Ch.733Reunion with Acquaintances

“Yes. A collateral branch of Carlos the Great, the Median.”

Eleonora nodded as she answered.

“Bloodline, legitimacy, sanctity, military power, and support from the prince-electors. In every aspect, she’s the most suitable candidate for the imperial throne during this chaotic period, which is why he specified that she should ascend to the throne after his death.”

Indeed, there was no one more suitable than her to claim the empty throne.

A collateral descendant of Carlos’s bloodline and heir to one of the Great’s Twelve Knights, she had built legendary achievements and fame rivaling the Twelve Knights themselves, becoming the Empire’s strongest knight. Her weakness of being half-barbarian could easily be overlooked since she had personally slain Orhan.

Moreover, she possessed sanctity guaranteed by both Elpinel and Astraea, and had built favorable relationships with all the prince-elector houses except House Wien. What better candidate for Emperor could there be?

Landenburg was already planning to make her their new head, so their support was certain, and Faelrun would back her out of gratitude for stopping the Werebeast invasion.

Being close friends with Archbishop Elmaine, she would also have the support of the Church of Elpinel and Church of Saulite. The only human likely to oppose would be Lord Wien.

“Though she herself doesn’t seem to have any idea, if Leopold dies, she will ascend to the imperial throne. Making her queen is likely practice and preparation for this eventuality.”

Eleonora concluded that since someone ignorant of a monarch’s duties couldn’t effectively handle imperial affairs if suddenly placed on the throne, they wanted her to experience rulership as queen first.

“Hmm… then we must abandon the plan to assassinate Leopold.”

The logical and plausible conjecture left Bellnesia no choice but to agree with her assessment.

Killing Leopold would accomplish nothing if Haschal became the next Emperor, as their situation and position would remain unchanged.

‘…It might even get worse.’

The fact that Eleonora was alive was an imperial secret. The extremely limited number of people aware of her existence meant she could be eliminated without consequence.

While Leopold was alive, such a thing wouldn’t happen, but after his assassination, there would be no need to consider his feelings.

At that point, they might not stop at surveillance but could detain her for questioning on mere suspicion or choose to eliminate her entirely.

“The only option left… is to explain the situation to Feyrus and demand he provide a solution. He can’t ignore the demand to take responsibility, since this mess resulted from his mistake.”

The man who had suggested they restrain their activities to avoid the Empire’s collapse had himself awakened a sleeping dragon and completely shattered the system, leaving him no defense.

======[ Haschal ]======

After finishing my meeting with Eleonora and returning to the palace, I took the carriage I had arrived in and headed to the Extrashafel Cathedral.

I urgently needed treatment for my left arm injury, but showing Lena that one of my arms had been blown off would cause unimaginable consequences, so I was seeking an alternative.

“…So that’s why you came to see me.”

Lacy, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, was half-sitting on a hospital bed rather than at her office desk, attending to her duties.

“Partly to check on you too. How are you feeling? I heard you collapsed trying to block the dragon’s breath.”

With her dry white hair, pale complexion, and slightly trembling eyes, she didn’t look well. She seemed like she should be resting in bed rather than working.

Though for someone who had attempted the insane feat of blocking a dragon’s breath with a holy barrier, she was in remarkably good condition.

I’d heard her holy power had increased dramatically recently, but still, how could she even think of blocking such a thing? It was beyond madness.

“Thanks to Elpinel’s protection, I’m almost fully recovered. Unfortunately, I can’t help at the relief center because fellow believers are strongly opposing it out of concern for my health.”

Well, who would readily agree to let a bedridden patient treat other patients? She claimed to be recovered, but anyone could see she was pushing herself too hard. She might handle one or two patients, but the hundreds at the relief center would be too much.

“More importantly, you revealed your stigmata? Rumors are spreading throughout the cathedral about the Saint of Order appearing.”

“I didn’t reveal it—it was revealed against my will. Listen to me. Really, I just said one prayer after seeing the state of the system, and holy light burst forth!”

I explained what happened in an aggrieved tone, but Lacy just smiled.

“It seems Astraea greatly favors her saint. May I be a little envious?”

“This goes beyond favor—it’s almost obsession. It’s slightly creepy.”

Though I’ve never mentioned it to Lacy, the goddess had even sent me messages directly. That’s not the kind of miracle shown to someone without a shred of faith.

“It must mean there’s no one more suitable than Baron Median to be the agent of Goddess Astraea’s will on earth. To emit holy light bright enough to illuminate an entire street despite having not a drop of holy power—isn’t that a miracle only a true saint could perform?”

“I suppose…”

“Yes. I’m starting to think this ignorant person should resign as Archbishop and hand the position over to you.”

…No, I wouldn’t take such a position even if offered.

I’m already dying from headaches over this unwanted queen nomination, why would I want more responsibilities?

“I absolutely decline. I’ve already been saddled with a troublesome position, and now you want me to be Archbishop too… just the thought makes me shudder.”

“Hehe. I was only joking. Now, show me your arm. You came for treatment, didn’t you?”

Lacy, smiling at my horrified reaction, reached out to take hold of my wooden prosthetic left arm. Though calling it a prosthetic was generous—it was just a piece of wood.

“Right, just a moment.”

I unlocked the shoulder fastening to remove Frosting and took off the fake left arm that I had been moving through the Karma of Murder with string ties. My left arm, empty from the shoulder down, was finally revealed.

“Regeneration is occurring, but at an extremely slow pace… likely due to Frosting’s curse that seeped in through the wound when you were injured.”

Lacy carefully examined the cross-section at the shoulder to assess the injury.

“Once the curse residue is removed, recovery will be significantly faster. In this condition… I think it should be fully healed in about two weeks.”

“Two weeks…”

A truly ambiguous period—long if you thought about it one way, short if you thought about it another.

“I could restore the outer appearance right now, but the interior wouldn’t be reconstructed, so you wouldn’t be able to move a finger. Even minor impacts would shatter the arm. If you need to use your arm immediately, you’d be better off looking into a proper prosthetic.”

Lacy advised quietly as she purified the curse in my arm with pure white holy light and bestowed a miracle of recovery.

“A prosthetic… yes, I should look into that. Anyway, thanks for the treatment.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s what I should do.”

After getting my arm treated, I exchanged a few words of small talk with Lacy before leaving the cathedral. Neither of us was in a situation leisurely enough for a long conversation.

—-

The next place I visited was Asha’s workshop.

I wanted to ask what had happened that prevented my ordered armor and sword from arriving on time, and if possible, request a prosthetic arm.

As soon as I arrived at Asha’s workshop, I immediately understood why my ordered equipment hadn’t arrived.

‘…It’s completely destroyed.’

Asha’s workshop, which had been growing larger by the day, was now reduced to a single small, hastily constructed building, with everything else in ruins. No wonder she couldn’t meet the delivery date.

[It takes a long time to build wealth, but only a moment to lose it.]

That’s an unexpectedly scholarly comment from you.

‘This is no time for idle jokes. My armor and weapons might be smashed to pieces just like this workshop.’

I chided Hersella as I pushed open the door of the small building.

“Who is it? We’re not accepting customers—oh, Haschal! You’ve come at a good time!”

Asha, wearing safety goggles and assembling something in the back of the building, turned her head, recognized me, and came running over with delight.

“It’s been a while, Asha. I was worried you might be hurt when I saw the collapsed workshop… but fortunately you seem uninjured.”

I greeted her with a light wave of my right hand.

“Uninjured? My body may be fine, but my heart is already shredded with wounds…! That half-finished dragon, that worm, dared to take all my assets…!”

As she spoke, her anger seemed to rise anew. Asha ground her teeth as if they might break and expressed a deep, dark racial hatred. Her fury was truly immense, reminiscent of Lacy confronting a heretic.

“Ah, well. That’s… unfortunate…”

I stepped back half a pace as I expressed my condolences.

“That lizard…! I will find him, tear him to pieces, and throw him into the furnace. I swear it…!”

…I’ve never seen Asha this angry before.

A dwarf who has lost money is truly a terrifying being.