My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 92

§ 92 – Reunion (3)

“What… what happened?”

Laura asked, her face a mixture of worry and surprise.

Aria’s current appearance:

Hair disheveled, eyes brimming with tears.

And just a moment ago,

Cyan drenched in sweat.

Some wild fantasies crossed Laura’s mind.

Could they have done something like that?

But with what she saw, she couldn’t deny it outright.

“Sir Cyan didn’t do anything strange, did he?”

“Huh? No, not at all. I was the one who did something strange.”

“…Pardon?”

Aria’s answer made Laura wonder what was really going on.

Aria did something strange?

So, not Cyan, but Aria initiated…

“What do you mean…”

Laura couldn’t hide her confusion.

What kind of crazy delusion was this?

Laura wondered if this was really happening.

First of all, Aria, who knew nothing about men, wouldn’t do anything like that.

And even if Aria did do something strange,

Cyan’s reaction just now…

He rejected it?

Laura couldn’t say anything.

She just blinked her eyes.

A silent silence descended.

Laura in her own way.

Aria in her own way.

Neither could find the words.

And just then.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of someone knocking on the door.

It sounded quite urgent.

Before they could wonder what it was.

-N-Now…! The Saintess’s guest and Archbishop Lahir…!

A panicked priest’s voice came from beyond the door.

#

Cyan quietly stared at Lahir.

The priests who had just rushed out of the room had called him Archbishop Lahir.

Cyan didn’t know much about the Holy Empire,

But he knew that an archbishop was a very high-ranking position within the Holy Empire.

The hierarchy went Pope, Cardinal, and then Archbishop.

In the Charlotte Empire, it would be like a marquis [a high-ranking noble].

Of course, it wouldn’t be exactly the same.

But it couldn’t be denied that it was a comparable position.

Lahir’s indifferent gaze turned to Cyan.

And his title of archbishop wasn’t something he had won through gambling.

The aura he exuded, the atmosphere he created.

He wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.

Cyan focused his mind and observed Lahir.

But nothing in particular…

He didn’t feel anything else.

To be precise, the strangeness felt from the priests who were collapsing in shock beside him wasn’t felt from Lahir.

He only felt a powerful aura of divine power.

Although not as much as Aria,

It was still a considerable power.

In short, it was clearly the aura of a priest.

Cyan looked at Lahir and slowly opened his mouth.

“There seems to have been a misunderstanding. I was just passing by and paused when I heard voices.”

“Passing by and pausing…”

Lahir repeated Cyan’s words.

“This place is not frequented even by the priests of the Papal Palace. Yet you were passing by here for no reason?”

“It’s my first time at the Papal Palace, so I got lost. There’s no other reason.”

Lahir quietly looked at Cyan.

Cyan also looked at Lahir.

Their eyes met.

“You didn’t eavesdrop?”

“As I said, I just paused when I heard voices. However…”

What should he do?

Cyan hesitated for a moment.

It would be best to pretend he didn’t know…

But the strange aura felt from the priests.

And the conversation heard from inside was quite suspicious.

Specifically, the phrase ‘completion of the vessel’.

He couldn’t be sure what it meant.

But Cyan had encountered Nurbia of Sloth in the past.

And the vessel of the demon.

Cyan decided to probe Lahir slightly.

“I overheard the word ‘vessel’…”

At that moment.

Lahir’s eyes changed.

The priests beside him also became sharply alert.

A strange tension.

The atmosphere became ominous.

And.

Lahir subtly gestured to the priests with his eyes.

At the same time, the priests moved.

A strange tension flowed, and the atmosphere turned ominous in an instant.

Cyan sharply tensed his nerves and reached for his inventory.

Just then.

“Oh, Sir Cyan. You were here.”

A clear voice came from one side.

The voice alone felt like it was purifying his ears.

The tense atmosphere instantly brightened.

Looking there.

Aria was walking towards them.

“I was worried when you suddenly disappeared.”

Aria approached Cyan.

Lahir spoke again at the sight.

“I thought it was a face I hadn’t seen before. So you were the Saintess’s guest.”

Aria nodded and said.

“He wanted to see the Papal Palace, so I was giving him a tour. But he suddenly disappeared, so I was also taken aback.”

Aria smiled brightly as she answered.

Her tone, her atmosphere.

It was completely different from the Aria that Cyan had bickered with.

Truly a Saintess.

Lahir raised his eyes and said.

“I know that the Saintess rarely allows outsiders in.”

“She rarely allows them, but it’s not like there aren’t any at all.”

Aria and Lahir looked at each other.

A strange battle of nerves passed between their eyes.

Eventually, Lahir slightly turned his head.

His eyes met Cyan’s again.

Lahir opened his mouth with an expression that didn’t reveal his inner thoughts.

“You shouldn’t wander around the Papal Palace so carelessly. I understand your curiosity, but you could disturb the priests’ solemn masses.”

“I will be especially careful from now on.”

Cyan slightly bowed his head.

And Lahir’s eyes, which he glanced at, seemed to say.

‘The Saintess has intervened, so I will step back this time.

But there will be no next time.’

“Saintess, please be careful as well.”

Lahir said that and went back into the room with the priests.

“Sir, let’s go.”

Aria then said to Cyan.

Aria was smiling brightly at the gaze.

The gentle curve of her eyes was beautiful.

‘Ugh…!’

Cyan was just confused.

#

Cyan walked along the corridor of the Papal Palace, following Aria.

And every time they met a priest or a holy knight, they all bowed their heads.

Even a priest who seemed quite high-ranking bowed to Aria.

It was a sight that showed how high Aria’s position was.

In fact, Cyan was taking it lightly.

The position of Saintess was by no means light.

After walking for a while, they returned to the room.

Aria couldn’t say anything.

Her face was a confusing mix of emotions.

Laura, who was next to her, poked Aria in the side.

Aria flinched.

Aria avoided Cyan’s gaze and said.

“Are you okay…?”

“No, I’m not.”

Cyan immediately shook his head.

Because he really wasn’t okay.

He had met Aria again before he could calm down.

And Aria was sticking so close again.

He was feeling dizzy again.

Cyan slightly distanced himself from Aria.

He felt that if she came any closer, it wouldn’t just end with dizziness this time.

And Aria watched Cyan’s reaction.

Why does he hate me so much?

Other men would do anything to see my face.

Does he really think I’m ugly?

So much that he doesn’t even want me to get close?

Aria didn’t know why,

But she felt really hurt.

A moment of silence.

Aria spoke again.

“Really… you’re not a demon?”

“I told you, I’m not.”

“Then is the detector broken?”

“No. It’s not broken either.”

“…?”

Aria tilted her head.

It’s not broken?

Then doesn’t that mean Cyan is a demon?

Cyan sighed softly.

How should he explain this?

Cyan was lost in thought for a moment.

But his 고민 [Korean: worry, trouble] didn’t last long.

Because Aria knew.

She had gone to the Arnaise Hall with Cyan in the past.

And she knew everything that had happened inside.

That Leia was Charlotte’s younger sister.

That Cyan was somewhat related to Kyle.

Aria knew everything.

Cyan glanced at Laura next to Aria.

“Ah, I had something urgent to do that I forgot about. You two talk.”

Laura discreetly left the room.

This meant that they were alone in the room again.

But she had already heard that all those wild fantasies were misunderstandings.

Laura had no qualms about leaving.

Laura left the room.

Cyan briefly explained about the demon detector.

And why the demon detector went off for Cyan.

“Th-That…!”

Aria’s eyes widened in surprise after hearing Cyan’s words.

And as expected.

Aria didn’t think Cyan was lying.

She had seen it in the hall.

“So that’s why…”

Aria was silent for a moment, seemingly in shock.

Cyan said to Aria.

“Anyway, I’m not a demon. And if I were a demon that you couldn’t recognize, you wouldn’t be safe right now.”

A demon that Aria couldn’t recognize.

In other words, it meant the seven demon lords.

The demon that Cyan, Leia, and all of Ruben’s forces had barely managed to handle.

Even in an incomplete state.

So no matter how strong Aria was, she couldn’t handle the seven demon lords alone.

“That’s true…”

Cyan slowly opened his mouth.

“Who were those priests from earlier?”

To be exact, the priests who felt the aura of magic.

Aside from the suspicious conversation.

It was an aura that priests should never have.

“They are the Twilight Priests.”

“Twilight Priests?”

Cyan tilted his head.

Aria sighed softly and said.

“Actually, our order is divided into two factions. It’s easier to explain if you think of it as denominations, but actually…”

“Wait.”

Cyan interrupted Aria’s words.

“I don’t want you to explain the complicated relationships within your order.”

Well, Cyan knew roughly.

Although they were people who worshiped a holy god.

This Holy Empire was ultimately a place where ‘people’ lived.

In other words, the element of ‘politics’ was bound to be involved.

And there would be factions here, with each side in conflict.

But there was no point in knowing about the political interests of such orders.

It would only be a headache to get involved.

Above all, Cyan was a person from the Charlotte Empire.

There was no point in knowing.

Besides, it was boring to listen to the explanation.

“So if you have to explain, summarize it briefly.”

“…”

Aria stared blankly at Cyan.

She had an expression that said, ‘What kind of guy is this?’

Eventually, Aria sighed deeply and said.

“There are Dawn and Twilight factions in our order. Think of Dawn as moderate and Twilight as radical. Those priests from earlier were from the Twilight faction, and Archbishop Lahir can be said to be the representative of the Twilight faction. Is that enough?”

“Perfect.”

Cyan nodded in satisfaction.

Didn’t he understand the general situation with just these three words?

Complicated explanations were just a headache and boring.

“So is that the person from earlier?”

“That person? Who? Archbishop Lahir?”

“Yeah.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Is that the person you’re sure is a demon?”

Aria flinched.

“Did you… know?”

“There’s no way someone who doesn’t know how to use a demon detector would say it’s broken.”

Aria smiled awkwardly.

Then she slowly shook her head.

“No.”

“No?”

Aria nodded.

“He’s a bastard, but… wait. Is Archbishop Lahir a demon?”

“No. He wasn’t a demon. Then who do you think is a demon?”

“That’s…”

Aria didn’t easily say the words.

She hesitated for a long time.

“…Cardinal Rachel.”

Aria said in a low voice.

“Cardinal Rachel?”

Cyan’s head tilted without him realizing it.

He hadn’t heard the name Rachel before.

But the word Cardinal that followed it.

A cardinal was the highest-ranking clergyman after the Pope.

He was a candidate to be the next Pope.

In fact, he was the core of the Holy Empire.

Such a cardinal is a demon?

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Because a cardinal was, after all, a high-ranking clergyman.

In short, a body full of divine power.

Would a demon use such a body as a vessel if there was no one else to use?

In many ways, it didn’t make sense.

But.

“I know it’s hard to believe. But the power I saw back then was definitely…”

But Aria didn’t seem to think so.

It seemed that…

She had seen Cardinal Rachel use a strange power.

To be exact, she seemed to have seen him use a power related to demons.

So Aria seemed to be sure.

But the demon detector didn’t seem to work.

So there was no proper way now.

“So, can you help me?”

Aria asked Cyan for help.

“Hmm…”

Cyan was lost in thought at Aria’s words.

A cardinal is a demon.

If this was true, it was a very serious matter.

A cardinal was called the next Pope candidate.

He didn’t know how old or how long the current Pope would live.

But he could later take the position of Pope.

Perhaps he would assassinate the Pope and take his place.

Then the entire Holy Empire would be swallowed by demons.

But a cardinal is a demon.

If he had just heard it…

Cyan would have dismissed it as nonsense.

In fact, when you think about it, the moment the demon detector didn’t work.

It should have ended there.

Even if the demon detector reacted to strange people like Cyan.

It would have definitely reacted to demons.

So the fact that it wasn’t detected meant that it was definitely not a demon.

But he couldn’t just do that.

First of all, Aria was so sure.

And the strange aura that the priests had shown earlier.

Evil that was evil but not evil.

But he couldn’t call it magic.

It was by no means a human aura.

And it was a strange aura that could never be seen as a priest.

There were many unsettling aspects to just ignore.

Cyan was lost in thought for a long time.

Cyan’s reason for coming to Aria was simple.

It was none other than the story-linked quest, ‘The Truth Kyle Faced’.

It was to find Muriel’s ruins and uncover the secrets hidden within.

And Aria knew about Muriel’s ruins.

This was the decisive reason why Cyan came to Aria.

But that wasn’t the only reason he came.

The second reason Cyan came to Aria.

“How much.”

It was to earn money to spend on in-app purchases!

Knight Training Center Lv.5, which costs 4 million gold.

‘Achievement: For the Best Weapon!’, which may require pouring 10 million gold into enhancement in the future.

He needed a total of 14 million gold.

But the gold Cyan currently had was…

[Current gold holdings] – 19,950 G.

He only had about 19,000 gold!

He originally had 20,000 gold, but he spent 50 gold to come to the Holy Empire quickly.

There were about 5 months left.

He had to move quickly.

“…?”

Aria’s mind was briefly absent.