Act 33

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I could feel Tenellon’s cold gaze directed at me and the hot anger that seemed like a volcano ready to erupt at any moment.

Because of that, the air in the room started to become uncomfortably sticky.

“Could you say that once more?”

Piercing through the tense atmosphere, Tenellon, who spoke up, seemed greatly displeased even though his expression was hidden behind a mask.

Tenellon’s expectation had been for Julian to bring a soul stone, but instead, it was delivered to the secretariat office, making it clear that he did not hide his displeasure.

“Yes, Arch Bishop. I have handed over the soul stone, which I acquired by killing a Tri-horn demon, to the imperial secretariat office.”

“Is, is this madness! The command from the Arch Bishop was to bring the soul stone…” 

A bishop, always by Tenellon’s side, erupted in anger, but Tenellon raised his hand to stop his outburst.

“Could you explain your reason?”

In a calm tone.

It was a smooth, natural sound, yet a vague red light began to squirm above his head.

Red, the color of anger.

It’s the color of negativity seen in the emotions of the opponent.

“Considering your desire for power and our mutual interests, it doesn’t seem like you would have taken such action without any intention?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then, what were you thinking by entrusting the soul stone to the royal family? Depending on your answer…”

Before he could finish his sentence, an enormous aura was emanating from Tenellon’s body.

It’s as if he’s leaving the continuation of his words to my imagination.

“If I were to justify my actions…”

Facing Tenellon’s dagger-like gaze, I opened my mouth slyly.

“I would say I took one step back to advance three steps forward.”

As calmly as possible.

As softly as possible.

Yet in a voice clear enough to be heard, the surroundings quickly fell silent.

“Are you saying that now…!”

The first to break this peaceful silence was the bishop who had been cursing at me. With his face flushed red, he glared at me and raised his voice.

“At a time when we need to secure as many soul stones as possible, messing this up and then handing it over to the royal family is clear betrayal!”

“Bishop Pintel.”

As I recited the bishop’s name who was fervently speaking, he flinched.

Probably because I knew his name without having been formally introduced.

“If I had intended to betray, I wouldn’t have appeared here. Wouldn’t it be wise to think a little?”

“What, what…!”

“That’s a point. Then, how about we listen to the story first? If there’s no valid reason, then we can hold him responsible.”

Pintel, feeling ignored, had his expression twist grotesquely as he was about to speak ill of me when Elenoa interrupted him with impeccable timing.

“Cough.”

I organized my thoughts internally and cleared my throat with a cough to prepare my voice.

This part is crucial.

Despite feeling a sense of pressure and a sudden thirst, I tried my best to ignore it.

“The reason I provided the soul stone to the royal family was to make use of their intelligence.”

“Use their intelligence…?”

Tenellon’s question.

His voice, which had been filled with displeasure just a few seconds ago, started to show interest at the mention of utilizing the royal family.

“Yes, the soul stone I handed over to the royal family is ‘officially’ the first heart of a Tri-horn demon ever found. If the royal family discovers the potential and uses of the soul stone, wouldn’t they then become proactive in securing more soul stones?”

“That makes sense.”

Tenellon’s agitated emotions began to fade away.

It seems I’m doing alright so far.

“That way, we can obtain the locations of more soul stones.”

“Indeed…”

Tenellon nodded in agreement.

“Getting information about soul stones through the royal family as well. Certainly, it’s not a bad idea…”

“Thank you.”

“Moreover, the mission will be entrusted to ‘Closed Eyes’, who has the ‘master of demon hunting’ within…”

“That’s right. It will indeed make obtaining more soul stones easier.”

Seeing Tenellon somewhat convinced by my persuasive sophistry, I sighed in relief internally.

It would be fortunate if he easily let this go.

“However, Arch Bishop! The fact that he made a unilateral decision without saying anything must be punished!”

As the atmosphere seemed to let my unilateral actions slide, Pintel, who had been loudly expressing his dissatisfaction, stepped forward and raised his voice again.

That mustachioed bastard, I really want to pluck it off.

“Acting on his own without any commands from the diocese is also a challenge to the Arch Bishop’s authority! An example must be set!”

“Yes, as you said, it was my unilateral action.”

“See! Even he admits it…!”

“And! I believed it was for the greater good of the Dawn Society.”

“What… what?”

Leaving a flustered Pintel behind, I continued.

“I still do not understand the teachings of the Dawn Society. In fact, I have no intention of understanding them.”

“What kind of nonsense is this…!”

“But, not wanting to understand doesn’t mean there are no ‘mutual interests’.”

A bit of wordplay.

I thought it would show some ease, but once I said it, it didn’t feel great.

“The reason I had to make a unilateral decision is because all eyes are on me due to the system.”

I began to unravel the ‘apparent’ reason I dealt with this issue without reporting to the Dawn Society.

“Due to single-handedly defeating the Tri-horn demon, all sorts of rumors have been circulating about me. ‘Closed Eyes’s pillar, the next sword saint, and… a hero!”

The arrogance in calling oneself a ‘hero.’

Yet, the eyes of the audience did not change much.

Embarrassing.

It seems I’m the only one feeling embarrassed by this arrogant tone.

“And there’s also the widespread rumor that I burned down the Pyrun Forest, which has a close connection with the Solar Religion.”

As I chose my words, feeling a bit cringy, Elenoa added hers, which quite helped me continue.

“That’s correct.”

“Does that serve as a reason?”

“With so many eyes on me, I didn’t want to create problems. It’s not only the royal family that wishes for the Dawn Society’s downfall.”

“Who are you referring to?”

“There’s no need to use my mouth for that.”

I stopped my rampant talking and shifted my gaze to Tenellon.

“The Arch Bishop must also know the person I’m talking about.”

“Are you speaking of me?”

“Yes, and… someone who was very close to me, no, used to be.”

As if talking about a bygone past.

As I spoke in the past tense, Tenellon bowed his head, pondering for a moment. Then, with a short groan, he raised his head, and his eyes began to redden.

“I know. That unforgettable name, even when chewed over and pondered…”

Tenellon, trembling as if enduring severe pain, brushed off his mask with his shaking right hand.

“The one who made my face like this… Sword Saint, Hayden Reich…!”

“Yes, my master is still tracking you.”

“I know.”

“And he’s doubting whether I’m affiliated with the Dawn Society or not.”

It was a guess, but I blurted it out as if it were true. Whether it’s true or false doesn’t matter. What’s important now, and what to use, is Tenellon’s fierce hatred towards the ‘Sword Saint.’ That’s all.

“In such a state, to have defeated the Tri-horn demon and not have any spoils? Then their suspicions will only grow. That’s why I unilaterally handed over the soul stone to the royal secretariat.”

If I get caught, the Dawn Society could also be in danger.

Adding that, I smiled.

“I see. That damned Sword Saint is doubting his own disciple, Julian, and now you too.”

After pondering for a moment, Tenellon murmured as if talking to himself and then stood up.

Suddenly waking up and coming towards me, his large frame almost made me flinch, but fortunately, I wasn’t panicked.

“He’s a heartless guy. It’s utterly ridiculous how people praise him as a ‘Sword Saint’ and call him a hero.”

Rising anger.

Trying my best to suppress the volcano-like emotions, Tenellon offered me a handshake.

His right hand, which I grasped, was filled with strength. Not enough to hurt, but what I felt instead was a healthy trust through our skin.

Seeing Tenellon’s behavior, I understood why he showed strong trust towards Julian.

‘A meeting of Sword Saint victims, huh.’

He seemed to think of Julian as another person who had suffered at the hands of ‘Hayden Reich’ like himself. Well, it’s not wrong… but no need for corrections.

“Julian. Now I clearly see why you joined the Dawn Society.”

At last, releasing his suspicion, Tenellon shook the hand he held with a bright smile.

Looking at him, I smiled broadly.

You’re looking at it all wrong, buddy.

***

By handing over the Soul Stone to the royal side, the Dawn Society’s cause of reviving ‘Demon God Barbatos’ was postponed.

However, this didn’t mean all potential threats were gone.

The Dawn Society still desires the Soul Stone, and both the Sword Saints and the royal family are in pursuit of them.

‘I’m a member of that Dawn Society…? At the same time, I’m also part of ‘Closed Eyes,’ a royal exclusive agency.’

Meaning, passing on the Soul Stone hasn’t eliminated all threats.

Knock-knock!

Pressing the temples due to a throbbing headache, someone knocked on the office door.

“Yes, come in.”

As the door opened, in came an apprentice Razlot with an awkward smile.

“This is a document sent down from the secretariat.”

“Could you leave it there?”

“Yes, yes!”

Razlot, tense, placed the documents on the table.

Silently watching him, his face turned even stiffer as if he felt my gaze.

“Do you… do you have something to say, Sir Julian? Ahaha…”

Razlot, with an awkward laugh, scratched his head.

“Is it difficult for you to work here? Do you have any troubles?”

“No, no trouble at all. Although I’m just an apprentice, being able to work for the royal family is a great honor for me!”

“Is that so?”

I rested my chin on my hands, which were clasped together, and asked softly, “How about the other side of your duties? Are you facing any difficulties there?”

“The other side of my duties…? What do you mean?”

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, a shade of ‘fear’ began to rise above Razlot’s head.

“It seems to me that Razlot, being an apprentice of ‘The Closed Eye,’ frequently comes and goes to the secretariat.”

“Yes… Since Captain Odwin and the other members are busy, I often handle the secretariat’s communications in their stead…”

“And, it could be a coincidence, but you were also in the secretariat on the day I delivered the Soul Stone.”

“That’s… true.”

The ability to read negative emotions as colors is called <The Color of Negativity>. Of course, the color surrounding Razlot right now is monochromatic.

Such colors of emotions are nothing new to me; they’re not particularly special.

“But do you know what?”

“Yes?”

But I still can’t forget that day I brought the Soul Stone to the secretariat. The colors of emotion blossoming above Razlot’s head were not the usual single color but two colors: orange symbolizing ’embarrassment’ and gray symbolizing ‘doubt’.

“And the fact that it was the first time I had mentioned the ‘Soul Stone’ in front of you.”

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