Chapter 84. Called the path the Saintess passed (4)
Pope Bonifacius carefully brought a candlestick in front of the silver-haired girl with trembling hands.
Nothing was inserted in that candlestick, but just bringing it in front of Iselin made a blue flame bloom.
“Ohh!”
That candlestick was one of the sacred items handed down in the Order, an artifact that created flames using divine power as fuel.
It was to gauge the size of divine power according to the size of the candle flame, but.
From the candlestick brought in front of Iselin now, flames rising to the extent of a torch rather than a candle flame were soaring.
CHIRP!
The young Phoenix, displeased that the candle flame was too close to Iselin, sat on her head and let out a sharp chirp.
“Ohhh!”
The momentum of the fire soared even more fiercely.
“Do I really have to do this?”
Iselin was held in her cousin’s arms, avoiding the eyes of the Pope who was trembling while shoving a candlestick in front of her.
“Endure it a little.”
Blanc put a mint candy she liked in her mouth meaning to encourage Iselin, but that brought about an adverse effect instead.
Mint candy, an item with efficacy enough to be used as a stimulant due to its unique scent.
Iselin’s body became purer with the solution of Moonlit Grass and the blessing of the Phoenix symbolizing immortality.
Added to that, her clear mind forcibly pulled up by the mint candy.
“The candlestick is melting!”
A divine power that could truly be called unprecedented spread out from her body.
***
“A Saintess with the baptism of Moonlit Grass and the blessing of the Phoenix…….”
Pope Bonifacius noticed that Iselin, who would become the 17th Saintess, had qualities superior to any Saintesses who had existed until now.
“Not only those two, but the divine power she possesses herself is also at an outstanding level even compared to the previous Saintess, Lady Monica.”
Blanc only drank the tea placed in front of him quietly listening to the Pope’s words.
“Will Iselin become the Saintess?”
Iselin was brought by Blanc, the Seeker of the Blue Star, receiving the revelation of the Goddess, but she needed the recognition of the Order to officially become a Saintess.
“Of course! Who would not recognize the sacred girl receiving the blessing of the pure moon and the escort of the Phoenix, the Divine Beast among Divine Beasts, as a Saintess?”
The Pope conveyed the intention of the Order instead through exaggerated gestures waving his hands.
“Lady Iselin will become the 17th Saintess as soon as the Order’s preparations are complete.”
“Understood.”
The Pope, who briefly examined Blanc’s mood, lifted his teacup and carefully brought up a topic.
“I heard there was a conflict with the Maximilian family…….”
“……That is correct.”
It seemed the matter with Adolf had already entered the Pope’s ears.
“They staged an armed demonstration asking to hand over Iselin first. Depending on the person judging, it was a situation where heads could have been cut off.”
“Hmm…….”
Seeing Blanc’s attitude, the Pope felt that things would not be easily resolved.
The role the Maximilian family had taken in the Order so far coincided with many things the Seeker of the Blue Star should have.
Actually, since it was a family that had produced Seekers of the Blue Star for a long time, their influence in the Order had no choice but to be expressed that way.
So the Pope realized that the existence of Blanc itself undermined the foundation Maximilian had built so far, so coexistence of the two was impossible.
“……I will protect Lady Iselin who will become the Saintess safely even if a storm rages.”
The Pope could not take anyone’s side.
Therefore, saying he would protect Iselin on his name was his limit.
“I am only grateful for the Pope’s consideration.”
However, from Blanc’s position, the Pope’s remark was helpful enough.
If only Iselin was safe, he could endure any malice pouring on him.
Blanc was a person who had endured his whole life.
***
Next day.
The Goddess Order convened an emergency meeting summoning all high-ranking officials of the Order in Moirai.
Although they didn't say for what agenda they were summoning, the personnel attending the meeting were roughly guessing.
Even if they didn't notice the existence of the Saintess through a separate intelligence network like Maximilian, the fact that Blanc, the Seeker of the Blue Star, entered Moirai with a girl itself meant something they all knew.
A dark room made for confidentiality.
People were sitting in a row next to a long table.
The mouth of Pope Bonifacius, who was sitting at the most senior seat among them, opened.
“The Seeker of the Blue Star has discovered the girl who will become the 17th Saintess and brought her to the embrace of the Order.”
“Ohh…….”
“It is truly fortunate!”
“The lineage of the Saintess has not been broken.”
The Cardinals and high priests of Moirai convened for the meeting all sighed in relief sweeping their chests.
Since the Order had not been able to select the next Saintess even as Monica Sanctus passed 60, Iselin’s appearance was truly like an oasis in a dry desert.
People who usually maintained dignity and calmness were laughing to their hearts’ content just for now, rejoicing that the lineage of the Saintess was not broken.
Except for exactly one person.
Blanc realized that a blond middle-aged man sitting across was watching him.
He was Carlo Maximilian, who held the position of Honorary Canon of the Order.
“It is truly a joyous matter that the Seeker of the Blue Star fulfilled his role and found the Saintess.”
As he opened his mouth, the people around instantly became quiet.
Because everyone noticed that a storm would begin.
“I only did what I had to do.”
“Thinking it might be helpful, I sent my nephew, and fortunately it seems he found the way well.”
“If it was Lord Adolf, he stood at the very front and led us. I am truly thinking gratefully.”
“…….”
The one standing at the very front when entering Moirai was Adolf Maximilian.
However, since that was not an honorable deed but something done by Blanc’s threat, Adolf had no choice but to enter Moirai feeling severe humiliation.
“Thank you very much for giving such glory to my nephew. Baron Blanc Cadmus.”
Carlo looked at Blanc with shining eyes.
Carlo and Blanc were exploring each other hiding sharp poison.
“Finally, our Maximilian can also lighten the burden. Since a young and capable Seeker of the Blue Star appeared.”
Carlo smiled at the corner of his mouth and asked for a handshake from Blanc.
“In the meantime, our Maximilian family has maintained friendship with the Order for a long time and produced many Seekers of the Blue Star. Surely Baron Blanc will also have points to learn from us.”
Blanc stared blankly at the hand Carlo extended.
“Learn a lot. Baron Blanc.”
Carlo was explicitly crushing Blanc and trying to imprint their position.
‘Can’t be helped.’
Blanc thought he had no choice but to hold that hand just for now.
Because he had no accumulated foundation within the Order, nor anyone to take his side, so resisting here would do no good.
The moment Blanc was about to hold Carlo’s hand.
With heavy footsteps.
The door of the conference room opened quietly.
Although it was a door opened without any sound, everyone in the conference room turned their heads naturally.
The momentum of the man entering through the door right now made it possible.
“I came as fast as I could doing my best.”
A ray of light opened into the dark conference room.
And there was a man of sturdy physique entering the conference room receiving that light beam.
His voice was rough and had a domineering spirit.
The priests showed flustered looks at the face they saw for the first time, but.
“Welcome.”
The Pope seemed to know his appearance and naturally guided him with a hand gesture.
The man who had just appeared opened the door to the conference room.
He was a white-haired old man with broad shoulders and strong build.
His hair stretched out in all directions, settling in a shape like a lion’s mane, and.
His eyes shone deep blue, clearly revealing his belligerent nature.
“Good work. Baron Blanc.”
“Welcome. Count.”
Blanc stood up very naturally, yielded his seat, and stood behind him.
“I am honored to meet you.”
Even though all high-ranking officials of the Order were paying attention to him, the newly appeared man was not intimidated at all and rather showed a light smile.
“I will introduce myself to everyone.”
He assumed a dignified posture, paid respects to the Pope, and opened his mouth.
“I am here as a proxy for Baron Blanc Cadmus, the Seeker of the Blue Star who will vacate his seat, and as the guardian of Iselin Tolome who will be newly appointed as Saintess.”
He was a person who came here to protect.
When glorious names came out of his mouth, the people around instantly realized his identity.
“I am their grandfather and the head of the Tolome family.”
The lion with a white mane grinned fiercely revealing his teeth.
“Bartomyu Tolome.”
The highest lion of Tolome, Bartomyu Tolome.
Carlo was staring blankly at the hand Bartomyu extended to him before he knew it.
“I look forward to working with you.”
Also, Bartomyu.
Was a person who came to take away.
***
After finishing the meeting.
Bartomyu stood with his hands clasped behind his back in a separate reception room.
“I am sorry as I seem to be leaving too big a burden and leaving. Count.”
“It is a big burden, but since what is contained inside must be big too, I will accept it happily.”
Bartomyu looked at Blanc trembling with exaggeration.
He washed, clothed, and cared for the young wolf who came skinny covered in pitch-black ashes, and before he knew it, he had grown that much and was shining brilliantly.
“Come to think of it, I heard there was a roughly made road piercing through the forest on the way up, and you made it?”
“Yes. To be precise, it is the result of Franz Neudorf of the Neudorf family’s invention.”
Bartomyu stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, looked out the window, and spoke.
“It is a road created by the Seeker of the Blue Star to lead the Saintess. It will be useful.”
“What do you mean is useful?”
Bartomyu spoke looking at Blanc with the sunlight behind him.
“I should name that road the path the Saintess passed.”
Blanc couldn’t see his face in detail due to the backlight, but he could clearly notice Bartomyu’s white teeth.
“One can build a foundation from now on, can’t one? Baron Blanc.”
The reason Maximilian could rise until now was because they had the honorable title of a family blessed by the Goddess.
“There is nothing we cannot do.”
And now in Bartomyu’s hands were grasped the honorable things called the Seeker of the Blue Star and the 17th Saintess.
Tolome also became a family not inferior to Maximilian with just the Goddess' blessing.
“I will handle this place, so Baron Blanc, focus all your nerves on pioneering your destiny.”
Bartomyu was convinced he was riding the flow now.
“Go.”
“Understood. Count.”
Blanc turned his body and stepped out of the reception room as soon as he heard Bartomyu’s words.
“…….”
Bartomyu looked at the door Blanc exited for a long time.
Then he approached the window with his hands behind his back and looked at the scenery outside.
Although blocked by the window, it felt like a wind surpassing it was wrapping around his body.
And Bartomyu knew well where that wind, the flow, was starting from.
“Go, young wolf.”
Bartomyu whispered to the blowing wind.
“Return to your hometown.”
Containing his wish.
Outside the window Bartomyu was looking at, Cadmus knights were riding horses and running out.