Chapter 243 : Chapter 243

Chapter 243

"Did ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍you deceive me?"

Tial ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Salamander pushed Orchid Owl away and glared at her.

"I ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍never deceived you~"

Her ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍expression was as bright as ever.

"......"

Tial ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Salamander looked at Crimson Wolf and Killian.

Then, suddenly—

SHWISH.

He vanished.

Though sunlight filled the room and made everything bright, he had completely concealed his presence.

"Not bad."

Not even a trace of mana remained to be sensed.

'Is his stealth greater even than Crimson Wolf's or Orchid Owl's?'

The Babylon Kingdom, located in the center of the continent.

It was one of the five foremost kingdoms even among the Empire's vassal states, and Tial Salamander was the head of Bacardi, which controlled the information of such a place.

'A Walker who has mastered 7-Star. At minimum, he is on the same level as Crimson Wolf and Orchid Owl before they lost their ranks.'

He was likely one of the ten greatest Walkers on the continent.

As befitted people who did not readily reveal their identities, it was not easy to meet them.

Even the face he had just shown was highly likely to have been a disguise.

'I should thank Orchid Owl.'

If not for her, he would not have had a chance to verify the man's ability himself.

THUD.

"......"

The space trembled with the sound of something colliding.

"Ah, I forgot to mention that I put up a Barrier around the area."

No one could enter or leave without his permission.

"I used Divine Power rather than mana, so cutting the lines will not be easy, either."

He told him that as though doing him a favor.

Using Divine Power meant that he had forged Hollyheart.

"My lord, you have grown again."

Crimson Wolf nodded with an admiring gaze.

"Master~ You're amazing!!"

Orchid Owl laughed merrily and praised Killian when—

SWISH.

A blade was held to Killian's throat.

"Release the Barrier."

It was a dry voice without the slightest emotion.

Had the sword been aimed at an ordinary 7-Star, it would have sounded like the voice of the Grim Reaper.

"It seems you did not understand what I said."

TAP.

Killian pushed the blade away with his index finger.

FWOOSH.

Divine Power clung to the blade as though flames had flared to life.

"......!!"

It instantly spread to the mana that had concealed Tial Salamander's body, dispelling his stealth.

"I mean that in this place, even swinging a sword requires my permission."

GRRRK.

The sword he belatedly swung appeared to have been stopped by something.

THOOM. THUD.

Materialized Barriers closed in around Tial Salamander on every side.

Above and below as well.

Every possible escape route was blocked.

Tial Salamander's eyes turned turquoise with mana as he sought to cut the lines forming the Barrier.

CLANG—!

It was an attack that could gravely wound even a 7-Star knight if it caught them by surprise.

Yet the Barrier did not suffer the slightest scratch.

'What kind of monster is he?'

Only then did he realize that Killian's skill far surpassed his own.

"Let us talk."

"What...?"

"I know you have a technique you are keeping hidden."

"......"

"Use it after we have talked, if you do not like what you hear."

Without waiting for an answer, Killian released the Barrier.

"......"

Tial Salamander's gaze moved to Killian's empty hand.

Come to think of it, he had not even drawn his sword.

'A complete defeat.'

Killian sat down first and jerked his chin toward the chair across from him.

"Sit."

"......"

Tial looked around the room once more.

The Divine Power that had blocked off the room moments ago had vanished.

'Does he believe he can stop me whenever he wishes?'

It was closer to confidence than arrogance.

He slowly sat in the chair opposite Killian.

"This is a familiar sight to me as well."

Crimson Wolf muttered, reminded of a moment at Hennessy.

Tial Salamander gave a light snort.

"Stupid wolf. Do not compare me to the likes of you."

WHOOSH.

The sword Tial threw flew toward Crimson Wolf's throat.

With his body still incomplete, it was not a speed he could react to.

CLANG—!

The sword rebounded off a Barrier and rolled across the floor.

As though it were the result he had expected, Tial looked at Killian.

"You use an Authority, yet you do not even recite a sacred formula. How does someone who is not a Holy Knight use this much Divine Power?"

"I was named an Apostle, as it happened."

As though being an 8-Star knight were not enough, he was an Apostle appointed by a god.

He was someone Tial would never have believed in had he not seen him himself.

"What are you?"

"You know that I am Killian Eurasia."

"That is not what I am asking......"

"I will answer that question after we are on the same side."

Killian looked at him with an impassive face.

"Tial Salamander, head of Bacardi, which holds the information of the central continent."

Killian's voice was low and resolute.

"Eurasia intends to bring down the Empire. To do that, we need information from the center."

Tap, tap.

Killian tapped the desk with his fingers.

Tial gave a brief laugh.

"It is not unpleasant to be recognized as capable. But......"

He set his sword on the table.

"There is no reason to risk my life and join hands with you now."

For Bacardi, maintaining its current position was more beneficial than becoming hostile to the Empire.

'Whatever proposal he makes......'

"I will make you an offer you cannot refuse."

"......"

In an instant, a Barrier rose around Tial and Killian.

"A Barrier can be used in many different ways."

Only then did he realize that it had cut off sound.

Killian's lips moved.

"......"

Tial's expression stiffened.

As though weighing the gravity of the words, he silently stared at Killian.

"Well?"

"You said it was an offer I could not refuse......"

His incredulous reaction lasted only a moment.

Conviction appeared in his eyes.

"I accept."

"Wise."

The Barrier was released, and Tial, sheathing his sword, rose from his seat.

"If you break your promise......"

Killian raised his hand and stopped him.

"There is no need to worry. A promise made upon one's rank will certainly be kept."

An 8-Star knight had staked his rank.

That alone was answer enough.

"I will deliver the information to Orchid as I have been doing."

"As you find convenient."

SHWISH.

The large Walker disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"In the end, that fellow took my lord's hand as well."

"It is good that you two are getting along~"

'For the time being, I should watch him through Crimson and Orchid.'

As various thoughts and calculations tangled in each person's heart, time passed.

***

In a room gently permeated by holy light.

Pope Claudio de Cronis leaned back in his chair and looked at Lan.

"You worked hard on your journey."

Instead of her usual calmness, her expression held curiosity and a touch of tension.

"I have repaid my debt to Killian Eurasia."

"I see."

Lan nodded and ran her fingers over the fan she held.

Her attitude still showed that she was waiting for him to continue.

"It seems there is something else you are curious about."

"......"

"What is it?"

"What exactly is the relationship between Saintess Tatia and Simon Eurasia?"

The Pope's eyes narrowed.

"Yes. You happen to have a Divine Object."

After pausing for a moment, he slowly raised his hand and grasped his own Divine Object.

"Would you like to see?"

"If you permit it."

Light bloomed from his fingertips.

The Authorities of Time and Boundary overlapped.

GRIND. CLICK.

With the sound of gears meshing, Claudio appeared decades younger.

"It is an embarrassing memory."

Along with his voice—

The memories of a man before he became Pope began to move.

***

Claudio de Cronis.

An Apostle of the god Cronis, who had received a revelation from Cronis and become a Chief Priest at a young age.

His path ahead was smooth.

He had been granted the right to use Holy Objects and Divine Objects early on, and he performed countless miracles. Some even called him the reincarnation of a god, because he seemed to see the future.

And there was someone who enjoyed a position similar to his.

Tatia de Veritas.

The Saintess blessed by Veritas, the God of Truth and Reality.

She had devoted her life to protecting justice and truth. And Claudio had supported her so that she, more devout than anyone, would not tire.

Their bond had deepened after he became a Cardinal belonging to the Papal Office, and she had stood out from childhood.

Devotion and wisdom.

His achievements at the Temple of Time made Claudio a leading candidate for the next Pope, and he remained in the Papal Office as the Pope's eyes and ears.

In doing so, he saw that the reality of the Holy Nation was far from easy.

The king wished to wield power in place of the Pope and secretly exchanged with the Empire.

At that time, the Empire was sweeping over the continent like a war machine run wild.

It started wars under pretexts such as a kingdom failing to participate in monster subjugation or trying to spread heresy.

A single kingdom had no power to withstand the Empire's might, and Imperial soldiers plundered villages and burned fields.

Trembling in fear, the people prayed that the Holy Nation would stop the Empire.

But the Holy Nation's leadership was powerless.

The Pope whom Claudio served was a moderate.

He wanted peace through diplomacy and dialogue.

But before the Empire's greed and ambition, such idealism was merely pretty rhetoric.

The Holy Nation failed to properly check the Empire's evils, and as a result, the people of countless kingdoms had to suffer.

"The Empire is in the wrong."

No one could bring themselves to say that.

Claudio was no exception.

He knew that Imperial spies also roamed the Papal Office.

'I must build strength.'

It would not be too late to reveal it then.

No, it must not be too late.

From then on, he began preparing to become the next Pope.

He planned to become Pope and raise the declining Holy Nation back up with Tatia.

One day, the God of Time delivered an oracle to Claudio.

Cronis's oracles always came with visions that showed the future.

Within the oracle, Claudio saw the Boundary in the north of the continent collapse.

Radiance swept across the world because of it. Radiance swallowed everything, while the mountain monsters seized the opening and trampled the entire continent.

Just as he thought nothing remained—

A man appeared amid the chaos.

The silver-haired knight raised his sword alone.

His sword cut through Radiance and held back the mountain monsters.

"A silver-haired knight."

Silver hair was a rare color, and finding someone with it across the entire continent was by no means easy.

Besides, what he had just seen was surely the future.

He could not even be certain that the silver-haired knight had yet reached the realm of a Superhuman.

Striving not to forget the man from his dream, Claudio went to find Tatia. He intended to tell her about the oracle and ask for her thoughts.

When he entered the temple where Tatia was, she was conversing with a man.

A man wrapped in a shabby robe.

His clothes were threadbare, but they could not conceal his presence.

'A presence powerful enough to overwhelm a Cardinal... Is he a knight of Superhuman rank?'

There was no harm in knowing him.

The man gave him a look as though asking Tatia for an introduction.

"This is Claudio de Cronis, a Cardinal directly under the Papal Office."

At Tatia's introduction, he gave a formal nod.

"I have long heard of your reputation."

The man respectfully greeted him as he removed his robe.

Silver hair caught Claudio's eye.

"......"

Claudio's eyes trembled faintly.

"I am Simon Eurasia."

The man from the oracle stood before him.