press (2)
‘… … An additional condition?’
In an instant, the high priest’s eyes sank deeply.
What the Holy Kingdom decided to support was nothing else but a sacred object.
Something unprecedented in the long history of the continent… … No, it was clearly a precedent that probably wouldn’t happen again.
The dispatch of advanced healers and the peace treaty were also very unusual circumstances.
But are you asking for additional requirements there?
There was no way that the first prince, who had made the relationship with the Holy Empire a superior one, was unaware of the power of the sacred object.
If so, Prince 1 wants to add the condition of support under the current calculation.
“Your Highness, I think it is excessive greed to wish for more than this.”
“It is greed.”
“Isn’t it as if you have already made concessions several times for the sake of the relationship between the two countries?”
The High Priest said so sternly and dismissed any room for negotiation. It was a resolute tone that did not require even a knife to be inserted.
But I twitched my lips as if I heard something interesting.
“It’s strange to hear, I remember that the concession must have been made by Esteban’s side?”
“What do you mean?”
“Was it not you who wished for a situation of enmity with the Commonwealth in the first place?”
The high priest’s lips wriggled as if he had been stabbed.
“Wasn’t an agreement related to trade also supposed to be concluded in order to prepare for the damage?”
“It’s not a bad excuse, but I have to be honest. It is compensation for the ongoing trade dependence.”
“that… … .”
“I don’t think the holy relic will mitigate the damage of war, but it won’t block it.”
I continued to speak with a grin.
“Are you saying that it is too much to ask for additional support after making a default payment?”
“… … .”
It was the Holy Empire that induced the enmity between the two countries. And all this support would not have even existed if it hadn’t been for Esteban’s concession from the beginning.
… … It is their concession and sacrilege, and if they had not been involved in the first place, there would have been no trade disputes or wars.
‘Of course, even without the Holy Empire, things would have flowed naturally.’
But they had no way of knowing that fact.
They think that we, who hold the secrets of the Holy Kingdom, would be glad if we didn’t cooperate with the Federation Empire.
From noble mtl dot com.
Didn’t he even reveal a delicious prey called Shin Seong-cheol to them?
The situation is up to interpretation.
‘This situation is obviously only hurting Esteban.’
That’s how they succeeded in making them aware of the relationship between superior and inferior.
Therefore, it is their position to think that the holy relics are sufficient.
It was only natural to ask for additional support from this side if it would be beneficial.
“Otherwise, are you sure that there will be no war in the Holy Empire?”
“… … It is not like that.”
“Then it has been decided.”
I put my finger on a point on the desk and leaned down.
Then, he looked at the high priest and the saintess with serious eyes that had never been seen before and said,
“It seems you guessed from the beginning that this side would hand over additional requests.”
“… … .”
The high priest closed his lips and was silent.
But the silence soon turned into a strong affirmation. Eventually, the high priest’s mouth began to open slowly.
“… … Then, what additional condition does Your Highness ask for?”
“Oh, are you going to get right to the point?”
There is no point in evading the truth as long as your true intentions are revealed… … He seemed to think so.
Well, it didn’t matter.
No, it was rather welcome.
‘If you thought that way from the beginning, there’s no need to decline.’
The context was not my business.
Just, I just need to move after the profit.
“In Esteban, I will borrow Roena’s holy relic, the Cup of Abundance together.”
“Pooh, the cup of plenty… … !”
This time, the saintess opened her eyes wide and was shocked.
It was because I had heard a completely unexpected story.
“Hey, nothing else now. Are you asking for a cup of plenty? … !”
And it was the same for the high priest who had prepared for the negotiations.
* * *
Adele de Rowena, the leader of the Holy Nation.
He expressed surprise when he received the contents of the agreement from the priest who had brought the news.
“You mean he additionally offered to pass the cup of plenty?”
“That’s right.”
“… … What an amazing story.”
So far, the first prince’s treatment of the Holy Kingdom has been surprising, but the surprise given by the name of the Cup of Abundance is even greater.
“According to the information that High Priest Garden has conveyed, it seems that he already knows not only its efficacy but also its use.”
“Is that true? Knowing the efficacy and uses… … .”
“I’ve been told that I’m sure about that.”
“How does a foreign prince know the origin of the holy object?”
cup of abundance.
It is an object that forms the basis of existing holy objects, and unlike other sacred objects made by humans, it was one of the first sacred objects handed down by God.
The divine power worthy of its name was like an infinite spring, so it was no different from the symbol of the abundance of the Holy Empire itself.
The problem here was that Prince 1 was aware of its efficacy.
“In the first place, the books related to the ability of the Cup of Plenty must be kept in complete secrecy.”
“Yes, I understand that it is impossible to read unless you are in a high priest-level position.”
“But to say that the first prince of Esteban knew about it… … .”
This was different from knowing the secret of divine power.
Since it was a sacred object related to the birth of religion, it was hidden from the beginning beyond the relationship between the white magic element and divine power that was known in the distant past.
“It is said that even the high priest could not find out the details.”
“It’s a sad story.”
The pope expressed his feelings without hesitation.
The more I thought about it, the more my curiosity soared.
About Esteban. No, everything about the first prince.
But now was not the time to discuss it.
Because the issue proposed by Prince 1 has not yet been resolved.
“You must have penetrated the efficacy and use, right?”
“No doubt.”
“Then why did the first prince want the cup of abundance?”
The Pope began to think seriously.
In fact, the efficacy of the cup of abundance was very poor compared to its symbolism and divine power.
To change the water in the cup into holy water.
Rather, it could be said that it was worse than any other sacred object. In terms of usage, he wanted another sacred object, but there was no reason to choose the Cup of Abundance.
“What do you think about this?”
“Your Holiness, it is impossible to look out a thousand miles from a seat. We do not have enough information to guess their intentions.”
The priest who received that gaze lowered his head and said.
“And handing over the cup of plenty is a completely different matter than that.”
“Do you think it is good, priest, to reject the offer?”
“However, considering the symbolic meaning, room for renegotiation is absolutely necessary.”
“okay.”
It’s symbolic… … .
After hearing the priest’s words, the pope muttered something behind his back, then nodded as if he had made up his mind.
Then he smiled softly and began to open his mouth.
“As we fully anticipated the support of additional sacred objects, we will accept Esteban’s request.”
“Yes, I understand. If that is the will of His Holiness.”
“Aren’t you going to ask why?”
Contrary to the previous objection that renegotiation was necessary, the priest immediately understood the opinion.
It was a surprisingly quick stance change.
When the pope asked about this, the priest lowered his head even deeper.
“His Holiness must know more than that kind of servant of Loena. All of this will also be done according to Roena’s will, so there is no disagreement.”
“okay.”
… … God’s will.
It was likewise enough of a word to convince the pope.
“Let’s deliver the will of the Holy Kingdom to the High Priestess of Garden as soon as possible.”
“All right.”
“This will make the two countries officially partners.”
It was the moment when the end of the long tug-of-war approached.
* * *
I said insensitively as I checked the news that had arrived at the office.
“He said he would accept all of this side’s opinions.”
“It looks like we’re going to support one additional relic, so it’s a refreshing decision.”
In response, my shoulders shrugged.
“Not necessarily.”
George seems to have thought that the support of the additional sacred objects would amount to a large amount of blood loss, but to me who knew the truth, it was just an assortment.
Rather, he could have been relieved to have asked for it.
‘Because the Cup of Abundance must have been the most unnecessary and most difficult to misuse.’
It was as simple as guessing the Holy Empire’s reaction.
In fact, to the extent that I had adjusted my schedule in advance to match the time the letter would arrive.
But it didn’t matter. No matter what they thought, it was an obvious fact that this choice would come back to benefit.
“But it seems that he added a condition, perhaps because he was uneasy on the other side as well.”
I laughed while reading the contents of the letter.
They nailed two conditions.
One, do not undermine the symbolic value of the cup of plenty.
The other is to limit the rental period of the Cup of Plenty to half a year.
It literally means to use it only for what you need and return it immediately. Of course, this was also expected, and it was an otherwise irrelevant condition.
“I am sending it in time for the research on the artificial sun of the Magic Tower.”
“Since the research has already reached its end, there will be no delay.”
A holy grail with near-infinite magical power. and artificial sun.
The products of the two miraculous magics, though different, were also very similar.
If so, what if you study the inside that contains near-infinite magical power?
Perhaps comparing the two different control groups will also increase our understanding of artificial suns.
In addition, since the Cup of Abundance itself could be studied, half a year was more than enough.
“I hope the time to use this soon arrives.”
My gaze finally turned to something in the box.
It was something the baron who received the order had been looking for.
Esteban’s future was what he was confident about… … .
“… … It’s about time. depart.”
“All right.”
Passing through the hallways of the palace, which felt empty today, we reached the front of Daejeon, where nobles were waiting.
A suffocating silence flowed beyond the door. It’s like a place where soldiers are stationed before battle.
Well, should I call it a battle?
It would be a similar feeling, so it wouldn’t be completely wrong.
kiik-
“… … .”
The gates of the Great Hall opened, and the eyes of the nobles lined up inside focused on me.
And the still flowing silence.
Some of them were dressed in strange attire. They were two men and women wearing silver holy clothes, the High Priestess of Garden and the saint.
“Allen Esteban.”
“Greetings to His Highness the King, who is a milestone for many knights and leads the Esteban kingdom.”
I showed my respect to my father’s voice.
Then I slowly raised my head and straightened my body.
Father, who looks down on me from that high throne. And nobles and strangers listed as Daejeon.
… … The preparations are now complete.
The curtain on the real stage has risen.
“The reason I called you to such a sudden cabinet meeting is to make an important announcement.”
“… … .”
As I said that, I captured the scene of the interior that was about to become turbulent into my eyes.
leisurely.
Still, never relaxed.
“But unfortunately, it seems that not all the spectators gathered.”
“… … .”
“Well, maybe two or three, it doesn’t matter.”
Just-!
A mumble that didn’t match the situation passed once, and my fingers made a small ripple in the silence.
OK.
Kki-Ik-!
clap-
… … The gates of Daejeon are locked.