Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 180

§ 180. Pavlov’s Kalmen (1)

After leaving Regina, Seongjin and his party continued their smooth journey for a while.

In the meantime, I was able to stay at a proper village lodging approximately once every two days. However, the size of the village gradually became smaller, and from the seventh day of the trip, every day was camping.

Thanks to this, I couldn’t get any great souvenirs other than ‘Little Saint Aurelion’.

Well, since Siegsmund Territory is a fairly large territory, there might be at least one thing worth keeping as a souvenir. If it doesn’t work out, you can just extort it from Orden.

At that moment, Orden, who was on the other side of the campfire, trembled and looked his head left and right.

I mean, he’s a good guy who has a clue about simple, ignorant topics.

The trip was now entering its tenth day.

I heard that as we move further away from the imperial capital, it is time for bandits disguised as slash-and-burn farmers and bandits made up of Ortona refugees to appear.

However, perhaps because they moved with the Wolf Knights’ flag proudly displayed in front of them, no one dared to stand in the way of Seongjin and his party. Thanks to this, the extremely peaceful journey continued.

Of course, there were people who were shaken by groundless anxiety.

“It’s been so quiet for a few days now that you’re here. There’s something…” … .”

“huh?”

“Ominous! “Accidents won’t happen all at once, right?”

What kind of nonsense is that, Lord Martha?

Anyone who hears this will think that I get involved in incidents and accidents every day.

[Are you really going to deny it? Where did you sell your conscience?]

Shut up! You bastard devil who forgets his duty and speaks of his conscience!

Of course, there have been minor changes in the meantime.

First of all, numerous merchants moving in the same direction dispersed one by one to find their own way. And after a week of travel, Seongjin and Milo were the only ones left.

Around that time, Giacomo Milo, the owner of the merchant, came to Seongjin with a gift to say hello.

Until now, it must have been somewhat ambiguous as it was mixed with many top companies. However, since he was going to be a companion all the way to Sigismund Ridge, he seemed to feel the need to say hello to the prince properly at least once.

Through Regina’s demon branch manager Schmidt, Seongjin already knew that Milo Sangjangju was a demon contractor. So, he thoroughly examined the upper part of the state together with the Demon King.

[hmm. There is a slight trace of demonic energy left in the soul. However, I can sense this because I am the same as you. It is evidence of a contract, and it is not enough to be presented to the Heresy Tribunal.]

It is said that once a demon contractor succeeds in summoning, he or she then communicates with the demon in the demon world through a type of mental connection called a contract.

This was a different mechanism from summoning the devil to reality, and even if he had a close conversation with the devil, it seemed that the contractor himself would not become full of demonic energy.

[Well, it’s a different story if you borrow the power of the devil and make it manifest strongly, or if you summon the devil directly.]

‘… ‘Is it tricky?’

I felt like I wanted to just get rid of it and then present the eroded body as evidence.

However, if that happens, a slightly awkward problem arises.

If you testify that you knew the owner of the merchant was a devil and punished him, you must provide sufficient evidence to persuade the Heresy Tribunal.

Otherwise, Seongjin will also be suspected of being in league with the contractor, or accused of being a devil worshiper and investigated together.

However, if you claim that you did not know that the owner of the merchant was the devil, you would also be brought to the court for murdering a person without reason. As a result, the victim was just a devil contractor.

The best way is a scenario in which the owner of the merchant dies without Seongjin’s help.

‘Is there any way to kill him naturally and accidentally? Or maybe try a contract murder without getting caught?’

[Isn’t there an option in your mind to just collect evidence normally?]

Well, there was an easy way for Seongjin to assassinate the owner of the top directly using Auror concealment. I was just thinking of leaving this as a last resort.

Probably, no matter how good the Auror concealment is, it would be impossible to completely avoid the eyes of Director Bruno and Seonghwang.

Above all, didn’t Seonghwang tell him something before?

-Sometimes, wouldn’t it be okay to leave that burden to someone else?

At that time, Seonghwang was not angry at Seongjin for trying to kill Isabella. I think he would respect whatever choice Seongjin makes.

‘So we can’t make Mores a senseless murderer.’

He has a family that cares about him and cares about him so much, but he can’t ruin Mores’ life just because he wants to take the easy path.

‘Anyway, there’s something that bothers me a little… … .’

Will the devil who made a contract with Milo Sang-ju recognize the devil in Seongjin’s head?

In fact, didn’t the devil branch leader and his subordinate, the goat, keep tilting their heads at the demonic energy they sensed from Seongjin?

[Because they are not summoned to this dimension like those guys, you won’t notice them easily. If you just become deeply aligned with the contractor, wouldn’t most people eventually notice? I think the demonic energy we emit is more distinct than I thought.]

Now that I think about it, I am reminded of the sharp reactions that high-ranking clergy, including Cardinal Benitus, showed toward Seongjin.

If you think about it, Seongjin is a prince who exudes a stronger magical energy than a human who made a contract with the devil. I feel like they can’t help but be wary and hostile.

* * *

As the journey became longer, Seongjin’s group and the Wolf Knights became increasingly close friends.

Especially during meal times, everyone spent more time mingling and chatting around the bonfire.

Among them, the most popular person is Laurent, a bard who recently joined the group unexpectedly.

At first, he was frowned upon as a useless gourmet, but thanks to his unique friendliness as an entertainer, he naturally blended in among the knights. In the sense that she creates a friendly atmosphere during her trip, she is getting her money’s worth.

In particular, the knights of the Wolf Knights really liked Laurent’s song.

You say you have a few hit songs, but it seems like your sensibility is completely unredeemable.

“Laurent, I can sense a spirit of courage in your songs that is not easily found elsewhere.”

“You can compare the pain of a broken heart to the feeling of an arrow being pierced through the heart! “Are you truly a genius?”

“The part where a beautiful woman instantly steals Fernand Braque’s heart is by far the most overwhelming. When I listen to that song, I feel like I’m vividly seeing the scene of Emperor Remus the Great rushing through the conquered territory with his army like a gale!”

Why do I feel brave spirit in love songs? What kind of song is that person writing?

And Sir Claudia, who decided to teach Laurent about [Makjang], gave this evaluation.

“Laurent. I don’t think love songs really suit you. “How about writing something like a war epic from history or mythology?”

“War epic… … .”

“Your songs are overflowing with excitement and grandeur that are sometimes out of place. On the other hand, there is no natural attraction or excitement that should come from a love song.”

The young artist frowned in agony.

“Natural attraction, excitement… . It all sounds good. But aren’t they actually far from the worst?”

“First, true love has to bloom, and then it’s fun to get to the end.”

Sir Claudia, who declared so, frowned the bridge of her freckled nose.

“Well, if you’re really going to write a love song like that, why don’t Laurent try dating properly first?”

Quang.

A young man with deep internal injuries stumbles in shock.

‘… ‘What on earth are they doing?’

Lord Claudia, why does it look so funny, but maybe it’s my imagination?

Seongjin clicked his tongue and came out to the large field next to the campsite.

It was already dark, but I still planned to take some time to practice my sword before going to bed. Because I was in the carriage all day, I didn’t have time to move my body at all.

Of course, as a result of focusing only on meditation the entire time I sat, I had some gains. Finally, the 7th floor of Auror was completed.

Director Bruno was very surprised.

-Lowering. You are truly amazing. I don’t know how you meditate without losing concentration while riding in a carriage where your body keeps shaking irregularly.

When I stood in the field holding a nutcracker, Masain, who had come before Seongjin, was sweating hard and swinging his sword.

After visiting the logistics relay station together in Regina, he had been accelerating his personal training these days, even sleeping at night for some reason. As if he had decided to become a Dekaron Knight right away.

And next to him, Director Bruno was holding Sir Calmen and giving him a leadership lesson.

The longsword, swung in its sheath, skillfully avoided the guard and hit Lord Calmen’s shoulder hard.

Pow!

“Kaaak!”

Sir Kalmen, who rolled on the floor, was covered in dirt and grunted.

“Mr. I won’t do it! “You say you don’t do it, but why do you keep hitting people under the pretext of sparring!?”

“If you do something wrong, you deserve it!”

Uh, wasn’t it just a beating rather than a leadership sparring? What did I do wrong again this time?

Seongjin blinked his eyes, and Calmen noticed his gaze and turned to look at Seongjin with wide eyes.

“Ugh! What else are you looking at there… … !”

Before the words were even finished.

Bah!

The leader’s longsword strikes him in the back of the head.

“Oops!”

Calmen let out a scream of despair and fell to the floor, unable to get up.

And then Leader Bruno, who knocked out his student with one blow, runs in front of Seongjin and prostrates himself.

“I am truly sorry, sir! “I will pay close attention from now on!”

“… … .”

Seongjin sighed.

I don’t know what to say, because this really seems like an anger disorder that I can’t control as I want.

As I looked at Kalmen stretched out with pitiful eyes, I noticed that a large lump was bulging on his head.

“… Who did you say something rude to again this time?”

“that… I feel sorry for the vice-captain of the Wolf Knights… … .”

Director Bruno’s head lowers even further.

It is said that most of the group got along well with each other, but Lord Calmen often clashed with the Wolf Knights.

His personality, which is not very social, causes him to clash at every turn with the knights of the north, who have become rough-tempered while fighting against the harsh cold.

The problem is that it cannot be easily solved by Lord Calmen’s will alone.

Sir Calmen was much more obedient these days than before. When I bumped into Seongjin, I politely behaved awkwardly and carefully lowered my eyes to avoid eye contact as much as possible.

Even at a glance, I could tell that he was being as careful as possible with his appearance so as not to offend etiquette.

There was only one exception: when his emotions were aroused for any reason.

Not only when I’m angry, but also when I’m extremely focused on something, such as training. In this case, Calmen’s blood poured out to the top of his head and he spewed harsh words at no one at all.

Then, when the anger cools down, you fall into a sense of self-destruction and become even more despondent, and the stress from such interpersonal relationships leads to further explosions of anger, a vicious cycle.

“Maybe it’s because I grew up in that environment since childhood.”

It is said that when Director Bruno first met Sir Carmen, he was a venomous little boy who did not hesitate to throw back insults at his stepfather who was swearing and beating him up.

It turns out that Lord Calmen’s house has been the house of the biggest curmudgeon in the neighborhood for generations. So, Director Bruno made an excuse that was not an excuse for his student, saying that he must have learned to swear first before babbling.

“He reflexively takes that attitude even before he can think with his head. “I warned him several times about that, but I couldn’t fix it by just beating him up.”

As a result, his time as a squire was also a series of hardships. He often gets beaten up or attacked by senior knights. In the end, he was unable to properly fit in with the knights and had to volunteer to work at a remote villa.

Despite his antipathy toward Mores, there was a reason why he applied to work at Jinju Palace.

“sorry… do. Lowering. I am… never… … .”

Sir Calmen, who came to his senses after a while, lowered his head and apologized to Seongjin.

However, as if he himself was not confident in his promise, his voice was gradually becoming quieter.

‘hmm. It’s really difficult like this… … .’

There are limits to what General Manager Bruno can do in advance to crack down and apologize.

With organizational life at this point, how can a grown-up knight really function as a human being?

How can you take someone out to a formal event without fear of something happening?

Seongjin, lost in thought, muttered without realizing it.

“This is it because I’m anxious. “Do you think you should just be a resident knight at Jinju Palace for the rest of your life?”

“… … !”

Seongjin smiled warmly at Calmen, who opened his eyes and raised his head.

okay. What can we do? I have a big heart and should get rid of this friend.

Seongjin tapped his shoulder and asked in a casual manner.

“By the way, Lord Calmen. “Do you by any chance know who Pavlov is?”

fantasy,