The Wizard
A figure was standing cautiously in a dim bedroom, holding a cellphone in one hand.
"...It's me."
-I told you it wasn't time yet. I said you mustn't call carelessly. Hang up, now.
"Wait! I've got important information. It's an item worth an absurd amount of money."
The person making the call was Cardinal Augustino, the very man James suspected with near certainty.
-Forget the other relics. Just secure the item we planned for. Once things start to go off course, they won't be controllable.
"And what if a relic shows up so huge we have to overturn the whole plan?"
-What relic are you talking about?
"The Holy Grail. The cup of Jesus has appeared."
-!!
"There are plenty of places to fence it besides the Vatican. If we get our hands on it, it'll be worth far more than stealing a hundred other relics... "
-...Where is the Holy Grail right now? Is it being held at the museum?
"No. It hasn't reached the museum yet. From what the man who found it said today, it seems to have been hidden in Las Vegas."
-Then tell me the exact location!
"The man who found the Holy Grail said he'll report the location directly to the Pope tomorrow. Once I confirm the information, I'll pass it on immediately. Then the Holy Grail will be ours."
-If it's Las Vegas, then we need to leave at once.
"We should move as fast as possible. And it's likely even the Vatican Guard will be mobilized."
-Make absolutely sure of the location.
"Of course."
-And even if we find the Holy Grail, our plan goes ahead as scheduled.
"What? You're saying we have to stay in this stifling place longer?"
-Even if the Holy Grail disappears, no suspicion will fall on you. You know we've spent years building this plan, don't you? How could we stop halfway through?
"S-still... if it's the Holy Grail..."
-Even if we obtain it, the Holy Grail isn't something we can sell right away. We can't spend our lives staring at it forever. Besides, we need to secure cash if we're going to sell the Grail later.
"Ah..."
-You still haven't returned to your position overseeing the museum. Once you do, we'll finish our work right away and you can get out too. The museum's artworks will turn into cash immediately.
"You need to make sure I get my share."
-If you say that a few more times, it'll be a hundred. I've answered you that many times already, haven't I? The division has already been fixed. No matter how much you complain, your share won't go up or down.
"...Tch."
-We've talked too long.
"Fine. I'll go back to being the old-fashioned Cardinal Augustino."
-David. Your role in our plan is significant. Stay careful at all times.
"No one knows who I am. This place is full of idiots."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"His Holiness the Pope is waiting inside."
"Phew. I'm a little tense this time too."
But despite his words, James did not look tense in the slightest.
"When you go inside, you should first kneel and kiss the ring..."
"Save that for diplomatic envoys. Cut it short and let's go in."
"Phew."
Ever since he had met James, all Stefano the priest seemed to do was sigh.
Creaaak.
When the door opened, the Pope sitting on his throne came into view.
Bow.
"Good day. Your Holiness, I am James Kane."
James bowed in the Korean style.
'Oh... dear God.'
Stefano the priest pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling faint, but the Pope greeted James with a bright expression.
"Welcome, Brother James."
"I've wanted to meet you very much."
Stefano the priest's work ended there. Once he had guided them to the Pope's residence, the rest was none of his concern.
"Then I will take my leave..."
Stefano withdrew, leaving the Pope, James, and...
"Good day, Mr. James Kane. I am Joseph, the chamberlain who serves His Holiness."
It was Yosef, the Vatican chamberlain and the Pope's secretary.
"I was just thinking I should ask someone, and this is perfect. Father Yosef, could I trouble you with something?"
"......"
James took out his cellphone, worked something on it, and handed it over.
"You need to take a good picture."
"......"
Then he moved to stand beside the Pope.
"I'm sorry I couldn't ask in advance. Could I ask you to take a picture, Your Holiness?"
"Hohoho. Very well."
"...Cheese."
"Hohoho."
The cellphone captured a photo of James grinning broadly beside the Pope, who was laughing heartily. James even struck a pose so that a V sign appeared above the Pope's shoulder and head.
Click, click.
Yosef sensibly took a few more shots, and James checked them with obvious satisfaction.
"Oho. So the chamberlain isn't just anybody after all. You took these much better than Father Stefano did."
"......"
Taking good pictures did not make one a chamberlain, but Yosef could hardly say that in front of the Pope.
"I'll bring the tea, Your Holiness."
"Brother James, what would you like for tea..."
"Thank you. I'll drink anything. Please bring the same for me."
After taking a sip of the tea and setting it down, James made a sudden request.
"Do you have a vault that you manage separately, Your Holiness? If so, could I see it?"
"Hoho. It would be best to receive permission from the chamberlain for that."
He was shifting the refusal onto the chamberlain because he couldn't bring himself to say no to James' face.
"Brother James. His Holiness's vault..."
Chamberlain Yosef began to refuse with dignity, but before he could even finish, James rose from his seat.
"Since His Holiness says he won't go, let's go by ourselves, then."
"W-wait. Brother James, please let me finish..."
"It seems His Holiness doesn't want to see it. I suppose it would be a nuisance. It's only the Holy Grail, after all..."
"!"
"!"
"Let's go to the vault ourselves, then. It's about to weigh me down and kill me."
"W-wait. We definitely checked all your belongings before you came in..."
Being granted an audience with the Pope was no different from meeting the head of state of a nation, so James had to pass through security as well. As chamberlain, Yosef had checked James' belongings in advance, so he knew for certain.
'He definitely had nothing on him!'
And yet now James was acting as if the Holy Grail were hidden in his own coat.
"Why, are you trying to drag along His Holiness, who's advanced in years? Let's just go by ourselves, shall we? I'd really prefer to put only the Holy Grail in the vault."
"Brother James, what you just said..."
Before the chamberlain could confirm it again, the Pope rose from his seat.
"Hoho. Even at this age, I still must see the cup of Jesus."
"Shall we do that, then? Come with us."
"Your Holiness. He is now..."
"Yosef, I know Brother James is a little light in his words and manner, but he doesn't look like a liar to me. Even if there is no Holy Grail, he must have a reason for asking to go to the vault."
'The vault is thoroughly guarded, after all.'
"...I will accompany you."
And so Yosef was able to enter the Pope's residence and access the deeply hidden secret vault.
"Huh! This is Longinus' Spear... right?"
"...The one displayed at St. Peter's Basilica is a sophisticated replica. This is the original."
It was the spear said to have pierced Jesus' side while he was nailed to the cross, causing water and blood to flow out. There were many traditions surrounding Longinus' Spear, but in the end they all came to the same conclusion: whoever possessed it would always win.
"Oho."
James could see another sacred relic.
"Oh. This would be the holy shroud, wouldn't it?"
"That is correct. During Saint Veronica's tending of Jesus' suffering on the cross..."
Before Yosef could finish, James asked another question.
"Is that chunk of wood a relic too?"
"It is not a chunk of wood, it is a fragment of the Holy Cross!"
It was part of the wooden cross on which Jesus had been crucified.
"Why get angry about it? I was only asking because I was curious..."
"...It's because you came all the way in here and are just sightseeing! Can't you see that His Holiness is waiting for you?"
"He has been waiting for more than two thousand years. He can't wait a few minutes?"
"Hoho. That's true enough. Take all the time you need."
James had no intention of dragging this out any longer either.
'The door is definitely closed, and no one is nearby.'
The Pope's secret vault was the perfect place to avoid any possible wiretaps and have a confidential conversation.
"I believe the time has come, Papa."
"......"
"And for what I am about to show you, I should greet you properly once more."
"?"
While Chamberlain Yosef looked puzzled, James' introduction continued.
"Across the long span of years, James Kane, disciple of Merlin Ambrosius, presents himself before Your Holiness."
James knelt before the Pope and kissed his ring, greeting him with full ceremonial formality.
"!"
"Merlin Ambrosius, you say..."
James, rising to his feet, raised both hands and began to reveal his true nature as a magician.
Whiiish.
Though every door was shut in this place, wind swept through and made everyone's clothes flutter.
"A magician handles the wind with ease..."
Fwoosh.
A pair of flame-shaped wings appeared behind James' back.
"!!"
"!!"
"And uses fire as naturally as his own hands."
Slosh.
Wings made of water formed opposite the flames.
"Wind... fire... and water..."
Showing the shape of an angel before the Pope was a kind of service James provided.
'And the last is...'
Paatt!
A bright light bloomed behind James' head. It was almost as though a halo had been cast around him. He was imitating the halo of an angel, the thing called a Halo.
"A being that seeks out light through truth... I am Merlin's disciple, and the only magician in the world."
But James was not an angel.
"......"
"......"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"...You mean to say that you are the disciple of the magician Merlin?"
"That is correct, Papa. I am the disciple of the magician Merlin, and I have inherited everything from my master."
James' attitude, unlike before, was solemn and full of grace.
"Your Holiness, you must be careful..."
Having just confirmed his control over wind, fire, water, and light, Yosef judged him to be dangerous.
The chamberlain watched warily, and James smiled as he spoke.
"Haha. Don't be afraid. I won't harm anyone."
The Pope didn't look worried either.
"Yosef, it's fine. Let's watch."
"As expected of Your wisdom, Papa. Since I am not known to the world as a magician, I had no choice but to come all the way into this vault. From here, I intend to take out the Holy Grail myself."
Carefully moving his hand, James opened his inventory and then thrust his hand into the black space.
"!"
"!"
The two of them stared with widened eyes as his hand vanished into thin air.
"Chamberlain, please take this first."
"Th-this is..."
What James took out was not the Grail, but a plate.
"The Patena, the Holy Paten, that was found together with the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail may be better known to the world, but I understand the Holy Paten is no less a sacred relic. I told Father Stefano that the Holy Paten had been found with the Holy Grail, but it seems that message never reached you?"
"!"
James' hand vanished into thin air again, and this time he took out a golden cup.
"!"
"!"
"It is an honor to be able to present the Holy Grail to Your Holiness."
The Pope accepted the Holy Grail James held out with both hands, his own hands trembling.
"Oho. The Lord's Holy Grail and Holy Paten... have come to the Vatican."
Chamberlain Yosef was drawing the sign of the cross, tears welling in his eyes.
"Lord, the evidence here stands as witness to the redemption of mankind through the Eucharist."
"......"
James waited patiently for the two of them to be moved to their hearts' content by the Holy Grail and the Holy Paten.
'We still have a lot to talk about, so let's come to our senses quickly.'
It took quite a while before the two of them had carefully enshrined the Holy Grail and Holy Paten deep in the vault and come back out, but James waited with patience. This time, it was his turn to wait.
'Come on already.'