Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 768

◈ 768. A Bond Entwined Beside

“What do you mean, you’re leaving home!”

At her child’s words during a gloomy meal, the Duchess of Ladderun was so surprised she dropped her fork. She tried to remain calm as she asked,

“How old are you to be leaving home? Is there something you want?”

The Ladderun estate had been quite peaceful until recently.

The Duke would occasionally scold Jeremy for not following his wishes, leading to arguments with the Duchess, but they would reconcile within two hours.

The Duke took good care of the estate and earned the Emperor’s trust. He also handled his duties in the Imperial Palace well.

The Duchess also managed the family well, both internally and externally, earning trust, and Jeremy was a bright and clever child. This family was, by all accounts, impeccable.

However, yesterday afternoon, the Duke was suddenly taken away by Inquisitors [officials tasked with investigating heresy and treason].

The Duchess tried to find out what was going on, but the Duke’s subordinates and friends were terrified at the mere mention of the Inquisitors and distanced themselves from her.

The once peaceful family suddenly found themselves in the middle of a storm. And now, her own son was suddenly declaring he was leaving home.

“I want to take revenge.”

Jeremy replied calmly, unlike his usual self.

“Revenge?”

The Duchess didn’t understand her son’s words.

The Duke had never told his family about black magicians or Rembrary.

Jeremy wouldn’t have known anything either if he hadn’t been hiding under the table.

“On Rembrary.”

“Rembrary? Prince Rembrary? Why take revenge on that Prince?”

“Father was arrested because of Rembrary.”

“What are you talking about? What does your father have to do with that Prince? He’s in the temple right now, isn’t he?”

“That’s right. Rembrary is in the temple. That’s why I can’t take revenge right now. That’s why I’m leaving home.”

Jeremy’s words left much unsaid.

“Don’t tell me… you’re trying to enter the temple too?!”

The Duchess staggered, and the head maid rushed to support her.

“No, you can’t. Rembrary has older siblings, but you’re an only child. You’re the future head of the Ladderun family! Where do you think you’re going!”

“It’s true that I’m going to enter the temple. But I’m going to become a Paladin, Mother. If I become a Paladin, I can become a guard for a priest and get close to him.”

Jeremy answered firmly and clenched his small hands around the napkin.

Duke Ladderun had always tried to raise his child to be strong. When the Duke was home, Jeremy had never shown such resolve.

But after the Duke left, the child suddenly acted as if he had grown up.

“Still, no. What do you lack that you have to suffer in such a place!”

“If I become a Paladin, there will be many ways to take revenge without being obvious. I’ll come back when I’m done.”

* * *

At that moment, the Duke was sitting alone in a rattling carriage.

He cursed inwardly and shook the iron chains tightly binding his wrists. The chains only clinked and didn’t break at all.

The Duke slammed his fist on his knee and then banged the back of his head against the seat.

“Are you trying to kill yourself like that?”

The Duke was startled and looked to his side. A person in a black robe was sitting next to him; he didn’t know when they had appeared.

It wasn’t the pink-haired black magician from before, but the black magician he had hired.

“Because of you bastards…”

The Duke glared at the black magician, grinding his teeth.

“Did I seek you out first?”

The black magician smiled.

“Didn’t the Duke seek us out first?”

The Duke struck him with his shoulder, but the black magician’s body wasn’t solid.

The Duke couldn’t overcome his own momentum and fell to the floor. He grabbed the opposite seat and barely managed to stand up.

“That won’t break the carriage door, Duke!”

The Inquisitor shouted mockingly from the driver’s seat.

The Duke pressed his lips tightly and stared at the black magician.

“A phantom.”

The black magician hadn’t actually appeared here.

“How could I possibly enter a moving carriage?”

The black magician didn’t deny it and laughed.

“When we met before, I gave the Duke something that would allow us to communicate at any time.”

The Duke was dumbfounded. He had no memory of receiving such a thing.

“Why are you here?”

Since physical attacks didn’t work, the Duke forced down his anger and asked.

He was angry at Rembrary and the Inquisitors, but the Duke was even more furious at these damn bastards.

“We were supposed to borrow your estate and mansion, but if the Duke is arrested, it becomes inconvenient for us too.”

The black magician readily revealed his purpose.

“So, you’ve come to rescue me?”

“That’s right.”

“!”

“Of course, we won’t rescue you for free. We need to be compensated.”

The Duke gritted his teeth and asked,

“Do you want my soul or something?”

The Duke was immediately troubled as soon as he said the words. What should he do if this black magician really demanded his soul?

He didn’t want to give up his soul, but he had to protect his wife, child, and family.

If it was discovered that he had commissioned the black magician to harm the Prince, his family and clan would all be harmed.

His wife didn’t know about the sins he had committed.

The Duke’s heart was breaking at the thought of that sincere and good person suffering because of him.

‘I guess I’ll have to give him my soul if he asks for it.’ The Duke closed his eyes tightly.

The black magician burst out laughing at the sight.

“What would I do with the Duke’s soul?”

The Duke opened his eyes and stared at the black magician. The neat lips revealed beneath the hat were wide open. The Duke was embarrassed, and his face turned red.

“Then what do you want?”

“Write a contract and give us money.”

“Money?”

The Duke’s face crumpled. What a robber! They said they would use the mansion and estate for free, and now they want him to fund their misdeeds!

At first glance, it seemed better than giving up his soul, but this was just as dangerous.

The deeper he got involved with this black magician, the more the risk increased rapidly.

If he provided land and funds to the black magicians, the Duke was no longer a simple client.

People who didn’t know the situation would treat the Duke and the black magicians as complete accomplices.

* * *

“What an idiot.”

Everyone clicked their tongues at the news that had befallen the Ladderun estate, but Marchioness Lucyche was even angrier.

“It’s become troublesome. If the Duke or the priests he bribed say the wrong thing…”

A secretary who knew the situation muttered worriedly.

The Marchioness tapped the table anxiously.

“We didn’t touch the black magicians. It was the Duke who commissioned the black magicians on his own.”

“Yes, but we’re the only ones who care about that.”

“That’s right. That’s the problem.”

The Marchioness couldn’t stand it and jumped up, pacing around the room.

“There’s no choice.”

After wandering around for a while, the Marchioness made a decision.

“All those who were arrested were bought off a few months ago, so it’s hard to expect loyalty. The ones I bought off will say my name if they’re interrogated. Even if they claim they have nothing to do with the black magicians, the Inquisitors, the Imperial Family, and the temple won’t believe it.”

“Even if they believe it, they won’t care.”

“That’s right. So… have all those who were arrested dealt with before the interrogation begins.”

Even at the cruel order, the secretary didn’t bat an eye.

“I understand.”

As the secretary went outside, the Marchioness sat on a nearby sofa and clenched her fist tightly.

Anger surged again at Duke Ladderun. How could he bungle his job so badly as to let things get so twisted?

* * *

The priests the Inquisitors had arrested were all murdered, and Duke Ladderun completed a new contract with the black magician.

With the priests who testified that the Duke was involved in the matter murdered, it was impossible to conduct a difficult interrogation of a great noble of a powerful nation.

Duke Ladderun underwent a light interrogation over two days and was cleared of all charges.

“You can’t let him go. He’s suspicious.”

Sediter followed the commander and insisted.

“But there’s no evidence that Duke Ladderun is related to black magic. It’s not like I like him and let him go.”

The commander replied in a sulky voice.

“Everyone was guessing that the one who hired the black magicians wouldn’t be an ordinary noble.”

“That’s right. But that alone isn’t enough to give him a difficult interrogation, Sediter. Besides, the Duke has escaped your interrogation.”

Sediter was convinced that the Duke had used some trick.

The fact that the bribed priests were murdered as soon as they were arrested, the fact that Niran was murdered, and the fact that the Duke was released because of it were all suspicious.

“We have to keep an eye on him. That’s all we can do for now.”

The commander patted Sediter on the shoulder.

“Rather, it’s important to find the enemy who has sneaked into this place. Following Priest Niran, all the bribed priests were assassinated. There’s a very skilled person inside.”

The Inquisitors were angry at missing Duke Ladderun, but the Duke, who had returned home, wasn’t so happy either.

This was because he had become more deeply involved with the black magicians and was now truly their accomplice.

Moreover, when he returned, the son he had tried to protect had left to take the test to become a Paladin.

Jeremy thoroughly hid the fact that he was the son of a Duke and went to the temple like an ordinary boy.

Jeremy, who had been thoroughly educated from a very young age as the Duke’s only heir, easily passed both the written and practical exams with excellent grades.

Jeremy, who was allowed to enter, immediately registered as an apprentice Paladin and entered the dormitory.

Another child had already unpacked in the dormitory, which was shared by two people.

As Jeremy stepped through the door, a child with messy, dog-like hair turned his head.

“I’m Remy.”

Jeremy reached out his hand to the child, offering the name he had registered with a fake identity.

“I’m Ninling. Nice to meet you.”

The child with the dog-like hair smiled brightly and quickly got up.

* * *

Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, spring had arrived. The day for the Holy Power Vessel Test had come again, and the apprentice priests were all excited or anxious.

It had been a year since Rembrary came here.

This time too, the children under Rishur who were ten years old or younger achieved high priest-level results, but Ridal didn’t have the bright expression he had before.

Ridal’s followers also glared at Rembrary while still showing outstanding performance.

If there was a change in this test, it was Kentree. In two months, he would be eleven years old, but he still hadn’t shown any Holy Power.

Kentree, who hadn’t cared much at first, was now starting to worry about his older siblings, who were still apprentices even though they were eighteen or nineteen years old.

“Don’t worry. Most people don’t see any Holy Power until they’re fifteen. There are many people who become ordinary priests at seventeen, Kentree.”

Rishur comforted him, but Kentree and his gang all had dark complexions.

‘This is a big problem. The standards have risen because of Rembrary.’

Rishur was embarrassed, but he couldn’t scold Rembrary, saying, ‘Why are you so great on your own?’

In the meantime, news that was hard to tell whether it was good or bad was delivered.

After hearing the story from Heather, Rishur called Rembrary and Ridal.