Chapter : 136
“What, what is that woman babbling about right now!!”
Cardinal Paul Henberg pointed angrily at the Magic View, his face as pale as death.
Just like in the royal palace, people had gathered in the grand hall of the temple.
Among them were the two cardinals of the order and several high priests.
Cardinal Michael, sitting across from Paul, muttered quietly,
“The Dearmants are claiming it’s holy water.”
“Exactly! What in the world—!!”
Paul Henberg’s eyes widened as he shouted. The other priests pressed their lips tightly together, watching the two cardinals cautiously.
Meanwhile, the voice of Selenea continued to echo through the Magic View.
“-So, I would like the Duke of Halen, the owner of this territory, to arrange for notarization. Since there’s also the entrance exam for Lishion, it would be best if it could be conducted as soon as possible.”
“Notarization! Opening a notarization meeting for re-verification will make the temple look ridiculous. How could she speak such blasphemy!!!”
Veins bulged on Paul’s temple.
He gestured harshly toward the Magic View, as if Princess Tigris herself were standing right in front of him.
Michael spoke calmly,
“Calm down and listen.”
Paul clenched his fists tightly, keeping his mouth shut. Selenea’s voice continued.
“-If my claim is wrong, I have pledged to return all my property to the temple. If it needs to be documented officially, I will comply without hesitation.”
On one side, Paul let out a frustrated sigh, but the other priests’ eyes were busy calculating.
Who was Selenea Tigris? She was the sole heir of the Tigris family.
The wealth of the Tigris family was immense beyond words.
Even their well-trained elite soldiers were resources that could not be bought, no matter how many fortunes were offered.
‘And now the princess is willing to forfeit her inheritance and return all her property to the temple…’
If that happened, the Tigris wealth and army, as well as the main street of the estate personally owned by the princess, would all belong to the temple.
The high priests swallowed hard.
‘…What is the current value of the main street?’
The main street stretched along the Medes River, running past the royal palace.
Hundreds of shops lined the wide avenue, forming the backbone of the empire’s economy—it was like a vein of gold.
In the evenings, bright lanterns lit the riverbank, and during festival season, fireworks lit up the sky.
The reflection of those fireworks on the river was breathtaking.
There was probably no place in the empire—or even on the continent—more prosperous than the main street.
‘Moreover, thanks to the Tears of God, it has even opened a trade route to the Marquisate of Riard.’
The Marquisate of Riard bordered directly with the Kingdom of Tassen. Considering the recent commercial activity between Tassen and the Ervia Empire…
The river trade route could soon connect all the way to the Kingdom of Tassen.
It meant that the main street might become not just a bustling avenue, but a central trade route.
‘Then in a few years, its value will at least double.’
No, more than double—triple, quadruple, maybe even fivefold!
The high priests exchanged glances. Even after careful calculation, the princess’s proposal did not sound bad.
At that moment, Cardinal Michael spoke.
“I believe His Majesty is watching this situation as well.”
Paul Henberg raised his eyes.
“We cannot avoid the notarization demanded by the princess. We must prepare for re-verification.”
“Michael, are you seriously saying we’ll comply with the words of that insolent woman?”
Paul expressed his hostility toward Selenea without restraint.
From the incident where the princess took the holy relic, to the central temple project being canceled because of Aleon Tigris, the Tigris family and the temple had a long and tangled history.
But unlike Paul, Michael showed no sign of agitation.
“Yes. We must comply with the princess’s demands.”
“What on earth…!”
“Surely you know, Your Eminence, that everyone—not just us—can see her claim now.”
Paul’s brow furrowed completely. Michael was right.
The situation in the Duchy of Halen was being transmitted through the central command tower of the estate.
That meant anyone with a Magic View capable of receiving the information could watch the events unfold.
The normally secluded Academy district had been suddenly overrun with ancient monsters.
Even Duke Halen, who usually remained hidden, had appeared, and Sadina—who had massacred a noble family decades ago—was visible as well.
Probably even minor nobles not summoned to the palace were watching the situation from their estates through the Magic View.
To outsiders, this must have been an incredibly fascinating spectacle.
Paul barely swallowed the sigh of frustration boiling inside him.
‘The order is, once again, being made a mockery by that woman.’
His hands trembled as he clenched his fists.
Michael’s calm voice spoke again.
“Of course, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that the order made a mistake.”
All eyes turned to him. Michael brushed the table with his index finger, as if deep in thought.
“It has been quite some time since the temple designated the Dearmants as monsters. In the past, the technology to verify magic was less developed than it is now. Perhaps there were errors.”
Paul interjected with a discontented expression.
“Michael! That is far too presumptuous! It sounds like you are openly insulting the previous pope and priests!”
“That is not the case. If mistakes were made, it is only right to correct them, even now. Isn’t that the very first virtue a priest must uphold?”
Paul ground his teeth and glared at Michael. But Michael kept his eyes fixed on the Magic View.
Through the Magic View, Duke Halen’s voice was heard.
“-…Good. I will contact the estate at first light regarding this matter.”
“In the end…!!”
Paul groaned in fury, pressing his forehead.
“Because of that foolish woman, everything has blown up again! Why does Princess Tigris always stand in the way of the order’s path—!!”
As the priests held their breath, Michael stood up.
“I will leave for now. There seems to be much preparation needed for the notarization.”
Paul did not respond.
Michael bowed lightly, then turned and opened the massive doors of the grand hall, leaving.
One of the high priests stepped forward cautiously.
“Yes, Your Eminence. Do not be too disheartened. If the princess’s property is returned to the temple, it will benefit us greatly.”
Another hurriedly added,
“Indeed. Consider the wealth of the Tigris family alone, and now the main street will belong to our order…”
Everyone nodded with excitement.
‘After all, there’s no way the Dearmants are really holy water.’
The temple’s restricted archives were overflowing with evidence proving the Dearmants were monsters. Surely the princess had misunderstood something.
“Do not worry, Your Eminence! Temporarily, the temple may seem foolish for issuing a declaration, but our honor will be restored quickly.”
“Yes! Once it is confirmed that the Dearmants are monsters, it will be clear how flustered Duke Tigris will be…”
“…Filthy pests.”
The priests fell silent.
Paul Henberg placed one hand on his forehead, tilting his head as he glared at them.
Cold contempt shone in his bloodshot eyes.
“Do you understand?”
“W-what…”
“That you truly are fools.”
Some of the high priests, flustered, fell silent. Paul continued.
“If this matter were so simple, why would I be so furious!”
He clicked his tongue in disgust, stood up, and followed Michael out through the massive doors of the grand hall.
The high priests stiffly stared at one another.
“The monsters have calmed down, and the connection has been cut.”
Duke Halen’s aide, Rey, approached. Even in the confusion, Sadina nodded.
She then lifted her gaze to the Magic View, which was hanging high in a tree.
The red light in the Magic View had vanished.
It meant that the situation was no longer being recorded.
‘It was set up for a safe exam, yet it’s being transmitted to the entire empire.’
And the reason was the appearance of the Dearmants.
She turned her head in astonishment.
Selenea was still standing on the opposite side, where monsters swarmed.
Due to the strange aura she emitted, no one dared tell her to come over.
“Are you crazy—?! Can’t you let go of this?!”
A sharp voice suddenly rang out from behind. Everyone, including Sadina, flinched.
Across the forest, shadows of three people approached from the direction of the tower.
“Let go! Now!!”
Sadina raised an eyebrow as she recognized the voice.
It was Anita Solb.
However, Sadina’s gaze soon shifted to the other two girls holding Anita’s arms.
“Kiione’s daughter?”
“That girl… wasn’t she the one using spiritual power?”
Sadina and Duke Halen muttered simultaneously.
As they tilted their heads in confusion, the two girls pushed Anita forward.
Anita collapsed to the ground, and Sadina instinctively glanced at Aleon and Selenea.
Aleon’s expression was unreadable, and Selenea’s eyes were wide open.
“Are you crazy?! What is this all of a sudden…!”
Anita, sitting on the ground and screaming, froze.
Her gaze was fixed directly on Selenea, standing across from her.
“What… what…?”
Anita stammered, as if her tongue had been paralyzed. Her face had long since turned pale.
Estelleen, the one who had brought her, spoke.
“Miss Anita.”
“….”
Anita raised her eyes, thoroughly flustered.
“You have something to return to Selenea, don’t you?”
