Chapter 579
The pilgrimage group, including Tannian, teleported all the way to the capital city.
Even though the group was small, it included the next saint, Tannian, and Cardinal Alexandria, the growing saint of the Holy Church. Just because the size was small doesn’t mean their authority or impact was any less.
Thanks to that, they were greeted by important figures like Ainter, the Emperor’s brother, the Foreign Minister, and the chief priest of the Empire, Cardinal Richter. All these high-profile individuals welcomed the pilgrimage group.
“It’s been a while, Brother Ainter. How have you been?”
“Thanks to your concern, I’ve been having a happy time.”
And with the commonality of their academic backgrounds, Ainter and Tannian shared a light hug, showcasing their friendship.
A miracle of connections—an Emperor’s brother and the next saint being friends. Because of this divine relationship, the diplomatic teams from both sides released a sigh of relief and shook hands. As long as those two were alive, no matter how complicated the situations got, the relationship between the Empire and the Church wouldn’t hit rock bottom.
“Brother, it’s been a while.”
After greeting Ainter, Tannian smiled brightly and offered me a handshake.
“You’re already married, so I guess my hug isn’t necessary.”
“True, true.”
Tannian chuckled, thinking it was a clever joke, and we clasped hands.
“Still, it feels a bit sad. I’ve learned so much in the three years under you, and yet I have to show you respect now.”
“Just because we show respect doesn’t erase our memories. Besides, if I speak comfortably to you, I might as well drop the formalities with royals and nobles too.”
“Haha, that’s true. I didn’t think that through.”
Tannian briefly showed some disappointment but quickly nodded in agreement.
While it’s true we were mentor and student during those three years, he had to spend tens of times that much time as a growing saint among the noble class of the Empire. Dropping the formalities right after three years felt a bit burdensome.
“But if you ever change your mind, feel free to speak comfortably anytime. We aren’t strangers anymore.”
“I’ll try my best.”
With that statement, Tannian smiled again and proceeded to greet the Foreign Minister beside me.
‘Was it always this easy?’
It felt a bit strange. When I was managing Tannian back in the academy, I was in a constant state of nerves. Even talking was a challenge. Yet now that I didn’t have to worry about him, I was able to receive whatever he said with a smile. Honestly, Tannian’s gentleness made me feel at ease.
Yeah, this is how it should be. A future saint of the continent’s dominant religion ought to have this character. I guess I’d been viewing Tannian through colored glasses due to my previous position.
“The Emperor has prepared a feast for our distinguished guests. Would you honor us with your presence?”
“It would be rude to decline an invitation from His Majesty. I’ll gladly attend.”
Seeing Tannian nod happily at the Foreign Minister’s suggestion, I subtly stepped back.
Having greeted my acquaintances, my work here was done—
“Oh, will Brother Ainter and the Advisor be attending as well?”
“I plan to attend for the sake of my old friend, but as for the Director, he’s currently on leave, so I’m not sure.”
With Tannian and Ainter’s one-two punch, all eyes turned to me.
“…I’ve spent three years with Brother Tannian, so how could I leave a distinguished guest alone?”
With an atmosphere that made escape impossible, I had to declare surrender.
Although the conversation had become easier, my subtle lack of perception was still present.
The banquet didn’t seem like a sudden event; it was quite splendid. I could only imagine how many civil servants from the Imperial Household and the Ministry of Finance had been worn out for this. Just imagining it tightened my chest.
Moreover, several big shots were attending the banquet besides the group welcoming the pilgrimage, raising the gala’s stature.
“A pilgrimage to the holy sites, huh. If only I were a bit younger, I would have tried it as well, but I guess getting older makes traveling around harder.”
Said the Vice Commander of the Imperial Army, also known as the Vice Captain.
“Guhihihih, yeeesss~ to the great land of Cheness Empire! Just you wait, I’ll be on my best behavior!”
And there was the Wise Duke, the lord of the region with the most holy sites and relics in the Empire, being summoned to the scene.
‘Is this right?’
Even with two dukes present to brighten the event, every time I looked at the Wise Duke, I couldn’t help but sigh.
Having two dukes was preferable to having one, but wise duke, well… it’s still a minus in my book. Does it even make sense to showcase a drunkard in front of distinguished guests?
“The beauty of the Cheness Principality is well-known. I visited there during my school trip, and the piety of the former Duke, the Holy Duke, is famous even in the Holy Kingdom.”
Yet Tannian maintained his smiling face even in front of the Wise Duke’s drunkenness.
It was amazing. Even for me, who has blood ties to the Wise Duke, I felt drained after just five seconds beside him. But how was Tannian holding up like this?
“Guhuh, to hear that from Saint Tannian makes me happy! My father is surely smiling from the heavens!”
And upon hearing that the Holy Duke was also held in high regard in the Holy Kingdom, the Wise Duke smirked and gulped down champagne.
I was a bit taken aback. Was the Wise Duke actually drinking from the bottle, not just sipping from a glass? I thought he usually avoided low alcohol content drinks!
‘A twisted sense of familial love, perhaps.’
It seemed he was trying to keep himself somewhat sober from his deceased father’s praise. If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to just not drink at all?
“If you think about it, the faithful who strive for correct beliefs have often hailed from the Empire. The late Holy Duke did, and today, so does Brother Advisory.”
‘What?’
In the midst of joking and chatting with the dukes, Tannian turned his gaze towards me.
“Oh, that’s right. The Minister recently did something significant.”
“Right, right! That big blunder?”
With the shared gaze of the two dukes now on me, I could only manage an awkward smile.
‘Crap.’
As soon as the banquet began, I was quietly sitting in the corner, and yet I ended up being the center of attention.
‘At least I held out for a while…’
One hour wasn’t too shabby.
*
I was still shaking all over from the horrifying words left by my master. My bright yellow wings flapped as I rolled on the ground.
“I was on my way to greet the next saint of the Dawn Sect.”
‘Creeek…!’
Despair that wouldn’t leave my mind made me hurriedly shake my head.
Why, why is the Sun’s Saint coming all the way here? That dreadful and annoying existence, what business does it have here!?
‘I have no faith or sanctity left!’
Tears were about to spill. Doesn’t the saint have anything better to do? Why would they come to us, who have nothing?!
If we were escaping safely from the seal, gathering faith while wandering the continent, I could understand the Dawn Sect’s saint arriving. From the sun’s perspective, our revival would be a headache, so sending a saint to stomp us out early would be his natural course of action.
And if we had successfully escaped and somewhat restored our faith, we could easily throw off the saint’s pursuit. Even if we were captured, it would bring pain, but not to the point of annihilation.
Sure, we’d end up with our gathered believers crushed… but being faced with a saint and merely ending at that would be seen as somewhat successful.
But that’s not the case. We didn’t escape, not only that we’ve been stripped of our sanctity, but we’ve also degenerated into beasts raised by a human master.
‘You cold-hearted bastard!’
So anger and sadness filled my thoughts. I had already come to terms with losing divinity and was quietly preparing to live. If I were to live in a sealed state, neither living nor dead—better to freeze to death in that bitter land than this!
“No, you didn’t come to catch us; you simply stopped by on your pilgrimage.”
Suddenly, the words of my master came back to me. The saint wasn’t coming because of us; they were merely passing through for their pilgrimage.
‘That can’t be true.’
Those words were too unbelievable. Even if my divine nature had been stripped away, there was no way I would fall for those tricks.
Of all times, why would the saint come right when we were freed from the seal? Could that possibly be a coincidence? Even if it were, would a saint just ignore the presence of an ancient evil like us on their visit?
There’s no way. Absolutely no way that bastard saint will skip over us.
‘We need to escape.’
Yes, that’s the correct answer. We can’t stay in this mansion until the saint leaves the Empire.
If they’re coming to greet the saint, it means the master is on friendly terms with him, and it could be an excuse for the saint to come to this mansion. The only way to avoid that disaster is to flee!
But how do I escape?
‘How do I escape in this body?’
I glanced at my small body with despair.
Can I even run away as this little chick? I’d probably just climb the stairs and get bitten by that Titi creature, then end up back in my room.
‘What if I hide on the Young Master’s body?’
I was so desperate that I thought about it. If I stuck to the Young Master’s body, cherished by everyone in the mansion, surely even the saint wouldn’t dare to do anything to me.
But if that happened, I’d most likely face a second round of punishment from my master for using his child.
“Damn that sun…”
I mumbled the curse that had become my death’s habit.
For the first time, I might actually understand the feeling of death. The sun truly is a damnable existence.
“I’m here.”
Just as I was stuck in this helpless situation, desperately flapping my wings, I heard my master’s voice.
“Master! It’s our Master!”
“Master! Please hide us for a bit!”
“Please! Even bury us in the ground if you have to! Just until the saint leaves!”
And creatures sharing my thoughts rushed out from all corners.
“Kiieeeee!”
“The sun, the sun’s son is here! The sun’s son has arrived!”
“Oh no, are we going to die for sure now?”
Their desperate charge soon turned into a counterattack.
I could feel a powerful aura of the sun coming from behind my master.
“Uh, are these entities worries and sins?”
“As unbelievable as it sounds, yes.”
Seeing my master chatting calmly with the saint filled me with betrayal.
My master sold us out…!
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