Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 364

“Are you aware that the current Pope is being manipulated by someone?”

The Saintess had raised a doubt.

He also became suspicious after meeting Cardinal Tracy. People were saying she was the one behind it.

This thought already worried him, but now this story was coming from someone he did not expect.

‘Was I the only fool?’

A feeling of despair made him clench his fist.

Even though he felt bad inside, he answered quickly. It might not be what the Prince wanted to hear.

“…It is an internal matter of the Holy State. There is no reason for a person of the Empire to be involved.”

These words were meant to keep the Prince at a distance.

But the Prince, whom he thought would leave, was still there.

“Oh, were you already aware of this?”

The Prince looked at him with what seemed like admiration, not mockery. Harmon stopped walking.

“What do you want to say, Your Highness?”

“No, it is nothing. It was a word of advice I offered in the hope that the Holy State, one of the two pillars that move the world, would find its proper place. Please forgive me if it was unnecessary interference.”

The Prince’s polite attitude moved Harmon’s heavy heart. At least, he didn’t seem to be trying to pick a fight or play a prank.

“If you have something to say, please do so. I will listen carefully.”

If his suspicions were right, the Holy State was in for terrible trouble. Although the other party was a mere stripling of around thirty, given his status, he might have some information that he didn’t know.

Baros, too, straightened his posture and bowed his head at the polite response.

“I don’t deserve such a kind welcome from you, leader of the Sword of God. But this is serious, so I will speak plainly and honestly.”

How could he, the noble Prince of the Empire, show such a polite attitude?

The Holy Knights, and Harmon too, seemed impressed.

And a faint smile appeared on the faces of Leos and Jerome, who were watching the scene from behind Baros.

However, what Baros said next was something that no one could listen to with a smile.

“There is a sinister group of wizards that the Imperial Family has designated as enemies. They ignore the common sense of the world and pursue heresy, specializing in manipulating people’s minds and using them as sacrifices. They are…”

Suddenly, a voice echoed in Baros’s mind.

– The contract of the Black Serpent is a contract made with the soul. Now your choice can never be undone. No god, no magic will break this contract.

Baros, who had been speaking smoothly, stopped for a moment. Suddenly, an old, sly voice invaded his mind, and the content of that voice sent a shiver down his spine.

But he soon gritted his teeth and shook off the thoughts that filled his head.

‘You broke the promise first, Tower Master.’

He didn’t want to think about why that word suddenly came to mind. First of all, he had to survive.

Suddenly, cold sweat poured down his body, but it did not stop his desire to survive.

He had to live. If he failed, there would be no turning back.

Baros only thought about that and steeled himself.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I suddenly remembered being attacked by those guys. I suffered quite a bit because of them.”

Because part of it was true, the lie sounded believable.

“Anyway, this group is called the Black Serpent, or the Cassel Magic Tower. They seem to have used an old magical object to control the new Pope’s mind.”

“…What?”

Line Harper, Harmon’s adjutant, laughed in disbelief.

It was understandable. The mental magic known to the world so far was hypnosis or sleep magic, which in reality only stimulated the brain to induce a specific reaction, rather than the soul.

People knew that holy power was stronger than other magic when it came to resisting mind control.

“What nonsense…!”

Line Harper interrupted, even though Harmon hadn’t allowed it. He thought the words were insulting. The other knights also looked angry.

But when Harmon nodded, they all had no choice but to look at their superior in surprise.

“I had a rough idea.”

“Sir!”

“What is going on…!”

The commotion in the back subsided as Harmon raised one hand.

He, too, thought it was a blasphemous story and couldn’t even discuss it with his subordinates. He felt bad for his knights, but this was more important than their feelings right now.

“I heard it from the Saintess, and I just confirmed the situation directly. Cardinal Tracy, is she part of that group of wizards?”

“You are indeed amazing. You even know the person involved. That’s right. Cardinal Tracy is the mastermind who brainwashed His Holiness the Pope.”

If that fact, which he didn’t want to admit, was assumed to be true, she was the only person to point out right now.

Baros praised Harmon for understanding so quickly, but Harmon’s face became serious.

“…Then, is the identity of that group of wizards all you want to tell me, Your Highness?”

That was not enough.

Seeing the look in Harmon’s eyes, Baros smiled.

“Of course not. I came here chasing them, and fortunately, the time I spent was not in vain, and I was able to identify their organization rooted in the Holy State. I may lack power here, but I expect the name of the Sword of God will be enough to cut them out at once.”

Harmon was surprised. He knew it wasn’t just Tracy, but it was still shocking to hear it confirmed.

“…That would be helpful enough.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I was worried, but I feel much lighter now. Haha.”

Harmon stared at Baros’s face, who was smiling so freely, for a moment. It was so righteous for the Prince of the Empire to say that, that he was honestly suspicious.

But even in the face of his staring eyes, Baros’s expression did not waver at all. Rather, he became even more proactive.

“Ah, wait. Can the Holy Knights just punish priests right away? Don’t you need to get other priests involved first? Maybe have some kind of trial or meeting?”

“…That’s how it will be. And when that time comes, the information you gave, or will give, will be of great help.”

“But wouldn’t that take a long time?”

“We can sort everything out in a month.”

It was unusual for Harmon to tell an outsider his plans.

He said that with the determination to clean up for sure, but what Baros said next far exceeded his expectations.

“That’s too slow. The Imperial Army is coming because of what these wizards did in the Empire. So, let me handle the first steps.”

Like a sudden storm, news spread through the Holy City. It wasn’t a real storm of wind, though.

“Did you hear? His Holiness the Pope…”

“I heard it too.”

“Uh, me too.”

Cardinal Tracy was trying to take control of the Holy State by controlling the Pope, who was already sick.

People also said that Cardinal Tracy, not the sick Pope, was the one who kicked out the Saintess. Remember, the Saintess had removed the Pope before.

Cardinal Tracy stopped anyone from going into the Pope’s house. Only she could go in or out.

Strange rumors and real things that happened mixed together. Slowly, people started to believe the rumors were true.

Also, the Pope had not been seen in public for a while. This made things even worse.

As a result, within just a few days, priests within the Order began to get restless.

It happened strangely fast and like someone was pushing them from behind.

“Cardinal Tracy, reveal the truth!”

“We want to see His Holiness!”

“Hold an impeachment trial!”

Priests from all over the Central Temple protested in front of the Pope’s house and near Cardinal Tracy’s house.

“Please, everyone, listen! We will do everything fairly! Please go back now!”

“A trial will be held soon with the Cardinals. All the truth will be revealed then, so please return now and wait for the Order’s instructions!”

Priests who became Cardinals after the Saintess was kicked out tried to calm the normal priests. But it didn’t work.

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

“You’re just puppets chosen by Cardinal Tracy!”

“Bring back the Saintess!”

Secrets that only the leaders of the Order should know were somehow spreading to all the normal priests.

“Let’s storm in! We must save His Holiness!”

“Let us save the Pope!”

The excited priests, led by the young ones, began to rush towards the Cardinals’ houses. The Holy Knights and Temple soldiers guarding the houses didn’t dare stop them.

The priests were about to break into the Pope’s house. Then, Cardinal Tracy came out. He came from the Pope’s house, not his own house.

“Everyone, please go back! His Holiness is very unwell! You are committing a sin right now.”

His voice, pleading with a pitiful expression, seemed sincere. The priests who had been charging forward hesitated and stepped back.

“I-Is that so?”

“If he’s really unwell…….”

“…then that’s a serious matter.”

The priests at the front stopped and murmured, leaving the priests behind them confused. But the priests at the front had blank eyes.

But then…

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

Plop.

Suddenly, someone threw an egg, changing everything.

“If you have nothing to hide, open the door! Our priests wouldn’t hurt the Pope!”

Someone shouted, and the priests who were still thinking clearly spoke up again.

“That’s right!”

“Who here would dare harm His Holiness!”

“We just need to see that he’s okay!”

Even though the priests at the front looked blank, the atmosphere heated up again.

Then, Tracy, wiping the egg off his face, shouted with a determined look.

“Very well! I am confident. A trial to uncover the truth will be held in a few days! So please, wait! Even a small disturbance is not good for His Holiness’s health!”

A group of people watching clenched their fists.

“We succeeded. Now that he said that, they can’t delay for more than a week.”

“Before that, we must watch Tracy and the Black Serpent’s gang so they don’t escape.”

“If they escape, just kill them. It’ll save trial time.”

While the Holy Knights cheered, Ilia, who had been released from prison but it wasn’t official, looked grim.

Harmon noticed her expression and quietly came to her.

“Second Prince, you’re good at this. You’ve dealt with people a lot.”

“Is that so?”

“…Is something bothering you?”

“Yes, a little.”

“What’s wrong?”

Harmon trusted her now and his face was filled with trust.

But the Saintess’s words were not reassuring.

“Why is the Second Prince helping us?”

“Yes? Well, it’s because those fellows are enemies of the Empire…….”

“…The invitation to the Second Prince was after the Pope’s ceremony. After he had already been brainwashed. But why?”

Harmon’s face darkened, while the person they were talking about looked serious nearby.

“The Sword Soul and the Gale Army are moving faster?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“When will they arrive?”

“Within a week.”

Baros looked even more serious.

The timing was bad.

“I finally set things up…… Why do you think this is happening?”

“…It seems the King wants to get involved in the Holy Kingdom because of the Black Serpent.”

“Something I could have done myself…….”

“The army is confirmed, right?”

“Damn it. What should we do?”

“We must get help from the Holy Sword and the Saintess. We must finish everything before the Sword Soul arrives, so they have nothing to do.”

“What reason should I give?”

“If we tell them honestly…….”

“That won’t do! If I do that, I’ll lose influence. I have to make the Holy Kingdom do what I want.”

“Your Highness…….”

Baros and Leos were serious.

Behind them, Jerome looked worried and kept touching the sword at his waist.