Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Strange's Sword
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A letter arrived from Bess, who had departed for Luisnes Academy.
Not only had he rescued his brothers there, but he was also bringing everyone else along as they headed south.
“I will proceed to the Papal Court with a minimal force. In the meantime, I’m delegating all authority to Kaipa, so everyone is to follow his orders.”
I issued the command to all the commanders participating in this operation. While I was away, Kaipa’s orders would be as good as my own will.
“Are you sure it’s alright to hand over full authority to me?”
Kaipa expressed concern over my decision.
It was probably because his heart was filled with immense pressure from the war, along with trust and responsibility toward his own army.
“Yes. The waves have hit harder than expected, so this is the only move we can make right now.”
“It doesn’t seem necessary for the Family Head to go all the way to the Papal Court in person.”
“There’s a personal matter with them that I need to settle, separate from the family.”
“What might that be?”
I turned my head toward Cynthia’s direction as I replied.
“It involves others besides me, so it’s hard to explain.”
“In that case, there’s no helping it.”
“If any unexpected situations arise during the operation, use your own judgment to handle them, Kaipa.”
“Is that alright? Bess, the Knight Commander of the Castle Guard, will be returning soon.”
“He’s aware of this as well, so no need to worry about it.”
“...Understood.”
In any case, Rox and Philip’s forces were standing by here in the south. It was solid enough to check not only the waves threatening the continent but also Rothschild leading the Knights of God.
Even if I stepped away now, there was no great cause for concern.
After finishing my conversation with Kaipa, I immediately set off for the Papal Court with Cynthia and Theresia.
To give us each time to think during the journey to the sanctuary, I prepared three carriages. In preparation for any possible external attacks, I assembled an expedition force of a hundred elite soldiers skilled in using Aura.
“From now on, anyone in the path of my sword is an enemy.”
I pointed to the Strange family’s cross-sword engraved on my blade and continued speaking to the elite soldiers.
Clank.
“No one is exempt from this. Even if God Himself stands in our way, cut Him down without hesitation.”
The Papal Court, situated between the great canals where it was said in the past that God had descended.
Timeless, who had come there, waited in front of a barrier created by a divine spell for someone’s arrival.
Thud, thud, thud.
Slow but steady footsteps pressing into the ground. With that dull sound came the true power behind the Papal Court.
Archbishop Juda.
He approached Timeless with his followers and bowed his head.
“What brings you all the way here, Apostle Timeless, master of eternal time?”
Timeless removed his mask and thrust his head forward right in front of him.
“The time has come.”
“...The time has come?”
“The time to eradicate Strange and their followers.”
Archbishop Juda’s half-closed eyes widened in surprise, and he let out a heavy sigh through his nostrils.
Hoo—
“May I ask why you think that?”
“You don’t need to know my thoughts. I will open the path, and you will follow it.”
“......”
“I am you, and you are me. As long as our wills align, we will meet at the end of the path—”
“Please wait a moment, Lord Timeless. You appear so suddenly and say the time has come, but I’m not ready yet.”
Timeless, displeased with Juda’s response, slowly shook his head side to side before suddenly grabbing him by the collar and shouting.
Smack!
“You, have you been in contact with Bess?”
“...What do you mean by that?”
“If not, you wouldn’t react like this.”
Juda grabbed Timeless’s wrists with a meaningful smile.
“Explain it so I can understand. If you speak in such vague terms, how am I supposed to know?”
“I am Timeless.”
“Yes.”
“And you are Timeless, just like me.”
“......”
“So why pretend you don’t understand and mock me?”
“I’m not mocking you. I truly couldn’t comprehend. For our plan to come to fruition, we need sufficient preparation time... This is too soon, isn’t it?”
“Too soon?”
“Yes, I’m not saying I won’t carry out your will. I’m just asking for time to properly secure my position within the Papal Court.”
Timeless shook his head.
“That’s more than enough. The Pope has been powerless for a long time anyway. With a single word from you, couldn’t you wipe out the Holy Legion?”
“...Lord Timeless, while I have no restrictions in moving them, doesn’t the Papal Court currently lack any justification to attack Strange?”
“Justification?”
“Yes, justification. They’re fighting against the waves, which we label as ‘evil.’ How could we, who follow the ‘good,’ attack them?”
“Good and evil are just a matter of perspective. It depends on which side you’re looking from.”
“A matter of perspective?”
“Yes, you should know that better than anyone. You must have seen plenty during your time at the Papal Court.”
“......”
“If you believe in God, you’re good; if not, you’re evil. Those facing the light are good; those in the shadows are evil.”
Juda shook his head.
“I never said that.”
“I’m not speaking of your will. It’s that the world thinks that way now.”
“Timeless, it seems being trapped in the tower for so long has filled your mind with delusions. Why not rest here for a while?”
“No, didn’t I say there’s no time for that?”
“Why not?”
Timeless ground his teeth in anger.
Grind.
“...He’s learned our true nature. Not just you and me, but the existence of all who bear the name Timeless.”
“?!”
“That’s why we must hurry. We need to strike first before we’re the ones hit.”
“How did that happen? Did a traitor emerge among us?”
“No, he broke through my trial and escaped.”
“Is that possible? The trials are wielded by the Apostles, but the domain is directly managed by the tower’s master, or so I heard.”
“Exactly. That means he possesses power capable of opposing the tower’s master.”
Juda bit his lip hard, then unleashed a intense white light and heat through his palms gripping Timeless’s wrists.
Sizzle!
Startled, Timeless slapped his hands away and stepped back, exhaling black Aura.
Whoosh.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
“Foolish creature.”
“What?”
“I told you to keep Strange in check as the tower’s dog, and you couldn’t even manage that properly.”
Timeless glared at Juda.
“So you did meet Bess after all.”
“Correct. And I am no longer Timeless. I am merely Archbishop Juda of the Papal Court.”
“What changed you?”
“I changed myself.”
“You yourself?”
“Yes. To atone for the lingering regrets of my foolish past self, trapped in bygone times, and live anew.”
“If you do that, the other Timelesses won’t stay idle.”
“Let them try. They can’t stop me anyway.”
At Juda’s gesture, his followers raised spears infused with holy power and surrounded Timeless.
“You’re the same. An Apostle who has left the tower can’t use the master’s power, can they?”
“......”
“It’s a fact everyone knows. And while you were trapped in the tower, I spoke at length with the other Timelesses.”
“Other Timelesses?”
“Yes, the ones I met recently shared my view. We’ve decided to abandon revenge against Strange and live our own lives.”
Unable to believe Juda’s words, Timeless shook his head, veins bulging on his forehead.
“So you’re saying you won’t follow Timeless’s will anymore.”
Juda gathered light in both hands as he replied.
“No, we are Timeless like you. We simply chose differently—whether to linger in the past or move toward the future.”
With that exchange concluded, ominous dark clouds slowly gathered over the Papal Court.
The sky darkened more intensely than ever before, and the once-white clouds turned to a dead gray.
“I understand your intent. But I cannot forgive those who try to escape the time I created.”
Timeless extended his hand toward Archbishop Juda. He whispered a spell so quietly only he could hear.
Crack!
Mana erupted from Juda’s heart, enveloping his body and turning it to darkness.
“Gaaaargh!”
Not only that, but the Papal Court’s buildings were swallowed by shadows, growing dim, and the holy light illuminating the sanctuary began to fade.
Upon arriving at the Papal Court, I immediately requested an audience with the Pope.
The reason for my visit today was not simply to deal with Archbishop Juda, but to guide them on the path they must take to survive from now on.
The guard captain standing before the grand doors of the Papal Court removed his white helmet and spoke to me.
Clank.
“Family Head of Strange, Lord Berddin. I’m sorry, but it seems you won’t be able to meet the Pope today.”
I stepped down from the carriage and spoke directly with him.
“That can’t be right. I received a letter from the Pope himself saying he could make time for me.”
“I apologize. We heard about it too and sent word inside the Papal Court, but we received orders not to let anyone in...”
“Do you know the reason for this?”
“I tried to find out, but there’s no response from inside.”
Could Juda have pulled some strings? If so, that meant Timeless was exerting influence outside the tower.
‘Then everything Bess said must be true.’
That he had betrayed his master and was moving outside the tower.
“Is Archbishop Juda inside, by any chance?”
“Yes.”
“Then, can you tell if it was the Pope or the Archbishop who canceled this appointment?”
“...I’m only following procedure, so I don’t know whose mouth the order came from.”
“I see?”
“Yes, Lord Berddin.”
I gazed at the walls of the Papal Court, engraved with sacred and reverent patterns, and continued.
“I have always hoped that the will of the Most Holy One would remain with this continent.”
“Is that so.”
“Moreover, I hope His divine grace protects this place—the sanctuary itself—and shines upon it with holiness.”
“We are grateful to hear such words from the Lord of the Sword.”
“...However.”
I raised my hand above my head.
Boom!
The ground trembled greatly.
“The sanctuary, which should be filled with light, is steeped in darkness. I don’t know what I should do.”
The guard captain understood my intent and nodded slightly.
“If what I suspect has happened, even God will not forgive it.”
Boom!
“I feel the same. But if God desires light over darkness, He will forgive all my sins in the future.”
“Lord Berddin.”
“There is only one message I can give to those here now.”
Boom!
I looked up at the dark clouds covering the sky and casting shadow over the Papal Court as I continued.
“If you want to live, flee to a place where Strange’s sword cannot reach. My final warning to the Papal Court has already ended.”
Rumble—
With the ground’s shaking, a giant emerged from beneath the canal. It looked down at the Papal Court’s walls with its massive eyes, then brought its two fists together above its head and smashed down.
Kaboom!