Act 79

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Elenoa recommended me for the position of ‘Archbishop’?

How could this happen?

I, who had been elaborately considering all the reasons why I should not become the ‘Archbishop,’ looked at Elenoa who had recommended me for the position.

‘This crazy….fu**’

Although swearing almost escaped me, Julian’s characteristic cynicism and the formality of speaking politely restrained it.

“It’s strange, Miss Elenoa. Arch…”

While speaking, I looked around using <Mana Detection> to make sure there was no one around to overhear, as it would be troublesome if there were.

Fortunately, after confirming there was no one nearby, I continued.

“Didn’t you ask me to make you the ‘Archbishop’? But now you are saying…”

“Ah, of course, I did say that. But after I spoke to you, I gave it a lot of thought and consideration. And as you can see, this is the result.”

Elenoa shrugged her shoulders as she began to speak, almost causing me to swear again.

What exactly is her intention?

“I asked you to become the Archbishop with no other intention. All I want is the survival of the Dawn Society.”

“Ah, of course, the position of Archbishop did slightly, very slightly, tempt me, but I thought it would be better for Sir Julian to take that position for the sake of the Society’s survival.”

That’s just great!

A Dawn Society manipulated by Tenellon won’t last long, notorious as it may be.

Ultimately, it’s a story that ends at the hands of the Sword Saint.

“I didn’t recommend you thoughtlessly. I weighed my options before deciding, Sir Julian. I recommended you.”

With squinted eyes and an expressionless face, she continued smiling slightly.

“It’s not just me. Including myself, three bishops are supporting you.”

Three bishops?

What have I done to earn the support of three bishops?

Instead, shouldn’t the bishops dislike me?

I’m a disgrace with no redeeming qualities, a newcomer who received the position of ‘bishop’ right away, and a thorn in the bishops’ side because of Tenellon’s favoritism.

“Sir Pintel and Sir Dantes. Those two are aligned with me.”

Elenoa, excluding the other two, are incomprehensible choices.

Of course, I thought Pintel might change a bit after handling Gerard, but not to this extent, and Dantes supporting me, despite whatever threats might have been involved?

“Has Sir Pintel become a bishop again?”

“You really aren’t interested in the internal affairs of the Dawn Society. He has taken Gerard’s position now.”

Damn that Pintel!

Now that he’s regained the bishop’s position, he should be maintaining his usual clear personal stance!

What is he doing?

Where did that imposing figure who used to make declarations in the audience chamber go?

“That’s right. But I have no interest in the position of Archbishop.”

“…Why?”

“Why? Because I don’t want to get too involved!”

“Although I’m not entirely clear about Sir Julian’s intentions, wouldn’t having more allies be of help?”

Ah, this is frustrating!

Each and every one of these allies, if they’re from the Dawn Society, far from helping, they’d only be strangling me!

“Weak ones flock together. The strong unfold their will in solitude.”

“So, you mean to refuse the position of Archbishop?”

“It’s good that Miss Elenoa is quick to catch on.”

Saying this, I considered setting up a meeting with Tenellon. No, it seems better to be assertive at this time.

By doing so, I could undermine Tenellon’s authority as Archbishop and even diminish his popularity.

“That’s just ridiculous.”

Previously, I helped the ‘Dawn Society’ to be in their good graces, but now, I need to ensure I fall out of favor.

***

“Did the sun rise from a different place this morning? You, who used to growl at Julian, now support him…”

As Pintel stepped into the monastery, he slowly turned his head toward the man who had spoken to him.

Pintel caught sight of a man with a seemingly light-hearted demeanor.

“It’s been a while since we’ve talked like this, Dantes.”

Pintel responded with a demeanor showing not a trace of pleasure.

Dantes Christo,

A noble of the Christo family, which boasts one axis of the empire’s transportation industry, maintaining deep ties with Gerard.

Outside, Pintel could tolerate such friendly behavior, but inside the Dawn Society, it irked him to interact in such a manner.

“Ha ha, don’t talk so bleakly, Pintel!”

Whether he knew what Pintel was thinking or was pretending not to know, Dantes approached with feigned familiarity.

“We might not have agreed in the past, but now, aren’t we in the same boat?”

In the same boat…

Pintel’s eyes sharpened strangely at that phrase.

“Don’t look at me with such a venomous eye. Come on, sit down. Standing here talking will only tire our feet.”

“That phrase ‘in the same boat’ is utterly uncomfortable. You chose Julian as a shield to replace Gerard, didn’t you?”

“Hmm…”

As Dantes was urging him to sit, he sighed at Pintel’s continuing words.

“Weren’t you the same?”

“What…?”

“Like me, don’t you also need a giant shield named ‘Dawn Society’?”

Anything can be a poison.

Especially, organizations involved in dark dealings are even more so.

In that sense, Dantes needed a breakwater, quietly managing his gains below the surface.

“Interests are just like that, haha!”

“Don’t treat me the same!”

However, Pintel’s voice, almost like a roar, startled Dantes.

“Sir Julian has given me a new opportunity! It doesn’t matter if you support him with irreverent thoughts, but don’t project that intention onto me.”

A voice that even felt strong conviction.

Because of that, Dantes was utterly dumbfounded.

“Ha, haha… Pintel. I thought you were a more rational man…”

“I am rational enough. And, I am a member of the Obradin family.”

‘What does that have to do with anything?’

Dantes was about to speak in utter disbelief.

“Devote your life to the one who gave you your name. Isn’t that our family motto?”

‘He’s completely lost his mind.’

Dantes thought to himself, clicking his tongue.

“I don’t think our relationship was deep enough to say he ‘gave us a name,’ Sir Pintel.”

Just then, Elenoa abruptly joined the conversation.

Pintel seemed to exude an unpleasant nuance, but Dantes, on the other hand, welcomed her with open arms.

“Miss Elenoa’s beauty improves day by day. Like a bright flame that attracts the heart of a firefly like me.”

Despite Dantes’ flattering words, Elenoa ignored him.

“And, that part about ‘the one who gave us a name’ refers to the royal family granting a title to the first head of the Obradin family. Essentially, it’s a veiled way of telling us to remain loyal to the royal family, isn’t it?”

“Ha, ha.”

Pintel chuckled briefly at Elenoa’s words.

As if he had prepared his response upon hearing her, he quickly retorted.

“That’s a story of our ancestors, Elenoa. The emperor who gave the name, and the person who received it, are no longer in this world.”

That’s utterly nonsensical.

Regardless of forgotten loyalty to the royal family, a noble remains a noble.

To speak irreverently like that could justify the destruction of one’s entire family lineage.

“That’s absurd.”

“I don’t put meaning in carrying the name of the dead. Like those decadents who prioritize pointless things… Huh?”

“What’s going on, Pintel?”

“Sir Julian has arrived.”

Following Pintel’s gaze, indeed, the man with narrow eyes was walking through the monastery.

His presence, like the moon floating on a calm lake, drew everyone’s attention.

“A bug has come along.”

Naturally, the ‘bug’ Pintel mentioned was one of the members of the ‘Dawn Society.’

To be more precise, those currently disapproving of Julian’s actions and envying him.

“Ha ha. It seems like he’s a monsignor who follows Gerard. Hey, I know that guy well!”

“Why not go and stop him? Sir Julian doesn’t seem to be in the best mood.”

“Wow, does Miss Elenoa have the ability to read minds? To me, he looks the same as usual… Pintel, where are you going?”

While speaking, Dantes called out to Pintel, who had started to walk away.

“That despicable guy. Does that monsignor know who he’s speaking to, addressing Sir Julian so casually?”

At Pintel’s fiercely loyal words, Dantes scoffed and looked at Elenoa.

She shrugged her shoulders at Pintel’s unusual behavior.

“Arghhhhh!”

A sharp scream echoed through the previously silent monastery.

It was because Julian had twisted the monsignor’s arm and thrown him to the ground.

“Sorry, but I am busy right now.”

Afterwards, Julian naturally moved further into the monastery. Since the incident happened so suddenly, everyone watching him became rigid. This was because his unspoken rule of avoiding conflict within the monastery had just been broken in front of their eyes.

“It turns out Miss Elenoa’s mind-reading was correct. Despite his notorious reputation, he usually kept quiet inside the monastery, but now he’s causing such a commotion.”

“It’s only natural,” muttered Dantes, to which Pintel nodded. A perplexing sense of pride was evident on his face.

“Sir Julian will soon become the ‘Archbishop.’ Unlike a ‘Bishop’ or ‘Monsignor,’ the ‘Archbishop’ is a position of responsibility. Sir Julian, as one of the leaders of the Dawn Society, showed an example to preserve his dignity.”

Pintel spoke with a solemn attitude. Dantes looked at him once more, his expression one of incredulity. Elenoa reacted similarly.

“…Such a fool.”

It was laughable how they talked without even knowing the real reason Julian had come here. And that’s because…

‘That man came here to say that he will not accept the position of Archbishop.’

Elenoa knew that she was the only one present aware of this fact.

‘But…Right now, the most suitable person to accept the position of Archbishop and exert influence would be that man.’

It was internally disappointing to her that the only man who could counter Tenellon and prevent his rampage would not take the position of Archbishop.

‘A position does not make a person; a person adapts to the position! Sir Julian is handling things more wisely than anyone!’

“I get it, so please, be quiet, Pintel.”

How could this person have changed so much? What exactly was done to him?

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