Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 104

The temple had seen several changes during that time. First, all the general visitors who had been staying were sent home. This was partly to prevent onlookers, but it was also customary for a religious order where a Pope had been born to close its doors for a while until the foundation as a sacred nation was established. It was also partly in preparation for a possible war.

“War, you say?”

“Well, to be recognized as a nation, various problems are bound to arise.”

“B-But the Empire said they wouldn’t interfere.”

“That’s the Imperial Family’s position. The problem is the Cult of the Evil God.”

“The Cult of the Evil God?”

“The supreme god of the current Swart Empire is the Evil God. They might send a subjugation force.”

“S-Subjugation?”

“It’s a matter of coexistence between religious orders. This Empire is already being called a sacred empire based on the Evil God. So, the situation where another sacred kingdom has been established within their territory is bound to cause some problems. If the god who has been in control of this land doesn’t like the influence of the new god, conflict is inevitable, isn’t it? In that case, they either seize and conquer, or disappear from history.”

Watching Kaitain calmly deliver such shocking news, I sighed deeply. As expected of a priest of Ellyuen, his overly detached personality was quite similar. Was my expression too stiff? He smiled gently and said,

“Don’t worry too much. Actually, these kinds of problems are common, not just for kingdoms. Even when someone’s religious order is established, other religious orders attack and destroy it. Conversely, a new religious order might destroy an existing one and seize control. That’s why some people call this kind of conflict a war of the gods.”

“A war of the gods… In the end, the weaker god loses, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hmm, even if it’s another god, the Evil God is a high-ranking god, so he certainly won’t be easy to deal with.”

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s nothing. By the way, if the Cult of the Evil God attacks, is there any way to defend against it?”

“Currently, there are no suitable measures.”

“None…”

“Ellyuen’s protection will be upon us, so it will be fine. Even if we disappear as we are, that too would be the will of God.”

“…”

*Stay calm, El.* Surely Ellyuen wouldn’t have started this without any thought? He must be confident in silencing the Evil God. Or maybe they’re somewhat friendly.

However, considering Ellyuen’s personality, it was obvious that he would make more enemies than allies, so I wasn’t very relieved. Especially when I recalled the warning he gave at the end, it didn’t seem like he was on good terms with the Evil God, which made me even more uneasy.

“It’s really okay. Even if it’s the Evil God’s cult, they can’t recklessly attack a religious order where a god has descended. Besides, did you know? They say something unusual is happening at the foot of the mountain right now.”

“Something unusual?”

Kaitain’s explanation that followed left me astonished. Since Ellyuen’s descent, a thick fog had enveloped the entire mountain. Ordinary people couldn’t see an inch ahead, but for Ellyuen’s priests, a clear path to the temple was open. In other words, it had become a natural fortress that no one could invade.

“It’s the second miracle to occur since the descent of the Archangel Nadiel, and the entire Principality of Clamore is buzzing with related topics. No matter how powerful the Cult of the Evil God is, they won’t be able to break through that fog.”

“If that’s the case, it’s a relief.”

“Of course. So, there’s no need to worry at all. Besides, the recent Cult of the Evil God isn’t as strong as it used to be.”

“What? What do you mean? Are you saying the Cult of the Evil God has weakened?”

The Evil God is a high-ranking god in charge of the Demon Realm, one of the four major dimensions [planes of existence]. It didn’t make sense that his temple was weakening. Moreover, hadn’t a divine message been publicly delivered in front of the masses a few years ago? As its influence grew, its power should have become even stronger. Perhaps that’s why Kaitain didn’t seem confident in his answer.

“Actually, I don’t know the details, but it’s clear that there are internal problems within the Cult of the Evil God. There are almost no next-generation priests.”

“No priests?”

“Especially, there’s no one with the qualifications of a Great Priest. The number of Evil God’s marks [a divine blessing or sign] being bestowed has been decreasing for several years, and most of them were in inconspicuous positions, so they were only lower-ranking priests. Even then, I heard that no one has received it recently. To be exact, it seems to have been since the current Grand Duke received the qualifications of a Great Priest.”

Come to think of it, wasn’t the Grand Duke originally a Great Priest of the Evil God’s cult? I refocused my attention on Kaitain, recalling the memory. The expression he used towards the Grand Duke bothered me. Imperial family members become Great Priests because of their bloodline, even without a mark, but it didn’t make sense that he specifically referred to him as ‘receiving qualifications.’ Wouldn’t it have been better to say that he was sent to the religious order afterward? Then, Kaitain revealed an unexpected fact.

“Ah, you didn’t know? The Grand Duke was originally raised in the Imperial Palace and later received the mark to be formally registered as a Great Priest. He’s not a case of someone who grew up as a priest from the beginning.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. In fact, he received the mark at a late age. It’s rare enough to receive a priest’s mark after childhood, but the location where it was engraved was quite high, so it was quite a hot topic. In some ways, it’s similar to Your Highness’s case.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“It was just before the late Emperor was about to ascend to the throne as Crown Prince. So, there were many who were suspicious about that time. At the time, he was the most likely candidate for Crown Prince along with the late Emperor, so he could have been purged by the opposition. But thanks to going to the religious order, he miraculously survived.”

*Heh, such a thing happened?*

I swallowed hard, hearing the history of the Empire for the first time. A purge among brothers. It felt strange to hear about such fratricide, which I had only seen in novels and dramas. I had already somewhat realized it through Isana’s case, but it seemed that the world of royalty was indeed a very ruthless world.

“At the time, there was already an imperial family member who had been sent to the religious order since birth. He was the youngest son of the previous Emperor, and he was a half-brother to the Grand Duke. In the midst of that, a new Great Priest from the imperial family came in, so it’s said that a rather strange dynamic was formed between them. Moreover, one of them was a formal Great Priest. But that imperial family member died in some kind of incident not long after.”

“Some kind of incident?”

“They say he suddenly fell off his horse while riding. Because of that incident, the Grand Duke’s image wasn’t very good. But the real problem started after that, when the number of next-generation priests began to decrease. In the meantime, there were those who suspected that the Grand Duke’s mark was forged.”

“Forged? Is that possible?”

“It’s basically impossible. But that’s why there’s a rumor going around that the Evil God is angry and not bestowing new marks.”

“Hmm, if that’s true, isn’t it a serious matter?”

“It’s not just serious. It’s shaking the very foundation of divine power, which is the basis of the religious order. But the current Pope of the Evil God’s cult absolutely supports the Grand Duke, so so far, it’s all just speculation. And perhaps all of those things are also what the Evil God intended.”

*Does that mean I can’t know anything until I ask directly?* I frowned, feeling complicated. It was natural that I couldn’t read the hidden truth, but I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“Don’t associate with the Evil God if possible.”

Ellyuen’s words before leaving echoed in my ears again. He also told me not to associate with Lapis, so maybe that was just advice. But what if there’s another reason?

“Keep my words in mind.”

I sighed deeply. I felt like a puppet being manipulated by an invisible hand.

* * *

It was a full week after losing consciousness that Lapis came to his senses. I had gone to check on his condition and was startled to see him staring blankly with bloodshot eyes, without any movement, and I gasped.

“Wh-What? When did you wake up?”

He just stared at me without answering my panicked question. I wasn’t even sure if he was really awake.

*No, maybe his head got messed up from being hit wrong?* I had been using healing magic on him every day, but considering that he hadn’t woken up for so long, I couldn’t help but feel anxious. Just in case, I moved closer and waved my hand in front of his eyes. Then, he frowned slightly and grabbed my arm as if to snatch it.

“What are you doing?”

“Ahaha, I’m glad you seem to be okay.”

As I laughed awkwardly, he clicked his tongue and got up. He looked so light on his feet that you wouldn’t think he had been unconscious for a week. After looking around for a moment, he asked in a low voice.

“…Where is that bastard?”

“Huh? Who?”

“Who else? That god Ellyuen or whatever.”

*Is it because he’s a dragon?* Unlike other people, he didn’t seem to have lost his memory. It just seemed like the time he was unconscious had been completely erased. I smiled bitterly and told him the reality that would make him scream.

“Ellyuen returned to the divine realm a long time ago.”

“What? A long time ago?”

“Well, you’re waking up after a week.”

“What?”

As expected, he was greatly shocked.

“I was lying down for a week? Because I was hit by that damn god?”

“Be grateful it ended there. I barely stopped him from killing you.”

“Damn it, it’s because he ambushed me! Let me tell you, if I hadn’t been off guard, I wouldn’t have been so easily defeated!”

“I don’t think the result would have been much different.”

“What, are you looking down on me now?”

Seeing Lapis glaring at me with angry eyes, I shrugged lightly.

“He’s a high-ranking god. How can you beat him? The problem is that you made him angry in the first place. Let me tell you, this is entirely your fault.”

“What did I do?”

“You kept picking a fight with Ellyuen from the moment you met him. Is that the only way you can talk after meeting him for the first time in a long time? That’s why he didn’t make a contract with you before.”

“That’s a completely different issue! Besides, am I supposed to just listen to such nonsense? He’s not even related by blood, but he’s calling himself my son! Does that make sense?”

“Sorry… But even if it’s an adopted son, a son is still a son, you know?”

“What, are you even playing along with such ridiculous nonsense?”

“I don’t know. But one thing is certain. At least he cares about me more than you do. I have my pride, so I prefer being treated as a ‘son’ rather than an ‘object.'”

“…I didn’t say you were an object.”

Still, he seemed to be stung, and he muttered with a softer expression. I glared at him and said firmly.

“Even if you don’t say it, the way you treat me makes it seem that way. You treat me like a complete possession.”

“Then can’t I even say that my spirit is my spirit?”

“Oh, come on, put yourself in my shoes. Would you feel good if I said you were mine?”

“I don’t mind?”

“Huh?”

I was speechless for a moment because I didn’t expect such a reaction. But Lapis looked excited, as if it were a good idea.

“Ah, right. If you don’t like my title, you can call me that too. My dragon, my thing, you can use whatever you want. Then it’s equal, right?”

“Are you crazy? What kind of misunderstanding are you trying to cause with people?”

“What’s wrong with that? At most, they’ll see us as lovers, right?”

*That’s exactly the problem.*

I shuddered at the thought alone. But this damn lizard didn’t seem to understand the situation at all. He was looking at me with a puzzled expression. I gritted my teeth at his shameless gaze.

“What did you hear about what I said before?”

“What? That you’re a male? I said I knew. Who’s saying anything?”

“What do you know! Does someone who really understands take people’s gazes so lightly?”

“What does it matter? Either way, as long as I don’t treat you like a woman, isn’t that enough?”

“…Okay, never mind.”

*There’s no cure for a pervert,* and it was foolish to try to use normal logic on this guy in the first place. I sighed and turned around. I was going to get this guy out of my sight before I got any more of a headache.

But that was when it happened. Suddenly, Lapis grabbed my shoulder and turned my body back around. Then, he grabbed my chin with one hand and forced me to lift my head!