Before the regression, if I were to summarize the Grave family, I could describe it in one word.
Chaos.
Our proud leader of the magical battalion, gaul silo, was loyal to the church of Chaos and even planned to sacrifice the entire family to the Church
And he succeeded.
I don't even want to think about what happened back then.
Witnessing the collapse of the family with my own eyes, I wandered the streets as if possessed…
And although I met a peculiar person, whether a knight or a magician, and succeeded in revenge, so what?
The family was gone without a trace, and the once vast and fertile land had turned into ruins.
On the other hand, how is it now?
"I never thought Sir Silo would fall into my hands so easily."
I got rid of the source of the problem.
Not only did the family remain intact, but I also completely dismantled the altar within the orphanage.
"Now that the urgent matter is over… huh?!"
Just as I was about to relax, something buried deep in my soul suddenly stirred.
It might have been because Silo was also a believer of the Church of chaos.
"Still, be careful."
There's an inquisitor right in front of me ; don't just jump out on your own.
Huh.
Suppressing that sudden change by force, I turned my gaze towards Cedier.
"Excellent, Your Highness!"
Clap, clap!
Cedier approached with a bright smile, applauding.
"Such a display of piety and faithful dedication! It seems the rumors were wrong after all!"
"You flatter me."
"No, I do not!"
Cedier shouted passionately with eyes that seemed to exude madness.
"That divine power you showed when punishing the heretic just now! That is the grace of Delvear!"
"…"
Of course, there is no evidence.
The power I showed when burning silo was merely a 'reproduction' of Delvear's power.
It couldn't be considered a proper Delvear power.
Of course, the level was so high and sophisticated that unless it was at a significant level of success, no one would notice the true nature of this power.
"Well, it doesn't matter."
Either way, it's fine.
After all, I showed this power with the intention of doing so.
"Inquisitor Cedier."
He's someone I remember quite well.
A faithful follower of the Delvear.
There are people like that, right? Good people, but when it comes to religion, they can be a bit fanatical.
Cedier is one of those people.
His inclination must have had a considerable influence on him becoming a competent inquisitor.
I sighed with a bitter smile and shook my head.
"It's rather embarrassing. As the duke of the empire, I should have been aware of the heretics within my territory."
"Everyone is prone to making mistakes, Your Highness."
Cedier said with a compassionate expression.
"Your Highness is still young. However, you have the determination to eradicate heresy and establish justice."
"…"
"I, Cedier, support such a decision by His Highness the Duke. To be honest, it would be a lie to say that I was not worried after hearing the rumors…"
"Hmm."
Honestly, that's not a misunderstanding, but a fact. There's no point in denying it.
What can I do?
What I did during the turbulent times… I must have made a mess of managing the territory.
"Well, thank you. If it weren't for the cooperation of the inquisitor, we wouldn't have been able to capture the heretic so easily."
Of course, it's not wrong to say that I dismantled silo.
But he had already seized a considerable number of the departed.
It's not wise to do such a thing in a situation where there is no proper 'backup.'
If I were a duke with the support of the common people, it would be different, but considering that I suddenly inherited the title and my reputation wasn't good…
That's why I needed Cedier's help.
When it comes to heresy, there is no one higher than an inquisitor.
If such a person guarantees it, I couldn't oppose even if I accused Silo of heresy.
"No, it was a wise judgment!"
Cedier showed a overly friendly expression at the moment I showed the blessing of Success.
Of course.
His faith is 'genuine.'
There is a possibility of becoming fanatical, but so far, it's not at that level.
"Your Highness, please don't misunderstand and listen! Your innate power is truly a 'blessing'! It is a power that Delvear, the god of Success, has bestowed upon you!"
"You flatter me."
"No, I do not. Your Highness needs to see the blessing you possess more objectively. This… yes, it is the fate that Delvear wants to prove through Your Highness!"
"…"
I couldn't help but smile wryly at those words.
Fate.
Don't I already know what my future holds?
Of course, if this changing process itself is fate, it's understandable.
'It's about time that word came out.'
I did all this, but it's strange that I haven't said it yet.
And a moment later.
"Your Highness, dare I ask if you could visit the temple of Delvear?"
'Bingo.'
Yes, this is it.
I looked at Cedier with a smile that naturally flowed out, hiding my embarrassment.
"The temple of Delvear. It's a holy place where only the chosen by Delvear can enter, isn't it?"
"That's correct!"
"Moreover, the temple of Delvear is in the Holy Kingdom. I don't think it's a position where I, as a duke of the empire, can go without careful consideration…"
"I understand. Your Highness must uphold the duke's command and protect the empire. I understand that."
Cedier said again.
"However, the blessing bestowed upon Your Highness is so great and sacred that I dare to ask you to visit the temple despite my rudeness."
"Hmm…"
I had to smile bitterly at that.
Visiting the temple of Delvear is something that I should have said myself.
And shortly after.
"I see…"
"Perhaps Your Excellency could even become a saint of the current era."
Saint.
Literally, it is a term referring to the divine messenger of the Holy Emperor Delviar. Of course, there is enough merit to become a saint.
Next to the empire, it is the most powerful country and is respected as the most venerable kingdom on the continent.
Especially in these uncertain times, and in the future, this position as a "saint" will undoubtedly be quite helpful.
However.
Do not"Misunderstand me , Inquisitor. While becoming a saint is undoubtedly a glorious position, I am an imperial duke. If an imperial duke were to become a saint, how would the position of the empire be viewed in the Holy Kingdom?"
"Ah…!"
"From the empire's perspective, it would be seen as an attempt by the empire to exert influence in the Holy Kingdom, and from the Holy Kingdom's perspective, it would be seen as an attempt by the empire to exert influence."
"Indeed… that's true!"
As if realizing it belatedly, Sediar nodded his head.
"I apologize! I have been told many times that I lack tact, but it seems I am not improving."
"It's okay. That is also a part of the Inquisitor's faithful devotion, is it not?"
"Indeed, Your Excellency is understanding. Once again, thank you. I must continue to strive to improve this hasty aspect."
"If you continue to strive, you will surely succeed."
Encouraged by my words, Sediar bowed his head again.
"Even so, it is my duty not to pass over such a profound blessing given to Your Excellency without giving anything in return."
With that, he took something out of his pocket.
"It may seem trivial to call it a replacement, but please accept this."
"This is…"
An item I remember.
Honestly, I didn't expect Sediar to bring this out….
"Is this… a piece of Andrea's cross? Even if it's just a part, it must surely be a relic…."
A piece of Andrea's cross
Just as he said, it looks like a simple piece of wood at first glance
But what makes it special is that this piece of wood is part of the "Cross of Andrea," a relic.
"You know it well. Then the story is brief. Yes, this is a 'part' of the cross that the martyr Andrea possessed."
Sediar said.
"However, we have not yet found the rest. Before her death, Andrea said that the relic would be complete in the hands of the chosen one."
"I am aware of that."
Before the regression, Andrea's cross was not completed until the end.
Perhaps it was of no use as a relic in the face of the great calamity of Jormungandr.
'Will it be different this time?'
Before the regression, I did not get Andrea's cross. There was no contact with Sediar in the first place.
But now things have changed.
Sediar, personally and dearly, handed me a piece of Andrea's cross.
"A piece alone cannot become a relic. However, if the Holy Emperor blesses you, you may indeed possess the complete cross."
"Hmm."
As a relic, if it can be completed, it will undoubtedly become a tremendous power for me.
"I will accept it gratefully. If the Holy Emperor blesses me, it may be possible to complete the relic."
"If it is a blessing bestowed upon Your Excellency, I believe it can be done."
The completion of the relic itself is an act that elevates the name of the Holy Emperor.
Sediar seems to consider this fact meaningful in itself. Having received something so valuable, I cannot remain silent.
"I will accept the gift gratefully. And I will positively consider the Inquisitor's suggestion."
"Thank you for your consideration!"
Sediar deeply bowed his head.
By leaving room like this, I can receive his support when I do something in the Holy Kingdom in the future, and with his help, I may be able to do something within the Holy Kingdom.
It's something that can be adapted depending on the situation.
"Then let us consider the issue of this time's heresy resolved by Your Excellency's wise measures."
"I request it."
may the blessings of Delviar continue to protect Your Excellency!"
With that, Sediar spoke and then took some measures with Kelton's body before dragging it out of the mansion.
He must be analyzing the origins of the heretic through the body and reporting to the Holy Kingdom.
"….Well."
The most problematic issue has been resolved. Since I have already decided on the disposal of Silo and Kelton, all that remains is to put it into action.
"I left that to Setarim and Repentir, so they should do well without me."
Now, what's left?
What is it?
"Let's take a look."
This time, I opened up the power I had sealed away and kept in my personal training room.
Thump.
Once again, my heart responded to that power. The change that I had deliberately stopped began to occur again.
"It all happened when it was related to Jormungandr."
At least before the regression, this didn't happen. That means, during the process of the regression, something changed within me…
I didn't hear the detailed story from Ji-soo-won because the situation was urgent.
But the fact that he didn't warn me about this means that this change isn't necessarily bad for me.
Then what is it?
I decided to carefully observe my body, viewing my soul and body as if from a third person's perspective.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
A heart beating in a short term.
Ideally my body should have a balance of mana and aura, coexisting together.
There should be no room for other " of energy to interfere.
However.
"…Hmm?"
Something other than mana and aura, neither of the two, was squirming inside me.
The sacred power of the Holy Emperor, Delviar, is not there. It's not because my soul is imbued with sacred power.
To put it another way, it is the process of converting mana and aura into a power close to sacred power through a special process.
But this third force is different. Naturally, it was sleeping inside my body from the beginning.
What is it?
"It reacted to the power related to Jormungandr, which means it must be related to it…"
However, I don't feel the inherent ominousness of Jormungandr from it. There's no feeling that this force is corroding my body.
Rather, what should I call it?
It feels more like it's protecting me.
I didn't take any protactive action because there was no sense of hostility towards me.
But then, at that moment.
The problem, that force, seemed to take shape, not in the form
of a force, but in the form of something else.
I blinked and stared, wondering what it was..
"A snake?"
Yes, it looked like a snake.
But that was just for a moment.
It began to change its shape again, rearranging itself.
It clustered, split, and reformed.
And soon it took on a proper form.
In that way, the revealed figure is.
"No, crazy."
It may be a strange sight in this world, but to me, it is a very familiar structure.
Exactly twelve.
It's not a magical tool, nor is it something from ancient times.
But I know this is not a simple cylinder.
"..Hercules?"
Originally named, it was renamed Hercules by Ji-soo-won for convenience.
"No, why is this here?"
It's still vivid.
Hercules sweeping through the battlefield, intercepting Jormungandr's kin, and making a name for himself.
No, even if that's true.
"…Why?"
Why is this coming out here?