Chapter 16: Chaos in the Royal Capital – Part 11
The next morning, a total of nine individuals, led by Lady Mirannera, ascended the stairs of the ruins, consisting of four priests and four knight-priests.
We remained at the base of the ruins, keeping watch alongside the remaining knight-priests, but there was no sign of anything unusual occurring.
To be honest, I didn’t see any point in interfering with this Saint’s succession event. Frankly, Lady Mirannera didn’t seem like a true Saint in any traditional sense, and the likelihood of an intruder disrupting such a staged event seemed low.
Glancing up at the ruins, I saw Lady Mirannera carefully unwrapping something that resembled a stone tablet from a stone coffin. It was explained to us before we departed that this was the item necessary for the succession of the Saint, known as the Divine Oracle Tablet. However, it was unlikely that such a precious item would be left in these ruins for long; it was probably either a replica or something that had been placed there just prior.
As I returned my focus to the surroundings, Freinir approached me.
“Soushi-sama, I sense a strange presence. It feels similar to the aura I detected from the tablet that summoned the Undead before.”
“What? In which direction?”
“Well… it’s coming from above the ruins…”
I quickly shifted my gaze back to the top of the ruins.
Lady Mirannera was descending the stairs, cradling the wrapped tablet in her arms, accompanied by the priests. Could it be that the Undead were emerging from above the ruins?
“I can feel that presence emanating from the cloth that Lady Mirannera is holding. However, it’s very faint, so I don’t think it indicates the Undead will appear,” Freinir added.
“Hmm… Even so, it might be wise to remain vigilant. But what could this mean…?”
The item wrapped inside was the Divine Oracle Tablet, essentially a holy relic. Since Freinir had mentioned that the aura she sensed was malevolent, it was indeed strange for such a presence to come from a holy relic. Even if it were a replica, it wouldn’t be normal.
Yet, I hesitated to bring this up… It was a troubling dilemma.
If I were to say, “I sense an aura similar to that of the Undead from what you believe to be a holy relic,” it would undoubtedly cause a significant uproar. However, as someone who understands the importance of communication, I felt uneasy about not conveying this information.
While I was deep in thought, Lady Mirannera and her entourage had already descended to the ground.
At that moment, I recognized one of the priests surrounding her as the one who had previously brought a summons to our inn. His name was Canary, and I thought he might be someone I could communicate with.
After allowing Lady Mirannera and her group a brief rest, we planned to return to the Royal Capital in one go. Since we had to focus entirely on our duties during the journey, now seemed like the right time to speak.
I noticed Priest Canary was trying to take a break a little away from Lady Mirannera. I quietly approached him, and the knight-priests showed no signs of objection.
“Excuse me, Priest Canary, but there’s something I’d like to convey.”
“Ah, Soushi-dono. What is it?”
“I believe Lady Mirannera has brought down a tablet from the top of the ruins just now…”
“Yes, it is the tablet inscribed with the divine oracle of God Archulum.”
“Actually, one of my party members mentioned sensing a strange presence from that tablet. They have never been wrong in such matters before, so I’m a bit concerned. I apologize for being so forward, but could that tablet possibly be a replica?”
As I carefully chose my words, Priest Canary furrowed his brow and then answered while averting his gaze.
“Since it is used in the ritual of the Saint, it is, of course, supposed to be genuine…”
His wording confirmed that the tablet was indeed a replica. It seemed that Priest Canary was not one to lie. Well, I suppose priests should ideally be honest.
“I see. However, if that tablet has been kept in these ruins for a long time, it’s possible someone could have come and swapped it out. As I mentioned earlier, there’s a strange presence… to be frank, it feels like a sinister aura. Please be cautious.”
“I understand. I will take your advice to heart. By the way, who was it that sensed this presence?”
“Freinir.”
I chose to be honest here, as misleading him would only undermine the credibility of my warning.
Priest Canary sighed and replied, “I see…”
“Is that all you wanted to discuss? I believe we should be preparing to depart soon.”
“Yes, that’s all from my side.”
I returned to my group.
Looking back at Priest Canary, I saw him relaying something to an older male priest who seemed to be in charge of this group. He glanced at me occasionally, indicating that he had likely shared our earlier conversation.
The older priest nodded at Canary and then turned his gaze toward me.
His face was unremarkable, lacking any distinct features. It seemed devoid of emotion.
Yet, I felt a strong sense of déjà vu from that face. I couldn’t recall where I had seen it before, but perhaps it would be wise to remain cautious.
The journey back was uneventful, with no troubles arising.
The tablet remained in the possession of Lady Mirannera, who was riding in the carriage.
I checked in with Freinir several times, and she confirmed that she still sensed a faint, yet malevolent aura.
Well, even if the tablet were to summon the Undead, Lady Mirannera herself was an Awakened One and an adventurer, so she would be capable of handling it. If she could respond even for a moment, there should be enough time to assist her.
As I continued to keep watch, we passed through the gates of the Royal Capital by evening.
We escorted Lady Mirannera to the cathedral, where we were finally relieved of our duties.
“Well, in the end, nothing happened,” Larni said, stretching as we returned to the inn.
“After all, there wasn’t any information suggesting we were being targeted. With knight-priests and adventurers around, thieves wouldn’t dare approach,” I replied.
“But according to Frei, there was something suspicious, right?” Larni pressed.
Freinir nodded in agreement. “Yes. There was an unsettling aura from that tablet. But ultimately, nothing occurred…”
“Hmm. But that tablet will be used in tomorrow’s ritual. Perhaps something will happen then.”
Tomorrow, there would be a ceremony for the succession of the Saint, and we were tasked with guarding the venue. It was indeed possible that something could happen there.
Sfenia seemed to share this thought, narrowing her eyes as she nodded.
“If someone intends to act, it would be more effective to do so during tomorrow’s ceremony. But is there anyone who would benefit from disrupting the succession of the Saint?”
“Is there no opposing faction to the Arshuram Church?” I asked.
“I’ve never heard of one. What about you, Frei?”
“No, I don’t recall hearing anything like that either.”
“Mariane, do you have any insights from the guild?”
“No. Essentially, there are no religious factions other than the Arshuram Church on this continent. There may be indigenous beliefs, but the Arshuram Church has not denied or suppressed those.”
“Then it seems unlikely that there’s any interference from an opposing faction. If that tablet were to summon Undead monsters, causing them to appear during the ceremony would certainly create a commotion and lead to casualties. But I can’t see any meaningful purpose behind that.”
As I spoke, the beastfolk Karma raised her hand.
“Could it be a diversion, like what happened in Oz?”
“A diversion? You mean causing a major disturbance in the Royal Capital? But if that were the case, the royal family would surely be aware of it.”
“Hmm, that’s true. The entrance and exit of the Royal Capital are heavily monitored.”
“Well, we should keep that possibility in mind. However…”
Ultimately, we had very little information, and speculating here had its limits.
Yet, waiting idly felt unsettling, especially with the memory of that priest’s face lingering in my mind. I had a strong premonition that something was about to happen.
Moreover, the entire situation felt unnatural. It was odd for Cardinal Holwood to request our assistance in the first place. He was clearly trying to manipulate us.
If Undead were to appear during tomorrow’s ceremony, and if Cardinal Holwood were involved, what would his motives and objectives be?
Motives… motives indeed.
If Undead were to emerge from the tablet brought back by Lady Mirannera, such an incident would not only diminish her value but also tarnish the name of the Arshuram Church.
Who would have the motive to carry out such an act… in other words, someone who harbors resentment against Lady Mirannera and the Church…
At that moment, my gaze fell upon Freinir, who wore a worried expression.
“I’m heading to the royal castle now.”
I announced to my companions and hurriedly left the inn.