Chapter 258
iPuISThe whole world was horrified by the appearance of the demons.eco
RMxcOfficially, it was already the third time after Bercheff and the Academy, and in total, four demons had been summoned.ETn
L7AQpzHNo one considered them mere legends of the past anymore, nor thought they were simple coincidences.vht
yGF44b9The demons were descending, without a doubt.vqaE
oFWQAc4The world was heading toward a great war, like the one a thousand years ago.YFzHCov
tbOtyThe only fortune was that, just as there was once a hero who defeated the demons, now there was also a hope called Aint Armian.rxT2wcX
HhGdAnd along with that news came another encouraging one.kZopio
rQnE96【The professor of the Imperial Academy Armian, Rosalia Vienderk, challenges the title of Archmage. Will a new Archmage be born?】HeMA8s3
mfKjVvA new contender for the title of Archmage.lrNwY
h6MPIn a time where a war against demons loomed, the possibility of a new superhuman emerging represented another spark of hope.XspLd
IFjpZThe more powerful people capable of crushing demons, the better.9reR4K
1jFoK5uTap.xRxfyJ
foayFernan disembarked from the ship alongside Hyde and Gismond.T9m
Y3KUThe place they arrived at was Eargrath, the holy city that the first Emperor had given to the Cult of the Dragon God, and which bore the name of the first Pope.Nmwq
NTbP7QeAs the main headquarters of the Cult, Eargrath was always full of pilgrims and visitors.Was
FMg6But that day, it was even more impressive.P6T
H0UqdnGismond was astonished by the sea of people crowding the streets, with no room even to move.xNDJ
foBL4“Is it always this crowded?”FtjG
P1y7“Not quite, but there’s a special event coming soon.”mh3wX48
sEPi“All this for the new Archmage selection?”6E6MU
CwlYgUp“Actually, it’s for the Great Duel of the Dragon God. Mages who have reached superhuman rank fight with their full power. Where else could you see a spectacle like that?”Mzpc
AlJ“You’re right.”zi43
ONRiSeeing mages at the Grand Sorcerer level in all-out combat was something that—even in a world rich with entertainment—drew crowds.qruGQ
ajNgFernan had thought attendance wouldn’t be so massive due to transportation limitations, but he had been completely wrong.C1hT
ZOgLEargrath, as the holy city devoted to the White Dragon, was impeccably built.DLFC6w
JLwwThe avenues were wide and clean, and the tall buildings rising around them revealed that this was a meticulously planned city.zl8pY6w
aC9293“Wow…”lV9SX
dns1KGismond watched in awe.S4vqIM
Fe8The Academy had already seemed impressive to him, but Eargrath was on another level.6oqB
RktThe numerous statues of the White Dragon sculpted all over the city looked so lifelike one might expect them to fly at any moment.22fY
JZy“Hop in, senior. We’ll go by carriage.”KBt8wub
7JK“With so many people, will we be able to move?”N3FRO
BtulXe“Of course.”IEEeB
PdILm5QClop, clop—BcRo
EGmlYlxThough the crowd was enormous, the main roads were clearly divided between pedestrian and carriage lanes, so moving wasn’t difficult.tIi
DfYnAt that moment, Gismond noticed a huge line along the side of the road.M14
4jheg“What’s that line for?”tqj
6Cwe“To buy tickets.”hvh4f8
Bpl9H“Tickets?”Zv1
LThTC“To enter the stadium and watch the Great Duel of the Dragon God, of course.”9PHksg
w8Ya“…They charge for that?”2IL3Fg
5iveTL“The Great Duel of the Dragon God, along with the Royal Knight Challenge fights, is one of the most popular spectacles in the world. Of course they sell tickets.”ZXKrB
RdpAnd the authority to do so, naturally, belonged to the Cult of the Dragon God and the imperial family.ABs2gl
V5zqdBu“Sometimes I think being part of royalty wouldn’t be so bad, just for having that privilege…”b3c
4PVSBut becoming emperor just for an event that happened once every few decades didn’t make sense, so he had never tried.wp2Hjth
nlo“…So that line’s for tickets, huh?”YXn
GzNC0Even in this world, getting tickets was a war.CIA5MR
AUEHAlthough, come to think of it, it was understandable.Okbgypd
R6U3qWho would want to miss a real battle between an Archmage and a contender aspiring to that title?824DrmR
LUxxThis wasn’t a simple duel of fists—this was true magic at its finest.UVzp
Tz7j7“Don’t we have to wait in line?”M08LtX
7fmZjM“Sometimes you ask strange questions, senior.”mVv
B30oB8“Huh? What… oh?”1s1h
InTacCRight, he forgot—it was Fernan Pellenberg.g7Zm
xsLiy“Special edition! Special edition!”CJ49mKR
iPGtuStreet vendors tossed newspapers to either side as they ran through the streets.8csEy
5ZsRH【Archmage Vardor Erbeto arrives in Eargrath.】ytEQ
yyNi【Countdown to the Great Duel of the Dragon God—the decisive day will be February 1st, in three days!】0iAJr4
JmNLLIBIt was the news that Bador Erbeto, Duke of Helfen and court mage, whom Rosalia Vienderk had selected as her opponent, had just arrived in the city.3uw
DfSX“So, only three days left.”f20PM
iqc930“It’ll be a unique experience. Challenges for the title of Royal Knight or Archmage are such rare events that most people never witness even one in their lifetime.”G4j0LSc
sRIGjnAfter all, superhumans who surpassed the limits of humanity couldn’t be “mass-produced.”UzE
KTPTaPrecisely because they were few and powerful, they were special.Jf9tNA
KcicWThe carriage moved forward until it reached the great white temple at the center of the city, where a colossal statue of the White Dragon greeted them majestically.XFOGku
GWveyIt was the main headquarters of the Cult of the Dragon God—the Grand Sanctuary.bRThr
cura“That statue is enormous and beautiful. If I sold it, how much do you think it’d be worth…?”DdXa2zk
6RbdUGismond heard Fernan’s murmur but wasn’t surprised.vbphx
SJPAfter all, he was already used to him relating everything to money.0Gx
3xAUG76“Big brother!”nyl
9QgdThe three met Jace Vines, the saint of the Cult of the Dragon God, who had recently returned after pausing his relief efforts.pJRUFd
yJzCX“It’s good to see you. We’ve been waiting for you.”rrz3n
g2JIS6“And His Holiness?”E4BjYe
UNG77“He’s waiting inside.”EZk3A63
VkG“Senior, get some rest first. You too, Hyde.”nkiZ
ws007“Understood.”uHt6cW
Z92R“Yes, young master.”Lsp0Ex
eWoSNvRThe priests guided Gismond and Hyde, while Fernan followed Jace into the sanctuary.9dBs
lgnFCmF“His Holiness was very glad to hear you were coming.”uk0DLaQ
gVL“Did he really expect me?”PFR
VAll3T“There’s good news, but I’m not the one who should tell you. I’m sure you’ll be happy when you hear it.”eMl9X0
RqvqO“That sounds promising.”yTpm2Td
ht9LUIf the Pope himself wanted to say it in person, it had to be something important.oZysekw
9RKU0Jace led him to the Pope’s Garden, one of the most sacred places in the Grand Sanctuary.D935R
U6YRFIt was a small garden next to the papal office, with a fountain that sprang into a central pond and a sculpture of the White Dragon roaring elegantly.1pm
KBW1i“Welcome.”NPz
UIP0x“I greet Your Holiness.”tmX
s9Dxlal“Hohoho, I’m glad to see you, my child.”ZR7tYv
nPOHThe Pope welcomed him with his usual kind smile.jHyLn
1kt6VAs always, he conveyed a serene warmth, a sense of peace similar to that of a kind grandfather.datYN
wrz‘Though my real grandfather loved money more than his grandchildren, so maybe not quite.’jok6n
IRdEPThe grandson also loved money more than his grandfather, so it didn’t affect him much.jqP
XJgolIn the end, even though his grandfather loved money too much, it wasn’t like he hadn’t cared.ck3d
QImLRhiHe had taught him many things; in fact, one could say that more than half of who Fernan was today was thanks to him.qIUg0TD
3t2In any case, returning to the point—no matter how kind that old man from the neighborhood seemed, he was still the Pope.KM3J
doUQIt was true that his nature was gentle and compassionate, but behind that smile lay centuries of experience and magic.pwyNhK
ggVlIf one let their guard down and laughed too carelessly with him, they could end up with empty pockets.9JwpMw
dhBIn fact, after meeting with the Pope, many wealthy nobles ended up donating large sums to the Cult without really knowing how it happened.8TDE
jKScThat’s why, when meeting His Holiness, one had to keep their mind completely clear.xn8jc
CGT72D“I’m so glad to see you after such a long time. Please, sit.”TdkhWn
tCRIFernan sat across from the Pope.dxNvca
8QTSA cup of coffee and several sweets were already waiting for him on the table.NLs9
wYhxxJr“I prepared the coffee you like so much.”1bc
DDW“Thank you, Your Holiness.”jozT
qvNS7“You’ve changed quite a bit.”3Jt
IeZJQZThe Pope stroked his white beard as he spoke.Kx2fj
aUazykU“I heard about your performance in the Kingdom of Linelt. What dark times we live in—the demons descend into this world as if it were their home.”1F9
dKFA“I didn’t do much. We were able to stop them thanks to Aint Armian.”xs2
iI9esW“You’re still just as modest. Though I believe it’s time you acknowledge your own merit…”y4jT
uMjEJxc“I’m a merchant, not a mage.”YOGgsFG
qB7BOJ“Being more of a merchant doesn’t erase your identity as a mage.”7bz3
SEhHPw“Just as I, being Pope and servant of God, am still a mage at heart.”ulL
5tylDBThe Pope took a sip of his hot tea.fIlr2xC
MFi“Is that so?”uwoTg
Nb38bG“It seems you don’t share my view.”KOWR
c9TyThe Pope let out a small laugh, shaking his head.p08q1qt
Hwzz“In any case, I thank you for having defeated the enemy of the Cult. This incident has made me reflect deeply. We should be the ones, above all, to understand the nature of demons first, and yet…”aiKt14
tVPgU0RIt hadn’t always been this way.vlsN7L
Fu0YwIn the war a thousand years ago, the priests of the Cult were the ones who traveled across the continent searching for traces of demons and corrupt beings.cuPXw
ojPzV6They were the fastest scouts, second only to the first Emperor.Jw0gkh
ZW5RXBut over the centuries, the vigilance against demons had weakened, and the Cult’s search capabilities had greatly deteriorated.hlF3
UJ0bz“It was an age of peace, wasn’t it?”ZOhOy
VFd“It was. Peace ended the moment the demons descended.”lgxwf
gQ12r2OThe Pope refilled his cup with tea.glh6
0QK“I imagine there’s something you wish to ask of me, Your Holiness.”4gxXM
Mz45b“How could the Cult remain idle while demons roam freely? I wish to send priests throughout the continent to fulfill the Dragon God’s will and eradicate evil.”gGOzUlR
sQFnMThat was something the Cult could do without involving Fernan.jL0B
VrWgThe fact that he mentioned it directly could only mean one thing—he wanted something from him.3MtJvQh
3Kv6yAnd Fernan already suspected what it was.Ahut
wOMq0“But, as you know, though our devout serve God and gladly accept suffering, those who fight against the evil that threatens the world deserve proper compensation, don’t you think?”MpKaJ
Ug3“Then do it, Your Holiness.”rDl8I
KjLH“I would love to, but where will the servants of God get money from?”JqesPN
KCDAh, of course.ww4u
HvWEbcThe Cult of the Dragon God was the continent’s largest distributor of magical objects and artifacts, and enormous wealth flowed constantly into it.juI
qhZ5wMAnd, considering that its biggest client was precisely the Pellenberg family, Fernan knew very well how rich the Cult truly was.Vuz
8joO5x‘Of course, those who have the most are always the ones who ask for the most…’rlEZVe
DjJaQFernan suppressed a sigh at the Cult’s greed and stinginess.16q
kZDFgr“And then, while I was thinking about it, a miraculous idea came to me.”WkBHTlz
CT2x6The Pope continued with an inspired tone.bmYj7Ln
pNDuB“I remembered that the Pellenberg family’s hotels are spread across the entire continent.”end
5CsKCNIndeed, the Golden Turtle Guild’s hotels were distributed throughout all major cities.qAH
K3Q6pQ“If it’s not too much trouble, could you provide a room, even just a stable, for our priests? We don’t ask for meals or luxuries. I only wish for them not to sleep on the cold ground.”bLkG8
49CQQiCThe Pope sighed with a worried expression, wiping away imaginary tears.gvoQ583
T7NqT7v“Of course, I’m not forcing you. I would never do such a thing…”PIRWL
4zDRefusing at that moment would be a political blunder.oFZmVnC
NAVJ8cBut accepting without conditions would imply a great loss.qaLCvr
dGZMO“Of course, if the priests of the Cult are working so hard for the good of the continent, how could I not offer a helping hand?”aZlDQ
RGI“Will you really do it?”iXr
IpWUBU“Yes. And besides, I couldn’t charge them money for it. A glass of holy water flowing from this sacred land will be enough.”lE8
mDcWAt that, the Pope gave a satisfied smile.8Wi9u
pyUHps“Just a glass of plain water? How generous you are.”DVOVEJ
pxaTh“How could it be plain water? If it comes from the spring that flows through the blessed land of the Dragon God, it can’t be considered ordinary.”dA83eGN
7kmNCxSince the second Pope, the Cult had compiled its Sacred Scripture, which mentioned that in the holy land flowed an inexhaustible spring of holy water. An absurd legend, yes, but irrelevant in this context.WL136ji
e2Tb9Ys“Also, if the sacred water flows endlessly through the blessed land of the Dragon God, there will be no burden for the priests, don’t you think?”8HzUEr
hq8uT“Hohoho—you’re still the same as ever. Your grandfather would be very proud of you. They say the rich are the most miserly, and you prove it well.”uWfcWyG
Q4d“I still have a long way to go, Your Holiness.”90ceF
xNXuB“Actually, I called you for another matter.”AMAb
G0ow7OmThe Pope changed the subject without warning.cVmCWE
qvLgw2“About Professor Rosalia, right?”GeX7kn
NXkzc“I know you’re connected to her, but I don’t mind. Whoever her sponsor may be, the emergence of a new power is always a cause for celebration—as long as it’s not a demon’s deception.”0tRMb
zSjNSY8“Then… what is it about?”gw8pQfr
GMMSu4“I also sent a letter to Duke Yvon, but since you’re here in Eargrath, I wanted to tell you in person.”iLbqbi4
yfKP“What is it about?”xHTX
JNMLH“The Bell of Pasa.”k1GX
O0kZ“…What?”R2nq
DcTHgjThe Bell of Pasa—a sacred relic originally kept in the border territory of Altrierc—.aYeh
K55LNwIt was said that when its bells rang, monsters were annihilated and demons lost a great part of their power.GEscQ
RoBThat’s why corrupt beings had tried to destroy it again and again, until they finally succeeded.cpI2
4YxVeO“That bell has finally been restored.”E9Y
IjSHThe Bell of Pasa had returned to the world once again.V9Lnwo
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