Chapter 100: Church On The Paper (2)
Information is like currency for those living in the Murim world.
–Thomas Jefferson
“You really have no fear, do you? You just heard what I said. You’ll end up dead without anyone knowing.”
The deputy was still smiling leisurely.
His glasses were small and round, unlike the square sunglasses Ulrich Zuckerberg wore, which made him look three times more obnoxious when he smiled.
“No. You don’t necessarily have to die, do you? People will need evidence to believe whatever you say.”
He’s still acting relaxed, but let’s see how long that lasts.
‘He’s completely underestimating me.’
Judging by his sly smile, I could tell what he was thinking.
The deputy, despite showing dislike, must have sold the Indulgence to test me. He probably thought that even if I knew the hidden function of the Talisman, I might not know exactly how to use it and wanted to confirm the truth.
“Yes. Evidence. Evidence is always necessary.”
I had momentarily forgotten.
“Do you really think I spoke of the Zion Clan’s secret without preparation or resolve?”
“What?”
Most people in the Murim world don’t possess a personality like mine that doesn’t miss even the slightest possibility.
“I’ll show you now. The evidence you want.”
It seems he thinks I’m in the dark regarding the most important secret, but even the vaunted function of the Upper Elixir Field seems useless in crucial moments.
I formed a sword finger gesture with my index and middle fingers and slipped an Indulgence Talisman between them.
As I carefully infused my internal energy, the delicate, silk-like Essence began to run across the Talisman like ink on paper.
-Zzzt!
The trajectory of the Essence split into dozens of paths on the yellow page torn from the Bible, slowly extending around the red letters written with vermillion made from cinnabar mercury.
[…Stop it.]
The deacon, realizing what I was attempting, sent a Direct Message with eyes wide open, but why should I care?
Until I forcibly make the remaining deputy here the representative of the Zion Clan and sit him at the negotiation table, until I make them understand who holds the initiative.
“I said this earlier. Whatever a person does, the result comes back to them, so always act with caution.”
[I said stop.]
I absolutely.
“I refuse.”
Have no intention of stopping.
“It’s already chaotic, and we haven’t even taken the first step of the dance.”
The Sword Queen Victoria had left the lobby on the first floor of the Old West Wing, where a commotion had just passed, to rest in a quiet space.
Beside her, Border Collies Sharp and Noble, along with White Heather, were seated in the dog and cat lotus positions, beginning their Breath Control.
-Rumble…!
With astonishing concentration that was hard to believe for animals, they entered a deep meditative state, diligently circulating their internal energy through their smaller Elixir Fields and meridian systems.
“…It’s about time.”
Not even three seconds had passed since the Sword Queen glanced at the grandfather clock when an unusual energy began to emanate from the meridians of the two Border Collies seated in the lotus position.
Subsequently, White Heather, who was in the middle of Breath Control, also coughed up a large Spiritual Hairball.
“*Cough-*nyah!”
The energy that White Heather had ingested was now clinging to the furball it had just expelled.
It was a stark contrast to the way Sharp and Noble released energy from their acupuncture points.
The method of expelling foreign energy or toxins varied depending on the type and individual of the Spiritual Creatures.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
“Meow.”
“Woof.”
The Sword Queen looked at the Spiritual Beasts, who shook it off nonchalantly and stood up, with a satisfied expression, and conjured Buddha Fire in her hand.
-Whoosh!
The flame burned the furball without affecting the carpet beneath it.
The updraft generated in the process carried the foul energy expelled by the two Border Collies into the cleverly concealed ventilatory system in the walls and ceiling.
“It’s quite deadly. It’s no wonder the demons struggle with the Lily Swordsmen.”
The energy expelled by the three Spiritual Creatures, the Queen’s faithful guardians, through Breath Control was the energy wave of Mary Swordsmanship absorbed into their bodies.
Though it lacked a foul odor, it was akin to poison in the way it harmed the vitality of dogs and cats, so it had to be expelled through Breath Control.
“…Reporting. The Lily Swordsman who caused the commotion has exited the Palace through the east gate.”
Immediately after, a voice was heard from someone hidden behind the ceiling.
It was a warrior from the Etiquette Watch 1, silently patrolling the Royal Palace.
“Is that so.”
The Queen replied with an indifferent expression.
“Shall we pursue?”
“It’s a good day, so let it be.”
“…Understood.”
With those final words, the presence of the palace maid vanished.
“……”
Reflecting on the brief conversation, the Sword Queen quietly patted the heads of the Spiritual Beasts.
The court lady dared not openly express her dissatisfaction in front of the Supreme, but her short response was filled with intense hostility towards the Exorcist priest.
This was all born out of loyalty to her.
Therefore, the Sword Queen could not bring herself to scold the court lady.
“Sigh…”
After confirming the maid’s presence had disappeared,
a faint sigh escaped the Queen’s lips.
The opponent she faced earlier was Father Howard Brown.
The old freak, better known by his baptismal name, Galshim2, was one of the few remaining priests of the Gal generation in the British Zion Clan, who had long operated as the Pope’s sword.
‘Now I can’t even argue if they say I’ve become soft.’
The reason she ordered not to pursue the priest who committed an unforgivable rudeness in the Royal Palace was because, as one who stands above the bowed heads of all, she couldn’t allow blood to flow meaninglessly.
No matter how exceptional the court maid’s’ stealth skills were, if they followed him to the Vatican, they would surely die without leaving even a corpse.
‘…To my people, and to my enemies.’
If it were 20 years ago, when her husband Albert was by her side, she wouldn’t have let someone who committed such discourtesy leave unharmed.
Considering her state at the time, she might not have been better than the priest who left Buckingham, but back then, she possessed audacity and recklessness that surpassed the dignity of a ruler.
Recalling the catalyst that made her fiery temperament and swift hand even stronger still left a slight bitterness in her heart.
“……”
Twenty-five years ago, Victoria was defeated by a masked man who called himself the Heavenly Demon.
Both in Kung-Fu and chess, by an overwhelming margin.
It was a fact known only to a few close to Prince Albert of Cambridge University, but the shock she experienced at that time forced her to endure an unprecedented inner demon.
And it had to be the Darwinian Demon, one of the four great inner demons in the history of Kung-Fu.
‘Should I be grateful to him for my overcoming of the inner demon and reaching the next realm, or should I hate him? I just don’t know.’
The Sword Queen’s hand, continuing to stroke and soothe, seemed to satisfy White Heather, who purred contentedly.
The Queen watched the scene with a pleased smile.
It was only after a quarter century that she could finally face her past defeat with a smile.
To her, being able to hold a serene smile on her lips was a greater achievement than wielding the power to make Big Ben chime with her steps or dry the Thames with her Sword aura.
’I have a request.
‘Smile, even if I’m not by your side.
’Once a day. That* will suffice**.’*
Her lifelong companion said this before falling into a long sleep.
“……”
As he requested,
the Queen could now smile much more brightly than before.
The person she wanted to show her new expression to was no longer by her side.
It was only after her husband was left alone in the dark and cold underground that she crossed over the wall.
For Victoria, that fact was unbearably regrettable.
The Queen opened the locket hanging around her neck to glance at the photo of her beloved companion, Albert.
‘…I guess I shouldn’t have sought enlightenment. The day I go to meet my dear has been pushed further away.’
The smiling man remained in the stillness of time, forever in the beautiful form of his younger days.
‘Unable to engage in Kung-Fu with you now, wielding a sword has become my sole joy. With troubles overflowing both inside and outside the country, I feel that only by smiling like this can I keep my promise.’
The Queen of England.
The Sword Queen of the Gibraltar Temple in the South Sea.
And the head of the Westminster Ancient Tomb Sect3.
These three titles represent her continuous exploration and pursuit of enlightenment in Kung-Fu.
Her relentless search for worthy rivals and dedication to dueling.
It was all to divert her attention from the tragedy that occurred 20 years ago.
Leading the great ship of England through the tumultuous waves of the era, immersing herself in the path of Kung-Fu was the only way to keep her promise to her late husband.
Exchanging perspectives on Kung-Fu and thoughts on Kung-Fu principles through chess matches with masters of various Kung-Fu lineages was an extension of that path.
“My husband. There are few in the world who can read the subtleties of my sword and counter my moves as you did. Even more so, those I cannot defeat.”
Victoria murmured with a lonely expression.
“But then and now, my sword cannot reach the Heavenly Demon.”
Twenty-five years ago, her training was too short, and she failed to reach him.
And now, her sword is too short to reach him.
All that remains in the place left by the Heavenly Demon is his disciple.
As the Sword Queen recalled the warmth of her companion and the mysterious sword of her rival, the face of the detective with a bewildered expression came to mind.
And also, the atrocity he had just committed.
“…Thinking about it, I’m furious. What did this guy learn from his master to throw someone else’s cat so carelessly? Ha, I’m really pissed off. Should I just stab the corner of the chessboard into his head?”
There was something Sherlock Holmes hadn’t considered.
After undergoing Rejuvenation and returning to a youthful body,
Queen Victoria was partially regaining the vigor she had 20 years ago.
Moreover, she was a resolute monarch who would immediately act upon whatever came to mind.
“That fucking bastard. To hell with the honors, should I just deal with it now?”
“Nyaa!”
The queen, holding White Heather, began walking again toward the first-floor lobby of the library.
“…Hmm?”
It was at that moment.
An unusual energy could be sensed beyond the door.
“Why-”
-BOOM!!!
Before the Queen could finish her sentence, a majestic Qi Frequency and a floral scent, reminiscent of the Zion Clan’s cathedral filled with dozens of Lily Swordsmen, began to spread throughout the entire palace.
- TL/N: This is the Etiquette Enforcement Special Maid Corps mentioned previously in Chapter 88 ️
Check latest chapters at n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net - TL/N: Humble Heart ️
- TL/N: The Ancient Tomb Sect for any Jinrong, and Return of the Condor Hero lovers out there is the sect the female MC is from. ️