Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 403

“Thank you very much, Your Holiness, but I don’t think I can accept your offer.”

Philip gave a polite, but forced smile as he refused the Saintess’s offer.

It wasn’t that the Divine Sword wasn’t strong enough to help.

‘She’s really good at hiding her Holy Aura.’

The Holy Aura was easy to spot, so it was strange that people didn’t notice it. It was like the Holy Kingdom was openly declaring war on the Empire again.

Of course, McLaine would be happy if the Holy Kingdom and the Empire fought each other.

But nothing is free.

‘What will they want in return?’

Philip thought about everything he had learned in his travels as a merchant. He knew nothing was truly free. So, for now, he decided to refuse the Saintess’s offer.

He had no idea what the price for sending the Divine Sword might be.

Wouldn’t it be enough to say, ‘McLaine is a friendly nation that helped drive out the Black Serpent from the temple,’ so the Empire wouldn’t have a reason to invade?

“Oh? Are you refusing?”

“As a friendly nation, I don’t think we should ask the Holy Kingdom to do too much.”

What was she planning?

Philip spoke indirectly, trying to find out what she was planning.

Then, the Divine Sword’s commander spoke up before the Saintess did.

“Your Holiness, are you sure? This could cause big problems for us. The Holy Aura of me and the other commanders is easy to spot…”

“Commander Harmon, this is about the Divine Mandate, so please don’t give your personal opinions.”

“Yes?”

“We’ll talk about it later, just the two of us.”

The Saintess turned back to Philip after stopping Harmon.

“What do you say, Merchant Lord Philip? Even if we are willing to do that much, are you still refusing?”

“…You’re saying you won’t ask for anything in return?”

That was hard to believe.

But the Saintess said it was true.

“Yes. Didn’t McLaine help in the same way? The Holy Kingdom doesn’t put conditions on helping its friends.”

Philip was shocked by her words and sweet smile.

For once, even her fake smile didn’t bother him.

What great luck!

‘Is this a gift from the Nine Gods? Oh, Gods! Your Majesty, I’ve won big! Hooray!’

Philip felt like cheering loudly inside. He was so happy! Then, he quickly realized where he was and opened his mouth.

“Then, of course…”

He had to accept.

Just as he was about to thank her and accept the offer, he remembered something that made him uneasy.

– …Please ask her this. If she gives a strange answer, she said that she would no longer be herself, and from then on, you should treat her as an enemy. The Saintess said so herself.

– I wanted to ask her myself, but I couldn’t. Philip, Uncle, or rather, Hyung. I beg you.

A request from his usually distant friend.

Philip remembered the serious look in Viktor’s eyes and barely stopped himself from speaking. It didn’t make sense, but he couldn’t ignore those words.

‘…Treat her as an enemy?’

He needed to check.

“Why are you hesitating, Merchant Lord?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. It’s a very generous offer, but I don’t have the authority to accept it. I need to tell His Majesty and get his permission first.”

“Even though we’re offering to help without any conditions?”

Harmon looked even more worried when she said that.

It would be best to get an answer now, in case Harmon convinced the Saintess to change her mind after the meeting.

‘…If things go wrong, it’s all your fault, Viktor.’

Philip felt uneasy, so he had to act like he couldn’t make any decisions.

“Haha. Isn’t that what a good subject should do?”

“Hmm…”

“Is something wrong?”

Ilia’s strange look made his heart beat faster, but Philip tried to stay calm.

Then, the Saintess chuckled, shook her head, and stood up.

“No, it’s nothing. Please give me your answer after talking to King Logan. I’ll be waiting for a good answer.”

King Logan?

He was already feeling uneasy, so every word bothered him.

‘King Logan, huh.’

The leader of the Holy Kingdom could call him that.

But the Saintess was from McLaine, and he had heard that she was close to the king, so she should call him His Majesty…

His mind was racing, but when he saw the Saintess about to leave, Philip spoke without thinking.

He had to deal with this feeling of unease.

“Ah, before you go, I have a personal request to make to Saintess Ilia, not as the Pope, but as an individual.”

“…Yes?”

“I just remembered a friend’s request. I forgot to mention it before we talked about important things.”

“…Now, suddenly?”

“Ahahaha. It’s a request from Viktor. I think you care about him too?”

“Ah, Viktor. Yes, I do. I owe him a lot.”

Why did she look unhappy when she said that?

“But you know I can’t grant every request, given my position?”

“Of course.”

When you’re suspicious, you imagine things, so Philip carefully remembered Viktor’s words and tried to stop his mind from rushing to conclusions. He needed to think carefully.

“It won’t hurt Your Holiness’s reputation. It’s about turning the Saintess’s old home in McLaine into an orphanage.”

“…Yes?”

“Since the war is creating many orphans, it would help with that…”

The Saintess had been looking at Philip strangely, but now she smiled.

It was the same fake smile.

“Ah, I see. Viktor never disappoints me. I should definitely grant that request.”

“…Thank you for your kindness.”

Philip bowed with a smile, but he was very confused.

‘That was real… What is going on?’

The former home of Saintess Ilia, where she lived when she was a bishop in McLaine, was already an orphanage.

Eight years had passed since Saintess Ilia Gabbon first became the leader in the city of Macline.

Philip frowned, thinking, “Doesn’t the Saintess remember the plans she made and carried out herself in Macline? It’s impossible she doesn’t know!”

He felt a chill. “How could this be happening? Could it be true… that she is no longer the same person? Is she now someone we should see as an enemy?”

Viktor, the advisor known for his wild theories, had been saying strange things about the Saintess. At first, Philip had ignored it as nonsense. But now, Viktor’s words – that the Saintess might not be who she seemed – were starting to feel worryingly true.

If Viktor was right about the Saintess, then why would she suggest sending a powerful Divine Sword to King Logan? It was a very strange and unexpected idea.

“If the Saintess is really an enemy,” Philip thought, his heart racing, “then the Divine Sword she sends will not be a helper. They will be an assassin!”

A cold wave washed over Philip as he pictured the Divine Sword, blade raised, not to protect King Logan, but to strike him down from behind. Goosebumps prickled his skin, and his breath caught in his throat.

The Saintess’s voice was sharp. “Merchant Lord Philip? Is there anything else you wish to say?”

Philip jumped slightly, startled from his thoughts. “Ah, no, Your Holiness. Thank you for seeing me.”

He forced a polite smile, hoping it hid the fear churning inside him. He bowed deeply and quickly left the room.

Philip’s mind raced. Everything had changed in just ten minutes.

“How can I possibly say no to this?” he worried.

Later that night, Philip managed to get a message to King Logan on the battlefield. Logan’s reply was not at all what Philip had expected.

[Logan’s voice crackled over the line, full of surprise.] “What? That really happened? How is that even possible?”

“At first, I thought it was crazy and ignored it,” Philip explained. “But the Saintess acting like she doesn’t know anything is even crazier.”

[Logan’s voice was serious.] “That’s true. I need to find Viktor and ask him what he’s hiding.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Ask Viktor first. But what about the Saintess’s offer?”

[Logan paused for a moment.] “Accept it.”

“What? Your Majesty! But if she is an enemy, the Divine Sword could be dangerous!” Philip protested.

[Logan cut him off.] “If we refuse, who knows what this strange Saintess will do? It might be worse.”

“But a Divine Sword… they could be an assassin!”

[Logan chuckled.] “Philip, are you worrying too much? Don’t be so protective. I know how to handle a Divine Sword. Besides,” [Logan added, his tone changing slightly,] “think about it – who would refuse such a generous offer? If the Saintess *is* an enemy, refusing her could be more dangerous for *you*.”

Philip’s eyes widened. “Ah…!”

[Logan sighed.] “You didn’t even think about yourself, did you? I don’t know if I should be grateful or annoyed. Just tell the Saintess we accept.”

“But still…” Philip mumbled, still uneasy.

Logan laughed again, a confident, kingly sound. [Logan’s voice was full of excitement.] “A Divine Sword, Philip! Think of it – a powerful weapon we’ve just gained!”

Philip could only manage a weak, “Please be careful, Your Majesty.” He still felt uneasy, but Logan was already sounding thrilled.

*** ***

A brilliant blue light shot into the sky from the Pope’s prayer room, turning heads across the central temple. *Whispers rippled through the halls.* The war in the distant east? Old news. *This blue light, this divine message – this was what everyone was talking about now.*

The Pope, Ilia Gabbon, had gathered all the priests. But when she spoke, many priests were doubtful. The message she delivered did not sound like any divine message they had heard before.

[Ilia’s voice echoed through the temple, cold and clear.] “Eliminate the black serpent that defies God’s will! Exterminate the descendants of the Magic Saint!”

The words were too precise, too full of anger to sound like a message from God. This was Ilia Gabbon, the Saintess and Pope. She had a troubled past – once called an enemy, then rising to become Pope after a great struggle, even leading a war against the Empire. *She was supposed to be the ‘flower of God’ blooming in dark times.* But this message… this was different. Despite their doubts, the priests knew Ilia’s history of overcoming hardship. They listened. And soon, orders were given.

[Ilia’s commands rang out, sharp and decisive.] “Create a special group to hunt down and destroy the black serpent!”

[Her voice echoed with authority.] “Send orders to every temple across the continent! Begin active searches and demand help from every country!”

[Finally, her voice rose, filled with religious fervor.] “Priests and paladins of the temple! This divine message is our highest priority! Obey these orders without question!”

*Immediately, the temple buzzed with activity. Orders were written, messengers dispatched, and the hunt began.*

The next day, Divine Sword Haman Killbrew knelt before Ilia.

Ilia looked at Haman, her gaze intense. “Haman,” she began, her voice low, “it is true.”

“Your Holiness?” Haman asked, confused.

“Logan Macline,” Ilia continued, “he is the one destined to become the incarnation of Jibric Kassel. Your mission, Haman, is to eliminate him.”

Haman’s eyes widened in shock. He stared at Ilia’s hand, which was now holding something out to him. *His own hand trembled slightly as he reached for it.* “Your Holiness,” he stammered, “how can you possess… one of the sacred objects that protects the Great Celestial Barrier?”

Ilia seemed unmoved by his shock. She pressed the necklace into his hand. It pulsed with a warm, golden light. “This shows how important your mission is, Haman.”

“Your Holiness…” Haman whispered, awestruck.

“Take it,” Ilia said firmly. “This is Licentia, the sacred object of Aria, the god of heaven and freedom. Haman, Captain of the Divine Swords, you *must* succeed. For our God.”

Ilia’s unwavering tone left no room for argument. Haman bowed his head and accepted the necklace.

“For our God,” he echoed, his voice filled with newfound resolve. The warm light of Licentia seemed to fill him with power.

Then Ilia leaned closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “First, you must gain his trust, make sure he doesn’t suspect you. But when the time is right… you understand what you must do, yes?”

Haman nodded slowly. The second part of the order felt… less holy than the first. But it was still an order.

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

*It was a mission from God, after all.*

“Pray with Licentia every day while you are with him,” Ilia instructed. “Aria will guide you to the ‘true path'”

“I will, Your Holiness.”

*True path.* As Haman looked up, he finally noticed Ilia’s expression. It was not calm, as he had thought. *A strange, unsettling smile played on her lips, and her eyes held a flicker of something… cold.* Haman shivered, but Ilia turned away, her face once again serene.