Chapter 62

Bang!

Imperial capital. Startled by the loud noise that came from Count Belkuth's office, the maids walking down the corridor flinched and hurried past the door.

"Compose yourself, my lord. It is not yet time."

"I know. But I never imagined they would ignore us so blatantly...!"

Clutched in Hiram's hand, which trembled with rage, the Iron Knight Medal-ordered by His Imperial Majesty to be delivered to Yaan-gleamed inside its case.

"No one, no one has ever received this medal! Not a single knight of the Belkuth family, and now this emblem is to be given to a brat barely a month into his knighthood!"

The thought that the Emperor himself had ordered it delivered to Yaan made Hiram clench his teeth in fury.

"Could the conspiracy have been exposed?"

"No. It is simply blatant contempt-just as they have always done to upstart nobles like us."

Forcing his trembling lips to still, Count Hiram took a steadying breath.

Walking about in such a state would disgrace the count's estate. While he collected himself, the steward quietly approached and offered something.

It was the lowest-grade cigarette issued as military rations.

"...My thanks."

Having said so, Hiram quietly took it, then turned his head toward the steward.

Flick-!

The steward produced a lighter and lit the cigarette.

Fwoosh-

Most nobles would not even glance at such rations-grade tobacco. Even common soldiers sought priests' cigarettes for their milder taste; only the Penal Corps on the frontier smoked these.

For the head of the Empire's greatest knightly house to smoke it was a pitiful thing, yet the steward's expression did not change.

Ever since his days as an unknown fallen aristocrat, his master had smoked only this brand.

"What do you intend to do?"

The dark office, veiled in shadow, was lit only by two candles on the desk and the glow of the cigarette.

After watching the cigarette burn with a soft hiss, Hiram exhaled a cloud of smoke and spoke.

"Eliminate him. I can overlook this no longer."

"Now that he's a prisoner of the Church, killing him rashly may invite suspicion."

"Suspicion? Would the death of one knight of Penal Corps origin make anyone suspect the Belkuth family?"

Meeting his lord's gaze for final confirmation, the steward nodded.

His eyes gleamed with ambition and steel.

Certain the count had regained his composure, the steward bowed his head.

"Who was in charge of Kerdan forward base?"

"Bidel. And his disciples."

"Good. Rare purebloods."

With a satisfied nod, Hiram signaled. The steward rang the bell on the desk; moments later, the study door opened and a knight in a cloak bearing the Belkuth crest appeared.

"You called for me, my lord."

Having spoken, the knight dropped to one knee.

For an Imperial knight-who would kneel to none save the Emperor-this was near treason.

Yet Count Hiram and the steward saw no fault in it; they simply nodded as though it were natural.

"Indeed, Ilak. I have a task for you."

"Command me, my lord."

The blond youth bowing deeply looked scarcely past twenty.

"When you swore to become a knight of House Belkuth, you took an oath."

"To repay the blood and strength you bestowed, I vowed to undertake any task without hesitation."

"Good. Then I give you your mission."

With that, Hiram dropped a bundle of documents before the kneeling knight.

"This..."

"Files on the company members serving under the knight who slew Yan Verkut, vassal of Belkuth."

While listening to Hiram, Ilak's eyes froze on one name in the list.

'Commander. 87th Independent Company, private. Irene Petricia.'

"Most are rootless Penal Corps riffraff, likely aliases. Turn one into an informant."

"..."

Noting Ilak's silence, Hiram frowned.

"Is something wrong?"

"...No. Merely a familiar name."

Ilak tucked the papers away and rose. Hiram handed him the Iron Knight Medal the Emperor had commanded be delivered, then spoke.

"I will send separate orders to the frontline base. Join the knights there and kill Yan Verkut. That man."

***

"In all my life, I never thought I'd see such a sight."

The train bound for the Church's northernmost tip ran half a day, bringing Yaan and Ren to their destination.

Thus they arrived at the continent's northernmost point.

Gazing at the enormous steel wall-its construction a mystery-Yaan murmured vacantly.

"No rivets or screws, not even welds. The entire barrier spanning the Church's territory is one single mass."

"A hastily erected wall to block incursions-technically inferior."

Ren's indifferent voice, dismissing the forty-meter wall clearly built from the Creator's legacy, drew a wry chuckle from Yaan.

Inferior? This?

"This way, honored guests!"

Hearing a distant call, they saw a black-haired elf approaching with a bright smile.

"The paladin order must be terribly idle."

"Hardly idle-we came to work."

Bayan shrugged; behind him appeared a squad of soldiers who had once aimed rifles at the Greyhounds.

"Cardinals' investigators might act rashly. We're here to escort you."

"You mean to keep watch?"

"Bringing Imperial knights into the sanctuary and not watching would be stranger."

Bayan grinned.

Yaan sighed and allowed Bayan's soldiers to surround him.

"Welcome."

"It is an honor to serve."

'Work on your expressions, at least.'

With soldiers stiffly guiding them, Yaan and Ren walked toward the wall, eyes on the world beyond.

Whoooo-!

The Kelt Holy See, where snow falls year-round.

The cold at its northernmost tip split even the wooden stocks of the soldiers' rifles.

Noting the rags and fur wrapped around their rifles, Yaan buried his face in the fur coat provided by the Holy See.

"It should be warmer inside. The investigators are waiting-let's talk there."

They passed through doors set here and there in the wall, Bayan leading them into the iron fortress.

Rare luminous stones lined the interior, making the barrier brighter than expected.

"Move it!"

"Don't forget to feed the hogs-without them, the survey's useless!"

"Rifles? That wasn't our agreement-we swore not to bring arms into the sanctuary!"

"I don't care-we're entering uncharted ground, I want my people protected."

Red-robed cardinals and fur-clad figures mingled amid a market-like clamor.

"I see preparations proceed apace, Cardinal Gwen."

Slipping through the crowd, Bayan's casual question made one cardinal start and step back.

"Y-you-!"

"Paladin Commander Bayan! Why are you here?!"

At his name, the investigators fell silent in an instant.

Soldiers gripped rifles prepared for trouble; from among the fur-clad figures came the sound of weapons drawn.

'What are those rifles? I've never seen the like.'

While Yaan studied their unfamiliar arms, dwarves and cardinals shouted over one another.

"Damn it-this is why you can't trust religious types...!"

"Wait! Combat within the sanctuary is forbidden! Sir Bayan, you know this!"

At the cardinals' frantic gestures the stiffened atmosphere snapped taut; Bayan shrugged and waved his hand.

"Cease combat. Lower your guns."

Following Bayan's order, soldiers lowered their rifles, and the fur-clad figures likewise sheathed their weapons.

"I meant no provocation; these fellows are simply over-zealous."

"Had they been twice as zealous you'd be wearing wind-holes in your skull, Sir Paladin."

As he spoke the fur-clad figure stepped forward, pulled back the hood that had hidden his face, and revealed his features.

"...A dwarf?"

Recalling Dwarf Brak from Ren's mansion, Yaan muttered; the dwarf, noticing, raised an eyebrow.

"Ha? What's this now?"

"By His Holiness' summons I joined the survey team. I am Yan Verk-"

"Not that. Those eyeballs. What are they?"

Cutting off Yaan's introduction, the dwarf asked abruptly; Yaan touched the left side of his face.

While the dwarf stepped closer to inspect Yaan, a girl in pure white entered the corner of his sight and his eyes went round.

"What, a biological terminal? Then this gangly oaf is the master?"

"Angel?!"

"H-how dare you! Such frivolous words to the angel...!"

"Ah, could you keep quiet?"

Dismissing the protesting cardinals with a wave, the dwarf spoke to Ren; Ren stepped forward and opened her mouth.

"First master. Last master."

"Ha, after all that fuss I thought you'd brought something grand-turns out it's this scarecrow."

The dwarf turned to the other fur-clad figures crowded behind him and shouted.

"Hey, what are you doing? Planning to keep those hoods on in front of a guest?!"

At his roar the other dwarves, one by one, pulled back their hoods to reveal their faces.

Bearded men and women alike ran their curious eyes over Yaan.

"Haa..."

Guest.

Hearing the title he had grown used to, Yaan grimaced.

Just like at the elven village, he would again have to accept unwelcome attention under the pretext of blessing.

Lost in that thought, Yaan wore a drowsy expression and tilted his head at the dwarf's next action.

"Elder, may I cover up now?"

"Yeah. Fine. Cover it, cover it."

"Ugh, it's cold. No matter how many days I spend in this damned Church country I never get used to it."

After staring at Yaan a moment, the dwarves, as if bored, flipped their hoods back on and began appraising every part of him.

"His face is passable, isn't it?"

"For a human he's so-so, but to me-nah. Look how sunken those eyes are."

"He's tall as a pole but what's with that complexion? I thought he was a corpse."

"Dragging a walking corpse here and calling it a master-might as well be another corpse!"

"Hahahahaha!"

'I'm not some zoo monkey.'

Watching the dwarves chatter about him, Yaan gave a wry inward smile.

Compared to elves or Church humans who would die for a guest, this was almost comfortable.

Though the cardinals listening nearby looked ready to explode.

"Blasphemy! Calling the angel a-a walking corpse?! And our precious guest to the Church!"

"Guest my foot; you didn't even recognize him till the elder spoke."

"Hahahahaha!"

The dwarves burst into laughter once more.

Ren approached the bewildered Yaan and spoke.

"Get used to it. You'll see them often."

"I'm already getting goosebumps."

Flustered, the cardinals left the monks who were to join the survey team and hurried away.

They seemed ashamed they had failed to recognize a guest to the Church.

"Ready! Still, with the guest joining, this expedition should be easier."

"If all goes well we might finish in a day."

"We'll head out at once. Will that be acceptable, guest?"

Behind the dwarves, unfamiliar beasts snorted and waited.

"Is there anything I need to prepare?"

"Just bring yourself and we're set. Don't worry-come along."

The dwarf called elder cracked that joke; Yaan shrugged and stepped forward.

"As planned, I escort alone from here. The rest of you return."

"Will that be safe?"

"Something will come from the Empire soon. We must be ready. Bring his Frame as well."

Having spoken, Bayan watched Yaan surrounded by dwarves.

"Hm?"

At that moment Bayan noticed Yaan was also watching him; his eyes sparkled.

"Is something wrong?"

"Ah, it just occurred to me. On your return could you deliver a message to the Empire-fast as possible?"

At Yaan's question Bayan nodded, called one of the monks, and brought him to Yaan.

Soon Yaan whispered something into the monk's ear, then nodded as if finished.

"...Understood."

After confirming the soldier nod and turn with his comrades, Yaan followed after Ren and Sir Bayan.

"Was that a message to an acquaintance?"

"No. A superior. I may need it."

When Yaan stepped beyond the barrier, he gazed vacantly at the scene and muttered.

"What... is this?"

"Everyone reacts like that on their first visit."

Bayan spoke quietly from behind Yaan.

"This is the sanctuary the Church has hidden-the Crystal City."

Before Bayan and the survey team stretched a land covered in glass.

And beneath it lay the vast form of a colossal city.