V2C5 Part5

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With this bonus chapter, I’ve reached the part where the manhwa left you guys in cliffhanger. Next update is Silla and Jullius reunion! Wohooo~~

The horse-carriage that I used before was still parked there even though Captain Jullius had long returned first. Perhaps he left the carriage for me to use. But this place is too far to go back on foot, did he borrow a horse from the church? Nonetheless, I couldn’t just discard the horse-carriage so I got on it. Come to think of it, how is Snowy doing?

“How’s Snowy doing?”

Adjutant Sieg who sat across of me, replied to my question.

“He’s not here.”

“What? Then where’s he now?”

“He didn’t want to leave from the Demon King’s castle ruins, so we took off the rein and saddle then set him free. Anyway he’s not any normal horse that could be ridden by just anyone.”

The Demon King’s castle wasn’t located beyond the Black Desert, but it’s close to the Black Desert vicinity. In other words, it’s not a safe area.

“…, I wonder if he’s doing fine.”

“He’ll be fine because he’s the type of horse that could live well wherever he’s fred to.”

Hmm, that’s right. Although he looks like that, Snowy is a holy horse breed so he’s strong and has holy power, but for some reasons he’s a carnivore. He’s a horse that hunts wolves and or lions by himself, so there shouldn’t be any problems. Rather than worrying about Snowy, I’m more worried that he might pounced on any passerby instead. He shouldn’t prey on humans.

‘It feels like my position has really gone for good.’

I wonder if perhaps I could bring Snowy away with me. Though I’d no intention of returning as a clergy, but my heart felt empty. Actually, I couldn’t say that I didn’t feel any regret about it. But still, as things stand, not only I couldn’t get my position back as a Captain, even becoming an ordinary knight would be hard.

“…, now I won’t hear others called me as ‘Captain’ anymore.”

I’ve to hide my identity and I’m no longer a holy knight. I supposed I’m just Miss Epheria now. The way I was being addressed for a long while, suddenly sounded unfamiliar. Adjutant Sieg smile lightly in response to my words.

“Then I’ll call you ‘Lady’ from now on.”

“Not Miss Epheria or Miss Silla?”

Being called as ‘Lady’ sounds weird though?

“Now that it has come to this, I’m thinking of retiring from my post.”

“…, can you do that?”

“The High Priest will permit it.”

“Hmm, but do you really have to retire? You know, becoming an adjutant isn’t as simple as being a clergy for one to two years of service.”

“I was forced after all.”

“What?”

I widened my eyes. This is the first time I ever heard of it.

“It’s an old story, but a long time ago, the Duchess of Fortuna was severely ill and her life was in grave danger. The Duke asked the High Priest for help to save his wife. The Duchess wasn’t in a state where she could travel far away so he hoped for the High Priest to personally pay a visit.”

“…, that’s not allowed.”

The High Priest couldn’t leave the Holy Church. Not to mention for a Duke, but even at the request of the Emperor, it’s not possible.

“Of course the Holy Church side rejected it, but the Duke who loved his wife dearly didn’t give up. Not only tremendous amount of wealth and various privileges, he even went so far as to offer his first child to the Goddess.”

“But no matter what… could it be that the High Priest agreed to it?”

“Yes.”

I was left speechless for a moment. The mighty holy power owned by the High Priest wouldn’t change whether he’s inside or outside the Holy Church, but the blessings of immortality could only be attained within range of the church. So in other words, the High Priest could be killed if he left the Holy Church.

Long time ago when the Goddess drove the demon clan away to the northern lands, all the demons who were called as ancient demon kings were all sealed by the Goddess’ power. Unlike the current Demon Kings, the real ancient Demon Kings couldn’t be sealed by human’s power, the axis which was the central core of the earth was needed to securely seal all the demon kings for a very long time, and the axis is no other but the High Priest himself. To put it simply, if the High Priest was killed under the circumtances where there wasn’t any successor, then the seal wouldn’t just weakened, but could also broke at any given time.

“That’s too dangerous!”

Although it’s been a long time, it still sent a chill down my spine. The High Priest took too much risk to save a person’s life.

“That was certainly an unprecedented event. But of course, because it’s related to the High Priest, it was done in an utmost secrecy and considered as a top secret. So far, only a very few people knew what happened back then.”

I was close to swallowed down my saliva and looked at Sieg. For him to share this story here right now, meant he’s somehow related to it…

“…, wasn’t the last name different?”

“That’s because it’s a secret. But I’m pretty sure most of the high-ranking officials in the Empire roughly know about it.”

…, So that’s the reason why vice captain Tess treated adjutant Sieg like his superior. Because Duke Fortuna was originally the Empire’s Grand Duke and it’s a higher position than Duke. Anyway, if it’s like that…

“…, Prince?”

“For a clergy, a worldly status is meaningless. But of course, I enjoy my rights in moderation.”

“You said you want to retire from being a clergy…, didn’t you?”

“Well, nothing’s changed. The heir position has already been given to my younger brother and I’ve no intention of coming back and causing any commotions.”

“If that’s so, isn’t that the more reason you shouldn’t retire from being a clergy?”

If he’s not coming back to Fortuna duchy, then I don’t think he needs to leave the church.

“Like I said, I became a clergy against my will. Even my holy power is very few that it’s impossible to become a proper priest.”

Actually adjutant Sieg’s holy power is almost nonexistent. Not to mention he couldn’t be classified as a low-tier, he’s even scored last in power assessment and thus when he’s appointed as the adjutant of Holy Knight Squad, there’re lots of rumors flying around saying he made a shady deal behind the scene.

Soon after, when adjutant Sieg proved his talent and gained everyone’s recognition, no one’s gossiping about him anymore.

“On the contrary, my victim mentality has been getting worse because my ability is properly recognized in matters where it doesn’t require the usage of holy power.”

It’s only justified for adjutant Sieg to feel unfair. Other than his outstanding administrative talent, with his adequate swordmanship, even if he joined a common knight squad and not the Holy Knight Squad then he’s able to become a regular knight.

“At that time I met you, Captain. You were still a vice captain back then.”

“I remember. At that time you couldn’t believe that a person like me became the next Captain and saying that it didn’t make any sense.”

“Well, you know, I was right though.”

…, well, you’re right. From an ordinary person’s perspective who wasn’t a holy knight, it’s something that the more you saw it the more it couldn’t be comprehended. We’re loved by the Goddess so we received a strong holy power, and thus we could have a high-ranking position within the church, but this rule didn’t apply outside the church.

Adjutant Sieg looked at me with a confusing gaze I was unsure of whether if it’s a caring gaze or a gaze that looked as if he wanted to kill me, then continued to speak.

“After l met Captain, I soon realized the Goddess’ intention for having me as a clergy. And what came to my mind was that somehow I had to do something about this person.”

What’s that? I’m a little upset but I’ve to bear with it because Sieg has all the rights to nitpick me.

“When you had to make a debut in high society after you were made a Captain, everything was going bleak before my eyes. Thanks to you, I didn’t have to think about useless things.”

“At that time, I also couldn’t afford to think about anything else.”

Because I’d suffered terribly under your immense pressure.

“And now, aren’t you the Captain who has been engaged like this all of a sudden? And here I thought that things couldn’t get any worse. Don’t you think so?”

“I was completely in the wrong.”

“Nonetheless, my effort wasn’t in vain and it’s totally worth it. Because Captain is definitely a great person. So just shut up and just swing your sword.”

“Fine, it’s all my fault.”

“I’m not scolding you, so please listen carefully.”

Weren’t you? The contents of your talking seemed like you’re blaming me though.

“However I’m not interested in serving vice captain Tess who will be promoted to Captain soon. Though he’s a bit inferior in holy power and combat prowess compared to you, but since he’s someone from Duke Irhas household, there’s only a few matters that need my help. Even if I keep staying at the church like this, I’ll just left to do menial chores at best.”

Actually the Holy Knight Squad almost didn’t have any political strife within it, unlike other knight squads.

“In contrast to me, vice captain Tess doesn’t have much enemy.”

“That’s right. Actually I’ve been questioning on why he became a holy knight.”

“I made a bet, the one who lost in a fight would become the winner’s subordinate.”

“Did you really do that?”

“Mhm. I think I was 13 at that time.”

Back then, I still had some traces of girly features on me. Testa who visited the Holy Church at that time, saw me while I was in the middle of training, then he made a scene by provoking me saying ‘how could a girl become a knight?’ and we had a quarrel that lead to a big fight. But I had never thought he would really became a holy knight so I was very surprised to see him 3 years later. For nobles, especially the high-ranking nobles, they rarely became a clergy even if they had a strong holy power. A clergy couldn’t marry so there’s really no case where a noble became a clergy, unless he’s lost in family struggle to become a heir apparent. If only vice captain Tess wasn’t the youngest with two older brothers, his family would definitely opposed him to become a holy knight.

“Then, what do you want to do if you leave the church while you’re not coming back to the duchy?”

“Well, I’m not sure. But I’m considering to become a butler of Count Epheria household.”

I subconsciously shrank my shoulders.

“Please don’t be like this, Prince.”

“You don’t have to be burdened by it. I’m doing it because it looks like it’s going to be fun and interesting.”

A burden is still a burden, but I’m scared! Compared to the time when I was still a Captain of Holy Knight Squad, the manners I should have as a Count’s daughter or Countess Epheria is far more complicated so he’s going to be a lot more picky. Just Sofia alone is already enough!

“…, do I perhaps have a veto on this?”

“Sadly, no.”

Damn it, someone save me please…

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