IWBCAS 20

Chapter 20 

【“So, where is the Saint now?”】

When rumors about the prophecy spread, the temple was the first to begin investigating. But no matter how hard they looked, there wasn’t a single temple or priest who admitted to receiving such a prophecy.

Of course not—because it was all made up by Bayen, who spread the rumor while handing out bread. But the temple didn’t know that, so to them, it felt like smoke was rising from a chimney with no fire.

To make things worse, many people started pretending to be the Saint. The temple had to spend every day checking who was real and who was fake.

Of course, they were all fakes. Not one of them had even a trace of holy power.

After being bothered by so many imposters, High Priest Laugustus was completely exhausted.

Just then, a junior priest suddenly burst into the room without knocking.

Laugustus frowned at the rude entrance.

“A priest should know better than to barge in like that.”

“High Priest! Huff, something big has happened!”

The junior priest was out of breath, clearly having run all the way here. Laugustus stopped scolding and asked instead,

“What is it? Why are you so panicked?”

The junior priest caught his breath and said in a trembling voice,

“A woman believed to be the Saint has appeared!”

“What? Someone claiming to be the Saint?”

Sigh… Another fake, probably.

Laugustus was already expecting disappointment.

“Where?”

The priest quickly explained.

“A priest from the Covison temple ran here just now. He said a woman who was praying at the statue of Saint Adelaide suddenly released holy power!”

“Holy power?”

That got Laugustus’s attention.

Still, he couldn’t be sure yet.

Some of the past fakes had created fake miracles using tricks and accomplices.

“It’s true. The priest saw golden holy light shining from her with his own eyes. And more than a dozen people saw it too.”

So many eyewitnesses… Could it be real this time?

Laugustus jumped up from his seat so fast that the chair tipped over behind him. But neither of them cared.

“So, where is the Saint now?! Where is she?!”

The junior priest looked awkward and hesitated.

“Umm…”

“If she’s still at the temple, bring her here immediately! No, I’ll go myself!”

Just as Laugustus started to grab his coat, the priest gave the bad news.

“She… disappeared. No one knows where she went.”

“…What?”

Laugustus, halfway into his robe, looked at the priest in disbelief.

“She vanished? No one saw where she went?”

“Yes… Everyone was busy praying, and when they looked up, she was already gone. Like a mirage.”

Slowly, anger filled Laugustus’s face.

“How could they lose the Saint?!”

It might be the first real Saint in 500 years.

Losing someone like that? Laugustus was furious.

“Is there anything you people can do right?!”

“S-sorry…”

The junior priest bowed deeply, even though it wasn’t his fault.

“Tsk, tsk!”

Laugustus, now unsure what to do, sat back down. The junior priest quietly helped him upright his chair.

If she really showed holy power… then maybe she is the real Saint.

And unlike the past fakes, she had disappeared without trying to gain attention.

That made her even more likely to be genuine.

Then the priest asked quietly,

“What shall we do now, High Priest?”

Laugustus paused, then stood up and finished putting on his robe.

“I’m going to the imperial palace.”

“The… imperial palace?”

The junior priest’s eyes widened.

It wasn’t easy to enter the palace. Especially not nowadays, when the emperor’s power was stronger than the temple’s.

“What for, sir?”

“I will request permission to use the Holy Grail.”

“The Holy Grail?!”

“Wasn’t it the Grail that confirmed Saint Adelaide’s power 500 years ago?”

Finding the Saint would boost the temple’s power. It was too big an opportunity to miss.

The priest opened the door as Laugustus swept through the halls in his white robes.

He climbed into a carriage and headed straight for the imperial palace, determination burning in his eyes.

In the Imperial Palace

“The Holy Grail, you say…”

From a few steps above, Emperor Eckarter stared down at Laugustus, who bowed deeply.

“The Holy Grail belongs to the royal family, but the temple has the right to use it. I am here to request its use, so the temple may act within its rightful authority.”

“You want to use the Grail now? After decades of ignoring it? Why now?”

Laugustus cursed inwardly.

That sly old fox… He knows exactly why I’m here but still tests me every time.

Out loud, he stayed polite.

“Surely, Your Majesty has heard the rumors—a Saint has appeared in the capital.”

“Oh? I hadn’t heard.”

Eckarter feigned surprise, his eyes sparkling with interest.

Laugustus bowed even deeper.

“Yes, Your Majesty. It may be the first Saint in 500 years. Please help us find her.”

Though he appeared calm, sweat trickled down his face. He was nervous. If the emperor refused, they had no other option.

All we can do is appeal to our official rights.

Even though the emperor had taken the Grail from the temple long ago, it was still legally a temple artifact.

Laugustus silently prayed as the emperor gazed at him for a long time… then suddenly laughed heartily.

“Ha ha ha! A Saint, you say? Of course the empire must help!”

Laugustus quietly let out a sigh of relief.

He hated having to ask the emperor’s permission to use what was originally the temple’s, but at least he said yes.

“A Saint appearing… it’s a great event for the empire.”

But when Eckarter’s eyes sparkled with something dangerous, Laugustus felt a chill.

He’s going to try and steal the Saint for himself…

Still laughing, Eckarter raised his hand.

“Markus.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The chief attendant stepped forward.

“Bring the Grail.”

“Yes, sir.”

At least the emperor seemed willing to help… for now.

But Laugustus didn’t relax. He started thinking fast.

Once we find the Saint, we have to keep her away from the palace.

He kept glancing at the door, waiting anxiously for Markus to return.

Time crawled by.

Finally, Markus returned—but empty-handed.

The color drained from his face.

Even the emperor noticed first.

“Why are you empty-handed, Markus?”

Markus spoke with great hesitation.

“Your Majesty… The Holy Grail… It’s gone!”

The room exploded in shock.

“What do you mean, gone?!”

“It vanished from the palace’s underground vault. Everything else is still there—but the Grail is gone.”

Laugustus turned pale as a sheet.

How could the Holy Grail disappear?!

He forgot he was speaking to the emperor and shouted,

“Your Majesty! How could this happen?! The palace was supposed to be the safest place!”

A priest next to him quickly pulled on his sleeve to stop him.

Then Laugustus saw the emperor’s furious expression and went quiet.

“Someone dared to steal from the imperial palace?”

Eckarter slammed his fist down on the chair’s armrest, fire in his eyes.

“Taylor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A knight stepped forward and knelt.

“Summon the soldiers. Find the Saint. And the Grail. Use whatever means necessary.”

“Yes, sir.”

The knight passed by the stunned Laugustus and left with the emperor’s orders ringing in his ears.