Chapter 260 : Chapter 260

Chapter 260

“Drop ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍anchor!”

Dozens ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of priests and believers waited at the dock where the ship arrived.

They ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had come to meet it after seeing the Aquares emblem painted on its sails.

“Move ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the grain and supplies to the temple.”

At ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Levia’s command, the knights moved in perfect order.

Sailors ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and porters loaded grain and supplies onto carts and carried them away.

An Old Priest who approached her said that the Chief Priest was waiting in the temple.

“Let us go.”

Killian and Yulian followed behind Levia as she led the way.

“It has been a long time, Princess Levia.”

A man stood atop the temple stairs.

A white-haired man who looked to be in his early forties welcomed the princess.

Levia gave a small bow at the greeting of the middle-aged man, who wore a dark robe tinged blue and held a staff engraved with the emblem of the sea.

“Vice-Priest Armin.”

“It has been around two years since we last met.”

Travel had not been easy because of the Telesas’ obstruction.

“Where is the Chief Priest?”

Levia asked, looking at the staff Armin held.

Though it looked like an ordinary staff, it was a Divine Object handed down to the Chief Priests from generation to generation.

Sure enough.

“He is old, so he has entrusted the temple’s work to me and spends his time in prayer.”

It meant that the position of Chief Priest had been passed on.

“On behalf of Aquares’s royal family, I thank you for your labor.”

Levia politely said that the kingdom would express its gratitude separately at a later time.

“The wind is cold. Let us go inside first.”

Boom.

At Armin’s glance, the temple doors opened.

Beyond the enormous stone doors lay a vast space tinged blue.

The ceiling was carved with enormous seaweed decorations and motifs symbolizing the sea, while an altar dedicated to the God stood at the center of the temple.

“It seems your escort knights have changed.”

Armin, who was walking ahead, asked as he looked at Killian and Yulian following far behind.

Even in Aquares knights’ armor, their distinctive silver hair stood out.

“They are not escort knights. They are distinguished guests I wish to introduce to the Chief Priest.”

“...?”

Levia turned and beckoned to Killian and Yulian.

“Allow me to introduce them. Sir Julian Eurasia, Eurasia’s Third Prince, and Sir Killian Eurasia, Eurasia’s Fourth Prince.”

“I am Julian Eurasia.”

“I am Killian Eurasia.”

Armin’s eyes narrowed at the silver-haired knights’ sword salutes.

“Eurasia. That is the place said to have recently fought a war with the Empire.”

Being an island did not mean information was completely cut off.

“To think people from beyond the sea have come here in person. It seems Neptune has connected us.”

Armin welcomed them with a genial smile.

At the hope that the Warp Gate might work, Yulian’s eyes sparkled.

“Tea has been prepared.”

They were guided to the Chief Priest’s private reception room, where simple refreshments were set before them.

Thinking that serving tea to guests was the same even across the sea, Killian chewed on the dried seafood offered as a refreshment.

While he savored the taste, formal conversation passed between Levia and the Chief Priest.

“As expected. It was Crown Prince Marcelo who subjugated the Telesa Queen.”

Armin said that, though he had not encountered the queen himself, he had detected her enormous presence several times.

He angrily said that not a few priests had been prevented from carrying out the God’s will by the vicious queen’s attacks.

“The queen was not subjugated. We had to withdraw because our allies’ losses were considerable.”

“Recovering the sea route to the temple is something no one in the Ocean Current Nation has been able to do. On behalf of the temple, I thank Crown Prince Marcelo for his bravery.”

“Thank you. I will convey that to my brother.”

Knowing that the temple and the Telesas were not on good terms, Levia deliberately did not mention the specific circumstances of the alliance.

“May I now ask why Eurasia’s distinguished guests have come?”

Armin’s gaze turned to the silver-haired knights, who had stayed quiet and listened to the conversation.

“They distinguished themselves in the Telesa subjugation alongside my brother. Without them, we would not have recovered the sea route.”

Levia nodded to Killian and Yulian. It meant that her turn was over, and either of them should take up the conversation.

Yulian stepped forward.

“Eurasia has close ties with the Papal Office as well. Saintess Lan and I are personally acquainted.”

“Hahaha. I did not know you had such a connection. Now I see that you are benefactors from the temple’s standpoint as well.”

At the positive reaction, confidence entered Yulian’s voice.

“We must return to Eurasia urgently, but traveling by ship would take too long. Could we use the temple’s Warp Gate?”

“Hmm.”

Armin’s expression became subtle at the direct request.

He quietly looked at Levia.

“I believe an explanation is necessary.”

“I apologize for Sir Yulian’s hasty suggestion. But it is true that we came for that purpose.”

Levia reiterated how Yulian and Killian had drifted into Aquares territory, their contribution to the battle with the Telesas, and their wish to use the temple’s Warp Gate to shorten the time it took to return to Eurasia.

“You crossed the sea using a cave in a mountain range?”

“That is correct. I swear it is true upon my honor as a knight and the trust Saintess Lan has in me.”

Yulian emphasized his relationship with Lan, his eyes intense.

“Goodness...”

“I know that the temple’s Warp Gate cannot be used for private purposes. But Saintess Lan told me that, should anything happen to me, I should seek the help of a nearby temple.”

‘Did Lan ever say something like that?’

He had acted as though he would give everything, so it seemed he had a reason to be confident.

Killian looked pityingly at Yulian, who was brimming with confidence.

“You restored the sea route by subjugating the Telesas, and Saintess Lan told you that as well, so it is a reasonable request. But... did you not tell these people?”

Armin asked Levia.

“I told them that the Warp Gate does not operate.”

“Then why...?”

“Because they want to determine the cause.”

“I see. Eurasian knights are the sort who cannot be satisfied unless they verify things with their own eyes.”

“I hope you are not offended.”

“The Warp Gate has not worked for several centuries. The Papal Office has sent investigators more than once to learn the cause, but they were never able to solve it.”

Armin shook his head and continued.

“I am sorry. Even if you are acquainted with Saintess Lan, I cannot discuss the temple’s affairs with outsiders.”

Armin spoke firmly.

‘He is a man who knows how to distinguish public from private affairs.’

It was Killian’s turn to step forward.

“If outsiders cannot be permitted, what about a God’s Apostle?”

“What do you mean?”

“This is what I mean.”

Whoooosh.

Divine Power rose from Killian’s body.

“...!!”

Armin’s eyes widened in surprise.

Even Yulian and Levia only wore startled expressions at the unexpected situation.

“I awakened Divine Power after receiving a revelation from Murus, the God who guards the northern frontier and boundary.”

Killian continued calmly, wrapping himself in Divine Power.

“Murus said that I should inspect the Warp Gate myself and help the Chief Priest, who has been unable to properly carry out the God’s will.”

Killian added a plausible excuse, saying that Murus occasionally said something in his dreams and then vanished.

[What a swindler.]

Murus’s hollow laugh sounded in Killian’s mind.

Ignoring Murus, Killian continued.

“Since he recommends this hardship to me, Murus and Neptune must have been quite close.”

[How many Gods could like someone who freely copulates with insignificant creatures?]

Despite Murus’s response, the effect was certain.

“This is impossible... A mana user awakening Divine Power...?”

“For your reference, His Holiness the Pope and Saintess Lan are also aware of this.”

“...”

It seemed the most recent information had not been passed along.

The silence did not last long.

Armin quietly stood.

“Please follow me.”

He led them down through the temple’s underground level for quite some time.

Only the sound of their footsteps echoing over the floor filled the passage.

At the temple’s deepest point.

There was an ancient stone door.

When Armin raised a hand, the stone door slowly opened.

There was the object they had searched for so desperately.

The Warp Gate.

A grand structure like an ancient ruin, unlike ordinary Warp Gates.

But it was covered in dust, as though it truly had not been used for a long time.

“Would you like to infuse it with Divine Power?”

At Armin’s words, Killian approached and held out a hand.

The moment he infused it with Divine Power—

Hiss—

A cold energy suddenly flowed out.

It was not Divine Power.

It was—

‘Evil Energy.’

The power that symbolized monsters.

Killian’s brow furrowed.

Armin, who had been watching, sighed.

“You have the same reaction as well, Sir.”

“Since when has it been like this?”

“I have heard it has been several centuries.”

Before that, it had been possible to travel between temples through their Warp Gates.

“It would not be good if it became known that the Warp Gate, which symbolizes the temple, had been contaminated by Evil Energy.”

It was a fact that the Papal Office had concealed for a long time.

“Several years ago, Saintess Lan came to inspect it personally. Even she had to return without being able to do anything.”

That was why Armin had not budged despite Yulian’s words.

“Th-that...”

Regardless of Yulian’s despair beside him, Killian inspected the Evil Energy he sensed from the gate as though savoring it.

“This is not ordinary Evil Energy.”

“It would not be. Saintess Lan said it was the first time she had seen Evil Energy this ominous.”

Armin said with certainty that, if he had to guess, it was at least a famous mountain range’s ruler.

“It is more than that.”

“...?”

A monster that acted as the master of hundreds of mountain ranges.

And the sole being who reigned above them.

“The Monster Lord.”

Killian spoke through gritted teeth.

“This Warp Gate is connected to the Monster Lord’s domain.”

***

Back in the Chief Priest’s private reception room.

Killian, Yulian, and Princess Levia took their seats amid a solemn atmosphere.

Pour.

Armin de Neptune slowly poured tea and spoke.

“Do you have a reason to state with certainty that the connected place is the Monster Lord’s domain?”

“Several centuries ago, Eurasia’s ancestor personally slew the Monster Lord.”

It was history erased from public memory by the Empire’s distortions. But it was something priests who had received a complete education would know.

“According to Eurasia’s ancient records, the Monster Lord possesses hundreds of dungeons.”

“That may be why we drifted all the way to Aquares.”

Yulian added, resting his chin on his hand.

“Perhaps Murus led me as well.”

Unlike the two knights, who traded remarks back and forth, Armin’s expression stiffened.

“But this is not a mountain range, and the Warp Gate is not a cave.”

“I do not know that much either.”

“...”

“Crown Prince Marcelo is searching the mountain ranges in this region, so we will find some clue before long.”

Killian continued calmly.

“One thing is certain: the Warp Gate is serving as a passage to a dungeon.”

“Haa...”

Armin let out a deep sigh.

If that was true, there was no knowing when the temple might become a dungeon.

‘Saintess Lan said there would be no great problem if it were sealed, but...’

Armin looked at Killian, who called himself an Apostle of Murus.

As a Chief Priest, Armin could tell as well.

‘Killian Eurasia’s Divine Power is at least equal to mine.’

For a mana user to possess Divine Power on the level of a Chief Priest was a miracle that could never arise by chance, one that could not occur without a God’s blessing.

‘It is troubling, since I cannot contact the Papal Office at once.’

“Chief Priest.”

Levia looked at Armin.

“The temple has been unable to find a method either, has it not? It is time to make a decision.”

“Sir Killian, do you have a solution?”

“There is only one way to break a dungeon.”

Killian gave his answer casually to the gazes focused on him.

“Cut the core.”