Episode 91. Father, what on earth are you… (1)
The Holy Cross Tower, the center and symbol of Kreuz.
As is always the case with the centre of a classical city, it was the tallest building in the city.
It is also a place where a magic elevator, which cannot be seen even in Alighieri, is in operation, and there are only a few places on the continent where it has been put to practical use.
The scale of the facility that was immediately visible as we went up was enormous.
There were restaurants and cafes spread out inside, and there were various training facilities, research labs, and even lodging facilities.
Even real-life corporate buildings or the 63 Building do not come in sizes of this size. The building itself feels like a small village.
‘Still, it’s nice because it smells like the old world.’
As we went up, the building became narrower and narrower, the noise gradually died down, and silence began to settle in.
The magic elevator stopped at a point where it seemed as if it would go up to the top floor.
“It’s big.”
I was amazed by the huge stone statue that I saw as soon as I got off.
On the left, a winged being that seemed to depict a god as closely as possible was reaching out its hand, while on the opposite side, a fox was sitting quietly, its head resting on the hand of the god.
Even though it was an artificial sculpture, it had a majestic feel to it, as if it were alive and looking at us.
Unlike the lower floor, which was full of color, the upper floor had a solemn atmosphere and was filled with classics.
“Let’s go.”
As the maid indifferently led the way, I followed her.
Only after walking down a wide, brightly lit hallway did a large door come into view.
Knock knock knock-
When the maid approached the door and knocked three times, the door creaked open on its own without any response.
It was obvious that he was telling me to just come in.
“Then that’s it.”
Leona stepped back politely, as if she had done her part.
As I entered with a quiet step, the door closed by itself.
Boom! Is that an automatic door? I got goosebumps seeing it close even though no one had touched it.
It’s highly unlikely that there would be anything like a ghost in such a sacred and clean place, but horror movie clichés just popped into my head.
“Come here and sit down.”
On the other side where the voice was heard, there was an open space with a sofa and a table.
Although it wasn’t decorated much, it was a place so splendid that it purified my eyes, and it was enough to make me reflect on what I had just felt so creepy.
The chimney that burns brightly even without firewood is also amazing. It was a place fit for the room of the cardinal, the highest ranking believer.
‘So how big is the Pope’s room?’
I sat down on the sofa with mixed thoughts.
Across from me sat a middle-aged man with white hair, and he seemed friendly enough to make eye contact.
It was just like when I first met Dean Cage. And the structure of the office felt similar.
“Are you Radon Crawler?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I am Cardinal Bellion Tenriz of the Order of the Holy Cross. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you.”
As the greetings ended, a bowl of cookies and a mug of black tea appeared on the table.
When I looked, I saw that a strange magical energy was emanating from the table. It seemed that a magical tool that enabled teleportation magic was installed there.
“I heard about your activities from Captain Gamur and Vice Captain Krudy. You are a disciple of Alighieri, who helped the First Order to round up the sinners of what was once called Helheim.”
“Yes, but are you two okay?”
“According to reports, both of them have fully recovered and have returned to be reunited with their families.”
Well, that’s good. My heart feels swell with pride when I hear the news that the person I helped is safe.
“Congratulations. I’m sure your group will be well-received when you return to Alighieri.”
“Thank you for the compliment, but… if that’s what you’re saying, how about inviting other kids as well as me to do it?”
He is a cardinal who is directly under the Pope.
There is no way such a high-ranking official would have called me alone just to praise my performance.
“I would call the other cadets later. But I called you first because I have something I want to tell you alone.”
“A story?”
“There are many reasons, but this is one of them.”
When Bellion snapped his fingers, this time a person was summoned with light.
The one summoned through teleportation magic was the Archbishop of Delos who had stopped me when I entered the city this morning.
“Do you know why I called you?”
“Yes, I was waiting.”
Delos politely placed both hands on his lower body.
He seemed a bit shy in front of the cardinal, but there was no need for his expression to become so pitiful.
“I’m so sorry! I sincerely apologize!”
“Huh?”
“I say it again, you have committed a mortal sin!”
The first time he lowered his head to a right angle, and the second time he put his head on the ground.
I had a deja vu of what happened this morning.
“I need a sincere apology for my rudeness. Archbishop of Delos, for that…”
“yes.”
Delos extended his hand to me. In it he held a small pendant-shaped water bottle.
“Raindrops of Manyeong. If you swallow the drops that fall from it, it will not only help you heal your wounds, but it will also neutralize any harmful substances. It can also weaken unhealthy powers.”
Recovery & Detox & Cleanse.
It was a pretty versatile item.
“It’s a holy relic that I and my followers created after much research. This friend was also a member of that research team.”
“Then isn’t it a pretty important item? Even if it’s a thank you apology, you’re giving it to me.”
“Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you’ll own it indefinitely. I’ll just lend it to you until you graduate.”
If there was a deadline like that, it seemed worth it. Of course, I had to take good care of it until it was returned.
“Try it once. You just burned your arm.”
The wrist that was sacrificed to protect the rice ball earlier. However, as soon as I opened the lid and drank a drop, it subsided.
“It’s definitely effective.”
“Then that’s right.”
Bellion, who had been sharing a proud expression with me, suddenly turned his gaze to Delos.
“Now, back off.”
“yes.”
He snapped his fingers again and the Archbishop of Delos disappeared.
Bellion, who had summoned him back, continued speaking.
“Delos is certainly angry. You may be hiding it as best you can, but I can see the aura of your main force in my eyes.”
“As expected, you knew.”
It would be strange if an ordinary priest couldn’t see through it, even if it was a cardinal-level existence.
But judging from the way he apologized to Delos, it seemed like they didn’t have the same disposition.
“But don’t worry, I won’t press you too hard. Even if we blindly believe in trust, our Order of the Holy Cross has the principles to distinguish between public and private matters. We cannot become like the Doomsday Order, which was once brilliant but has since fallen into corruption.”
Doomsday is the demon-worshiping group that Enviel belonged to.
They too were once a religion run by the Pope, but over time their doctrines became corrupted and they eventually became a crazy group that worshipped the devil.
If something doesn’t match their trust, they frown and take out their knife.
The Holy Cross Order was founded by those who felt disillusioned with them and left.
It seems that they are apologizing to me thoroughly so that they do not become like them.
“And the snake behind you is also one that should not have set foot on this land.”
“Can you see this guy too?”
“You are a high-level lord, Muto. The fact that you have made a contract with him is proof that your skills are extraordinary. However, don’t think that you can handle it easily. The higher the sensitivity of a curse, the more it eats away at its owner.”
In fact, handling the main force itself was a double-edged sword.
There are also cases where people accepted a curse in an attempt to overcome it, but ended up becoming the curse itself.
If that happens, you will either have your body taken over by the spirit or lose your humanity due to the evil influence of the spirit.
It turns out my job isn’t called ‘outlaw’ for nothing.
“If you don’t do evil, you may end up in a state where you can’t survive.”
I’m already under that curse.
“That’s when the raindrops of Manyeong are used. If you spray one on that snake, its will to eat you will gradually diminish.”
“okay.”
I emphasized the raindrops of Man-young to Muto, who was wandering around the Cardinal’s room. Then, his nerves became tense and he hid in a blind spot in the corner.
It was as if an animal had sensed danger.
“By the way, you said your last name was ‘Crawler’?”
“Is there anything that concerns you…”
“A long time ago, a count named Crowler came to this Holy Cross Tower and caused trouble.”
What? Could it be your father?
“I think his name was Lotas Crawler. He seemed to have come to ask for something, but he was just saying things that I couldn’t understand. His words were irregular, as if they were broken up in several places.”
My father had sought help from many places, including the church, to lift the curse.
But I heard that because of that damn silence, he ended up being embarrassed and came back empty-handed.
“I kicked him out because I thought he was a waste of time since we couldn’t communicate at all. But he didn’t just leave. He just kept wandering around Kreuz.”
Saint Kreuzman must have been the only one who could lift the curse.
That’s why it was difficult to leave empty-handed.
“Did he scrape together all the family’s assets? He bought all the expensive magical tools and relics developed in Kreuz.”
If you keep making money like that, your family will inevitably end up in that state.
But does that mean that even though you did that much, you still couldn’t lift the curse?
This is really crazy.
“It wasn’t a bad idea for the merchants, but not all residents agreed or accepted it. There were many people who really needed those relics.”
The holy relics of Kreuz are often used primarily for healing.
That’s why people who want to be cured gather together.
“The most notable victim was a girl whose mother suffered from aphasia. She could only be cured by activating a specific relic within a limited time, but Count Crowler snatched her away, so she must have felt a great sense of loss.”
“….”
“That Count Crowler, is he your father?
“yes.”
A small, worried sound escaped my lips.
Even though he is not my biological father, I wanted to give him a good beating as a son.
Let’s meet during winter break.
Then Bellion groaned and let out a sigh.
“This is quite tricky.”
“What are you talking about?”
“As you know, Angela is not the only saint. There is another girl of the same age named Nevia Chroma.”
I know that name well.
He is the villain of the second year part who is scheduled to enter Alighieri next year with Angela and is extremely jealous.
Angela uses her authority as a saint to pressure the protagonists because of her inferiority complex, believing she is superior to them.
The personality depicted in the work is so stubborn that there is no such thing as a villainess.
Because once it sets its eyes on its prey, it will do whatever it takes to bite it.
“Is there something wrong with her?”
“Didn’t you just tell me about the girl whose mother had aphasia?”
Why are you suddenly talking about that girl?
uh?
Just stay still.
Is this by any chance…?
“That girl is… Saint Nevia Cromag.”
My mouth fell open.
An earthquake occurred in my eyes, nose, and mouth.
His balls were twisted and his shoulders slumped.
My face became like it had been scratched for 30 more years.
‘What the f*ck, are you crazy?’
father.
When we meet again, I will give you a massage with Leviathan, not with honey.
Surviving as an Academy Fraudster
