The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 145

Chapter 18. Mermaid: The Scoundrel Who Came Looking

“Live in the Holy Kingdom for the rest of your life.”

It was Merian’s suggestion.

“I know about Henon’s circumstances. You disguised yourself as an adventurer because of the Twilight Church’s threat. Why don’t you settle in the Holy Kingdom with a new identity at this opportunity?”

She continued.

“Repli appointed Henon as a cardinal. I think he did well in that action, even if he did everything else wrong. Continue to work as a cardinal and ascend to the papacy. And lead the Holy Kingdom with me.”

It felt like a tempting offer.

My answer was already determined.

“I refuse.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t hide my identity because I was afraid of the Twilight Church. I hid my identity to destroy the Twilight Church.”

“Destroy the Twilight Church?”

Merian was stunned.

The fundamental fear inherent in the word ‘Twilight’ was considerable.

It was directly affiliated with the Demon King Baal.

“Is there any need to suffer unnecessarily? Live with me in the Holy Kingdom. It will be much more comfortable and happier.”

This isn’t Merian’s fault.

Anyone would think this way if they were a normal person.

But what to do?

I’m not a normal person.

Baal will awaken someday.

The Twilight Church will act accordingly.

In a ruined world, the protagonist Sion must fight alone.

Since I alone know this future, I had to move for Sion’s sake.

“Thank you for the offer. I’ll only accept your heart.”

“Why? What more should I offer for you to stay in the Holy Kingdom?”

“It’s not a matter of that. Above all, I don’t trust Belanus. Belanus wouldn’t want me to become Pope either.”

Merian closed her eyes and prayed.

Like a saintess, she was communicating with Belanus in real-time.

After a while, her expression was one of pure regret.

“That’s right. Belanus tells me to let Henon go.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s okay, though. Henon is still a cardinal of the Belanus Church. You must come back someday. I’ll be waiting.”

Afterward, she told me what useful information Belanus had mentioned.

“Belanus said this:”

‘The desired object is in the lowest place. Meet the thirstiest person in the largest country.’

“I don’t understand what it means at all. Hehehe.”

“It’s okay. It was a great help. Thank you.”

Originally, oracles are all vague.

Still, I understood roughly.

The desired object clearly meant the ‘Golden Branch.’ Seeing that she knew my real purpose, she must be a god.

I also seemed to know the largest country. The largest country in the Arnia continent was undoubtedly the Calon Empire.

All that remained was the lowest place and the thirstiest person… what on earth did it mean? First, I decided to move to the place I found out and then investigate the ambiguous parts.

‘The next destination is decided.’

Osdeen, the capital of the Calon Empire.

The most splendid and bright city on the continent.

It was my turn to go there.

* * *

Central and southern Arnia.

An abandoned ruin.

The Twilight executives gathered.

The atmosphere was like a funeral home.

Only five people attended.

Wrath, Gluttony, Pride, Sloth, Leader.

Envy, Lust, and Greed’s seats were empty.

“It’s absurd.”

It was the Twilight Leader’s words.

“Three of the Seven Apostles have already been defeated. Were you weaker than I thought? Or was the opponent strong?”

Sloth answered in a slow voice.

“The one who killed Lust is the adventurer Khan. He recently caught the Forest Keeper in Gallanah and was promoted to an orichalcum [a mythical metal] adventurer. After moving to the Holy Kingdom, he revealed Lust’s identity and executed him.”

Kwaaaang!

The Leader slammed his fist down.

A crack went through the conference table.

“Where do these guys keep popping out from? I took a breather after catching Henon, but another annoying guy appeared.”

Wrath, who had been listening quietly, made a suggestion.

“Leader, why don’t you take this opportunity to replenish the vacancies and scout that guy Khan? If he caught Lust alone, his strength has been proven. Besides, he’s an adventurer, so if the conditions are right, wouldn’t he come over to our side?”

Gluttony’s rebuttal.

“I’m against it. He’s just a human, no matter how you look at it. We need to fill the Seven Apostles with really strong guys now.”

The Leader rested his chin on his hand and listened.

Then he looked towards Pride.

“Pride, you’re quiet, unlike usual. You’re not the type to stay still at times like this.”

“You noticed. I think both Gluttony and Wrath’s claims are valid. But I want to approach it from a different perspective.”

Everyone’s attention was focused on Pride.

“I fully understand the desire to attract strong people, but there’s no guarantee that they will be loyal to our cult. In the first place, it’s difficult to attract such a strong person.”

“Keep talking.”

“In fact, even if we don’t obsess over the strong, our cult’s power is enough to shake the continent. So, I want to focus on his influence rather than his individual strength.”

Pride took off his hood and smiled.

As a lich [an undead creature], his smile was grotesque because his skin and muscles had disappeared, leaving only his skull.

He circled his bony fingers in the air and got to the point.

“I would like to recommend the next seat of Greed to the Leader and the Apostles.”

“Don’t tell me you brought a new member?”

“That’s right. He’s waiting outside the conference hall right now.”

“Who do you think you are, bringing a stranger here!”

Wrath’s murderous aura exploded, but when the Twilight Leader waved his hand, it disappeared as if it had never happened.

“Pride is thoughtful. He wouldn’t have brought just anyone. I want to see who you think the new Greed is.”

“Yes. I’ll bring him in right away.”

When Pride gestured, the door to the conference hall opened.

Squeak- Bang!

A man stood in the opened space.

A handsome appearance with flowing white hair.

The white hair, inherited from genetics, was full of luster.

He wore a tunic with jewels dangling from it, and the material was also unusual.

He was even wearing earrings with a dragon pattern.

For reference, the dragon is a symbol of the Calon Empire, and only members of the imperial family could wear accessories with the dragon pattern.

Sloth, who had a firm grip on the back alleys of the Empire, immediately recognized the man’s identity.

“It’s Prince Alex. The Empire’s Second Prince.”

Even though the prince of a powerful empire had appeared, the Twilight executives didn’t react much.

This was proof that the faces gathered here were also formidable.

The prince seemed to know this and stepped forward to bow his head.

“I formally introduce myself. Alex von Aulshulzmanz Calon, the Second Prince of the Empire.”

Pride chimed in from the side.

“How is it? His strength is decent for a human, and if he’s a prince, he’ll be a useful talent when our cult dominates the continent in the future.”

Sloth said one word.

“The Empire is currently united under Crown Prince Reynold. There’s no room for Prince Alex to intervene. It’s all bark and no bite.”

“That’s why I came here. I need the help of the Great Twilight Church.”

Second Prince Alex revealed his true feelings.

“I want to be Emperor.”

It was a short statement, but the meaning was clear.

The current Crown Prince is Reynold, but the Second Prince covets the throne.

In other words, he wants to get rid of his brother and become the number one person on the continent.

Wrath, who had been listening quietly, burst into anger.

“You! Do you think this is a manpower agency? How dare you come to us with a request?”

“Stop.”

The Twilight Leader restrained Wrath.

“Do you know who we are?”

“Of course. Aren’t you the great people who follow the Demon King Baal? If you could just help me, the Empire and the Twilight Church would have a good relationship.”

“…Is that so?”

Creak.

The Leader, pulling his chair, got up and approached Alex.

The two entities made eye contact.

Alex felt a fundamental fear from the Twilight Leader’s faceless face, whose age he couldn’t even guess.

He was breathless, sweating cold, and his head was spinning.

“Huk… Huk…”

“I believe in human ambition. If your dream is true, you’ll be a talent suitable for the Twilight Church.”

The Leader grabbed Alex’s neck and lifted him up.

He struggled, but it was useless.

Tears streamed from his eyes as his breathing quickened.

“Keuheok…”

“But your attitude is wrong. We are demon worshippers. I am their leader. In the first place, the very fact that you’re talking about cooperation is proof that you don’t know us at all.”

“Wh-What do you mean…?”

“I mean that from the moment you stepped into this place, you should have sworn allegiance and been prepared to hand over the Empire.”

The Leader released his strength, and Alex fell to the floor with a thud.

The Twilight Leader whispered in his ear as he barely caught his breath.

“Show your loyalty…”

Alex, struggling, grabbed the hem of the Twilight Leader’s old hood and kissed it.

“I believe in the Demon King Baal… and pledge allegiance to the Leader.”

“Very good.”

The Leader clapped and looked at Pride.

“Pride, is partial lichification possible for the living?”

“It’s still unstable, but it should be roughly possible for one person.”

“Good. Extract his life vessel and hand it over to me.”

“I understand. Leader.”

The life vessel is a marble containing life.

With this, Alex’s lifeline was held by the Twilight Leader.

The Leader smiled as he looked down at Alex, whose face had turned pale.

“Welcome to the Twilight Church. New ‘Greed.’ I will kill the Crown Prince as you wish. But remember. No matter how high you climb in the future, you will only be my subordinate.”

* * *

I arrived in Osdeen.

The most developed city on the continent.

I was secretly looking forward to it.

“Wow… it’s amazing?”

Campbell exclaimed next to me.

First of all, the city’s scale itself was enormous.

The population was a whopping one million.

It was on par with a metropolitan city in Korea.

The level of civilization was also on a different level from the Elden Kingdom or the Holy Kingdom.

Multi-story buildings were densely packed, and brick roads suitable for carriages were well-paved throughout the city.

The roads were quite wide, but there were so many carriages that traffic jams seemed to occur in the morning and evening.

The people were also unique.

The various hair colors were impressive.

As a collection of civilizations, there were far more bards, minstrels, and artists than elsewhere.

Above all, the good thing was that there was a sewer system.

Compared to Lord Lloyd’s territory, which didn’t even have a sewer system and dumped sewage into Heinz Lake, Fontano, where sewage was left on the streets, and Gallanah, where monster excrement was found just outside, this place had sewers and underground waterways.

The citizens threw their waste in designated places, so the entire city was quite clean and tidy in appearance.

“As expected, you have to live a long life to see things.”

“You’re showing off your country bumpkin side.”

Sion had visited Osdeen before to learn swordsmanship, so he was quite familiar with the geography here.

Sion was also the one guiding us now.

“But you’re also from the countryside.”

“I’m a city girl now.”

“From the looks of it, you’re a country bumpkin… Keuheok!”

Campbell, who had been hit in the side, gasped.

“Young Master isn’t very surprised.”

“I’ve seen a bigger city before.”

“Is there a city bigger than Osdeen on the Arnia continent?”

“I saw it in a dream.”

“…”

Seoul alone has a population of ten million.

Of course, Campbell and Sion didn’t understand and tilted their heads.

Anyway, I came to the largest city as the oracle said.

Now I have to find a clue about the Golden Branch…

Where on earth is the lowest place, and who is the thirstiest person?

First, I activated the Cheonma Navigation.

-I don’t feel the energy of the Golden Branch.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t in Osdeen.

Where should I start?

I was worried.

“Extra! Extra!”

Several boys jumped out of the building and scattered pieces of paper.

Osdeen also had a basic level of media.

I picked up a newspaper that looked like a flyer and read the words.

The content written was only one line, but it was shocking.

The Empire’s next emperor has passed away.

The imperial citizens who heard the news began to buzz.

Chwareureuk Tak! Tak!

The houses closed their doors and drew the curtains.

The pubs also closed.

The city, which had been lively until just now, fell into silence.

Even the soldiers came out in droves and controlled the roads.

“The timing is strangely off.”

I have to find the Golden Branch.

It’s one disaster after another.

My companions also know about my situation.

Sion said cautiously, after much deliberation.

“Young Master, it’s unsettling, but there is one way.”

“What is it?”

“Meet Sloth. That’s the fastest way to find or find out something in the Empire.”

That was the only way now.

Sloth is a woman who once tried to kill me, but I have to go to her on my own two feet.

The world is a strange place.

“Good. Guide me.”

I will meet Sloth and find out about the hints related to the oracle.

At the same time, I decided to find out what was going on in the Empire now.