Fortunately, Ulysses, having been seen with my own eyes, was unharmed. There were no visible wounds, and it seemed he wasn’t mentally disturbed either. While hearing the full story of the incident, he wore a very serious expression.
“I’ve been thinking, it would be best not to report this incident to the imperial court.”
Hmm… I thought he was mentally fine, but perhaps not after all. However, after gathering my thoughts for a moment, I realized what Ulysses meant by saying this.
“If Your Highness believes so, I too will remain silent,” I said.
“Thank you for saying that, Sir Julian.”
After closing his eyes for a moment, Ulysses soon spoke again.
“Let’s rest a bit, then resume our journey home. We should have crossed the border by now, haha!”
It might be better to rest more, but I didn’t argue with the prince’s words. I too wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.
Linne seemed puzzled by Ulysses’ intent to gloss over today’s events.
“Why…”
As she murmured to herself, leaving the hospital room, I asked her instead,
“Miss Linne, do you not know why His Highness said that?”
My question might have sounded sarcastic, as Linne’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Yes, so please tell me.”
“Our reason for being here is to maintain peace with the Holy Nation. But, if the prince was attacked in the Holy Nation, what would the imperial court think?”
“Ah…”
Linne sighed briefly at my explanation.
“So, the prince intends to quietly move past what happened today.”
I didn’t need to explicitly state that it was part of the Fourth Prince’s survival strategy—it was clear enough. Any discord between the empire and the Holy Nation would prove Ulysses to be unnecessary and redundant.
“Even royalty, if they show weakness, they are attacked.”
“The higher up you go, the worse it gets,” I said as I turned my head towards the entrance of the arena.
There was a woman, gracefully approaching, accompanied by priests and servants.
‘I knew it.’
Archdeacon Shalana.
Unlike Garoth, she was a militant Archdeacon who desired an all-out war with the empire.
I had expected her to seize this incident, good or bad, as an opportunity.
“Tsk.”
Seeing Shalana’s face, Linne clicked her tongue.
She must have had an unpleasant encounter with her before that I didn’t know about.
“Ho ho, hello, nobles of the empire.”
I greeted Shalana by her name, directly, showing respect.
“Pleased to meet you, Archdeacon Shalana.”
“Oh my, you know of me?”
“How could I not? I remember the names of all the Archdeacons, including ‘the Charging Archdeacon’ Shalana.”
Shalana chuckled again at my words and opened her fan to cover her face.
“Ho ho ho, such jest.”
Though she smiled with her eyes, a slight embarrassment was audible in her voice, as the names and powers of Archdeacons are highly confidential in the Holy Nation.
“How is Prince Ulysses faring?”
“Fortunately, he’s fine.”
“Wow, that’s indeed fortunate. Ho ho.”
Linne spoke, and Shalana laughed ostentatiously. Clearly, she didn’t think it was fortunate at all. Typical of her.
“This incident can certainly be attributed to our negligence.”
It was more than just negligence! I almost died.
“The instigator is currently secured and will be brought to trial.”
That’s obvious.
If it follows the story, it would be a death sentence.
“However, until the trial is concluded, we would like you to remain as witnesses.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Linne was the first to react to Shalana’s nonsensical statement.
As expected. If I know her, she wouldn’t show up here without a hidden agenda.
“Ho ho, do you lack understanding? Quite simply, we would like you, the victims of this incident, to stay as witnesses to prove the guilt of Archdeacon Garoth.”
“How long will that take?”
Shalana, not dropping her smiling eyes, replied,
“Well, it could take at least a month, since it’s the trial of an Archdeacon, ho ho.”
“Do we have a reason to comply?”
“There may be no reason, but there is an obligation. Aren’t you the only victims?”
As Linne protested, Shalana flicked her finger lightly.
“This is the Holy Nation, isn’t it? Since you’ve come here, you must follow our rules.”
It was like she was eyeing prey, and the priests and servants who had followed her quietly stepped forward.
‘I knew this would happen.’
When we arrived in the Holy City, the reason she was quiet was simply because other Archdeacons were watching. Now that an incident has occurred, she would welcome it with open arms, considering she desires war.
‘We’re being held in the Holy City, and she’s trying to frame us.’
If she wants to reignite a full-blown war with the empire, she would do anything.
‘It’d be different if she openly brandished a sword.’
As I’ve said before, despite its name, the Holy Nation has a darker side. To put it nicely, it’s a place full of intrigue. To put it harshly, it’s a sinister nation.
“We plan to commence the return procedure as soon as His Highness Ulysses has recovered.”
“Did you not hear what I just said?”
“No, I’ve heard everything.”
I gave her a confident smile, as if I had already anticipated such a situation and had a plan in mind.
“Of course, we must follow the laws of the Holy Nation. But! There are always exceptions to every law.”
Ugh.
While speaking, I felt a slight pain from a wound in my waist area inflicted by Idel.
This caused my body to falter, and to support myself, I placed my right hand on my waist.
Clink, clank, clank!
Simultaneously, Shalana’s guards pointed their spears at me in unison.
Why are they doing this!?
While I was thinking this, I realized my hand was touching the ‘sheath’ tied at my waist.
“What… what are you planning now?”
Shalana was more bewildered than I was.
Linne, equally surprised, watched me intently.
“This the Holy Nation. Were you planning to draw your sword in front of an Archdeacon like me? Is that the exception you were talking about?”
It’s a misunderstanding! I was just regaining my posture!
“Heh, indeed. This is also a kind of exception.”
I knew it sounded like an excuse.
So, let’s get to the point quickly.
“I would like to discuss another kind of exception now, Archdeacon Shalana.”
***
During the conversation, Shalana, overwhelmed by Julian’s action of drawing his sword, became nervous.
‘The disciple of Sword Saint…?’
Even she, being a person from the Holy Nation, was well aware of the rumors. Now, to the extent that he was called the top disciple of the exiled Sword Saint, he was an extraordinary swordsman. It was evident that if he were to wield his sword, blood would be shed.
However, from her perspective, it was better that he drew the sword.
‘If he, who came as the escort of Prince Ulysses, were to cause a commotion by wielding the sword arbitrarily, there would be even more reason to detain him here.’
Yes, that was true.
Boldly, she couldn’t help but be surprised by his action of actually drawing the sword.
‘So many people from the Holy Nation, including guards, and yet he draws his sword?’
In that moment, in Shalana’s mind, the identity of the man named ‘Julian’ became clear.
‘Madman.’
And not just any madman. A skilled madman with a sword.
“Hahaha, so what’s the other exception?”
“For now, let’s move elsewhere. There are too many eyes here.”
She intended to refuse Julian’s suggestion.
‘Talk separately with a madman who resorts to threats with a sword in such a situation?’
She doesn’t negotiate with lunatics. That’s her motto. Indulging such dependents only exhausts oneself.
“Hm?”
However, when she saw Julian undoing the sword he had and handing it to Linne, her thoughts shifted slightly.
‘So now he uses the sword he was warning with earlier to assure that he is harmless.’
The reason he took his hand to the sword earlier was for this kind of performance.
Truly, a refined yet traditional negotiation method.
If one knows how to use their head like this, they must have their own cards to play when they open their mouth.
“Hoho, shall we step in?”
Unlike when Julian touched the sword sheath earlier, Shalana’s tone became much softer as she moved with him.
They arrived at the VIP room of the arena.
“No eavesdropping magic, I hope?”
Shalana smiled at Julian’s suspicion.
“Hahaha, of course not.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Why are you being so cautious? Is what you’re about to say so concerning that it worries about your own safety?”
Was he planning to defect?
Although she wanted to ask, Shalana held back. Revealing one’s intentions prematurely is one of the biggest blunders.
“It’s not because of me, but for Archdeacon Shalana.”
Although slightly angered by his arrogant tone, Julian took the lead in the conversation.
“It would be beneficial for the Archdeacon if nobody listens. Can’t we just leave them alone?”
Julian gestured with his chin towards the two guards who had accompanied Shalana into the VIP room.
“Don’t worry about them. They’re reliable guards, no matter what happens.”
“Escorts, I suppose. Well, breaking the Archdeacon Shalana’s neck even without a sword wouldn’t be a big deal.”
Julian shrugged upon realizing that they were not just guards, but her escorts.
“Haha, there’s a limit to rudeness. Considering your current situation…”
“If I said I had retrieved the relic ‘The Engraved Lie’, what would you do?”
Shalana’s eyes which had been covered by the fan she was holding widened in surprise at his words.
“Oh, really? Well done. I heard it wasn’t found underground.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, naturally. After all, it’s a valuable relic managed by our Holy Nation.”
Shalana smiled to hide her true intentions as much as possible.
“Then, will you return it?”
“Of course, I’ll return it.”
“Hahaha, it’s fortunate that we could communicate.”
“I have some matters to attend to on our side right now, so I’ll return it to the Sacred Treasury tomorrow.”
“…What?”
Shalana looked puzzled.
“After all, you suggested that I stay in the castle as a witness for the trial, didn’t you? So, it shouldn’t matter if I return it tomorrow.”
“There’s no need for that. Just give it to me.”
“Archdeacon Shalana.”
Julian’s unseen gaze fixed on Shalana. The smile on his lips seemed to suggest that he knew her ‘tricks.’
“Archdeacon Garoth precisely knew the location of the smuggled relic and ordered its retrieval.”
As if a snake were coiling around its prey.
“It’s fascinating. It seems like he was tracking its location in real-time through magical means.”
“Why does that matter now?”
“Indeed, does it really not matter?”
Julian’s relaxed tone began to push her.
“Have you not been overlooking Archdeacon Garoth to secure the relic ‘The Engraved Lie’?”
Even if she lied, she could expect that his perceptive eyes would see through it.
“When Archdeacon Garoth caused a disturbance, it was to eliminate him and secretly retrieve the relic for personal use.”
Since he brought up this topic in the first place, it must have been done with ‘certainty.’
“The relic was ‘damaged’ during the cleanup process. We can just say that to the Sacred Treasury.”
As Julian’s words continued…
Thunk.
Shalana folded the fan.
Julian, that man, clearly understood her plans.
As he said, Shalana had been overlooking the smuggling of the relic from the Sacred Treasury.
She would clear out the relic when Archdeacon Garoth attempted to use it, secretly retrieve it for her own use, and, as she anticipated, Garoth moved accordingly, and the plan seemed to be proceeding successfully.
Until the demon showed up.
‘Damn, I thought it was destroyed in that damn solitude battle created by Sword Saint.’
It was fortunate that Julian had it.
Feeling a sense of relief, she smiled inwardly.
“So, the ‘exception’ you mentioned earlier was about this?”
Julian nodded.
Although she felt slightly uneasy about negotiations proceeding as he desired, she was no longer concerned now that she was here.
The relic that she thought was broken had returned. That alone satisfied her.
“Hoho, understood. Then, let’s consider what I said earlier as if it never happened. You can leave the castle right now; we won’t detain you.”
“I’m glad things worked out through conversation.”
“Indeed. Hahaha!”
Swoosh!
Once again, she unfolded her fan and laughed heartily.
“Oh, where’s the relic?”
Julian took the laurel wreath out of his pocket and placed it on the table.
“Good, very good.”
Confirming that it was the ‘The Engraved Lie’ she had been seeking, Shalana planned to use it to eliminate her enemies and solidify her position.
“Huh…” Unable to hide her emotions, she waved the fan back and forth.
“Poor Archdeacon Garoth. Not only did he smuggle it, but he also incurred the sin of damaging the relic.”
“That’s what happens when a fool sits in such a position.”
“Haha, true.”
Perhaps preparing to leave, Julian adjusted his clothes.
“Well then, we shall take our leave.”
With a brief farewell, Julian turned away.
“Hohohoho.”
“Archdeacon, are you just going to let him go like that?”
“If I order it, I could have him subdued immediately and ensure that Prince Ulysses remains in the castle.”
“No, let it be.”
Shalana stopped the other guards.
“It’s uncertain whether he’s an opponent we can definitely subdue, and if a commotion arises during the process, revealing that the ‘The Engraved Lie’ is intact would be counterproductive, wouldn’t it?”
“But, Archdeacon…”
“Remember, choice and focus. Everything we’ve done so far has been for this relic.”
A pleasant laughter escaped from her lips as she lightly tapped the laurel wreath placed on the table with her hand.
***
“Alright, let’s get ready to go back.”
“Is it resolved?”
Linne asked, slightly taken aback by my confident statement.
“Yes, she’s a reasonable person to talk to.”
“…Did you resort to coercion like earlier?”
“Do I seem like someone who would do that?”
“I can’t say no.”
Well, it was a bit strange, but I guess it couldn’t be helped.
“Archdeacon Shalana got what she wanted. Even amidst this chaos, she managed to get what she desired.”
“How did Julian manage to…”
Somehow, I secretly brought it back during the commotion at the Grand Arena.
“But, if it’s something that could topple an Archdeacon…It must be something that holds immense value.”
“It does hold immense value.”
However, I also know that being too greedy is not a good thing. I took a look at the ‘Soul Stone’ hidden in my pocket. Its color is murky due to the sudden demonization, and the power contained within it is negligible, but it’s undoubtedly a genuine Soul Stone of the Tri-horn.
While the relic ‘The Engraved Lie’ indeed possesses tremendous power, this Soul Stone will suffice for now. Now that I have obtained the Bell of Night. Moreover, there’s one thing Shalana doesn’t know.
Why a formidable relic capable of easily eliminating adversaries didn’t make it into the Golden Sacred Treasury similar to the ‘Cursed Holy Water.’
‘It’s a one-time use item.’
It has already been used once in the underground.
Cliche Novel 