Saint Rene is a legendary missionary, and also a great mage who brought the spark of magic to this freezing northern land.
However, before that, Rene was a saint.
Those who saved this era from darkness, foreseen by the Saintess who sees all futures.
A great person who did good, bestowed virtue, and drove away the evil that overshadowed humans.
A human who became the singularity of history.
Rene.
Her achievements were passed down as hymns, what she wore was enshrined as the Heavenly Silver Holy Sea Robe, and her corpse was laid to rest in the Holy Ark. The saint who devoted her whole life to the world receives the respect of all in death.
The Holy Imperial Court gathers what the saints left behind. For it is both a duty and a promise. To honor the footsteps of the saints, widely praise their achievements, and let them live forever in the hearts of the believers even after death. Thus, they teach everyone to follow their example.
However, the Holy Imperial Court has not yet obtained the most important thing Rene left behind.
The holy relic.
The power Rene left behind.
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"This is an act that disregards the gods! To put a saint's holy relic up as merchandise!"
Cardinal Elton struck the table in fury. It was, to the end, a thoroughly religious and political rage. To give logical justification to the judgment he would make later.
"The delegation must have conveyed the formal demand for its return. Yet the Demon Lord doesn't even reply to it! This is an act of hostility against God, the Saintess, and the believers!"
In reality, the cardinal had never even set foot in the Floating City, and the so-called delegation was nothing more than a few priests and about ten paladins leading the cardinal. Cardinal Elton knew better than anyone that it was embarrassing to call themselves a delegation when they were merely chasing the tail of the Floating City.
But they still had to do it.
Because Saint Rene's holy relic had to be taken by the Holy Imperial Court.
"Saint Rene served the people her whole life, and in the end, she breathed her last in the arms of the Saintess! She practiced the scriptures as they were, saved the innocent, and cared for the weak! It is not the Demon Lord who made and judged the land of this Magic Federation. It is Rene!"
Saint Rene is a saint. That is a plain fact without exaggeration or reduction. She always carried the scriptures and acted according to the Saintess's words.
It is right for the Holy Imperial Court to take Rene's belongings and enshrine them as holy relics. It was not only Cardinal Elton's thought, but the thought of all believers.
"The Demon Lord must return Saint Rene's belongings! To consistently remain silent and then act so recklessly!"
Therefore, the Holy Imperial Court periodically and officially requested the Demon Lord to return the belongings. As can be seen from the fact that the request for return has continued until now, the Demon Lord has not given any answer to it.
A priest quietly asked a question.
"Your Eminence. The scriptures say that asceticism has meaning in itself, but that refers to our spiritual cultivation, not an effective change. Since we have not grasped the 'Eternal Trajectory', we cannot reach the Floating City, so no matter how much we request, isn't it meaningless if the other party doesn't hear it?"
The Floating City can never be reached without knowing gravity magic and the spatial coordinates of the Floating City called the 'Eternal Trajectory'.
Yet the cardinal's delegation merely trudged along the ground, only chasing the Floating City visible in the distance. To the still young priest, it looked like a foolish endeavor.
The cardinal pondered for a moment and then decided to severely rebuke such a priest.
"You only see one thing and cannot see beyond it! The light that illuminates the world is everywhere. The delegation's letter has already been delivered to the Demon Lord. We are waiting for a reply!"
"But. Haven't we not even seen the Demon Lord's shadow yet?"
"We have not. However, the will of the Heavenly God is everywhere. Even beside the insolent one called the Demon Lord, it is the same. The message has been delivered, and we are waiting for his answer."
"I was so foolish that I didn't notice at all. But they said the Demon Lord handles space freely and appears and disappears like a ghost. How was that possible?"
"It is the grace of the Saintess."
The cardinal would not impersonate the Saintess's grace. And if it were the power of the Saintess, sending a message to the Demon Lord would be easy.
The priest, having removed his doubts, marveled at the grace, drew the holy sign, and stepped back. The cardinal gave a gaze of moderate reproof and opened his mouth.
"However, the Demon Lord is arrogant and acts as he pleases without any manners. If he has descended, he should surely answer our demand! Whether rejecting or accepting, isn't it polite to convey an answer!"
"That is right."
"This is a blasphemy against God, and an insult to us."
"Even if we blame the Demon Lord, no one will say our actions are excessive."
All the priests making such denunciations knew.
That the Demon Lord would not even pay them any attention.
It was like a well-woven play. It has already been 50 years since the Holy Imperial Court started periodically requesting the return of the holy relic. During that time, many priests and pilgrims followed the path Rene took and denounced that the holy relic must be returned.
Surprisingly, many people agreed with this, because Rene was a missionary respected by all. Having thus captured the public sentiment, the Holy Imperial Court rejoiced and demanded the return of the holy relic, pushing public opinion forward.
But no matter how much they fuss in the lower world, it does not reach the Floating City. Even if the deluded masses babble, no one listens.
As long as there is no way to reach the Floating City, the Holy Imperial Court is nothing more than insignificant beings of the lower world.
The sky the Holy Imperial Court served. The fact that the Demon Lord was in the domain of the Heavenly God was quite a blow to the Holy Imperial Court's pride.
Exchanging such platitudes with each other and filling a little bit of self-esteem was all they could do.
"Hmm? If our message was delivered, and yet the Demon Lord came forward like this."
And here, the cardinal brought up the main point quite late.
"Can't we consider the Demon Lord's declaration to 'Come up to Babel and take it' as an answer?"
It was a sudden development. The priests forgot the lines they had prepared in their heads. The young priest, who had been stuttering, asked after a long while.
"Your Eminence. My cultivation is still lacking, so I couldn't understand what you mean."
"We are a delegation, and at the same time, pilgrims. We merely walk the path Saint Rene walked; we do not deny or harm anything of the nation called the Magic Federation."
It was an obvious statement.
The large and broad influence of the Holy Imperial Court stems from the belief that it does not use its power recklessly. To the powerful of each country, the Holy Imperial Court is merely a group that occasionally expresses mild regret.
Therefore, the powerful do not restrict pilgrims or priests from crossing their territories. Clergy gain freedom by not interfering in politics. It is a reward for the long-kept custom of the clergy.
The same was true for the cardinal; he only requested the return of the holy relic and did not take any other action. That was why the magic noble families and the Floating City left them alone.
But this meant he would slightly touch this unwritten rule.
"By ascending the Tower of Babel as an ascetic practice, we seize the holy relic. This is neither invasion nor politics, let alone interference in internal affairs. It is obtaining it legitimately, by the means presented by the Demon Lord to the end."
There is no reason not to seize the opportunity to obtain the holy relic when it is right before their eyes. Moreover, the delegation, though they didn't show it, was utterly infuriated. If they could make things difficult for the Magic Federation, they would do anything.
"That's...!"
"An excellent idea. If the Paladin Order ascends, reaching the top of Babel will also be easy."
"Since the Heavenly God watches over us, we will not lose our way."
Just because one climbs the Dragon Gate, it doesn't mean they must become a mage of the Floating City. They just need to ride it up while the Demon Lord has lowered Babel, and get the holy relic in their hands.
Even if the Dragon Gate is a chaotic battle where all sorts of human spectacles clash, they are a disorganized mob. If the Paladin Order steps forward, they will wonder how the Holy Imperial Court endured while having that level of force.
"I will ascend too."
"What?!"
And the cardinal drove the wedge in.
Cardinal Elton stood up. The white shoulder mantle flowed down, revealing his thick body beneath. Even wearing thick priestly robes, Cardinal Elton's strength exuded an extraordinary presence.
"Since I too am one who follows in Saint Rene's footsteps, how can I leave it only to the Paladin Order and stand still?"
Old, but not weakened. The position of cardinal is one that only those who have proven their strength and faith can seize. There was no other reason Cardinal Elton could endure the long pilgrimage in this northern land.
Still, the cardinal was too precious a person to step forward directly. The paladins were especially surprised and tried to stop Cardinal Elton.
"Your Eminence! This is not a place for you to travel!"
"Please stay here. We will bring the holy relic to where it should be."
"I heard there is a quite outstanding priest in the mission. If it's him, who is well-versed in the situation of the Magic Federation, he will surely be of help."
Cardinal Elton fell into thought for a moment. It didn't take long. A moment later, he deliberately frowned and rebuked the priest.
"Stop it. Even if finding the holy relic is important, each has their own domain; how could we use someone who is doing their duty in their own place?"
"But..."
"I said stop it! They are the ones who volunteered for endless sacrifice and service in this land, inheriting Saint Rene's will! Are you trying to use them? Whether things go well or not, he will no longer be able to stay here! Stop talking nonsense and prepare to ascend Babel!"
There was no compromise in his resolute words. The priest bowed his head and stepped back.
However, in the end, this voice will be conveyed to him.
Missionary Casas will help them just enough, as he judges fit.
Cardinal Elton knew that too. But he intentionally pretended not to know.
Everything will go naturally, that is, it will flow in the direction for the Holy Imperial Court.