novelraw Chapter 215 : Chapter 215
Chapter 215 : Chapter 215
Chapter 215
Central Continent.
The defense wall surrounding the Imperial Capital was built as solid as an impregnable fortress.
Huge gates and watchtowers were placed atop the defense wall, and people entering the Imperial Capital through the gates had to undergo strict inspection.
Numerous priests belonging to the Papal Office were scheduled to have a meeting with the Empire's figures there.
Attend as a representative of the Styx Temple, and return to report the results obtained from the meeting to the Chief Priest.
It was a simple but momentous mission.
"Oh God. Please watch over your lacking servant so that he may faithfully carry out the teachings of the Boundary."
He fiddled with the Lost Vane tied to his waist to calm his excited heart.
Thanks to leaving early, he arrived a week earlier than the day of the meeting.
It was time to use for looking around the Imperial Capital and broadening his horizons.
Colin quickly unpacked at the assigned lodging and walked around the Imperial Capital.
This place was a completely different world from the barren northern frontier.
Antique buildings lined along the road showed the long history of the Empire.
In the center of the city, a huge Imperial Palace that seemed to pierce the sky was situated, and as if to reveal the authority and dignity of the Empire, the Imperial Palace had a golden dome and pillars and buildings decorated with ancient patterns.
Each building was decorated with colors and patterns symbolizing the Empire's culture and art, and the residents were busy enjoying such Imperial culture.
Also, inside the Imperial Capital, various commercial districts and markets were operated vigorously, and various specialties and artworks were traded.
Sacred forests and rivers were situated around the Imperial Capital, making the grandeur of nature harmonize with the quiet atmosphere of the city, making one feel the dignity and sanctity of the Empire simultaneously.
And the surroundings of the palace were surrounded by a square decorated with elaborate sculptures and marble fountains, and contests were held every day.
Ornately decorated streetlamps lit up the city with golden light every night on the streets and roadsides of the city.
In many ways, it was a contrasting appearance to the capital of the Holy Nation or the solemn atmosphere of the Papal Office.
Like that, a week passed, and Colin entered the building where the meeting was held.
Renowned priests attending as representatives of the temple entered, and the Empire's nobles took their seats in order.
A meeting of considerable scale where the number of priests reached about twenty, and the number of nobles gathered was double that, about fifty.
The Divine Maiden, a strong candidate for the next Saintess.
Lan de Styx's attendance was an unexpected event.
One who received a revelation at an early age and grew up in the Styx Temple, and was chosen as the Divine Maiden by the Pope who was inspecting the temple.
He couldn't meet her even when he visited the Papal Office previously, but meeting her in the distant center of the Empire made his heart, which he had tried hard to calm, beat faster.
The kinship of serving the same God and the point that she assists the Pope by his side.
Like many men, he seemed to have unknowingly harbored a sacred fantasy about her.
However, it took less than an hour for such a fantasy to shatter.
Lan de Styx was a vicious and clever woman.
The purpose of the meeting was to promote donations from the Empire's nobles who possessed vast territories and wealth.
A world where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
But for them, donation was something that could only be established when corresponding interests were given.
For the Empire's nobles, a gathering like today was nothing more than confirming their own status.
"Listening to the stories of the noble priests makes me feel sleepy."
A Count, called a power holder among the central nobles, spoke thus.
That was the start.
"The Holy Nation talks as if the Empire is in the same boat only at times like this."
"Isn't relief for the poor something that should be proven by the reign of the Holy Nation's King, not us?"
"Unless perhaps you grant us an indulgence."
'Nonsense.'
Colin gritted his teeth at the blatant demand.
Indulgence is a certificate stating forgiveness for any unjust action in the name of His Holiness the Pope and the God he serves.
It was something that had never been issued once since the reign of the current Pope, Claudio de Cronis, began.
Demanding such a certificate was no different from a remark deceiving the Papal Office.
The faces of the priests darkened at the meeting that only went in circles with conversations of no practical benefit.
It was because they all became Apostles of God by revelation, but lacked the eloquence to deal with nobles who were like snakes.
It would have been right for him to step forward and scold the nobles.
The reason he couldn't do so was due to the fear settled in a corner of his heart.
Whether the support the Styx Temple was receiving might be cut off due to his slip of the tongue, or whether he might be betraying the heart of Chief Priest Lokia who said he had expectations for him.
It was just regrettable that among the education he received, there was no worldly wisdom to use in a situation like this.
Other priests probably had similar thoughts.
However, Lan de Styx was not like that.
Snap.
Shaking the unfolded fan leisurely, she opened her mouth.
"Talking nonsense as if it's nothing."
At her single remark, the air in the conference hall froze coldly.
"What kind of absurdity is this!"
A young noble stood up from his seat and shouted.
Starting with him, nobles who bit the bait raised their voices one after another.
"Divine Maiden, apologize to us right now!"
"If you do not apologize, there will be no more donations from our Danang Family to the temple!!"
"P-Please calm down."
"Lady Lan didn't mean it like that."
Some priests tried to calm the atmosphere, but the nobles who found prey once did not easily let go of their advantageous position.
Lan de Styx merely watched the noisy meeting quietly.
"……."
Colin did not miss the corner of her mouth twitching, hidden by the fan.
She was enjoying the current situation.
As if she wanted it to turn out this way.
"Why is the Divine Maiden silent?"
At the call of an old Marquess, she folded her fan.
"What is there to discuss with those spewing nonsense."
"……!!"
The old Marquess stepped forward himself to restrain the atmosphere that was about to become noisy again.
"On behalf of the Brillo Family and the nobles here, I warn you. Since you have spoken and acted disrespectfully, kneel and apologize even now. Otherwise, you will pay the price."
He deliberately didn't say what that price was.
"Are you threatening me, who came as a proxy for His Holiness the Pope? Then the Brillo Family and the nobles here are concluding that His Holiness the Pope's words and actions are disrespectful and telling him to kneel before you."
"Do not play with words!"
"You are not His Holiness the Pope!"
"Being called Divine Maiden at a young age, your arrogance pierces the sky!"
Sssss.
Pure white Divine Power bloomed from Lan's body.
She opened her mouth, loading Divine Power into her voice.
"It is His Holiness the Pope who sent invitations to you nobles. And let me make it clear that I came here to deliver his words."
Suppressing the voices of the opposing nobles, she warned with a voice loaded with Divine Power.
"Among those invited here, there is no one whose conduct is not disrespectful."
"……!!"
Someone shouted, but.
"However!"
Lan raised her voice and continued.
"I intend to view you not as the Empire's lavish nobles, but as individual humans possessing compassion. Since the words of Lan de Styx are my will. Please do not test my last generosity bestowed upon you."
Lan de Styx scanned the audience where the commotion had subsided.
And she took out a neatly folded paper from her bosom.
"Usury, abuse of rights as a lord, exploitation and plunder, there are so many of these it's hard to list them one by one. I will just mention that some committed incest and had additional children."
The conference hall became quiet in a different sense from the beginning.
"With such things……."
The old Marquess, who claimed to represent the nobles, opened his mouth belatedly, but.
"Marquess Cooper Brillo. You have one more terrible charge added, as high as your status."
"What……."
"Treason."
"What kind of bullshit is that!!"
Unable to hold back, the Marquess kicked his seat, stood up, and shouted.
"Do you hope to be safe in the Imperial Capital after daring to utter such absurdity!!"
"Do you make such an excuse knowing the God His Holiness the Pope serves."
"……!!"
The power symbolizing the God Cronis is 'Time'.
There is no one here who doesn't know that the current Pope, Claudio de Cronis, went through the position of Chief Priest of the temple.
There is even fewer who haven't heard the rumor that he foresees the near future.
"I, acting as a proxy for His Holiness the Pope, hope that there won't be an occasion for me to have an audience with the Great Sun of the Empire after today's meeting ends."
The atmosphere of the conference hall was now beyond frozen, as if time had stopped.
"Do not refuse the generosity of His Holiness the Pope. Do not create a future where the priests here clean up the blood spilled from your families."
Her gaze turned to the Chief Priest beside her.
"Chief Priest Rapha."
"Speak, Divine Maiden."
"You take responsibility and wrap up the meeting."
"Understood."
Receiving the greetings of the Chief Priests, she left the conference hall first.
Until her figure completely disappeared, the nobles merely lowered their gaze, afraid of making eye contact with her.
Less than an hour later, the meeting concluded with all participating nobles pledging huge donations.
It was several years later that Marquess Brillo was executed for treason against the Imperial Family and his assets were confiscated by the Imperial Family.
Ding.
[The Authority of ‘Boundary’ deepens.]
[The ‘Boundary’ becomes blurred.]
Along with the voice of the Violet Magic Tower, Killian fell into a new memory.
***
"Divine Maiden Lan!"
Colin shouted, blocking her as she was mounting her horse.
The Holy Knights guarding her blocked him.
She raised her hand and dismissed the Holy Knights.
"The guy who was at the conference hall."
"I am Colin, a First Class Priest of the Styx Temple."
"Just looking at the pattern on the priest's robe, I can tell your affiliation."
A cold reaction unlike someone serving the same God.
He didn't mind and nodded.
"Then that's fortunate."
"If it's about the meeting, it should have ended yesterday?"
"As the Divine Maiden wished, all the attending nobles offered huge donations. That amount should be equal to a year's budget of an average kingdom."
"That turned out well. Did you block my way to say that?"
"I know your schedule is busy acting as a proxy for His Holiness the Pope. But there is one thing I want to ask……."
"Speak without beating around the bush."
"I heard some of the donations raised this time will support the operation of temples."
"Support the Styx Temple?"
"It is embarrassing, but yes. As you know, Divine Maiden, the North has a harsh climate, so we are having difficulties maintaining it."
He said that due to a lack of funds, even the established bases are not being operated properly, and at this rate, there will be disruptions to the mission of guarding the Boundary.
He was stating a fact, not making a solicitation.
She wouldn't be unaware that they were barely holding on thanks to the temple executives being dispatched far away, but at this rate, they would go bankrupt soon.
Considering the geographical characteristics and mission the temple has, receiving support from even a part of today's donations would mean no worries for the next few years.
He said it thinking she wouldn't be unaware.
"There was another moron here."
The Divine Maiden clicked her tongue and merely looked down at him with indifferent eyes.
"To put forward such an incompetent person as the representative of the temple, Chief Priest Lokia is still the same."
"……."
Towards him, whose face turned red with shame, she drove a nail in.
"As expected, it would be better for the Temple of ‘Boundary’ to disappear."