The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Wants to Break Off the Engagement-Chapter 108

Chapter 108
Berhan received the documents from Alter and examined them thoroughly.
Then, he immediately assembled the holy knights around the grand cathedral and even went so far as to summon the Second Apostle.
Ronit checked over the documents in quick succession, soon showing a deeply troubled expression.
"... This is unmistakably the Holy King's handwriting. You're saying this came from inside the grand cathedral?"
"Do you know where this place is?"
"This place... I have never been there."
Ronit stared at the part of the grand cathedral's floor plan marked by a red circle.
Structurally, it was an area where nothing should exist.
But since documents had supposedly been taken out from that secret space, he couldn't afford to completely doubt it.
"To divert attention from the grand cathedral, going outside! Even if questioned later, there'll be excuses ready."
While Berhan admired such ingenuity, he also unconsciously nursed hostility.
How could someone inheriting the position of Holy King engage in such wicked deeds?
This was against the Semerune Order's doctrine and was something a holy apostle could never tolerate.
"What are you going to do now?"
"First, I have to check this location. Second Apostle, I'd like you to stall His Grace so he can't leave."
"... Understood."
Ronit hesitated for a moment, but quickly moved away.
Berhan gripped his large hammer and looked at Alter and Brillie Illenat.
"Will you come with me?"
"Is it alright for you to show us this?"
"Now that the phantom thief has found out, what is the point in hiding it? You two should simply watch quietly."
Berhan moved quickly, carrying the floor plan of the grand cathedral.
Alter and Brillie Illenat immediately followed, along with the holy knights waiting nearby.
It seemed apparent that Berhan, the First Apostle, intended to resolve this situation at once.
"Hmmm... So it's here."
After arriving at the indicated spot, Berhan looked around.
Naturally, it was blocked by a wall, and there wasn't even a door to enter inside.
But if something really was hidden, it wouldn't withstand a sudden shock.
"Hup!"
"Oh..."
"......"
Berhan simply raised his hammer and struck the wall.
The holy knights were quite startled, but Alter and Brillie Illenat remained calm.
The wall then collapsed, revealing the space beyond.
"From this moment, search every corner inside! If you find anyone, capture them alive; if they're deemed hostile, execute them at once!"
"A... As you command!"
Berhan strode in first, with the holy knights quickly following behind.
Alter and Brillie Illenat exchanged nervous glances and reluctantly stepped forward.
"... Alter."
"Yes."
"Shouldn't we stay out of this? It feels like we're getting too involved."
"We've been deeply involved from the moment we accepted the request. Backing off now won't change anything."
"Hm... You're right."
Whispering to each other, they still kept a careful eye on their surroundings.
The secret room was eerily quiet, with not even a hint of magical energy present.
If the Holy King truly became a monster for immortality, then surely someone else must have been sacrificed.
In that case, perhaps monsters might also be lurking here somewhere.
"In the end, this must be resolved within the Order, right?"
"They'd rather keep this quiet than announce it. That's why they asked us to keep it secret."
"But the emperor could ask about it himself, couldn't he?"
"They'll probably deal with it suitably in the Order. So long as they don't upset the emperor..."
"All items here are to be confiscated. Not a single thing should be missed!"
At Berhan's command, the holy knights moved with urgency.
Books and documents were stacked haphazardly, strange alchemical substances and experimental materials were pouring out; even objects suspected to be human body parts were discovered, causing the holy knights to reel in horror.
"T-There's a corpse over here!"
"This side has bones and bloodstains..."
"Ugh..."
"......"
Alter and Brillie Illenat, witnessing the dreadful scene, couldn't say a word.
The Holy King must have slaughtered countless people for himself and his followers all this time.
Above all, who could have expected such atrocities to arise from the Semerune Order, which prays for the welfare of the people and world peace?
"To dare commit such atrocities in the grand cathedral..."
Berhan received the s, his expression growing darker.
Though he wanted to smash everything in rage, he knew he must secure evidence first.
To dethrone the current Holy King, a proper justification was needed.
"Did you collect all the documents?"
"Yes, we gathered everything in sight."
"Leave some people here to continue investigating. I'll leave this to the unit leader."
Berhan quickly skimmed through the confiscated documents and headed back toward the entrance.
There was abundant evidence that the current Holy King had conducted cruel experiments and transformed into a monster.
Such a villain couldn't be left in power even for a single moment longer.
'To think I served such a man as Holy King! Have I ever been so ashamed in my life?!'
Boiling with rage, Berhan approached the cathedral sanctuary.
Ronit likely presented various reasons and surrounded the sanctuary.
As soon as the evidence was presented, it wouldn't be hard to bring the Holy King to judgment.
'If there's any resistance, I'll deal with it myself...'
"First Apostle, have you determined the truth?"
"It's confirmed. Now it's possible to render a proper judgment."
"... So it's come to this."
Ronit glanced at the documents Berhan brought, then stepped aside.
Although the process of tracking down the Holy King had been rather unsightly, ultimately there was no choice but to accept it.
If they hadn't sought help from outsiders, such swift acquisition of evidence would never have been possible.
"Where is the captain of the Holy See Guard?"
"First Apostle, why have you mobilized troops?"
"The current Holy King must face appropriate punishment as a criminal. The evidence has been secured, so I ask you to open the door."
"If you come to the sanctuary so suddenly and say such things..."
"I clearly told you to open the door! Do you wish to be summarily judged for shielding a criminal?!"
Shouting, Berhan menacingly brandished his hammer.
Normally, proper procedure would be followed, but he could endure no longer.
Anyone who got in his way would be crushed without fail.
"As the captain of the Holy See Guard, I'm responsible for His Grace the Holy King's safety. Shouldn't you at least explain the reason?"
"See for yourself! Look at what that criminal has done!"
Berhan thrust forward the box of documents, eyes blazing.
The captain grabbed some of the papers and quickly checked them.
After a brief silence, he finally spoke.
"... All Holy See Guards, lay down your weapons."
Having grasped the reality, the captain solemnly opened the heavy door.
Berhan entered the sanctuary with his holy knights, without the slightest hesitation.
"Your Grace the Holy King! Since when have you committed such evil deeds?!"
"Ah... so you've already found out. I tried to hide it, but I guess it's exposed now."
An elderly man, sitting on the edge of a bed, answered softly.
Berhan glared at the Holy King, hammer raised.
He'd wanted to serve the Holy King perfectly as a holy apostle, but who could have imagined such foul conduct.
"Answer me! Just how many people did you sacrifice?!"
"Let me ask you first, first Apostle. Do you remember the number of monsters and heretics you have slain?"
"... I haven't the leisure to count such creatures."
"And that is my answer. Their sacrifices led to the immortality of my body, so in a way, they became part of me. So why should I count their number?"
"Wh-What...?"
Berhan was struck speechless by the appalling detachment.
He'd at least expected some pitiful excuse, but instead received only deceitful sophistry.
That thing was now neither Holy King nor human, but truly a monster.
"I sought to become the eternal Holy King and strengthen the Order's foundation. Is that really so wrong?"
"You wretch! How dare a monster even mention the Order?!"
"A monster... that's not quite correct. All I have done is reverse the aging of my body."
The old man faintly released magical energy, then twisted his bodily structure.
Berhan instinctively adopted a defensive stance, but immediately found himself facing a bizarre figure.
"I've certainly grown younger. My lifespan must have increased, too. Do you still think I'm wrong?"
"That's not youth, that's greed! How can you talk of right and wrong after betraying doctrine and humanity?!"
Berhan, overflowing with hostility, stared at the Holy King.
Indeed, his skin had regained its vigor, his faded hair turned golden, and his muscles ballooned with strength.
But his ears had become pointed, and both nails and fangs had grown long.
Most of all, shrouded in demonic energy, there was no choice but to call him a monster.
"This is the miracle of Semerune. The radiant glory is guiding me, see?"
"Don't you dare profane Semerune with that filthy mouth! The light of Semerune will not forgive you!"
"Are you sure of that? Semerune has not abandoned me."
The Ninth Holy King of the Semerune Order, Retafel Aegite, rose from his seat with a reverent expression.
He could no longer invoke holy magic, but magical energy surged from within his body.
Mere holy apostles and holy knights could never stand against him now.
"I'll stake my life to judge you myself!"
"Then you'll have thrown away your life for nothing. Witness my power!"
Retafel released his magical energy, and a fierce current swept out.
It was like a swirling vortex, the sanctuary already trembling.
Berhan flinched at the power, but didn't take a single step back.
"No matter what you do, you cannot overcome me and my holy knights!"
"You know already, don't you? My power is vast and mysterious. You'd best flee now."
"You dare to threaten me, a traitor like you? If you think you can, come at me! The First Apostle will end you!"
"Hahaha! How foolish—to pit yourself against me!"
Confident of victory, Retafel prepared to unleash a wave of magical energy.
Facing two holy apostles might be troublesome, but with his current power, not even a dragon could stand before him.
"If you had followed me, you might have survived... Hmm?"
Retafel was suddenly enveloped in a cold aura and looked around.
The surging magical energy was slowly being eroded.
With a portion of his magic already frozen, he couldn't help but sense the presence of a mage.
"... Unrefined magic can be easily altered. Using magic without knowing that?"