Chapter 125. Questions and Doubts (3)

The chilly air settled onto the ground.

The hostility that pierced the skin and the tremendous 'demonic energy' clearly showcased how powerful the strength that Tenelon had accumulated was.

"Who did you hear that from?"

A disgrace that should never be exposed to others.

Tenelon's face was etched with displeasure, as if something had been exposed.

His actions would be incomprehensible not only to ordinary people but also to the members of the Dawn Society.

No one expected his emotions, which had always seemed calm, to be stirred so violently by the nonsensical question of whether one could hear a 'voice'.

"Was it Eleanor? Come to think of it, Eleanor was one of the bishops who sought to recruit you into the Dawn Society. It's quite possible."

"No, I didn't hear anything from her. She only asked me to enjoy a meal with the High Pontiff today."

"So then, how do you know about the 'voice'?"

There were very few who knew of Tenelon's secret and disgrace, 'it'.

Because even I wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't played the game through various rounds.

Clunk.

Contemplating something, Tenelon set his knife down, brushed his jaw a few times, and suddenly, his pupils shone brightly for a brief moment.

"Perhaps, Yulian, do you also hear the whispers?"

At Tenelon's remark, I inwardly clicked my tongue.

"Is that even possible? I merely foresaw it because I guessed that it might be due to your foresight, Sir Tenelon."

I tried to deflect the conversation by slightly flattering the man, but his discomfort didn't seem to dissipate significantly.

Is this not enough?

"For instance, the Soul Stone that Bishop Pintel was transporting. Even though it was acquired by a not-so-famous trading company, you, Sir Tenelon, immediately recognized it and sent Bishop Pintel, didn't you?"

Adding some more to the story seemed to somewhat quell Tenelon's sharp demeanor.

I could feel the hostility and the pressure from the demonic energy dissipate slightly from where my skin was.

He always seems to be weak to a little praise.

"Maybe, Sir Tenelon, you possess something akin to foresight?"

... Is it resolved now?

The hostility and demonic energy vanished completely, as if they had never been there.

At this point, it was crucial not to mention the term 'Demon God'.

Delving into such deep secrets would likely arouse Tenelon's suspicions.

It's something only he knows.

Moreover, he might consider me a competitor.

That would be troublesome.

Be that as it may.

Tenelon's vacant eyes and hollow expression, looking as if he had lost the entire world, were still evident.

'It was just a hunch, but it turned out to be true!?'

An episode that I haven't encountered often even in five years of gaming.

'Tenelon's Rampage.'

An event that occurs when a bishop's demonic energy deepens even further after rising to the rank of Archbishop.

It couldn't be Eleanor, so it meant someone else was threatening Tenelon's position...

Moreover, in the game 〈Let's Kill the Demon King Now〉, the root of all evil, the 'Demon God', is a long-dead ghost from the past.

Though its corpse, left on the northern continent, scatters its residual thoughts across the continent, it is definitely dead.

'If it were alive, the story progression couldn't happen.'

The game aims to stop the resurrection of the 'Demon God' and defeat the 'Demon Kings' attempting its revival.

If the 'Demon God' were alive, the only notification you'd hear would be "Game Over" instead of any progression.

'The said 'Demon God' gives a feeble revelation to the one most likely to resurrect it.'

That's the identity of the 'voice'.

Even though it only provides minimal information that amounts to just a small tip, it can be somewhat helpful.

It's better than knowing nothing at all.

'But now... the whispers have stopped being heard?'

Judging by Tenelon's reaction, it seemed certain.

That means,

While he remains a candidate for 'Demon King', he's no closer to being the actual 'Demon King'.

In short, he has been moved from the first priority.

'Who is it?'

Who has become closer to being the 'Demon King' compared to Tenelon?

***

The meal with Tenelon ended without any major incident, and I returned to the mansion.

I expected some form of pressure regarding Aiden's death, but it passed too uneventfully, leaving me somewhat empty.

I had prepared extensively concerning that matter.

"It could mean that he may have lost interest in the Dawn Society."

As if to convey my thoughts, I heard a familiar voice from behind.

Turning my head, I saw Pintel sitting in a chair.

"Hmmm."

At Pintel's words, I let out a short groan.

Having heard about some story from Eleanor, I urgently summoned him after my appointment with Tenelon was over.

There were so many things I needed to ask him.

And in any case, saying such words to someone who came to break the 'Dawn Society' sounds like an opportunity.

Tenelon's strength was not a lie, so his beginning to go astray was a good thing.

The issue, however, was the direction things were moving in.

"Sir Pintel."

I carefully addressed him as I sat across from him.

"Yes, Sir Yulian."

Pintel responded as if it were the most natural thing, resembling a soldier tightly on guard.

"What on earth have you been doing?"

Previously, when Eleanor said Tenelon must be brought down, she mentioned that Pintel was at its center.

I was the one who orchestrated that.

Without my knowledge, I had become the central figure in the coup.

Truly... I hadn't done anything.

The only thing I had instructed was to have Pintel monitor Corund.

I had no idea what was happening beneath the surface.

"What are you talking about...?"

"What have you been plotting lately, as you've been in contact with other bishops?"

So I had to ask once more.

What have you been up to lately?

"I am carrying out the 'task' you desired."

The task I wanted?

"You sought something higher."

Pintel smirked slyly, like a shady figure operating in secret.

"I have met with other bishops and Monsignors to probe them. The recent actions of the High Pontiff have been unusual."

Well, you are doing quite well.

If the 'Demon King candidate' Tenelon is brought down, 'Dawn Society' would not pose a significant threat to me.

As I always say, my goal is to live well and maintain my mental health against erosion by Yulian's ego.

Even if there is an organization operating in secret within the Empire, as long as they do not pose a threat to me, I can leave them alone.

'But why am I becoming the central figure!'

What I wished for was the eradication, not the revival of the Dawn Society.

"How many bishops and monsignors have you reached out to?"

I asked, just in case.

If the scale is not too large, I can surely back out.

Can't I just toss those guys to Eleanor and wait until the bomb explodes from the sidelines?

"I've concluded discussions with a considerable number of high-ranking cult members."

So, to what extent are we talking?

"Pardon my rudeness, but would you be interested in meeting with Bishop Kolparan?"

"Sir Kolparan... Are you referring to him?"

The mention of an unexpected name piqued my interest.

Bishop Kolparan.

His full name is Kolparan Demius.

Entrusted with significant responsibilities in the Demius family, which was one of the founding families of the Dawn Society, he garners much trust from many bishops due to that fact.

'The trust of bishops, huh.'

An irony of villains having solidarity?

Thinking about it, it was indeed laughable.

"Yes, if we could pull him over to our side, many bishops would surely change their minds."

No, I'd rather they not change their minds!

"The Dawn Society, after all, is not a religious group that worships Tenelon but a group supporting the byproducts gained from handling demonic energy, and he has always criticized the premature succession of the High Pontiff."

"Sir Kolparan..."

Just as I was about to reprimand Pintel for not doing unnecessary things again, I realized something.

'Even if I tell him, Pintel doesn't seem likely to stop.'

Hence, I started thinking of alternative ways to retreat.

'If I clearly inform Kolparan, wouldn't that allow me to distance myself from the center?'

It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that someone like Kolparan stands in opposition to a person like 'Tenelon'.

As one of the founding members of the Dawn Society, he hasn't taken kindly to someone like the self-proclaimed 'High Pontiff'.

'Moreover.'

Even though he is taking a stance against Tenelon, he still manages to keep his life as a bishop.

The mere fact illustrates how influential the figure of 'Kolparan' is within the Dawn Society.

In the game, he didn't hold this much influence.

While voicing his opposition to Tenelon, he was someone who ended up being exiled to a place far from the capital.

Is it a blessing for me to use him in this way?

Once my thoughts reached that point, I began devising a means to navigate through this situation.

'Let's hand over the cult members that Pintel has gathered to Kolparan.'

This way, even if things go awry, I won't be held accountable.

The significant target of 'Kolparan' could hide my shadow as well.

"Well then, you mentioned contacting many cult members recently, didn't you?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Could you precisely quantify it?"

"I have connected with about 25 percent of high-ranking cult members."

"Are you saying all of them sided with you?"

At my words, Pintel slightly tilted his head.

"No, they have sided with 'Sir Yulian'."

Seeing Pintel's smooth-talking face, I realized I needed to adjust my evaluation of him.

This guy is irritatingly efficient at getting things done...

***

While steering through the events, I thought back to how bothersome Pintel would have been had he been alive during my past gameplay sessions.

As I mulled over it, I shifted my gaze to the man Pintel had introduced.

Upon entering the reception room, he had an exotic face and dark skin, leaving no room for doubt that this man was not from the Empire.

'He must be from a tribe in the Suran Desert.'

A vast desert in the southern continent.

Beyond that lies a nation inspired by the 'Middle East'. However, being a country established above a harsh desert, its national power is weak and small.

"Ah, come to think of it, it's late for introductions! Sir Yulian, this man is Al Hashar. From the Suran Desert..."

"From the Rahman Tribe, I presume."

I casually spoke after glancing at the scimitar at Hashar's waist.

〈Let's Kill the Demon King Now〉 was a game I indulged as a hobby and form of leisure.

Due to this, I was well-versed in all kinds of settings, so merely seeing the shape of the 'scimitar' allowed me to pinpoint one of the many desert tribes.

However, Al Hashar, who was observing me up close, seemed to feel differently.

His eyes widened in surprise as if he couldn't find his words.

Naturally.

Given the nature of closed desert tribes, there are countless unknown tribes.

Yet, I had identified his origin with a single glance.

"This man will guide you to Bishop Kolparan. As someone who was originally a knight for Kolparan, he's the bridge to you."

"Is that so?"

As my eyes turned toward him, hashar flinched.

"Life in a foreign land must be tough. You must be going through a lot, Sir Al Hashar."

I offered some encouragement to Al Hashar.

For some reason, I felt a certain empathy toward him.

While this world was familiar to 'Yulian', for me, it remains just another foreign land.

Hence, I felt a slight sympathy for Al Hashar, who had come from across the desert to live in a foreign land.

"Th-thank you."

However, Al Hashar seemed uninterested in understanding any emotional empathy.

A 'color of fear' loomed over his head, and his hand, which I was shaking, was trembling.

'Did I do something wrong?'

I merely greeted him?

***

In truth, Al Hashar's presence next to Pintel was a consequence of Kolparan's orders.

- 'Like a shadow... Follow the bishops and report the unfolding situations to me.'

With Tenelon's emergence, Kolparan, who had inadvertently become a sidelined elder, awaited the opportunity to take 'Dawn Society' into his hands.

Assigning Al Hashar to Pintel was for this reason.

'To think...'

For Al Hashar, this was the first time meeting someone who knew of his tribe, the Rahman Tribe of the desert.

The problem was, that the one who knew it was the infamous 'Yulian', this slit-eyed man.

"Then, I rely on you to guide me to Sir Kolparan."

Despite Yulian's polite request, Al Hashar was left standing in a daze.

Even thinking he had somewhat adeptly performed Kolparan's orders, Al Hashar realized the folly in assuming anything.

'Was I careless enough to let him figure out I was acting on Kolparan's orders?'

It was as if Yulian had conducted a thorough investigation before uttering any of his information.

Clacky's Corner:Wahahaha, amazing.

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