abcnovels
Chapter 111: King Made His Move
Chapter 111: King Made His Move
Chapter 111: King Made His Move
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Imperium City, the following morning.
On the high clock tower of the cathedral, a priest climbed up the ladder, and then, after arriving within the golden bell, he picked up a large hammer and began ringing the bell loudly.
Its echoing sounds extended to every corner of the city, waking up even the deepest sleepers.
The cathedral's doors slowly creaked open, revealing a breathtaking view of the sun rising over the horizon.
"Ah~" A bishop stood in the doorway, feeling the sun's kiss on his hairless head.
He let out a pleasant-sounding hum and then went by the altar to start the morning service. The cathedral was still empty of parishioners, but the bishop knew they would start arriving
soon.
It was at that moment that the cathedral's doors slammed shut with a loud bang, startling the bishop and causing him to drop the holy water.
The flask of holy water shattered on the cold stone floor, spilling its contents everywhere.
The bishop turned over to the door and saw a figure standing perfectly in the shadow of the church entrance.
The figure was just standing there, watching the bishop from the shadow.
"W-who is it?" The bishop asked, and then quickly snapped three of his fingers.
A long cross that was as big as an adult male appeared from the air, and the bishop snatched it with great skill.
He wielded it around as if the cross were some kind of weapon.
"Declare your name in the house of the God." The bishop said coldly. "Violence has no place in here, but it can be used as a last resort if you push me to that point."
"Hah..."
The figure laughed with his shoulders shaking and appeared amused by the bishop's threat. "Calm down, War Bishop. I am not here to fight."
"Then why are you here, stranger?" The bishop asked but didn't lower his cross. "You came unannounced to the house of God."
"I am sorry..." The figure spoke, stretching his words slowly. "I came here to confess my sins."
The bishop frowned and eyed the confession booth near the altar. It was empty, as it was not the usual time for confessions.
He then pointed towards the booth and said, "Very well, my son. Please proceed."
He then focused all of his senses on the figure and its shadow. The figure had to leave the shadow to enter the confession booth.
The figure simply smiled and took a step back. It looked like he got sucked into the shadow as The just disappeared, like light being snuffed out.
"Where?" The bishop's eyes widened, and he looked around frantically.
At that moment, the confession booth's door creaked open and shut down immediately after.
The bishop turned to the confession booth, then slowly approached it with a beating heartbeat and opened a door to his own side.
Although his side of the booth was empty, there was clearly a shadow of a figure on the other side, separated from it by a thin wood and cloth wall.
'What speed...' The bishop slowly closed the door and then sat down on a small seat that was barely big enough for him.
"What do you want to confess about, my son?" The bishop asked.
"About lying." The figure said.
"Lying?" The bishop side-eyed him. "What did you lie about?"
"The reason for meeting you." The figure said: "I was not here to confess my sins."
"Then what are you here for?" The bishop asked with cold sweat dripping down his forehead. "This confession booth is able to block anyone from eavesdropping, is it not?"
"Yes, it is..." The bishop said with a loud gulp. "It can also stop Kiryoku from detecting anything inside the booth."
"You know, walls have ears." The figure said with a chuckle. "I don't want others to learn about what I am going to talk to you about."
"Who are you?" The bishop asked.
"You know who I am." The figure said: "Take out your pouch."
"My pouch?" The bishop frowned and took out a small pouch from his trousers's pockets.
It was his money pouch with a humble amount of Shinecoins inside.
The bishop loosened its string and took out a coin from there.
It was shining little bit with a certain face engraved to it.
"Do you expect me to believe that?" The bishop asked with shaky eyes. "You didn't even show me your face."
"It's better if you don't." The figure said with a tone that made it clear he was smiling. "Your eyes will only be used as a weapon against me."
"Fine, let's pretend that you are him." The bishop crossed his legs and asked. "What do you want?"
"The church will send their chosen group to the Gathering, I'd like you to put a suggestion of adding another person there."
"Who?" The bishop asked.
"High Priestess Yu." The figure said: "She wasn't on the list. She has to be there."
"Lady Yu?" The bishop frowned. "Why? She has her own duty in the Imperial City."
"I'll need her there to change the future. It's the only way to prevent disaster." "Future?" The bishop shook his head. "I am sorry, but I have heard enough. I don't know who you are, bu-"
At that moment, the door of the booth slammed open, and bright light flooded the booth with a piercing intensity.
The bishop was forced to close his eyes, but when he finally opened them, he saw a figure standing in front of him.
Its figure was blocking off most of the light, but the bishop could make out the outline of a
tall, slender person.
At last, he managed to catch sight of his face.
"You..." The bishop looked at the coin in his hand and then at the figure's face. "Y-you really
are..."
He was about to fall down on his knees, but the man then stopped him by holding down his
shoulder.
"It's important." The man said: "That you listen to me."
"Your Highness, she'll be there." The bishop said and lowered his head with a slight panic in
his voice.
"Good..." The man said, his voice turning hoarse, older, and more painful.
His tall, slender figure slowly shrank as his posture turned hunched, his shoulders drooped down, and his knees buckled under the weight of his own body.
It was almost like he just turned older.
"That's..." The bishop whispered in shock.
"I am sorry, but like I said, your eyes can be used as a weapon against me. You know what that
means..."
The bishop gulped, tears appearing at the corners of his eyes.
"I am sorry..."
He whispered.
"I am as well." The man said, then stabbed his fingers through the bishop's eyes, blinding
him.
"Aaargh!" The bishop screamed in agony, and as soon as the fingers left his eye sockets, his eyes were crushed and blood poured down his face.
"Tell Lady Yu to go on the next boat to Kuro Island." The man said, "She needs to leave
immediately."
"I'll... make arrangements..." The bishop spoke, his voice cracking in pain as he struggled to
speak.
The man then stood up, hunching and clutching his side as if he were in pain.
His footsteps turned distant as he walked away, then the doors opened with a loud creak and stayed open with the sounds of parishioners echoing from the outside.
The bishop continued to stand still at the front of the confession booth, the blood from his crushed eyes falling onto the hardened floor.
It looked like he was in great pain at first, but then his facial muscles relaxed and he started to look calmer, as if he had received medicine that took all the pain away.
'The King made his move...' The bishop thought. 'I am an unfortunate casualty. Originals, such as me, cannot be healed by the magic powers of the flasks, leaving me in darkness for the
rest of my life.
'What will happen in the Gathering since even the King made his move? I am fearful for the
realm's future...'