
Then her cheeks flushed as she beamed delightedly.
"Wh-what is this...?"
Anies peeked too, eyes widening in shock as she blurted.
"So vulgar and obscene-looking. Hee-hee."
Even as she said it, a burning desire to try it someday welled up within her.