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The hero rides through the ages.

There has never been a person who was a hero from birth. It’s not education or training that makes a hero, but the world itself.

A world chaotic, disorderly, and rampant with violence.

Amidst the tumult of that hellish scene, those who survive and seize opportunities inscribe their names in history.

Legendary generals who lead wars to victory.

[…At the peak of the Naroda Mountain Range, a flag flutters on a mountaintop that hasn’t dried of blood for the past five years! Commander Mikhail, the leader of the Northern conflict, looks towards the frozen lands in the North from atop the fluttering flag. Thus, the long border conflict comes to an end, and an era of peace has arrived!]

Pioneers setting out on a new path, shedding the veil of the unknown.

[…Under the strict surveillance of the elite guards, a lavish carriage leaves the main gate of the Imperial Palace. According to reports from the press, the owner of that carriage is none other than Alexandra Smirnov, the Duke of the North. We’ll connect you to our reporter on-site for an exclusive report.]

A hero who ignites a flame by burning themselves in the darkest of times.

[…On the 23rd of this month, an award ceremony was held at the Imperial Palace. Numerous representatives from the Imperial Ministry of Defense, who participated in the Empire-Magic Realm dispute, attended the ceremony. Among the commanders of the military, three figures stood out for their involvement in the Northern conflict.]

[…This morning, the Kien Empire government awarded Colonel Frederick Nostrim with the Friendship Medal. This medal is given to diplomats who work to promote diplomatic relations between the two countries, and it is said that there has never been a case of it being awarded to diplomats below the ambassador level. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the medal was awarded to honor Colonel Frederick’s contributions to resolving the conflict.]

A great leader who ended the tumultuous times.

[…The Holy See awarded Saint Veronica and four others the Saintly Order of the Holy Tomb. The Saintly Order of the Holy Tomb is known as the highest honor bestowed by the Holy See. It is reported that Saint Veronica has received a total of three medals including this one.]

[However, there are ripples in the religious community regarding the lack of disclosure of the list of award recipients and the reasons for the awards. Some are speculating whether something grave has happened in the Empire concerning Saint Veronica’s involvement in the Northern conflict—]

Click.

The radio turns off, and the noise dissipates. The silence filling the empty audio is so heavy that even the sound of a needle dropping can be vividly heard.

As I swept my heavy eyelids with my hand, I tossed the passport engraved with the Abas emblem onto the bed.

“…Yes. Just checked in. I took a quick nap at the embassy. I’ll confirm the schedule and report back as soon as breakfast is over.”

Turning off the secure terminal with the communication cut off, I grabbed a coffee and walked over to the window.

A misty street. Sunlight breaking through the clouds tickles my skin. The sound of birds chirping fades momentarily, replaced by white doves soaring into the sky through the hazy veil.

As the fog clears, the religious structures densely packed on the street reveal themselves.

As I gazed at the sun-drenched cathedral, I sipped my coffee and set the cup down.

Early morning. The street of the cult.

“…Hmm.”

It wasn’t a bad view at all.

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Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

Like the previous two weeks with Camila, the last two days flew by in a flash.

I darted between three nations: Abas, Kien, and the Magic Tower.

Thanks to the Warp Gate instead of airships or ships, the travel time was significantly reduced, but participating in state-level events left me exhausted in body and spirit.

And on the morning of the third day, finally today, I could have a proper rest for the first time in three days.

“Good morning!”

As I stepped out of the door towards the elevator, just as I rounded the corner, someone jumped out and startled me.

It was Camila.

“Did you sleep well?”

With a beaming smile, Camila greeted me, and I opened my mouth wide to respond.

“Kaaak….”

“Oh gosh, you scared me! Why are you making such weird sounds? You’ll scare people.”

A feeble whisper slipped from my raw throat.

“I feel like I’m dying….”

Abas, Kien Empire, the Magic Tower. I had zipped between three countries in just two days, aided by magical powers.

Anyone who loves traveling knows how tiring crossing borders can be. Navigating customs, exchanging currencies, arranging accommodations, and adapting to time differences all demand mental and physical effort.

And then there’s the added fatigue of managing Camila, whom I left in Abas, and picking up Francesca in the Magic Tower. I hardly crossed the borders just once, yet here I was, doing it multiple times. How tiring it must have been.

I sighed, brushing my darkened face.

“At my age, I used to climb mountains in the Middle East, battling warlords, and jet-setting from Europe to Africa, then immediately switching to flights to South America… But now in my late twenties, I just can’t do this anymore.”

Hearing this, Camila tilted her head in confusion.

“Isn’t it your thirties?”

“Shut up, Camila.”

Anyway, we had arrived at the cult after hopping through three nations in two days. And much had changed in that time.

Though listing everything would make my tongue sore, if I had to pick just one notable change, it would be the public’s view of us.

Camila had been a veiled existence until now.

She had revealed herself to the world last summer, but for almost half a year, Camila’s abilities remained shrouded in mystery.

This was a measure taken to protect her from external threats, but not everyone regarded such precaution positively. Thus, there had been intense speculation about Camila over the past six months.

There were rumors about her inability to use her powers properly, claims that she had some disability, accusations that she was being exploited by the Abas government…

Rumors surrounding Camila had proliferated like weeds in the military base mountains during the summer. No politician or celebrity dared to contest her.

As with all conspiracy theories, most were based on conjecture, but there were indeed a few rumors that approached the truth, such as the claim that Camila’s fainting episodes prevented her from using her abilities properly.

Of course, there were also baseless claims that she was being exploited by the Abas government. I wasn’t sure, but it sounded like utter nonsense. In any case, it was what it was.

However, following the recent Northern conflict, some doubts surrounding Camila had been partially resolved.

The imperial military’s morale officers, stationed on the frontline, diligently leaked reports of her exploits to the press (which was ostensibly a private media outlet but founded by an ex-military officer).

Thanks to their efforts, the world learned of Camila’s abilities that burned through over half of the Naroda Mountain Range.

“…Ahem.”

Just then, Camila cleared her throat and puffed out her chest.

At that moment, the large medal pinned to her chest glimmered under the light.

“What is it?”

“Can’t you see?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh come on! It’s the medal! The medal!”

“Oh, the medal….”

I mumbled with a deflated voice.

“Is that all? Right. Well, congratulations….”

“Yay…!”

Camila’s face flushed. It was less a shy expression and more the intimidating visage of a furious statue placed at a temple.

Regardless, I picked at my ear with a finger and huffed.

“What’s a medal worth? I have one too.”

The reason I brought Camila and Francesca to the Empire was for the award ceremony.

We received awards from the Empire’s government alongside brave participants and military commanders who had notable anecdotes during the Northern conflict.

The First-Class Knight Medal.

In other words, the Kien Empire Hero Medal.

It is the highest honor bestowed in the name of the Imperial Family, a prestigious award of the highest rank. As it is awarded in the Emperor’s name, it comes with numerous benefits and unparalleled status.

Unlike the honors distributed annually to military generals, the First-Class Knight Medal is bestowed only after a strict selection process.

And at this ceremony, the only recipients of the First-Class Knight Medal were Camila, Lucia, Francesca, and Commander Mikhail.

In response, Camila raised her voice, pointing towards her First-Class Knight Medal.

“I worked my bones off to earn this, and that’s all you have to say?!”

“Why do I care?”

I answered in a nonchalant tone.

While our group received the First-Class Knight Medal during this ceremony, I did not. Awarding a hero medal to an officer from the enemy nation would not look good, and I had heard of fierce debates within the Empire regarding that.

Of course, the same applied to Abas.

No matter how much our relations had improved to seek reconciliation, Kien Empire was still the largest adversary.

I had expected they’d give me a simple medal for diplomats, yet they unexpectedly offered the First-Class Medal, leaving things awkward for Abas.

In the end, before the ceremony, I declined the First-Class Knight Medal and agreed to accept the Friendship Medal, which would be awarded only to ambassadors from friendly nations.

“After all, it’s quite useless to me.”

Whether it was a First-Class Knight Medal or whatever. The reality was, I wouldn’t be using it. I had no interest in pension benefits or tax exemptions.

And I had already received two medals from the Abas government, so what use would another one serve?

“I’ve received plenty of other awards, too!”

“What kind of awards?”

“Um….”

Camila crossed her arms and pondered deeply.

“They told me they would give me a car, but I rejected it because I don’t know how to drive, and instead I received some rare gifts. The only one I remember is a watch.”

“A watch? Oh, that.”

I recalled the watch Camila had on her wrist just yesterday.

It was a luxurious watch engraved with the Kien Empire royal emblem. That was one of the items Camila had received as a gift along with the medal.

She seemed quite pleased as she wore it, flashing her smile, like she wanted to boast about it.

I replied with a rather unimpressed expression.

“That? I have plenty of watches at home. Just over ten or so.”

“What watches?”

“A special watch. They give them to those who report to the National Intelligence Service diligently.”

A special watch. It’s widely known that it’s distributed as gifts for those sent to the National Intelligence Service.

It bears the insignia of the National Intelligence Service and is considered a collector’s item, but I had just shoved mine in a corner and left it there.

“Why did you even receive that?”

“I worked on a few jobs with them while I was dispatched. They just handed it over as a gift. I mean, it’s a rare item on the internet, but it’s just a collectible they sell for money at souvenir shops, so I just kept it for show.”

“…….”

“I think I also got a watch from the Blue House once when I was awarded the Intelligence Director’s commendation. I’m not sure where that went.”

“I think I might have given this as a gift to my colleague…”

Lost in thought with a dull expression, Camila’s white hand suddenly appeared before my face.

Naturally curved fingers gripping like a golf ball, with the middle finger sharply extended.

Camila, who had created a sign language understood anywhere, murmured with a face that looked like she might cry.

“Here, have this…”

*

“……”

“……”

“Um, Colonel.”

“Yes, Saint.”

“Is it possible that the demon has appeared again?”

“No, what kind of demon would show up in the middle of the cult…”

“But why is there a bump on the hero’s head?”

“……”

The silence fell as Veronica’s voice trailed off, her question reflecting her confusion.

Camila silently consumed the breakfast provided by the hotel. The size of the bump that stuck out on her head glowed red under the light.

I, with a fist on my head pressed against a glass cup filled with ice, shrugged my shoulders and maintained my silence.

Veronica, alternating her gaze between Camila and me, seemed to sense something unusual in the atmosphere, cautiously speaking to Camila.

“Um, excuse me. Can I borrow the Colonel for a moment?”

“……”

“Um, uh….”

As Camila nibbled her food, she silently stared at Veronica. While I couldn’t see her expression, Veronica’s face soon answered it.

Receiving Camila’s gaze, Veronica, unusually flustered, jumped and immediately grabbed me, fleeing from the table.

“What’s with this? I’m trying to eat here. Don’t you know not to disturb someone while they eat?”

“Why’s the hero acting like that? That gaze sends chills down my spine…”

“I couldn’t care less.”

I naturally took out a cigarette and walked towards the smoking room.

Then, without any particular suspicion, I shot a calm question at the Veronica who had followed me.

“Why did you call for me?”

“I have some information about the canonization ceremony and the subsequent schedule.”

Veronica took out a mini cigar from her pocket as she struck a match to start our conversation.

“As the Colonel would know, the canonization ceremony and the coronation will happen sequentially with a slight gap.”

Lucia’s canonization and Raphael’s papal coronation will be held three days apart.

Three days including events before and after the canonization, three days including the coronation, and one day in between for rest and preparation.

In total, the cult plans to host a festival lasting a week to celebrate the birth of the new saint and pope.

And despite some scheduling differences among nations, for a week the leaders and ministers, including deputy ministers from various countries, will stay with the cult.

Veronica handed me the list of attendees.

“Let’s see…”

I mumbled with a hoarse voice as I leafed through the document drafted by the cult’s government.

“Over 50 people, including the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance from the Kingdom of Abas, the King and Queen along with the Crown Prince and Princess from the Lushan Federal Kingdom, and the Prime Minister-level official from the Mauritania Continent… Oh, it looks like the Republic of Patalia is sending the Vice President instead of the President.”

“Due to domestic schedules, they had no choice but to send the Vice President. You know the situation in the Mauritania Continent as well.”

“I do. They are at odds with the cult.”

Except for a few nations, the countries from the Mauritania Continent, which have a religious conflict, all decided to send lower-ranked delegates.

It’s common knowledge that in Mauritania, where theocracy is prevalent and religious leaders have significant influence, heads of state and governments may not respond to invitations.

Moreover, that religious leader is the ‘Duke’ and the current sole Archmage, the ‘Priest’, making it impossible for them to attend even if they wanted to.

Still, the fact that the Crown Prince or royal family members are attending seems like a gesture of courtesy.

Veronica commented, “That’s a clever maneuver.”

“Well, that much is true.”

If a powerful Archmage with a history of disputes with the cult was the religious leader, they wouldn’t attend the canonization and coronation. It’s not worth provoking a hundred-year-old beast.

Just as I was about to return to the document, I suddenly felt something off. I looked at Veronica.

“But the name from the Kien Empire isn’t on the list? What’s going on?”

“It’s normal for the Empire not to have any attendees.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I don’t have any.”

Veronica, with a mini cigar in her mouth, smiled as she lifted her empty hands.

“The list of Empire attendees is managed separately by the Pope, not by the clergymen of the Holy See.”

“Pope John XVI? Why would that old man manage something like that? Has this happened before?”

Veronica shook her head easily.

“They’ve never treated the Empire with special consideration. But for some reason, the Pope decided to manage the list of attendees for this canonization and coronation himself.”

The Pope directly managing the list, and specifically for the Empire.

I have no clue why. If the saint, Veronica, is unaware, that means no one apart from the pope knows.

As I exhaled a puff of smoke, I muttered, “Does that mean the Emperor is attending?”

“The Emperor? That old man isn’t bold enough to come here in person.”

“Why? Are there many people in the cult who dislike the Emperor?”

“Of course, that would be because of me.”

Veronica made a fierce expression, clenching her fists.

“When that old geezer shows his face, I plan to personally deal with him. He ruined my life; it’d be only fair for me to take care of him.”

“Oh my…”

I stepped back in surprise.

Having her face so close all of a sudden feels a little intimidating.

“Anyway!”

Now straddling the line between being a saint and a gangster, Veronica exhaled a mix of emotions with a sigh.

“The Emperor certainly won’t attend the canonization or the coronation. At most, the Crown Prince or some princesses will come.”

If a native insider from the Empire said that, it must be factual.

Having added the photos to the list and burned the paper, I prepared a report to collect missing information through the Empire’s branch.

*

Rising with a groggy body, I found the clock pointing to 10 o’clock.

I missed breakfast.

As I trudged outside to find something to eat, I spotted Francesca sitting in the lobby on the first floor.

“Francesca, what are you doing here?”

“I was just taking a break.”

In the luxurious hotel lobby, Francesca was reading a book.

It seemed fascinating, filled with strange symbols and formulas. Whenever her gaze lingered to the end of the page, the paper would naturally flip to the next.

I glanced around and aimed a question at Francesca.

“Have you seen any suspicious individuals?”

“I’m not sure what your standard for a suspicious person is. If the person you’re looking for is someone I know, I can only say that they left in a hurry due to being busy.”

That meant Veronica had returned to the Holy See.

With the canonization of Lucia approaching, it seems there’s an unimaginable amount of preparations to be made. It appears Veronica is also making various efforts for her cherished younger sister’s once-in-a-lifetime canonization.

“That playful one is actually working? I wonder if the sun will rise in the west tomorrow.”

Just then, I found an article about Veronica in the newspaper on the table, titled ‘The Young Girl Who Heard the Voice of an Angel.’ Whether it was poetic metaphor or fact, I had no idea. Maybe I should ask her about it later.

As I continued reading the newspaper, I took a seat across from Francesca.

As Francesca flicked through her book, the one hovering in the air neatly settled on the table.

Perhaps she had ordered a drink, as a staff member approached and placed coffee in front of her. When they asked if she needed anything else, I shook my head, indicating I didn’t need anything.

As the fragrant coffee aroma wafted through the air, I casually posed a question to Francesca.

“Are you really okay with this?”

“What do you mean?”

“With attending the canonization ceremony. I was wondering if anyone at the Magic Tower is causing issues.”

Francesca, sipping her coffee, responded resolutely.

“None.”

“……”

“If you are worried that people will gossip behind my back for attending the canonization ceremony, then I want you to put those worries aside. Such people haven’t existed up to now, and they won’t in the future either.”

“I hope it’s a baseless concern.”

As I muttered aimlessly, I heard the sound of glasses clinking near my ear.

Francesca, gently placing her glass down, looked at me with her chin resting on her hand.

Then, in a soft voice, she began to tell me something unknown.

“I think you should worry more about Saint Lucia than about me.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Earlier, a suspicious person told me that Saint Lucia has gone into seclusion right after meeting the Pope.”

“…What?!”

Lucia has gone into hiding?

“Tell me more. Why exactly is Lucia hiding?”

“I’m not entirely sure. I only heard this in passing…”

Francesca casually averted her gaze as she spoke.

“It seems there was a disagreement between the saint and the Pope.”

 

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