Chapter 42
I encountered this in ancient texts.
Below the old illustration were a few lines of explanation.
The power that disperses curses around just by the flowing divine energy.
And about the temporal limits of that power.
The demon’s curse requires seven days and nights to pass, and a curse from a lesser deity needs seven seasons.
“The time to break a curse from a higher deity isn’t written, though…”
Hyaelia made her judgment amidst uncertainty.
If she delayed any longer, even this method might become useless.
The only way to save Pethenik for now was the Grail of Magreta.
“We must borrow that from the royal palace.”
“…Is that really enough? Then we just have to borrow it!”
Erika’s eyes brightened.
If there was something they could do, she was ready to do it immediately. She couldn’t sit still.
“Can we really heal the master immediately if we just bring that?”
“Not all at once. According to the ancient texts, you have to keep it nearby for quite a long time—”
“How long? How long to fully recover? About… a week?”
“……”
“Could it be a month?! The master is suffering so much; I want him healed as soon as possible.”
“At least… you have to think in terms of years.”
“……”
Erika froze with her mouth open.
Years? Did that really mean more than one year?
She blinked several times, trying to process it. She thought she must have heard it wrong.
“Um…”
Erika moved her lips but closed them again.
She was at a loss for words.
“……”
After a long moment, she was able to speak again.
Suppressing a stifled sigh, she ran a hand over her forehead.
“For now… if the saintess could try asking the palace to lend it…”
“I have already requested it three times in my capacity as the saintess representing the Shrine of Light, and all were refused. More precisely, the negotiations broke down.”
“Negotiations broke down?”
“……”
Hyaelia’s feelings became complicated for a moment.
“The royal palace demanded a price for the Grail.”
“What is that? Something the shrine absolutely cannot give?”
“Your master…”
“…?”
The emperor demanded Pethenik, who was staying at the Shrine of Light.
At first, the saintess was flustered and made several counterproposals, but none worked.
It was Hyaelia’s mistake from the start.
If she could turn back time, she would never have revealed Pethenik’s existence.
But it was already too late.
“The palace demanded Pethenik’s return as the price for lending the Grail.”
“…?”
Erika was dumbfounded.
“You mean his return to Teneaharha? What kind of thing is that to do to a sick person? Is His Majesty really such a merciless person?”
“The palace does not know the detailed situation.”
“No matter what…”
“They just wanted one precious Swordmaster to return.”
Pethenik himself scoffed when he heard that proposal.
He was too stubborn, and no persuasion worked.
He swore he would never again be subjugated by anything.
Having gained his freedom and living like the wind, there was no way to shackle him again.
Because of that, the saintess made several alternative proposals to the palace, but the emperor did not budge.
Both sides were adamant, and Hyaelia was truly at her wit’s end.
“That is why I am asking. Please, persuade Pethenik with me.”
It was fortunate that at this moment, Pethenik’s cherished disciple appeared.
She thought that if they sincerely persuaded Pethenik together, there might be a chance.
But—
“What persuasion? You want the master to go back to Teneaharha?”
“……”
“Are you serious?”
Erika seemed completely against the idea.
Hyaelia was slightly taken aback.
“For Pethenik… if it would save his life, he should endure spending the rest of his days in the knights’ order—”
“No. I don’t want you to say that lightly. There has to be another way.”
“Erika.”
“I’ll just break into the palace and steal the Grail myself if I have to…!”
Right then,
Voices arguing could be heard outside the audience chamber door.
“…I know it’s rude, but…”
“…This is difficult…”
“…Just… please wait…”
“……”
The saintess’s eyes slightly narrowed as she looked toward the door.
Erika also turned her head that way.
With the saintess’s permission, the audience chamber door opened.
Four knights of Teneaharha entered.
“The Sword of Siad pays reverence to the eternal deity’s proxy.”
Represented by Marquis Nokbel, they first showed respect.
The saintess responded with a sign of the cross and a blessing.
“I apologize for the disrespect shown due to recent haste.”
“Thank you for forgiving us despite the rudeness of suddenly requesting this meeting.”
Following the saintess’s gesture, the knights moved to the sofa opposite her.
Marquis Nokbel and Count Heraise sat, while the two lower knights stood behind.
Additional teacups were brought, and the clinking sounds subsided.
“All of your words from the last meeting were relayed to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Were you not surprised?”
“The saintess’s proposed conditions were all unusual, so His Majesty expressed some surprise… but…”
Marquis Nokbel recalled the emperor’s resolute face.
Though old and frail, he was the ruler of the world.
“His Majesty said he needs nothing else but only the return of Sir Pethenik.”
No one dared bargain with the emperor.
Even the saintess of the Shrine of Light was no exception.
“I see.”
Hyaelia’s expression showed no change, as if she had expected this.
“I understand the royal palace’s position. They cannot lend a precious Grail for years without getting what they want.”
“Oh! Then has Pethenik decided to return to Teneaharha?”
“No. He says he will not go near the Celestial Imperial Palace until he dies.”
“……”
“He said if disturbed one more time, he won’t even see the faces of Marquis Nokbel and Count Heraise.”
“……”
Marquis Nokbel was speechless.
‘That guy!’
He still vividly remembered the slick refusal when he met Pethenik and tried to persuade him directly.
He thought maybe Pethenik might have changed his mind.
“May I ask where you intend to use Magreta’s Grail?”
“I have repeatedly said that it is urgently needed for the mission of light.”
“Is it related to Pethenik staying at the shrine?”
“I want to talk about something else. Does His Majesty really want nothing else?”
“Saintess, as I’ve repeatedly told you on behalf of the palace—”
“Our Shrine of Light has many things to offer the palace.”
“Sorry, but His Majesty has more than enough. Except for the Swordmaster, he wants nothing else.”
“He must be very greedy, having so many Swordmasters already.”
“That was an impertinent remark, unbefitting of the saintess.”
“……”
Crackle!
A dignified flame flickered.
An invisible tension flared between the saintess and Marquis Nokbel.
“Um…”
Erika peeked her head forward and interrupted.
“Excuse me—”
All eyes turned to her at once.
“Can I go?”
“……?”
“……?”
The knights scanned Erika up and down.
She looked beautiful, but her outfit clearly marked her as a mercenary.
A mercenary daring to interrupt a conversation between the saintess and Teneaharha knights was worthy of a rebuke.
“Can I receive the Grail on the condition that I enter Teneaharha?”
“……”
What on earth was she talking about?
Teneaharha was not a place anyone could enter just by asking.
Since when did mercenaries come barging in making deals?
The knights of Teneaharha couldn’t hide their astonishment.
The saintess was just as surprised.
“Erika! This is not something to bring up so lightly. Teneaharha is a lifelong appointment; once you enter—”
“I…”
Erika continued without hesitation.
She met eyes with the eldest-looking Marquis Nokbel.
“I am a Swordmaster.”
