Radiant Dragon’s Oth Chapter 279 : Chapter 279

Chapter 279. You Said Anything, Didn't You? (2)

People all think alike….

The knights who heard the news that Patrick Schneider was leading a delegation to the Holy Theocracy were shocked.

"No, Young Master?"

"What, you punk."

"Is it really true that you are going as the head of a delegation to strengthen the friendship with the Holy Theocracy?"

At Oliver's question, Patrick puffed out his chest and said.

"My father has entrusted

with a grave mission."

"Young Master. Please think carefully."

"About what?"

"What if you get purified when you go… keoheok!"

Oliver, who was genuinely worried, was kicked by Patrick and flew far away.

"That bastard's condition is getting worse and worse these days."

At this point, it seed he genuinely thought of Patrick as a demon from hell.

Patrick said to Sanson.

"Regarding the size of the delegation, you can use the budget provided by Count Krupa to form it."

"Yes. Understood, Grand Young Master."

"There's no need to fill it with overly expensive things. We just need to make it look decent, so prepare it as quickly as possible."

"Understood."

"Ah, and where are the Sages?"

"They are probably in the newly built tower."

"Alright. Understood."

And a few days later.

The delegation, led by Patrick Schneider as the representative, departed for the Holy Theocracy.

The mbers included Patrick and the Double Dragon Knightly Order.

And the administrative official Chandler, Patrick's friend Matthew, and the 3rd Sage from the Tower of Truth, along with dozens of magic swordsn to escort him.

***

A few months later.

"Young Master, we're here. That is Promis, the capital of the Holy Theocracy."

"Yes. I see it too."

Patrick, riding a horse at the forefront, let out a deep sigh.

'It was long. It was damn long.'

Leaving the Schneider Duchy, eting the king while passing through the Kingdom of Atronia, stopping by the Academy to make a scene in front of his juniors while he was at it….

After that, he crossed the Denver Sea Route by boat and arrived at the direct territory of the Kingdom of Atronia that he had received from the Harbor Kingdom.

What greeted Patrick at that ti was….

[Hahaha. It's been a while, Patrick.]

[Professor. You're looking well?]

The indomitable knight, Justin Leyte.

He, who was once the head professor of the Knight Faculty that Patrick attended, was now appointed as the person in charge of governing this direct territory.

After briefly seeing a familiar face, he had to continue his slow journey by carriage again.

And on the way, he t Derius Michael Harbor, who had beco the Grand Duke of the Harbor Duchy, and gave him so subtle pressure so he wouldn't even dare to think of anything funny….

After that, he entered the territory of the Holy Theocracy, and on the way, he had to et and deal with lords and high-ranking priests one by one….

"I'm really never doing this again."

Nobles who subtly pushed their daughters on him.

Priests who preached the word of God and recomnded that he join the Paladins.

And even knights who challenged him with the ambition of defeating him and making a na for themselves….

Compared to when he moved alone and simply, there were one or two tireso and annoying things.

"If I… ever lead a delegation and move again, I'm a dog. A dog."

At that, Oliver, who was riding a horse alongside him, said.

"Hahaha, Young Master, you're so…."

"Why, do you think I'm just saying it?"

"It's not that, it's just that the Young Master was already famous as a mad dog during his Academy student days…."

Ttaak!

He knew he'd get hit.

"Keuuu…. Why did you hit ? Why? I was just telling the truth?"

"You're getting hit because you're telling the truth, you punk."

"Ah, I see."

Why are you accepting that?

In any case, the delegation led by Patrick finally arrived at the capital of the Holy Theocracy.

As they had arrived as an official delegation, the Paladins who were already waiting in front of the city gates greeted Patrick and his party.

"Welco to the holy city of God. Everyone from the Schneider Duchy. I am Yorjin Colinoe, and I will be your guide."

A man who appeared to be in his 50s and was wearing the attire of a 1st-grade priest greeted the delegation.

Behind him, dozens of Paladins were lined up with a stern deanor.

They did not show hostility, but they stood as if showing off the power of the Holy Theocracy, exuding a great deal of dignity.

Patrick personally got off his horse and said politely.

"I am Patrick Sky Schneider of the Schneider Duchy."

Patrick Sky Schneider.

As the Schneider Duchy was elevated to a grand ducal family, he had to create a middle na.

Therefore, Patrick had given himself the na Sky.

No, strictly speaking, he hadn't given it to himself.

He had simply brought the na his master had given him in his previous life and attached it.

After a light greeting.

Priest Yorjin smiled at Patrick and said.

"You must be tired from your long journey. We have prepared a light banquet in the evening as a sign of welco. Please rest comfortably until then."

"Thank you for your utmost consideration."

At the mont such a perfectly normal conversation was taking place….

"It has been a long ti. Young Master Schneider, no, you have now beco the Grand Young Master."

A paladin with a solid impression like an iron tower walked forward and spoke to Patrick.

The mont he saw that man….

"Oh… you are…. that…. who might you be?"

At that, the other party was silent for a mont before speaking.

"Do you not rember? It is ."

“……”

I still don't know who you are, though?

To Patrick, who had such a face, the other party said, trying hard to suppress his anger.

"The one who participated in the sa Arcana as Grand Young Master Schneider and advanced to the semi-finals…."

"Ah… that guy from back then…."

"Do you rember now?"

"Michael?"

Ulkeok.

"It is Antorius Denar."

"Ah. Right."

“……”

"Sorry, the nas are similar so I got confused."

Where are they similar? Where?

Antorius let out a deep sigh.

'Is it really true that such a flippant and undignified person is stronger than ?'

He couldn't understand.

In fact, even when Patrick had won the Arcana, Antorius did not acknowledge Patrick as being superior to himself.

Of course, it was amazing that he had pioneered the ultimate realm, but he himself was a 6th star swordsman, a realm just before that, and above all, a paladin who had received God's blessing and could use miracles.

His defeat to Cierion was only because he was flustered by the sudden appearance of the Aura Blade.

If he had known the possibilities in advance and prepared, he thought he could have won easily.

However….

The path Patrick showed after that was a series of surprises that were heard even in the Holy Theocracy on the other side of the continent.

He went on a knight's training journey and achieved a perfect victory in official duels with fellow 7th star knights.

And he fought a battle against the regular army of the Kaisar Kingdom and won.

Even the Hegemon King, who had defeated Antorius at Arcana, had to drink the bitter cup of defeat in a duel with the Double Dragon.

And later, at Evergreen, he defeated the demonic tribe threatening the Elves and earned their recognition, and he joined the civil war of the Harbor Kingdom with only a small elite force of 1,000 and ended that civil war.

Each and every one of those achievents seed to say.

I am on a different level from the other youngsters.

From the perspective of Antorius, who lived in the sa era, this was very grating.

"It is a pity that you do not rember my na. It is understandable, as we did not have a chance to face each other then."

"Hmm…."

How Antorius' words sounded to Patrick's ears right now was….

-You didn't fight

back then, right? That's why you don't rember. Anyway, you lucky bastard. If you had run into

back then, you would have been dead. You know?-

It was translated as such.

Patrick thought with a pleased smile.

'Should I screw him over?'

No, well. He knew.

Right now, he had co as an official delegation, so it was right to stay quiet if possible and focus on searching for the black mage.

But if he was being so openly provocative (?), wouldn't it be polite to respond?

It was then.

"Sir Denar."

The 1st-grade priest who had identified himself as Yorjin Colinoe intervened with a stern voice.

And he said to Antorius….

"Grand Young Master Schneider must be tired from his long journey. So, would you not quietly guide him to his quarters?"

"…Understood."

Antorius had a reluctant expression but obediently followed his words.

Considering that Antorius himself was a high-ranking paladin of the Holy Theocracy….

'He seems to be a higher-ranking person than I thought.'

Patrick quietly looked at Yorjin Colinoe.

A 1st-grade priest of the Holy Theocracy was a rank just below a cardinal.

It was a high-ranking position, but seeing how the youngster, whether his na was Michael or Antorius, treated him, he didn't seem like an ordinary high-ranking priest.

There was a high probability that he was a person who held real power beyond his rank.

'He might be in a position like the Jaegal Clan Head of the Murim Alliance….'

At that ti, the leader of the Murim Alliance was the abbot of the Shaolin Temple, and the vice-leader was the head of the Namgung Clan.

But the one who decided the operational direction and the major and minor affairs of that Murim Alliance was mostly the head of the Jaegal Clan.

Patrick, who had watched that from the side at that ti, had thought.

'Ah, so that's what real power is.'

Separate from the set ranks, in an organization, there are often those who hold more real power.

If so….

"It is a pleasure to et you, Priest Yorjin Colinoe. I greet you again. I am Patrick Schneider."

"Uh…."

Suddenly?

Yorjin was montarily flustered by Patrick who extended his hand for a handshake.

But there was no reason to refuse that hand, so….

"Yes. It is a pleasure to et you, Grand Young Master Schneider."

He took Patrick's hand.

Patrick, who had taken Yorjin's hand, held the handshake for quite a long ti.

And then….

"Tsk, it's a blank."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing."

And Patrick let go of his hand and said.

"I would like to rest a bit. When can I et His Holiness the Pope?"

"If you are referring to His Holiness the Pontiff…."

For reference, there were two titles for the Pope of the Holy Theocracy. Pope and Pontiff.

In fact, there was no real difference, but he was often called the Pope outside the Holy Theocracy, and it was common to call him the Pontiff inside the Holy Theocracy.

In any case, it was clear that he was a great figure who was the religious leader of all humans on the continent beyond this great Holy Theocracy.

But….

"Unfortunately, His Holiness has not been in good health recently and has been careful about his external activities. So he may not be present at the banquet hall."

"Oh dear, that is a pity. In that case, who will be at the banquet hall?"

"I and the Cardinals will be present."

"I see. Then, I will see you then."

And so, Patrick was guided to the detached palace where the Holy Theocracy hosted its distinguished guests.

"Woooow…. How did they draw that picture on the ceiling?"

"Brother Sanson, are the jewels decorating the statue here real?"

Chandler and Oliver, who had entered the lodging following Patrick, looked around and marveled.

Patrick looked at the two of them, let out a sigh, and said.

"Hicks."

At that, the two flared up and said.

"No, we can be curious, can't we?"

"Are we the only hicks? The Young Master was born in the sa place as us, wasn't he?"

Looking at the two of them, Patrick thought.

'That Chandler fellow has been hanging out with Oliver lately, and the seeds of defiance are starting to sprout.'

As they say, one is dyed by the company one keeps, so who you are close to is important….

Tsk tsk, this won't do. I'll have to wash him clean and turn him back into a blank slate in the near future.

Whether Patrick thought so or not, Chandler continued to marvel and look around.

"I didn't know the Holy Theocracy was this splendid."

The Schneider Duchy had also developed to a point incomparable to the past.

It had accumulated imnse wealth by exporting the food produced in the farmlands of the Moana basin throughout the continent, and through its connection with the Elbador rchant Guild, it had accumulated imnse wealth by exclusively selling silk and the special products of the Elven clan.

But that was wealth accumulated in a short period of ti, and the current Schneider Duchy was, in human terms, close to a nouveau riche.

It was on a different level from the real rich who had naturally accumulated wealth over hundreds of years.

Each statue and painting here in this detached palace was probably an ancient work of art from at least hundreds of years ago, its value impossible to appraise.

This luxurious detached palace, lavishly decorated with such works of art, was probably a subtle arrangent to boast of the power of the Holy Theocracy to its visiting guests.

Patrick, who usually loved such expensive, precious, and shiny things more than anyone else, but….

"Stop being hicks and rest well until dinner."

Now was not the ti to be concerned with that.