The Holy Lady, The Curse - Chapter 7 Part 2
Only after hearing those calm words did Geril realize how Seiden had been able to kill those hideous monsters in an instant. Damn, it was just water? What an easy method. Geril’s insides boiled with anger.
“As it happened, only I had the holy water that met those conditions. However, since the quantity was not much, I only gave it to Sir Seiden. I did not anticipate that Duke Lylester and I would encounter the monster. It was my oversight.”
“Oh no. I’m not blaming you, Saintess. It’s not your fault, Saintess.”
At Bellota’s self-reproach, Geril stepped forward, fidgeting. However, Bellota continued speaking without looking back at him.
“But I cannot understand why this has led to us being accused of involvement with dark magic. I apologize, but I would like to know why Your Majesty thought so.”
Hearing those words, Geril flinched and bit his lip, and the Emperor immediately answered.
“It’s because Duke Lylester discovered signs of that dark magic in Selento.”
Seiden’s eyebrows stiffened.
At the Emperor’s gesture, a soldier standing behind him came forward, bowing his head while carefully holding a thick cushion with a magic stone placed on it. The Emperor picked up the magic stone and held it high.
“Can you see?”
What he held in his hand was a magic stone that was pitch black, not even reflecting light. Everyone here knew the identity of that magic stone. It was the Demon God Stone that was said to have fallen from the body of the Demon God when he fell, containing enormous magical power. And the fact that there was a hole in its center was evidence that it had already been used up and exhausted all its power.
“We suspect that someone used this Demon God Stone to move the moon. According to the imperial mages’ investigation, it was revealed that this Demon God Stone was consumed only a few days ago. As we all know, the only magic that could use this much magical power is one large enough to move the moon. And it would have happened in Selento. Since Duke Lylester discovered this in Selento.”
“Yes. The reason I rushed back to the capital ahead of the subjugation team was not just because of the monster’s corpse. I found this Demon God Stone around Selento Castle where the priests were wandering around setting up barriers, and I immediately returned to inform Your Majesty.”
Geril followed up on the Emperor’s words, laying out a flawless chain of events while glancing at Bellota. He seemed to be inwardly hoping that she would believe his words too, but Bellota’s eyes were fixed on the Demon God Stone in the Emperor’s hand, unmoving.
“Around Selento Castle?”
When Felton couldn’t help but interject with a question, Geril showed signs of displeasure but nodded and spun a brazen lie.
Of course, the Demon God Stone was not found around Selento Castle. Geril had only obtained the Demon God Stone that would save him from the brink through ‘someone’ after coming to the capital. Geril inwardly let out a triumphant and vile laugh as he recalled those who handed him the Demon God Stone.
“That’s right.”
“Are you really saying you found that in Selento?”
“What reason would I have to lie?”
“The temple has no reason to lie either!”
As an exasperated Felton rebutted, Geril scratched his forehead with a strange smile.
“Well, that’s a matter that could differ depending on one’s perspective.”
At that, everyone’s gaze turned to Geril.
“When such a huge incident occurs, one can’t say there’s no place that benefits.”
“Benefits? What benefits are you talking about?”
A suffocating tension flowed through the room. Geril paused for a moment before speaking in a troubled and quiet voice.
“When the anxiety of the imperial citizens rises, they seek out temples to pray and try to buy holy water or items imbued with blessings.”
Felton’s breath got caught. What is this guy saying! Geril was now babbling that the temple had created anxiety in the empire to suck the lifeblood of the imperial citizens.
“Duke! What disrespectful words are those in front of the Pope!”
“I am a duke of the empire and at the same time a member of the imperial family. I must be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor no matter what, and to protect the imperial citizens, I must make any sharp assumptions regardless of the opponent to uncover the truth.”
The subjugation team became even more dumbfounded, but the Emperor alone seemed impressed.
“Everything Duke Lylester says is correct. From now on, Duke, do not stop any suspicion for the sake of the empire.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor turned to the Pope.
“Also, since no other evidence was found from the subjugation team, I will withdraw my suspicion this time. But it would be good for the temple side to make your actions clear as well. I don’t want to suspect the temple either. We must ensure that this never happens again.”
After finishing his words, the Emperor turned back to Geril and solemnly ordered.
“And Duke Lylester, do not let your guard down and find the source of this dark magic.”
The Emperor clicked his tongue with a troubled face and ordered his subordinates behind him to withdraw. While those who had turned the Grand Temple upside down were all leaving, Geril, who had been watching for an opportunity, hurriedly ran to Bellota.
“Saintess, please forgive me for returning before you. The safety of the empire was important, so I had no choice. I sent support funds and troops as soon as I returned, so by now they should have arrived in Selento to repair the damaged village. So please don’t worry about that.”
Seiden glared at Geril with cold eyes as he stood close to Bellota, pleading. Bellota did not meet Geril’s eyes and looked at her feet before reluctantly answering.
“Yes. Thank you.”
She had no other choice but to give such an answer. Geril was still someone who could mobilize the Emperor at will, a powerful figure who could move the Emperor’s heart, and someone who could put a vicious false charge on the temple.
“You’re not angry with me, are you? I too was about to enter the building right away to save you, but monsters poured out from all directions, and I had no choice but to protect the children from them. By the time I had dealt with them and was about to enter, the Holy Knight Commander had already gone in.”
The holy knights and priests all frowned after hearing those words. What monsters? When they arrived following Seiden, there were no monsters left in the vicinity.
“…I’m not angry. Don’t worry about me.”
As Bellota quietly answered, Geril’s anxious expression finally eased slightly.
Geril glanced back and, discovering Seiden glaring at him fiercely, swallowed dryly. Although the Emperor and the Imperial Knight Order were still inside the temple, it was impossible to know what that ill-mannered bastard would do once they left.
“I’ll come back soon. I’ll explain everything then. So please wait a little.”
Geril’s eyes and voice were earnest, as if he were courting her.
“Until then, please take care of your health.”
Geril forcibly took Bellota’s clasped hands, kissed the back of her hand, and hurriedly followed the Imperial Knight Order, fearing any sparks might fly.
A heavy and dumbfounding silence settled in the Grand Temple, which had been thoroughly ransacked by the imperial family.
* * *
“It’s preposterous. Moving the moon is impossible unless one is of the demon race.”
After Geril left, Seiden immediately left the temple and went to find Yebar. He was the person who would best understand this abnormal phenomenon among those Seiden knew.
Yebar too was acutely aware of the early full moon and had anticipated that it might have occurred due to someone’s artificial power. However, he was in a highly sensitive state because he couldn’t accurately identify its nature.
“But if they used the Demon God Stone, it becomes a possible story. Yes, this is ancient dark magic, so if that exists, it’s possible.”
Yebar gnawed on his thumbnail.
“Then do you really think it was the power of that Demon God Stone that moved the moon?”
Yebar nodded with certainty.
“It’s clear. It was the Demon God Stone. But handling the Demon God Stone requires enormous magical power. Someone who is proficient in dark magic and has a body that can withstand the magical power of the Demon God. That means a person like that exists now.”
Yebar muttered like a madman and clenched his fist tightly. His face looked as if he couldn’t bear the fact that there existed someone great who had reached a level of magic he couldn’t attain.
Seiden, with a serious face, combined the information given so far. The Demon God Stone that moved the moon, Geril who discovered it, and even the dark mage. But that alone wasn’t enough to guess anything yet. Geril, who returned to the capital, might have luckily found the Demon God Stone. Though a very small possibility, he might even have been in collusion with the so-called dark mage.
Even so, since the moon moved when Geril was in Selento, it was difficult to see it as his instigation. Above all, if Geril had been involved in the early appearance of the full moon, he wouldn’t have left so easily in front of Bellota’s room on the night of the full moon.
