I no longer doubt the existence of God, but that doesnโt mean I have faith. On the contrary, Iโve been a victim.
The reason I have a connection with Cardinal Keller, the head of the church in the empire, is because of that fateful Azure Day.
A priest, whose faith had gone too far, tried to prove Godโs existence. Various conditions and misfortunes converged, resulting in the summoning of an angel.
The summoned angel, with its overwhelming power, began to distort the world, turning it a deep azure blue.
That was while it was still asleep. The imperial army arrived to eliminate it, but once the angel awoke, it was a nightmare.
The forcibly summoned angel was naturally furious, and the imperial army suffered catastrophic losses.
Even the princess barely survived, thanks to her royal guards.
The angelโs invasion continued for three days, and the sky over the empire turned azure blue even at night, creating a scene that was more eerie than beautiful.
At that time, I had just acquired the Flame Sword and had become a high-level adventurer.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, I had an ace up my sleeve that I would never get again, so I decided to use itโฆ which brings us to the present.
As a result, the angel was sealed, and the person responsible for the summoning was the first to die in the aftermath.
I became known as a key player of the Azure Day and thus began my association with Cardinal Keller.
Normally, it would be impossible to meet with a cardinal immediately, but as the bearer of the Heavenโs Sword, I was granted an exception.
In the reception room of a relatively small church built in the center of the imperial capital, I sat on a sofa waiting for the cardinal, feeling conflicted.
Nia is an adorable junior, so I tend to be lenient with her.
Thatโs why I didnโt want to see Keller, but here I am, waiting to meet her, albeit reluctantly.
Eventually, the door opened, and a young woman entered carrying a tea set. I greeted her with a glance.
โItโs been a while, Sir Knight of Heaven.โ
โI thought I had declined the church knight title.โ
โFufu, will you give up that sword?โ
โCardinal Keller, I have an urgent matter.โ
The woman who entered was indeed Cardinal Keller.
Her outfit was the same as always.
A red nunโs habit, but with deep slits and an exposed chest. The skirt was long at the back, reaching her ankles, but short in the front, revealing her beautiful legs covered in stockings.
The outfit had various decorations, striking a balance between flamboyance and the dignity befitting a cardinal.
However, she didnโt look like a clergyman at all.
Her beauty made her even more conspicuous.
Despite her youth, she had become a cardinal, which meant she was quite cunning.
I had nearly been conferred as a church knight by her once, and I wouldnโt meet her unless necessary.
Keller prepared the tea herself with practiced ease. The room filled with the aroma of tea.
โYouโre here about the Grand Church, right? Since the Azure Day, it has been abandoned with minimal managementโฆ It seems it was exploited.โ
โYouโve heard quickly. If itโs not in use, that makes it easier. Can we enter?โ
She placed a saucer and a cup of tea with sugar, milk, and sliced lemon in front of me. I added only sugar to my tea.
โI didnโt say that. I canโt permit troops to storm a church.โ
โItโs a heretical cult that seeks sacrifices. Itโs worse to let them stay inside, isnโt it?โ
Keller added milk to her tea, turning the amber liquid a milky white. She sipped it gracefully and placed the cup back on the saucer.
โSince the Azure Day, the activities of heretical cults have intensified. Weโve been suppressing and investigating them, but theyโve never been so blatant.โ
โThey targeted a marquisโs daughter. Of course, thereโs urgency.โ
โThey must be desperateโฆ If they managed to summon an angel, they might believe they can summon a demon. And theyโve deliberately fled to the Grand Church, where the angel was summoned.โ
โThey have a purpose? But weโve surrounded the area. They canโt escape.โ
โHopefullyโฆ They donโt choose their methods. Those who fled to the Grand Church are just a fraction. You, the bearer of the sword that sealed the angel, are not unrelated to this. Stay vigilant.โ
โIf they appear as enemies, itโs easier. Iโm just handling the churchโs enemies for you, right?โ
The marquis is already determined. This is just about formalizing it; the outcome wonโt change. Keller understands this too.
โAs a cardinal, I command the bearer of the Heavenโs Sword to act as a church knight. Defeat the enemies of God.โ
โI humbly accept, Your Eminence.โ
I obtain permission to enter the church.
This means I owe Nia and the marquis a favor and am indebted to Keller as well.
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