Chapter 814

Chapter 814
“Apostle, how did your recollections fare today?”
Gatros offered his customary deep bow as he spoke. Even in their current state as fugitives, the well-being of Ernheart remained his primary concern.
After a moment of quiet, Ernheart uttered a single name.
“Deneb.”
Confused, Gatros tilted his head and sought clarification.
“Isn’t that the label for the beauty products produced by Count Fenris?”
“It has finally come back to me. The Saintess is named Deneb.”
“The… the Saintess, you say?”
“Correct. The one who sealed away the Demonic Realm in the distant past.”
“Does this mean your entire memory has been restored?”
“Not entirely. However, I am certain of the Saintess’s name now.”
“I see…”
Gatros’s features softened with profound feeling. The recovery of Ernheart’s memories signaled that they were moving closer to the forgotten treasures of history.
Then, a troubling thought crossed his mind, and his look became strained.
“There is something quite peculiar about this, though.”
“Are you wondering why the Duke of Fenris would use that specific name for a cosmetic line?”
“…Precisely.”
Gatros looked pained. Raising such a point felt like he was casting doubt on Ernheart’s revelation. It suggested that Ernheart might simply be confused.
Ernheart gave a soft, dry laugh.
“I cannot be sure. It could be a strange twist of fate… or perhaps the Duke of Fenris possesses knowledge we don’t.”
“…”
“It has been a significant amount of time since those products were first released. They were the foundation of his initial rise to prominence, weren’t they?”
“That is correct.”
“Is it possible he was aware of something even in those early days?”
Ernheart posed the question and then shut his eyes, sinking into a deep contemplative state.
Of all the names in existence, it had to be that of the Saintess.
And it wasn’t just anyone using it—it was the Duke of Fenris. This was not a detail to be ignored.
Yet, no matter how much he analyzed the situation, the logic eluded him.
That was to be expected. The name had originally been designated within House Delphine.
Following his return to the past, Ghislain had simply acted first, creating the cosmetics and claiming the name before they could.
Unaware of this truth, Ernheart could only continue to dwell on the mystery.
Observing him, Gatros offered a thought.
“Identifying the Saintess’s name is a major breakthrough. It will be a vital asset when we resume our quest for the King.”
“Hmm… quite so.”
According to ancient writings, the Saintess is in the Demonic Realm, awaiting the King. If they continued to gather these fragments of information, they might eventually uncover the whole truth.
Naturally, that was merely Gatros’s optimistic view. Ernheart had never placed much stock in religious texts or divine visions.
He cared for only one thing.
The return of the meticulously placed pieces of his former life’s memories.
Gatros looked up once more and spoke.
“You should rest. If you are patient just a while longer, we will secure a more suitable location for you.”
Ernheart watched Gatros without saying a word.
In contrast to his own tidy state, Gatros looked filthy. The same was true for the other gathered priests and the few knights who remained.
It was unavoidable. They were all outlaws now, including himself.
Maintaining their former standards of grooming and dignity was nearly impossible under these conditions.
This was the bitter cost of their military failure.
Noticing Ernheart’s silent appraisal, Gatros asked softly,
“Is there anything else you require of me?”
“The more I dwell on it, the more absurd it seems.”
“What does, Apostle?”
“That our forces, which were so close to dominating the entire continent, were brought down by the Duke of Fenris.”
Gatros forced a look of resentment onto his face.
“Because of that individual, the grand scheme we spent decades perfecting was dismantled.”
“Indeed.”
Ernheart smiled at the thought of Ghislain. A minor noble from the edge of the world had managed to take a throne and become the most powerful man in the land.
It was a narrative worthy of a legendary hero.
And yet, as he scrutinized the facts, his skepticism only intensified.
“How is such a feat even possible?”
The level of competence required was too high to be dismissed as mere luck.
Furthermore, there were too many perfect timings to attribute everything to skill alone.
While one could argue he was both exceptionally lucky and skilled, Ernheart felt there was something deeper at play—as if a hidden designer had orchestrated the entire sequence.
“Duke of Fenris… you are hiding a secret that remains hidden from me.”
Ernheart found most things tedious, but he was fascinated by Ghislain.
“What… are you, truly?”
As Ernheart’s mind focused on that question—
—The person who is going to end your life.
A sudden, sharp pain throbbed in his head, and that sentence seared through his mind.
Ernheart winced, his brow furrowing.
It was like a shadow standing just beyond his reach, a blurred image he couldn’t quite see.
This was a piece of his past that remained locked away.
Why had it triggered now, specifically at the thought of the Duke of Fenris?
Ernheart closed his eyes slowly, his pulse racing with an unusual rhythm.
“…Could it be?”
Taking a shaky breath, he whispered,
“Did we… encounter one another in the life before this?”

—

“—Hey! What are you doing in there?”
“—…”
“—You claimed it was time to move! Why are you just sitting there!”
“—…”
“—Answer me right now!”
“—…”
Astion was screaming at the top of his lungs within the void of his own mind.
Ghislain was still present in his consciousness, but though his spirit was there, he was completely unresponsive.
Losing his patience, Astion yelled and pleaded repeatedly, but Ghislain remained silent.
“—Hey! Are you dead? Well?”
“—…”
“—Dark! Dark!”
“—Stop your shouting.”
Dark gave a tired response. He, too, was still lingering within the confines of Astion’s mind.
Astion demanded irritably,
“—What is Ghislain doing at this moment?”
“—I… I don’t actually know…”
“—You’re hiding something. I can tell by your voice.”
“—I’m telling you… I really don’t have a clue.”
“—Then why won’t he wake up!”
Astion’s physical form was a disaster after he had drained every drop of his mana. It was only natural that both he and Ghislain would fall into a deep sleep.
However, Ghislain had previously stated he could no longer maintain control of the body. If that were the case, Astion should have automatically regained command and awakened.
The fact that he was still stuck inside his own head made him suspect Ghislain was playing a game.
“—What are you up tooooo!”
While he was throwing a tantrum, Ghislain’s spirit suddenly took firm hold of Astion’s physical form in a flash.
Opening his eyes, Ghislain gave a pleased grin.
“Phew. I managed to take it back.”
Ghislain stood up with slow, deliberate movements.
Because the internal equilibrium was completely ruined, reclaiming Astion’s body had been a grueling task—the physical shell was actively rejecting Ghislain’s soul. But because Astion had used all his energy and passed out, his mental guard was down. Using his superior mental strength, Ghislain had found a gap and seized control.
—So when you said we were departing… was that a lie? Is that why you stayed so quiet?
Astion’s voice was full of resentment.
Ghislain shook his head slightly before answering.
“I have a few tasks left to complete. Before I depart, I need to keep a close watch on the mercenaries for a bit longer.”
—You don’t even have your full power anymore.
“True, but the experience of a lifetime doesn’t just vanish.”
As Astion pointed out, Ghislain couldn’t tap into the immense power he once held. He was unable to properly manipulate mana.
Still, he couldn’t bring himself to leave just yet. He wanted to see the Allied Forces properly organized under the leadership of Deneb and Julien before he felt his work was done.
There was also knowledge he needed to pass on. He decided to postpone his final exit just a little longer.
The door opened with a click.
“Ghislain!”
“Hey, are you alright?”
“You’re finally awake?”
Word of Ghislain’s return to consciousness spread quickly, and his teammates—everyone except Deneb—came flooding into the room. Thanks to the application of holy energy, none of them had sustained permanent damage and were already mobile.
Ghislain was the only one who had remained out for several days.
They weren’t the only visitors. Iralniel, Grondal, various cardinals, and high-ranking officials from the Empire arrived in a steady stream.
They showered Ghislain with praise for his bravery and talent. They acknowledged that without his intervention, the Saintess’s miracle would have been impossible.
“Step outside for a second. I have something to show you.”
Julien offered a smile as he helped steady Ghislain.
Accompanied by the group, Ghislain slowly made his way out.
The moment he stepped through the doors of the Great Sanctuary—
“Waaaaaaaah!”
A massive wall of sound hit him.
A huge assembly of people had gathered, shouting their praise as they looked at him. The knights and soldiers of the Empire stood at attention in a formal salute.
“It’s Astion! Look, it’s Astion!”
“The guide of the Saintess’s miracle!”
“The Archmage Astion!”
Ghislain looked around, stunned. He understood why they would cheer for Deneb, but why him?
Porisco cleared his throat and explained,
“Ahem, the Saintess spoke very highly of your contributions. She made it clear that your assistance was the reason the miracle could manifest.”
“Ah, I see.”
He had lost consciousness right after the Adversary fled, so he had missed the aftermath.
But based on Porisco’s words and the crowd’s fervor, it was evident that Deneb had been officially accepted as the Saintess.
As for the Julien Mercenary Corps—
“Waaaah! Long live the Julien Mercenary Corps!”
“The defenders of the Saintess!”
“Over here!”
The masses tossed flowers and roared for the mercenaries as well.
They had already been treated as heroes in the capital, but with Ghislain’s recovery, they were receiving a second, even louder celebration.
One person was enjoying this more than anyone else.
—My… my fame is through the roof! People actually like me!
Inside the mind, Astion was practically vibrating with joy.
—Look! I’m not a creep anymore!
—Everyone finally sees the real me!
—I might actually be able to get a date now!
He was practically sobbing by the end of it. It was clear his previous reputation had been a heavy burden.
Ghislain, knowing the true nature of the descendants of the Tower of Radiance, remained unimpressed. He simply sent a silent wish for Astion’s romantic success.
Unlike the jubilant Astion, Porisco looked quite grumpy.
“Your name will be known across the entire land now. Since you represent the Saintess, you must conduct yourselves with the highest dignity and avoid bringing shame to the church…”
“…”
Ghislain reminded himself how rigid and difficult the man could be.
He tuned out the lecturing and asked,
“By the way, where is Deneb?”
“Watch your language. You cannot just throw around the Saintess’s name so casually…”
“Fine, fine. Where is the Saintess at the moment?”
“…Hmph, you are an insolent one. She is currently preparing for her anointing ceremony.”
“What does that involve?”
“…It is the formal ritual where she is officially recognized. The cardinals and high priests will acknowledge her as the earthly voice of the goddess. She will become the center of our faith…”
“Right, right. So, Deneb is basically becoming the Pope?”
“…Not quite. The position of the Pope cannot remain empty, so someone else will be appointed to that role.”
“Why? Deneb is the one recognized as the Saintess.”
“She is the living embodiment of the divine, the source of miracles, and the heart of worship. However, the church still needs a head of state to manage the legal, political, and administrative functions. Such mundane duties are not for the Saintess to handle.”
“Hmmm…”
Ghislain looked unconvinced.
Porisco gave a small shake of his head.
“The Saintess must lead the crusade against the Demonic Realm. Someone must stay behind to manage the daily operations of the church, correct?”
Ghislain conceded the point. He had delegated all administrative work to Claude for the same reason.
It wasn’t practical for Deneb to be fighting on the front lines while also signing paperwork.
He had to follow the traditions of the Empire to some degree. He finally nodded in agreement.
“Fair enough. So, who is the new Pope?”
“A conclave will be convened shortly. We would have started already, but the anointing took priority. There is no telling how long the selection will take.”
“Why would it take a long time?”
“Because the cardinals and archbishops are sealed within the Great Sanctuary until a decision is reached.”
“Why seal them in?”
“To ensure there is no outside pressure or interference. They only leave once a choice has been made.”
Ghislain looked surprised.
“So they stay in there and fight it out until only one is left standing?”
“…They cast ballots.”
“Oh, they vote. Right, that makes more sense.”
As Ghislain laughed, Porisco sighed.
To think that a man serving the Saintess didn’t even know about the papal conclave. It made him worry for the future.
Ghislain didn’t mind. In his original timeline, the office of the Pope didn’t even exist.
After enduring the cheers and Porisco’s scolding, Ghislain went back to his room.
His physical strength was now lower than that of an average person. His injuries were gone, but the internal damage left him in a state of constant exhaustion.
He didn’t even attempt to use mana. To those around him, he seemed like a recovering patient still struggling with a long illness.
People assumed he needed time to heal and left him alone to rest.
Sitting on his bed, Ghislain grabbed a pen and paper to create a list of priorities.
“I’ll stay as long as my body allows…”
He needed to communicate the most vital information to his friends before he left.
As he was writing, a visitor arrived.
The man had dark, shimmering hair, skin as pale as marble, and remarkably handsome features.
Though Ghislain had never met him, he knew exactly who he was.
The man introduced himself with a tone of clear superiority.
“I am the sovereign of the Veil of Night, the observer of the hidden realms, the one who splits the heavens with wings of shadow and sees through the heart of chaos. I am the Black Dragon, Derknain.”
Ghislain’s expression sharpened.
He had a great deal of questions for a dragon.