Chapter 217
Chapter 217: Did You Enjoy the Donation? (3)
As Bilaw observed the two individuals radiating a friendly atmosphere, he clicked his tongue inwardly.
“Tsk tsk… What on earth is going on? Why does Baron Penris come to me with such a request…?”
The rumors had spread so quickly that they had already reached the royal family. Discussions were underway about whether to recognize Porisco as a saint or verify him.
However, such discussions were swiftly dismissed by Marquis Branford.
― There’s no way such a greedy fellow could be a saint. Wasn’t it that the Penris Merchant Group distributed the food in Porisco’s name? Figure out what Ghislaine is up to.
With that one remark, everything was swept aside. What Bilaw had said until now was merely what Ghislaine had asked him to convey, nothing more.
Finding himself in a position where he had received a large quantity of food, he felt uneasy about refusing.
Bilaw shook his head slightly and said, “I will take my leave now. The royal family will soon send someone for formal discussions.”
Porisco snapped back to reality and nodded, sporting a saintly smile.
“Please do. I will be waiting.”
He purposely emitted even a minuscule amount of divine power, something he didn’t usually exert due to exhaustion.
A faint glow enveloped him. At first glance, it could almost pass as a holy old man.
Once Bilaw left, Porisco quickly checked if anyone was listening around him and then whispered to Ghislaine.
“If you keep the public opinion satisfied, I will grant your every wish. Since nothing has been formally discussed yet, the Archbishop will do everything he can to bury the rumors. We must distribute more food and take action.”
‘Once I solidify my position and gain strength, I’ll expel them somehow. Until then, act for my sake.’
Prioritizing overcoming the immediate crisis, Porisco spoke without hesitation.
His tone had completely shifted. He considered Ghislaine merely a trading partner.
Ghislaine grinned at Porisco’s suddenly changed demeanor.
“Of course, I’ll invest reliably. But you must grant me something I desire first, you know? I’ve already offered something.”
“Ah, right, one good deed deserves another, doesn’t it? You need a priest at Penris, don’t you?”
“Yes. I’ll set up a small temple, so please send Priest Piote first.”
“Oh, no, I can’t do that. I will send a much better and more experienced priest instead of someone as lowly as Piote.”
Porisco decided to go all out. Sending a decent priest wouldn’t be much of a hassle.
For the time being, keeping this guy satisfied would ensure his mouth stayed shut.
Ghislaine shook his head, laughing.
“No, I think Priest Piote would work better. However, I do have another request.”
“Another request?”
“As you mentioned, we need something that could serve as a token ‘between us,’ don’t we?”
“What? What other token could be needed? I’m offering you the priest you requested!”
“Please gift me a sacred relic. Include a signed document stating that the bishop gave it to me personally. I’ll go pick out something suitable myself.”
‘This crazy man…’
What is a sacred relic? They are the sacred, holy items left behind by saints throughout history.
The Sacred Relic Repository is off-limits to outsiders. Only someone like the king or Marquis Branford would have the authority, while even regular nobles couldn’t dream of getting a look.
And now this guy is asking for permission to go pick one out himself?
Sure, perhaps they could manage a viewing under the bishop’s authority. But if they found out a relic was missing, it wouldn’t be just a simple expulsion.
Not only the Juana Sect but other sects would also speak ill of him. He would be socially buried and perhaps even lose his life.
‘This bastard is really preparing to tighten the noose on me. What a foul fellow.’
The other party was a noble backed by the Crown Prince faction. If he has a signed document from Ghislaine, then even if it came to light that he possessed a relic, he could simply insist he received it as a gift. The only one getting the backlash would be the person who actually gave it away.
Porisco, catching on to Ghislaine’s intentions, feigned trouble.
“Sacred relics… even the Archbishop cannot carelessly touch them. No matter the nation, that’s a bit…”
“Then let’s consider it undone. I’ll head to the Archbishop now.”
‘Hey! You bastard!’
It made no sense. He threatens you if you don’t shake hands, and if you refuse to give him what he asks, he threatens your life.
It was the first time he had ever met someone like this. A true demon king.
If Hubert, the lord of the Tower of the Bloody Flame, had seen Porisco’s antics, he would’ve rolled on the floor laughing, saying, “So you got played too?”
Porisco bit his lip, sweating profusely.
“Stealing a sacred relic will eventually lead to your downfall. Are you asking me to commit suicide?”
“There are plenty of relics, right? Just one small and inconspicuous one as a token ‘between us.’”
“Ugh…”
He couldn’t deny it, as it was a valid point.
The Sacred Relic Repository had many relics due to its deep history.
Among them, some were rather useless, taking up space. Unless someone went out of their way to check, one might not even know they existed.
“Fine, but you have to make sure it’s really small and useless.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Ghislaine scoffed, following the annoyed Porisco.
The repository was discreetly hidden at the far end of the temple.
As they approached, the temple knights guarding the entrance bowed deeply to Porisco, treating him with a level of respect unlike before.
Rumors were circulating that Porisco was a saint, and they could no longer treat him with disdain.
‘Wow, just look at their eyes. They could have managed a bit better even on ordinary days.’
Seeing the awed expressions on the temple knights, Porisco felt a bit of his mood lifted with a smile. As his influence grew, the Archbishop’s standing would inevitably diminish.
Just then, as Porisco led Ghislaine into the repository, a temple knight cautiously blocked their way.
“Bishop, outsiders are not allowed to enter the repository. To enter, they must acquire permission from the Archbishop…”
“Whoa! Who dares to block my way right now!”
At Porisco’s booming voice, the temple knights flinched and took a step back.
“Do you not realize that this individual is with me, conducting a ‘revelation’ at this very moment? Does the Archbishop stand higher than Lady Juana? Do you truly wish to court divine retribution and suffer in the fires of hell?!”
Once the words ‘goddess’ and ‘revelation’ were mentioned, the temple knights had no grounds to stop them. Adding ‘divine retribution’ into the mix made it even more untenable.
As believers in the same deity, they were at a loss as to how to refuse him.
“Ah, understood. Please feel free to take a look around.”
“Hmph, let’s go. Baron Penris.”
Walking with a swaggering demeanor, Porisco appeared arrogant, while Ghislaine looked at him with an expression of admiration.
‘This guy… He’s more brazen than I expected.’
It was almost embarrassing how he flaunted himself to the point that even Ghislaine felt awkward for having stoked the flames to this extent. If someone like this seized power, he would undoubtedly become a wicked lord.
For a place that was difficult to gain entry to, the Sacred Relic Repository wasn’t much different from any ordinary treasure vault. The treasures related to the sect were categorized and stacked by grade.
Of course, not all of the Juana Sect’s relics were here. The Juana Sect existed not just in the theocracy but in several kingdoms.
This repository held only treasures related to the Ruthania Kingdom.
Ghislaine glanced around and nodded slightly.
‘Still, it is a kingdom with deep history, so there’s quite a collection. Now to find what I’m looking for.’
Then Porisco shut the repository’s door tightly and spoke urgently.
“Quickly choose! Never go for a first-grade relic. That would be immediately noticed. Opt for a third-grade relic instead.”
“Hmm, just a moment.”
Ghislaine hurriedly scanned the area and pointed at a robe hanging in the glass display at the center.
“What’s that?”
“That is the robe used by Saint Marteus 300 years ago and designated as a first-grade relic… No, that cannot do! It would definitely be caught! It’s displayed right out in the open!”
“Oh, yes.”
Ghislaine chuckled and then swaggered over to a corner.
Against a wall entirely covered by a long glass display, various items were arranged.
Sacred relics did not always possess extraordinary abilities. Most were treated as sacred due to their religious significance or historical value.
Items considered “sacred relics” with mighty divine powers were some of the rarest across the world.
But here, hidden away, was a true ‘relic’ no one knew about.
‘Found it.’
Ghislaine noticed a small ring lying in a corner of the glass display and smiled. It was a simple ring adorned with a single white gemstone.
Currently, no one knew its true worth; it was a relic with immense potential.
‘The blessing of Goddess Juana.’
While he was concurrently seeking a written proof of Porisco’s weakness, Ghislaine’s actual goal was this ring.
‘I never thought it would be stored like this.’
Even if divine power was infused or mana was injected, the ring showed no response. Thus, over time, it had been deemed a trivial item and carelessly stored away.
However, the true ability of this ring was to absorb a priest’s divine power in crisis situations to provide an immensely powerful shield.
In short, as long as divine power was permitted, it would act as ‘automatic defense’ without any need for consciousness.
In his past life, the discovery of this ability was accidental. A priest had stumbled upon it while fleeing a disaster, gathering artifacts when met with an unfortunate incident.
‘When thrown among monsters, it would huddle up, the utter definition of provocation.’
People would often use the priest as bait due to this trait. But regrettably, the priest, who lacked enough divine power, met an untimely end before he could be rescued.
‘It would be quite useful for Piote.’
While others could have Ghislaine teach them the Mana Circulation Method or provide skills to elevate their techniques, Piote had to advance on his own.
In his previous life, no one had ever been able to decipher the structure of divine power.
‘So, I’ll just equip him well.’
Originally, he had no plans to procure this right now. Eventually, there would be civil strife, and getting something like this lower-grade relic before its true value was revealed would be no trouble later.
However, seeing Piote’s divine power growing quickly, Ghislaine thought it might be better to obtain it sooner rather than later.
It was for Piote’s safety, but it also served a purpose.
‘He’ll be right up front during the disaster. That would surely provide a strong sense of security.’
There was no way he’d leave someone capable of becoming a powerful defensive to merely play a support role.
The ring’s defense was incomparably stronger than simple divine protection. With enough divine power, it could withstand a dragon’s step.
It would bestow an almost cockroach-like resilience.
Hand it over to him and toss him right in the middle of the enemy camp, and it would certainly provoke a wide area. Just thinking about it gave him a thrill.
‘Hmm, I think I might as well teach him some combat skills when I have the time. He’d be perfect as a vanguard in a charge, right? Fighting and healing at the same time. Heh, is there even a class for this? This is true knightly valor.’
Ghislaine considered thoughts that would make Piote gasp in horror without a hint of guilt.
As Ghislaine continued to examine the items lying in the corner, Porisco approached and asked,
“Have you chosen? Anything here should be suitable, they’re all third-grade relics.”
“That ring is small and unobtrusive, making it quite fitting. What’s that over there?”
“Where? Ah, what’s that doing here? What was it again?”
Porisco took out a book documenting the relics and flipped through it a few times before clicking his tongue.
“That is a relic left behind by a nun ages ago. Very few people would know that such a thing exists, so you’ve chosen quite well.”
Porisco was inwardly relieved.
‘At least it’s less burdensome. I don’t know why such a thing is designated as a relic, but it seems it was put here merely because it’s old.’
No one would be particularly interested in such a ring. He hadn’t even realized it was there, so unless someone checked the list thoroughly, he wouldn’t be caught.
Besides, since the temple was established, there had never been a comprehensive inspection of the relics in the repository.
Even if they were to investigate, it could easily be passed off as something small and inconsequential that had been lost long ago.
As long as the newcomer in front of them kept his mouth shut, nothing would come of it.
Porisco nodded readily, and Ghislaine smiled with satisfaction.
‘If this precious item is just rolling around in a corner of a storage room, wouldn’t it be far better to return it to its true owner?’
Even if he got caught later for having taken it, it wouldn’t matter. No one knew the ring’s actual value, so all he had to do was create a fake to return and it’d be all over.
“Alright. I’ll take that one. Thank you very much.”
The two carefully opened the glass case and tucked the ring away securely.
