Great Wizard Transcending with Mythology - chapter 24

Episode 24

“Saintess….”

“Your Highness, this is no ordinary matter. Of course, you are an imperial duke, a person that our church cannot treat lightly. However, regarding the saintess…”

“I know.”

I calmed down the speechless Cediar without replying.

“The second-in-command of the Holy Church, representing Denver, and holding the highest authority in the church. Naturally, she is not an easy opponent for anyone, no matter how powerful the country is.”

“Yes, I know. I… seem to have lost my composure. It was a sudden news, and I seem to be a bit flustered.”

Cediar’s reaction was natural as a believer.

In the Holy Church, except for Gregory III, who is the pinnacle of sanctity, the saint is the highest-ranking official.

Although the inquisitor is high-ranking within the Holy Church, the saintess is a completely different entity.

Naturally, he had to be courteous.

Not only is she powerful, but she is also almost like the voice of God.

“Unfortunately, that god is not Denver.”

Abel, not Denver.

Denver, whom the believers so fervently trust, is currently missing.

“I, who is not a member of the church, know more about Denver than anyone else in the church.”

Isn’t it ironic?

Of course, the saintess Celestia, who has announced her visit, would not know this fact at all.

Well, anyway.

“But it’s a bit unpleasant.”

“….Yes?”

Celestia’s visit itself is not a problem.

It’s just the ‘way’ of the visit that’s the problem.

“She informed me unilaterally without going through proper procedures and said she would visit today. Does that sound normal to you?”

“That… yes.”

“Is this a normal situation?”

I looked at the inquisitor with displeasure.

Usually, in such cases, it is a principle to inform a few days in advance before visiting.

Especially for someone as high-ranking as an imperial duke.

But she didn’t do that.

She unilaterally ‘notified’ me of her visit.

This is not acceptable.

I expected it, but it’s still unacceptable.

“Your Highness…!”

At my words, Cediar’s complexion turned pale.

“I, I don’t think the saintess intended to be disrespectful to Your Highness! Please show some tolerance…”

I said to Cediar, facing him directly.

“If that’s the case, let me ask you, Inquisitor. Whose land are you standing on right now?”

“Th-that… Your Highness, this is the land of Grave.”

“Then, do I, as the rightful owner of this land, have the right to admit outsiders?”

“W-well, yes, but… Your Highness, it’s just that, as an emissary of the church, it’s… inappropriate to show hostility towards the saintess…”

“It’s okay. My blessings are dozens of times greater than theirs.”

“Well, that’s true, but… yes, I understand. I may have… lost my composure due to the sudden news.”

Cediar’s reaction was expected as a believer.

In the Holy Church, except for the Pope Gregory III, the saintess is the highest-ranking official.

The inquisitor is high-ranking within the Holy Church, but the saintess is a completely different entity.

Naturally, he had to be courteous.

Not only is she powerful, but she is also almost like the voice of God.

“Unfortunately, that god is not Denver.”

Abel, not Denver.

Denver, whom the believers so fervently trust, is currently missing.

“I, who is not a member of the church, know more about Denver than anyone else in the church.”

Isn’t it ironic?

Of course, the saintess Celestia, who has announced her visit, would not know this fact at all.

Well, anyway.

“But it’s a bit unpleasant.”

“….Yes?”
“That’s right.”

Looking satisfied, Cedier immediately nodded in agreement with my words, and I continued.

“In a way, this is a test of patience. The saintess doesn’t know anything right now, she’s just testing my patience.”

“Your Majesty… Your words seem overly secular…”

“Ah, isn’t the hierarchy in the empire based on the blessings received?”

“Uh…”

For a moment, Cedier seemed to pause, then opened his mouth, staring into space.

Then he spoke.

“…Certainly, the hierarchy is divided based on the level of blessings.”

“Naturally, Denver must have thought she was worthy of receiving blessings, so he granted them, right?”

“That’s… true.”

It was as if the answer had been decided from the beginning. How could he answer differently? It would imply that Denver had bestowed blessings upon the unworthy.

Cedier looked troubled.

“Your Majesty, what you’re saying isn’t wrong, but how should I put this…”

“Inquisitor, what’s the point?”

I chuckled and said.

“I’m not planning to bow down and enter. That’s what I’m saying.”

“I… understand.”

Cedier replied, shrugging his shoulders.

“So, what should the Inquisitor do now? Tell me.”

“Right now… it’s to convey Your Majesty’s intentions to the saintess…”

“That’s right.”

I nodded satisfactorily and said to Cedier, “Then do that. If you think there’s any need to consult with me about something like that, let me know.”

“No, I don’t think that’s necessary… Yes, understood.”

With a disgruntled expression, Cedier nodded and left the room.

Well, he’ll handle it well on his own. There’s no way Cedier would fail to deliver my message.

Now then…

“How will she react, the saintess?”

It was quite interesting.

At least it was the first time we had met from an ‘equal’ position.

—

“Heh.”

After receiving the testimony from the Imperial Duke, Kyle Grave, the saintess Celestia let out a bitter laugh.

“Follow the proper procedures?”

She was about to step into the transmission portal leading to the Grave Duchy.

To hear such words in such a situation.

“Yes, the testimony delivered by the acting head of the Grave Duchy’s ecclesiastical office, Inquisitor Cedier, does indeed reflect the Duke’s intentions.”

“Hah.”

She chuckled at the bishop’s words.

Celestia herself was aware that her request could come off as somewhat rude.

She didn’t get angry at being refused.

But.

‘Why refuse this? Even if you have pride?’

In the Empire, the presence of the Celestial Faith cannot be ignored.

For a saintess of that faith to visit her territory?

Well, whether she informs her in advance or not doesn’t really matter.

The visit of a saintess means that the land has been chosen by the gods.

From the standpoint of a lord, there is little reason to refuse such a visit.

However…

‘he refused.’

Whether it was simply out of pride or if there was something else, she couldn’t tell.

But for some reason, she felt that the latter was more likely than the former.

And when that thought occurred to her, a smile crept onto Celestia’s lips.

It didn’t feel unpleasant.

She had always trusted her instincts.

“Hmm.”

Feeling that it might be fun, Celestia smiled.

Ironically, the refusal had sparked even more interest in the duke….

“Well, if they want the procedures, let’s comply.”

“Saintess, what do you mean…?”

“Send another message. Um, would about a week from now be good for the ‘propriety’ the Duke demands?”

She said so and stretched out vigorously.

Why are things that don’t go as planned so amusing?

“Heh.”

Feeling that it might be fun, Celestia smiled.

After a week, as planned, Celestia visited the Grave Duchy as scheduled.

—

* * *

A week passed, and the day Celestia had promised arrived.

Naturally, the mansion was bustling with activity, as expected for the visit of a saintess from the Holy Church.

“Your Highness, I’ve had a brilliant idea.”

Alonso blurted out nonsense from the start.

Though it seemed like nonsense, I decided to listen, thinking I might as well hear him out.

“Go on.”

“A few days ago, didn’t you entrust me with the task of guiding the Prosperity Kingdom’s envoy, including the saintess?”

“I did.”

“But who am I? A knight, a wizard…! And also the commander of the Graves’ magical battalion.”

Alonso said, his eyes sparkling.

“In a fight, seizing the initiative is crucial! So when the envoy arrives, bam! We shoot a pillar of light into the sky!”

“Interesting. Continue.”

“Creating an overwhelmingly impressive pillar of light from mana, our family would feel proud, while the saintess’s side would tremble, feeling the power of magic, wouldn’t they?”

“I see.”

I nodded quietly, looking at Alonso.

“Our proud commander of the magical battalion, why would I bother to involve Setarim and tie the knot?”

“Why would you?”

“To stop them from doing such things.”

“I see.”

“However, there’s no need to be overly formal in our response since they were the ones who provoked us in the first place.”

“Your Highness, even if it’s just pretending to be a commander, it’s too much to say to the commander of the magical battalion…”

“Think about it, Alonso. In a contest, the side that does that best gains a slightly advantageous position.”

“…Isn’t that a sophistry?”

“No, it’s because I think you’re the most suitable candidate for the role. Don’t complain and go quickly.”

“It’s… awkward…”

Alonso muttered with a furrowed brow.

Nevertheless, as time passed, Alonso was dragged away by Dezium.

After Alonso disappeared, Lepentier, who had been quietly standing behind me, spoke up.

“Your Highness, honestly, I also do not approve of the Holy Church’s actions this time…”

“Whatever. What’s more important is what I can gain from this visit.”

“That’s… true.”

Lepentier nodded in agreement with my firm statement.

“Of course, I trust your decision. It’s just that I’m not just any noble family; to behave so arrogantly against our main house…”

“Don’t worry.”

Of course, I had anticipated Celestia’s actions to some extent, but that didn’t mean I had accepted them as a matter of course.

“Just means I plan to milk them for all they’re worth.”

“If that’s what you intend…”

I never forget a slight.

Thinking like that, when I was chuckling softly to myself, Abel’s voice echoed in my mind.

– Well, seeing how things are shaping up, it’s quite complicated from my perspective.

In my head, I heard Abel’s voice.

– First of all, you do realize that the person in charge of those kids is listening to everything, right?

“What does it matter? You agreed to this whole thing.”

– That’s… true.

Abel sighed softly.

– I’m not sure if this will turn out well.

“Trust me.”

I said with conviction.

“I’ll take care of each of the problems bothering you.”

– …Hm?

“The reason you can’t actively intervene in the Holy Church is ultimately because you’re not ‘Delvear,’ right?”

– That’s right.

Abel isn’t Delvear.

Naturally, she can’t influence the believers as effectively as Delvear.

So she has been moving passively until now.

But we need to change that little by little.

Passive intervention alone won’t be enough to deal with Jormungand.

“This is your chance.”

Second in command of the Holy Church.

Moreover, if there’s something special about her, it’s that she has been listening to ‘Abel’ rather than ‘Delvear’ and acting as a saintess.

In other words, it could be seen as the position closest to Abel.

– A chance?

“This is your chance to completely fill Denver’s void.”

I can’t be sure if Delvear is still alive or not.

Then, from now on, Abel must effectively fill Denver’s void.

And as a means to do that.

‘Use Celestia.’

As I finished my thoughts, Lepentier, who had been standing quietly behind me, spoke.

“Your Highness, the saintess of the Holy Church has entered the territory through the transmission portal.”

“I see.”

It would be a truly long-awaited reunion with her.