168th Episode
A space where darkness and light coexist.
In a place where the meaning of distance fades, Cardinal Beled is holding a red heart in one hand, turning it this way and that while examining it.
Thump, thump.
Strangely enough, the heart seems to be beating on its own, as if to emphasize its existence. It beats loudly, as if trying to prove it’s alive.
Just a moment ago.
Vargan had told Beled he would make her the Pope.
Beled laughed for a long time.
Becoming the Pope means truly claiming a position above the formidable other Cardinals, and it was also a denial of the current Pope who had yet to descend to the mortal realm.
More cockiness than hope.
No matter how positively one assesses Vargan’s words, they were nothing but boastful nonsense.
How dare a mere human decide who becomes a Pope!
—If my expectation of you hasn’t yet reached your ambition, then that’s fine. I just need to show you in the future.
He spoke as if he knew he would survive in this space. An insufferably arrogant human.
He showed no fear even though he knew his life could be gone with just a moment’s judgment.
Schugenharz Troa Vargan.
Beled allowed his words to continue, driven by what felt like pure curiosity, and Vargan went on with his unfinished thoughts.
—The collapse of the Academia. It’s something no Cardinal has achieved in thousands of years. I will make it happen.
He said that on the day he accomplishes it, he would pass that glory on to Beled.
—After that happens, I will be waiting for the Goddess’s grace in a cold solitary room, and whether you will employ me or not will be up to you, Lady Beled.
After hearing his statement, Beled remarked that if he wanted to gain her trust, he could just put in a ‘Divine Bug’ without all this complicated business.
However, Vargan shook his head.
—Currently, the Academia is focused on rooting out the residual forces of the Goddess Church. While others may not mind, if any traces of the Church remain on my body, whether I like it or not, it will increase the risks and ruin everything.
Then Beled countered.
If that’s the case, then they could simply form a contract through the ‘Cardinal’s Contract.’
In fact, there was no need for a cumbersome contract since Beled herself was a Cardinal. Just forming a contract would be effective enough to eliminate any doubts regarding Vargan.
Yet, Vargan said that this too could not be done.
“Lugan said he couldn’t do this either.
—Due to the ‘special restrictions’ of the Cardinal’s contract, even if he were to act, it wouldn’t serve the purpose of a leash.
Special restrictions.
Vargan said so.
Upon hearing this, Beled couldn’t help but laugh out loud again.
It was surprising enough that he was aware of that fact, but even more so that he expressed his ambition so openly.
This man didn’t simply desire the ‘blessing’ of the Goddess Church. What he sought was ‘power’ and the throne.
In other words, Vargan was suggesting that instead of working to make him the Pope, he should give up the Archbishop’s position.
…Indeed. At the level of an Archbishop, the intensity of the power would render the contract ineffective. If such schemes were possible, true unification would have been achieved long ago by the Pope.
Seeing him refuse the Divine Bug, I thought he wasn’t looking to get involved with the Goddess Church, but it seems I was mistaken.
A man whose true intentions are utterly incomprehensible. A man with an overwhelming amount of information.
Vargan smiled as if to alleviate her worries and added an additional point.
—I can’t use the Divine Bug or the contract. Instead, I will offer my heart as collateral.
I’m not like Altife, who has a core, so wouldn’t it be possible for you, Lady Beled, who governs space?
Vargan said this nonchalantly.
His heart… His heart.
Knowing what happens when a mammal’s heart bursts, how can he say such things so casually?
And to be able to offer it like that…
‘…What an interesting human.’
Beled was examining Vargan’s heart from various angles.
After organizing her thoughts about Vargan for a while, she called for someone to assist her judgment.
‘Ultreman.’
As she spoke his name, Bishop Ultreman, wearing a top hat, appeared from one side of the space where Beled was.
He knelt on one knee, demonstrating respect towards the Cardinal.
Seated high above, Beled asked.
‘What was that child like in your ‘eyes’?’
The eye on Ultreman’s forehead can discern whether the opponent’s statements are true or false.
Having been watching the conversation between Vargan and Beled from a separate space, Ultreman opened his mouth.
“From what I saw, there was no lie in his words. Even if it stemmed from arrogance, he genuinely believes he can collapse the Academia.”
‘Furthermore, the information he possesses must also be words based on certainty… I suppose if it weren’t true, he wouldn’t have been able to chatter away like that in front of me.’
Continuing her silent contemplation, Beled curled the corners of her mouth upwards. Her gaze, which resembled that of a human yet felt otherworldly, sparkled with light. Beled displayed a captivating smile that transcended mere humanity.
While floating Vargan’s heart in the air, she stroked it as if petting a beloved creature.
Though it seemed like it would be deeply pierced by her long nails, it wasn’t. She could crush it in an instant, but chose not to.
The situation continued in a way that would make any involved feel chills.
‘Vargan. Could it be that that child has read every page of the “Scripture”… Then…’
The space’s ruler, Cardinal Beled, pondered aloud while gently caressing Vargan’s heart. The chances were slim, but a faint sense of hope leaked from her smile.
*
After meeting with Beled, I moved to the Terrarium.
A fleeting sensation made it hard to distinguish between dreams and reality, and as my blurred vision normalized, the room came into view properly.”
A strange sensation flickers by, and as my blurred vision clears, the room comes into focus.
A human-shaped Altife wearing a top hat is diligently cleaning.
With a bright red mop, they are scrubbing the floor, apparently erasing traces of blood. I can’t see the remains of their own corpse, so maybe they cleaned it up.
Noticing my arrival, Ultreman gives a polite smile, but to me, it looks like the smile of a con artist.
“Did you enjoy your conversation with her Eminence?”
“You’re spouting that line knowing full well I’ve already seen and heard everything.”
“Oh my, so you knew everything. I apologize for that. But please, understand that I had no choice in this matter. I will ensure that I won’t offend the mood of our esteemed VVIP customer, Mr. Vargan, in the future.”
“VVIP?”
“It’s exceedingly rare to have a connection with individuals who exist only in fours. It’s rare enough for someone like Mr. Vargan.”
Ultreman’s eyes are slinkier than a weasel.
With both hands neatly clasped, they emphasize their utmost courtesy.
Indeed, with a connection to Cardinal Beled, they mean to serve me even more diligently from now on.
“Only four, huh…”
“What’s the matter, Mr. Vargan?”
“Nothing. I’ll take my leave. Please contact me separately when you connect me with the weaponsmith as I requested.”
“Rest assured. Our Terrarium will do its best to ensure that your trade is completed swiftly and securely.”
Leaving the deeply bowing Ultreman behind, I stepped out of the room. The person who guided me this time was different from the one who welcomed me when I first arrived here.
I opened the old door of an ordinary house.
A chill breeze from Burtemberg brushed my face.
I looked around. Despite the late hour, the streets were quite bright.
Sounds of people echoed, proudly showcasing the capital of the Troa Empire, the foremost metropolis in the world.
In the distance, two drunken men staggered arm in arm. Their song pierced through my dull senses, carrying the scent of alcohol.
“……”
As I walked down the street, I paused for a moment and placed my hand over my heart.
I can feel its beating.
It’s functioning properly.
However, it doesn’t truly exist within me right now.
An indescribably strange sensation.
I have to remain like this for a few months… If I don’t get my heart back in that time, my breath will automatically cease.
Of course, I entrusted this fact to others.
Within that time frame, everything will be resolved cleanly.
‘Well… I might explode my heart due to Beled’s whims before that happens.’
Any situation carries its own risks.
I only make the best choices within what I can handle.
“……”
For some reason, a small smile crept across my face.
If one were to ask if I’m the type that enjoys danger, the answer is absolutely not. Yet, it came out for no particular reason.
…Hmm.
But if there’s one thing that bothers me, it’s that I can’t tell if this smile is genuinely mine or if I’m forcing it.
That’s about all there is to it.
*
Erica, the second daughter of the Portlet Family and fiancé of Vargan, was traveling on an airship from the Academia.
With a sulky expression, she gazed out the window at the scenery outside. Fluffy clouds drifted through the sky. The colorful nature of mountains and vast lakes came into view all at once.
The colorful nature can be seen at a glance.
The nature dressed in the five colors of autumn delighted the eyes of those who beheld it.
…However, this was not the case for Erica.
“Is this really the right path?”
Erica, dressed in practical clothes rather than her school uniform, stood with a large travel bag on wheels beside her.
With her leather bag, her overall look exuded a unified brown color, carrying the scent of autumn.
It had already been a week since the Schugenhartz family applied for an outing to the Academia.
The long student council election had finally ended.
Honestly, it had been a bit chaotic in the beginning without Schugenhartz. Thankfully, Diphelia steadied herself and played the central role, allowing them to quickly recover….
A boy named Liam had been a great help. During the election period, he was always seen diligently studying some booklet. When Erica tried to sneak a peek, she found it was blank.
During the debate held the day before the vote, Liam became particularly influential. He pointed out strategies and expected remarks concerning the other candidates to Diphelia.
…For some reason, watching Liam move as if he could foresee the future made Erica feel like she could smell Schugenhartz’s scent, but she let it be since he was the one who put that student in the race anyway.
Thanks to him, they could show a good performance in the debate, and Diphelia was able to express her thoughts sufficiently.
Alicia seemed to be busy even without Schugenhartz around. She had been working hard with Arterion to acquire the red aura recently.
“Can you believe that he actually allowed it?”
Schugenhartz usually wouldn’t allow anyone to meddle with his people or possessions, so considering that, it was a rare occurrence.
…….
“Hah⎯.”
Erica sighed as she continued her thoughts. Ultimately, the winner of the vote was Diphelia.
She was satisfied with that and had no worries at all.
It might have been a small difference, but she had actually beaten her senior, Clemens, in the election.
The problem arose afterward.
Right now.
There were many things to ponder about Schugenhartz and many questions to ask, so she didn’t mind the extended conversation time… but was skipping two weeks really the right thing to do?
For Erica, who had received strict education from the Portlet family since childhood, this choice felt like a rare deviation in her life.
Along with moving Francesca, there were countless worries swirling in her mind.
Was she really heading in the right direction…?
“…I’m really dizzy. Dizzy.”
Before she knew it, the airship had passed the protected area of the Academia. From now on, the sky ahead was where Erica could use her Warp Magic.
“H….”
Erica touched between her eyes with her thin finger and stood up. With her other hand, she held onto the bag she had brought.
She had already submitted the outing application and prepared, so turning back now would be too late.
Erica took out a small box she had kept in her arms.
Inside was the eye of a familiar that Vargan had handed over, which enabled shared vision.
The conditions for her magic to activate were met.
After pondering until the very end, Erica finally unleashed her mana.
⎯Ziiiiing.
Her magic instantly engulfed her entire body.
And in a flash, Erica’s figure vanished from the airship.
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