Chapter 245 : Chapter 245

Chapter 245

"Valhalla."

Tatia ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍spoke the name of the barren domain.

"It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is a name that suits someone who seeks to raise a family through the sword."

"......"

For ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a moment, Tatia's and Claudio's gazes collided.

Then ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍her eyes turned toward Simon Eurasia.

"Release the domain."

"If this man does not show hostility."

Simon spoke without taking his eyes off Claudio.

"That is troublesome."

Tatia looked around her office, which had transformed into a wasteland.

She wanted to restore the space herself using an Authority, but like Claudio, she could not manifest Divine Power.

'It would not be impossible if I used a Divine Object, but...'

But that would shake the space across the area.

If even the Holy Knight Order came rushing in, the matter would grow larger.

Things would turn unfavorable in many ways for an outsider, even if she and the Cardinal were one matter.

'Why would someone who understands that do something so reckless...?'

Claudio de Cronis.

Simon Eurasia.

The two men she knew were rational in temperament. Their words and actions were somewhat blunt, but she held a certain respect for their upright natures and insight.

So why were they both doing something so reckless?

It was difficult for her to understand.

Even so, they could not maintain the current situation forever.

"Claudio."

"You are not trying to tell me to obey an intruder, are you?"

"Do you intend to make this matter worse?"

"That would not be bad, either. The Imperial spies within the Papal Office will become interested in Eurasia, after all."

Despite the sarcastic words, that was not a good situation for Claudio, either.

For years, he had searched for the silver-haired knight, but he had yet to find anyone showing greater potential than Simon Eurasia.

Then why was he putting on such bravado?

It was likely because the emotion boiling in his chest had overcome reason.

"Even a Cardinal who emphasizes a god's will is human."

At Simon's mockery, Claudio's hostility intensified.

"Simon. Do not make the situation difficult with needless provocation."

"If you took it as provocation, I apologize."

"......"

With a sigh, Tatia called the Cardinal's name.

"Claudio. I am sorry I deceived you."

She knew that he had turned a blind eye even after realizing what she had done in secret.

He had not come to rebuke her, nor had he restricted her actions.

In some sense, she had known his character and taken advantage of it.

"I judged that the eastern frontier needed the priests' strength."

"If you had told me the truth, I would have helped."

"Can you swear that before the God of Truth and Reality?"

Tatia asked with a resolute face.

"......"

He was at a loss for words.

The strange feeling he had toward Simon Eurasia.

Tatia's feelings, subtly different from those she showed Claudio.

Only now did he think he understood the source of that unpleasant emotion boiling within him whenever he faced her.

'Jealousy.'

Using Authorities to look into the future, he had lived a smooth life, avoiding realities that were unfavorable to him.

He had thought that all he wanted now was to change the reality in which he had to watch the Empire's oppression.

'No.'

He wanted the woman Tatia de Veritas.

Even knowing it was a relationship that could not be realized, he desired her.

His thoughts had become so tangled that he seemed to have been lost in them for a while.

"Claudio de Cronis."

Tatia was calling his name.

Though he was normally calmer than anyone, for some reason he could not control his emotions now.

"A Cardinal has suffered blasphemy within the Papal Office. I should at least find out what gives you the nerve to act this way."

He still had several Divine Objects left that he had not awakened.

Even if he had to risk backlash, he intended to force the matter.

At that resolute stance, Tatia looked at Simon this time.

"Simon. If you commit any further rudeness in my space, I will not forgive you. I will help Cardinal Claudio bring you to your knees."

"......"

Simon silently looked at her, then sheathed his sword.

The domain made of gray mana was released.

At the same time, Claudio's and Tatia's Authorities returned.

FWOOSH!

Divine Power was about to surge once more from Claudio's body, synchronized with a Divine Object.

WOOOOOSH.

Divine Power also billowed from Tatia's body.

That power did not fall behind Claudio's.

"From now on, I will not permit anyone to use power in my room."

She looked at Claudio, whose Divine Power had yet to subside.

"Leave. I will come explain myself to you later."

"Tatia."

"Now."

At her firm order to leave, Claudio swallowed his miserable feelings and went out.

Only then did she look at Simon.

"That was foolish behavior."

"I do not think it was foolish behavior."

"The Papal Office has many eyes. Perhaps someone has already heard about what happened today."

"If you worry so much about other people's eyes, you will be unable to do anything."

"One who holds a great ambition must also consider preserving their own body. Did you not say you had many things to do?"

"That is..."

"And."

"......"

"I told you to use honorifics."

Tatia added sharply.

Simon subtly avoided her eyes.

"I will try... to do so."

"You do not look as though you intend to try."

The two exchanged strange looks.

Simon was the one who broke the chilly atmosphere.

"I came all the way here to thank you for moving Pantera Temple."

He said that thanks to her, he had become the head of the family.

"If there is something you want, say it. I will repay you in Eurasia's name."

"I did not help you for such personal reasons."

She merely hated seeing innocent blood spilled.

It was only that he had the ability to prevent it.

The head of a family fallen from a kingdom.

"The road before you will be difficult."

He might die in a conflict with an ambitious frontier family, or be murdered after drawing the Empire's eye while traveling the continent as a knight.

"In the name of Veritas, I pray that truth will reside in your path of the sword."

"I am an atheist."

"That is not something to say before a person called a Saintess. And you are casually dropping honorifics again—"

"How long do you intend to remain trapped in a birdcage?"

Simon's tone grew even more provocative.

"Until the end..."

"Come by Eurasia sometime."

Simon interrupted her and grinned.

"I will personally show you what true freedom is."

With those words, Simon departed.

Left alone, Tatia quietly mulled over his words.

"True freedom."

Until then, no one had said such a thing to her, a person who symbolized truth and reality.

"I am curious."

***

After the clash in Tatia's office, Claudio steadied his mind.

It was a time when tension spread among the College of Cardinals as the Pope's health steadily worsened.

'This is an important time. I must keep myself sharp, all the more so now.'

He spent his time busily. He met people and worked to solidify his base of support, studied the fusion involved in Divine Object Synchronization when he could, and did not neglect to gauge the Empire's movements.

Around that time, he did not especially meet Tatia except when necessary.

Reports steadily piled up about her pilgrimage schedule, which included the eastern frontier, and Simon Eurasia, who had begun making a name for himself as a knight.

None of it mattered.

They were merely being faithful to their respective lives.

'Time is not infinite.'

If Simon Eurasia truly was the knight from the oracle, he too needed to prepare to make the oracle a reality.

'Tatia, too, is one who fulfills an oracle.'

She would not be foolish enough to do something stupid.

That was mistaken.

Several years later, Tatia came to his office.

"I think I am with child."

She spoke with a slightly stiff smile.

"What...?"

The Holy Nation prohibited the marriage and pregnancy of priests and Divine Maidens.

In particular, a Divine Maiden's Divine Power was halved upon giving birth, and her very life was consumed.

That was the fate of those chosen by gods.

That went without saying for Saintess Tatia, who possessed Divine Power no less strong than Claudio's.

If Tatia, who possessed Apostle-class Divine Power, gave birth to a child—

'She will die.'

Did she properly understand that his words led straight to death?

"How did this happen?"

"......"

Tatia did not answer the question.

There was no need to ask whose child it was.

He simply warned her.

"You will die."

"Even so, I intend to give birth."

"Why in the world are you doing this?"

Claudio let out the breath he had been holding.

"You, too, are a god's Apostle."

Someone who could follow a god's will and change the world.

A partner who could understand and help him better than anyone.

"There is something in the oracle that I have not told you."

"What...?"

"I cannot tell you what it is."

"You are doing as you please."

She still kept him at a distance.

"You cannot even explain it properly... Why did you come to me?"

"I need your help to give birth to the child."

"That sounds like you are asking me to help you die. Do my feelings not matter to you at all?"

"I am sorry."

She did not deny it.

Anger surged within him.

"Simon Eurasia. What the hell is that man doing?"

"He does not know anything."

Tatia did not say much.

She did not seem to intend to explain the oracle, either.

"Ha... Damn it."

The curse slipped out before he knew it.

He had never seen the current situation in his future sight.

He could not refuse her request.

And she knew that fact all too well.

Then—

"Prepare for a pilgrimage."

A future in which no one failed.

"You will not be able to return here ever again."

The only choice was to create the best possible situation through their own choices.

As he who had received time's blessing had always done.

***

He arranged a grand pilgrimage event.

While the pilgrimage was under way, he spirited her away to the Temple of Time.

The Holy Nation was thrown into an uproar by the Saintess's sudden disappearance.

"This is blasphemy against the God Veritas!"

Those who slandered her appeared.

"Judging from her deeds, she must have received some divine revelation."

Those who protected her appeared.

Strict moral standards were wielded against her.

While she was torn apart and sewn back together in people's words, Claudio sent someone to the Temple of Time.

Holy Knight Gasli de Bellium.

An Apostle of God Bellium and a comrade who shared his purpose.

He asked him to protect Tatia.

"Since you say there was an oracle, I will comply."

"Thank you."

The Temple's Chief Priest secretly prepared a place, and on the night the midwife visited—

A boy was born.

It was a tumultuous time, with the Saintess missing and the Pope's health worsening.

When Claudio secretly visited the temple, the child had already been sent somewhere.

"You still do not trust me."

"I... trust you......"

Her breathing was faint.

He sensed that Tatia did not have much life left.

"I do not intend to let you go yet."

He arranged the Divine Objects he had brought around her.

Nine Divine Objects absorbed Divine Power and dominated the surrounding area.

He expended all the Divine Power he had gathered for several months for this day.

Her time stopped.

His time continued to flow.

Wrinkles increased on his face, and by the time his fame had spread across the continent, he had become Pope.

But—

"......"

The woman he had wanted by his side no longer existed.