Chapter 683: The Nuns

The smallest nation in the world, the Holy Capital.

True to its name, the population residing in the Holy Capital was less than a thousand.

Among these thousand were priests, Holy Knights, and nuns, so the number of civilians without any official position from the Church totaled less than a few hundred.

However, even a few hundred was not a small number, and the Holy Capital had prepared a separate residential area for them.

Although it was near the Nunnery, on the outskirts of the Holy Capital, and not in a very good location.

But because of this, some high-ranking officials of the Holy Emperor’s Palace would create safe houses in this residential area to hold secret meetings.

Like the two Archpriests who were once Holy Knights and one Red One mage here right now.

“The nuns started acting strangely a few years ago, ever since a rift opened in the Land of Ice.”

It was Archpriest Roderick speaking, the one who brought Xenon into the Central Continent and could very well be the mastermind behind all of this.

Kevin listened quietly to his words.

Roderick pointed at Armand with his thick, pot-lid-like hand.

“Armand, you must have noticed, right?”

Since this was an informal setting, Roderick’s tone was remarkably relaxed.

“…The influence of the nuns has grown bizarrely strong.”

Armand not only agreed but also pinpointed exactly what was strange.

“To the extent that you’d join hands with them.”

Clap. Clap.

Roderick clapped twice in admiration.

“Correct. Their influence has grown so strong that it’s almost impossible to refuse the hands they extend.”

“I have a question.”

The Red-skinned mage, Kevin, who had been listening quietly, raised his hand slightly to interrupt.

“Ask away, Professor Kevin.”

“I understand that the influence of the nuns has increased, and I understand that because of this, Your Excellency Roderick, you took a nun as an aide… But I don’t understand how the nuns gained such influence. Even though they handle hard work, structurally it should be difficult.”

Roderick slightly opened his eyes at Kevin’s sharp question.

It was a question that required not just a vague understanding but detailed knowledge.

This was proof that the Archive hadn’t randomly chosen who they sent as a representative.

“Professor Kevin is correct. Structurally, it is difficult. Even if the nuns handle hard work, they have no right to participate in decision-making, and there’s no one to speak on their behalf.”

Indeed, the nuns did a lot for the Pater Church, but they had no means to voice their opinions, and no friends to speak for them.

The people the nuns dealt with were the lower strata of society, who had nothing to offer but their numbers. Without rallying those lower classes into a revolt, there was nothing they could do.

“But recently, the nuns have found many friends who can represent their voice, thanks to a series of incidents.”

Surprisingly, these incidents involved treating and comforting the sick.

It was something the nuns had always done. The only difference was in who their patients were.

Instead of their usual lower-class patients, they started tending to the upper class who had a voice within the Pater Church.

“A mysterious disease spread sporadically among the upper classes who had influence in the Pater Church, especially around the Central Continent.”

“This is news to me.”

“It’s not something that needs to be broadcasted. The disease was so malicious that not even doctors, mages, or priests could handle it.”

“And the nuns treated those people?”

Having quickly grasped the situation, Kevin hit the mark.

“I appreciate your quick understanding. Some of them were even abandoned by their own families—nasty old men who only had money to their name… Thanks to the nuns who saved them, they sincerely showed their gratitude and paid them back. Over the last few years, the nuns have gained indirect influence and a voice.”

He roughly understood what was going on.

Due to its unique policies, the Pater Church has exerted influence all over the world, but conversely, it could also be influenced.

After all, that’s how influence works.

While it might seem one-sided, influence goes both ways—it’s just a matter of degree. This is an undeniable fact.

It’s as natural and obvious as the surge of tomato sauce due to the influence of colonial cuisine.

The priests scattered across different countries and regions also needed the help of local forces, and among them, some supported the nuns. Under such conditions, the priests couldn’t help but return the favor.

If you receive something, you must give something in return.

“So, is this why even Your Excellency has a close relationship with a nun as an aide?”

“That’s right. The hardline Archpriests who want to exert significant influence externally have formed such relationships with the nuns. As their leader, I had no choice but to accept it.”

“If you acted differently, it would become an issue within the organization.”

Armand, who was Roderick’s opposition, interjected.

It was an ironic sight.

A moderate leader defending a hardliner leader. But, in reality, it wasn’t quite like that.

While some outright clashed due to different paths, others chose to cooperate despite their difference.

The distinction was whether their path was an ‘end’ or a ‘means’. Armand and Roderick belonged to the latter.

Whether they were moderates or hardliners, for them, these things were just means to face the apocalypse.

That’s why they were working together with Merlin now to protect Oliver.

“Honestly, this is surprising.”

After hearing most of the explanation, Kevin spoke bluntly.

Although it was an inappropriate tone to use with an Archpriest, especially as a mage, neither Roderick nor Armand took issue with it.

Given the unique situation and Kevin’s status as a representative of the Archive, this was allowed.

As proof, instead of being displeased, Roderick responded with enthusiasm.

“What’s surprising?”

“That someone who tries to escape the apocalypse through Xenon would say such things.”

Kevin mentioned the [Deus Ex Machina].

It was a top-secret project currently being carried out solely by the hardliners within the Pater Church, to artificially create the son of an angel to avoid the apocalypse.

Roderick aimed to use Xenon as material for that project, and Merlin had informed Kevin about this.

“Could it be that the nuns prompted that absurd plan as well?”

“Indeed.”

Roderick admitted it outright.

Kevin used the [Eye of Enlightenment] to peer into Roderick’s emotions.

He was being honest.

“The nuns didn’t directly put forth the proposal, but they reinterpreted the apocalypse and incited some of the Archpriests. Those Archpriests then proposed the plan, and it became an official hardliner project. And I took it seriously.”

He was being sincere.

Surprisingly, instead of making excuses about the state of the nuns, Roderick admitted that he was receptive to the [Deus Ex Machina] project itself.

“It wasn’t just idle talk but backed by solid methods and goals. Above all, when faced with the absurdity of the apocalypse, that was the only thing we could do. So, yes, I thought positively about the project. Regardless of intentions or process, as long as the results are good.”

It was an audacious claim, but Kevin found himself speechless.

What could he say to someone who openly confessed all his shortcomings?

Moreover, while there were many problems, the Archpriest in front of him was, after all, striving to fight against the apocalypse instead of giving up.

That alone made it hard to outright condemn him.

“But that doesn’t mean I’ve lost interest in the nuns. That’s separate.”

“And thanks to that, you were able to find traces of demon worship?”

“It was a stroke of luck. Or maybe misfortune? …I kept a close watch because I felt like something was about to happen, and right then, we caught them.”

At that moment, Kevin understood.

If the nuns had proposed using Oliver as material to create the son of an angel in the [Deus Ex Machina], there was no way they wouldn’t act now.

Now that Xenon was here in the Holy Capital.

“Moreover, I just confirmed that they attacked the Inquisition and took Joanna.”

“Joanna… Why?”

“I don’t know the exact reason. But what’s important now is that time is running out. The fact that they’ve done something so bold means they no longer care about anything else. It suggests that the Holy Capital… No, the Holy Emperor’s Palace is quietly facing a crisis.”

“…And it’s a crisis that needs to be handled quietly.”

Armand added.

They were right.

Although the specifics were unclear, the fact that the nuns had attacked an official institution of the Holy Capital meant that they had acted without regard for the consequences, and that indicated a crisis of a scale that could shake the Holy Emperor’s Palace.

However, making an official announcement about it was impossible.

There was no time, plus the already chaotic situation would only get worse.

No matter how he looked at it, the situation was sure to deteriorate, not improve.

So, whether we succeed or fail, my opinion is that we should deal with this ourselves, even if success is not particularly rewarding; is that okay with you?”

“I apologize, but why are you even asking that?”

Kevin asked this back to Roderick.

“You asked for support thinking they would accept, didn’t you?”

“…To be honest, I asked for support thinking Armand would accept. The same goes for the Archive. But, Professor Kevin, I’m not sure about you.”

Roderick didn’t beat around the bush and was direct.

“No matter how I think about it, you have no reason to intervene. You’re an Archive disciple and a Tower of Magic mage, but ultimately a Red One… I don’t mean to be discriminatory, but you have no reason to get actively involved in this, right?”

Although Roderick’s remarks were indeed discriminatory, they also hit close to the truth.

There really wasn’t a particular reason for Kevin, a Red One to get actively involved in this.

Being an Archive disciple and a Tower of Magic professor sounds like enough reason, but that’s only if you’re unaware of how Red Ones are treated.

And, if you know the background of how Kevin and Merlin formed their bond as teacher and student, the question becomes even more apparent.

To anyone looking, it seemed like Kevin was more inclined towards wanting the apocalypse.

Kevin then responded:

“You’re not wrong. Personally, I don’t really have any reason to get involved.”

He acknowledged that he wouldn’t mind if the world ended.

Armand and Roderick said nothing. Not out of concern for Kevin’s feelings, but because, realistically, what he said made sense.

Considering what happened to the Red Ones, an apocalypse might not be such a bad thing.

“However, right now, I’m an Archive disciple and a Tower of Magic mage. I’m here to do my job.”

A brief and concise statement.

From it, Roderick and Armand could see Kevin’s determination.

The will to not neglect the task at hand, despite any personal emotions—something simple yet difficult to uphold.

“Would you mind telling us where those demon worshippers are? It doesn’t look like we have much time.”

Roderick immediately spread out a map. It was a city map of the Holy Capital.

At the center of the map was a hill with the Holy Emperor’s Palace, surrounded by a vast park, temple, theology academy, Holy Knight School, and more.

Roderick pointed to a large but shabby building on the outskirts of the city—the Nunnery.

“The Nunnery, the heart of the Nunnery. They’re preparing something there. Joanna was taken there as well.”

“Could it be a demon summoning?”

Armand speculated.

Youth, wealth, power, hair-loss treatment—the desires of demon worshippers varied, but at this scale, there could be no other explanation.

It wasn’t good news.

The demon summoning itself was bad enough, but considering Xenon was in this city, it was even worse.

The situation was too flawless to be a coincidence.

However, Roderick focused on what they could do in this situation.

“Together, my and Armand’s personal Holy Knights total forty that we can mobilize discreetly. We need to launch a surprise attack on the Convent and put a stop to whatever they’re doing. We should also look for evidence of demon worship and rescue Joanna.”

“Do you have a plan?”

Kevin asked.

“We’ll use a secret passage within the Convent to infiltrate its heart and finish this swiftly. The best strategy is to overpower them quickly with sheer force.”

Roderick responded. Coincidentally, this was a strategy Kevin also favored.

If the ability was there, this approach had the least variables and was the most reliable.

“But this time, I disagree.”

“Why is that?”

“If the nuns are indeed demon worshippers, they would have anticipated that. They might even be waiting for us to walk right into their trap.”

Roderick didn’t argue.

Not only was it plausible, it was likely. Even so, this was the best plan they had for the situation.

He was also open to better suggestions if there were any.

“Do you have a different plan?”

Roderick asked. As Kevin was about to reply—

Creeeeak…

A plainclothes Holy Knight guarding the entrance suddenly opened the door in a rush.

“Your Excellency…!”

“What’s the matter?”

“…Please, could you step outside for a moment… I need to report this.”

Seeing the Holy Knight unable to hide his distress, Roderick, Armand, and Kevin all stepped outside.

And they could see why.

In the clean, well-maintained residential area of the Holy Capital, at the intersection where there should have been a fountain spouting clear water—

The water was now red and foul-smelling.

It was blood.