Chapter 96: What I Missed

Chapter 96: What I Missed

"Are you Karyl?"

At the low voice calling him, Karyl slowly lifted his head.

Having traveled by carriage for nearly a fortnight, Karyl finally arrived in Heim for the first time in his life. He gazed at the unfolding scenery, his eyes glinting with wonder.

"You came with Sir Joey Johansel, I believe."

"Yes. The priest was kind enough to allow me to use the Magic Circle, so I was able to meet the Pope without any issues," Karyl replied calmly. His demeanor and tone were perfectly adhering to the etiquette he had been taught.

It’s unbelievable to think that what I learned in my previous life would come in handy like this.

A bitter smile crossed his face as he recalled the lessons he had learned when he first arrived at the mansion under Kuwell MacGovern's guidance.

Randol...

Was it because he thought of the mansion? The memories of his foster brothers, whom he had met at the Abyssal Rock, flashed through his mind.

"I am Karyl of Tatur."

But the reminiscence was brief. Karyl reiterated his name to the bishop as if to engrave it upon him once again. The wind howled as if it were a living entity, mourning.

Heim, the Holy Land of the Church—Karyl couldn’t help marveling at the city shimmering with silver. The buildings, seemingly a generation ahead of the imperial architectural style, impressed him in particular.

Although he stood chosen and ordained, ready to battle Tarak, he had never truly faced the Church's bishop nor examined the Church closely.

I'm merely carrying out Church’s orders. Karyl slowly lifted his head. So, a place like this actually exists.

Moreover, the Holy Land of the Church was shrouded in secrecy, even among the people of the continent.

Thinking about it, the reason Sir Joey Johansel could introduce me so easily to the Church might be due to the allure of the elemental stones, or perhaps because the teachings of the Church are open to all.

If not that, perhaps Joey Johansel also wanted to avoid the destruction of the Three Kingdoms.

Considering the ancient texts he recovered from the ruins, that's probably the reason for it. There's still much to investigate.

Moreover, the investigation of the ruins involved the children of the nobility from the Three Kingdoms.

They’re quite clever for a small nation forced to survive between the Empire and the principality.

While the Empire and the principality were the two most powerful forces on the continent, the only entity that truly surpassed them in power was the Church itself.

Are they trying to win the Church to their side? However, their plans were doomed to fail. Because the emperor is coming here.

Karyl glanced up at the Church's towering palace. The small windows situated high above the ground allowed some light from inside so that the building itself wasn’t completely engulfed in darkness, but they didn’t illuminate the palace grounds at all. The entire structure seemed designed to be hidden from view.

But the emperor has yet to get her. Perhaps the bishop and a few high priests are aware...

At least, Joey Johansel, who had been away from the Church for a long time investigating the ruins, had not heard news from the Empire.

It's fortunate I met him. Thanks to that Magic Circle, I managed to get to the Church before the emperor. Of course, he invited me here because of the ruins discovered in the Three Kingdoms. It wasn't just out of kindness, but it’s very beneficial nonetheless.

Naturally, using magic to travel across the continent saved a lot of time and minimized fatigue. However, the disadvantage was that the user would not know the route to the destination.

Hmm...

Although difficult to pinpoint the exact location through a Magic Circle, Karyl intuitively guessed where he was on the continent.

For a brief moment, when the light from the travel Magic Circle disappeared, I saw the Maron Canyon.

While similar landscapes were common across the continent, Karyl was certain about the location. He could never forget the fierce battle that had taken place there.

Maron Canyon... That was where Martte MacGovern, the eldest, had his heart pierced by a demon.

Seeing the canyon with the naked eye meant he was not far from the Empire.

The canyon was visible from the northeast. That means Heim is likely just below the Empire.

Karyl briefly greeted the other people around the bishop, and everyone warmly returned his greetings.

So, it's quite far from the principality... I thought the early founders of the Church, like those from Lurein, would have established the Holy Land closer to the duchy, but it seems not.

Aidan, hidden behind the curtain, was holding a small pile of documents.

"This place is quite interesting."

"What's that?"

"Records from the Church. Not all of them, but I managed to get some."

After examining the documents, Karyl looked at him with disbelief. "Where did you get this?"

"From Zouk. There's someone connected to the Burning Darkness within the Church. I went while you were meeting with the bishop."

"You weren't caught?"

Karyl was amazed by his boldness. Aidan Hamil was now his subordinate, not just a member of the Burning Darkness of the Eastern Lands.

"Well... I'm not sure about other places, but fortunately, the Church is a closed place. Zouk kept quiet, so no reports have gone up yet. Thanks to that, I managed to get around." Aidan placed the documents on the table as he spoke.

"If we were caught, our heads would roll. Somehow... this place doesn't feel very welcoming. I got curious too."

"Right?"

"Still, these documents aren’t conclusive evidence. The Burning Darkness never fully discloses their affairs, not even with their allies.”

"It seems Zouk De Holde has a higher position in the Burning Darkness than you. You're using her name?"

"Haha." Aidan chuckled softly. "Nothing I say surprises you anymore. Even if I told you that Zouk De Holde isn’t actually my younger sister but a senior, you’d have no reaction.”

"Yeah, I know. It's the truth."

"...Sorry?"

He looked bewildered by Karyl's casual acceptance of his offhand comment.

It's more than I thought. The Eastern Lands... I should be more careful now.

Karyl was more deeply involved in the continent than he had imagined. If there were spies in the veiled Church, the other countries were no exception.

Schrrrr—

Karyl unfolded the records Aidan had brought.

Wait a minute. What is this...?

Among the densely-packed contents, there were parts marked by Aidan.

This is crazy. His eyes wavered.

The Church wasn’t just any organization. Of course, it was a place that required diligent study of its doctrines and constant effort, but the information Aidan had provided meant something else. It was pointing to a connection between the Church, the Wooden Cloud, and Joey Johansel.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Someone from the Burning Darkness investigated it," Aidan replied with certainty.

Karyl nodded. This is what I missed.

It was the Empire.

Of course, Karyl had thought of this. He had known about the relationship between the emperor he was about to meet and Joey Johansel. However, he had misunderstood the chronological order of the connecting elements.

It's not that the emperor was involved with Wooden Cloud, but that Joey Johansel was already the emperor's man. Karyl's lips curled up.

"Things are getting interesting..."

This secret region, veiled as the Holy Land of the Church, was already a battlefield of fierce mind games between the Empire and the Wooden Cloud.

Who will take control of the Church... I still don't know who it is on the Wooden Cloud side. Well, maybe I should join this game too. His eyes gleamed.

Karyl reached into the pocket of his coat and took out the small pouch he always carried. He then pulled out a small ornament embedded with a blue gemstone from it.

Aidan immediately recognized it. It was Kuwell MacGovern's personal seal.