Chapter 16 Part 5
Following the guiding knight, after walking for some time, we arrived to find nothing but a wall completely filled with dry bricks.
“Not divine power, but magic.”
At Hyle’s words, I carefully examined the wall.
Being the Grand Temple, the power permeating the wall should rightfully be divine power, but it was infused with magic instead.
“Divine power must have had limitations for strong seals. I’ll remove it.”
“Lady Laté, a seal of this level would be challenging even for high-class magicians… are you sure you’ll be alright?”
As I approached the wall, a knight who had been watching me closely ventured a cautious remark.
Of course, this seal would be difficult even for most accomplished magicians.
But I was of Laté blood, who could handle demonic powers—the source of magic and the strongest force.
“It’s nothing.”
As I simply placed my palm on the wall, a loud rumble echoed throughout the space.
Gradually, the solid wall became faint, like a mirage disappearing.
Behind the now-transparent wall, stairs leading underground were hidden.
“Rosiel, we don’t know what devices might be inside, so it could be dangerous. The knights and I will go first; I’d prefer if you stayed here.”
Having sent the knights down the revealed staircase, Hyle stopped when he saw me about to follow him.
His words were deeply imbued with concern for me.
“I’ll pass. Believe it or not, I’m quite compatible with danger.”
“If that’s the case.”
Pleased with my answer, Hyle’s green eyes shone a vivid blue.
His gaze, infused with a pleasant sparkle, was firm and reassuring.
As I carefully descended behind Hyle, the murmuring of the knights who had gone ahead gradually grew louder.
“Your Grace, we’ve found the missing young clergy!”
Soon after, a knight’s voice delivered the news we’d been waiting for.
Exchanging glances with Hyle, I hurriedly finished descending the stairs.
“…My God.”
The scene before my eyes was nothing short of cruel.
Children lay sprawled in a cramped space, their once-clean white robes now thoroughly soiled.
Collapsed children, children with vacant expressions and lifeless eyes… their conditions were varied and severe.
In the corner, Hertiana was embracing some of the children.
Her condition didn’t look good either, though it was relatively better.
“Tia, can you hear me?”
“L-Lady Laté…!?”
Rushing over, I instinctively called her by her nickname and gripped her shoulders.
I hadn’t called her that since she discovered my identity, but that wasn’t important right now.
“Are you hurt? We’ve called the healing priests, they’ll be here soon. Just hold on a little longer.”
“I’m fine, please look after the children first. Many of them haven’t been able to open their eyes since their divine power was depleted.”
I had thought Tia might have been captured by Xenoph, but seeing it confirmed made me feel conflicted.
Of course, Tia was originally destined to be abducted.
But that was supposed to be by Fergio, not suffering at Xenoph’s hands.
At least Fergio, despite nominally being an abduction, wouldn’t have made Tia suffer like this.
I had gone to such lengths to sever her connection with Fergio, only for her to fall victim to Xenoph.
It seemed that major events would happen one way or another… truly so.
…Then would my end ultimately be death too?
I must have been thinking such thoughts unconsciously as I looked at Tia’s disheveled state.
Suddenly, the crying of a young clergy member snapped me back to reality.
Coming to my senses, I saw that the knights were taking the children out, and the Imperial Guard had arrived to assist with the scene.
Taking a child from Tia’s arms—either asleep or unconscious, I couldn’t tell—I looked at the young face before approaching Hyle.
“Hyle, I think some of them are already dead. I can’t hear them breathing.”
“Yes, it seems so. Xenoph… he’s completely insane.”
Hyle hurriedly took out spirit stones and placed them in the mouths of those he could reach.
Fortunately, some seemed to regain consciousness because of this.
“Please save me…”
A tiny voice escaped from between the lips of the child in my arms.
What could they have done to make such a young child utter those words?
It was impossible to maintain a composed expression.
“Rosiel, let’s go back up. All the children have been evacuated.”
After handing the child in my arms to a knight, I followed Hyle back to the surface.
Abel and the Imperial Guard were arresting the involved priests.
“We truly didn’t know!”
“That’s right! It was the Cardinal acting alone; we knew nothing about this, Your Highness, please…!”
Indignant cries erupted from everywhere, unpleasantly filling the air.
But… isn’t there no news of the one person who should be seen?
“Abel, what about the Cardinal?”
As I approached Abel and asked cautiously, his expression darkened.
“He’s gone. It seems he noticed and fled in the meantime. I just issued an arrest warrant throughout the empire, so he’ll be caught soon enough.”
It was a disappointing outcome, but we had found the children and captured the involved priests, so the case was somewhat resolved.
If only we could catch the final culprit, Cardinal Xenoph, it would all be over…
“Total rescued: thirteen individuals, including the eldest daughter of House Brissel. Among them, four clergy members died due to inhumane divine power extraction and torture.”
The on-site investigation must have finished, as a knight methodically reported.
“Thanks to Lady Brissel’s care for the children, their conditions aren’t too severe.”
The other priests, who had been unaware of what was happening, stood at a distance, merely observing the scene.
Just then, an elderly priest approached and bowed before us.
“Thanks to the Holy Maiden and the Marquis, everyone has been found. We nearly lost all our young talents… I don’t know how to express our gratitude…”
His voice was filled with deep emotion.
All the others standing behind the elderly priest bowed their heads together.
“There will be no more private treaties between the Imperial Family and the Grand Temple. The Grand Temple will operate under House Feros’s management as before, and I will assume all overall responsibilities.”
Hyle calmly observed the scene and delivered what could be called the final statement.
With this, Xenoph was completely abandoned by both the Imperial Family and House Feros.
The priests, who had been unable to breathe under Xenoph’s authoritarian and oppressive management, brightened at Hyle’s announcement and rejoiced.
But… with all this commotion, what is the Pope doing? Come to think of it, I’ve never seen his face.
“What is the Pope doing?”
“Following Renesia’s will, he does not directly intervene in the Grand Temple’s operations. Besides, Cardinal Xenoph wasn’t always like this… at some point, he began to look ‘higher’.”
When I casually asked the nearest priest, he answered warmly with a matter-of-fact expression.
But… isn’t the latter part somewhat significant?
“‘Higher’?”
Xenoph is already a Cardinal; what could be higher? There’s only the Pope…
…Could it be?
“Did he aspire to become Pope?”
“Ah, well…”
My question must have been quite blunt, as the priest’s face turned pale.
I heard other nearby priests drawing in sharp breaths.
Soon after, they left the area.
Judging by their attitude, it seems I was right? That Xenoph was aiming for the Pope’s position.
I had thought he simply wanted to make me the Holy Maiden to restore the Grand Temple’s prestige, but in reality, it was a stepping stone to become Pope…
Now, Abel’s misdeeds seemed like nothing in comparison.
At this moment, there was no one to match Xenoph as the ultimate villain.
The situation was concluded as the Imperial Guard arrested all those involved, and the rescued young clergy were transferred to hospitals for trauma treatment.
“It bothers me that the Cardinal has fled.”
As the chaotic Grand Temple regained its usual serenity, silence flowed once again as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, Hyle, having belatedly heard the news about Xenoph, continued with a suspicious expression.
“If the priests are right and Xenoph’s ultimate goal is the papal position… he won’t give up so easily.”
