#20
“My greetings to His Eminence, the Archbishop.”
The blond man, who had offered a polite bow with a fist over his chest, soon broke into a mischievous grin. Hereis dismissed his attendant priest with a gesture, then rose from his seat. He strode purposefully towards the blond Knight Commander of the Holy Knights, Evan, and extended his hand.
Instead of shaking hands, however, Evan threw his arms wide, pulling Hereis into a hearty embrace as he burst into robust laughter.
“Good heavens, to think you, who cared not a whit for worldly affairs, would become an Archbishop! And me, the Knight Commander of the Holy Knights! One truly lives long enough to see everything!”
Evan, with the boisterous laughter befitting his youth, clapped Hereis heartily on the back several times. Only then did he release the embrace and step back.
“Well, well, an Archbishop truly is different. Your attire positively exudes luxury.”
Evan’s gaze swept over Hereis’s attire, from head to toe. Indeed, as Evan observed, Hereis’s robes as Archbishop were notably different from his previous garments. While the fundamental pure white remained, intricate gold embroidery adorned the fabric, a rich purple cloth draped over his shoulders, and even his shoes bore beautiful, shimmering needlework, all subtly proclaiming the wearer’s elevated status.
“You, too, are not as you once were,” Hereis retorted.
Evan glanced down at his own gleaming silver armor and the flamboyant cape signifying his position as Knight Commander, a sheepish smile gracing his lips. His expression suggested he was still far from accustomed to it.
“It was you, wasn’t it?” Evan asked abruptly, then continued speaking as if he didn’t expect a reply from Hereis.
“It’s absurd for someone of my humble lineage to claim the position of Knight Commander of the Holy Knights purely on skill. No matter how I think about it, only you could have elevated me to this rank.”
Hereis offered a faint smile in lieu of a direct answer, then walked to a corner of the room and began to brew tea. Evan, with an unpretentious air, plopped down onto the chair opposite the desk, patiently awaiting the beverage.
A moment later, Hereis placed two cups of tea on the desk and took his own seat. Evan savored the fragrant taste of the premium tea, a look of pleasure spreading across his face. Setting down his teacup, he spoke, his expression somewhat flushed with excitement.
“As you might have already guessed, the temple is in complete uproar. First, because of you, and second, because of me. Beyond that, a great many exceptional talents, who, due to their humble family origins or complete lack of backing, were destined to remain low-ranking priests their entire lives, have suddenly been elevated to positions of importance. Do you have any idea how many priests are overflowing with joy and anticipation? They say a monumental transformation has finally begun in this damned temple that only chased wealth and prestige. Everyone is thrilled, believing it will finally be reborn as a pure place, governed solely by God’s laws.”
“Is that so?”
Perhaps finding Hereis’s reaction underwhelming, Evan slammed his palm against the desk.
“Yes! We must seize this momentum, combine our strengths, and drive out all those parasites who fattened themselves in God’s name, to once again spread His great and glorious name across this land! With you as Archbishop, me as Knight Commander, and the power of countless fervent priests, we are sure to succeed!”
Evan’s face was utterly flushed with excitement. He was, by nature, a man of boundless zeal in serving God, possessing a profound and unwavering faith. A knight unburdened by wealth, honor, or social standing, who cherished only God’s name and laws as his very life. There could be no more fitting individual to lead the Holy Knights.
Tragically, however, Hereis had an entirely different motive for elevating him to the position of Knight Commander of the Holy Knights.
He had made Evan Knight Commander simply because he was a perfect chess piece to check the powerful factions carving up the temple among themselves. Evan would never succumb to the persuasions or temptations of any faction, which meant any scheme to use the Holy Knights to undermine Hereis could be effectively neutralized.
As long as Evan remained the Knight Commander, the Holy Knights were, in essence, within Hereis’s grasp. By installing those indebted to him in key positions, he was gradually seizing control of the temple. Of course, his ultimate goal was entirely different from Evan’s expectations: the temple’s utter destruction.
“And you know, someday, after this…”
Evan, having spoken thus far, lowered his voice considerably and leaned his upper body towards Hereis. His eyes shining with hope, he whispered softly,
“After His Holiness the current Pope is embraced by God… I will make you the Pope.”
…
Hereis silently raised a single eyebrow, his gaze fixed on Evan with a look of surprise. Evan, oblivious or uncaring of Hereis’s reaction, spoke with a face already set in firm resolve.
“I heard about the incident in the slums recently. You likely wouldn’t have survived if not for the divine power you possess. It was deeply shameful, as a fellow Holy Knight, to learn that such a traitor emerged from our ranks. Foolish as I am, I’ve only just realized that you stand alone in that high position, enduring the scrutiny and conspiracies of others, even facing threats to your very life.”
…
Hereis remained silent.
The horrific incident in the slums had been officially concluded as the solitary act of a Holy Knight who had become a heretic through a pact with a demon. This convenient narrative was thanks to the high-ranking priests, who, fearing their own implication due to the Holy Knight’s involvement, had all conspired to present a unified front. Bishop Irellio, who had instigated the Holy Knight, had, of course, played a significant role in this. Hereis, needing to conceal Bellarossa’s existence, had also silently acquiesced to their actions. Evan, however, seemed to at least suspect that the incident had arisen from someone targeting Hereis.
“Don’t worry, Hereis. I will protect you with absolute steadfastness so that such a thing never happens again. Your abundant divine power alone is proof enough. There is no human in this temple—no, across the entire continent—who is as beloved by God as you are. Surely, there must be a profound reason for God’s immense affection, wouldn’t you agree? And indeed, the temple desperately needs a virtuous Pope, unchained by wealth and honor, just like you. Until that day, I shall be your strength.”
“Don’t speak of such things anywhere else, Evan. You might find yourself quietly eliminated by other factions.”
At Hereis’s quiet warning, Evan merely laughed heartily.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry. Even if I am a muscle-headed fool driven solely by faith, I’m not entirely lacking in common sense. Just know that this is my resolve, and keep it between us.”
Hereis gazed for a moment at the earnest young man, who spoke with conviction, his eyes gleaming as if imagining a brilliant future. Then, he picked up his cup, drank his tea, and lowered his eyelids.
His connection with Evan spanned many years. How long had it been since they first met and forged a friendship, Evan having been sent to the temple at a young age, pushed by his family’s will? Using and betraying such a friend was far from pleasant. Crushing his innocence was also something he was loath to do.
Yet, from the moment he summoned Bellarossa and forged a contract, Hereis, as a human, was as good as dead.
Everything was solely for the downfall of God and the temple…
Hereis slightly lowered his eyelids, concealing the chilling glint in his eyes.
****
“…A battle erupted between dragons, completely devastating a portion of the western lands. Casualties are estimated at around twenty thousand, but the population will naturally recover over time, so it’s not a major concern. However, several species of rare ornamental plants that only grew in that vicinity were lost, leading some demons, who collect plants as a hobby, to request a few species from the Demon Lord’s castle garden.”
Paimon, in a distinctly businesslike tone, briefed Jeha on the day’s news from Bellarossa’s domain. Though Jeha usually paid little attention, letting the words wash over him, Paimon, as if compelled to deliver the information regardless of his master’s attentiveness, would invariably list the major occurrences from across the territory once a day.
“What should we do, Master?”
Jeha, who had been lost in thought, chin propped on his hand, twitched an eyebrow at the sudden question.
“Do about what?”
“The request from the demons I just mentioned.”
“Request? What request?”
Jeha asked blankly, making it clear he hadn’t been listening at all. Paimon, instead of frowning or showing annoyance, reiterated in his businesslike tone,
“As I just mentioned, there was a request to acquire several species of rare ornamental plants from the Demon Lord’s castle garden.”
“Plants?”
“Yes. Several ornamental plant enthusiasts wish to obtain these endangered rare species, crossbreed them, and reintroduce them to grow wild again.”
“Ornamental plant enthusiasts, endangered rare species… and they want to crossbreed them to grow wild again?”
Jeha muttered, as if he’d heard everything under the sun.
‘No, I thought demons would act like demons, doing villainous deeds or engaging in bloody power struggles, but now there are plant enthusiasts, endangered rare species, and they even want to crossbreed them to reintroduce them into the wild? At this rate, we’ll have rare creature protection associations and academic societies popping up.’
“Is this really the Demon Realm?”
When Jeha asked, his face full of doubt, Paimon nodded earnestly.
“As I’ve always told you, this is indeed the Demon Realm. And this is your domain, Master.”
“And those plant enthus… those people are definitely demons?”
“Since they live perfectly fine in your territory, they must be demons.”
“A priest who serves God summons a Demon Lord, and demons are getting involved in protecting rare plants. This world, honestly… it’s truly a bewildering place.”