Chapter 198

The Temple of Luna welcomed the saint with unparalleled hospitality. Despite worshiping a different god, she was the Saint after all, a being who could wield the immense power of the divine.

And Seojin, he took on the role of her attendant to enter.

“Attendant, please come this way.”

Unless one openly revealed that they were an adventurer, it remained unknown. A lower-ranking priest took charge of Seojin.

And the others?

They had long since rushed out to welcome this sacred human. Seojin quietly waited in his assigned quarters. The outside was still bustling. The presence of the saint had transformed the temple, always shrouded in silence, into a marketplace of activity.

Eventually, the official ceremonies concluded. The fervor had somewhat cooled down , though the priests still bustled about with excitement, knowing they would not encounter the saint again, until her departure. Only a few of the highest-ranking officials in the temple had the honor of dealing with the saint.

The atmosphere became calmer. These were people who served a deity, after all. They tried to compose their emotions and return to their daily routines.

And then,

“The archbishop wishes to see you.”

Only when everyone had forgotten the existence of her attendant did Seojin quietly slip out of his assigned quarters.

He headed towards the deepest and highest part of the temple, where those closest to Luna and the saint were conversing. The man assigned to guide him was no ordinary priest, at least of bishop rank. He even passed Seojin off to another to avoid drawing undue attention.

“They are waiting inside.”

“Aren’t you coming in?”

“How could I possibly presume to do so? It’s regrettable that I didn’t recognize you earlier.”

“I didn’t make it obvious, so how could you have known? I’ll go in. Thank you.”

The bishop politely stepped aside. Upon entering, three people were sitting down: Saint Aikora, the man who had greeted her at the forefront as the archbishop, and the cardinal assisting him.

“Seojin!”

“Aikora. Took a bit longer than I thought? Who are these gentlemen?”

“This is Archbishop Tanaris, and here is Cardinal Dalton.”

“Hmm.”

Archbishop Tanaris had the gentlest of smiles. Cardinal Dalton, on the other hand, stood behind the archbishop, his face impassive. At a glance, it seemed like a high noble and his bodyguard.

“Pleased to meet you, I’m Seojin. I presume Aikora told you about me?”

He adopted a slightly cheeky tone and seated himself opposite the archbishop, meeting his gaze.

“We’ve heard about you.”

“Anything you wish to say?”

“...It seems we’ve offended you greatly. We apologize.”

“Offended? Not at all. If you’re concerned about not recognizing me when I entered, don’t be. I preferred it that way. Please, don’t worry about it.”

“So, I will take you to mean this matter is urgent then?”

“Yes. But we still need time to get to know each other, right?”

Seojin smiled broadly, and Tanaris responded with a smile, showing no objection.

“This unworthy one is Archbishop Tanaris. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“I’m Seojin.”

“I was quite skeptical when I heard your name. But after hearing you were an adventurer - I was sure. Thanking you should be the first order of business.”

“For what?”

“We were not properly venerating Luna’s will. You’ve enlightened us to our oversight.”

“Ah, the Adamantine.”

“Exactly.”

Archbishop Tanaris affirmed. The Adamantine was a relic they had to safeguard. It was discovered following Luna’s revelation. However, Luna had not intended for it to be merely kept in storage.

“That’s right. It was given for use, not for keeping.”

“We cannot deny that.”

“Luna wished for anyone among the faithful to reach out to her. She waited at the highest point of the Pantheon, but sadly, none followed her will.”

“Having a useful item fall into the hands of someone who can utilize it, is that not divine providence?”

“I’m grateful you understand. I’ve confirmed you bear no malice towards us, and you’re not testing us. At this point, I’d say we’ve sufficiently understood each other...”

Seojin’s gaze then shifted to someone behind the archbishop.

“Though I can’t say the same about the person behind you.”

Cardinal Dalton. In this world, the title of cardinal signified a simple truth: force. While the difference between priests, bishops, and archbishops lay in their degree of divine power, a cardinal’s role included the exercise of physical force.

“Surely he is not here for your protection. If that were the purpose, he’d have been positioned behind Aikora.”

To them, Seojin was but a foreigner, yet the respect and goodwill towards the saint were genuine. The cardinal’s presence here had to serve another purpose.

Archbishop Tanaris smiled contentedly.

“Luna loves peace. Yet, sometimes, in conveying her message, our priests face threats.”

“Therefore, the cardinalate was established for the church, wasn’t it?”

“Indeed, it was. While nearly all issues could be resolved by them, there are times even cardinals find themselves overwhelmed. You might be aware of this, adventurer, but...”

The archbishop trailed off, hinting that he had more to say but preferred if Seojin spoke first if he knew anything. Seojin gladly took up the offer.

“Demons emerge upon this land at times. Followers of the evil gods exist as well.”

“I’ve heard of your experiences on Churai Island.”

“It was nothing. Besides those two instances, there are times when immense force is necessary for one reason or another. Most of these situations are preferably kept secret.”

“That would indeed be my sin to bear.”

The archbishop seemed prepared to disclose almost everything, accepting even the typically inadmissible, coolly.

But even he could not hide his surprise at Seojin’s next statement.

“Is that why the group known as ‘The Thirteenth Month’ was created?”

“Um.”

“A group tasked with handling matters that must not be disclosed, carrying out anything without hesitation, solely in Luna’s name.”

“May I know your source?”

“Luna herself told me. Where else could I have heard such confidential information about the church?”

“Is that so?”

“Among them, the ‘Red Moon’ is a title given only to those with exceptional faith. Isn’t that right, Cardinal Dalton?”

Cardinal Dalton, the Red Moon of the Thirteenth Month, was the man who possessed the greatest martial might within the Church of Luna.

Despite Seojin’s provocation, Dalton’s expression remained unchanged, but the archbishop spoke up.

“Speak, Cardinal Dalton.”

“Pleased to meet you for the first time, I am Dalton.”

By stating it was their first meeting, Dalton indicated his stance: he would not interact in any way with those unaware of his identity as the Red Moon.

“I’m Seojin.”

Seojin respected that belief, and for the first time since entering, Dalton nodded slightly.

With that, their relationship was settled. The main goal was not in establishing ties with the archbishop but in securing the Red Moon as an ally.

“Archbishop.”

“Speak.”

“I would like to ask first. What is of utmost importance to your church?”

“It would be to follow the enlightenment provided by Luna.”

“So, it’s not the will of Grand Emperor Kalus?”

“While the emperor may be the sovereign of this land, Luna governs everything under the moonlight. I find the intentions of your question difficult to understand.”

“I was genuinely curious if that’s truly your belief.”

The archbishop’s face darkened, realizing Seojin did not hold him in the same unquestioning regard.

“Are you displeased?”

He didn’t respond, wanting to affirm but reluctant to show his emotions in front of the saint.

But then, “I am merely a human. The displeasure you feel towards my words seems insignificant compared to the current situation.”

The archbishop then realized there was a deeper meaning.

“The imperial authority does not reach us.”

“It very well could. It may be within the scope of respect. At least that’s how significant the emperor is within the Camilton Empire. And I find this situation thoroughly displeasing. Don’t you, Archbishop?”

Again, Tanaris could not respond, this time for a different reason.

Until now, the emperor had not oppressed the religion, but that was because there had been no conflict with the emperor’s own will.

‘If... If a clash between the emperor’s will and Luna’s were to arises...’

Seojin continued, “You won’t submit. I understand that. I don’t doubt your faith, but faith requires strength to support those convictions. Strength like Cardinal Dalton standing behind you now.”

Seojin was arguing that spiritual resistance was futile if physically overpowered, thus betraying Luna’s will.

“I’ll ask again, Archbishop Tanaris.”

“No, you need not ask again. We serve only Luna. For her will, we must overcome any obstacle, even if its occurrence is uncertain.”

“Then,” Seojin paused before making a blasphemous statement, “From this moment, I speak on behalf of Luna and her will. I’ve conversed directly with her and know what she desires.”

“That is one thing we cannot believe. It’s been decades since the last divine revelation.”

“That might be. But humans failed to understand when she last spoke. Regrettably, Luna has forsaken this place.”

“Those too are words we cannot accept.”

“Luna was in the Pantheon.”

“Even the Saint has not witnessed such a thing.”

“Would Aikora be the only one? Even the Staff of Faith Harry was not permitted entry there.”

“Then how could you...”

“Exactly, because you don’t know, Archbishop, you could not reach it.”

The remark was deeply insulting, but Tanaris was not so shallow as to be perturbed by mere words.

Nodding as if in agreement, “This will prove my claim.”

Seojin produced something. A fist-sized ore emitting a gentle blue light, the toughest mineral on earth.

“...Moonstone.”

“A gift from the gods to humanity, a tragic item never fully utilized. Can you imagine how Luna must have felt?”

“I cannot know. I am human. Despite striving nightly to comprehend her will, it has not been granted to me.”

“Then I will grant it to you.”

No answer came. It was too much for the archbishop to accept mentally. Yet, at that moment, he wished Seojin’s words were true.

How hard had they tried to reach Luna? He had agonized daily, striving to maintain his robust faith in a position where no guidance could be sought.

He needed something to rely on, wanting to believe Luna was always with him. But evidence of that was nowhere to be found.

Tanaris could only blame his insufficient faith.

“Watch carefully.”

Seojin quietly moved to a corner of the room, a symbolic space within the temple, housing a statue filled with Luna’s divine power.

“This statue, isn’t it made of moonstone?”

“We believe so.”

“And yet you were unaware despite its proximity.”

His voice carried genuine pity. Tanaris could not comprehend why.

Upon discovering moonstone at the end of a divine revelation, they had used it to erect the statue. However, when Seojin placed his piece of moonstone against the statue,

“...Ah!”

The archbishop exclaimed, and even the stoic Cardinal Dalton furrowed his brow. Seojin’s moonstone, previously just a mineral lump, now radiated with immense divine power.

“Do you see why I was frustrated?”