Chapter 545

“I’m here.”

I announced my arrival by brushing off my shoulder and arm with my right hand.

White stone powder and dust fell off in clumps. After wandering through a centuries-old dust pit, my body was covered in powder, like a pet dog that hadn’t bathed in years.

“Ah, you’ve returned safely. I was worried since you were later than expected, but I’m glad.”

Lacey, who had been discussing the future operations of the Cardinals and the Holy Kingdom, excused herself from them and approached me as soon as I returned.

Her words of concern didn’t seem empty, as a faint sense of relief mixed with the soft curve of her eyes.

I was indeed later than expected. I had considered the possibility of something like Rotholandus’s spirit appearing, but I hadn’t anticipated such a lengthy conversation.

“I heard occasional loud noises. Did something happen inside?”

“Loud noises…? Ah, that. There was some kind of guardian protecting the tomb. A metal giant or something… I had to break it, so it got a bit noisy.”

There was no need to explain in detail about the Colossus or whatever. It’s just a pile of broken metal now. Even if the dwarves tried to repair it, it would be faster to just build a new one.

[You didn’t omit the most important part, did you? Like how you jumped like a scared rabbit when the broken machine startled you.]

…Why bring that up? Just thinking about it is embarrassing.

“A guardian… There were no records of such a being stored there. It could have been dangerous. It’s a relief you came after recovering some of your strength.”

Lacey let out a sigh of relief, as if genuinely glad I wasn’t hurt.

“Well… I guess so…?”

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. Did she think I went through some intense battle or something?

[Guess so, my foot. You’re full of lies. In reality, you just vented your frustration on a stationary hunk of metal.]

Hersela chuckled, mocking my pathetic display once again.

‘……’

How long are you going to keep teasing me?

I exhaled a long puff of smoke, muttering complaints that no one would hear.

Why is it that everyone around me seems to want to make fun of me? Maybe I should discipline them someday.

—

“The Blessing of Invulnerability… Indeed, there are legends that Rotholandus walked through storms of swords and arrows as if taking a stroll.”

Lacey seemed very curious about the internal structure of the tomb and what had happened there, but I postponed the detailed explanation and only told her that I had obtained a blessing to protect my body.

Talking about meeting something like the ghost of the Twelve Knights or the information he gave about the Holy Grail wasn’t something to discuss in front of the Cardinals.

After all, the fact that they could no longer hear the voice of God, the rarity of saintesses appearing, and the weakening of paladins and priests were all due to the unilateral decisions of Emperor Carolus the Great and the Twelve Knights.

It might not be a story they’d take positively.

So, rather than telling them everything I heard, it seemed much better to explain it to Lacey separately and then only pass on the parts that could be shared with them.

“It seems that defeating the guardian and inheriting the ancestor’s blessing was a ritual to be recognized as a descendant of the Twelve Knights. We should record this.”

When I demonstrated the Blessing of Invulnerability by slashing my arm, Lacey’s eyes sparkled like a middle schooler watching a risqué video for the first time, staring intently at my arm. If I handed her a dagger, she might have tried to slash it herself.

The Cardinals were equally impressed.

“A blessing of protection that prevents injury. For Sir Median, it’s like giving wings to a tiger.”

“Physical abilities rivaling those of pure-blooded beastmen. Defensive capabilities akin to dragonkin scales. Combined with human feats and techniques. Who in the world could match Sir Median? Truly a blessing for humanity.”

“Hmm… Impressive.”

They all nodded in unison, showering me with praise. Though to me, it was meaningless flattery.

Who in the world could match me?

**For now, that might be true.**

But in the future… who knows? It’s up to me.

While I remained indifferent, Lacey, seemingly pleased with the Cardinals’ admiration, nodded and declared before them, clutching the holy emblem on her chest.

“With this, the ritual of proof is concluded. In the names of Elpinel, Astraea, Imera, Ausrine, Vimos, and Menes, I recognize Sir Median as the successor of Sir Rotholandus of the Twelve Knights. Does anyone have any objections?”

There were no objections.

The four Cardinals agreed without a hint of hesitation, including the Cardinal from the Vimos Church Order, whose allegiance was unclear.

Whether it was due to the awe of witnessing the tomb of the Twelve Knights open on its own or because the Elpinel Church Order had regained its position as the leading force of the Holy Kingdom, I don’t know.

…Or perhaps they thought that opposing would only add another corpse to the tomb, given that Lacey had already sent half of them to their graves.

Honestly, the number was enough to call her a Cardinal killer.

—

Anyway, that’s how I officially became the successor of the Twelve Knights.

Not just a descendant by blood, but the sole inheritor of the blessings and relics of the Twelve Knights.

“…Thinking about it, isn’t announcing this now kind of pointless?”

I suddenly voiced my doubt to Lacey.

The fact that I was a descendant of the Twelve Knights was already treated as common knowledge before the announcement, and I had already done everything I needed to do in the Holy Kingdom using my position as the successor.

Announcing it now doesn’t really change anything, does it?

“It’s not pointless. While the practical benefits may not be significant, it will make many tasks that require justification much easier to handle.”

“For example?”

“Hmm… Issues like the governance of Arad, for instance.”

Lacey took a sip from the teacup on the desk and explained the details to me.

The city of Arad, which I had declared as my territory, still had an ambiguous status regarding its official governance.

Acknowledging my declaration of occupation would be an outrageous act under Holy Kingdom law, but denying it would only show hostility towards me and Lacey.

For Lacey, the city was more of a burden than anything.

It was difficult to return it to the Astraea Church Order, awkward to hand it over to another church, and completely withdrawing would only benefit the Kranuus Church Order, which she strongly opposed.

“However, now that Sir Median has been officially recognized as the successor of the Twelve Knights, we can discuss with Cardinal Ernliter to dedicate Arad to Sir Rotholandus. Governing a city dedicated to Sir Rotholandus as his successor is, by our nation’s standards, a perfectly natural act.”

“Is that how it works?”

“Yes. It’s an indisputable justification. Moreover, beyond the issue of Arad, many tasks that require justification can now be resolved simply by stating that ‘the successor of the Twelve Knights wishes it.'”

“Hmm.”

It seems helpful in many ways. Though it’s more helpful to Lacey than to me.

…Well, whatever. Lacey’s gain is my gain too.

I chuckled and nodded, understanding her explanation.

“If your doubts are resolved… could you tell me now?”

Lacey smiled softly, placed the teacup on the table, and sat on the sofa across from me.

“Could you explain in detail what you experienced in Sir Rotholandus’s tomb? The truth you couldn’t mention in front of the Cardinals. Honestly, it was hard to contain my curiosity on the way back.”

I could see why. Lacey holds a strong admiration for Carolus and the Twelve Knights. Naturally, she would be excited about any story related to them.

“Alright, where should I start…?”

I pulled the ashtray from the corner of the table towards me, lit a cigarette, and began my story.

“I met the spirit of Sir Rotholandus of the Twelve Knights there.”

The first sentence was more shocking than expected, as Lacey’s eyes widened like lanterns as she listened intently.

—

I recounted to Lacey the story Rotholandus had told me.

The world Carolus and the Twelve Knights dreamed of.

Elpinel’s plan for the Heavenly Barrier.

The golden chalice containing divine power.

The incomplete seventh Holy Grail.

The crumbling Heavenly Barrier and the warning Rotholandus left behind.

I told her everything I had heard from him, as it was.

Except for the fact that those who hindered Carolus and led to his decline were the Ka’har, including the identity of the sorcerers like the ‘Death of the Sky.’

There was no point in lying about the rest. If Perrien were to return to the Holy City and go through the same process to meet his ancestor, it would be exposed immediately.

“So, do you have any confidential information about the Holy Grail? Like how it was originally stored, how it was stolen, or the identity of the thief. Anything you know would be helpful.”

“……”

Lacey didn’t answer. Or rather, she couldn’t answer.

Perhaps the story was too shocking and grand for her to process, as she just sat there with a dazed expression, mouth agape.