Chapter 918. Sera (18)
“I think we’ve taken care of things here.”
“Persistent bastards.”
“I want the priest to take care of the wounded.”
“Hyung-nim, are you okay? Hyung-nim... open your eyes. Are you badly hurt somewhere?” Park Deok-Gu asked.
I could hear loud noises everywhere.
My eyes were closed, but I knew what was going on.
The priests were taking care of the wounded, the Holy Knights were preparing for the next attack, and I was sure a wall of Holy Knights had surrounded me. It sounded like Park Deok-Gu was next to me. It seemed that the Blue Guild still had their guards up since this happened inside the Vatican.
‘I’m sure they're shocked.’
Of course, I could hear the people of the Vatican talking to each other.
They were discussing the identity and the goal of the enemies.
They had probably concluded that they were after me.
The commotion was making me feel happy. This was different from the monster that had appeared in the square and the unique monster that was discovered in the forest—this was different because this happened inside the Vatican.
To make things worse, it was after me, the Saint of Light, who had once laid down everything for the continent. It was a disaster that would shake the nation, let alone the high-ranking officials and the important figures of the continent.
“What the hell are the Holy Knights doing?!”
‘Father Basel is pretty good at yelling.’
“I can’t believe you call yourselves 'Holy Knights' without noticing those monsters invading the Vatican! You fools! You fools!” Father Basel roared.
“We apologize,” one of the knights said.
“Do you seriously think that a mere... apology will resolve this issue?! I really want to crush your skull with my mace right now, you idiots!” Father Basel shouted.
“We apologize,” one of the knights repeated.
‘He’s still got it.’
“But... Your Holiness, there’s something important we need to tell you,” a knight said.
“I don’t want to hear your excuses right now,” Father Basel said.
‘The commander is really having a tough time.’
“I’m not giving an excuse. It’s just... It’s just that we couldn’t find any traces of the enemies inside...” the commander said.
I thought this was a good time to get up.
Park Deok-Gu wouldn't stop shaking my shoulders, and I was worried about Jo Hye-Jin, who was staring at me quietly. I also needed to rescue the commander, who could get executed for something he hadn't done.
“Hmm...”
“Father Lee Ki-Young!” Father Basel called out.
“Ah... mmm...” I groaned.
“Father Lee Ki-Young! Are you okay?! Hey there! What are the priests doing?! Father Lee Ki-Young is...”
‘The old man is going to run out of breath.’
“Sir, are you okay?” Jo Hye-Jin asked.
“Hyung-nim, are you awake? Hey, Holy Sword bro...”
“He’s covered in blood, but thankfully, his wounds aren’t deep...” Rafael told him.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” Park Deok-Gu said.
“I’m not the one who saved him. Thankfully, someone blocked the attack for him,” Rafael told everyone.
The weak Saint of Light woke up and said, “Ah... thank you, Mr. Gen.”
“Father Lee Ki-Young!” Father Basel called out.
“I’m fine, Father Basel. I'm fine. I only fainted. Thankfully, he saved me before the monster got close to me,” I told him.
“I’m glad. I’m really grateful...” Father Basel mumbled.
“You don’t need to be so worried, Father Basel,” I said.
“How could I not be worried?” Father Basel questioned.
Father Basel’s reaction was really amusing.
Before the prayer service, he thought of the Templars as demons, but he probably realized that something was off upon discovering that one of the Templars had saved my life.
For now, he seemed really grateful that I was safe. On the other hand, he was questioning whether Gen had ulterior motives or not, but instinctively, he was grateful to Gen for saving someone precious to him.
Everyone was looking at Gen, and I had to say something before Father Basel.
“Thank you again, Mr. Gen.”
“I was simply doing what was right, Father Lee Ki-Young,” Gen said.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” I asked.
“I’m fine, but you...”
Of course, he wasn’t hurt.
I was sure he felt sore, but he didn’t suffer any serious injuries, so he’d soon recover.
“I don’t know how to thank you... I’ll be sure to visit you later to thank you properly,” I offered.
“You don’t need to...”
“No, I’ll make sure to visit you. The situation isn’t that great right now...” I said.
We couldn’t stay here and keep listening to me expressing my gratitude toward him. A serious incident had just occurred, and we needed to figure out how to handle all this.
Gen seemed to have realized that as well because he bowed quietly and disappeared into the crowd.
Father Basel helped me up, and the guild members cast worried gazes at me.
As for Jung Ha-Yan... she was probably somewhere else.
Elena and Sun Hee-Young examined me, and then they nodded to signal to everyone that I was fine. The new recruits looked so awkward as they stood there, not knowing what to do.
Meanwhile, Jo Hye-Jin was talking with the people of the Vatican.
“Well then... the Blue Guild will take care of the sub guild master,” Jo Hye-Jin said.
“Why don’t you stay here a little longer and observe his condition?”
The Blue Guild definitely wanted to bring me... to that damned room with no windows to ensure my safety. However, the Vatican didn’t want to send me away. Actually, it was a matter of face. A strange incident had happened inside the Vatican, and if everyone heard that I immediately left the Vatican, the Vatican would look bad.
It was tantamount to saying that the Vatican wasn’t a safe place. In addition, everyone might assume that this was a terrorist incident caused by the internal strife within the Vatican, which was the truth.
‘It’s not that I don’t want to go back to that room...’
I needed to think about Father Basel’s image. This wasn't his fault, after all.
“I’m fine, Miss Hye-Jin,” I said.
“Sir, what if...”
‘This isn’t a safe place? That we need to be careful because we might get ambushed again?’
“It happened inside the Vatican. Also... it happened during the prayer service... I believe I’m somewhat responsible,” I told her.
“But...”
“I believe the Vatican will take care of the things you’re worried about. Father Basel, if you don’t mind...” I trailed off.
“Let’s do that. Provide a place for the members of the Blue Guild to stay!” Father Basel ordered.
This was what one would call an agreement.
I was glad Father Basel was easy to talk to.
Not only was the guild given permission to stay at the Vatican to protect me, but he had also given them a lot of authority that would allow them to carry out their missions with more flexibility.
The guild members basically had the same authority as ordinary Holy Knights, and it was an authority that would last until I left the Vatican. Of course, we wouldn't be able to enter every part of the Vatican, but we definitely had access to classified information.
Kim Ye-Ri and Lee Chang-Ryeol could obtain a variety of information, and the energetic Father Basel could give us access to even more things. Obviously, there were people who disliked the idea, and one of them was Father Yohan standing in front of us...
“Your Holiness, that’s...”
“What are you worried about, Father Yohan?” Father Basel questioned.
“I’m not worried about anything, but they're outsiders. I’m simply worried that something bad might happen if we're not careful," Father Yohan answered.
“Are you trying to say that we should send Father Lee Ki-Young and the Blue Guild away despite their conditions?! This happened inside the Vatican, Father Yohan! Also, his safety is under threat, and that’s all you care about?
"How can I leave Father Lee Ki-Young’s safety to those fools?!” Father Basel shouted.
“...”
“If this happens again, are you going to take responsibility for it? Father Yohan? Will you be able to ask Goddess Benigoa for forgiveness?! You’ve become completely blinded by the illusion before you, and it’s not just you! I’m also talking about the priests who serve Goddess Benigoa!
"We’re supposed to serve her and respect her wishes, so when did we...” Father Basel trailed off.
‘The old man is on a roll. He's overreacting a bit, but he’s full of energy. He needs to be full of energy.’
His political skills weren’t bad either, so he definitely thought that this was the right time to say what he was saying right now.
“Have you not realized what’s important and what’s not?! Do you not see that Father Lee Ki-Young has compromised for us? Do you not see that?!” Father Basel shouted.
“...”
“We should be the ones asking for his help, but you’re worried that something bad might happen? Are you serious?! This incident is quite serious, Father Yohan!” Father Basel yelled with a flushed face and bloodshot eyes. The veins on his hands were bulging as well.
The sight made me feel worried that he'd get up and grab his mace, but seeing Father Basel yell for the first time in a really long time made me feel relieved.
Father Yohan was at a loss for words.
‘It’s your fault.’
Obviously, it was the entire Vatican’s fault for not taking responsibility for our safety. From the start, it was stated that my safety was the Vatican’s responsibility during the prayer service, which was the reason they were there with all the priests.
‘So they have no excuse.’
It wasn't like Father Basel was bluntly saying that he was going to use the Blue Guild rather than them, as he couldn't trust them.
We had also never said that we’d go wandering around the Vatican. He simply wanted to make the guild members stay here until things had simmered down.
Was that so bad? I was sure it was bad for Father Yohan, as he had a secret he desperately wanted to remain hidden.
‘Mole Saint’s Cozy Sanctuary.’
“The black mage earlier is part of the Blue Guild, Your Holiness.”
‘I knew he'd bring that up.’
“The monsters who ambushed Father Lee Ki-Young are capable of wielding holy power, Father Yohan! When are you going to get rid of that outdated way of thinking?!” Father Basel scolded.
“But it’s black magic, Father Basel! The same black magic that demons use to wreak havoc!” Father Yohan argued.
“And it's the black magic that saved the followers and priests! The same black magic that saved all of you!” Father Basel retorted. Father Basel wasn't afraid of advancement, and I really liked open-minded people like him.
“There’s a possibility that she made a contract with a demon, Father Basel.” Father Yohan pointed out.
It was a contract with Jung Ha-Yan, not with a demon.
Father Yohan looked at me.
Since Han Sora wasn’t here, I had to say something.
“I had no idea that she's a black mage, but there's one thing I'm sure of... she didn't make a contract with a demon,” I said.
“You heard him! She didn’t make a contract with a demon! You heard him yourself!” Father Basel shouted.
“That’s—”
“Are you saying you don’t believe him? You don’t believe the Son of Benigoa and the Saint of Light?!” Father Basel questioned.
'That’s right, I said it. I’m right.'
“You dare question and persecute the one who protected the followers while the incompetent Holy Knights sat around and sucked on their thumbs? Tell me, Father Yohan. The commander of the Holy Knights said that they couldn’t find traces of those damned monsters outside. Do you understand what that means?” Father Basel asked.
“...”
“It means those monsters were inside the Vatican all along,” Father Basel added.
“...”
“The summoner isn't a demon! It’s someone from the Vatican!” Father Basel yelled.
Father Yohan’s face turned pale. He was surprised to hear that, as he knew that they didn’t summon those monsters.
“...”
“...”
I understood the reason behind their surprise.
I was the one behind this incident, after all.
‘Benigoa’s bloody tears have finally become useful...’
I obtained them during Benigoa’s bankruptcy incident, so it had been a while since then.