669 – 8. Will (43)
I was nervous, thinking it was a letter, but there was only a simple matter written in neat handwriting.
[I will leave first. The Empire convened an emergency meeting in the afternoon. Is something going on? By the way, you must eat breakfast. -Lucia-]
Was this a message left by Lucia?
Although I breathed a sigh of relief, I was unable to cool my sweaty body. Because an unexplained feeling of nervousness kept biting me.
Suddenly, an image of a certain person formed in my mind.
Emma, yes. Let’s go see Emma.
After I finished thinking like that, my body suddenly stood up. After washing up and quickly getting ready, I opened the door and went out.
What was waiting for me was an unexpected guest.
“Huh? “You’re up.”
Nosaje with white hair and shabby robes.
He was the patriarch of Eindel. When I paused for a moment at the appearance of an unexpected visitor, the old man smiled his characteristic friendly smile and said,
“It’s almost time for the meeting, but I still haven’t heard any news about going out, so I came here just in case. Now that this has come to an end, let’s go together.”
‘Meeting’.
I frowned slightly at the schedule I hadn’t heard about, but then remembered what I had seen in Lucia’s note. Come to think of it, did you say that the empire requested an emergency convocation?
At least it wasn’t what the princess and I requested. In that case, the only remaining candidates are Geomgong and Dalton.
Of course it was right to respond, but I was caught up in an unknown impulse. My mouth quickly let out a desperate voice.
“Can’t you give us a little more time? There’s someone I need to meet…….”
“It’s still breathtaking. As a representative of the empire, if you want to tarnish His Excellency the Sword Master’s face, I will not stop you.”
Despite his soft tone, the power of his persuasion was strong. So much so that I bit my lip without realizing it.
Among the representatives of the empire, the person with the highest status is a swordsman. Since I was also the representative, my every action had no choice but to be linked to the prestige of the swordsman.
If you are only a few minutes late, nothing will happen. But what if you go to see Emma and talk to her?
I soon had to sigh and wash my face dry.
Patriarch Eindel, who had no idea what that meant, just burst out laughing.
“Can’t we meet people later? “I also had something I wanted to put on the agenda for today’s meeting, and I’m glad I got a chance to persuade Ian in advance.”
“What do you mean agenda?”
“It seems like traces of the Dark Church have been discovered outside the academy.”
It has been a few days since the attack, and there is news that traces of the Dark Church have been discovered again.
Of course, it was information that left me with no choice but to narrow my eyes. Didn’t we realize that the Dark Church was not such a weak group after being unilaterally manipulated in the previous raid?
But this objection never came out of my mouth.
“Now, now. First of all, we don’t have time, so let’s talk about it at the meeting. “We’ll all be waiting.”
At Eindel’s suggestion, which was one step ahead, I had no choice but to nod my head and move forward.
Because it was a topic that was bound to come up again at the conference hall anyway.
Emma’s face kept coming to mind, yes.
I didn’t have any special plans today, so it would be enough after the meeting.
Maybe.
**
“Let’s destroy the relics.”
Delegates from the southern kingdoms are missing, but the academy’s conference hall is still filled with renowned figures who will make a name for themselves on the continent.
That was what Dalton suggested in his opening remarks there.
It was immediately after that that a heavy silence fell over the normally quiet conference room. Of course, it was not because none of the people here could think of the possibility that Dalton had raised, or because they completely agreed with his argument.
Destroy relics? It was an idea that everyone had thought about at least once. But there was one fatal weakness hidden in that argument.
“Is there a guarantee that the artifact will disappear if it is destroyed? It is an object that has already chosen sealing over destruction in the wars of the mythical era. There must be a good reason for that… Is destruction even possible in the first place?”
This was the rebuttal the saint came up with after a moment of silence.
It was a difficult argument to refute, and it was also the reason why none of us suggested ‘destruction’. The proof was that most of the audience seemed to immediately agree.
Nevertheless, there was no change in Dalton’s expression. It was as if his facial muscles had been paralyzed since birth.
“Of course, I’m not saying I’m going to do that right away. “It means that it’s time to give it a try, but now is the time to keep that possibility in mind.”
“Is that okay?”
The next person to show signs of discomfort was the swordsman. I wanted to deny it, but he was a person with quite similar tendencies to me, and there was a high possibility that he would also feel the same discomfort as me.
“The relics of the Seven Sins are not just lying around in the imperial warehouse. This means that it is an item that cannot be handled even if managed by national forces… But are you going to do something without any certainty?”
“Of course, what you say is correct, Your Excellency.”
Is this because no matter how Dalton was, he could not dare to challenge the authority of the swordsman?
He immediately lowered his head and expressed agreement with the swordsman’s argument. But there was no stopping that skillful tongue.
“If we’re going to donate the relics to the enemy like this, wouldn’t it be better to take a gamble?”
“You’re making an offering?”
It was something I couldn’t bear to say.
Of course, I was not allowed to speak, but this was the same for previous speakers, so no one found fault with me.
Rather, if you support me, I don’t know, it’s ‘dedication’. Are we gathered here to do something like that?
It was a word that could not help but feel insulting.
“Here, elites from all over the world, including swordsman elders, gather here. Such a pessimistic situation…… !”
“You were defeated.”
The atmosphere was becoming harsh again, to the point where even the swordsman frowned slightly.
Of course, Dalton couldn’t be stopped with just a harsh look. He laid out his logic in a toneless voice.
“No matter whether the elites of each country gathered together… Didn’t that turn out to be the case? Even though the losses suffered by our troops were enormous, the damage inflicted on the enemy’s key executives was almost non-existent.”
“If Geomgong had been on earth, the story would have been different.”
“So, are you saying that the swordsman can act freely in the next battle? “Then who guards the relics?”
I was so shocked that I wanted to refute more, but in a place where tongues danced like swords, a moment of silence meant loss of initiative.
“Let’s objectively understand power. Elites from each country? So what is the reality? The southern kingdoms have already been annihilated, and the Holy Kingdom’s greatest strength is the Saint, no… Saint Lucia, but not a combatant. Moreover, the Empire side also has a second military force following His Excellency Geomgong…….”
And then the silver pupil secretly turns towards me.
The audience’s eyes turned to me for a moment, but soon a combination of faint despair and disappointment passed through their eyes. The Empire’s second force was referring to none other than me.
I have not yet announced the fact that I am terminally ill due to possible repercussions. However, the news that he needs to recuperate for a while due to the last battle has probably already been shared.
In other words, I was also an outside force member.
“I won’t say more. Don’t we still know whether that relic can be destroyed, and if so, what means should be used? The reason I called an emergency meeting was because I didn’t have time… ….”
“Reinforcements might come, right?”
At the rebuttal that was voiced again, Dalton’s inorganic gaze turned towards me.
From Noble mtl dot com
“The relics of the Seven Sins must never fall into the hands of the Dark Church… Didn’t you all see Celine taking part of that and easily overpowering the High Expert?! If we begin to utilize the power of that object properly, disaster will befall the continent, so if we ask for support from each country…… !”
“I see.”
Dalton surprisingly nodded his head obediently and showed such a simple reaction.
“As you said, this is an enemy that can easily suppress High Experts, so I don’t think reinforcements for High Experts will be enough. Then, it would be certain if another Master came… “What about Seongguk?”
Then the gaze of the left shifts once again.
At the end of it, of course, sat the saint who was the representative of the holy kingdom. She seemed a little surprised by the sudden suggestion, but she cleared her throat and cleared her voice.
“It will depend on which path the Son chooses. However, given the circumstances, she asked for as positive a review as possible… ….”
“Saint Lucia.”
It was a low call, but it was enough to silence the saint’s voice.
Patriarch Eindel, who received a confused look, quietly shook his head. Slowly, but with earnest intent.
At that moment, the saintess, who did not understand the meaning, slightly frowned.
“The saint must not empty himself.”
Just one word completely changed the atmosphere.
As soon as the saint heard those words, she slightly opened her eyes, then turned her eyes slightly and lost herself in her worries, and finally closed her eyelids and let out a small sigh.
What it meant was clear.
“…… “I will give it to you, but it will be difficult to give a definite answer.”
“I understand. It’s an enemy that can’t be dealt with by anyone other than the Master, and you can’t help but worry about their attack while the Saint is away. “Isn’t it normal for menstruation?”
In such an empty voice, Dalton reported the details of the events that he deliberately left unsaid. Afterwards, the saintess’s face turned red and a faint hint of excitement was visible, but there was no real rebuttal from her.
The saint just turned her gaze away.
Others may not know, but I knew. She is a saint and also realizes that she wants to ask for the support of her saint more than anyone else. I could tell just by looking at the strength in her hands as she crossed her arms.
But she represents the Holy Kingdom. Individual judgment could not be higher than the security of the nation.
Once again aware of this reality, a strange atmosphere began to prevail in the conference room. Until just a moment ago, there was a hint of hostility toward Dalton’s opinions, but now he felt more confused.
Yes, more positive for Dalton.
Even the swordsman let out a faint groan and closed her eyes.
“I am truly sorry. The continent is in crisis, tens of thousands or more people may lose their lives… Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there will be any significant reinforcements. “Perhaps the situation in the southern kingdoms is not much different.”
The saint ended up chewing her lip at her remark, which she did not know whether it was ridicule or simple sentiment. Nevertheless, there was no one who could stop Dalton from speaking.
“Are you all convinced now? Why we must consider the final move… To that end, we are requesting an investigation into the relics.”
Dalton finally achieved his goal. If things continue like this, there will be minor debates, but Dalton’s argument will most likely be accepted.
It was the princess who raised her hand at that moment.
“Is that the best?”
Eyes turned towards Shien as if asking what he meant. The light silver pupil had a vague border with the white of the eye, to the point where it felt somewhat unpleasant.
“Is it really necessary to have destruction as a last resort? If you have to protect it no matter what, it’s okay to camp multiple times. If you are prepared to sacrifice all your power, you will be able to create a transport route in case of emergency. Or, there might be a way to bury it deep underground.”
The atmosphere was once again shaken by Shien’s sharp criticism. As the saying goes, there was already no reason to consider the extreme case of ‘destruction’.
Dalton also did not deny that fact. He nodded his head a couple of times, and then his mouth slowly opened.
“Of course, what you say is correct. However, the reason I prioritize ‘destruction’ is that other plans not only have a chance of failure… ….”
Is it an illusion? The corners of his mouth seemed to twitch slightly for the first time.
And the next moment.
“When it comes to responsibility, this is the method with the most holes for us to escape.”
I was sure.
Dalton Alpenhauser must be killed.
It was something only I could do.