The ultimate weapon of the kingdom - V1C2
Chapter 2: Cardinal Netia
After
defeating the undead king, Gnome, I returned to the grand cathedral in the holy
capital city of Thayne, which served as our base.
The ceiling
boasted a large chandelier, while the walls were adorned with magnificent
religious paintings.
Stained glass
windows depicted the angels revered in the Holy Dragon faith.
At the far
end of the hall stood a hulking figure with a rugged, stone-like visage.
Dressed in a
lavish robe adorned with gold embroidery on white fabric, he exuded an air of
opulence.
“Cardinal
Netia, I have completed the mission and have come to report,” I said, dropping
to one knee and raising my voice.
The giant
turned around, his expression devoid of emotion, and directed his unfeeling
gaze towards me.
In an
instant, his body turned into earth, crumbling and dissipating onto the floor,
disappearing.
The towering
man vanished, replaced by a black-haired beauty.
Her long,
glossy black hair danced in the air.
Her ethereal,
porcelain-white skin possessed a beauty that instilled awe in those who beheld
it.
And her
heterochromatic eyes, one deep crimson and the other lapis lazuli, shimmered
like precious gems.
Her
dark-colored dress was flashy and venomous, unsuited for this solemn hall.
This was
Cardinal Netia’s true form.
She had
extensively altered her own body through alchemy.
I had heard
that she was over two hundred years old in actual age.
Regardless of
one’s position of power, the pursuit of immortality through alchemy was
prohibited.
It was
considered a disruptive act against the natural order and was condemned as a
taboo in any country practicing magic.
Even in our
kingdom of Adia, there were no exceptions.
That’s why
Cardinal Netia maintained the appearance of that imposing man as a public
facade.
Netia is not
her real name either; I don’t even know her true name.
She has used
over twenty different names throughout her long life, making it questionable
whether she herself remembers her true name anymore.
The four of
us, including me, were created by Cardinal Netia as members of the Phantom
Dragon Knights.
She employed
forbidden magic on us, who were once church orphans, enhancing our bodies and
mana without hesitation.
If our
existence were exposed, both Cardinal Netia and I would be in grave danger.
Cardinal
Netia is able to confidently stay in the grand cathedral because she has ruled
over the royal family and the upper echelons of the church for centuries.
She can be
considered the hidden ruler of this kingdom.
When Cardinal
Netia laid eyes on me, she contorted her doll-like, exquisite face into a
sinister smile.
Just as I
thought she had vanished, she appeared right in front of me.
“Well, well,
you’ve returned nicely, my child. Come on, stand up,” Cardinal Netia said,
patting my head and touching my back affectionately.
She
forcefully made me stand while placing her hand on my back.
“Um, about
the incident with the disappearance,” I began to report on the mission while
being embraced by Cardinal Netia.
“It’s fine,
no need for a report. I’ve thoroughly investigated the matter within the Order
of Knights, and there’s nothing about this country that I don’t know. Besides,
I have absolute trust in you. Or is there something unexpected that happened?”
Cardinal Netia inquired, gazing at my face with her mismatched eyes from such a
close distance.
“No,
everything went according to your expectations,” I replied.
“The Undead
King Gnome was there, and you made sure to kill him, right? If so, there’s no
need for a report. Or is there something bothering you?” she asked.
“Something
bothering me...” I muttered, and suddenly, the words spoken by the Undead King
Gnom came to mind.
“You, too, are an empty being. Nameless, devoid of love, sacrificing everything without receiving honor. And so, you die without knowing the joys of being human, as a weapon of the kingdom.”
Why is that?
I have never
taken the enemy’s words seriously before.
And yet,
those words won’t leave my mind.
When I remain
silent, Cardinal Netia furrowed her brow and her expression darkened.
She peered
into my face.
“What’s the
matter, my child? Seems like there’s something bothering you,” she said.
“No, it’s
unrelated to the mission,” I replied.
“Oh, really?
You’re troubled by something other than the mission? Go ahead, tell me,” she
said in a dark and chilling voice.
Sacrifice
yourself, kill your emotions, devote everything to the mission, for the sake of
peace in the Kingdom of Adia.
That’s what
Cardinal Netia has repeatedly told me.
Perhaps she
didn’t like the fact that I was troubled by something other than the mission.
“Why are you
staying silent? Can’t you hear my words?” she asked.
“No... I’m
sorry. It’s nothing worth mentioning,” I replied.
Cardinal
Netia let out a sigh and softened her expression.
She released
her grip on me and looked straight into my eyes.
“You’ve done
well on this mission as well. If you have any desires, speak them out. I truly
care about you. If it’s something that can be granted, I’ll prepare it for you
right away.”
“Cardinal Netia...”
I hesitated for a moment, then spoke up.
“Well, you
see, I actually want to attend that academy.”
I decided to
say it boldly.
Mocked by
Gnome for leading an empty life, I had been thinking during my journey back to
the holy city of Thayne if this was enough for me.
During that
journey, I caught a glimpse of the academy in the holy city.
Students were
happily chatting and laughing throughout the school building.
In the midst
of the bustling crowd, people were engaged in friendly competitions involving
minor magic spells, while others eagerly indulged in pastries.
Among them
were boys and girls of similar age to mine.
Until now, I
had never paid any attention to the academy or any world unrelated to myself.
But perhaps
it was because Gnom’s words bothered me.
At that
moment, I just stared at the school building for more than half an hour.
Envious.
It was an
emotion I had never felt before.
No, perhaps
it was an emotion I used to have in the distant past.
“Cardinal
Netia, um... could you grant me a favor? Just for a week, no, a few days would
suffice,” I said.
“I can’t
believe you, of all people, would ask for something so pathetic,” Cardinal
Netia said, her eyelids twitching with irritation.
I could feel
the malevolent mana emanating from her body.
She was
angry. I shouldn’t have said anything after all.
“Well... but
yes, you have a point. It’s true that the ‘Phantom Dragon Knights’ are quite
unstable... Besides, we are treated like sensitive matter by the upper echelons
of the church. If something were to happen to me, it could be irreparable. It
might be better for this child, who is the most emotionally stable, to acquire
at least the bare minimum of worldly and social skills. The circumstances now
are different from ten years ago. Moreover, most of the dangerous forbidden sorcerers that had been rampant in the kingdom have been dealt with in recent
years... Even if one person is absent for a while, it won’t cause significant
problems,” Cardinal Netia pondered, placing her hand on her chin.
It seemed
that she was seriously considering my request.
Cardinal
Netia snapped her fingers.
“Alright.
From now on, for three years, you will attend the Knight Academy in the royal
capital not as the ‘Nameless No.1 of the Phantom Dragon Knights’ but as
just a church orphan named Ain. It’s a bit troublesome for ordinary knight
academies to accept non-nobles, but the one in the royal capital should accept
commoners as long as they have a noble’s recommendation.”
“Oh, really,
Cardinal Netia!” I exclaimed in delight.
I had voiced
my wish, but I never expected it to actually come true.
“Yes, I know
the academy headmaster personally, so I’ll send a letter on your behalf.
However, if by any chance your identity becomes known, it will be a disaster.
So, please try not to stand out too much,” Cardinal Netia said.
“Yes,
understood. I’ll make sure not to stand out,” I replied.
Of course, it
was only natural to try not to attract attention.
Both my
physical body and mana were endlessly enhanced by forbidden sorcery.
They far
surpassed the limits of an ordinary person.
I learned
magic from Cardinal Netia, the strongest magician in the Adia Kingdom.
I learned
swordsmanship from the first knight commander of the Adia Kingdom, “Sword Saint
Siegfried,” who was resurrected by Cardinal Netia as an Undead Knight.
If I were to
unleash my true power, the academy would go into a panic.
Moreover, if
it were revealed that I was a member of the “Phantom Dragon Knights,” it could
cause a major uproar throughout the kingdom.
Of course, I
was aware of that.
If I kept it
in moderation, there shouldn’t be any problems.
“However, in
that academy, those in the higher classes tend to attract attention. Even the
official knight orders would take an interest in them. That’s why, regardless
of the entrance exam results, I’ll make sure you’re assigned to the inferior class. Even if something happens, the academy headmaster will handle it
appropriately. Well, you’re skilled, so you should be able to manage even
without going to such lengths,” Cardinal Netia explained.
It seemed I
would be assigned to the lowest class, but it didn’t matter to me.
I wanted to
attend a peaceful academy and experience a normal youth with my peers.
After
graduation, I would disappear and return to being a member of the “Phantom
Dragon Knights.” Classes and evaluations didn’t matter to me.
“Thank you
very much, Cardinal Netia!” I expressed my gratitude.
Cardinal
Netia looked at me, smiled kindly, and placed her hand on my head.
“It will be a
series of unfamiliar experiences, but do your best, Ain. I believe in you.”