Chapter 16: Turmoil in the Royal Capital
It was the first disturbance since the establishment of the Royal Capital, yet miraculously, it was resolved without a single casualty.
Thanks to the efforts of His Majesty the King and His Holiness the Pope, we were able to return to our inn without having to take any action ourselves.
Geshura, the Kin of Twilight, remained stationed in the forest on the outskirts of the Royal Capital, but perhaps it was fortunate that she was not present at the scene. Had she been there, unnecessary suspicions might have been cast upon her.
The following day, however, we could not expect a day of peace. We were summoned to the royal castle.
After being led to the waiting room as usual, Freinir and I were ushered into the Audience Chamber.
In attendance were His Majesty the King, Prime Minister Julius, the Royal Guard Knights Harsivil and Lady Meldoza, Guild Master Dwight, and, surprisingly, His Holiness the Pope himself.
Though the Pope still bore a haggard expression, he appeared to be in better spirits than the previous day.
As we were prompted to take our seats, to my astonishment, His Holiness suddenly stood and bowed deeply.
“I am deeply regretful that due to our mismanagement, we have caused you, Soushi-sama, and Freinir-sama, great discomfort. I have spoken with His Majesty, and had you not noticed Cardinal Holwood’s scheme, both of you would have been unjustly accused of ‘Soul’s Guidance.’ Such an error would have been irreparable for us. I cannot express enough gratitude for your intervention.”
“I believe that avoiding this trouble has been mutually beneficial. However, if possible, I would like to hear the full details of this incident,” I replied.
“Mutual benefit? For you, it was merely the elimination of an unfounded accusation. As for the details of this matter, I learned everything from the Cardinal yesterday, so I will share it here.”
As the Pope settled into his seat, his movements were awkward, indicating he was still far from fully recovered. It was clear he had exerted himself to be present.
“Let me first recount the outline of the incident. Is that acceptable, Your Majesty?”
“Indeed, sharing the full details of the incident should come first,” His Majesty nodded.
With that encouragement, the Pope began to speak slowly.
“The story goes back about a year, to when I ascended to the position of Pope—”
What followed was a narrative that unfolded as such:
About a year ago, the current Saint began to suffer from illness, leading to discussions within the Church about the need for a successor. Naturally, Freinir’s name was among the candidates, but it was Cardinal Holwood who raised an objection.
He brought forth Lady Mirannera, a daughter of the House of Duke Armand, claiming she was the rightful candidate for the Saint. His argument was based on the fact that Lady Mirannera had already acquired the Skill of Holy Attribute Magic.
“Excuse me for interrupting, but I have heard that Freinir was expelled because she ‘Awakened’…” I interjected.
“That is not entirely accurate. In the Church, those who have ‘Awakened’ are regarded as ‘close to the Apostles of God,’ so expelling someone for that reason would not occur. In fact, initially, Freinir-sama had not ‘Awakened,’ while Mirannera had, making her the more suitable candidate for the Saint.”
“Then, does that mean Freinir ‘Awakened’ after her expulsion was decided?”
“That seems to be the case. Regardless, Mirannera had already ‘Awakened’ to Holy Attribute Magic, so Cardinal Holwood’s claims could not be overturned. The troubling part is that at this time, the unidentified priest—an agent of the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld’—was already in league with Holwood.”
It was clear that the priest who summoned the Undead and then melted away was indeed an agent of the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld.’ Furthermore, this priest had somehow caused both the Pope and the current Saint to fall ill.
“It was only when I received Freinir-sama’s ‘Divine Halo’ yesterday that both the Saint and I regained our clear consciousness. Until then, I had only vague memories shrouded in white mist, and I could not recall what I had been doing.”
“Could it be that you were being manipulated?” I asked.
“From what I gathered from the priests, I had made statements that seemed to indicate I was making judgments on certain matters. Therefore, as you said, it is reasonable to conclude that I was indeed being manipulated by that priest, and by extension, by Holwood.”
What a shocking revelation. I had thought Freinir’s troubles were merely the fallout of a power struggle, but it turned out to involve an unknown dark organization.
“Afterward, Holwood seemed to have solidified his position by establishing the ‘Adventurers of Salvation’ centered around Garsonia and Mirannera. This recent incident appears to be a desperate measure due to the ‘Supreme Radiance’ plan being jeopardized.”
“I see. By eliminating us, the ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ and elevating Lady Mirannera to the position of Saint, he aimed to enhance the status of ‘Supreme Radiance.'”
“Precisely. It is utterly foolish, to say the least.”
The Pope lowered his gaze and shook his head.
Curious, I glanced at Freinir, who remained expressionless, listening intently.
“Freinir, do you have any concerns regarding what has been discussed?”
“No, Soushi-sama. This is no longer a matter that concerns me, and if there is nothing further, I have no reason to dwell on it.”
“I see…”
It was a tale of how she had been on the verge of suffering a grave injustice—perhaps even losing her life—due to the schemes of a petty man. Yet, if she claims it does not concern her, I would not press further. However, her use of the phrase “no longer a matter” seemed to carry a strong sentiment.
Still, I had something else on my mind.
“Excuse me, but is there a specific reason why Cardinal Holwood insisted on Mirannera instead of Freinir?”
“It appears there was a strong recommendation from the House of Duke Armand, specifically from Mirannera’s mother. However, the reason why the Duke’s house pushed for Mirannera over Freinir-sama remains unclear.”
“A recommendation, you say…”
It seemed likely that Cardinal Holwood had received what could be termed a ‘bribe’ disguised as a ‘recommendation.’ Given that it was Mirannera’s mother who recommended her, it was safe to assume that the power struggle within the noble family was the underlying reason.
“By the way, have you managed to gather any information about the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld’?”
At that question, the Pope shook his head.
“No, Holwood seems to have only a vague understanding of the priest in question, recognizing him as someone skilled in summoning and dark magic—magic that caused us to fall ill. Although it was said he came from the Church of the Armand Duchy, when we contacted the Archbishop of the Duchy, he claimed there was no such priest. It seems even Holwood does not fully understand why he believed the priest’s origins.”
“Could it be that some form of magic was used on the Cardinal, allowing the priest to masquerade as one of his subordinates?”
“That is certainly a possibility. Now, regarding the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld’…”
“Yes, I would like to share information about that here as well.”
At that moment, His Majesty the King spoke up.
“The royal family does not possess much information either. The existence of this group was confirmed during the wars that lasted until a few years ago, where a faction known as the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld’ appeared and participated in battles, utilizing Undead. Their name has not surfaced since the end of the wars. Their motives remain entirely unknown, as they do not seem to align with any specific faction. There are even records suggesting they lent their strength to both opposing nations at times.”
“The Church’s understanding is almost the same. However, we have additional records indicating that they are seeking a being known as the ‘Lost Princess.'”
“The ‘Lost Princess’?”
“The scriptures of the Arshuram Church contain references to the Netherworld, stating that somewhere within it, there exists a ‘Princess’ who heals the dead. It is said that the dead wander the Netherworld for eternity in search of this ‘Princess.'”
“So, the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld’ considers this legend to be true?”
“If the records are accurate, then yes.”
“What is known about this ‘Princess’?”
“She is said to be the first human created by God Arshuram. God Arshuram is the Creator of all things, and it is said that when He created humans, He first made one woman as a test. She is believed to have fallen into the Netherworld immediately after birth—essentially, she died right away—but due to her uniqueness, she did not become an ordinary dead person even in the Netherworld.”
“And that is the ‘Lost Princess.’ What does the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld’ intend to do by searching for her? That remains unknown?”
“That is entirely unclear. Since they claim she brings healing to the dead, it could be interpreted as a quest for salvation, but…”
“It seems we will have to capture members of the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld’ and ask them directly.”
When I said this, His Majesty the King nodded gravely.
“The royal family is also conducting an investigation into this matter. Since Mecalinan has also appeared, we will likely cooperate with them.”
“I will also exercise caution, as I have already made contact with someone who seems to be a high-ranking member.”
“Indeed. By the way, regarding the earlier mention of the ‘Lost Princess,’ the Church believes that there is a connection between her, the first human created by God Arshuram, and the so-called ‘Demon’?”
When His Majesty prompted him, the Pope opened his mouth once more.
“Yes. The ‘Demon’ that has recently appeared outside the Royal Capital is described in the scriptures as something that was created when an evil god attempted to imitate the ‘human’ made by God Arshuram and failed. It is also said that this being actually appeared once long ago, as a matter of fact.”
“A failed creation of an evil god, you say? That certainly fits the appearance of the ‘Demon.'”
After all, the ‘Demon’ essentially resembles a chaotic amalgamation of human body parts. If one were to call it a ‘failed creation of a human,’ it would indeed evoke that impression. However, it also seems likely that such tales were spun as a result of its appearance.
“By the way, Soushi-sama, you mentioned that you have entered the exit from which the ‘Demon’ emerges?”
“Yes, I was drawn into the ‘Gate to Another World’ and found myself in a place that could be called ‘another world.’ There, I witnessed the emergence of the ‘Demon.'”
“That is an astonishing tale… However, regarding that ‘Gate to Another World,’ the scriptures refer to it by another name: the ‘Gate of the Netherworld.'”