LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 13.2
“It’s better to be in a labyrinth. Five of them went mad and died.”
…No, really!
Why do all these strongest knights die from such things! Dying!
Not as bad as the pope, but having to share a meal with an old enemy, what a humiliating situation.
But, well, it was okay in fact.
Even if it was an old enemy, they just fought because of their positions as the Demon King and God’s representative.
The word ‘total devastation’ fit better with the pope, and ‘resentment and affection’ fit better with the Saintess.
Would they have got along if it wasn’t for fate?
So, as the Skeleton King, there was only one person he needed to avoid.
The last one he saw, the 81st Saintess.
The strongest Saintess, Melissa, who was able to use even the power of the Holy Dragon, threatened even the Skeleton King’s life.
She clashed the most, and had the longest relationship.
‘But I haven’t seen her for at least 50 years.’
He hasn’t checked what time it is now. But if he adds the age of her when he last met her and the time he was sealed…
“The Skeleton King has been sealed for 150 years. In the meantime, the power of the demons has grown, and the Saint is an important opportunity for the Holy Empire to regain its power. A precious asset to the imperial family.”
Alright, a total of 200 years!
Melissa, she must be dead now.
If she’s alive, she’s already a zombie.
“And now there’s no Saintess in Eshua. After giving birth to that child, she’s gone missing with her husband.”
Right, that’s right!
The family has no Saintess!
They said she disappeared after giving birth to me!
So I can take over this family even more easily… no, wait.
The ones missing now are my parents!
The Skeleton King rubbed his aching head.
Only then did he realize why he was neglected.
‘So they were late coming to find me because I was an orphan?’
Well, that’s good.
His abilities are good, the family is good, among the diamond spoons this is an imperial spoon.
Everything was in a good situation.
Being an infant without a guardian is a bit of a disadvantage, but it’s fine.
A nanny would usually take care of a noble child, and it’s easier for servants to move than a poorly connected blood relative.
The problem is that he needed a powerful ally to protect him from the Pope…
“Even if the child’s parents are gone, the Madam is there. The child can be sufficiently protected by Eshua, both externally and internally, from the Pope and the Demon King.”
Yes, there’s a Madam instead of a Saintess.
Then it didn’t matter.
As long as someone could check the Pope, it wouldn’t matter…
“But didn’t Melissa go to subdue the underlings of the Skeleton King? It seems like it will take quite a while for her to return.”
Right, Melissa is subduing my underlings…
Wait a minute.
Who?
Melissa?
“Madam was the Saintess who fought the Skeleton King for the last time and was the most powerful Saintess. She wouldn’t take long to handle such matters. I’m sure Madam is also looking forward to her grandchildren.”
The Skeleton King, who found out about the Madam’s identity, almost spat blood.
No, Melissa!
Why are you still alive!
‘If you are a human, conscientiously return to nature, please!’
It was not something the Skeleton King, who had been troubled for hundreds of years, should say, but the important point was not that.
‘Damn it, if I get caught, I’ll immediately become dead.’
As the Skeleton King’s face rotted inward, the Emperor spoke with an interesting look in his eyes.
“How about this? The imperial family will take care of the child until the perpetrator who hurt the parents is identified. Wouldn’t Melissa also be able to finish her family’s mission with ease?”
The knights of Eshua all had choked-up expressions on their faces.
It was a natural reaction since they could only interpret it as not trusting the knights of Eshua.
Reading that reaction, the Emperor spoke with a smile.
“I don’t mean to insult Eshua paladins. Let’s do what each of us can do better for the common goal.”
The common goal.
He was referring to the Pope and the Papacy.
As Eshua, they would hate the Papacy that treats them as just a lucky charm, and the imperial family would want to suppress the power of the annoying Pope.
The Eshua family, far from politics, were to continue their work of protecting the border and exorcising demons.
That it would benefit both parties.
“The imperial family can give much to this child. Isn’t Eshua a family that produces Saints? How about entrusting the boy to the imperial family? I think we would be more specialized in raising a boy.”
At that, they bit their lips tightly and bowed their heads.
“Your Majesty, if it isn’t too audacious, may I speak?”
“What is it?”
“Indeed, the main mission of Eshua’s knights is to escort the Saint, but before that, they are exorcists who specialize in removing demons. They are also a squad that fights on the front line where demons occur in the Empire.”
The eyes of Eshua’s knights, who put their luck aside, shone calmly.
“Wouldn’t Eshua be the place in the Holy Empire with no equal when it comes to exorcism? We are confident that we can protect the young master as the forefront sword defending the Empire, and give him what he needs most.”
The Emperor was interested in the sharp look in their eyes.
“What the boy needs most.”
The knight nodded as if agreeing with their words and spoke confidently with a smile.
“Your Majesty, what you can give to that child would probably be silk, a castle, gold bars, land and other things. Of course, wealth is good. But Eshua can give something precious that can’t be exchanged for money. Honor and a spirit of challenge that cannot be exchanged even for life. And an indomitable spirit…”
But it was then.
The knight seemed surprised as if he had seen something.
The Skeleton King, who had escaped from the cradle, was crawling towards the Emperor.
The startled knights looked alternately at the cradle and the child.
“Y-Young master?”
It was questionable how he escaped from the cradle, but the place where the Skeleton King was heading!
Snap!
The Skeleton King, who had crawled to the Emperor, caught the Emperor’s ankle with his little hand.
Soon the Emperor saw the Skeleton King hitting his legs and asking to be hugged, and was very pleased.
“Oh! So, you’re coming to us!”
“Young master?!”
The knights of Eshua were so surprised they tried to grab the Skeleton King.
As if it’s not right to go in this situation, as if to hurry this way, they couldn’t utter the words and only desperately gestured in the air.
“Young master, this way, this way! Peek-a-boo!”
Although the sound of attracting attention with a small voice continued, the Skeleton King, who was hugged by the Emperor, casually turned his head.
Yeah, I don’t need you guys.
I just want to be an imperial guest, peek-a-boo.
“Y-Young Master! Please come here quickly!”
No, you guys.
Are you the military?
Damn, honor and indomitable challenge can freeze to death.
The Skeleton King, who was tightly hugged by the Emperor, didn’t even pretend to hear them.