WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

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Chapter 656: Moths Gathering to the Flame - 1

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Saint Rene was a legendary missionary, and also a great magic that brought the spark of magic to this frigid northern land.

But before all that, Saint Rene had been a saint.

One of those prophesied by the Holy Maiden who saw all futures, destined to save this era from darkness.

A great figure who did good, spread virtue, and drove away the evil humanity had cast over the world.

A human who became a singularity in history.

Saint Rene.

Her achievements were passed down in hymns, the cloth she wore was sealed away as a holy shroud, and her body was laid to rest in a holy casket. A saint who devoted her life to the world was respected by all after death.

The Sanctum gathered what saints left behind. It was both a duty and a promise: to honor their footsteps, praise their accomplishments far and wide, and ensure they lived forever in the hearts of the faithful even after death. That was how they taught all people to follow their example.

Still, the Sanctum had yet to obtain the most important thing Saint Rene had left behind.

A sacred relic.

The power Rene had left behind.

"This is an insult to God! To put a saint's sacred relic up as a prize!"

Cardinal Elton slammed a hand onto the table in fury. It was, above all, religious and political fury, meant to lend logical justification to the decision he would make next.

"The delegation must have formally demanded its return. Yet the Demon King has not even responded. This is an act of hostility toward God, the Holy Maiden, and the faithful!"

In truth, the cardinal had never once set foot in the floating castle. His so-called delegation amounted to a few priests and around ten holy knights under his command. Cardinal Elton knew better than anyone how embarrassing it was to call themselves a delegation when they could only trail behind the floating castle.

Even so, they had to do it.

The Sanctum had to reclaim Saint Rene's sacred relic.

"Saint Rene served all people throughout her life, and in the end, she breathed her last in the Holy Maiden's arms! She put the Scripture into practice, saved the innocent, and cared for the powerless! It was not the Demon King who made and shaped the land of the Arcane Federation. It was Saint Rene!"

Saint Rene was a saint. That was a plain fact, neither exaggerated nor diminished. She always carried the Scripture with her and acted according to the Holy Maiden's words.

The Sanctum was right to take Rene's belongings and seal them as sacred relics. That was not only Cardinal Elton's belief, but the belief of every follower.

"The Demon King ought to return Saint Rene's belongings! Yet he has remained silent and acted however he pleased!"

That was why the Sanctum periodically made official requests to the Demon King for their return. The fact that those requests continued to this day showed that the Demon King had given no answer whatsoever.

One priest cautiously raised a question.

"Your Eminence, the Scripture says hardship has meaning in itself, but that refers to our cultivation, not to bringing about actual change. Since we do not know the celestial trajectories, we cannot reach the floating castle. Isn't it meaningless to keep making requests if they cannot be heard?"

The floating castle could never be reached without knowing gravity magic and its spatial coordinates, called the celestial trajectories.

Yet the cardinal's delegation had only scurried around on the ground, chasing the floating castle visible far in the distance. To the still-young priest, it looked like foolishness.

The cardinal considered this for a moment, then decided to rebuke the priest harshly.

"You know only 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 King. We are awaiting his reply!"

"But we have not even seen the Demon King's shadow yet."

"We have not. Yet the Celestial God's will is everywhere, even beside the one brazen enough to call himself the Demon King. The message has been delivered, and we await his answer."

"I was too ignorant to realize it. But they say the Demon King freely manipulates space and appears and vanishes without a trace. How was that possible?"

"It was the Holy Maiden's grace."

The cardinal would never falsely claim the Holy Maiden's grace. Besides, if it was the Holy Maiden's power, sending a message to the Demon King would be easy enough.

The priest's doubts dispelled, he was awed by that grace. He made the sign of the cross and withdrew. Cardinal Elton gave him a suitably reproachful look before speaking again.

"Yet the Demon King is arrogant and willful beyond measure. If he has descended, he should answer our demand! Whether he refuses or accepts, isn't it only polite to send an answer?"

"That is correct."

"It is blasphemy toward God and discourtesy toward us."

"Even if we condemn the Demon King, no one will say our actions have gone too far."

Every priest joining in the condemnation knew it.

The Demon King would not spare them a glance.

It was like a carefully arranged play. The Sanctum had been regularly demanding the return of the sacred relic for fifty years. During that time, countless priests and pilgrims had followed the road Saint Rene once walked and condemned the refusal to return it.

Quite a few people agreed with them because Saint Rene had been a missionary respected by all. Having won public support that way, the Sanctum gleefully used public opinion to demand the relic's return.

But no matter how loudly they shouted in the lower realm, their voices could not reach the floating castle. No matter what deluded fools babbled, no one would listen.

As long as there was no way to reach the floating castle, the Sanctum was nothing more than an insignificant creature of the lower realm.

The Demon King's presence in the domain of the heavens, the realm of the Celestial God whom the Sanctum served, was a considerable blow to the Sanctum's pride.

Exchanging such stale words and salving their wounded pride a little was all they could do.

"Hm? If our message was delivered, and the Demon King has acted like this..."

Only then did the cardinal bring up the real point, far too late.

"Could we not take the Demon King's declaration that we should climb Babel and retrieve it as his answer?"

It was an unexpected development. The priests forgot the lines they had prepared in their heads. After hesitating for a while, the young priest asked,

"Your Eminence, my cultivation is still lacking, so I do not understand what you mean."

"We are a delegation, but we are also pilgrims. We only walk the road Saint Rene walked. We do not deny or harm anything belonging to the nation called the Arcane Federation."

That was only natural.

The Sanctum's vast influence came from the belief that it would not use its power carelessly. To rulers of every nation, the Sanctum was an organization that did little more than occasionally express mild regret.

That was why rulers placed no restrictions on pilgrims and priests passing through their territories. Clergy gained freedom by staying out of politics. It was a reward for the long custom priests had upheld.

The cardinal was the same. He only requested the return of the sacred relic and took no further action. That was why the magic families and the floating castle had left them alone.

Now, though, he meant to test that unspoken rule a little.

"After enduring the hardship of climbing the Tower of Babel, we will claim the sacred relic. It is neither an invasion nor politics, much less interference in internal affairs. We would simply obtain it fairly through the means the Demon King has presented."

There was no reason to let the chance to obtain the sacred relic pass when it stood before them. Besides, though the delegation did not show it, they were furious. They would do anything if it meant putting the Arcane Federation in a difficult position.

"Then...!"

"A fine idea. If the holy knights climb it, reaching Babel's summit will not be difficult."

"We who are watched over by the Celestial God will not lose our way."

Climbing the Dragon Gate did not mean they had to become mages of the floating castle. They only needed to take advantage of the Demon King lowering Babel, climb it, and seize the sacred relic.

Even if the Dragon Gate was a chaotic brawl where every sort of person fought one another, they were still a disorderly rabble. If the holy knights stepped forward, people would wonder how the Sanctum had restrained itself despite possessing such strength.

"I will climb as well."

"Pardon?!"

Then the cardinal drove in the final nail.

Cardinal Elton rose to his feet. His white shoulder cape slipped down, revealing the broad body beneath it. Even under his thick priestly robes, his strength gave off an extraordinary presence.

"I too follow in Saint Rene's footsteps. How could I leave it solely to the holy knights and remain here?"

He was old, but not weakened. The position of cardinal could only be gained by one who had proven both strength and faith. There was a reason Cardinal Elton could endure a long pilgrimage through the northern lands.

Even so, a cardinal was too important to act personally. The holy knights were especially shocked and tried to stop him.

"You cannot! This is no place for Your Eminence to go!"

"Please remain here. We will bring the sacred relic back to where it belongs."

"I hear the mission has a remarkably capable priest. Someone well versed in the Arcane Federation's situation would certainly be helpful."

Cardinal Elton sank into thought. It did not take long. Soon, he deliberately frowned and rebuked the priest.

"Enough. Even if finding the sacred relic is important, everyone has their own domain. How can we make use of someone who fulfills his duty in his proper place?"

"But..."

"I said enough! They are people who carry on Saint Rene's will, willingly making endless sacrifices and serving this land! Do you intend to use them? Whether things go well or poorly, he will no longer be able to remain here afterward! Stop talking nonsense and prepare to climb Babel!"

There was no room for compromise in his firm words. The priest lowered his head and withdrew.

But in the end, those words would reach him.

Missionary Casas would help them only as much as he judged appropriate.

Cardinal Elton knew that too. But he deliberately pretended not to.

Everything would proceed according to its natural course, toward the direction that benefited the Sanctum.

Footnotes:

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