I thought to myself, as things have come to this, how about accepting the position of ‘Archbishop’ as a stepping stone to swallow up the ‘Dawn Society’?
Once I become the ‘Archbishop’, I could manipulate the nobles who are members of the Dawn Society as if they were my limbs.
With the backing of Tenellon’s authority, even if they are somewhat reluctant, they will have no choice but to listen to me.
‘Let’s think about this,’ I mused.
My initial idea of transferring to the ‘Northern Front’ could somehow be prevented, and as the head of the nobles in the Dawn Society, I might also be able to curb the influence of the ‘Elders’ Council’ to some extent.
‘This might actually be a good idea…’
…what nonsense.
If I expand my territory this way, I will become the perfect center of the ‘Dawn Society’.
Eventually, if the overly ambitious Dawn Society is disciplined by the imperial court, I won’t be able to escape responsibility as the ‘Archbishop’.
People will surely say as they see me on the scaffold later, “Ha ha, the smiling execution block has ended up on the execution block itself!”
Damn it!
My imagination is being exercised uselessly, causing my head to ache.
Anyway, to prevent myself from being appointed as the ‘Archbishop’, I went to see Tenellon.
If the appointment ceremony proceeds, it would be hard to back out, so it was wise to go quickly.
‘I refuse the appointment as Archbishop. Find someone else.’
I went to Tenellon to express this thought, but his reaction was unexpected.
“I kind of knew it.”
What did he mean by that?
After completing the succession ceremony, Tenellon, who had become the ‘Grand Archbishop’, was wearing a splendid tunic, perhaps to flaunt his authority.
“Julian, you seem reluctant to get deeply involved with the Dawn Society.”
A piercing statement.
He said it himself that I do not prioritize the ‘Dawn Society’.
“Is that so?”
But that’s not important.
Even before joining this place, I had been giving off such a vibe.
‘What’s important to me is power, and my aspiration is the downfall of the Sword Saint.’
Thanks to that, it wasn’t surprising.
The problem is that Tenellon had already anticipated that I would refuse the position of ‘Archbishop’.
“Yes, so I knew you would come like this before officially appointing the Archbishop. But, I can’t understand it.”
Tenellon stroked his chin as he spoke.
“Even if you are not personally interested in the ‘Dawn Society’, I cannot guess why you would refuse power.”
With his mask off, the doubt in his clear eyes was visible.
And soon, the <Color of Denial> began to appear above Tenellon’s head.
“Contrary to your claim of wanting power, you refuse the horn, and you also reject the power of the Dawn Society.”
A deep gray, the ‘color of doubt’.
He was puzzled by my actions.
Sigh, I must not be discovered here…
Unaware of my anxious heart, he continued, “If you joined the Dawn Society without a purpose, I wonder what you are doing with us. I’m curious about that.”
Tenellon’s expression became very serious, and the gray above his head grew denser.
“The only possibility I can think of is… Julian, contrary to what I thought, you might have come to the Dawn Society as a spy for the imperial court.”
The solemn atmosphere and his fierce gaze pierced my skin.
Tenellon’s demeanor, showing not his usual self but the aspect of the ‘Grand Archbishop’, did not seem to be in a good mood.
I knew the reason why.
My always refusing everything and the most significant issue, ‘Gerard’s matter, seems to have upset him.’
The mood, due to his upset feelings, looked like he would take some action if he didn’t hear a satisfactory answer from me.
No matter how much Julian is favored.
Yes, of course, I should be suspicious.
It’s not like I came here without thinking that far.
Disappointed by Gerard’s betrayal, which was not exactly a betrayal, and by the bishops who reported it.
That’s precisely when emotions are sharpest.
“Sir Tenellon, I am very disappointed.”
This is a good time to control him.
“Disappointed?”
He tilted his head, the nuance being, why would that come from my mouth?
“The reason I refused power is the same as the reason I joined the Dawn Society.”
“That reason…”
Tenellon seemed to ponder for a moment, bowing his head.
I shouldn’t give an easy answer here.
“Hmm.”
Soon, as if realizing something, Tenellon let out a short sigh.
“Sword Saint… Is it because he left the capital?”
He took the bait.
I smiled inwardly at his question.
“Yes, now that he has left the capital, what could I possibly do even if I were given the position of Archbishop?”
“So, that’s why you refused the position of Archbishop.”
Tenellon, removing his mask, grinned broadly.
A terrible sight due to the scars.
“Ha ha! So that was the reason!”
Now understanding Julian’s attitude, Tenellon began to laugh heartily.
“To end things with that despicable Sword Saint!”
The apparent reason I’m with the Dawn Society is to bring down the ‘Sword Saint.’
Mentioning that ‘apparent reason’, I refused the position of ‘Archbishop’, so he would understand.
“Sir Tenellon cherishes me, and why wouldn’t I know the hearts of other bishops? However, if I remain in that ‘position’, my freedom of movement will be restricted.”
“That’s right. I think so too.”
The position of Archbishop is important in the Dawn Society, and since we don’t know what might happen, we must not act rashly.
That’s why Tenellon also couldn’t leave the capital.
With his agreeing response, I drove the point home.
“Yes, that’s right. There’s no ‘purpose’ for me in the capital, so I must leave to find my ‘purpose’…”
“Yes, that’s only natural!”
What natural? It’s not like it’s Pokémon.
I wanted to argue with the fussing Tenellon but barely held back.
“When do you plan to leave for the Holy Nation? If you want, you can take some monsignors… no, bishops.”
It was an exceptional offer.
Tenellon, who extremely dislikes deploying bishops besides himself, allowing to take ‘bishops’ is unthinkable.
“Ha ha, I appreciate the consideration, but I have no such plans.”
Of course, I refused his overly generous offer.
It was nothing short of surveillance for me.
I spoke eloquently to convince Tenellon, but I had no intention of heading to the ‘Holy Nation’ immediately.
I just needed a reason to refuse the position of ‘Archbishop.’
“I must have scratched your pride. It seems you don’t need others’ help to achieve great things.”
“No need to mention it. I’m just thankful for Sir Tenellon’s consideration.”
Just like this, I’ll need to act in Julian’s typical way a few more times and then refuse the position of Archbishop.
I briefly laughed.
It couldn’t have been better since Tenellon reacted just as I thought.
“Still, I want to help somehow.”
Enough already! This persistent fellow.
I was utterly astonished by Tenellon’s sudden remark.
Hearing his triumphant voice somehow made me feel uneasy, but I restrained myself from showing it.
“It’s okay. I don’t need help.”
“No, allow me to help you anyway.”
I don’t need it! Why are you clinging so much?
Unaware of my feelings, Tenellon pondered for a moment and then seemed to have an idea, his eyes sparkling.
“Then I will make sure you can head to the Holy Nation of Fernand without any doubts.”
What? Why……. why would you go that far!
I internally questioned Tenellon’s words, but,
“Ha ha, there’s no need for that…”
“Don’t refuse.”
Abruptly.
Tenellon, who had risen from his seat, took my hand.
The rough touch of his hand transmitted a slight shiver through me.
At the same time, a slight ‘magic power’ flowed from his body.
“Killing the Sword Saint is not only your personal desire, Julian, but also mine. So, do not refuse.”
No, I’m not ready for that yet!?
“Actually, this time as Archbishop, I was thinking of appointing you, Julian, to observe you.”
All doubts dispelled, Tenellon’s speech began to speed up as he seemed pleased.
“To see if you are suitable as the ‘successor.'”
What nonsense is this.
I came here to refuse the position of Archbishop and now I’m hearing that he thinks of me as a successor.
“Sir Tenellon, I’m sorry, but I have no intention of following someone else.”
“Yes, I thought you would say that. That’s why you are suitable to be my successor.”
The phrase ‘you must be crazy’ nearly slipped out up to my chin.
“A person who does not covet power is indeed the one who can hold this position.”
“Do you not trust the other bishops?”
I deliberately added a bit of scornful laughter as I continued, and Tenellon’s gaze turned towards me.
“Of course, I trust my bishops. But I trust you more than them.”
A faint, mocking smile appeared on Tenellon’s face.
“I understand.”
I nodded, accepting his proposal.
I thought it was not good to refuse Tenellon’s offer here.
Though he spoke with a smile,
‘It has not disappeared.’
The grey haze that symbolizes ‘doubt’ still lingered above Tenellon’s head.
‘Then, I should play along.’
Thinking that he was suspicious of me, my heart which seemed ready to burst from tension, actually began to calm down.
“This time, I will accept Sir Tenellon’s request.”
I can use him just as well.
***
Currently, the relationship between the Holy Nation of Fernand and the Adratan Empire is not something you could even jokingly call ‘good.’
Although the long-standing war has ended in a form of ‘ceasefire’, the residual bitterness between them has not yet been resolved.
In such a situation, if Julian, of the ‘closed eyes,’ heads to the Holy Nation, it would certainly create a headache in many ways.
But Tenellon will handle it,’ I thought, since he spoke with such confidence.
‘However… now he’s suspicious.’
More importantly, there was the <Color of Denial> above Tenellon’s head. His attitude of deceiving me with sweet words while pretending to smile was unprecedented.
‘It seems the time has come.’
The time to seriously overthrow the Dawn Society.
With that thought, I casually touched the sheath of the crescent moon sword at my waist.
As if that was a signal, dark figures suddenly sprang out from both in front and behind on the path I was walking.
“You dare show yourself without fear.”
The strangers who had been tailing me since I left the Genmel Monastery. I had long known that these guys were associated with ‘Gerard.’
Just a while ago, a member of the order whose arm had been broken by me was among them.
“Now you step forward for garbage who is no longer part of the Dawn Society, your loyalty is impressive.”
“It’s not just for Sir Gerard.”
Click!
The order members blocking the front and back simultaneously drew their weapons.
Despite the dark night, their weapons gleamed menacingly.
“Your existence threatens the foundation of our Dawn Society.”
“It’s just two bishops who lost their positions.”
Aiden and Gerard.
In Aiden’s case, he hadn’t lost the position of ‘bishop,’ but it was clear he had lost his voice within the Dawn Society.
Not to mention Gerard.
“These people, unlike you, have strong influence both inside and outside the Dawn Society. We cannot stand by and watch someone with a heart of a beast like you tarnish our Dawn Society any further.”
Wow! It’s amazing that there are people trying to preserve the insides of the Dawn Society, which are already so foul it makes me nauseous…
I could only applaud their firm beliefs.
‘Words won’t get through to them.’
Thinking this, I was about to draw the crescent moon sword from its sheath when suddenly.
Wham!
“Ah, aaaaah!”
Suddenly, I felt the flow of mana in the air, and at the same time, the order members blocking the way fell like leaves in the wind.
Someone was trying to use magic; I had already sensed it.
That’s why I was about to draw the crescent moon sword to block it.
…Wasn’t I the target?
In the moment of my confusion, a person descended from where I felt the flow of mana.
It was a familiar face.
So familiar that… I was at a loss for words.
“Sir Pintel…! Why are you stopping us!?”
“Shut up!!”
Pintel’s rebuke poured out toward the order member who opened his mouth in a servile tone.
It was the most furious look I had ever seen from him, and I felt bewildered.
‘You… why like this?’
Cliche Novel 
Tu fiel seguidor! Sir. Pintel!
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