Chapter 214. The Calm Before the Storm (3)
With a single word, the air turned cold.
The nobles watched the meeting in shock, their eyes wide. Especially the one most involved, the First Prince, Valrgna—his face hardened like a stone statue.
The tower master observed the royal bloodline with merciless eyes.
Valrgna parted his lips with difficulty.
"Arch, Archbishop Joseph. What is that supposed to…."
"Do you still not understand the situation?"
Joseph pulled a bundle of papers from his robes and tossed it forward.
It was a record of the casualties caused by the recent Undead incident. Records compiled directly by the kingdom and sent to the Luas Church.
"In the diocese alone, there were hundreds of casualties. Among them, Bishop Neviron and Bishop Feldarn lost their lives, and most of the others were torn apart limb by limb. If you look at the kingdom as a whole, the toll is even worse."
In the southern region alone, more than seven thousand dead or missing.
Because all those who died to the Undead were transformed into Undead themselves. Their sheer number had even spawned stronger Undead, and the damage grew rapidly.
And that was not all.
Tens of thousands wounded, homeless, broken in spirit from losing their families. Even now, the sounds of wailing continued.
Even worse, the southern breadbasket had been tainted with the energy of death, making famine inevitable. Without purification work from the Luas Church, it might remain ruined forever.
There was no way anyone could laugh.
If one understood even a fragment of the severity and pain, laughter would be impossible.
"And yet, Your Highness, you smile, simply to appease me. Surely you don't believe that executing a few nobles—the mere tail—was enough to fulfill your duty?"
"The tail, you say, that is…."
"Tower Master."
He cut him off.
Joseph gave the tower master a small bow.
"As a witness, I ask for your counsel."
"That is a simple matter."
A crimson light flowed from the staff of the tower master.
A chilling aura seeped into their bones. From his pouch, six heads floated up into the air. Their rotting had only just begun, and their mouths gaped wide.
Death whispered.
"Speak forth the emotions you held in life."
The severed heads opened their eyes.
Click, clack, clack. Their jaws began to move.
[I want to live, I want to live!]
[My wealth! Give it back!]
[I am a noble! A noble, do you hear me!]
[I hurt, it hurts!]
[Unfair… it's unfair…]
[Why must only I die! Why!]
The wailing of the dead poured out.
It was a grotesque, chilling sight. Some high nobles, who had never once seen Undead, recoiled in horror, stumbling back.
The tower master asked the fifth and sixth heads.
"What is it you find so unfair?"
[I, I was only following orders…]
[I did not flee! That man abandoned the people and ran away! Yet, because he paid more bribes, he was spared execution!]
"Who is this man?"
At the question, both heads cried out together.
[Count Chedien!]
A name was clearly revealed.
Every gaze turned to the right. Count Chedien, drenched in cold sweat, turned pale as death.
"I, I…! That is to say…!"
"Even now, Your Highness insists otherwise?"
The Archbishop's eyes fixed on the throne.
Valrgna's lips moved soundlessly.
He wanted to say something, but could not.
If he denied it, it would mean doubting the tower master's ability, but if he acknowledged it, responsibility and the worsening of the council were unavoidable.
The six heads returned to the pouch.
Silence fell.
As Valrgna continued to hesitate, the Archbishop spoke.
"By right, this should proceed as a meeting, but since Your Highness shows no such intent, I shall deliver, in the name of the Saint, and as one of the Seven Archbishops, the demands of the Luas Church."
The costs of rebuilding the diocese, full reparations.
Compensation for the families of the dead believers.
Support of supplies and manpower for the purification of the southern lands.
Empty prayers were not requested.
The demands were concrete. To the royal family and nobles, who had long avoided the Church's interference, it was no less than punishment.
Valrgna clenched his teeth.
'Damn it, damn it…!'
The cost was astronomical.
The Luas Church's intent to exert influence over the kingdom was obvious. He had to refuse outright, but… it was Valrgna himself who was cornered.
What was worse, the name of the Saint had been invoked. It meant that the transcendent of the Luas Church was watching this situation.
'I need time. Somehow, I must reduce the price…!'
There was no other way.
Yes, that was the best he could do.
Valrgna said.
"…I need time to deliberate."
"Refused."
The moment he stepped out of the audience chamber, the meeting would be over.
Joseph left no room. He was upright and resolute.
"Kh…."
Cornered, Valrgna looked to the side.
He wished the kingdom's strongest, Leonil, would do something, but… it was useless. Leonil only bowed his head, watching the tower master's reaction.
The logic of power.
A transcendent and an archbishop.
Before just two, the kingdom was the weak.
From the start, there had been no choice.
"…The kingdom will accept the demands of the Luas Church."
The one entrusted with royal authority bowed his head.
He could not even speak his prepared words, only yield to the Church's declaration.
Thus the meeting was concluded.
There was no longer any reason to remain in the audience chamber.
Joseph turned his head.
"Marquis Esperanza."
"Yes, Archbishop."
"Since the meeting is over, it would be best to move to the next schedule."
As was arranged, to the Marquis's estate.
"I will guide you at once."
The Marquis gave his respects to the First Prince, then personally opened the chamber doors.
"Then let us go, Your Highness. Tower Master."
Joseph turned to leave.
Upon his robe, the emblem of the Luas Church—the golden true cross—fluttered. The might of a world religion was not something a decaying kingdom could endure.
"...."
The tower master narrowed his eyes.
The First Prince, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, even Leonil—though exalted within the kingdom, they held no interest for him.
But the First Princess, Silis.
Sitting like a doll, she was different.
Her appearance was a lie.
Beyond platinum-colored eyes, it could be seen. A soul that only one who understands death could perceive, a soul capable of calling forth vast death.
"…Interesting."
It was worth coming.
The Necromancer smiled faintly as he followed behind Joseph.
Thud.
The door closed.
...
In the now quiet audience chamber, Leonil lifted his head.
'Damn transcendent…!'
From the moment the tower master appeared, he could do nothing.
Just facing him brought fear. The suffocating pressure drew out a heavy sense of helplessness.
Leonil, a 6th tier Magus.
If he reached the 7th tier, he would, like the tower master, fulfill the qualifications of a transcendent.
The difference was only one step.
Yet, it was also an unbridgeable gap. Leonil had already reached the tier limit.
However.
'If the experiment is completed, then I as well…!'
Leonil clenched his fist tightly.
The end of decades of experimentation, at arm's reach. No matter who interfered, he could not give up.
He would finish it, no matter what.
And so ascend.
To the rank of an absolute sovereign, who rules over the world.
Leonil stared at the place where the tower master had vanished. Dreaming of the day, not far off, when he would stand there himself.
***
The road to the Marquis's mansion in the capital was peaceful.
Though the Archbishop's cold attitude toward the kingdom was not yet known, though the tower master was concealing his presence, no one dared approach.
And even a quiet road, wide enough for the carriage to pass comfortably.
It was the result of Marquis Esperanza's careful preparations.
Such detailed hospitality was the most basic of basics.
After arriving at the mansion, the two were guided into the reception room.
The marquis discreetly gauged their tastes, serving refreshments accordingly. Special delicacies, procured personally by the marquis for this very day.
Fortunately, they were well received.
Now it was time to begin the three-way meeting.
As the marquis left the reception room, the first to enter was Calia.
She greeted politely, her stiff posture drawing a gentle smile from Joseph.
"There is no need to be nervous, Lady Calia. We are not here to question your faults, but to thank you for the sacrifice you made, and to hear from you about that situation."
"Ah… th, thank you for your words."
"Do not feel burdened, sit comfortably."
Calia sat cautiously.
She swallowed under the gaze of a transcendent. Sweat beaded on the hands resting upon her thighs.
Even though the tower master hid his power out of consideration, the intangible pressure of his status was impossible to ignore.
Amidst such tension, Joseph opened his mouth.
"Then I shall ask. The group of black mages called Glory of the Dead. When was it that you came into contact with them?"
***
At the Archbishop's questions, Calia answered truthfully.
At times, she stammered, but overall she was calmer than expected. She even praised herself inwardly for it.
At last, the questioning ended.
Organizing the information in his mind, Joseph nodded.
"You have done well, Lady Calia. You speak clearly and with structure. Thanks to that, it was easy to understand, as though seeing the scene myself."
"Thank you, Archbishop…!"
"The matter of reward for your efforts and achievements will be discussed later. Now then, would you call in that man named Asher?"
"Ah, yes! I will bring him at once."
Bowing her head, Calia quickly left.
As the sound of her footsteps faded, Joseph spoke to the tower master.
"The Third Prince, colluding with black mages. What do you make of it?"
"Not collusion, but exploitation."
Clink.
The tower master set down his teacup.
"The legion of Undead that appeared in the kingdom's south, it arose from the 7th tier black magic
"So, even if we interrogate the Third Prince, there is no information to be gained."
"It would only waste time. But do you truly need further clues?"
"…What do you mean?"
"The last words left by the black mage Nosa: 'The day the Great Dead appears once more in this world, the immortal world shall come'. You know very well what that Great Dead refers to, do you not? One of the histories erased by the Luas Church itself."
Joseph gave no reply.
A prohibition set by the Church was never to be spoken, under any circumstances.
But silence was itself an answer.
"The reappearance of the mighty black mages who vanished centuries ago. Their reason for coming to the kingdom must be to find those long-lost, 'sealed body fragments'. And the fact that they disappeared again means they achieved that goal."
"..."
"As the tower master of DarkWarton, I will also investigate. And you, keep close watch over the sealed body fragments managed by the Church. The moment that corpse revives, the continent will once again be engulfed in war."
"…Thank you for the warning."
Joseph bowed his head gravely.
The tower master picked up another pastry.
A changing world. For a Necromancer who understood death—the greatest fear of the living—it was a deep stimulation.
He smiled faintly, sincerely glad he had come in person.
Knock, knock.
Then, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Joseph gave permission.
The door opened, and a gray-haired mage stepped inside, bowing deeply to the two.
"I am Mage Asher."
Verden gave his simple introduction.
'A transcendent, and an Archbishop.'
As Calia had whispered, it was said that even looking them in the eye was difficult. Of course, since they stood near the summit of the world, it was only natural.
But what mattered most was this.
To face a new transcendent, a tower master other than Bohemirn's. It was a chance for Verden to confirm his own place in the world.
With such expectation and tension, he slowly raised his head.
And the moment his eyes met the tower master's—
Plop.
The tower master dropped his pastry.
A gaze filled with shock, nearing horror, fell upon Verden.