Chapter 44
Chapter 44: The Saint (3)
In negotiations, matching one's stance is a very important matter.
Erik had unexpectedly obtained the position of Saint, and he had even enjoyed the honor of receiving the Pope's utmost respect.
What exactly was the degree of such a Saint's position?
'A position similar to an emperor.'
Of course, that was merely in name. There was still a long way to go.
Having a similar position did not make him equal to the Emperor of a great empire.
'The years lived are different.'
The years an emperor had lived were such that merely maintaining power naturally amplified influence endlessly.
Fifteen—the years Erik had lived in this world were infinitesimally small compared to the Emperor's.
'Still, the reputation is roughly comparable.'
In a genuine sense, he was the child of God, a Saint.
Thanks to that, a negotiation was concluded.
It was called: Getting Jang Du-sik Married.
"…Brother, are my ears defective?"
To Jang Du-sik, whose eyes blinked rapidly, Erik repeated what he had said before.
"You heard correctly. I was discussing your marriage, Du-sik."
"Really…? Truly?"
Jang Du-sik was moved.
How much had he lost while serving Erik as his elder brother?
Nowadays, Erik's influence had become tremendous, but during the time Erik concealed his power, Jang Du-sik was treated as nothing less than a madman.
"Hey you brats! Can't you get out of the way when the young master passes?"
Now, Adventurers willingly cleared a path wide open, but Erik's childhood was different.
A tiny little kid had dragged along an iron sword as large as his own body.
A large man with a half-shaved head calling that tiny kid his older brother.
"Why does such a small kid get called older brother? If you're going to joke around, at least do it properly."
Ridicule and mockery were the basics.
Treated as a drug addict, he had lost all the reputation he had built in the back alleys.
The Stateless Zone was a harsh wilderness, and Jang Du-sik, who served such a small kid as his older brother, was treated as a cripple.
'Those were sorrowful years.'
That was not the end of it.
The matter with women was the same.
"Brother Du-sik, what's with that little kid?"
"A little kid? From now on, he's brother Erik, whom we will serve!"
There had been a woman he was dating in the slums of the Peran region, and right after Jang Du-sik introduced Erik to her, she dumped him.
During those times, Jang Du-sik was forced to call Erik his older brother.
It was a restriction Riferoze had placed.
'I'm satisfied now, but…'
Back then, it was truly difficult.
While Jang Du-sik was recalling those sorrowful memories from the past—
"Du-sik, are you that moved?"
"Really, brother. Why ask something so obvious?"
Jang Du-sik returned to reality.
The thug from the slums was now enjoying a luxurious party in the Imperial Palace, specifically in the Banquet Hall of District 1.
'When did it become like this…'
It was moving.
Around this point, he became curious about his partner.
'I'm not even hoping for a young, young, and pretty woman.'
Jang Du-sik knew himself well.
A thug's appearance with a rough half-shaved head was, even at best, not handsome.
The age of thirty-eight was also an age far behind in the marriage market.
Jang Du-sik had hoped for a woman around his age with a stable occupation like an innkeeper.
But then…
"So who exactly is my marriage partner?"
"The Star of the Empire."
Erik's words sounded strange.
"A star?"
Blink, blink!
'Star, Empire… What is that? Isn't that the Emperor's children?'
Jang Du-sik recalled the Emperor's children.
The Crown Prince who had entered a Labyrinth.
The Second Prince wandering between battlefields.
Behind him was a Princess, and the youngest Prince, Erik had blown him to death.
"Out of four, no, three…"
"Du-sik, you're not even gay, so why are you worrying so much?"
"Really, I forgot because I was so surprised. The Princess is the only one, right!"
Tap, tap!
Right then, the sound of sharp heels came from behind Jang Du-sik.
A subtle forest scent of dawn holding moonlight wafted over.
"I greet the Saint Erik."
The Princess, holding a fan before her mouth, bowed her head while looking at Erik.
Just as Erik had explained the situation to Jang Du-sik, the Emperor had apparently informed the Princess of the circumstances as well.
"May the grace of Astia be with you."
Since she had called him Saint, Erik met the Princess appropriately by drawing the Sign of the Cross.
Then he immediately brought up the main topic.
"Since you will become the wife of my younger brother, I will call you Sister-in-law."
Thud!
The fan dropped.
The Princess's long eyelashes trembled, and wrinkles formed between her brows.
She asked,
"Si-sister-in-law?"
"Please spend a comfortable time together."
Erik bowed politely and hastily distanced himself from the Princess.
He walked with large strides, but the Princess missed the timing to object.
And beside her…
Blink, blink!
Jang Du-sik's eyes, bright as a king's, were visible.
He was overcome with profound emotion.
Serving his older brother had truly paid off.
'The day comes when this Jang Du-sik sees the light!'
The second most beautiful woman in the world would become his wife.
Wait.
As Jang Du-sik thought about it carefully, he had a feeling this marriage had been planned long ago.
Had there not been many signs of it?
"Did the Princess know this would happen?"
"Really! Taking me and bringing me to the Imperial Magic Tower, giving me the position of Sub-tower Master—all because of the marriage…"
"I never knew you would show such consideration because of my lowly origins!"
"Brother Erik said that once I get a wife, he'll take a back seat, so don't worry!"
Those innocent eyes.
Words spat out like a machine gun.
And a gleaming, Consecrated head.
The Princess's hand, which had picked up her fan, trembled.
***
"Ha ha, truly a fitting pair, are they not?"
Watching that scene, Erik laughed.
Blood vessels bulged in the Emperor's forehead.
Utterly infuriated, but.
"As promised, we agreed to prioritize the Princess's own will above all else."
The Emperor swallowed his anger.
A prominent figure of a pro-Imperial Religious Order.
A position no less than Saint, and a rare talent with unprecedented power at fifteen.
'A path for the Empire.'
The Emperor also knew of the appearance of the Black Mage Group.
Going forward, the cooperation of the Religious Order would be more important than anything else.
Moreover,
'Compared to the Almanism Church or the Lu-Solace Church…'
Forming a connection with the Astia Religious Order was a very great gain.
All three religions were obsessed with God, but the Astia Religious Order was relatively less so.
And it was important that Erik had roots in the Empire.
[Jang Du-sik, whom he cherishes like a younger brother; Ruelle and the orphans like Erik's inverse scales.]
This was information about Erik that the Empire's Intelligence Department had thoroughly investigated.
The Emperor did not promote Erik rashly without thought.
While Erik's positional foundation lay in the 'Astia Religious Order,'
"All of his being lies within this Empire."
As the Prime Minister said, all of Erik's connections and emotional foundation that he had built were contained within the Empire.
Jang Du-sik was an existence to strengthen goodwill with Erik, while simultaneously being no different from a weakness.
To entrust such a Jang Du-sik?
And as a son-in-law to the Princess at that?
"Just as His Majesty trusted me, I also have faith in His Majesty."
Erik meant he also held sincerity toward the Emperor.
Yet he still felt uncomfortable...
The Emperor reluctantly replied,
"I can only hope the Princess comes to like him."
The banquet continued to ripen.
Various influential figures had finished their greetings, and the Emperor sat on the throne of the Banquet Hall with a sullen expression, engaging in trivial chat with the Prime Minister.
And Erik…
"I am Duke Jenedik Raffin."
He came face-to-face with a man bearing a whirlpool-shaped beard with eyes narrowed to slits.
He was the Master of the Imperial Magic Tower and a 9th Circle Mage, yet his title was no less than Duke.
'Erik, I see he's bigger than the rumors.'
One of the four pillars supporting the Imperial family.
A member of the Ducal Houses called the Four Pillars.
'The marriage will be difficult.'
Duke Jenedik Raffin inferred the situation from the Emperor's actions.
How high was the position of Saint?
It was such an overwhelming position that the Emperor would match the Princess with his subordinate.
'He likes money, they said?'
Therefore, the Duke changed his strategy.
Originally, Duke Jenedik had wanted to form a connection with Erik through the Possessor business.
'Indeed, this would be better…'
He suddenly greeted Erik and then sank into thought silently.
"Is there something that matters?"
Erik tilted his head questioningly.
The appearance of an old great nobleman whose intentions were unclear sent a chill down his spine.
However, the existence of Duke Jenedik Raffin had considerable value, so Erik waited calmly.
'An old tower master.'
A 9th Circle Mage, an overwhelmingly powerful figure.
Moreover, the owner of the Imperial Magic Tower's Eastern branch was Duke Jenedik Raffin.
Erik showed respect to the Duke, who possessed both power and authority, by addressing him with honorifics.
Yet the response continued to come not at all.
'Is he playing a game?'
He waited for about two minutes.
Erik had exhibited sufficient patience.
Erik's brow furrowed.
He suddenly came and introduced himself, then went silent like on a vow of silence?
That was when—
"Would you not like to see the Magic Tower?"
Having suddenly introduced himself, he then made an unexpected proposal.
Erik's head tilted even more.
"Ah, my words were brief. We are currently manufacturing a Divine Magical Tool at the Eastern Magic Tower."
At the following statement, Erik's head suddenly straightened up.
"May the grace of Astia be with you."
Erik drew the Sign of the Cross and approached Duke Raffin in large strides.
A shadow fell over the Duke's head.
"My neck is stiff. Please step back just a little."
Erik took one large step backward.
He seemed quite excited upon hearing such welcome news.
It was understandable.
'A Divine Magical Tool.'
Just as with the [Sacred Explosion Magic Circle], one could condense Divine Power and contain it in a Magic Circle or similar location.
However, applying it to Magical Tools was extremely difficult.
A Magical Tool is a device that operates through Magic Power. Just as a Mage could not mix Divinity into Magic Power, neither could a Magical Tool.
But now—
"Is Erik's right arm not a Divine Mage?"
That possibility had opened.
The Consecrated Mage Jang Du-sik blended Divine Power with Magic Power.
But where had he heard that?
Erik looked at Duke Jenedik with questions in his eyes.
"From the Master of the Imperial Magic Tower."
"Indeed, news travels fast within the Palace."
Erik nodded.
From what he had experienced, rumors within the Imperial Palace traveled better than the Community of Possessors.
"It is thanks to His Majesty's reign."
It was the power of the Intelligence Department that the Emperor had established.
"I will propose once more. How about a tour of the Magic Tower?"
'Raffin's Magic Tower.'
Erik thought for a moment.
The Magic Tower located in the southeastern portion of the Empire was geographically quite distant from the Imperial Capital.
One [Miracle of Teleportation] would be the end of it, but distance still became a psychological burden.
"Let me hear the proposal once."
If there were benefits to overcome such a burden, Erik was willing to visit the southeastern part of the Empire.
***
After the banquet ended, Erik returned to Ruelle's newly built church.
The most secret place of the church.
An underground chamber Janson had secretly constructed.
Squeak! Squeak!
Clink!
Under a dim orange light source, an old table was placed.
Empty bottles scattered on top of it.
And a massive Erik who had emptied the bottles.
Shuffle!
Footsteps were heard from the staircase leading underground.
'The boss is drinking?'
At Erik's summons, Janson descended into the underground, and the sight before him was peculiar.
The acrid smell of petroleum, like the scent of very strong liquor.
Certainly, Erik had proposed to him, 'Let's have a drink,' but…
Under Imperial law, those under twenty could not drink alcohol.
In a world where Magic and Aura were used, a drinking accident would bring about a tremendous disaster.
"Boss? Drinking"
Janson, who had approached the table, stopped speaking.
[Level Up Elixir—Used]
The identity of the empty bottle came into view before his eyes.
"Janson, would you like a drink?"
And Erik was handing him a new bottle—not to himself, but to Janson?
Janson was truly flustered.
Shuffle!
"Boss, do you know what that is?"
Janson approached the old table.
Creak!
Janson sat across from Erik.
Under that gorgeous and majestic church, an underground chamber had been made.
Yet it was quite rundown, crude, and faded.
"Janson, do you still think of your wife?"
The humble and worn-down house where Janson had lived in the conflict zone felt just like this.
Erik looked Janson in the eyes.
The writhing scar looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"Do you still want to kill all the Possessors?"
Janson's eyes wavered.
He gritted his teeth.
The anger Janson had hidden within a peaceful disguised daily life awoke.
"Well, revenge seems meaningless now."
He said as much, but Janson's eyes and distorted scar told a different story.
"If you won't drink, I will."
Erik quietly gazed at Janson and emptied another bottle of [Level Up Elixir].
"Mm, it tastes very good."
Erik's face was also contorted.
Toward such an Erik, Janson questioned again.
"Boss, do you know what that is?"
His question was fierce.
To which Erik took out another bottle and handed it to Janson.
"Janson, have a drink too. It's a very rare delicacy."
Janson did not take the bottle.
"Boss."
A pleading tone, desperate as whining.
"It's [Level Up Elixir]."
Erik answered straightforwardly.
Janson's entire body creaked.
Rumble?
Fierce Aura rose up.
"Surely… the boss too?"
Eyes soaked in betrayal.
Janson stood up with a bang, pushing his chair back.
Hand placed on his waist, glaring at Erik—
"Don't act reckless and sit down."
Erik looked at Janson heavily.
Though his appearance was fierce, compassion was hidden within Erik's eyes.
Janson also read that gaze.
Looking at the somewhat calmer Janson, Erik spoke calmly,
"99 Level, Swordsman Class on the verge of a third Class Change. Your real name is Guillaume Ferliff, your nationality was France, right?"
These were Janson's Possessor personal details.
An old name Janson had erased long ago.
"Born in this world forty-five years ago, Janson Samuel."
Erik's words continued.
Reciting Janson's personal details for living in this world.
"Twenty-some years ago, you met your master and had your Status Window sealed, thanks to which you became a Sword Master."
And then—
"That bastard Lucifer offered your wife and two daughters as sacrifices."
Cutting off Erik's words, Janson bared his teeth.
In his eyes lay anger and the vengeance of one who had lost his family.
To that, Erik offered his hand to Janson with a gentler face.
"Pour it out. And let's have a good conversation."
In his hand was a new bottle.