CHAPTER 33
“I’ll have to go to Revilla in person and find out.”
At those words, spoken almost on reflex, Kretess frowned. He knew why she insisted on going to Revilla—it must be that the information obtainable in Moria was limited. Still, Kretess was not pleased.
Revilla was not a country friendly to Asilia. In a place where people were thought to know others so lightly, there was no way they would easily accept Asilia.
“Isn’t it possible that they’ll regard you with hostility?”
“It might not be impossible. But by fabricating an excuse, you can blend in.”
Asilia explained to Kretess what lie she would concoct. The fact of her marriage to him had been forced anyway, so there was no need to fabricate anything further; if she could just come up with a good enough excuse about how she returned from Moria to Revilla, there would be no problem.
Despite her passionate explanation, Kretess was conflicted. He understood her point—indeed, under the circumstances, any further investigation in Moria would be futile. Investigations, after all, require time. If they continued at a leisurely pace, Isaiah would eventually meet his end.
“I understand what you mean. It is only right to go to Revilla in person and investigate those behind the brainwashing, but…”
He could not agree to it so easily. His concern was not that Asilia might not return—given his fondness for his subordinate, he was sure she would delve into the brainwashing matter and come back. Rather, could Revilla even be expected to send her? The people of Revilla were those who had forsaken what it meant to be human. With not even Kretess knowing who was truly behind it all, he could not allow her alone to venture into enemy territory.
“Will you go with her?”
“…What?”
“I’ve heard that there was a time when I enjoyed the Emperor’s favor in Revilla, but I cannot be sure that they still see it that way. They might well regard me as an enemy.”
Kretess stared at Asilia with a blank expression. Could it really be? Was she sincerely offering that he accompany her?
“And… I’ve also heard there’s a possibility that the reliquary of the God of Death is in Revilla. There is something there that only must be resolved…”
Even as Asilia was speaking, Kretess suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace. Startled, as she blinked in surprise, he murmured repeatedly in approval:
“How could I ever refuse the place you suggest we go together? Huh?”
“…”
“Let’s go together.”
He tightened his arms around her.
“Are you out of your mind?”
Renoa let out a bitter laugh. However, Hweimos—the one delivering the message—merely shrugged.
“The Emperor himself has decreed it; how can I possibly stop it?”
“Are you speaking thus while knowing His Majesty’s current condition?!”
When Renoa raised his voice, Hweimos frowned. Covering one ear as if to lower the sound, he sighed.
“Then why don’t the Deputy go and speak for himself?”
“That woman is the one who tried to kill His Majesty. How can someone who strides into the enemy’s yard so nonchalantly possibly be His Majesty?”
Renoa slammed his hand on the desk, yet Hweimos’s expression remained unchanged.
“That too is a matter for His Majesty to decide.”
“Hweimos!”
“Deputy, please ascertain the location of the relic.”
Clearly growing tired of Renoa’s incessant tirade, Hweimos rose from his seat. “A… relic?” he stuttered.
“Since we’re already going all the way to Revilla, wouldn’t it be even better if we could retrieve the relic?”
“…I understand that the relic being in Revilla is only a conjecture. Are you certain it’s there?”
At Renoa’s inquiry, Hweimos merely shrugged. “That is exactly why I’m telling you to locate it. After all, you are the Deputy.”
“Don’t think I’m some万能 (all-purpose) key. I can only approximate its location—I cannot pinpoint it exactly.”
“An exact location isn’t necessary. Once His Majesty is nearby, the relic will naturally come to light.”
With those words, Hweimos got up and, leaving the instruction to find it before departure, quietly exited the room.
Watching his retreat, Renoa muttered under his breath, “You’ve botched everything from start to finish.”
Hweimos had always been a source of irritation for Renoa. Some even said he was a kind-hearted person—a benevolent god, in their idle chatter. But knowing Hweimos’s true nature, Renoa could only laugh derisively at such claims. A man far more arrogant than any god—such was Hweimos.
“What should we do, what should we do…?”
As he anxiously gnawed his nails, a commotion was heard from outside.
“Deputy, Sir Monnik requests an audience with you.”
At that moment a thought flashed through Renoa’s mind. With a broad smile, he immediately went off to meet him.
Adrian looked extremely anxious.
“Sir Monnik.”
Hearing the brief summons, the troubled Adrian briskly approached.
“Deputy—Anna… they say my sibling’s condition is not good. Surely, before setting out on the crusade she was…!”
Hearing the tremor of anxiety in his voice, Renoa patted Adrian’s arm.
“I did say she’s improving. I never said she’d fully recovered.”
“…”
“Anna needs more holy power. But as you know… there is a tremendous cost to expending a cleric’s power recklessly.”
No sooner had Renoa finished speaking than Adrian fell to his knees. Gone was his usual lighthearted, carefree demeanor; his face was now desperate and pleading.
“What can I… what should I do?”
Renoa fell silent. Avoiding his gaze as if there were no solution, Adrian clutched her skirt.
“Deputy, please… please… isn’t there any way?”
After a long pause, Renoa finally managed to speak, “There is one possible way.”
“Tell me, tell me—whatever it takes, I’ll do it!”
“However, if you use this method, Sir Monnik’s life may hang by a thread. Are you willing to risk that?”
Without hesitation, Adrian nodded. “I’ll do it. Please, save Anna… my sibling. I beg you.”
It was a desperate plea. At those words, Renoa grasped Adrian’s arm and helped him to his feet.
“…Are you aware that the Empress is going to Revilla?”
“The Empress?”
As if hearing it for the first time, Adrian shook his head. “She is said to be going to Revilla with His Majesty the Emperor. You are to accompany them.”
“Is it enough just to accompany them…?”
Renoa shook his head. “In Revilla, there is a relic. Bring it back.”
“A relic?”
“Yes. But do so without the knowledge of the Emperor or the Empress.”
At that secretive tone, Adrian’s fingertips trembled. It sounded utterly preposterous. Asilia was an exceptional knight—and Kretess was nearly a deity. How in the world could one retrieve a relic without their notice?
“You seem to be overestimating my abilities, Deputy.”
“No, it is possible. I will assist you.”
Renoa said with conviction. The relic in Revilla… Even the most clueless person who had ever slept in Moria would know what it was—the relic known as the Scythe of Death. It was Kretess’s own.
“If it truly exists, can Anna be healed?”
Renoa immediately nodded. After a brief moment of reflection, she lightly tapped her chin and said, “In fact, the God of Judgment requires that very ‘Scythe of Death’.”
“…”
“If you offer up what the god needs, He might forgive me for using holy power—or perhaps He will even heal Anna’s ailment.”
Adrian swallowed hard. After all, there is no sickness that cannot be cured if a god takes direct action. “I… I’m not sure if Anna can endure until I return,” he said in a gloomy tone.
At that, Renoa gently smiled while grasping his hand—a kind, benevolent face typical of a compassionate cleric.
“Do not worry, Sir Monnik. Anna is a strong child. Isn’t she even blessed by the God of Life? She will surely be fine.”
“But…”
Adrian could not bring himself to utter the words that were rising in his throat. The blessing of the God of Life—no one born under that blessing had ever lived long. Perhaps Anna, too, would suffer the same fate. Worries mounted upon worries. And yet, he could not give up.
“Before we depart, I want to see Anna’s face just once.”
“Anna is currently resting in the innermost chamber of the temple. You do know that only high-ranking clerics are allowed to enter there, don’t you?”
“Taking her out as well…?”
“That is not possible.”
Renoa said firmly. Adrian, his fist clenched, lowered his head. He could barely recall the last time he had seen Anna’s face, yet he couldn’t demand that she be shown. After all, the temple was entirely Renoa’s domain.
“If we complete this task safely… will I be able to see Anna?”
“Of course.”
“…”
“You will see Anna—soundly calling out Sir Monnik’s name.”
At these words, Adrian finally nodded. “Understood. I shall do as you’ve instructed, Deputy.”
Renoa smiled. “I will determine the exact location of the relic and relay it to you discreetly.”
“…Yes. Then I will take my leave.”
Watching Adrian’s departing figure, Renoa muttered under his breath, “You will see your sibling soon.”
But as her smile faded, it turned cold and hard. “Although, she might not be alive.”
