Chapter 43
Chapter 43: The Saint (2)
A banquet was held at the Imperial Palace.
The pretext was to celebrate the glory of a banquet achieved after twenty years, to congratulate its host.
The organizer was none other than the Emperor himself.
"Oh, Viscount Paedo of Phaedo, you've come as well!"
"Isn't that the merchant guild master of Kim's Trading Company!"
Normally, one would think that a banquet held by the Emperor would be a place where lower-ranking nobles wouldn't even be permitted to attend.
But the Empire was different.
Lower-ranking nobles below the rank of count, wealthy commoner merchants—anyone with merit could receive an invitation.
"I'm not sure if our turn will even come in this grand banquet hall."
Of course, receiving an invitation was one thing, but it was difficult for lower-ranking nobles or commoner merchants to actually meet the Empire's powerful figures.
The Imperial banquet was held in the Banquet Hall.
"I suppose we'll just end up networking among ourselves and heading home."
"Merit, you say..."
This literally meant using an entire palace as a banquet venue.
The palace was so massive that sections could be divided according to rank and noble title.
Thus, lower-ranking nobles and commoner merchants called the Emperor's banquet something else.
"...It'll be difficult for the dream of sudden wealth to come calling."
Occasionally, however.
People would meet a noble here and their lives would change.
So the Imperial banquet was called the dream of lower-ranking nobles and commoners.
"It's not really a dream," the Kim Trading Company master said.
Viscount Paedo of Phaedo chuckled at his words.
"My son received help from Director Erik's subordinates in the Labyrinth."
If a lower-ranking noble had justification, they could enter the upper levels of the Banquet Hall.
Viscount Paedo had been fortunate enough to seize this opportunity.
"His name was... hmm, that's right. Jang Du-sik."
"A commoner with the surname Jang named Du-sik, just like me, it seems."
"Perhaps because of that, his position was also unusual. What was it called again...? Ah, yes. Right Arm was his position!"
The first floor of the Banquet Hall was bustling with activity.
Despite being surrounded by the luxury of that magnificent palace, it was in no way different from a marketplace.
The first floor of the Banquet Hall was truly a place where dreams were sold.
"Since my son's life was saved thanks to the sidekick of Director Erik, it's only right to offer thanks."
"If it's a direct family member, and especially a son, it should be sufficient justification."
"I'm sure that even the Imperial Royal Guard would open a path upward if they heard of my circumstances!"
"What a remarkable opportunity you've seized..."
"Kahahaha—! Soon I'll be able to shed this Viscount title—."
The Viscount Paedo, giddy with dreams, felt something odd.
The Kim Trading Company master, who had been laughing alongside him, had gone rigid.
Looking around, everything fell silent.
'What's going on?'
The Viscount also fell silent and slowly scanned his surroundings.
Fortunately, it seemed he wasn't the cause of this quiet.
'Why are they all at the railing...?'
The high upper levels of the grand Banquet Hall—all the high-ranking nobles were looking down.
"...Hem. Even after the Emperor has dined, he still hasn't come."
The Banquet Hall was structured so that one could look down upon the first-floor lobby.
This was so that everyone could applaud and welcome the arrival of distinguished guests.
And to cast a lifeline to promising individuals among the lower-ranking nobles and commoners on the first floor.
That's why the Emperor always entered the Banquet Hall last.
'It's been over an hour since the Emperor arrived.'
The atmosphere on the upper level of the Banquet Hall was unusual.
There was someone who should come after the Emperor, and because of that rudeness, it was difficult for the Emperor to express his anger.
And yet.
"He still hasn't come?"
"My Lord, please do not be so displeased."
Led by the Prime Minister with red hair, members of the Empire's four Ducal Houses were trying to calm the Emperor.
Which meant.
Some distinguished guest had kept the Emperor waiting.
'Who on earth?'
Unease settled over the lobby of dreams on the first floor.
Viscount Paedo swallowed hard.
If the banquet were to be dismissed because of this...
'I won't even get to meet Director Erik.'
If that happened, the Viscount's lifeline would be as good as severed.
The Viscount continued to listen to the words coming from above.
"My Lord, please compose yourself. For my sake, if you would grant just a little more time."
This was a gathering of all the influential nobles of the Empire.
The Northern Archduke, who hadn't been able to attend the dinner due to defending the North, had even arrived late to the banquet.
And yet someone was late.
"How infuriating."
Just as the Emperor was about to strike the railing of the banquet hall heavily.
Just as he was about to declare the banquet dismissed.
Crunch!
The front gates of the Banquet Hall swung wide open.
At the same moment, the Imperial attendants blew their trumpets.
As if they had been waiting for this very moment.
A resounding welcoming announcement began.
Puuu—uuuuu!
"The Star of the Empire, the sublime blood of the Imperial Family, the dear friend of the Magic Tower Master. Princess Julia Lofen Arman enters!"
Clickety-clack! Clickety-clack!
The most radiant figure in that luxurious banquet hall made her entrance.
The princess unfurled her fan with a snap as her pointed heels rang out.
Then she looked toward the Imperial messenger.
As the princess's eyes narrowed.
Puuu—u—uuu!
The trumpet sounded once more.
The nervous messenger's breathing became unsteady, and the trumpet sputtered out.
The announcement of her entrance similarly faltered.
"Th-that is... and th-the Right Arm of D-Director Erik, Sir Jang Du-sik, enters!"
***
"Director Erik, why does the Princess enter alongside your subordinate?"
It was obvious to anyone that the Emperor's mood had soured.
Like a cherished doll, the appearance of the princess with her arm linked through the muscular, short-haired man's.
And the Emperor's expression as he watched it.
Crunch!
Crrreak!
The railing grasped in the Emperor's hands crumbled.
Dust scattered across the highest level of the Banquet Hall as Erik faced the Emperor.
And he spoke.
"Doesn't it suit her well?"
Thud!
There was no sound but;
"What did you just say?"
The Emperor had snapped. That much was clear.
A fierce aura filled the Banquet Hall.
"Your Majesty—."
The moment the Emperor unleashed his presence, an anomaly occurred in the Banquet Hall.
Clang! Crackle!
The Banquet Hall was one of the seven palaces in District 1 of the capital.
A place imbued with the essence of the Magic Tower Master, surrounded by countless defensive magical formations.
Those defensive magics shattered like thin glass, layer upon layer.
"Director Erik! What is the meaning of this outrage!"
"How dare you entangle that commoner with Her Highness the Princess!"
The Empire's officials all reproached Erik.
Each hoping that the Emperor's anger would subside.
And yet...
'Is he laughing?'
Erik's face was nothing but serene.
The Emperor had directly bestowed his glory and held a banquet, and in response, he showed such ingratitude?
It was an atmosphere where one should draw a blade.
"Your Majesty."
Then Erik took one step closer to the Emperor.
Thud!
With a heavy footfall, everyone's attention was drawn.
The Emperor also looked at Erik with a deeply furrowed brow.
Crack!
Erik joined his hands together as he faced the Emperor.
The sound of that applause quieted the noisy hall.
The Emperor's fierce presence also calmed.
"Th-that..."
"What is!"
Instead of reproaching Erik, the officials found their voices caught.
Whoooooosh!
A majestic pillar of sacred light descending from the heavens to the earth.
And within it, the grand figure of Erik.
"W-wings?"
Moreover, that sacred light had taken form.
Swoosh!
Three pairs of golden wings bloomed from Erik's back.
At the corners of his eyes shone the marks of a Pilgrim of the Church, and above his head gleamed a round halo.
"Hem..."
Flutter!
With Erik's wingbeat, the Emperor's anger subsided.
"A Saint's Mark has appeared from the Astia Religious Order," the Emperor said.
The Emperor's head was spinning.
A moment ago, he had been furious at seeing his daughter entangled with this commoner.
Now it felt different.
"Du-sik is my younger brother."
Ignoring talk of Du-sik, the Emperor cut straight to the heart of the matter.
"Have you become a Saint?"
"It is with shame that I have been called the first Saint of the Astia Religious Order."
Originally, he had intended to have the princess make acquaintance with someone and connect her with Erik.
But...
He hadn't expected him to attend the baptism ceremony.
'And then immediately become a Saint?'
A Saint wasn't something there were a dozen of. Each religion had at most two—a Saint and a Saintess.
Their existence was no different from direct proof of God's presence.
'The Princess is not of equal rank.'
The Saintess of the Almanism Church holds a higher position than the Church Leader.
The Saint and Saintess of the Lu-Solace Church also hold higher religious status than the Holy King.
Erik, who had committed himself to the Astia Religious Order.
If one were to be precise...
'He is above the Pope.'
There were beings that even an atheist Emperor had to acknowledge.
Religious leaders such as Popes, Church Leaders, or Holy Kings.
The handful of powerful beings like Riferoze Astia.
And.
'The possessors of unreasonable power...'
Beings bearing the mark of God.
They possessed sacred power and miracles beyond their years.
Their results were overwhelmingly superior to their efforts, and they grew stronger even without trying.
As if...
"That strength obtained at fifteen years of age now makes sense."
Beings like Erik.
The Emperor and the senior figures of the Empire present understood the entire context from just a few words of dialogue.
'Fifteen.'
A young age.
And yet, he had been the Pilgrim's disciple.
The Pope had even transferred his position, disregarding procedure.
All of it.
"It was all in order to become a Saint."
The Emperor understood.
"Or did it happen because he was already a Saint?"
The Emperor's mused question made Erik laugh deeply.
Flutter!
The three pairs of wings scattered divine power.
***
Jang Du-sik entered the Magic Tower under Sebastian's guidance.
The Magic Tower was the crystallization of the Empire's cutting-edge technology, so there would normally be numerous security procedures—but.
"He is my guest."
With one word from the Princess, he gained a free pass all the way to the Magic Tower Master.
"My disciple, what on earth is this?"
The Magic Tower Master was astonished at the sight of Du-sik's gleaming head.
A long beard reaching the floor fluttered like antennae and ran across Du-sik's entire body.
"It is mine."
The Princess stepped on the Magic Tower Master's beard with her pointed heel.
"Your appetite is excessive."
The Magic Tower Master and the Princess engaged in a battle of wills.
Magical ripples erupted in the empty space.
Crack! Boom!
Every space except where Du-sik stood was destroyed.
"Hem—. Princess, you've grown considerably."
"It is thanks to my teacher's instruction."
While Du-sik blinked in confusion, numerous exchanges took place.
In that magnificent battle containing the essence of magic, Du-sik let out a yawn.
"G-hey, you call a person here for what reason?"
The Magic Tower Master's magical formation scattered.
The Princess's fan dropped to the ground.
After that, the Magic Tower Master and the Princess exchanged glances.
Having reached a tacit agreement, the two nodded.
"Magic imbued with divine power!"
"The calculation speed of the formula is beyond reason!"
The two asked Du-sik to show them his magic.
Simply watching it was enough to see that Du-sik's magic was remarkable, drawing continuous exclamations.
Sacred power mixed with magical power.
Complex magic cast instantly without any calculation whatsoever.
With so few variations, what could it matter.
"Truly the ideal of a War Mage!"
The Magic Tower Master saw Du-sik as the future of the Magic Tower.
"I shall give you the position of Vice Tower Master."
The seat of second-in-command of the Magic Tower itself was offered.
The current one?
At best, the level of dabbling with a few 8th Circle magic spells.
Barely a hundred of such beings exist in the world.
But Du-sik?
The Princess's shoulders rose high.
"Teacher, I have invited the world's only Saint Mage."
As the Princess said.
Du-sik was unique.
Truly a being of which there was only one in the world.
"Really, how is memorizing and using formulas such a great thing?"
"...The fact that you memorize those formulas and produce the same power each time—."
The Magic Tower Master and the Princess explained to him the greatness of Du-sik through various explanations.
And then they asked for the secret.
"How on earth are you able to memorize all of that?"
"...You ever heard the saying that practice makes perfect?"
The conversation didn't quite align, but what of it.
A genius like Du-sik typically doesn't communicate well anyway.
The Magic Tower Master was a genius in magic.
The Princess was the same.
"If we research magic together, you will come to understand."
It was natural for a genius to recognize a genius.
The three exchanged various magical discussions and had diverse conversations.
"I simply cannot comprehend it."
After the exchange of magic, all the Magic Tower Master had learned was nothing.
So he made a different proposal.
"Would it be alright if I took some of your blood?"
"I have a price list written by my brother here."
It was then that Du-sik seized his moment and pulled out a scrap of paper.
"Du-sik, your constitution must spread so that we can prevent future calamities."
This was Erik's method of making money under the guise of a greater cause.
'Really, what's the harm in taking a little blood?'
Slurrrp!
The Magic Tower Master's beard extended to extract Du-sik's blood, and with each extraction, fresh blood immediately began flowing again.
"Hem... It's as though you've received some sort of divine blessing."
The Magic Tower Master even lightly cut Du-sik's skin with a Wind Cutter, and the wound immediately regenerated.
The extracted blood flowed back.
The wound restored in an instant.
"A Saint Mage is surely the future of War Mages!"
The Magic Tower Master made another proposal.
"So how does the position of Vice Tower Master sound to you?"
And Du-sik answered.
"Really, I am the Right Arm of my brother Erik."
This was the extent of what Du-sik had experienced.
At the highest level of the grand Banquet Hall.
Beneath the chandelier fashioned with a dragon's heart, Erik heard Du-sik's tale.
"Well, it was entertaining."
"Are you injured anywhere?"
"Just some blood drawn and a little skin cut—is that an injury?"
Really, to be struck with such force.
As if such a thing were...
Du-sik trailed off.
Because the Emperor, seated at the highest position of the Audience Hall behind Erik's back, was staring holes through him.
Du-sik subtly turned his body and continued the conversation with Erik.
"Brother, what on earth happened to you?"
Erik briefly summarized the events that had occurred.
"So... you went to the papal palace, pulled out your wings, became a Saint, and now you're in a position similar to His Majesty the Emperor?"
"That's right."
"When can I see the wings?"
"About an hour from now."
Du-sik felt the back of his head burning.
Glancing back, the Emperor was glaring at him with eyes like a hatchet.
Since Du-sik had no memory of having offended him, the culprit must be Erik right in front of him.
"Brother, what did you talk about with His Majesty the Emperor?"
With the Emperor's gaze, Du-sik felt as though his head might actually split open, so he had no choice but to ask.
To which Erik answered.
"I spoke a bit about your marriage prospects."