CHAPTER 46

The Steaming Rice Water Is Hotter (3)

"What? An envoy has come to Eshua?!"

Lilai, who had been tending to Isaac, let out a dry laugh at the butler's words.

"I didn't think they'd come in person to fetch him."

She had been rejecting every invitation addressed to Isaac for the past ten years.

The papal family even offered him ordination if he would attend one of their banquets. Of course, their true intentions were obvious—and infuriating.

'They heard about Isaac's current condition and invited him just to mock him.'

In fact, the so-called ordination they offered was an honorary ordination.

The kind of token title handed out to commoner children as a festival gimmick—nothing like what was given to children of clerical families.

And what did that imply?

It was a clear way of saying Isaac would never be able to become a real priest. And now, a papal envoy?

The butler looked worried.

"Why are they so determined to bring the young master with them? Could they have ill intentions…?"

"No, the ones who came this time are fine. I know them well. They're scholarship supervisors and scouts."

"Scouts?"

"Yeah. In these times of conflict with the demon tribes, priests are so valuable they personally seek out talent. These are trustworthy people."

Priests were divided into elite priests belonging to the papal institution and monks from local monasteries.

To become a priest with officer status under the papal institution, you had to pass rigorous exams.

Sure, a cardinal had enough power to make even a beggar a papal priest overnight, but by principle, they couldn't recommend their direct family members.

And her father wasn't the type to break that rule.

"So, what about Father?"

"Ah, yes. Well, the master agreed to meet with them, but…"

"But?"

"He said, and I quote: 'What the hell is this lunacy—200 kilograms of chocolate and 100 kilograms of sweets? What is that even about?'"

"…!"

Sweat trickled down Lilai's face.

She had hidden it well—how did her father find out?

In truth, someone had been ordering chocolates and candies under her father's name, with Isaac as the recipient.

Hundreds of kilograms of it. Every single day!

The culprit? No idea!

'Could someone be trying to harm Isaac?'

It was a valid suspicion. Sweets were considered symbols of corruption, and highly tempting and addictive for minors—not something priests ever allowed themselves before adulthood.

In fact, they were so forbidden that novice priests wouldn't even touch them.

The truth? Isaac had gotten fed up with eating monk's food every day and had started ordering it himself—but there was no way Lilai would know that.

'We can't exactly send the deliveries back, and before we can even donate them somewhere, Isaac devours everything…'

Her father was already furious because of the situation with the Skull King's magic. If he found out she couldn't even keep the food under control, he'd surely explode.

Even though he acted like he'd given up on Isaac, the fact that he kept throwing down divine decrees showed he hadn't let go of hope completely.

"Anyway, fine. I'll go greet the priests myself. It's a rare chance for Isaac to become a priest…"

"I doubt it'll work out."

"Brother!"

Goehl clicked his tongue and motioned for Lilai to stop.

"I get that you want Isaac to be ordained, but those visitors won't be writing any recommendations. Not even if Isaac shows his full potential."

What the hell was he talking about now?

"I know those scholarship supervisors. There's no way they came here with bad intentions…"

Goehl smiled at her pityingly when he saw the look in her eyes.

"No, there are three visitors. Two supervisors—and one priest."

"!"

Lilai's expression hardened.

No way… that priest wasn't…

"Yeah. It's Elder Priest Elden from the papal faction."

Damn it.

Lilai closed her eyes.

In simple terms, it meant that, even though the two scholarship supervisors came to recommend Isaac, the remaining priest had higher authority.

And all recommendations had to go through that person before being forwarded to the cardinals for final approval.

And that person was from the papal faction?

What did that mean?

"No matter how much the two supervisors want to write a recommendation, if the other one blocks it, it's nothing but scrap paper. And there's no way the papal faction is going to let a recommendation from Eshua through."

Lilai ground her teeth, a rare show of frustration.

This world was a damn mess.

"Then if there's no chance of a recommendation, why did the envoy personally come here?"

"They came under the pretense of offering a recommendation—but really, they're here to confirm Isaac's condition for themselves."

"As expected, you're sharp. You're curious about the child who hasn't shown himself for the past ten years, aren't you?"

Goel smiled as if to say, By now, you should understand what I'm getting at.

Well, for Goel, it was simply about cutting off Isaac's chances of becoming a priest, but luckily, it also tied into Eshua's honor.

Lilai let out a sigh from deep within her chest.

"We'll need to make sure Isaac doesn't meet the priests."

"Right. You're here to pick up Shuri anyway. I'll deal with the delegation, so don't worry and just keep Isaac—"

But just then—

"Excuse me!"

One of the waiting attendants rolled his eyes.

Goel glared at him as if to say, How dare you interrupt me so rudely?

"…I-I really think I need to say this!"

"What?"

"Well, actually… Young Master Isaac already went to meet the priests!"

"…What?!"

"What?!"

Lilai and Goel both cried out in shock—but for different reasons.

"When did that boy—no, why?!"

"Well, um, it was Young Master Shuri who took him…"

"What?!"

Goel grabbed the back of his neck, dizzy with frustration.

Son, why would you do something so unnecessary?!

Are you just trying to give Isaac all the good opportunities?!

***

Meanwhile, in the eastern castle of Eshua—

Two priests from the Papal Palace walked through the annex alongside two inspectors.

As expected, there's no security in the eastern castle.

He was one of the three members of the delegation sent to retrieve Isaac.

The two inspectors, apparently foolishly, had gone straight to the head of the family—only to be humiliated by that foul-tempered man.

Well, that actually works out in my favor.

The two inspectors were probably just focused on taking Isaac back. But the man who had come with them—Elden—was different.

He was a high-ranking official with the authority to appoint new priests within the Papal Palace, and he had come all the way to Eshua personally.

Why?

To confirm the rumors about Isaac Eshua in person? To report back to the Papal family?

No—that wasn't the real reason.

That, too, was important, of course, but he already knew Isaac's condition.

Wasn't it said that he was cursed by the Skeleton King and can't use holy magic?

And upon hearing that, Elden's real reason for coming to the Duchy of Eshua was none other than a Holy Spirit.

Yes—a Holy Spirit!

A king-class Holy Spirit, no less!

Such beings could only be summoned by a Cardinal or His Holiness the Pope, and even then, only through a one-time contract.

But now someone had summoned one in a subjugation contract?

And on top of that—what?

Of all things, it was an Anti-Magic Holy Spirit?!

I never imagined I'd get to witness that legend with my own eyes.

The entire Five Noble Houses would be scrambling at the news. Not only that—Eshua's honor and prestige would transform overnight.

It seems Eshua is intentionally keeping this a secret, but I'm nearly certain it's true.

The more he investigated the eastern castle, where Isaac was said to reside, the more convinced he became.

This is at least evidence of a top-tier or higher Holy Spirit.

Of course, Elden hadn't acted on mere assumptions. As a professor specializing in Holy Spirits, he had merely followed the trail of rumors he always kept tabs on.

A Holy Spirit of fire with black hair, immune to magic…

Its name had been erased from the scriptures, but it still appeared in a few historical records—a being of immense power.

"The one who maintains the barrier of the divine realm."

Whatever the reason, there was no way the Papal family, which collected Holy Spirits, wouldn't desire it.

If he could steal it and bring it to the Papal family?

He'd be rewarded with a high position.

That was Elden's goal: to win favor and gain a seat in the Papal hierarchy. He couldn't remain a lackey for those in power forever.

In terms of skill, I'm superior anyway.

Teaching rookie priests? What a joke.

And so, Elden had acquired a herb said to neutralize Holy Spirits.

A rare item still unknown even in the Holy Empire—one that even Eshua's people wouldn't recognize.

"And the preparations were already complete."

"I didn't expect there to be a solution with this kind of effect, though."

And then he meets Isaac, who can't even use sacred magic?

Then the power of the Holy Spirit weakens, the Skull King's sealed power runs wild, and the mansion will turn into utter chaos in an instant.

"They said the castle shakes daily due to the Skull King's magic anyway, so this just makes it better!"

In that confusion, the incapacitated high-ranking spirit will be smuggled out. So hurry up and go berserk!

"By the time the head of the Cheong family arrives, everything will already be over."

Elden, who came to meet Isaac, had been ready to narrow his eyes sharply…

"Ah, Isaac? Please greet them. These are priests from the Holy See."

For some reason, Shuri Eshua, who guided them to the drawing room, was sweating nervously.

What's going on? Why is the child who brought them here acting so cautious?

"I-I'm sorry for receiving you in such an old building, professors. My little brother is shy around strangers unless he's in the east wing. The other places are dirty with Isaac's things."

"Uh… no, it's fine, Eshua. Or rather, I should call you 'young master' here."

He was a model student who had never acted like this even once at the Academy.

What is this? Why does it look like he expects the building to explode at any moment?

"You must have been startled by my younger brother's appearance!"

"…Ah. Well, no…"

Startled, yes. He had heard it directly from a messenger of the papal family, but to think he'd really look like a baby.

But that didn't matter.

In fact, it was precisely because of that appearance that they'd planned to steal the Holy Spirit. And because he was like that, they knew he couldn't control its power.

But…

"Ttaya."

'Why?'

Why is he glaring at me?

While the inspectors were amazed at Isaac, asking if he was the one from the rumors, Elden felt differently.

'This kid… something's off.'

For a child from a religious family, his eyes were far too corrupted. There wasn't a trace of faith in them.

And the corrupted brat… was smirking.

'So these are the guys here to write my recommendation, huh?'

Although Isaac could control his physical growth and use sacred magic freely, the priesthood couldn't be taken by force.

Which meant he needed them.

Isaac had heard it from Shuri too:

—Just enter the Academy and wait six years. Even if the inspectors want to write a recommendation, it won't go through easily.

—Why?

—Rumor has it the mid-level official who approves recommendations is in the pope's faction. If it's Eshua, no recommendation will be accepted.

—Ah. So that guy filters them out, huh?

—Yeah. And that official is one of the three arriving today: Professor Elden. I don't know why the pope's faction came all the way here, though.

—Then if I get rid of the approver, there won't be any hold-up, right?

—…What?

—Hmm. Nice.

—Wait, hold on. What's nice?!

And rather than rescuing the princess two weeks later, taking this opportunity would speed things up significantly.

"Two witnesses and recommendation writers. One rescue target."

Isaac's eyes curled into a crescent moon.

After all, as long as a priest saves people, that's all it takes, right?

Right?

[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : https://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]