LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 9.2
The flamboyant laughter startled not only the paladins, the Bishop, but also the priests.
Moreover, the laughter didn’t stop.
“Hahahaha.”
The ongoing laughter of the Emperor left the Bishop looking bewildered.
The reason was that he had never seen the Emperor laugh out loud so arrogantly before.
“Your, Your Majesty?”
The paladins were also taken aback.
But at some point, the Emperor’s laughter abruptly stopped, as if it were a lie.
“Magic, huh.”
The Emperor’s words were harsh, and even the air grew cold.
He raised the corners of his mouth, as if trying to stop the Bishop, who was trying to harm the Skeleton King.
“Bishop, how old do you think the boy is?”
“Uh, what?”
The Bishop unintentionally made a strange sound.
It was because the Emperor’s gaze itself was different from usual.
Perhaps it was due to the long-standing conflict between the imperial court and the Papacy.
His gaze, which always carried irritation when dealing with the Papacy, was completely absent.
“Did you say that child used magic?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Well, ordinarily, a human child who hasn’t even reached three years old would explode and die if they used magic.”
The Bishop was taken aback.
Who didn’t know that?
But why say such a thing in this situation?
“Your Majesty, are you suggesting that the child is…”
A demon…
“Yes. So, do you want to say in front of me that the child is a demon?”
“Well, of course…”
The Bishop’s mouth, about to answer, was suddenly sealed shut.
Soon, he started sweating cold, his face turning pale.
It was because the Emperor understood his intentions.
Of course, he couldn’t say it even if a knife were placed at his throat in this situation.
That the child was a demon’s child.
‘It is said that the imperial family has eyes that can distinguish between humans and demons.’
It was because of the special bloodline of the imperial family.
The imperial family uses those eyes to discern between humans and demons.
Of course, these are all stories from the early days of the Empire.
After thousands of years, reaching the present, no one knows if it’s true or not. However, the Emperor, who possesses the legitimacy of that blood, is speaking like this.
“So, can we interpret that the Bishop, who can’t even distinguish between a demon and a human child, is disregarding the current order and trying to dispose of that child as a demon?”
The Bishop tightly closed his eyes as if admitting defeat.
‘Damn it.’
The reason why the imperial citizens and the Papacy respect the imperial family lies in that bloodline. However, they have never used it as a means to oppress themselves so ruthlessly.
They couldn’t ignore the relationship with the Papacy.
But changing their stance, even considering the political turmoil for the child…
‘It’s not merely an order to spare the child. It’s a threat.’
If they were to eliminate that child, it meant they would sever the Papacy’s neck.
‘The Emperor has taken a liking to that child.’
But why on earth?
In common sense, there is no way that someone like the Emperor would really not doubt this situation?
‘Is it because of saying that it’s fine for the crown prince’s future to be ruined?’
But regardless, the Emperor smiled at the Skeleton King. It was a smile filled with affection.
Startled by that sight, the attendant quickly handed something to the Skeleton King.
And it was none other than a golden rattle!
The Skeleton King’s eyes flickered with a different meaning.
‘Pure gold!’
Even judging by the craftsmanship level alone, it was of a level that a peasant could live off for ten years!
‘No, are they out of their minds to make something so trivial out of pure gold?!’
Isn’t this the Holy Empire that is supposed to practice self-restraint?
How rotten must their gold be!
That’s when it happened.
The Bishop stared at the Skeleton King, seeming unsure of what to do but visibly displeased.
“Your Majesty, this might be an assassin who came to kill the Saint. Please allow at least a simple investigation…”
Instead of causing trouble over just a mere child, the Emperor laughed like a fox.
“Well, I wonder if there’s a need for an investigation. To me, this child appears to be a Saint.”
“…!”
As the Bishop’s face contorted completely, the Skeleton King happily shook the rattle.
My money! Well done, good job! Exactly.
And more! If you give me another expensive rattle, it would be nice!
The Skeleton King attempted to strike the Bishop’s head with the heavy golden rattle.
The startled priest’s eyes widened, and he quickly hugged the baby and ran away. Perhaps he saw the Skeleton King attempting to hit the Bishop once again.
At that moment, the Emperor made a gesture, and the attendant sighed and produced another jeweled rattle. It seemed to imply that they should keep their mouths shut.
As a result, the Skeleton King chuckled like a mischievous demon.
Because the future state of this country became clear to him.
‘Well, I had some expectations, but…’
These brats are worse than I thought.
No, describing their relationship as ‘worse’ is an understatement—they’re downright trash!
Of course, from the outside, the imperial family and the Papacy.
The Holy Empire, where the ‘Sun’ and the ‘Moon’ coexist and rule in peace. But well…
‘There’s a saying about who is the true ruler of the Empire, the Pope or the Emperor.’
It’s a relationship where neither side holds more power and they keep each other in check.
‘Well, I can understand why their relationship is bad just by looking at that Crown Prince.’
The boy being held by the Emperor has jet-black hair, something that the Holy Empire doesn’t view favorably.
Needless to say, he must have been having intense debates with the pope. Perhaps there was an argument at the level of blasphemy.
So it was undoubtedly true that the Emperor had a great interest in the Saint.
‘After all, when I become a Saint, I’ll probably be on par with the Pope.’
But what would happen if such a Saint were to be aligned with the imperial family? The Skeleton King’s eyes narrowed ominously at the thought.
Besides, he had no intention of getting along well with the pope.
Naturally, one would assume that as a Saint, he would be part of the Papacy that serves the pope, but really?
‘Do you think I’ll become a lackey for those lunatics?’
The Skeleton King had a plan to devour this realm of the gods from within and make it his own.
He would use the Emperor as a lackey and get rid of the irritating pope. He would devour other continents and the divine realm with his supreme power!
Just the thought of it was exhilarating.
As such, the first thing that needed to be achieved was the ‘Saint’ position!
However, it seemed that the pope’s side would never pass the position of the Saint to any other candidate.
‘Just by looking at what that Bishop, who seems like a lackey of the pope, is doing, it’s obvious.’
But if he gained the Emperor’s support, he could snatch away the position of the Saint as well.
And at that moment, something unexpected happened.
“It was a mistake to say that he is not human.”
The Bishop, who had instructed the priests to bring his own bag, narrowed his eyes.
“However, when you claim he is a Saint, you are directly denying the authority of His Holiness the Pope. Are you really okay with that?”
It seemed that after receiving a few slaps with a rattle, he had gone insane.
The determination to kill the Skeleton King could be felt in his eyes, and the Skeleton King involuntarily rolled his tongue around.
‘He’s a persistent one, huh?’
The Skeleton King had been quite lenient, but he didn’t appreciate the favor.
Judging by his attitude, it seemed that he was determined to eliminate him somehow.
‘How much money did he receive to act this way?’
Anyway, at this point, it wasn’t just about getting rid of him, he had to be completely eliminated…
Otherwise, he would surely keep pestering.
And if he was going to get rid of him, it should be in a way that benefited him.
But how to get rid of him?
There must be some way…
But then, at that moment, the Bishop pulled out an item from the bag that the priests had brought.
The Skeleton King, who didn’t miss the opportunity, eagerly glanced inside the bag.
What is that? Why is it there?
No way.
Could it be that the essence of the magical power he felt at the temple earlier was that thing?