My Celestial Ascension

A few moments later, Archbishop Gregor led the Heroes into another chamber, one shielded from prying ears. He needed to discuss matters in private—away from the Emperor’s gaze.

He didn’t want the Emperor to learn anything that might portray the Holy Church as weak before the Imperial Family of the Holy Light Empire. Princess Livia’s betrayal had already shaken their foundation; the last thing he needed was to push the entire Imperial Family into open defiance.

There was a real possibility they had already turned. Perhaps the auction was a calculated move, a silent declaration of separation. Yet, without concrete evidence, the Church couldn’t confront them—not without risking political disaster.

‘I hope they weren’t in league with that ungrateful little bitch… If they were, they’ll bear the weight of treason against the Holy Son,’ Archbishop Gregor thought grimly as he guided the Heroes deeper into the sanctuary of the chamber.

What lay ahead wasn’t a discussion. It was an order. Archbishop Gregor intended to use the Heroes to intimidate Emperor Philip and his kin. If necessary, he would not hesitate to unleash them upon the Imperial City itself.

“Do you have any idea what the Archbishop wants from us?” Zane, one of the summoned Heroes, asked their leader, Kael. His voice carried a trace of nervous energy.

Archbishop Gregor was no ordinary mage—he radiated divine authority. His mere presence felt oppressive, making it hard to breathe, let alone think clearly.

“No idea,” Kael replied, shaking his head slowly. He looked just as uneasy as the others. “But I’m certain it’s going to be serious.”

“I’m worried,” muttered Ayumi, a slender young Hero with long dark hair. “I hope it’s not something insane—like fighting some impossibly powerful magical beast.”

“I’m worried too,” Leina added, stepping closer to Kael. Her voice was soft but edged with tension. “Let’s hope it’s something we can actually handle.”

Kael offered a faint, reassuring nod. “We’ll find out soon. Let’s just wait and hope for the best.”

The air in the room had turned thick—heavy with invisible pressure. The summoned Heroes glanced at one another uneasily, each face showing the same sense of rising panic.

“Sir, may we ask why you brought us here?” Kael finally spoke up, his tone respectful but uncertain. He glanced toward Archbishop Gregor, careful not to meet his eyes directly.

“You Heroes must be feeling bored following the same routine every single day, aren’t you?”

Instead of answering Kael’s question, Archbishop Gregor posed one of his own—one that struck a chord. His words echoed the exhaustion written plainly across the Heroes’ faces, and for a moment, the tension in the room lifted slightly.

Wearing a faint, calculated smile, Gregor scanned their expressions before continuing. “That’s why I’ve decided to take all of you with me to the Lionheart Empire. Think of it as a small, adventurous trip. It will take two or three days by enchanted carriage.”

The Heroes exchanged surprised glances.

“Of course,” Gregor added, pausing just enough to shift the mood again, “no real adventure comes without danger.”

He let the words hang in the air before delivering the truth.

“What you may not know is that our Holy Son has been captured… and imprisoned by the Lionheart Empire.”

A stunned silence filled the room. The Heroes stared at him, eyes wide in disbelief. The Holy Church was renowned as the most powerful force in the world—its military strength alone could crush nations. And yet, someone had dared to seize their Holy Son?

The shock was palpable.

“Does that mean the reason we’re visiting the Lionheart Empire…” Kael’s voice trailed off, barely above a whisper. He couldn’t find the words to express the storm of emotions stirring inside him—worry for his comrades, and a flicker of excitement.

“Indeed,” Archbishop Gregor confirmed with a nod. “We are going to rescue him from that nightmare. And there is a strong possibility we’ll have to fight the Imperial Knights—perhaps even the Lionheart Family itself—to free him.”

“What they’ve done is unforgivable,” he growled, his tone shifting. “We will not overlook this humiliation. They must pay dearly for capturing our Holy Son.”

His mana flared without warning, flooding the room with a bone-chilling aura that made the Heroes tremble. The once-slight tension now turned into raw panic.

Realizing their fear, Gregor immediately reined in his power. He couldn’t afford to alienate them—not when the Church’s ambitions extended far beyond the continent.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he continued, “To rescue our Holy Son Arthur, we need your help—Heroes of the Holy Light Empire. And we must also retrieve Princess Livia. She’s been corrupted by the Lionheart Empire.”

He exhaled slowly, his voice heavy with suppressed fury as he added, “We cannot allow this betrayal to stand. Not now. Not ever.”

After hearing the Archbishop’s words, Kael huddled with his companions for a brief discussion. This wasn’t an easy task—crossing into the Lionheart Empire meant stepping into danger at every turn. Their lives would be at constant risk.

After a moment of silence, Kael stepped forward. “We’ll help,” he declared firmly. “It’s a disgrace that our Holy Son was captured by the Lionheart Empire. We’ll rescue him—and Princess Livia, too.”

“So, when do we leave for the Lionheart Empire?” Leina asked, her eyes lighting up with a mix of curiosity and excitement. Finally, they were getting a chance to leave the palace and experience the wonders of this magical world firsthand.

“How about right now?” Archbishop Gregor replied with a calm but urgent smile. “The carriages and attendants are already prepared. Everything is in place for the journey. We’re ready to depart.”

He had no intention of wasting time. The longer Arthur remained imprisoned in that wretched place, the greater the insult to the Holy Church.

Kael turned to his friends, his expression serious. “What do you think? Should we go with him now?”

“I say yes,” Amara spoke up without hesitation. Her voice was steady and confident. “None of us want to keep enduring that harsh training. We deserve a break—and this is the perfect opportunity.”

Her words struck a chord with the others, and one by one, they nodded in agreement.

Kael smiled and turned back to Archbishop Gregor. “We’ll leave today. We just need a few minutes to pack our personal belongings.”

“Excellent,” the Archbishop said, clearly pleased. “I’ll wait for you at the palace gates. Don’t be late—we’re already short on time.”

With that, Archbishop Gregor left the chamber and made his way toward his personal carriage. It was a luxurious vessel, fitted with every magical comfort he required. The air inside was temperature-controlled with enchanted runes, allowing him to rest in calm serenity.

A short while later, Kael and the other Heroes arrived, each carrying a small pack. Their eyes sparkled with excitement—their first real adventure since being summoned to this world was about to begin.

They boarded the grand carriage, taking their seats as servants scurried to ensure their comfort.

Soon, the carriage pulled away from the Imperial Palace of the Holy Light Empire, rolling down the polished streets of the capital. Its ornate design and magical enchantments drew curious stares from the citizens, who whispered excitedly—knowing the summoned Heroes were finally on the move.

Their journey had begun.

“Look! It’s the Heroes! They’re going somewhere!”

“That’s right! They really are the Heroes summoned from another world!”

“This is the first time they’ve come out since their arrival!”

Excitement buzzed through the crowd as the citizens gathered on either side of the street, cheering and pointing toward the luxurious carriage making its way through the capital. They hailed the Heroes as saviors—champions destined to drive out the darkness and restore light to their world.

—

“Has Archbishop Gregor departed for the Lionheart Empire yet?”

The Pope spoke calmly, eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the priest before him. The room radiated holy light, yet the presence emanating from the Pope was anything but gentle—it was immense, commanding, and unreadable.

“Yes, Your Holiness! They left the city just moments ago. From what I’ve heard, the Heroes were quite eager to save our Holy Son Arthur,” the priest answered with enthusiasm and reverence.

“I see… Good. This works in our favor,” the Pope murmured, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “This will be the perfect opportunity to crush the Lionheart Empire… and make them crawl to us in shame.”

With a flick of his hand, he dismissed the priest.

Bowing respectfully, the priest turned and exited in silence, leaving the Pope alone in the glowing chamber.

—

“Uncle Jones, I’m going to visit my big sister and nephew. I need to let them know we’ll be leaving in four days.”

Aisha’s tone was light, almost musical, as she called out before stepping out of her villa. Her destination—Valeria’s mansion—was just a few minutes away, and the thought of seeing her family again made her steps quick and cheerful.

Just imagining her handsome nephew greeting her with one of his warm, tight hugs sent a thrill through her body. Her cheeks flushed, and she paused for a moment, biting her lip.

“Mmh… I’m getting wet just thinking about his hugs… fufufu~” she whispered to herself with a breathy giggle, a playful glint in her eyes and a seductive smile curling on her lips.

With that, Aisha left the villa, her heart fluttering in anticipation.