A Window Behind the Statue

Episode 18

‘I’ve never seen the Minister so…disappointed…’

The Minister, driven to utter exasperated explanations by his subordinates’ pitiable incompetence, had even sighed—a first.

Celine, certain she would never forget the terror of that moment, moved her pen with brisk efficiency.

She was issuing the ‘directive’—as per the Minister’s order— summoning the heads of intelligence agencies from across the globe.

‘Those cowards would never dare venture to the Empire, so the Minister must be intending to grace them with his presence himself.’

Mustn’t stop thinking.

The scope of thought must continually broaden.

Even if she couldn’t offer aid, she could at least avoid being an obstacle.

‘The Owl’s former members should, of course, form the escort detail, and though I hesitate, the Knights must also be contacted.’

Francesca, commander of the 3rd Knights, in particular, enjoyed the Minister’s patronage; merely mentioning it would undoubtedly prompt her to volunteer to accompany him immediately.

Even if not her, the Emperor surely wouldn’t allow the Minister to journey alone.

Having comprehensively synthesized and arranged the specifics – dates, locations, times, and other vital factors – Celine, looking somewhat haggard a few days later, submitted the “World Intelligence Agency Heads Conference” proposal to the Minister.

—

World Intelligence Agency Heads Conference?

“Yes. You must proceed to the Kingdom of Prous by that date.”

Celine abruptly informing me of my schedule was hardly unusual, but… even so, isn’t this a bit much!?

Besides, the Kingdom of Prous? To arrive by that date, I’d have to leave tomorrow!

And what, in heaven’s name, is this World Intelligence Agency Heads Conference even about!

I’m ostensibly a Minister, so why am I the only one unaware that such a thing is being held!

Is this…ostracism?!

More than that, isn’t this already excessive with such a tight schedule, I wanted to say that, but to Celine who looked at me with bloodshot eyes, I didn’t have the courage to say anything.

All that remained was to do as I always had, nonchalantly nodding my head.

“Understood.”

The moment I returned home that day, I hastily packed my things. Blast, I forgot to ask how many snacks I could bring.

And the next morning, arriving at work early, I found Francesca leading the Knights right in front of the Intelligence Bureau.

“Francesca.”

*Why* are you here?

“Relax, Ervin. Don’t worry, we’ll escort you safely all the way to the Holy Kingdom of Praus.”

Eh?

The *entire* Third Order is coming?

Why?

Before I could even ask, Celine, followed by her subordinates, poured out of the Intelligence Bureau headquarters in a rush.

What in the world.

“Travel safely, Director.”

As Celine lowered her head, the others behind her all bowed toward me in unison.

…Am I perhaps going to die? Is this another thing no one bothered to tell me?

“Director.”

Turning toward the familiar voice, I saw that the Owl-Masks had gathered around me.

Agh, you startled me.

“Christina.”

“Yes. I’m fully recovered now, so I’ll be guarding you, Director.”

The one who got stabbed through the stomach is already healed?

Truly, not a human’s resilience.

“Don’t overdo it.”

Having said that, I climbed onto the carriage, fleeing the burdensome gazes sent my way by the Intelligence Bureau and the Knights.

Nothing particularly eventful happened on the way to the Holy Kingdom of Praus.

The trouble began after arriving.

Or rather, at the entrance to the Holy Kingdom’s capital.

“Welcome to the Holy Kingdom, Director Barmut. I am Johanna Pautz, ordered by His Holiness the Holy King to receive you.”

Officially, the Holy Kingdom does not have an Intelligence Bureau.

However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have an intelligence organization.

They have an organization operating under the name “The Collectors,” a sort of secret society, and the head of that organization is the woman standing before me now, Johanna Pautz.

Also known by another name—

“Saintess.”

“To be addressed thus by Minister Barmut… it fills me with an unbearable awkwardness.” The Saintess Foutz, having gently laughed behind her hand, soon turned a troubled gaze towards the knightly order standing behind me. “I am sorry, but under no circumstances can we permit the knights of another nation within our royal capital. Would you please await the conference’s conclusion outside?”

“What…!” Francesca’s temper flared immediately, but honestly, I thought it was reasonable. Imagine having fully armed knights barge into your home’s living room; no one would be pleased.

“Just wait patiently, Francesca.”

“…If Ervin says so, I will. But Saintess, was it? Bear this in mind. If I sense even the slightest whiff of something amiss, we’re charging in.”

That would mean war right then and there.

“Hehe, how frightening. But you need not worry. The safety of Minister Barmut, and all ministers of the attending nations, shall be guaranteed in the name of the Holy Praus Kingdom.”

See? The Saintess is vouching for their safety in the name of the Holy Kingdom.

Nothing to worry about.

“…Be careful, Ervin.”

“Mm.”

Leaving the knights behind, I followed the Saintess’s party alone into the Holy Kingdom’s royal capital. As I walked, the fundamental question of why I was even here suddenly occurred to me, but the exotic sights of the Holy Kingdom quickly banished my doubts and worries.

“I apologize for bringing this up before you’ve even had a chance to rest from your journey, but we would be grateful if you could grant an audience with His Holiness, the Holy King. Would that be acceptable?”

“Of course.”

Now that I thought about the Holy King, there was something that I wanted to ask.

“How is the Holy King’s health?”

—

‘That information is usually classified.’

Johanna was taken aback for a moment by Minister Barmut’s nonchalant way of extracting information so sensitive and crucial to them – as if aiming for a vital spot. But she, too, was a woman in the position of a Saintess.

Without betraying her bewilderment, she nodded in response. “Yes, our Holy King is very much in good health.”

“That is fortunate, then.”

Fortunate, is it? I wonder, what could be fortunate about that?

“I had heard that the Crimson Blight was an incurable ailment. To hear that he remains well despite that… truly, it is a boon.”

“………”

* * *

That one, really, she thought, yet the Saintess never lost her smile.

“Yes. A relief, truly. The kingdom will not lose its stability so long as the Saint-King remains hale.”

To hide her lips and eyes trembling with rage, Johanna fixed her gaze forward as she walked, secretly gritting her teeth.

Red Flower Disease. So named because of the red, flower-like blotches that would bloom across the infected’s entire body.

To contract the disease meant suffering a severe fever, enough to induce delirium, but that was not the most terrible aspect of Red Flower Disease.

The worst thing was that the area where those red, flower-like blotches appeared would rot away.

*To knowingly spew such cruel mockery… truly, he deserves the name of Iron-Blood.*

She must never let her guard down.

Her opponent merely wore the guise of a human. What looked like a person was nothing more than a shell.

Soon, having led Minister Barmut to the Saint-King’s palace, the Saintess presented him to the awaiting Saint-King.

“Welcome, Minister Barmut.”

Toward Javier Praus, the Saint-King, who had been dosed with every medicine and wreathed in holy magic just to maintain a semblance of normalcy, Minister Barmut performed his courtesies with admirable smoothness.

To an uninformed observer, it would be lauded as the etiquette befitting one born of the highest nobility, but to those who knew the truth of it, the sight could only inspire terror.

A being not of this earth was imitating a human with such uncanny ease.

“I pray that the blessing of the Sun God be upon you, who has stepped forward so readily for the peace of the world.”

“I am humbled by your gracious words. I shall do my utmost to not disappoint Your Majesty.”

*How he must be sneering inwardly as he speaks those words.*

Unwittingly, Johanna realized she had clenched her fist so tightly that it drew blood, and she quickly released it.

*This will not do. In a battle against a fiend, the one who reveals their emotions first is the one who loses.*

Calming her surging heart with a small, deep breath, she approached Minister Barmut as soon as the audience concluded and said,

“If you are amenable, I would like to offer you a tour of the royal capital. Would that be acceptable?”

It was meant as mockery – *would a bookworm like him even have the stamina?* – but Minister Barmut answered with guileless delight.

“I was hoping to see many things, as it happens. A generous offer indeed.”

“See many things…?”

“I have long desired to behold the Praus Grand Cathedral with my own eyes.”

At Minister Barmut’s words, Johanna’s face stiffened once more.

The Praus Grand Cathedral. The Collectors’ stronghold and headquarters.

Strictly speaking, its true location was beneath the Cathedral, but even so, Minister Barmut’s request was akin to asking to be escorted to another country’s intelligence agency.

*If I refuse him here, he’ll claim that if the Cathedral is open to everyone, why can’t he be allowed to see it? Well, fine. He won’t be going all the way down to the underground, anyway.*

He had even left his guards behind.

Knowing they were being watched, that he wouldn’t dare act otherwise, Johanna conceded with a nod, and began guiding him toward the Cathedral.

“Seeing as you wished to view the Cathedral, Minister Barmut, might I inquire if you harbour an interest in the Mythic Era?”

“It isn’t nonexistent. There are many captivating tales surrounding the Mythic Era, after all.”

An era far preceding even the Ancient Age of a thousand years past, a time when the Gods themselves truly lived and breathed.

That was the Mythic Era.

Upon reaching the Cathedral, Johanna led Minister Barmut deeper inside, towards the inner sanctum.

“As you are likely aware, the Sun God, Phraus, is the absolute deity who slew the wicked Moon Goddess and delivered the world from darkness. It is through him that humanity’s era was barely able to dawn.”

Before that, humans were said to be mere slaves and playthings of the Gods.

“However, the threat posed by the wicked Moon Goddess still lingers in this world. Moments before her defeat at the hands of the Sun God, she commanded her brother, Laplace’s Demon, to hide seven ‘Stars’ across the land.”

[He who obtains one Star shall bring ruin upon mankind, and he who holds all seven Stars shall destroy the world.]

A verse from a well-known children’s tale recognized across the continent, the final curse left by the Moon Goddess.

“Thanks to the grace of the Sun God, no Star has yet revealed itself to the world, but we must remain ever vigilant and live in gratitude for his protection… Minister Barmut? Are you listening?”

Johanna, engrossed in a topic she felt confident discussing, frowned when she received no response. Turning around, she gasped.

Minister Barmut was staring up at the statue of the Sun God.

His face twisted into a grotesque mask.

His eyes burning with pure, unadulterated hatred.

—

Ah, it’s dazzling.

But the statue is cool.