Chapter 198
The Holy Sword.
There is certainly a Holy Sword in the Valterus Order.
No, the expression "there was" would be more accurate.
There was a Holy Sword. But there isn't one now.
The reason is as follows.
"The Holy Sword disappeared after the Dragon-Demon War."
Along with the Saintess, Stella.
The Saintess's prayer room.
Wearing a pure white vestment soaked from prayer, the Saintess slowly walked toward Callius. The sound of her wet footsteps and the dripping water stimulated his sensitive ears.
"The Holy Sword is said to be the first sword ever created."
The first sword.
The first main-hand sword born of a god's miracle.
That is the Holy Sword.
"I will find the Holy Sword."
Her firm resolve peeked through.
However, Callius was indifferent to Esther's suggestion to find the Holy Sword.
The Holy Sword.
It is certainly an excellent sword.
Setting aside its symbolic meaning, as the first sword, it possesses powerful strength.
However.
'It's hard to find.'
The reason being. The last time the Holy Sword appeared was during the Dragon-Demon War.
In Stella's hand.
How could they find a Holy Sword that hasn't revealed itself for a thousand years?
A thousand years.
A whole thousand years.
Finding the Holy Sword that disappeared along with Stella would be as difficult as finding her remains.
"How can you find a sword that hasn't been found for a thousand years?"
"I found a trace. No, I had a guess as to where it was from the beginning."
Callius's brow furrowed.
Had the Order already secured its location?
But the reason they still hadn't found it was probably because it was dangerous.
Of course, Callius knew where the Holy Sword was. But until now, he had never thought of going to find it.
'Inefficient.'
Because the merits of the Holy Sword itself fall short compared to the effort and time invested.
The innate abilities of the first-created weapons are generally simple.
Just as Raphael's ability is enhancement, the Holy Sword also possesses a simple but powerful strength.
And the first weapons do not have a fixed grade.
Furthermore, since they are beings that have existed for a long time, their egos are awakened, making them quite difficult to deal with.
Without gaining their recognition, one cannot become their master, and since they force a characteristic upon the wielder, for Callius who had been dominated by a characteristic for a long time, it wasn't something he particularly desired.
Moreover, the Holy Sword was in a danger zone that could threaten even Callius's current life, and the enemies nearby were also powerful ones.
"You don't look willing."
"Something like that."
Whether she read Callius's expression, Esther also nodded.
A reaction she had expected.
"It must sound like an absurd claim. The Holy Sword is a sword that disappeared along with Saintess Stella after playing an active role in the Dragon-Demon War."
The Order also tried to find that sword.
The first sword. The sword that ended the Dragon-Demon War.
The Saintess's sword, the God's sword, and so on.
It is a sword burdened with many epithets and holds symbolic meaning.
But it is also a sword that hasn't been found even after a thousand years since the Dragon-Demon War.
"You must know where it is, yet you're asking me to go find it."
"Yes."
"War is right around the corner."
"That is precisely why."
"……."
Esther's will is firm.
Precisely because war is at their doorstep.
She wanted to find the Holy Sword.
Certainly.
The sword she possesses.
Sullivian is a sword that can play a major role in war, but it doesn't possess the power to overturn the tide of the war.
Because it lacked the power to fill the overwhelming difference in military strength, she desired the Holy Sword.
Also to boost the morale of the knights.
The existence of the Holy Sword is significant.
'Come to think of it, the Holy Sword was a sword that enhanced the power of the many rather than an individual's power.'
That was why Stella was also able to lead many troops and sound the victory bugle in the Dragon-Demon War.
"I won't force you."
"Isn't that forcing me?"
Esther's hand still held Berua's Ring.
"I just said it. Because I already know what reason you're trying to use the sacred relic for."
"How do you know that?"
"I don't know exactly, but I know it's for Carpe. Right?"
"……."
Esther, who had placed Berua's Ring in Callius's hand, smiled softly and said.
"In a month. I will depart."
"Urgent."
"Because I know the situation isn't good. It's a time to move quickly. I'm not sure if we can find the Holy Sword or not, and I don't know how much time it will take…. I have to do as much as I can."
Callius's eyes narrowed.
How heavy a burden was placed on these frail shoulders… He unknowingly grabbed her shoulder.
"Ah."
"It's not your fault. Don't drive yourself too hard."
"……I know. I'm just doing what I can."
The one who does what they can is called a hero.
Callius muttered so and walked toward the shattered door of the prayer room.
Then, he suddenly stopped.
He only turned his head and spoke.
"Stepping forward despite knowing fear is courage, and the one who fights despite knowing defeat is called a knight."
However.
"Do you know what they call someone who carelessly throws themselves away in the grip of sorrow?"
"What do they call them?"
"A fool."
Hehe.
Seeing Esther's lips curl up, a smile also formed on Callius's mouth.
"Don't become a fool. Esther."
"I'm not a fool."
Click, clack.
The sound of his dress shoes echoed clearly through the hallway.
"I can't go to a den of fools. Instead, I'll lend you this."
Flick.
Snatch! In Esther's hand, which caught something he threw, was a ring embedded with a red jewel.
"This is…!"
A treasure bestowed by the Queen.
It was Heteia's Ruby.
"You knew the location of the Holy Sword all along."
Looking at his retreating back as he disappeared, Esther showed a bitter smile.
"A den of fools…."
He already.
Knew where the Holy Sword was.
"I'll have to go to the Fallen Land alone then."
There was a slight feeling of anxiety.
But it seemed like it would be fine now.
Esther slipped the ruby onto her finger and smiled with satisfaction.
* * *
Leaving the Order and immediately checking the Creation Holy Water with Berua's Ring, Callius could soon understand what was inside.
[Holy Water imbued with Lactus's divine energy]
- Lactus's Tears
- Eden's Nails
- Dragon's Scales
- Orte's Poison Sac
- Sacred Bone
- Karma's Dew Poison
- Elf's Eye
- Moss of the Holy Seat
- Gargoyle's Heart
- Spectral Stone
- Manticore's Poison Stinger
'That's a lot.'
But most of them are obtainable.
With the Queen's help and the Order's help appropriately received, there's no reason they couldn't be gathered.
Since Lactus's and Valterus's properties are a bit different, the ingredients would change slightly, but after a few trials and errors, it could sufficiently be made.
"Is this what Maria was talking about?"
Moss of the Holy Seat.
Even if everything else could be obtained, that one thing Maria said she didn't know about.
It seemed likely that was the Moss of the Holy Seat.
[Moss of the Holy Seat]
- Moss that grew by absorbing the divine power of a saint.
- Must be exposed to sanctity for over ten years to become Moss of the Holy Seat.
"Hmm."
I somewhat expected it, but this was indeed the problem.
Moss created only when imbued with a saint's divine power for over ten years.
Moss of the Holy Seat.
Compared to the others, its acquisition difficulty is uniquely high-level.
'For the rest, I just need to gather them… and I can hunt the Manticore's Poison Stinger myself.'
For the Spectral Stone and Elf's Eye, I can ask Serena.
An Elf's Eye becomes crystallized like a jewel after an elf dies and absorbs nature's energy, so if we go to the Elf Forest, we can obtain it to some extent.
For the Sacred Bone too, if I request it from the Order, though difficult, I can receive it.
The problem is the Moss of the Holy Seat.
Only this.
'Only the Pope or the Tower Master of Sahara Holy Land could make it.'
But since there's no reason for the Pope or someone from Orbire to have deliberately made something like this, I'd have to obtain it from somewhere, but I have no idea where to get it.
'It would probably come out if I raided the Empire….'
The risk is too great.
"Father. What are you doing?"
"Emily. What are you doing with the Saintess?"
"Ah, somehow…."
As I came out of the Order and was walking alone, Emily and Ailey were suddenly in front of me.
"…Must be nice."
"Her Majesty the Queen of Carpe said she had smooth negotiations with the Empire. We'll be returning soon, so we were sightseeing."
"I see. So what's the matter?"
"You were walking with such a scary expression. People were running away, so I came to see what was going on."
"Father, is something wrong?"
Rather, this worked out well.
Callius asked straight to the point.
"I need Moss of the Holy Seat."
"……You found out that much."
"Moss of the Holy Seat? What's that?"
"It's moss that absorbed a saint's divine power. It's a rare treasure not easily found."
"……."
The Saintess's hand stroking Emily's head feels quite familiar. It also didn't sit well with him that Emily was so casually offering her head to the enemy's hand.
"I can't tell you in detail. The Moss of the Holy Seat is something only the Emperor knows. Anyway, I don't have it."
"I suppose so."
He didn't expect it.
When Helena returns, he would have to discuss it with her or talk with Beatrice. If it were Beatrice rather than Maria, she might have contacts with Crasion and know the whereabouts of the Moss of the Holy Seat.
"Do you need that?"
"I need it for the country."
It was something needed more for Carpe's survival than for Callius himself.
If they could make the Creation Holy Water, national power would increase dramatically.
'First, I should go see Serena.'
I should mobilize all my connections to find the Moss of the Holy Seat, and if that doesn't work, there's nothing I can do.
I'd have to cleanly give up and prepare for war in another direction.
The moment he was about to take out Schniff to go find Serena.
Suddenly, Emily tugged on his sleeve.
"What is it?"
When he asked, Emily whispered in his ear.
"Isn't that the moss in the Holy Land? It was sparkling and glowing…"
"Holy Land?"
"The one Dad told me to manage."
The North.
Fatalite's Holy Land!
There's Moss of the Holy Seat there?
As he jumped in surprise, a triumphant Emily put both hands on her hips and smiled.
"I thought it was amazing, so I plucked it to decorate my room, but from what I'm hearing, it seems like I'm right!"
"It's in your room?"
"Yeah! I kept it safely in a glass bottle. It was sparkling and glowing at night too, so it must be it!"
Delight spread across Callius's face.
To think his daughter had noticed the part he had missed.
'Luck is on my side.'
Come to think of it, it makes sense.
Fatalite's Holy Land is a place that has been around for hundreds of years, so the probability of Moss of the Holy Seat naturally forming there is also high.
Why hadn't he thought of that?
Callius ruffled Emily's hair wildly, feeling proud of her.
"Ah! Mom just brushed it!"
Gasp!
Emily, who had scrunched up her face and then gasped in surprise, covered her mouth and glanced at the two of them.
"……Uh."
"……Emily."
"Yeah."
"I'll lend you Schniff."
"Ah, yeah. I'll go to the North right now and come back."
Emily immediately grabbed Schniff's reins and left. Seeing her head to the mansion, it seemed she planned to pack only the necessities and depart immediately.
Only the Saintess Ailey and Callius were left standing there, looking at each other.
"Have you eaten?"
"Not yet."
Just as he was about to ask if she wanted to grab a meal.
"Neither have I."
At the voice that suddenly rang out, Callius and Ailey's heads turned.
There, having just come out of the Order, was the water-haired Saintess.
"May I join you?"
Esther was smiling with a ring glowing red on her finger.