ushernet Chapter 283: Heim (1)
Chapter 283: Heim (1)
Chapter 283: Heim (1)
Though it was still early evening, the sacred grounds of the Church, surrounded by dense forests, quickly darkened, making it seem like the dead of night.
“Brother.”
At that, Martte MacGovern turned away from the window.
“Randol,” he called back, nodding at his younger brother. “Have you kept up with your training? You’ve always been so diligent, even back at the mansion. It feels like ages since I last held a sword here.”
“Join me, then. We can’t use real weapons, but the Church allows wooden swords for sparring,” Randol suggested.
At that, Martte gave a bitter smile and said, “You should train as much as you can.”
As Randol looked at Martte, he noticed that the confidence and sharpness that once defined his brother back at the mansion seemed to have faded.
“I’m worried that life here has been difficult for you,” Randol voiced his concern.
Unlike Randol, who had arrived later, Martte had been here in Heim for months, serving as Jake’s guardian. Jake’s stay in Heim was under the guise of receiving treatment, but in truth, he was nothing more than a hostage.
Yet, Martte couldn’t simply leave. Jake lived deep within Heim, housed in the innermost building under the care of the Church, and Martte was only allowed to see him once a week in the hall where the combat priests gathered.
“...”
But Martte’s troubles went beyond the monotony of his current life. He wouldn’t say it to his fragile brother, but Jake, the powerless hostage, hardly occupied his mind. Rather, his thoughts were consumed by three other figures: the emperor, Karyl, and Olivurn Shutean.
“Ugh...”
In the end, Martte had kept silent. Despite going all the way to Tatur to meet Karyl, he hadn’t had the courage to reveal the truth to his father. Now, he found himself trapped in Heim, essentially exiled from the empire.
“Father.”
“Did you meet Karyl?”
“Yes.”
As soon as Martte returned from Tatur, he sought out Kuwell. He was ready to draw his sword, no matter how disgraceful it would seem, just as Karyl had urged him to.
“Watch your conduct. It’s not just His Majesty; the nobles are also watching us closely. This is a critical time.”
"What?”@@@@
“Now that Prince Luon has been deposed, it’s clear that Prince Olivurn is the leading candidate for the throne. However, because of Karyl, His Majesty’s opinion of the MacGovern family has soured considerably. You must distance yourself from that boy from now on.”
“But...”
“We must not do anything that could harm Prince Olivurn’s prospects.”
At that moment, Martte realized he couldn’t tell the truth. More precisely, he knew that even if he did, Kuwell wouldn’t believe him. Kuwell was already convinced that Olivurn would be the next king.
More than that, Martte had an unsettling feeling that Kuwell was determined to make it so.
“Do you trust Prince Olivurn?”
“...What are you getting at?”
“I’m asking if you believe he will become the righteous king you expect him to be.”
Martte paused to catch his breath, feeling almost suffocated by Kuwell’s heavy aura.
“That’s a pointless question. It seems your time in Tatur has left you influenced by that boy.”
Martte didn’t let the conversation end with that.
“Father, if Karyl becomes an enemy... what will you do? Will you strike him down? Tiren told me that when he presented his plan, you slapped him.”
“What?”
“Father, you need to stay centered. Karyl will surely be standing as an enemy on the path you’re walking. You must decide whether to protect or abandon him.”
Martte’s question was met with silence from Kuwell.
If anything, it was surprising he hadn’t visited sooner.
“We’ll need to prepare, then. When will His Highness arrive?”
“He’s using a teleportation circle for the journey, and since this is an unofficial visit, he’ll be accompanied by minimal entourage. I expect he’ll be here within two days.”
“Then we must hurry.”
“But...”
Joey Johansel hesitated before continuing, his tone cautious.
“There’s another request for a visit to Heim.”
“Another one?”
“Yes. Unlike Prince Olivurn’s unofficial visit, this one is a formal request. It seems it was just made from Tatur.”
Thump, thump, thump...!
Martte’s heart began to race the moment he heard that, and he wasn’t the only one; Randol felt the same surge of adrenaline.
The emperor, Olivurn, and Karyl MacGovern.
Martte’s mind went blank at the thought of the three figures he had been agonizing over now converging in one place. And to add to the shock, Kuwell MacGovern, the subject of so much controversy, would also be here. The situation couldn’t be more astonishing.
God... Is this another chance you’re giving me? Or have you sent these people to finish what I couldn’t, to judge my failures?
Martte’s hand clenched into a trembling fist. He didn’t even realize how tightly he was holding it.
He’s coming on his own... But the six-month-period we agreed on hasn’t yet passed. What could have happened in the meantime?
Randol, who was in a different position from Martte, remembered the promise he had made with Karyl in the south. A wave of unease washed over him, gripping his entire being. Instinctively, he sensed that Karyl’s arrival in Heim was somehow connected to Olivurn’s visit.
“Brother?” Randol asked, noticing how Martte’s expression had hardened since receiving the news.
Martte, as if making a decision, opened the door and said firmly, “We must hurry. We need to prepare to welcome them.”
In an ironic twist, both of them sensed that the moment of great upheaval in their era was set to unfold in the most isolated part of the world.
***
“Hmm...” Karyl murmured as he slowly opened his eyes inside the carriage. “The air here is nice,” he remarked as he opened the window and took a deep breath.
Perched on his forearm were several small birds, no bigger than sparrows, but with dark black feathers that gave them a robust appearance.
Tiny tubes, no larger than a pinky finger, were attached to their legs. Karyl, who had been writing something inside the carriage, slipped a note into each tube and released the birds through the open window.
Those were messenger birds, bred by the southern barbarian tribes. Karyl preferred using them to send messages or give orders, rather than relying on communication magic.
No other nations on the continent, including the empire, used messenger birds, as they were considered a primitive method of communication compared to magic. However, that was precisely what made them less conspicuous, allowing Karyl to send commands discreetly.
“As expected of the Holy City, this is a beautiful place, don’t you think?” Karyl commented, watching the birds fly off with his instructions before brushing his hands clean.
“Uh... but is it really okay for me to come along?” a shaky voice came from across him.
Unlike Karyl’s relaxed demeanor, Israphil was visibly anxious.
“Of course it is,” Karyl said confidently.
Seated beside Israphil was another person, shrouded in a robe. Kay Rothschild’s dainty figure made her seem even more tense. Although she was silent, the tightness of her lips betrayed her nerves.
“Necromancy and dark magic,” Karyl said, gesturing toward the two seated across from him.
“A lich, the Dark Spirit King, and even an ancient soul from the Magical Era. Could there be a more perfect group to accompany me to the Church’s sacred site? I’m sure there’s no one else better suited for this.”
Karyl nodded in satisfaction, as though he already knew the outcome of this combination.
“Isn’t it the perfect lineup for stirring up a little chaos?” he added with a grin.