[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 25: The Granting of a Title (1)
A week later, in the morning.
"Hal Gilmore, co forth and receive the decree of His Majesty, the Emperor!”
A booming voice filled the mansion, shattering the morning silence.
A group of knights and a noble from the Imperial Palace had arrived.
"Here it cos."
Daniel said with a chuckle, looking out the window.
Hal nodded calmly.
After resolving the mansion incident, Hal imdiately contacted the Empire.
As a result, an investigation team had thoroughly examined the mansion over the past few days.
However, he had to hide the details, including the existence of the basent.
To be honest, he couldn't predict how they would react to his condition, and his father's actions were punishable by heavy penalties.
Since it was Hal who resolved the incident, he wouldn't be implicated, but the mansion and the territory could be confiscated.
He didn't care about the territory or the title, but he had to protect the mansion.
Therefore, he and the others had agreed to attribute the incident to demons.
He was concerned about Ono, who had left for the Order, but
Ono would report to the Order, and he didn't know the details, so it was a gamble worth taking.
And so far, the gamble has been successful.
The investigation team had only confird what Hal wanted them to see and then returned.
And today was the day to see the results.
The noble from the Imperial Palace, accompanied by knights, had arrived.
"If we weren't caught, it'll be the granting of a title."
"If we are caught, we'll be executed."
"...What?"
Antonio's face turned pale, and he trembled. Hal placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Don’t worry. At worst, all they’ll do is pull out your tongue for perjury."
"Well... that’s reassuring, I guess."
Antonio nodded, his expression anything but reassured.
Hal chuckled at the sight and supported him towards the main entrance.
Daniel followed behind them as if guarding them.
"Are you Hal Gilmore?"
"Yes, I am."
Hal stepped forward at the noble's question, entrusting Antonio to Daniel's care.
The noble looked at him with a strange expression and continued,
"His Majesty, the Great Emperor, personally heard the report submitted by the investigators."
"Yes."
"And as a result, he has decided to bestow upon you the title of Baron, succeeding Dennis Gilmore."
"Glory to the Great Emperor and his bloodline."
Hal knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
Now, the noble from the Imperial Palace would tap Hal's head with the sword bestowed by the Emperor, and the ceremony would be over.
However, the noble didn't seem to have finished speaking yet and continued without touching the sword,
"But there's a condition."
"...?"
"As far as I know, you are a priest of the Order."
"That is correct."
At Hal's answer, the noble shook his head firmly.
"A clergyman of the Order cannot simultaneously hold the position of a secular lord. Relinquish your priesthood here and now."
"...Could you grant so ti?"
Hal was troubled.
He intended to relinquish his priesthood eventually, but no one from the Order had arrived yet.
It was proper to explain the situation to them and then resign from the priesthood.
However, the noble was resolute.
"That's not possible. You must decide here and now. Will you accept the title and be bestowed with it, or will you remain a priest?"
Hal pondered, but there was only one answer.
He was planning to leave the Order anyway, and to protect the mansion, he had to give up his priesthood.
"...I..."
Just as Hal was about to answer,
Rumble!
The ground vibrated subtly, and dust clouds rose in the distance.
The rumbling sound grew louder, soon shaking their eardrums like the roar of a waterfall in a valley after a heavy downpour.
"That's..."
The eyes of the knights standing behind the noble narrowed.
On the road leading up to the mansion,
Flags fluttered through the dust clouds, revealing their emblem.
A green stem with several pure white flowers.
"...It's the Holy Sepulchre Knights."
"What?"
The noble's face crumpled at the knight's words.
Then, as if rembering sothing, he muttered,
"The Holy Sepulchre Knights… Aren't they the knights directly under the Letria Diocese? Does that an..."
At the forefront of the knights,
A figure wearing the purple gladiolus, a symbol of a bishop, was riding a horse.
"...Did the Bishop of the Diocese co personally?"
The noble's eyes trembled.
Even a noble from the Imperial Palace would feel intimidated in front of the Bishop of the Diocese, who was second only to the Archbishop.
Soon, the knights arrived at the mansion with a fearso montum and dismounted.
Among them were familiar faces.
"Ono-nim and... the Bishop?"
Hal could only mutter in a daze.
***
"Ah, Hal. It's been a while."
The bishop waved energetically and approached Hal.
Then, wiping his forehead, he smiled brightly.
“Oh, I guess I’m getting old, I guess I’m getting tired.”
"..."
The surroundings were silent.
The noble from the Imperial Palace and his knights had stepped back from Hal, making way for the bishop.
Daniel and Antonio were also bewildered, observing the situation.
Clank!
anwhile, the fifty Holy Sepulchre Knights who had dismounted lined up behind the bishop.
Ono, who had left the mansion, was also standing beside them with an impassive expression.
The pressure exuded by the knights, spread out as if to protect the bishop, was significant.
The noble from the Imperial Palace unconsciously gulped.
"...Bishop Arsen, what brings you here?"
"Hmm? Ah, you're from the Imperial Palace. It's a pleasure to et you."
Bishop Arsen.
He governed the eastern part of the Empire, Letria, and was the only exorcist priest who had risen to the position of bishop.
Bishop Arsen looked around and continued,
"Of course, I ca here on Order business. But what brings the Imperial Palace here?"
The noble hesitated at the bishop's vague answer and redirected question, but then replied with a frown,
"I ca for the succession of the Gilmore clan's title."
"Oh, I see. So, you're now Baron Hal?"
The bishop turned to Hal, who calmly shook his head.
"I am not, due to my status as a priest."
Hal thought the situation was taking a strange turn.
Even if the incident at the Heidern territory was bizarre, it wasn't sothing that would warrant the bishop's personal appearance.
For now, it was ti to observe the situation.
The noble from the Imperial Palace, after a mont of observation, nodded and added,
"According to Imperial law, one who receives a title bestowed by the Emperor cannot simultaneously serve as a priest of the Order."
This was a law to check the influence of the Order.
The bishop nodded in response.
"I'm aware of that. But wouldn't Hal's case be a little different?"
"...What do you an?"
The noble's expression was distorted slightly.
What was the bishop trying to pull?
This was the eastern part of the Empire, not the south where the Vatican was located.
[TL/N: Vatican— Na not confird, subjected to change as I get more context]
The noble continued with a hint of displeasure,
"What's so different?"
"Oh dear, it seems you haven't looked into it carefully. Hal isn't an ordinary priest."
The bishop handed a docunt to the puzzled noble.
The noble frowned and examined it, then his jaw dropped in surprise.
Three crosses engraved on a shield.
The edict, bearing the seal of the Pope, contained information about Hal.
"A Saint...?"
"Yes, as of yesterday, Hal has been officially granted the title of Saint."
The noble was montarily dumbfounded, then he gritted his teeth.
'I've been outmaneuvered.'
Those who held the title of Saint could beco honorary priests.
"Hal Gilmore is no longer a priest of the Order as of this mont. In the na of Arsen, I hereby excommunicate you."
After solemnly declaring this, the bishop smiled gently and continued,
"Furthermore, since you have received the middle na of Saint, I offer you the position of honorary priest. Hal, do you accept?"
"Yes, I accept."
Hal nodded without hesitation.
The bishop then looked at the noble from the Imperial Palace and said firmly,
"Now, Priest Hal is no longer a priest of the 'Order'. He is now an external priest under the jurisdiction of the Vatican."
"...I see."
That was true.
If he was a priest under the jurisdiction of the Vatican, not the Order, it was a different story.
External priests didn't have any obligations or positions in the Order, so there was no point in arguing about it.
The noble trembled, seeing them subtly circumvent the law.
There wasn't much he could do if they went this far.
But he was still officially representing the Emperor. He wasn't going to back down easily.
"It's a joyous occasion to have another Saint. May I ask why he was granted Sainthood?"
It was clear to everyone that he was trying to find fault.
The bishop hesitated, but since there was nothing to hide, he answered easily,
"Of course. He was granted Sainthood for his achievent in defeating the special-grade demon, Riteil."
"A special-grade demon...?"
The noble pondered for a mont, then said with a faint smile,
"That ans Priest Hal is a truly outstanding exorcist priest."
"Indeed."
What was he scheming?
Just as even Hal was staring at him intently, trying to figure it out,
"I've heard there's a problem with the salt mine in this territory. I'll agree to the succession of the title if you resolve that."
"...What do you an?"
The bishop asked in a cold, low voice.
His aura was so chilling that even Hal shuddered.
It was a glimpse of his past as an exceptional exorcist priest.
Gasp..!
The noble from the Imperial Palace choked, and the knights behind him reached for their swords.
It was a tense mont.
"If you draw your swords, I'll cut you down."
The captain of the Holy Sepulchre Knights spoke.
He hadn't moved a muscle, but his voice was filled with conviction.
The knights hesitated and exchanged glances.
When the noble's face turned pale, the bishop finally softened his deanor.
Cough. Cough!
The noble coughed violently for a while.
The bishop, watching this, continued in his cold voice,
"I asked what you ant by those words. Are you suggesting that the Order is colluding and lying?"
"Th-that's not it. This is also part of the succession process, my duty. It's also to test whether he is qualified to lead the territory."
The noble hurriedly lowered his gaze and spoke quickly.
He was being careful not to offend the bishop.
"Hmm."
Just as the bishop furrowed his brow and stroked his chin,
"I'll do it."
"Hal?"
Hal nodded and stepped forward.
"I have already selected priests to go to the salt mine, but..."
"It's the territory I will lead, isn't it? Please let handle this."
"...Very well, if that is your wish, Hal."
The bishop agreed, though reluctantly. The noble from the Imperial Palace and his knights breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Hal stepped forward and addressed the noble.
"Please stay at the mansion for a few days. There are no servants, but..."
"I'll manage. However, I'll give you a week. If you fail to resolve the issue or exceed the ti limit, the succession will be revoked."
"Yes. But please allow one of my companions to accompany ."
Hal said, looking at Daniel behind him.
The noble slowly scrutinized Daniel.
His worn-out armor and dust-covered helt ornant.
He didn't look like anything more than a poor, low-ranking knight.
"Do as you please. But no one else."
The noble looked warily at the Holy Sepulchre Knights, and Hal slowly shook his head, saying,
"That won't be necessary."
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Max]
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