Chapter 96: Royal Audience (3)
Discussing swords over incense for a day with a master is better than wielding a sword alone for ten years.
**–**Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, <Hyperion>
“Isn’t it a bit early for the Sword Queen’s Entry, considering the ball hasn’t even started yet?”
A sinister smile spread across the priest’s lips.
Meanwhile,
Her Majesty stood firm, not yielding an inch, quietly frowning at the confrontation.
“This is my abode. Whatever I do, whenever I do it, is none of your concern.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. Then it is also unrelated to the Sword Queen if I correct the impudence of the younger generation.”
Father Brown replied, lowering his sword diagonally so that its tip pointed to the ground.
Such insolent behavior was unthinkable in the presence of Her Majesty. The people gathered on the first floor began to react to the outrageous rudeness, unbelievable for someone living on British soil.
-Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The layers of murderous intent were surging like a tidal wave, but the priest only smiled as if he found it amusing.
He seemed indifferent to the aura of the masters surrounding him from all directions.
“If you find it unpleasant to converse with someone like me just because my head is bare, how about another form of communication?”
-Whoosh!
“For instance…exchanging swords.”
Father Brown’s sword emitted a fierce sword cry reminiscent of a beast’s roar.
‘To release a beast in Buckingham Palace. The Zion Clan has made an aggressive move. Are they willing to bear the risk of a selfmate1?’
At this point, I was certain that Father Brown was a madman completely beyond the control of the Roman See.
In today’s world, could a local priest who was not even the Pope of the Zion Clan or the archbishop of a large diocese, dare to maintain such an attitude in front of the monarch of a nation?
No, from the moment he suggested crossing swords, questioning his attitude or any trumpet became meaningless.
Father Brown is an Englishman.
Having committed treason in front of hundreds of witnesses, even if
Her Majesty were to take his head immediately, the Vatican would not be able to issue a single protest.
Nevertheless, the reason the Zion Clan’s leadership threw this dynamite, Father Brown, into the Buckingham Palace Ball was because they had not a shred of doubt about his martial prowess.
Clearly, the Vatican’s despicable strategy of not hesitating to humiliate Britain and tarnish the government’s prestige was blatantly exposed.
But how is it now?
“…Time is indeed a poison. Seeing someone as skilled as you grow blind and deaf.”
With Her Majesty showing an unexpected difference in rank.
Can the Zion Clan’s Cult Slayer continue to hold his head high and act churlishly?
“I ask you. Do you not hear my words of reproach?”
Amidst the echoing solemn proclamation, the Sovereign of Britain and the Servant of Heaven, the two people’s gazes met in the air.
“With the Queen worrying for me, I am at a loss. However, as you can see, my old ears hear just fine.”
The priest still maintained his arrogant attitude.
Once things had gone awry, he judged that he could not back down as the one bearing the name of the Zion Clan’s main house.
“Then let me ask one thing. What does the Sword Queen want from me?”
Even in front of Her Majesty the Queen, the priest acted no differently than he did with me, causing the British envoys to once again start drawing upon their True energy.
I was no different.
If, by any chance, Father Brown had lost his mind and was determined to sacrifice himself to take down the chivalrous heroes of Great Britain with him, I was prepared to help stop his heart.
“Moveth Not Liketh Jagg’r And Boweth Politely.”
Amidst everyone’s watchful eyes, a stream
of sound like the tinkling of jade resonated.
Even without specific mention, the intention behind Her Majesty’s reprimand was clear.
If he did not comply, it meant he would be executed for treason.
“I do not wish to see blood on the auspicious day heralding spring. If you lay down your sword and withdraw now, I will not hold you accountable. The Vatican’s Cat’s Paw should not take my leniency lightly.”
“……”
Did she consider that if she clashed with the priest here, the ball would be ruined?
Her Majesty’s decree to expel him was more lenient than I had imagined.
However, for the priest, complying would be impossible without swallowing his pride.
“…To lay down the sword and show respect, is it? Unfortunately, the scabbard is broken, so sheathing the sword is difficult. How about this? Instead of sheathing, would you accept it if I knelt?”
A softened tone.
The air, which had frozen at the priest’s servile words close to surrender, began to warm with the breath of spring.
“I allow it-”
“Damn. Now that I think about it, this isn’t the shrine of Our Lord, so it’s unreasonable. Besides, my joints tend not to cooperate in Anglican territory.”
“…!”
However, what followed was a provocative sneer.
He seemed to mimic the conversation we just had
and was insulting Her Majesty.
-Crack!
It was a small noise, but with my sharpened senses, I didn’t miss it.
“Damn it.”
Her Majesty had just ground her teeth.
Then, the composed aura of the Sword Queen began to surge.
The fact that she had held back so far displayed her superhuman patience, but now it was a signal that her mercy had reached its limit.
“…Both of you, cut it out.”
Watson, looking exasperated, couldn’t hold back and muttered.
“Indeed. It’s time to wrap this situation up.”
Just then, as I looked around, I found a clever way to end this standoff.
“You? What are you thinking?”
“Just watch.”
Leaving Watson, who looked at me with concern, I began to put my plan into action.
‘If I’m not careful, many heads will roll. I have to move with utmost caution.’
The current situation is truly a Hundred Pounds Of Powder Keg.
If Her Majesty makes a move, the priest will respond, and then among those gathered here at Buckingham Palace, there will be many caught up, injured, or even killed.
I don’t particularly worry if a few of Mycroft’s fingers go flying, but Watson, who has difficulty walking, is present.
I don’t care if the Zion Clan’s troublemaker dies here, but if Watson gets caught up in this, I could never forgive myself.
Is there any way to safely end this hellish standoff before the situation escalates in severity?
As I looked around, I noticed three shadows nearby, concealing their presence and murderous intent while watching Father Brown.
Already known by rumors to be quite skilled, they were blending in among the people, waiting for Father Brown to show an opening.
They were ready to spring into action at any given opportunity.
They
are the loyal subordinates who would do anything for Her Majesty.
‘…It might be possible.’
In the next moment, a ray of enlightenment dawned on me.
I thought of the most effective way to overcome this situation.
[You, surely.]
[You’re not planning on interfering, are you, Mycroft?]
My brother, realizing what I was thinking, sent me a sound transmission.
[…No. The calculations are complete, Sherlock. If successful, we can avoid an unprecedented diplomatic disaster.]
I nodded slightly.
There’s only one chance.
If I don’t hurry, one of the two experts might lose their temper and actually make a lethal move.
Meanwhile, as I discreetly backed away towards
the side where Her Majesty’s subordinates were, the tension between the two continued.
Facing Father Brown, who couldn’t be reasoned with,
I couldn’t help but admire Her Majesty’s efforts to approach the situation rationally.
“The rules of the Royal Palace prohibit a hundred kinds of rudeness.”
As its name suggests, the Forbidden Palace is a place governed by strict rules.
Those who violate the rules may be taken away by the Etiquette Enforcement Special Maid Corps or, in grave cases, executed on the spot.
And, the greatest discourtesy one can commit upon stepping into this place is to draw a weapon and aim it at another.
Moreover, isn’t the opponent of the priest the ruler governing the Great Britain?
Now is the last chance for Father Brown to retreat.
“It seems a hundred wouldn’t be enough. There’s no rule in the palace that forbids me.”
However, like an old man full of stubbornness, he seemed eager to see blood.
“One is enough.”
The monarch finally responded to the provocation.
“My existence is the rule that forbids you.”
As the majestic Qi Frequency began to surge around Her Majesty’s right hand, the priest’s attention was fully focused forward.
‘Now…!’
At that moment, I grabbed the nape of the master, who had already closed the distance, with one hand.
-Swish!
I aimed at Father Brown’s right hand and lobbed with full force.
-Whoosh!
The loyal servant of Her Majesty the Queen.
Head Chief Mouser.
“Nyaaah!!!”
The Boot-Wearing Royal Cat, White Heather.
-Thud!!
The bipedal cat in boots became a white projectile and struck the old priest’s body.
“Kiyaaaah!!”
The Spiritual Creature representing Buckingham twisted its body at the moment of impact and reflexively swung its front paw at Father Brown’s hand, which was fully focused forward.
To be precise, the rapier fixed to the guard on its front paw.
-Swish!!
The small sword of the Kung-Fu Cat seeking the ultimate thrill brushed against the priest’s sleeve.
“…?!”
-Boom!
The next moment, the barrier of Enhanced Qi created by the old priest bounced White Heather away.
Due to his Protective Enhanced Energy, the priest’s Diamond Indestructible defense couldn’t be penetrated, not even his clothes were cut, but the cat adjusted its stance without losing balance and gracefully landed between its master and the priest.
And then, it immediately raised the tip of the rapier it was holding, aiming it threateningly at the waist of the old priest.
“Nyaah!!”
The White Cat, with its fur standing on end, confronted the priest.
It was as if it had stepped forward to guard its master like a knight.
“Woof woof!”
As White Heather stepped forward, two black Spiritual Creatures, the Canine Fairies, also rushed in to surround the priest.
The one with brown fur growing near its mouth, holding a willow leaf saber, was Noble.
The old dog with white fur on its chest, holding a broad saber, was Sharp.
“What on earth is this bizarre…?”
Some attendees, unable to grasp the situation, blurted out curses, but I am not one to be hurt by the ignorant ramblings of fools.
[Thinking of exploiting the gaps in doctrine. You haven’t wasted your time.]
Mycroft, the only one who anticipated the outcome of my actions, sent a brief, amused sound transmission.
Indeed.
The move I made was a perpetual check leading to a draw.
Its essence was a brilliant clever hand using the Cat’s power.
No.
It was a brilliant cat’s paw2
- TL/N: A selfmate is a type of chess problem where White, moving first, forces Black to deliver checkmate within a certain number of moves ️
- TL/N: In Korean, ‘clever hand’ and ‘cat’s paw’ are homophones ️