Guide Of Miracles (3)

“I’m used to running away. Now then, shall we talk?”

Azadine explained how the Wisdom Order made angel’s eggs, the ritual involved, and unfolded the scroll.

The scroll contained spells for reincarnating Count Detre’s soul as an angel’s egg.

Count Dert’s true name was written there, and a seal had sealed it, so the true name could not be read before the seal was torn off.

However, the power flowing from the seal, and the power engraved in the letters that wrote the true name itself, was an unforgeable truth.

In other words, the signature or recognition used in such reincarnation spells could not be falsified. No matter who saw it, it was clear proof that Count Dert and the Northern Emperor were involved.

“Count Detre’s seal and the Northern Emperor’s seal are stamped here. A magic scroll for reincarnating Count Detre with the Northern Emperor’s mana….”

Zebec groaned. He had known that the Northern Emperor was involved in this matter, but to think he was so deeply entangled in this way.

“Yes. And Karna being the Northern Emperor’s child is probably….”

“A reincarnated Celestial, then.”

“Probably.”

Everyone shuddered at the seriousness of the situation.

The fame of the Celestial Fire Knights was spreading throughout the world even at this very moment, gathering the worship of the masses.

And yet their commander was actually a Celestial who had reincarnated one of the Northern Emperor’s children?

The fact that they were a knightly order with angel’s wings and sacred power alone would already dominate the masses, but in addition to that, they had the tremendous advantage of being able to reincarnate humans as Celestials.

“Hmm. In this case, if this fact is revealed, I think people may actually devote themselves even more to the Northern Emperor. Even nobles of the Yaegas God royal bloodline, the core of the King’s Church, eventually age, fall ill, and die. I cannot declare that there would be none among them who wish to reincarnate as Celestials.”

Ject held his hand out to Azadine.

“Sir Azadine. Hand over that scroll. The King’s Church cannot tolerate such atrocities. If what is written on that scroll is true, we are prepared even to launch a holy war.”

The promise of reincarnation as an angel would damage the unity of the Yaegas God tribe, and it was a clear betrayal of the King’s Church.

For the King’s Church, it was the temptation of a wicked heresy that had to be dealt with by using all its strength.

Ject declared that if Azadine handed over the scroll, he would inform the King’s Church of this fact and proclaim a holy war.

“…….”

Haine, who would normally insist that such a thing absolutely must not happen and that the Order’s filthy disgrace had to be hidden, silently looked at Azadine.

“Mm? Sir Haine? Don’t you have something to say at this timing?”

“Ah, yes?”

“Do you have something to say?”

“Ah, no.”

“There’s no way you don’t have anything to say, is there?”

Originally, Sir Haine was not someone who would stay still when Ject told him to hand over the scroll.

In the underground sewer, she had even looked ready to attack Azadine in order to take the scroll from him. And yet now, she touched Azadine’s hand.

Like worshipers touching the holy image of a saint said to heal illnesses when touched, she was touching Azadine’s hand.

“You saw it.”

Azadine was not a fool, so he realized why Sir Haine was acting this way toward him.

“Ah, I-I apologize. Sir Azadine. I was lost in a daze….”

“What do you think, Sir Haine?”

“This servant shall follow Sir Azadine’s will.”

“No, I’m telling you to give your opinion. I want to hear what you think as a member of the Benevolence Order.”

“Naturally, you must not hand over the scroll. There is no reason to give the King’s Church the hilt of the blade, is there? May Sir Azadine hold that hilt and punish the blasphemous ones. And may you guide the corrupt and foolish ones to salvation.”

“That’s not the position of the Benevolence Order, is it?”

Zebec and Scott, who did not know the circumstances well, blinked. It was hard to see because of the black veil covering her face, but even they could clearly tell that Haine’s attitude toward Azadine had changed completely.

‘What on earth happened?’

‘Mm. Did the captain use some kind of charm spell? Even if she is a Holy Knight in name, she shouldn’t fall for such a spell easily. The captain is handsome for a human, sure, but still, with me right here?’

Zebec and Scott felt bewildered at Haine’s sudden change.

“Well, so I’ll keep this scroll myself. Sir Ject, I’m sorry to you, but if the two Orders start a holy war right now, that also seems like a futile act.”

Azadine rolled the scroll back up and put it into his chest.

“If Celestial Fire is left alone, they will grow stronger and gather the worship of the masses. Sir Azadine. Even when that time comes, will you truly be able to set virtue right?”

“I’m not the one setting virtue right. If I did that, I’d be no different from the King’s Church. Angels do not save people. People must save themselves through the power of virtue.”

“Hah. That is an even more nauseating doctrine. I understand your admirable desire to trust even those foolish commoners for now, but you lack a sense of reality.”

Ject, born as a member of the Yaegas God tribe, did not trust ordinary humans. Therefore, the doctrine of the Rescue Knights Order’s virtues that Azadine spoke of was nothing more than a hopeless idealism.

To begin with, was not Azadine himself someone mixed with the Emperor’s blood? On top of that, he was now a great guide chosen by the angels. His words and reality were separate from the very start.

“Even so, we can’t start with internal strife before that. What I want from you is to keep the King’s Church under control. As you can see, among the Yaegas God tribe, among the kings, queens, generals, and ministers of the Eight Kingdoms, there will be some who have been won over by the Northern Emperor. Investigate them and deal with them as you see fit.”

“…….”

Ject gave a bitter smile at Azadine’s words.

Azadine of the Messenger Clan, a soulless blasphemer whom the King’s Church, no, all the people of Hubris considered lowly, was asking Ject, a Yaegas God tribe member, to respond as a collaborator inside the King’s Church.

Ject had no reason to accept that. He had ambitions and plans of his own.

If he had that scroll, it would certainly be a great help to those ambitions and plans, but….

‘Fighting the one chosen by the angels is also foolish. Even if there is to be a fight, it would be better to make someone else fight him instead of me.’

Now that he knew Azadine’s true identity, Ject gave up on opposing Azadine for the time being.

“Understood. Sir Azadine. The path you walk will be more difficult than mine. May that scroll become your weapon….”

Having finished his calculations, Ject no longer demanded the scroll from Azadine. He could simply collect today’s matter with ample interest someday.

In that way, Azadine smoothly drew an agreement from Ject.

Ject would identify the Northern Emperor’s forces within the King’s Church and their influence, inform the Church of the Celestials’ secret, and thoroughly tighten internal discipline.

Azadine would keep Celestial Fire in check so their influence within the Rescue Knights Order would not grow any further.

It was truly a loose alliance, but the mere fact that Ject, an inquisitor, did not immediately rush in to beat Azadine, a soulless blasphemer, to death gave the alliance very great value.

“However, I can do nothing about Sir Zebec being wanted, or Sir Maya, who became a wereboar and lost her reason. That much is all right, I assume?”

“Yes, that can’t be helped.”

“Then is there any more information to share? If not, I shall take my leave. I am going to become even busier from now on.”

“I wish you lasting fortune in battle, Sir Ject.”

“Yes. I wish you lasting fortune in battle as well.”

Ject smiled and looked at Zebec.

“Sir Zebec.”

“Yes.”

“Make sure to serve him well. Though I am not exactly in a position to say such a thing.”

“Understood.”

Zebec nodded in bewilderment at Ject’s words. He did not know why the sinister and self-centered Ject had changed his attitude so suddenly.

Considering that Haine’s attitude had also abruptly changed, it seemed Azadine had done something….

“Then I shall take my leave… Sir Azadine. You should also leave this place quickly. The Wisdom Order is not foolish either.”

“That’s true.”

Azadine had not left his identity or traces in the Wisdom Order.

However, Azadine had entered Saint Mallory only yesterday. And if an incident suddenly occurred in the depths of the Wisdom Order, then naturally, their suspicious eyes could only turn toward Azadine.

Even without evidence, they would suspect Azadine on circumstantial grounds alone, and he was a target who would cause no trouble even if they stirred things up based only on suspicion.

Azadine, who belonged to no Order, had Bishop Akenar as his backing.

She possessed the extraordinary status of a former queen, but because she belonged to the pure priesthood, she could not become a very good shield for Azadine.

“I wanted to sightsee in Saint Mallory a bit more. It can’t be helped. Shall we return to Chadra?”

“Ah, Sir Azadine. Would you grant this humble servant the honor of standing by your side as well?”

Perhaps even speaking the words filled her with awe, Haine dared not meet his gaze directly. As for Azadine, he could guess the reason for her suddenly changed attitude.

‘This is why I hated it.’

The more Azadine performed miracles, the further his goal became.

Of course, when necessary, he too had used people’s perceptions by bringing up things like being of the Emperor’s bloodline, but he wanted the Rescue Knights Order to be reborn into its true form, where people protected and followed virtue by themselves.

However, most people prioritized worship of an individual.

Sir Haine probably knew that her acting like this now would instead have the opposite effect, but her emotions had gone too far ahead and she could not control herself.

If even a Guide to Rest of the Benevolence Order, trained as an assassin, acted like this, how much more so would other people?

“O-of course, I know well that Sir Azadine has no reason to trust me. What must I do to prove my loyalty?”

“There is no need. Sir Haine. I trust you. That is why I want you to remain inside the Benevolence Order.”

From Azadine’s perspective, it was much better for someone to be inside the Benevolence Order and respond to him from within.

“Ah, I know. But it is regrettable. I wanted to be with you.”

Haine also knew it in her head. She knew that her being in the Benevolence Order would be an even greater help to Azadine.

However, apart from that, Haine wanted to be with Azadine right now.

“It’s all right. Even if you are not visible to me, I will not forget your devotion.”

“I am not doing this in hopes of praise. I simply… Ah, I do not know.”

Haine was bewildered because she did not know what to call this emotion she felt toward Azadine. At that moment, Azadine took Haine’s hand in both of his.

“Sir Haine. Please keep it a secret that I put the Angels of Corruption to rest. I know you have a duty to report to your superiors as a member of the Benevolence Holy Knights, but for the sake of the greater cause, it cannot be helped.”

“Yes, I understand. Sir Azadine. Then, ah.”

At that moment, bells began to ring. It was the closing bell announcing that the city gates were being shut.

“Sir Azadine. I will stop the Benevolence Order as much as I can, but the Wisdom Order will suspect you as well. All the sects must already know that the wanted Sir Zebec is with you. Normally, you should have left through the city gates today….”

Haine asked with great resolve.

“If it is all right, shall I tell you a secret passage so you can leave through the city gates even at night?”