Chapter 2 : Sacred Relics Ceremony (2)

"I'm here."

The old man and any guests present frowned as they saw the disheveled brown-haired man step out of the crowd and past the guards with a slightly red face, an unshaven beard, his dirty leather armor and mud-stained boots, and a smell of alcohol that could be smelled from a thousand miles away.

He walked lazily without hurrying to the scene before stopping next to one of the heroes who frowned at him while pinching his nose.

"How dare he be late on this important day? Does this useless bastard have no respect for the gods and his predecessors?"

"As expected of a redneck no education."

"Look at his clothes, doesn't he know how to dress for this kind of occasion? A real savage!"

"Even the orcs are more educated than that."

The nobles below and some officials began to complain in low voices exchanging taunts with scandalized airs.

"Hero of Constantine Leon is it?"

"Yes cardinal, that's me."

The old man asked with a gentle smile as if to lighten the mood.

"It's none of your business."

The old man, the heroes and all the guests were stunned and speechless at this answer.

The old man was not just anyone, he was one of the nine cardinals of the three continens who served the Holy Virgin directly, even the emperors and kings had to show this man respect for his position if they did not want the Holy Army to come knocking on their castle doors.

"What do you say?!"

The old man squinted his eyes and clenched his teeth in anger as he stared intently at Leon, who answered again.

"Are you senile or something? I said it was none of your business! Please finish this pompous ceremony quickly so I can go back to drinking."

*Silence* *Silence*

At that moment if a needle had fallen to the ground it would have been heard all the way to the other end of the square, the cardinal whose face had become red with anger stared at Leon so intensely and with such murderous intent that even the civilians far away in the crowd couldn't help but swallow with fear.

Only the empress more far standing between her guards smiled slightly while attending the exchange between Leon and the cardinal holding back almost to laugh.

"Leon kneel down quickly and ask for forgiveness."

A pretty woman with purple hair and yet quite conservative but elegant nobleman's clothes left the group in what was with a nervous and slightly annoyed air while walking towards Leon who turned his head towards her.

"Miranda..."

The girl that Leon loved and his childhood friend, seeing her standing in front of him he frowned and said coldly.

"It's none of your business go back to your fucking party and don't fuck with me please."

"Huh?"

Miranda, who was about to reprimand him, suddenly stopped hearing what he had just said with a look of surprise.

"Leon it's not like you to insult a man's liver so apologize quickly or you might get into trouble".

"Leon insulting a person of such rank is a provocation to the church you could even be excommunicated."

"May I ask why the delay?"

At the same time three other young women came forward, one with long flaming red hair, a light tan complexion, a perfectly chiseled face and a beauty mark under her right eye, as well as two others with short blond hair, resembling each other identically, with faces that were quite childlike despite their mature ages and seductive figures that could hardly be hidden by their nun's habits.

They were Lisa, Anna and Selena, the former members of his party.

"Leon I know you are still in shock from our departure but that is no reason to fall into decadence and behave like this, you need to pull yourself together, what you have just done is a disgrace to our country, by behaving like this in front of all these dignitaries from all continents you are insulting the dignity of our nation."

Lisa as usual spoke to him with a harsh and sanctimonious tone before bowing to the cardinal with a look of apology.

"His honorable cardinal Jarmal forgive the rudeness of my countryman."

"So this is how your country raises a hero and respects the will of the gods?"

Jarmal said in a cold voice while withdrawing his murderous gaze from Leon before snorting coldly in contempt.

"I assure you that the Arvest family as well as the royal family of Hillgrave will compensate you for the displaced behavior of our hero."

"Cardinal please have mercy on Leon he is doing badly these days he does not know what he is saying anymore."

Selena said with a pained look bowing to the cardinal followed by Anna who also bowed with a sigh.

"Please cardinal forgive him."

"Lift your heads my children it is not your fault, I am glad that such people like you accompany our heroes even if they are not worthy sometimes."

Saying this he glanced coldly at Leon who was bawling lazily next to Miranda still in shock from the words Leon had said to her.

"I accept your apologies on his behalf to return to your party and we will begin the ceremony."

"Thank you your holiness."

"Thank you cardinal."

"Thank you."