NOVEL NEXT Chapter 172
Chapter 172: The Little Island That Made Waves
Iceland is a small island nation with a population of only about 330,000.
Being on the fringe of Europe, it hadn’t garnered much attention before.
But Iceland’s fame rose dramatically after the Gate Wave.
This was because the main temple of the Church of Illyria, the goddess of life and earth, was built in Akureyri, Iceland.
The very existence of the main temple of the Church of Illyria, which had blossomed into a global religion, significantly increased the world’s interest in Iceland.
However, for the people of Iceland, gaining notoriety wasn’t necessarily a big deal.
A greater blessing was at hand.
With such a small population, there were hardly any decent hunters in Iceland. Therefore, the Gates were a significant headache for the nation.
But with the establishment of the main temple of Illyria, those worries vanished.
The Church of Illyria had 100 Paladins.
Of course, not all 100 Paladins were stationed at the main temple; they were scattered across the various shrines in different countries, but a good number were present at the main temple as well.
Additionally, there were many clergy members.
They wouldn’t simply ignore the Gates in a country where their deity was worshipped.
They offered substantial assistance in tackling the Gates in cooperation with local guilds.
They didn’t ask for anything special in return. The Icelandic government, grateful for the blessings, voluntarily contributed quite a bit in donations.
In any case, it was cheaper than periodically importing hunters from foreign lands to fend off the Gates.
The people of Iceland felt a deep gratitude towards the Church of Illyria for ensuring their safety.
There was a reason why a large portion of the Icelandic populace had become followers of Illyria.
Meanwhile, the main temple of Illyria was conducting a funeral ceremony.
The number of attendees was small.
There were barely twenty individuals present, making it look almost desolate.
But anyone familiar with the Church of Illyria would definitely feel a different vibe.
At the very front of the main temple, the Pope himself officiated the funeral.
For the Pope to conduct a ceremony personally was a rare event, happening only a few times a year.
It was surprising enough, but on either side of him, Cardinals assisted in the ceremony.
There were only 11 Cardinals in the Church of Illyria.
Moreover, they were responsible for overseeing the main temples in various countries.
It was highly unusual for them to come all the way to Iceland to assist in a funeral service.
Simultaneously, it indicated that the person being honored at the ceremony held a status that was anything but ordinary.
Ding-dong, ding-dong.
The bell hung from the spire of the main temple rang exactly four times.
This signaled the end of the funeral service and revealed the identity of the deceased.
William, the Fourth Sword of Illyria.
The ceremony that just concluded was in honor of him.
Yet, no one exited the chapel. They all looked at the pulpit, each with various expressions.
The Pope had his eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought.
A moment of silence ensued.
It was broken by a young man in silver armor seated on the left side of the chapel.
The silver armor symbolized purity and was also a marker of a Paladin.
“We’re not just going to sit here, are we?”
At the statement of the Paladin, an elderly man in a Cardinal’s robe seated on the right snorted derisively.
“Hmph, he disobeyed the Church’s directives and lived a life of indulgence, and now look at what it got him. He brought this upon himself.”
“What blasphemous words are you uttering now?”
The Paladin’s expression slightly twisted. He seemed to be suppressing his emotions because his adversary was a Cardinal.
The other Paladins around also looked displeased.
“Did I say anything wrong? I merely spoke the truth. Anyway, the Church won’t lift a finger for a brother who lived so recklessly.”
The elderly Cardinal spoke firmly.
He had the liberty to say such things because he wasn’t the Pope.
Especially when it came to utilizing the Church’s military force, the approval of more than half of the Cardinals was mandatory.
And the Cardinals were looking askance at William, who had acted independently against the Church’s orders.
“Your words have been far too excessive.”
The Paladin’s voice rose slightly. However, the elderly Cardinal didn’t flinch.
“Excessive? This is a public consensus among the Cardinals. Besides, do we even know who the assailant is? In such a case, what exactly are you planning to do?”
“….”
The Paladin fell silent. It was an undeniable fact.
William’s body was discovered at the temple of Illyria in Chelyabinsk, Russia.
It was said to have been discovered because the body was found lying in the temple’s courtyard.
Who placed the body there is still a mystery.
In any event, the body was soon handed over to the Moscow Cardinal in charge of Russia. Upon confirming that the body belonged to William, the Cardinal swiftly reported it to the main temple.
The Paladin too had seen William’s body at the main temple.
Although they could narrow down the possibilities of the assailant based on two clues—the sword mark and the presence of someone stronger than William—no definitive conclusion could be reached.
“I know who the assailant is.”
As a calm female voice resonated, the atmosphere in the chapel shifted.
She stood out starkly in her black mourning attire amidst where the Paladins gathered.
Her pale complexion made the dark tear mark near her left eye more prominent.
She rose from her seat and gazed towards the Cardinals.
“…You know?”
Now, even the elderly Cardinal couldn’t say anything carelessly.
How could he, when the person in question was Rachel, the First Sword of Illyria?
Though referred to as a sword according to the traditional title for a Paladin, her weapon was actually a spear.
The absolute talent bestowed by the gods.
She was one of the Top Ten of the Continent and was known as Sinchang (Divine Spear).
“I’ve experienced the power of the strike that left a scar on Lord William.”
Upon hearing Rachel’s words, the Cardinals, as well as the Paladins, bore expressions of disbelief.
To discern the power contained in a strike just from the scar left behind?
What nonsense was that….
Yet, when those words come from the mouth of Sinchang Rachel, one couldn’t help but feel half-convinced.
Such was the weight that she carried.
“As much as I respect Lady Rachel, that is…”
As the elderly Cardinal trailed off, Rachel continued.
“The overwhelming aura of death emanating from that destructive power undeniably belongs to the Emperor.”
In an instant, a tremendous shock swept through the chapel.
“What… what did you say?!”
“The… Emperor?!”
“Is that really true?!”
Exclamations of surprise erupted one after another.
“I swear by the name of Illyria’s First Sword that it’s the truth.”
Once Rachel made that declaration, no one dared to suspect the facts anymore.
It was well-known that whatever she asserted held a weight far beyond life itself.
“Then… we absolutely can’t act rashly.”
The elderly Cardinal spoke with a trembling voice.
The Emperor was a fearsome figure.
He did not fear the gods.
Thus, he showed no tolerance toward religion.
Everyone present was well aware of how the churches that had angered the Emperor fell and crumbled.
For that reason, the name of the Emperor was synonymous with terror.
“This is not the Reiter Continent.”
Rachel said softly.
The only two who didn’t seem unsettled in this scenario were Rachel and the Pope.
The Pope opened his eyes.
“What does Lady Rachel propose we do?”
“Please allow me to investigate this matter.”
“….”
The Pope narrowed his eyes as he mulled over her words.
The Cardinals appeared relieved, realizing her request wasn’t as unreasonable as they had feared.
Given the situation, it was something the Pope could decide without needing to discuss it as an official agenda.
However, questions remained.
Rachel had just claimed she was certain of the assailant’s identity. Why was further investigation needed then?
Representing that inquiry, the elderly Cardinal asked, “If you already believe the Emperor is the assailant, what could possibly require investigation?”
“That’s just it…I know nothing else. I don’t know who the Emperor is, and I don’t know why Lord William was killed.”
“That…”
“I must know.”
Though Rachel spoke calmly, there was strength in her words.
The elderly Cardinal fell silent again, unable to continue.
“Do you have a way to find out?”
This time, it was the Pope who asked.
“I can’t be sure, but I have methods I could try.”
Rachel answered without hesitation.
“Hmm.”
The Pope momentarily closed his eyes in thought before finally opening them.
“How many people do you need?”
“I’ll work alone.”
“….”
Curiosity flickered across everyone’s faces.
Even if she is Sinchang, working alone…?
It was hardly feasible for a one-woman investigation.
Doubt crept in whether she intended something else entirely.
But it seemed the Pope thought otherwise.
There was no hint of hesitation or question in his expression.
“Very well, I grant you permission.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Cambridge University in England.
“Oh, there’s definitely someone over there.”
Anne, a teaching assistant in the Mathematics department, pointed toward a spot.
There, a man sat reading a book on the lawn beneath a tree’s shadow.
It was Professor Walter of the Mathematics department.
“Thank you.”
Rachel offered her polite thanks.
“Not at all.”
Anne scratched her head, curious.
Everyone knew that Walter, who was considered a dull man absorbed solely in his studies, had no women around him.
So, it was remarkable enough that a woman was seeking him out.
A reporter? Perhaps a relative?
She never considered the possibility of a romantic interest.
“Well then.”
As Rachel slightly bowed, she began walking toward where Professor Walter was.
Just as she approached him, he closed his book and readjusted his posture.
It seemed he had noticed her approach.
“Well well, what brings the famed Sinchang to me?”
Professor Walter greeted her with a smile.
Rachel took a seat beside him.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor? Oh my, a request from Lady Rachel? Now that feels burdensome.”
Professor Walter feigned being overwhelmed.
Rachel silently produced a photograph from her belongings.
In the photo were two figures: a burly man resembling a bear and a cute-faced girl.
William and To-ya.
It was a photo Walter had sent to Rachel two years ago to check in on her.
Of course, Rachel had no idea that the girl was To-ya.
However, she sensed that this girl was deeply related to the current events.
There was no way the Emperor would have placed William’s body in the shrine as an act of goodwill.
The Emperor Rachel knew was absolutely not that kind of person. Therefore, the likelihood was high that either someone close to William or the girl in the picture had laid the body there.
She wasn’t sure how the girl managed to escape the Emperor’s grasp, but since she was alive, she would have been able to move William’s body.
Finding this girl would undoubtedly unravel the threads of the current incident.
“I ask that you tell me where this girl in the photo is.”
In response, Professor Walter waved his hands in distress.
“Even if it’s a request from Lady Rachel, I can’t just do it for free.”
“If it’s something that doesn’t violate the laws of the Church of Illyria, I will extend my own favor in return.”
“Ah, a mutual exchange, is it? Haha, sounds good! With Lady Rachel, it might just balance out with the ultimate Great Sorceress.”
Professor Walter chuckled as he spoke.
The Ultimate Great Sorceress.
Everyone knew that he had given himself that cringe-worthy title.
However, it was he who spread that title across the continent.
He introduced himself as the Ultimate Great Sorceress wherever he went.
Along with showcasing his unrivaled magical prowess, that title became firmly established as a result.
The Ultimate Great Sorceress Walter.
He was one of the strongest Sorcerers in the continent, boasting a 9-class standing alongside the Silent Great Sorceress Hyris.
Now, he was formally a professor at the University of Cambridge in England.
“Thank you.”
Rachel handed the photograph to Walter.
He accepted the photo, seemingly contemplating it momentarily before handing it back to her.
“She’s in a faraway land.”
Walter said with a smiling face.
“Where is it?”
“In Korea.”
◈ ◈ ◈
“I’m full, Guard-nim.”
To-ya patted her belly in satisfaction.
“…Lady Sage, you sure can eat.”
Si-hyun looked at To-ya with a bewildered expression.
She had cleaned up a whopping five large pizzas all by herself.
It was beyond comprehension why she looked so small and thin. Where did all that food go…?
“I’ll work as much as I’ve eaten, so don’t worry.”
“Oh, um, okay.”
“Tomorrow, take me to the guild you’re managing, Guard-nim.”