Salvanel only managed to wake up the following day.
He saw an ornate marble ceiling and a chandelier reflecting light. This wasn’t the northern cabin but the papal office in the Federation.
“Your Holiness!”
“Your Holiness, are you conscious?”
The spacious recovery room was filled with numerous cardinals. When Salvanel opened his eyes, the clergy who had been praying rose from their seats in unison. Salvanel immediately sat up and asked.
“Why am I here? Where is the little devotee?”
“About that…”
The cardinal who stepped forward ordered a priest waiting behind him.
“Call the person in charge.”
“Yes.”
As the priest went outside, the cardinal standing beside the bed continued his explanation.
“There was a sudden attack by a magical organization in the north.”
“An attack?”
“Yes, they seem to have discovered Your Holiness’s northern visit. We’re still investigating where the information leaked from, but they reportedly paralyzed communications with headquarters and attacked the escorting Holy Knights. After receiving an urgent message from a surviving Holy Knight, we quickly brought Your Holiness to the papal office.”
The cardinal knelt with a troubled expression.
“This is a sensitive time, so you must take special care, Your Holiness. Please refrain from making personal appearances in the future.”
“More importantly…”
Purple eyes scanned the spacious room.
“Where is the little devotee? The demon elf who was with me.”
“You mean the blood brother of the traitor D’Élysée Belered?”
“Yes.”
The cardinal paused briefly and exchanged glances with the high clergy. Noticing something else was on their minds, Salvanel put on a light smile and spoke.
“Please speak freely. Did something happen while I was absent?”
“Actually, Your Holiness slept for about twenty hours. It seems to be the effect of a powerful sleeping agent…”
As the cardinal explained, the door opened behind him. Two Holy Knights quietly saluted before entering the chamber.
“In fact, we’re considering the demon elf you just mentioned as a suspect in this attack.”
The cardinal continued speaking, albeit with some hesitation.
“Isn’t his connection to that vile traitor a matter that must be addressed? There’s a clear possibility they’re working together…”
“No, that can’t be true!”
“We’ve been trying to tell you!”
Holy Knights Cole and Nile interrupted the cardinal’s words with shouts. The cardinal turned to them with visible displeasure.
“How dare you! Do you know where you are…!”
“Please listen to us, Your Holiness! If Sir Egru were dangerous, why would he have saved us?”
“That’s right! Sir Egru said he was only targeting the hero! It was all thanks to Sir Egru’s help that we were able to leave the cabin and communicate with headquarters!”
But the cardinal immediately countered.
“Your Holiness, we cannot rule out the possibility that these men have been brainwashed!”
“With all due respect, we’ve been certified to have no traces of magical formulas in our bodies!”
“If you listen to the testimonies of the northern villagers, you’ll know the exact details!”
“Enough!”
When Cole and Nile continued to add their comments without backing down, the cardinal’s face flushed red with anger.
“How dare you who failed to properly protect the Pope speak so recklessly! You will not escape disciplinary action for this!”
“A moment.”
A calm voice cut through the cardinal’s heated exclamation.
“I’d like to hear their story.”
“But Your Holiness…!”
“I understand your opinion.”
Salvanel displayed a benevolent smile. His purple eyes glanced around at the clergy filling the room.
“However, we should not dismiss any claim, no matter how trivial. Wouldn’t that contradict the doctrines of our Lord?”
The cardinal retreated hesitantly at this gentle admonition. Salvanel placed his delicate hand over his chest and spoke.
“Can you understand my desire to exercise caution in judgment?”
“…how could we not, Your Holiness.”
The high clergy, including the priests, bowed their heads respectfully. Even the cardinal who had been shouting until a moment ago finally bent his waist.
“Please arrange a place for me to talk with the Holy Knights.”
At the Pope’s request, the clergy left the room one by one. Shortly after, only Salvanel and the two Holy Knights remained in the immaculate chamber.
“Cole and Nile, correct?”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
“That is correct.”
“What happened to the little devotee?”
Salvanel asked, concealing his anxiousness.
“Based on what the cardinal said earlier, could he be imprisoned in the papal dungeon?”
At the Pope’s words, Cole and Nile looked at each other.
“Would you read this first?”
Cole took out a carefully folded piece of paper from inside his garment.
“…A note?”
“Yes, we saved this letter that was by Your Holiness’s pillow. It seems to be a message left by Sir Egru.”
Cole knelt respectfully and raised the letter above his head. The paper appeared to have been hastily torn from a notebook, with a clearly ripped edge.
“In the name of our Lord, we swear on our lives. Neither of us has read a single word of the letter’s contents.”
“You did well. Truly well done.”
Salvanel’s praise was perfunctory, as his attention was already completely focused on the letter. His white hand received the paper, folded neatly twice. Unable to hide his urgency, he unfolded the letter to find messy handwriting densely packed inside.
[The blizzard stopped while Salvanel was asleep. I’ll look for the Holy Knights and seek help from the village. I’m sorry. To become a great hero, I might not return. Actually, my wish was for Salvanel to forgive D’Élysée. I’ll do my best to help people until Salvanel’s heart can be healed. Thank you for helping me without asking for anything in return. I’ll try to become a kind person like Salvanel. See you later, Salvanel. Your friend who wants to be like you, Egru.]
A moment later, after calmly folding the letter, Salvanel listened to the rest of Cole and Nile’s story. It wasn’t difficult to understand the overall situation.
‘The kind-hearted hero saved souls who deserved to die…’
He left on a journey to save even his worthless brother. It was truly like him.
“I’ve heard enough. Cole, Nile. Please return to your quarters and wait.”
Salvanel spoke slowly.
“I’ll handle the disciplinary action the cardinal mentioned, so you needn’t worry.”
“Your Holiness, about Sir Egru…”
“I give you my word.”
Salvanel smiled faintly as he bid the two farewell.
“Soon you’ll hear good news.”
“Thank you, Your Holiness.”
Cole and Nile kissed Salvanel’s hand before silently leaving the chamber.
“Ah…”
Alone in the room, Salvanel touched his forehead. His hand trembled violently, revealing his unstable emotions.
“Hero, how could you do this to me twice…”
Salvanel couldn’t bring himself to tear up the letter in his hand, instead crumpling it against his chest. He pressed it right above his heart, breathing in short gasps.
“You shouldn’t do this, you shouldn’t.”
He had been arrogant enough to believe that this time he could possess the hero. D’Élysée and Tarn had probably already left the Demon Federation. All Salvanel could do now, having lost the hero from right beside him, was to search for any remaining traces.
‘He clearly said it. That he received new life from the World Tree…’
That must certainly be his base. The problem was the location of the World Tree, which had never been revealed.
Salvanel bit his thumbnail. He had to prevent Gilbert from being alone with the hero.
‘Judging by his attack earlier, it seems he hasn’t recognized him yet…’
The moment Gilbert realizes who the hero is, he might devour him in one bite.
‘Surely not…’
Salvanel clutched a handful of his fine white hair. Just imagining it made him nauseous, turning his insides upside down. He should have imprinted on him when he had the chance.
‘This is no time for this.’
Salvanel immediately picked up the communication orb. Before it could ring even once, the signal tone was cut off. The other party had responded. But only silence flowed from beyond the orb.
“You have something to do right away, Levian.”
Salvanel, who initiated the conversation, hesitated for a moment. Should he reveal the hero’s identity? He needed to torment someone to cope with this bitter taste.
‘No…’
That might make him give up on the hero completely. Wasn’t there still use for Levian elsewhere?
‘Perhaps he already knows.’
Maybe he vaguely realized it but couldn’t bring himself to accept it.
Salvanel thought the latter wouldn’t be bad either and opened his mouth.
“Find the location of the World Tree.”
“What bullshit are you talking now? Forget it, just keep the promise you made last time.”
“The World Tree comes first. Oh, and Gilbert lives there.”
“…What? That horny bastard is still alive?”
“Mobilize all the manpower you have to find it. I’ll try to contact the Fruit Cult, so you investigate the Magic Tower and Academy.”
“You’re still maintaining a relationship with those insane cult bastards…”
Having said what he needed to, Salvanel abruptly cut off the communication. Most of Levian’s nagging was worthless anyway.
“Hero…”
Salvanel buried his face in the letter Egru had left and took a deep breath. An anguished moan escaped through his clenched teeth.