579 – Aim, Evil Master! – 4

The pilgrimage group, including Tanian, flew to the islands via teleportation.

Although the number of people in the pilgrimage group to the Holy Land was small, it included the next saint, Tanian, and Cardinal Alexandriana, prefect of the Congregation for Saints. Just because it was small did not mean that its authority or weight was small.

Thanks to this, the emperor’s younger brother Ainter, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of diplomacy, and Cardinal Lisciuco, the highest priest in the empire. The pilgrims were greeted by dignitaries next to the emperor.

“It’s been a while, Brother Ainter. How have you been?”

“Thanks to your concern, I was having happy days.”

And Ainther and Tanian, who are related by academic background, showed off their closeness by sharing a light hug.

A miraculous connection where the emperor’s younger brother and the next saint are friends. Thanks to this divine connection, the diplomatic staff of both countries shook hands with a sigh of relief. At least as long as those two are alive, no matter how twisted the situation is, the relationship between the empire and the church will not fall to the bottom.

“It’s been a while, brother.”

After hugging Ainter, Tanian smiled and shook my hand.

“Brother, you are already married, so you don’t need my hugs.”

“That is correct.”

Thani An Thane smiled and held his hand because it seemed like a joke about conversion.

“But I feel a little sad. I learned a lot from you over the past three years, but I have to show respect to you.”

“Just because we show respect doesn’t mean our memories will disappear, right? Besides, if I speak comfortably to my brother, I have to speak to the royal family and members of the royal family as well.”

“Haha, that’s true too. My thoughts were short.”

Tanian, who expressed disappointment for a moment, nodded his head in agreement.

It is true that we were advisors and students for three years at the academy, but we had to spend dozens of times longer than those three years as imperial nobles and saints of the church. It’s a bit burdensome to talk about it after 3 years of relationship.

“Still, if you change your mind, please feel free to tell us at any time. We are not the only ones left.”

“I will try my best.”

Tanian smiled again at those words and soon exchanged greetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs next to me.

‘Was it always this comfortable?’

It’s a little strange. When I was managing Tanian at the Academy, he was on edge 24 hours a day, so even talking to him was difficult, but now that I no longer had to take responsibility, I was able to smile and accept whatever Tanian said. Rather, I feel at ease thanks to the gentleness of the next saint.

Yes, this is normal. If he were to become the next saint of a mainstream religion on the continent, he would have to have this kind of character. Since it was my position so far, I think I saw Tanian with colored glasses on.

“His Majesty has prepared a banquet for distinguished guests. If it is okay with you, would you please grace the occasion?”

“It would be rude to refuse His Majesty’s invitation. I will attend with pleasure.”

Seeing Tanian willingly nodding to the Foreign Minister’s suggestion, I slowly stepped back.

Now that we have exchanged greetings as acquaintances, my work is done─

“Ah, Brother Ainter and Brother Advisor, are you also attending?”

“I plan to attend for a friend I haven’t seen in a while, but the Minister of Inspector General is currently on vacation, so I don’t know what will happen.”

Everyone’s eyes were focused on me due to Tanian and Ainter’s one-two punch.

“…I have been with Brother Tanian for three years, so how could I leave a distinguished guest who came a long way alone?”

Since there was no way to escape, I obediently declared surrender.

Conversation became easier, but there was still a slight lack of tact.

The banquet was so extravagant that you could not believe it had been prepared in a hurry. How many officials from the Imperial Household Ministry and the Ministry of Finance went out for this banquet? Just thinking about it makes my heart pound.

In addition, in addition to the people who welcomed the pilgrimage group, many other prominent figures attended the banquet, enhancing the quality of the banquet.

“It’s a pilgrimage to a holy place. If I were a little younger, I would have tried it, but now that I’m older, it’s difficult to wander around for a long time.”

Seung-gong Jeon is the deputy commander of the Imperial Army and always resides in the islands.

Hehe, ugh~ Raae~? Come on, come to Uryyeongji! Isn’t this a sacred place for the national anthem!”

Duke Hyeonjeong was summoned because he was the lord of the Duchy of Chenes, which had the largest number of sacred sites and relics in the empire.

‘Is this right?’

There are two dukes who are honoring the occasion, but I sigh every time I see Duke Hyeonjeong.

Of course, it is better to have two people attend rather than one, but no matter how you look at it, Hyun Hyeong-gong is a minus. Does it make sense to display a drunkard in front of VIPs?

“I am well aware of the beauty of the Duchy of Chenes. I visited it on a school trip when I was a student at the Academy, and the religious faith of Duke Gong, the previous Duke of Chenes, was famous even in the Holy Church.”

However, Tanian, who always kept a smiling face, did not break down even in front of Hyun Hyeong-gong’s alcohol.

It’s amazing. Even I, who are related by blood, get dizzy when I’m next to Hyunhyeong-gong for just 5 seconds, but Tanian, a complete stranger, can’t stand it like that.

“Hehe, I’m glad you said that, you saint! I’m sure your father will be happy too!”

And upon hearing that Duke Gyeong-Gyeong was highly regarded in the Holy Church, the headquarters of the Dawn Church, Duke Hyeon-Yeon grinned and took a sip of champagne.

I was a little surprised. Hyun Hyeong-gong doesn’t just taste champagne from a glass, he drinks it from the bottle? Are you the type of person who doesn’t like low-alcohol drinks because they say they don’t get you excited?

‘Is this a twisted family love?’

It seems like he’s trying to maintain some level of sobriety by praising his dead father, but if that’s the case, I think it’s better to just not drink.

“If you think about it, believers who worked hard for the correct faith often came from the empire. This was the case with the late Duke Gyeong-gong, and the same is true with today’s brother advisor.”

‘What.’

Meanwhile, Tanian, who was laughing and chatting with the dukes, turned his attention to me.

“Oh, that’s right. The minister did something big recently.”

“As soon as I finish it! Come on~ Didn’t I end up worrying and suffering for a long time?”

Afterwards, the eyes of the two dukes were also focused on me, so I just smiled awkwardly.

‘Damn.’

As soon as the banquet started, I looked like I was dead in the corner, but I ended up getting some attention.

‘Still, I lasted a long time…’

In just 1 hour, you’ve done quite well.

***

My whole body still trembled from the terrible words my master left behind. He rolled on the floor, flapping his bright yellow wings.

“I heard that the next saint of the Dawn Church is coming, so I’m going to meet him.”

‘Keueuuuuu…!’

I hurriedly shook my head in despair that did not leave my head.

Why, why did the Saint of the Sun come all the way here? How did that horrible, damnable being end up here?

‘Now there is no divinity or faith!’

I feel like crying. Doesn’t this guy called a saint have anything to do? Why did you come to us with nothing?

If we have escaped safely from the seal and are wandering the continent and accumulating faith, we can understand that the saint of the Dawn Church has arrived. From the sun’s point of view, it would be a pain for us to make a comeback, so it is only natural that we send the full force of the saints to crush it early.

And if you succeed in escaping, if you have regained some degree of faith, you can easily evade the saint’s pursuit. Even if caught, it may be painful, but it will not lead to extinction.

Of course, the most gathered believers will be destroyed… But if it ends up that way against the saint, it will be a good save.

But isn’t it? Instead of escaping, we were robbed of our divinity, and instead of accumulating faith, we were reduced to animals raised by human masters.

‘A b*stard without blood or tears!’

So I am extremely angry and sad. He has adapted to this situation where he has already lost his godhood, and is prepared to live a quiet life. It’s better than staying in a sealed state, neither alive nor dead─it’s better than freezing to death in that cold land.

“No, I didn’t come to catch you guys, I just stopped by during my pilgrimage to the Holy Land. “What are you nervous about?”

Suddenly, what the owner said came to mind. It is said that the saint did not come because of us, but simply because of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

‘That can’t be possible.’

This is unbelievable. Even if I had my non-divine head ripped off, I would not be fooled by such words.

Did the saint come at the time when we were released from the prison? Is that really a coincidence? Even if it were a coincidence, if there was an old evil spirit in the place he visited, would the saint just ignore it and pass by?

That can’t be possible. There’s no way that would happen. That damn saint will definitely come here.

‘I have to run away.’

Yes, that is the correct answer. Until the saint leaves this empire, he must not stay in this mansion.

If you go to meet the saint, it means that the owner and the saint are close friends, and you can use that friendship as an excuse to come to this mansion. To avoid that disaster, he must run somewhere.

But, how?

‘Escape with a body like this?’

I slowly lowered my head and looked at the insignificant body.

I feel hopeless. Is it possible to escape with this tiny body of a chick? I think I’m going to go up to the stairs of the mansion and then get bitten by a guy named Titi and go back to my room?

‘Should I hide in the master’s body?’

To my horror, I even had that thought. Even if I am a saint, they will not be able to do anything to me if I am attached to the body of the master whom the people of this mansion cherish.

However, in that case, there is a high possibility that the owner will be harassed a second time by an angry owner for using his child.

“Damn the sun…”

I muttered a curse that was no different from the mouth of death.

I think I can understand the feelings of death at least now. The sun is a damn being.

“I’m here.”

While I was just flapping my wings in a situation where I couldn’t do anything, I heard the owner’s voice.

“Owner! I am the owner!”

“Master! Hide us for a moment!”

“Please! It’s okay to bury it in the ground! Just until the saint returns!”

And people who had the same concerns as me came running from all directions,

“Keeenn!”

“The sun, the son of the sun! The son of the sun has arrived!”

“Oh no, they are trying to kill us!”

That desperate charge soon turned into a countercharge.

Because I felt the strong energy of the sun behind the owner.

“Huh, are those beings sorrowful and sinful?”

“It may be hard to believe, but it’s true.”

In the meantime, I felt a sense of betrayal when I saw the owner chatting peacefully with the saint.

The owner sold us…!