Chapter 18
The gossip about Martio continued for roughly another ten minutes.
Then, at some point, the conversation abruptly shifted onto a different current and turned toward the situation inside the Grand Temple of Portplum.
This, too, was because Bishop Martio was involved.
Yujelia spoke as if lamenting.
“The current Grand Temple of Portplum is divided. Like waterways branching out from a single pool.”
In a span of time that was neither particularly long nor particularly short, Aquila was able to obtain a great deal of information from Yujelia.
Among it all, the most notable point was that the Grand Temple was broadly divided into two factions.
Bishop Martio’s faction and Saint Ianpel’s faction.
Of course, there were also those who claimed neutrality. These ranged from priests who had no interest in worldly affairs and devoted themselves solely to prayer, to those who disliked being bound under the label of a faction, or those who were still watching the situation cautiously. According to Yujelia, their dispositions varied widely.
“Which side are you on, Yujelia?”
“Me? I do not really want to raise my hand for either side. I would rather pray more than take part in a fight.”
“You would never side with Bishop Martio, though.”
“Of course not!”
Shaking her head as if fed up, Yujelia continued her explanation.
Within the Grand Temple, there were many who viewed Martio’s behavior unfavorably, but because of his position, they could not openly speak out against him.
In that environment, a group that followed and supported Martio began to form, and from that point on, a subtle tension arose among the people.
Even so, it was initially only a slight deviation, barely crossing the line within the temple.
However, about half a year ago, those who followed Martio began to display behavior that gradually strayed beyond common sense.
And it was around that time that Saint Ianpel was assigned to the Grand Temple of Portplum.
“Half a year is not that long, all things considered.”
“No. But from the very first day he arrived, his influence was incredible. He was never given an official rank, but he was already famous to begin with…”
“Which must have irritated Bishop Martio.”
“Sigh, do not even get me started. He has been so irritable these past six months. It felt like walking on thin ice!”
Yujelia furrowed her brow sharply, as though she had been worn down beyond measure.
The fact that a confrontation between Ianpel and Martio had formed in just half a year spoke to the saint’s influence, but it also showed how much dissatisfaction with Martio had built up.
Aquila recalled that, in the previous cycle, he had heard directly from Ianpel that the saint had belonged to the Papal See before coming to Portplum.
The Grand Temple of Portplum was the second-largest Temple of the Sun on the continent, surpassed only by the Papal See itself.
Surely, the situation within the Grand Temple would have reached the Pope’s ears.
Was that why Ianpel had been sent to Portplum?
As he listened to Yujelia, Aquila straightened up again and tilted his head slightly.
“Was it always like this? That is, according to what you said, Bishop Martio has…”
“Always been stupid and careless? Yes! He seems to think he is clever, but as you saw yourself, he really is not, is he?”
Yujelia immediately delivered her scathing assessment of Martio.
“Still, it has not been that long since he started behaving so openly. I would say… about three years now.”
“Three years…”
This time, Aquila searched for his memory.
Under normal circumstances, he might have struggled more, but perhaps because he had spoken with Ianpel just before, the answer came easily.
The year the third son of House Reschenhardt died was Delvion Year 713.
Going back three years from now…
‘That would be when Lady Priadel died from the Curse of Deadly Poison.’
Aquila unconsciously frowned.
Before even a year had passed since Lady Priadel’s death, three high-ranking nobles had died from the Curse of Deadly Poison.
Considering that such incidents had previously only occurred among fallen or provincial nobles, this was undeniably conspicuous.
After Lady Priadel’s death, there had to have been some kind of connection formed between high-ranking nobles and the Guild of Darkness.
Of course, if one dug into curses, it would inevitably involve matters of succession, internal family strife, and various dark circumstances.
After finishing her thoughts, Yujelia nodded firmly.
“It was the year I came of age, so it was definitely three years ago. From then on, he started sending priests here and there to solicit increased donations. Mostly, he sent us…”
Recalling that time caused memories of suffering patients to resurface, and Yujelia’s mood darkened at once.
Until the Curse Removal Method was announced, noble society trembled in fear.
No one knew when that curse might come for them.
And with even the Temple of the Sun unable to find a solution, the nobles’ anxiety was beyond imagination.
Aquila knew well just how great the repercussions of the Curse of Deadly Poison had been.
In that period, even a slight fever or abnormal symptom would prompt people to summon high-ranking priests.
Because no one knew how the curse was inflicted, every household increased its private soldiers and sought to recruit skilled mages.
The restrained military strength each family had once maintained rose sharply all at once.
As a result, the imperial family was plagued with headaches.
They were overwhelmed by the curse for the moment, but at any time, the blade could turn toward the throne itself.
And this was also the period when priests could accumulate the greatest wealth.
Even if Martio had not been directly involved in the incident three years ago, it would have been more than enough to make his head spin after taking a hefty share in its aftermath.
That was how unstable this period had been, before the Curse Removal Method was made public.
The sums paid just to summon priests were beyond imagination.
Aquila silently watched Yujelia as she could not continue speaking and rubbed her face.
Then he asked in a clear voice.
“At a time like this, it is difficult to summon priests. Did you ever think of using that opportunity?”
“…What?”
“I am asking whether you ever raised the price and took money under the pretense of treatment.”
Shen, who had been standing quietly, snapped his head around to look at Aquila.
Aquila knew exactly how this question could sound, but he deliberately asked it anyway.
It was not a question that could be avoided.
Yujelia’s face went pale, then quickly flushed red.
“H-how could you even suggest that…!”
“Yujelia.”
As if to block her rising anger, Shen called her name and shook his head.
When Shen’s green eyes gently guided her gaze elsewhere, Yujelia followed them.
And what she saw was Aquila’s black eyes, sunk deeper and calmer than usual.
Only then did Yujelia realize that Aquila had asked a simple question, not an insult.
It felt as though cold water had been poured over her, the heat that had risen to her chin subsiding in an instant.
She let out a hollow breath and took a deep one to calm herself.
“…No. I swear it. I have never done such a thing.”
“Bishop Martio must have told you to raise the fees.”
“How did you— yes. You are right, Young Master. But I only accepted the minimum amount necessary.”
“Why?”
At Aquila’s question, Yujelia fell silent.
His question sounded utterly free of malice, and perhaps because of that, it felt as though it were probing at her very nature.
But for Yujelia, there was no need to hesitate.
Not because she thought herself righteous, but because it was simply natural to her.
“I chose the path of a priest because I wanted to help people with this power, Young Master.”
There was not a shred of falsehood in Yujelia’s voice.
Even without divine light surrounding her, Aquila saw an unshakable root in her expression.
He had seen that same look before.
He did not need to search his memory for long.
Ark Batchel.
It was the face that warrior often wore when he said that saving people was simply the natural thing to do.
‘So that is why Martio tried to discard Yujelia. She was of no use to him. Even so…’
After looking at Yujelia in silence for a moment, Aquila let out a small breath.
“You are far better than a saint.”
“Pardon?”
“And to think you already had your coming-of-age ceremony three years ago. I thought you were twenty.”
“What did you just—?”
“How old am I now, Shen?”
“Eighteen, Young Master. Ah! There is not even a year left until your coming-of-age ceremony!”
Shen suddenly made a fuss and began pacing around the bed where Aquila sat.
“What kind of clothes do you want to wear for your coming-of-age ceremony? Should we prepare something red to match your hair?”
“Wow. You really are mature for your age, Young Master.”
“Right? When did our young master grow up to be so clever?”
“…Is this supposed to be an insult?”
As the tension dissolved, Shen and Yujelia grew noisy.
“Still, wearing red clothes with red hair might be a bit much, do you think? You would not look like a person, but like something on fire.”
“You were not planning to dress him in red pants as well, were you? It would be special for a milestone, but…”
What in the world had this conversation turned into?
Shaking his head at the two of them, Aquila had no choice but to smile.
It had not been long since he began traveling with them, yet the atmosphere felt oddly like his everyday life.
Yujelia, who was smiling along with the softened mood, let out a deep breath.
“Haa… Still, saying all that out loud makes me feel a bit better.”
She said it deliberately, as if to lift the atmosphere.
As though she had shaken everything off, Yujelia’s face looked brighter and more spirited than before.
“I am sorry. I got carried away and talked for too long. This was not what I intended…”
“No. I was the one who sounded as if I were testing you.”
“I know what you meant by the question. So I will only keep that in my heart a little.”
Yujelia replied playfully, her expression much more relaxed.
That was better than having her act stiff around him, so Aquila simply smiled back.
“I really should go back to the Temple of the Sun now. Even if Bishop Martio tries to stop me, I will ignore him and return quickly, so do not worry.”
Yujelia clenched her fist in determination.
Shen mirrored her gesture and offered encouragement.
“Yes! We will be waiting, Yujelia. If that lunatic tries to interfere, just curse him out like earlier! You are really good at it!”
“Shen…”
Yujelia pretended to glare at Shen, then burst into laughter.
“I will be back.”
Aquila waved at her as she turned away.
The door closed quietly.
‘I do not remember the last time I felt this atmosphere.’
A subtle warmth spread through one side of his chest.
It was a strangely fresh sensation.
Aquila kept his gaze on the closed door for a while before lying back down neatly on the bed.
Since it was time to rest anyway, he decided to examine the skill he had obtained later and simply enjoy the leisure for now.
Seeing Aquila’s vacant expression, Shen pulled the blanket up over him.
“Are you going to sleep?”
He had not planned to, but it seemed fine to rest until Yujelia returned.
Aquila closed his drowsy eyes and relaxed his body.
When he had been drenched in water earlier, he had felt chilled to the bone, but now his body felt comfortably warm.
Besides, he would have to face Ianpel’s irritating face again tomorrow, so perhaps he deserved this bit of ease.
“I will sleep a little. Wake me later.”
“Yes, Young Master. I will wake you when Yujelia returns so we can eat together.”
“Alright…”
With that quiet reply, he drifted into sleep as though he had been waiting for it.
His stamina had clearly weakened.
After checking Aquila’s condition, Shen silently opened the door and stepped outside.
Thus one hour passed.
Then two hours, then three…
By the time Shen had gone shopping, Aquila had awakened, and dawn approached—
Yujelia did not return.