MTM 140

With the help of Archpriest Edmund, the party was able to enter Carseon Castle safely, as if the earlier commotion had never happened. They were immediately escorted to the Archpriest’s office, located within the temple section of the castle.

The office had exceptionally high ceilings, and in the center of the room stood an olive tree that grew nearly to the ceiling. As if imbued with a mysterious power, a soft glow emanated from its lush foliage.

In the back of the room stood a large, solid-wood desk bearing the marks of time, and the bookshelves lining one entire wall were filled layer upon layer with ancient parchments. Despite the spaciousness of the room, there was only a single window. Vines that had climbed up from the castle walls and invaded the interior covered the window, leaving the interior generally dim and gloomy. However, the flickering light from the lamp fixed to the wall served to remind that this was, in fact, a solemn and tranquil place.

Harto slowly stepped inside while inhaling the scent of wood wafting through the air.

“It feels really cozy…”

Perhaps because of the comfortable atmosphere, he relaxed a little.

Clink.

As the group sat down on the guest sofa, a young priest placed a pot of warm black tea on the table and quietly withdrew. When Zed tilted the teapot to fill the cups, a rich, subtle scent of fresh leaves wafted through the air. The scent calmed the group’s minds, which had been in disarray just moments before.

“Hey, Zed…”

A moment later, Harto, who had been feeling the warmth of his teacup in his hands, spoke cautiously.

“That Archpriest… seemed really happy to see you…”

“Did he?”

“Yes… Is he someone you’ve known for a long time?”

At Harto’s question, Zed idly fiddled with his teacup and briefly lost himself in contemplation.

“Edmund… was someone my mother used to talk with often when she was still alive. He was one of the high priests back then. I didn’t know he’d become the Archpriest in the past three years… but I suppose I was a little glad to see him, too.”

Zed’s gaze darkened ever so slightly as he recalled the past.

‘If he was a priest of Carseon….’

After hearing Zed’s story, Harto struggled to bring his memories to the surface. He recalled that in the novel, Ares had grown up receiving advice from countless people since childhood. That had been his mother’s intention to protect her son. For Ares, who had never fit in among the princes of Regnovar and whose life was constantly under threat, she tirelessly summoned influential figures from outside to the palace of Carseon so he could spend time with them.

Perhaps that was why most of Ares’s flashbacks in the novel were set against the backdrop of Carseon Castle. Whenever he faced a crisis during the arduous journey with his comrades to defeat Hartiros, he would draw upon those memories to strengthen his resolve.

‘Ares, no, Zed… had been holding on through those memories.’

Harto thought of Ares from the novel once again and gently stroked the bracelet on his wrist.

‘It’s not just the spirit stone inside the bracelet.’

The gem embedded in this bracelet held the time he had spent with Zed, and all those precious memories. Hartos decided once again that no matter what happened, he would never lose this.

Clink.

Just then, Leon, who had been quietly sipping his tea, frowned as if it didn’t suit his taste and set his cup down. He immediately looked at Zed and asked,

“By the way, Zed… were you serious about what you said earlier? Were you really planning to duel the commander?”

“……”

Faced with Leon’s question, Zed remained silent.

It was hard to tell whether that silence was an affirmation or if he was simply thinking of another response.

Knock, knock.

The silence was broken by a knock at the door, and it opened as Archpriest Edmund stepped into the office. The group, who had been resting on the sofa, rose from their seats in unison.

“Please, have a seat.”

Edmund approached, his voice gentle yet dignified, as he gestured for them to sit.

“First, please accept my apologies for the delay. I was running late because I had to attend to some urgent matters.”

“If it was because of us…”

“Please don’t worry about it. What could be more important to Carseon than the return of Prince Ares?”

At the word “return,” Zed flinched slightly. Just as he was about to speak frankly about his situation, Edmund gently interrupted him.

“I am aware. Not long ago, I received a letter from Prince Damien. You must have had a long and arduous journey, so I have prepared a place for your party to rest comfortably. Please forgive me for not coming out to greet you; the wait was indefinite.”

Edmund bowed his head to the group. As the Archpriest lowered himself, the flustered Leon and Harto bowed as well.

When Harto cautiously raised his head, his gaze met Edmund’s blue eyes. Startled, he flinched. Edmund, however, offered a benevolent smile.

“Had I known Damien had sent a letter in advance, I would have made preparations sooner… I’m sorry.”

“Not at all. In fact, I’ve been watching everything through the crystal sphere at the castle entrance. After witnessing Prince Ares’s unwavering holy power displayed to the holy knights, I was at a loss for words.”

The Archpriest’s eyes sparkled, seemingly genuinely overwhelmed by the reunion with Prince Ares. In contrast, Zed, perhaps recalling the treatment he’d received from Gerard earlier, couldn’t hide his discomfort as he asked,

“Is that man, Gerard, really the commander of the holy knights?”

The so-called commander was the height of arrogance. Not only had he treated him like an “impostor,” but he had also snatched away the bracelet filled with precious memories. But what made it hardest to contain his anger was that unpleasant gaze with which Gerard had scrutinized Harto as if he were some rare artifact.

Edmund replied with a look of concern.

“Gerard hasn’t been a holy knight for very long, but his skills are so exceptional that he was appointed commander at an unusually young age. That said, his fiery temper does give me a hard time from time to time…”

“His skill is undeniable. I’ve never seen anyone wield the holy sight with such mastery before.”

Though Zed was reluctant to admit it, he couldn’t deny the skill Gerard had demonstrated in manipulating his holy power and the holy sight. The ability to handle holy power with such finesse as to pierce through another’s very essence was a realm that couldn’t be reached by effort alone.

“That’s right. Gerard’s holy power is on par with others in terms of volume, but when it comes to the sensitivity required to wield that power with such fluidity, he’s among the top talents in the entire nation.”

Edmund’s single remark felt like a small thorn piercing Zed’s heart. While Zed might be overwhelmingly superior in the absolute volume of his holy power, it meant that in terms of the ability to precisely control and utilize it, Gerard was a cut above him.

‘I…’

Zed briefly reflected on how he had wielded his holy power thus far. Healing wounds, condensing holy power to create elixirs, or materializing it into weapons to defeat enemies. Or simply unleashing massive bursts of power. He had never given much thought to utilizing holy power beyond that.

Zed’s gaze darkened as if he had reached some realization.

“…More importantly, I’d like to listen carefully to Prince Ares’s story now.”

Edmund, though he knew what Zed was thinking, said no more and put forward his own suggestion.

“If it’s not too much trouble… would it be all right if I spoke with the prince privately for a moment?”

“Oh… Yes, that’s fine…!”

At Edmund’s suggestion, Leon and Harto immediately stood up. Zed, in response to their consideration, briefly met their eyes and nodded.

“Yes, that would be best.”