I Killed an Academy Player - Chapter 175
Puzzle Piece (1)
Investigation is slow.
After conquering the Magic Tower, Estelle immediately began searching through her own home.
There is a traitor in the church who created an item to seal his holy power, and that rat must be hunted down.
I was planning to personally interrogate the person who had abandoned the faith and handed over the saint to the magicians.
“Holy Lady, the priest we were going to interrogate today, Mr. Morrison, was found dead.”
“also?”
“……sorry.”
Starting from the affiliated heresy interrogation agency to the priests of the lower organizations.
By the time Estelle started investigating, there were traces that she had either been found dead or had fled the country. Those priests who escaped would most likely have been murdered.
It seems that the rat who betrayed him has a higher position than he thought. To do something like this, you really have to be a cardinal to be able to do it.
“When researching, start with the minimum cardinal level. “You have to be in that position to make something like this.”
‘No, that can’t be possible.’
Cardinals are proven people with particularly outstanding religious faith in the denomination. They betrayed a saint who received God’s blessing?
In that case, you probably won’t be able to use your sacred power, which is proof of your faith…
“I need to see His Holiness.”
Even with her authority and manpower as a saint, things are getting blocked. In any case, there was a very high possibility that the traitor inside was a high-ranking priest, so the Pope’s permission was needed to investigate.
“Welcome, Saint Estelle.”
Estelle had a private meeting with the Sicari Pope as scheduled, and the answer was refusal.
“That is impossible, saint.”
“…Why?”
“It is absurd to think that there could be a traitor among the cardinals. They are all faithful people who have proven their faith. Doesn’t the saint know about the feast that took place before you were kidnapped?”
Yes, it was true. Although it was not intended to verify divine power, there was a volunteer service by high-ranking priests for the sick that took place every year at the shrine.
On this feast day, not only cardinals, but also saints and popes came forward to purify the sick, injured or possessed by demonic spirits during battles with demons.
As far as Estelle knew, none of the eighteen cardinals could use divine power.
“There is no wavering in their faith.”
It’s true.
“This incident is extremely regrettable. But how could we betray God’s will?”
It’s true.
“The culprit could be among the Nine Churches. They also shared similar technology to us.”
“uh?”
“Saint?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just keep talking.”
Just… what was that? Estelle tilted her head at the sensation that crossed her mind. But the doubts grew more and more severe.
“The cardinals are innocent. At least within our church, there is no religious person who would risk punishment for harming a saint.”
Lie…
“But… you don’t know, right? There might be a scoundrel who even abandoned his faith and started his work…”
“There’s no possibility of that.”
truth.
Estelle was confused.
She is a saint chosen by God. That understanding surpassed that of criminals.
Eyes that intuit the truth. Therefore, the five senses can even detect lies. The subtle truths and lies uttered by the Pope, who should be at the pinnacle of faith more than anyone else, confused her.
so that.
For assurance, she dares to speak.
“Your Holiness. Are there really no traitors among the cardinals?”
“Nothing. Their faith was proven by their holy power.”
Lies and truth.
Estelle held on tightly to the hem of her skirt.
“I see. The direction of the investigation should focus on spies of the Old Church.”
The person in front of me is telling a lie to me. Estelle, noticing this, calmly calmed her expression and forced a natural smile.
“Shouldn’t we go up to the royal capital now? Leave the investigation of this matter to me and the saintess go to the royal capital to purify herself.”
The saintess, who left the reception room, barely managed to catch herself as her legs gave out and she almost fell.
I can’t be sure. There is no evidence and the reason is not logical.
However, her natural understanding and intuition… the instinct of a child who was chosen by God pointed to one thing.
The Pope is a traitor.
“…Lord.”
A memory suddenly comes to mind. The time when I felt the divine power of the sun. Why did that feeling that I ignored as nonsense come up now?
* * * *
“I’m a little… worried.”
I could guess what the concern was.
After subduing the Magic Tower, she returned to the Holy Land, vowing to hunt down traitors within the New Church.
If she’s reacting this way, it’s probably because she guessed the truth.
“There’s still some time left until the prom, right? Can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Please.”
We sat down.
“I guess things didn’t go well in the West?”
“…Did you notice?”
“Roughly speaking. Is there anything else that won’t go as the princess wants?”
“Hehe, I told you to call me sister…”
There was no strength in her voice. As expected, it’s what I expected…is it exactly the same as the story?
“Look at this, junior.”
She raised her right hand and weaved the sacred power within me into a halo of light. manifestation of sexual power. For her, it is as natural as breathing.
“What do you think about sacred power?”
“Isn’t it proof of faith?”
It was both right and wrong. Faith Faith… The question is where does the source of that power come from?
“If sacred power is evidence of faith, then the ‘Lord’ we serve is its source, right?”
“I guess so?”
I had no intention of getting into a religious argument with her or any other member of the clergy.
But an unexpected answer came from Estelle.
“I mean, I don’t believe in the Lord right now. To be exact, I denied it for a moment.”
“yes?”
“I looked at something… and looked for God in another being.”
What is this sound? Although Estelle was bad for a saint, she was not someone who abandoned God. She denied the Lord?
“Despite this, this holy power has not left me and has not changed at all from before. And the same is probably true for the apostates who betrayed me.”
She calmly denied her faith and questioned her remaining spiritual power despite denying her faith.
“Isn’t it strange? Why are non-believers who don’t believe in the Lord able to control divine power?”
If sacred power is evidence of faith, then it is a natural question whether sacred power should be revealed only when there is faith.
“Maybe… God is different from what we thought.”
I know the truth about this question.
The beings that can be called gods in this world are the Sky Titans of the creation myth. They are the Danans of the mythical era who shaped the world after that.
The beings who took care of the world until the Goidel people drove out the gods.
Conceptual beings who contained the vessels of divine power on this earth.
Danan Lu of the Light.
Danan
Dagda of the earth is Danan Nua of the sun.
May the light drive out the darkness,
may the earth provide abundant produce, may
the sun purify the evil things….
A faith that is able to give to those who believe. Those concepts come together to form God.
However, the Goidel people drove out the gods. They killed them and also denied them.
In a land that had lost its divinity and was devastated, and in a world full of ‘demon beings’, they had even forgotten the God they had driven out.
Humans began to believe in a being called ‘Lord’.
Among the numerous believers, those who have faintly inherited the blood of Danan or giants awaken their talent for divine power and become high-ranking priests.
In other words, the basis of their faith is the divine status of Danan.
This is the hidden story of the myth of [The Legend of Arhan Heroes]. The moment this truth is revealed, the world will be devastated.
‘I was worried about this with Park Si-hoo in the previous episode as well.’
Why not reveal the existence of Danan and aim for the collapse of religious forces?
The problem is that if it’s a small minority, it can’t be proven broadly, and most of all…
the ‘Paradise Entry Sect.’ High-ranking clergy in both Catholic and Protestant churches already know this.’
The reason why they can still exercise their holy power even after abandoning the Lord. They simply shifted the object of their faith from ‘Lord’ to ‘Danan’.
“What do you plan to do?”
“…I don’t know. There is evidence that contradicts what I have believed my whole life.”
It was like that in the previous episode and story. Estelle eventually discovered the corruption of the new church, but there was not enough time to solve all of these corruptions.
In the previous episode, they found out about the apostasy of the Pope and the Cardinals and started investigating, but they were not able to solve it until the final battle.
If that happens again this time…
‘I’m not sure. But I think we can try.’
“Saint… no, Sister Estelle.”
“Huh? Who are you calling sister?”
Estelle made a wide expression, probably because she hadn’t expected it.
If I have a lot of her favorability and the trust I gained while rescuing her…
“Would you please give me some time after this ball?”
“…You know something?”
“It’s up to you to judge everything.”
Will she accept the truth? If we accept it, what direction will we go in?
I had a strange feeling that at least they wouldn’t be hostile to me.
* * * *
The royal ball begins. Numerous nobles and knight wizards were called, and the ceremony of introducing their titles and local offices continued…
“Corrin, it’s our turn.”
“Ya~ I’ve lived and lived to be on the verge of royalty at the prom.”
We are the last to enter, excluding the royal family.
“Hmm…! Be quiet!”
“You too. Why are you killing our Corinthian?”
“Mrs. Boo?!”
Duke Mard immediately cringes under Duchess Elencia’s blows. This guy is also the type that can’t use his energy at home.
Anyway, why am I entering with the Duke and Duchess and Marie…
“Corinne stay right next to me! We’re partners!”
This is because I am participating in this ball as the partner of Duke Dunaref.
“Then should we just link our arms? It seems like everyone is doing that.”
“Huh! Is that so? Arms folded? Right? That’s right? Ugh, yes! It’s only natural for a gentleman to be an escort for a young lady…!”
Marie’s cheeks blush red. Why is this so great and why are you so embarrassed?
“You, you bastard! You are manipulating our Mari…!”
“No, I said it’s okay to hold hands.”
“Iik…!”
Duke Mard looked like a piece of iron heated to extremely high temperatures, but if I had learned it, this would be basic manners…
“Oh, I see you studied well.”
Unlike Duke Mard, Duchess Ellencia clapped her hands and smiled.
“Our Corin son-in-law… no, not yet.”
“Ma’am? Madam?!”
“Please be nice this time. This is the first time our Mari has socialized with a male partner her age.”
“Keukheuhm… I’ll keep that in mind.”
The beautiful Duchess whispered to me with a sly smile, wondering if Marie would be like this when she grows up.
“For your information, there is an unspoken rule that in the odd-numbered lounge on the second floor of the ballroom, a red magic light turns on when there are guests, and no one is allowed to touch it.”
“yes?”
I know that too. The person who is saying that…
“My husband and I were indebted to a lot of people when we were young. Marie was also there…”
“Huh, Mom?!”
Oh wow… you’re so explicit. Are you okay, this family?
“What’s wrong? Mom wants to be a grandmother now. This mom had you when she was your age——” “
Ma’am. Please. Please stop. You’re wrong.”
“By the way… Marie is an adult now, so what’s so shameful?”
“I’m an adult, but Corinne still has a year left?!”
“Ah, but it’s okay. Unlike women, no one says anything even if men are exposed to blatant obscenity, right?”
“Mom…!”
What a great family. Personally, I want to take my mother’s side.
While we were having a messy conversation with the Duke and Duchess of Dunareff, a palace servant approached us.
“Your Excellency… it is time for you to enter.”
“Kuhm… tell me.”
Is it finally our turn?
“Viscount of Crancia, Count of Kadriol, Marquess of Langol, Duke of Dunaref, owner of 2 million hectares of land in the south, guardian of 5.6 million hectares of farmland, 25 cities, 47 mines and 67 mines. “Duke Mard Dunaref, the owner of the ranch, and Lord Elencia, a high-ranking knight recognized by the royal family, Marriott of Cydriol, Guardian Knight of Banane, and Duchess of Dunaref…!”
…It’s long.
Why is it so long?
No matter how much he is called the King of the South, does he really mean all of those rituals?
In the previous episode, there were high-ranking nobles who called for titles, cities, mines, and sins, but this is the first time that there was a noble who spent years just calling out the titles he owned. Why now… Ah.
In the previous episode, Dunareff went into seclusion after Marie went missing. There were no public activities at all…
The servant soon began to recite Marie’s title.
“The Baron of Colon, the Count of Montwol, and a semi-special guardian recognized by the royal family——”
“Baron? Count?”
“Hmm…! I inherited it in advance because of tax issues in the past…”
You’re talking about tax evasion.
Moreover, Marie is also unusually long.
“─omitted─Dunaref’s enemy eldest daughter, Marie Dunaref Archmage──”
What are you talking about? Are they even treated as archmages now? Actually, Marie may be Destruction, but it’s not at that level yet… She’s probably called that to build up the Dunareff family.
Anyway, now it’s my turn as a partner. I also have a title. How would you explain it?
“This is ──’s partner, Baron Corrin Locke.”
………
………
Yeah… I thought so. They don’t even treat it as level 1, right?
“Ah… Corrin. That’s strange. You’re a high-ranking guardian, so why don’t you tell me you’re a first-class magistrate?”
“Hmph! I could have introduced you to the Baronet, who gave it to me for free. Just go.”
-Wow!
“Ah…! Honey?”
Duke Mard looked with mouse-like eyes at Duchess Elencia, who gave him a shock that could have been called a knock on the back… or rather, it would be an exaggeration to say that she was shocked.
“You can’t help your son-in-law.”
Um… Strictly speaking, I’m not a son-in-law… Elencia called out to the gatekeeper, who was staring at her with an expression as if he wasn’t coming in yet.
“Look.”
“yep?”
“again.”
“yes?”
Should I repeat the introduction to announce my position? That’s the expression. But Duchess Ellencia’s expression was stern.
“Again, introduce my son-in-law straight.”
“Ah yep! Yup!”
You’re saying you’re not your son-in-law?
“Ah ah…! You are a high-ranking knight recognized by the royal family…!”
“No, no, we should also tell you that you are Marie’s partner.”
“Ah… Yep! Lady Marie Dunareff’s partner…! He is a high-ranking knight recognized by the royal family and a first-class magistrate who has done great service──”
…….. …
…
…
We were only able to enter after the attendant’s embarrassing introduction.
Duke Mard, who had been slapped on the back by his wife, entered the room with an expression of disgust.
While Duke Mard and I have rotten expressions, the duchy’s heroines look very satisfied.
“Cancer. A person of this caliber is my son-in-law.”
“Ah ahhh… Oh, mom, don’t do that… Not yet~ Hehe…”
“…….”
“…….”
Duke Mard and I looked triumphant. They shared the same silence as they watched the two people walk on the red carpet.
“Father, would you like to have a drink with me later?”
“Don’t call me father.”
Anyway, it’s finally the royal ball.
It’s worth it to be recognized for your contributions here and be highlighted as an official hero of the kingdom.
A corner of the venue as Marie and I enter, arm in arm. A familiar face and a beautiful woman wearing a provocative black dress are seen chatting.
Lenya Claire. A member of our Guardians and an executive of the Intelligence Guild. At first glance, the person she is chatting with is a woman wearing a plain dress.
Edna Level 4 Secretary.
Her true identity is the SM queen who is operating secretly in the royal capital.
There were two people who attacked me in the previous episode, one succeeded and one failed.
Edna was the one who failed.
176.Back Killed the Academy player