Chapter 267. Me…? (3)

‘…Why is the Gold Moon doing that?’

The first thought that popped into the mind of Hidan, who was watching that appearance blankly.

It was natural.

The place where Hidan was currently was near Rosario, away from the Colony.

In other words, it meant that originally, he would not have to meet the Gold Moon here.

But why was she before his eyes.

And why—

“Go back, wolf, I must have told you continuously…!”

“I. Hate. It!”

…Was she confronting a man he did not know at all while holding his hair.

‘No, to express him as just a man I don’t know, that man is also unusual.’

Hidan examined the man’s appearance.

An atmosphere similar to Seollang.

An age that did not look very old.

More than anything.

Killing intent flowing from the whole body like the Gold Moon.

Just with that, he could realize that he was an unusual man.

‘Is he to the extent that Lady Gold Moon would take a step back? No— equal status?’

There was no way Hidan could dare to measure the skill of the two.

Hidan, who was looking at the overwhelming strong ones, returned to the fundamental question.

‘…Why on earth are they doing that?’

No matter how much he looked, he could not understand at all.

For a moment, he agonized, ‘Should I help the Gold Moon?’ but—

“…”

He soon decided to quietly turn his body and leave this space.

Because he knew very well the fact that even if he added his small hands, it would not be helpful even as much as a speck of dust.

Furthermore, look at the aspect of the fight.

Why were they fighting in a somewhat pathetic-looking state while holding each other’s hair instead of with proper martial power.

As if neighborhood children were having a physical fight.

Whatever the reason was.

It was clear that the situation would rather become complicated if he intruded there.

The option was clear.

“…”

Hidan, according to the guidance of instinct.

Taking advantage of the gap where the two strong ones had not yet perceived his existence, he quietly moved away from that place.

####

Even just before Alon entered the Saint’s room.

There was a thought of ‘Perhaps?’ in Yuman’s heart.

To speak a bit more in detail.

The thought, which he would never have had usually, ‘Perhaps the Marquis of Palladio is not the Silver Saint?’

Of course, Yuman confirmed with his own two eyes that the Marquis of Palladio— namely Alon— was a Saint like himself.

Furthermore, the fact that he was a Silver Saint who had to walk a thornier path than himself.

Nonetheless, the reason why a small doubt sprouted was exactly because of the matter of yesterday.

‘Saint.’

‘I am sorry, but I am not the Silver Saint you are talking about.’

‘It is as I said. Saint, I do not know what part of me you saw and were mistaken about, but I am not such a person as you think.’

Denial without a single inch of hesitation.

Alon basically had no change in expression, so he was a person for whom it was not easy to distinguish truth and lies no matter what he said.

But the eyes.

The eyes were stuck in his mind.

True eyes as if he really did not know what it meant.

Yuman was momentarily shaken by the two eyes of high purity.

Of course, even that.

Could be a high-level strategy performed by the Brother who walks the thorny path in order not to harm the covenant.

Since the being called Silver Saint must deny being a Saint himself.

Still, a small delusion was planted in Yuman’s heart.

That perhaps, it might truly be a misunderstanding.

Furthermore, even if Alon was truly a Silver Saint.

At this point where virtually all communication with Lady Sironia was cut off, he would not be much differen—.

“…Ha.”

However, the moment Alon entered the Room of the Holy Spirit.

All worries became vain and futile.

Because the statue of Goddess Sironia began to shine so brightly.

The Marquis of Palladio standing before the shining statue.

Yuman, who was looking at that sight, admired without knowing.

Because while he was walking the difficult thorny path alone, he did not show any sign in the end despite Yuman’s urging.

No, beyond not showing a sign, because he actually deceived him—

And kept the covenant.

‘As I thought… Brother is great.’

Yuman’s misunderstanding was strengthened and strengthened again.

Around the time when the strange belief born from the misunderstanding became firmer.

In reality, Alon was flustered behind his expressionless face.

‘So suddenly?’

The thought that it reacted to perception occurred for an instant, but Alon shook his head slightly.

If so, because it was normal to react as soon as he used perception like last time.

At that moment when he was grasping the situation while rolling his head fervently.

[…It has been, a long time.]

The voice of Goddess Sironia, which he had heard a few years ago, was heard.

However, one heterogeneous point was—

‘Honorifics?’

That the way of speaking was different.

Clearly she had used informal speech, but to use sudden honorifics.

A moment after being bewildered, Alon opened his mouth hurriedly.

“Great Goddess Sironia, I am called the Marquis of Palladio of Asteria.”

[Is that, so.]

An answer that was cut short as if she was somehow uncomfortable.

Alon expressed a question at that, but.

[Save— no, Marquis of Palladio… save my greatest servant. If you do so, all these disasters will naturally be resolved… it would be possible for you.]

“…What kind of—”

[Then, I will stop here. Let’s continue the story after saving my greatest servant.]

Goddess Sironia disappeared just like that after finishing only the words she wanted to say.

Soon the light faded from the statue.

The Room of the Holy Spirit where silence settled.

In the middle of that.

“…What is it?”

Alon stood for a moment like a stone statue.

####

Immediately after that.

He tried using perception once more just in case, but.

“…”

The statue had no movement.

Alon, who stared at the statue, came out of the room.

“Brother.”

“Marquis.”

The Cardinals immediately surrounding Alon.

Alon conveyed the message of Goddess Sironia to the Cardinals including Yuman as it was.

“…Those words are.”

“Could it be to His Holiness the Pope…!?”

“Brother, did the Goddess truly say such words?”

“That is correct.”

When Alon confirmed once more, the expressions of the Cardinals all became serious.

At that time.

“Marquis of Palladio— no, Brother, thank you truly. If it were not for Brother, we would not have even perceived the fact that something happened to His Holiness the Pope.”

One Cardinal bowed his head to Alon.

He clenched both fists tightly as if he was resentful.

“Truly I am ashamed… To think that I believed such nonsensical rumors when you are such a faithful person.”

Then the Cardinals standing next to him began to add their words one by one.

“That’s right.”

“Cardinal Utia’s decision was correct. I was still not properly knowing anything like a frog in a well… I come to be lamenting my own ignorance. Please forgive such a me.”

Cardinals who were making atonement in a chain.

Alon harbored a question at Utia’s name heard in between, but.

“Brother. Truly I am sorry, but as it is a situation where every second counts, I will give thanks later.”

“…Do not mind me.”

He let the Cardinals, who were disappearing hurriedly, go as they were.

Before he knew it, a faint hope was lingering on their faces.

The disturbance subsided, and Yuman who remained approached his side.

“Brother.”

“Saint.”

“Truly I am ashamed of myself.”

He grabbed Alon’s hand suddenly.

“Yes…?”

“It is nothing else, but I fell into delusion about whether I was mistaken after we talked yesterday, because that was truly a futile act.”

Yuman smiling awkwardly.

“…Actually it is not a delusion but it is correct that you are mistaken, though.”

At that, Alon reflexively put the truth in his mouth once more, but.

“Yes. I know, Brother.”

As if all doubts were cleared refreshingly, Yuman nodded his head boldly.

At the exaggerated gesture of ‘Now I truly know everything.’

He truly did not understand anything, he thought.

Alon just resigned himself inwardly.

“Then I will also leave now, Brother. I will visit you again after the urgent work is over…!”

Soon even Yuman disappeared far away.

“Congratulations, Teacher.”

Utia, who had not moved together with the Cardinals, approached last.

She was smiling with her eyes enough to slightly hide her red pupils.

“…Is it a matter, to be congratulated?”

“It is, right? Because you gained the favor of the Cardinals who were uncomfortable all at once.”

“That is not a wrong word.”

Although this was also a situation achieved through misunderstanding, as a conclusion, it was correct that he gained favor.

Alon, who was nodding his head, suddenly recalled the conversation of the Cardinals earlier.

“Utia.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

“It is something I heard in passing earlier, but they were saying something about Cardinal Utia’s decision, was there something related to me?”

Then,

“Cough—”

“?”

“Ah, this— I am sorry. I choked for a moment—”

The one who reacted to Alon’s question was not Utia but Sergius.

He, who was coughing as if he was somehow uncomfortable, wore an awkward smile.

Then Utia stepped up and blocked the front of Sergius.

“No. It was not such a big deal, Teacher.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, just when there was a rumor that Teacher had died for a moment, there was a very small controversy along with the rumors that were linked to Teacher. I just talked about that part simply.”

Sergius’s shoulders were seen trembling behind Utia, but if Utia said so, then wouldn’t it be so.

“It seems it was not a big deal.”

“Yes, because it truly was not much of an issue, do not worry too much. It also subsided quickly.”

A warm smile and a peaceful voice.

Alon, who was accepting it, had one more question come to mind.

“Ah, come to think of it, I have one more thing I am curious about.”

“What is it, Teacher?”

“It seems the Cardinals have all changed, did something happen in Rosario in the meantime?”

A part that had been weighing on his mind anyway.

At that, Utia slowly shook her head.

“No, it’s not that anything particularly serious happened. Just that there was an unpleasant happening.”

“A happening?”

Utia lifted her index finger and brought it to her cheek.

“Yes. Because the Cardinal conference room suddenly collapsed.”

“…Collapsed, you say?”

“Yes. Because of that, except for me who went for a mission for a moment, all the other Cardinals unfortunately passed away.”

Utia delivering the news in a tone like ‘I went to the lake in front of here and there were truly many fish~’.

Alon, who became bewildered, asked back.

“Is it… not a big deal?”

“It is not. Because Goddess Sironia must have taken them out of necessity. All the Cardinals were devout in their faith.”

“…”

Alon thought of the Cardinals of Rosario in Psychedelia for a moment.

…They were all pigs steeped in corruption where faith could not be found anywhere.

Alon shifted his gaze slightly and looked at Sergius beyond Utia’s back.

“…”

Sergius was already looking at a distant mountain.

A determined will not to look here was felt.

“Teacher?”

At Utia’s clear voice, Alon faced her two red eyes again.

‘…The Apostle of Revenge, I think he had not appeared yet.’

…Alon somehow became anxious.