Chapter 109
Felice d'Ebeyador Valus.
Those who bear the surname Valus are originally either commoners without a surname or those who abandoned their own surname wishing to become a son of God.
Valus, named after Valterus.
Felice was also an expert who started as a commoner, cultivated immense swordsmanship skills, and rose to the rank of Master.
His skills had declined significantly due to old age, but even right now, he would still put up an even fight against the Master who holds the epithet of Guardian Sword, a title only the greatest knight of Carpe could possess.
Regardless, he was said to be a legendary figure of both Carpe and the Order.
Why on earth would such a great man...
...come looking for him?
Kallias was curious about that.
"There is someone who wishes to see you. A woman who is my old friend, comrade, and like family."
"You must be speaking of Sulivian."
"Oh ho, did you know?"
Of course he knew.
The special relationship between the noble bloodline who dedicated herself to the Order and the knight of commoner origin was still talked about to this day, as it was so shocking and beautiful.
Had he not ascended to the position of Pope at such a young age.
Their relationship wouldn't have turned out that way.
"But why would Sulivian want to see me..."
They had never even met once.
Why was the Pope trying to make him meet Sulivian?
"Because she considers Esther like a daughter, like a granddaughter..."
The Pope glanced at Kallias.
A fellow famous for being a rake, a noble with severely inappropriate womanizing.
However, it was a young man whose rumors were slightly changing.
'His origins are noble, and his position is high. His swordsmanship is also outstanding with that much skill, so isn't he perfect for a son-in-law?'
Surely, even Sulivian, who would die for Esther, wouldn't easily refuse if she were to be shown her future son-in-law.
That was the Pope's inner thought.
Kallias couldn't possibly know that far, but he could roughly guess the situation.
'Is he using me as bait to meet Sulivian?'
Either way, it didn't matter.
Meeting Sulivian or forming a connection with the Pope was a good thing either way.
Kallias also wanted to meet Sulivian at least once.
"I understand."
"Really? Rumors said you were terribly nitpicky and narrow-minded, but I guess not!"
"Those are false rumors."
"Yes, yes, I saw your performance well at the Sword Dance Tournament too. Shall we take a walk?"
"Yes."
Walking through the corridors within the castle.
The Pope told him many stories.
Most of them were about his romance with Sulivian.
And the reason he had to become the Pope, and the severed ties with Sulivian because of it.
Now that he was old and nearing death, regret washed over him and he tried to restore their relationship, but she wouldn't meet him at all, so there was nothing he could do.
"There is no time. When I was young, I had time to spare—no, wait. Even then, I was always making this excuse and that, saying I was busy, busy, and prioritized other things. I thought that was the right thing to do at the time."
But looking back, it wasn't.
"It's similar to honing your swordsmanship. Training isn't something you do when you have time; you carve out the time somehow to do it, right? I should have done the same..."
He was saying he regretted not doing so.
Kallias walked the corridor with him and listened in silence.
It felt strangely fascinating.
The story he had created.
Listening to the complex relationship he had woven from that person's perspective was truly...
'I'm at a loss for words.'
However, he didn't think about it for long.
He must not empathize with the events and people's circumstances in this world.
Kallias had to be more wary of and distant from that than anyone else.
Even if he shared in the anger and sorrow.
In the end, what returns is only self-contempt and self-blame.
'The blood of Zerban is frozen cold.'
He had to keep it from heating up, always maintaining it as cold and fierce as a snowstorm.
That was what protected his pride and how he kept from losing himself.
"You, I'm just asking in case, but you aren't married, right?"
"Yes."
"Then that's fine."
"But I have a daughter."
"!!"
Halt.
The Pope's footsteps stopped.
His wrinkled face filled with surprise.
His face was saying, 'You're not married but you have a daughter? What kind of guy is this?'
However, he soon nodded his head.
"A man should certainly do that. You're better than me. Is the child an adopted daughter?"
"She is my biological daughter."
"...I see."
Smack, smack.
The Pope smacked his lips in awkwardness.
"Keep it a secret from Sulivian..."
"I cannot do that."
"Right? I just said it. Well, it can't be helped. Does Esther know?"
"...She knows."
'But why?' He just swallowed the question that had risen to his throat.
"Men and women should handle their own business. There's no use for old folks' meddling. Anyway, it's surprising you have a daughter. How old is she?"
"Twelve. She will be thirteen after this winter passes."
"...And your age?"
"Twenty-six."
"Kya... What a crazy bastard. A crazy bastard!"
Kallias said nothing.
Because he was genuinely surprised rather than being sarcastic.
On one hand, he seemed envious.
"I'd like to see her sometime. Is she in the North? Or the Holy Capital?"
"She is with me at my mansion in the Holy Capital."
"Alright. I'll visit sometime. Since you have a daughter, I should give her my own blessing, shouldn't I?"
"Thank you."
The Blessing of the Sword bestowed by the Pope.
It sounded grand, but it was just checking whether she had talent for the sword or not.
If there was something constitutionally inappropriate, he would treat it and even instruct her a little in swordsmanship, so it would be a very good opportunity for Emily.
"Come to think of it, your swordsmanship was quite good."
"Thank you."
"The swordsmanship of Saint Stella... I won't ask how you obtained it."
"..."
"Are you teaching it to your daughter?"
"I am not trying to teach her."
"Why."
His conclusion was that it wasn't necessary.
"Saint Stella's swordsmanship is basically a swordsmanship that takes the standpoint of the weak."
She was originally weak.
From Pahwa, to Baekmyo, and even to Higanbana.
A sword for the weak to become strong.
That is the Silver Flower Shattering Sword.
That was why he didn't pass it on.
"But?"
"My daughter is not weak. She is a born genius. The Silver Flower Shattering Sword does not suit her. It would actually be poison."
The reason Emily was weak was simply because her Holy Blood was blocked.
Everything else was outstanding.
Aptitude and perseverance. The desire to become strong.
So it wasn't needed.
Rather, because she was too outstanding, the Silver Flower Shattering Sword did not suit Emily.
"Hmm..."
The Pope stopped walking and faced Kallias with a serious expression.
"The request I am making now is spoken as the Pope. Will you listen?"
"Yes."
"Saint Stella's swordsmanship must somehow be connected to Carpe. Since you are also a member of the Order, it doesn't matter, but if you were to die, it would be lost just like that."
"..."
"Teach it. Leave it behind."
It was a command that could not be refused.
It was also an understandable part.
"Who should I teach?"
"Well. How could I interfere that far? When the time comes, you can just instruct a child that suits your fancy. Or it doesn't have to be someone from the Order."
"Then."
"How about instructing the Queen?"
Flinch.
The Queen?
It was a part he hadn't thought of.
"...The Queen?"
"Count."
"Yes."
"The Queen is endlessly in danger. It wouldn't be strange if she was assassinated at any time. Right now, I am alive and Sulivian is here, but I don't know what will happen afterwards. How could the lives of old fogies last for a thousand or ten thousand years?"
There was no justification to refuse.
Continuing the lineage of the lost Silver Flower Shattering Sword was something the Order had to do by any means necessary from their standpoint.
It wasn't something Kallias, who belonged to the Order, could refuse.
'Then does it mean I'll have a master-disciple relationship with the Queen.'
To be honest, he wasn't pleased about teaching the Silver Flower Shattering Sword, which he had worked so hard to obtain, to a complete stranger.
However, the fact that the other party was the Queen, and that he could form a master-disciple relationship with the Queen, appealed to him.
He wouldn't be able to treat her carelessly, but he would be able to exert a lot of influence, and it would work effectively when he aimed for the Empire in the future.
"I'm asking you."
"Yes."
If it was the Queen, Clara, she would wield a swordsmanship that suited the Silver Flower Shattering Sword.
* * *
After that.
The Pope and Kallias arrived at Sulivian's residence. As soon as he revealed himself at the entrance guarded by knights, the female knights drew their swords.
"We absolutely cannot let you in."
"Hehehe, try and stop me!"
"..."
Kallias was utterly dumbfounded.
Both the female knights drawing their swords at the Pope and the Pope facing them seemed extremely familiar with this situation.
Was this right?
It was completely different from Kallias's expectation of a little skirmish.
Unlike Kallias's feelings of confusion, the Pope smiled and stepped forward.
As if he did it every day, the Pope dodged the knights' swords as if toying with them.
And then, tapping the knights with his scabbard, their legs gave out like newborn fawns, and they flopped down.
'Amazing.'
That was the Pope's swordsmanship.
Five Ruins Sword.
A swordsmanship that destroys the five viscera and six bowels.
In a way, it was similar in principle to the Higanbana, but it was a swordsmanship that penetrated more directly to destroy the internal flow.
The cultivation of these female knights was by no means low. Above Allen.
However, in front of the Pope, they were no different from children, collapsing easily.
"Hehehe! Train harder!"
"N-no... You can't!"
"Please..."
They pleaded, but he didn't care.
"No one can stop me!"
"..."
His majestic advance without hesitation made him truly think he was the foremost of the Valterus Order, but considering the destination, he couldn't purely admire him.
In front of the Pope who opened the door and entered as if enjoying himself, a large man drew his sword as if he had been waiting.
"No, why are you here?"
The large man was a knight wearing armor made of precious black iron and holding a greatsword.
"I was asked to stop the Pope."
"Like a thorough old hag. That's why I fell for her!"
Kallias's head spun.
Whether it was the people trying to stop him or the Pope trying to break through them, it wasn't their first or second clash.
It was absurd to see them exchange a few words as if it was familiar and then fight.
"Zerban, watch closely. This is the reason the Order elevated me to Pope."
"I'm going all out!!"
As the knight blocking the Pope's path raised his greatsword, darkness suddenly descended.
'Crazy.'
He had wondered who the large knight was, but seeing the ability he used, he understood.
Pitch-black night, the Black Knight, Levaiden.
To think it was the Black Knight occupying the lowest seat among the five Masters.
Kwoaaa-!
Suddenly, the surroundings were enveloped in darkness, and a black aura gathered in front of him.
Suddenly, horses with red glowing eyes made of black smoke appeared.
It was truly a spectacular sight.
'That... I can't win against.'
Kallias sighed as he looked at the demonic horses.
Even if he had beaten Oh-seong by a hair and drawn with the Saintess candidate, a Master was an entirely different race.
Seeing the demonic horses stampeding as if they would trample everything, he couldn't help but think that enduring it was the best option.
"Too slow!"
However, the Pope strolled as if he was out for a walk, dodging the demonic horses and receiving Levaiden's sword, then instantly drew his sword and pierced a single point.
Kuuung-!
A sudden ripple spread from the single strike the Pope delivered.
Crack. Craaaack!! Smash!!!
The Black Knight's darkness shattered like a weak glass window.
Boom!
Levaiden fell to one knee.
He was defeated in a single strike.
'...'
He was strong.
To an overwhelming degree.
"Now, let's go. You stop spouting that useless nonsense. Why do you keep talking in a one-on-one duel? You idiot, even when told not to. Would a tactic that works on the battlefield work against a fellow Master?"
Hitting Levaiden's head repeatedly with his scabbard, the Pope urged Kallias on.
Glancing at the figure of the Black Knight Levaiden, who was revered as a Master, Kallias chased after the Pope.
"Be careful from now on. That black fellow isn't the problem. The problem starts now. Even for me, the old hag's Holy Gold Art is quite a headache."
As he spoke,
Clack.
The metallic sound of a mechanical device was heard.
Rumble.
Whirr.
Along with the bizarre sounds.
The scenery suddenly changed.
"Kya, she used an Illusion Formation? She changed the room's formation again already!? She said she'd do it today or tomorrow, so why so diligent!!"
Suddenly, the Pope's figure was enveloped in a halo of light and disappeared.
"...?"
Kallias frowned and tried to pull his sword out of his subspace.
However, Kallias soon witnessed a somewhat different scenery.
A cozy campfire.
A soft red light illuminated the room, and the figure of an old woman lying in bed with an incense burner, looking at a book while wearing glasses.
"You've come."
She was of the royal bloodline, the current king's cousin, and a Cardinal of the Order.
Also the Lutz Paladin, and as a Holy Gold Art Master, the one called the mother of all Orders.
Sulivian von Olid Bright.
It was the Godmother, Sulivian.