LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 14.1
A prison in the eastern part of the Holy Empire, near the capital.
Cardinal Berit coldly scanned the inside of the prison.
Inside, a Bishop who had been interrogated and tortured by the imperial family was sobbing.
When ordered to deal with a brat of Eshua, as an incompetent fool he failed to do even that and tarnished the reputation of the Papacy.
“You’re useless to the very end. You not only got caught by the Emperor, but you also helped Eshua? Are you really a follower of Gold, or were you actually a follower of Blue?”
“N-no, that’s not true! I, I… Cough!”
“Don’t make excuses.”
A knight of light erupted from under the Cardinal’s foot with a golden glow.
The haughty and calm blade pointed at the Bishop, revealing no emotion.
“If that brat were to understand Eshua’s vision and become a Saint, that would certainly be interesting.”
“No, no! That child can absolutely not become a Saint! Because that kid is…!”
“A demon?”
Cardinal Berit slightly lifted the corner of his mouth.
“Are you expecting me to believe such nonsense now?”
His ridiculing smile contained a hint of contempt, as if looking at an insect.
The flustered Bishop desperately grabbed the Cardinal’s leg.
“You must believe me! If you save me here, I will…!”
“Sorry, but we’ve already confirmed that brat’s identity.”
“What!”
“A demon who can use holy power absolutely cannot exist in this world. Don’t you really know that your words are a direct insult to God and His Holiness the Pope?”
“That, that’s… Cough!!”
The Bishop fell down as his throat was cut.
Cardinal Berit turned his back, returning the spirit of light that had severed the Bishop’s throat.
“Dispose of this.”
A servant, who gave a small nod, swallowed hard while staring at the dead Bishop.
Eshua is one of the strongest houses capable of raising the only superhuman known as the Saintess.
It was the leader of the five houses that support the Holy Empire and also a ducal family that forms a dyad with the Papacy.
The fact that the Saintess’ child was going to their enemy, Eshua, was a major issue.
‘That brat could become our lord’s biggest enemy.’
A Saint had to come from Berit, the papal family. Any other must be eliminated without exception.
As if reading the servant’s anxious thoughts, the Cardinal turned around and spoke.
“It’s okay. The Emperor is likely to take that brat anyway. It just shouldn’t go to Eshua. If the brat ends up going to the imperial family, the Papacy will have a chance to meet him, and we can deal with him then.”
“Yes. I will prepare everything near the imperial family.”
“We can’t allow that brat to make further achievements.”
“Yes.”
If that brat continues to deal with the demons, he could be referred to as a Saint. Knowing this, the servant of the Papacy felt twisted inside.
Was his name Isaac?
Failed mission, sent a Bishop to his death, even using a holy magic that should still be impossible for him. What on earth is that brat doing?
But that ends here.
The loyal servant smiled.
The moment that child arrives at the imperial family, his life will come to an end.
* * *
Around that time.
The Skeleton King was headed not to the imperial family, but to Eshua.
Of course, it was absolutely not for the old and moldy reason of lineage.
A few days ago.
The Skeleton King, who had abandoned Eshua, who bragged about offering the most needed things like honor and indomitable spirit to the boy, and went to the Emperor, wasn’t pleased.
‘What? That kind of wealth is useless?’
You crazy people, isn’t it best to be able to offer silk, cities, gold bars, and land?
Isn’t that all that’s needed?
The Skeleton King clung to the Emperor like glue.
The Emperor was very pleased, and the people of the Eshua house were very baffled.
Even the uncle, who used to be confident, looked back and forth between the child and the Emperor, utterly baffled.
He read the Emperor’s mood in an instant.
Just as expected.
“Yo-Your Majesty. Naturally, I trust that you’ll do so, but I believe it is best to give the child… to his blood relatives.”
However, the Emperor, who happily held the clinging Skeleton King, raised the corner of his mouth craftily.
“Hmm. I would love to return him to his family, but shouldn’t we respect the child’s will? He’s young, but I want to respect him as an individual.”
“No… but.”
“Surely you, a member of Eshua’s board of directors and this child’s uncle, are not intending to suppress your nephew’s will? I didn’t think you were that kind of person.”
This damn Emperor?
Though he was acting modestly in front of the Emperor, the uncle’s clenched mouth seemed to say so.
However, when the uncle didn’t object, the knight commander of Eshua asked the uncle nervously.
“Are you really considering sending your nephew to the imperial family?”
“If it’s for the child, I think it might be better.”
“Excuse me?”
“We haven’t found the culprit who took his parents. They could target the baby as well.”
“But…”
“More than anything, it’s true that the imperial family has more to offer the child.”
“Sir…”
“From the beginning, our household only has the corpses of demons and magic cores. It’s not a good environment for raising a child either. The most precious thing we have would only be… the physical body of the Skeleton King.”
And then-
Thump.
“Huh?”
The Skeleton King, who was being held by the attendant, fell from his arms.
“Oh, baby?!”
The Skeleton King, crawling like a beetle, grabbed onto the leg of his uncle.
At this sight, the knights of Eshua couldn’t keep their mouths shut in astonishment. They thought the young master was going to leave for the imperial palace.
“Young master!”
“Are you coming to us!”
But the Skeleton King, who grabbed them, had his eyes wide open.
‘The body of the Skeleton King!’
You should have talked about that first, bastards!
Even though it was a whisper, it was loud enough for the Skeleton King, who created the magic core, to hear.
The Skeleton King’s body?
Shit!
My body!
My body, which I carefully raised by tricking the young dragons and devouring their magic power!
‘If I only had my original body, a 10th rank would be nothing.’
Higher-ranking demons not only have magic cores, but their bodies are also filled with magic.
The deeper the magical lineage, the more magic is absorbed throughout the body.
Even a piece of muscle, a piece of bone, is filled with considerable magic, but the body of the Demon King?
Does that compare to soybean milk or magic cores rolling around nearby!
Even though there was an inherent limit to being a skeleton, it was a body that he had diligently honed to the point of being able to subjugate all demons and equal the gods for hundreds of years.
In a word, a top-class spirit group!
I could have found my original strength much faster.
But Eshua has it?
It’s a mystery how it ended up flowing into the Saintess’ family, but it wouldn’t be strange if something happened in the 150 years he was sealed.
So the Skeleton King decided to go to Eshua, not the imperial family.
Moreover, there was a new reason to go to Eshua.
Ughhh!
The ⸢Survival⸥ wish that reacted to the Emperor was reacting again.
A value judgement device that helps avoid crises and gain benefits.
For some reason, it showed a reaction to his uncle.
Ding-ding-ding!
And that reaction was stronger than when the Emperor was around.
Of course, Eshua talked about honor and indomitable spirit, so he tried to ignore them, but the ⸢Survival⸥ instinct even gave off light from the uncle’s head as if to look here.
A light only visible to him.
And even though the Emperor alone was a significant reaction, the handsome uncle was so bright that he couldn’t see his face.
Flash!
No, even if you give a signal like that, you won’t go?
Flash! Flash!
You don’t like it?!
Flash! Flash! Flash! Flash-flash-flash-flash! Flash-flash-flash-flash!
Shit! Stop it!
At this level, it’s not the level of fortune, it’s the level of great blessings in life!
Does this mean that he should choose Eshua here? Should he take the Emperor as a secondary?