Chapter 211
Following Tersada, Kraush looked outside the Grand Temple.
Before anyone realized it, it was already mid-September.
While Rahelrn Academy was bustling with second-year students trying to join the Student Unit, the Grand Temple was also quite busy.
The day the Festival of the Gods would be held was not far away.
Naturally, the Priests and Priestesses preparing for the festival were extremely busy.
"It's quite noisy due to the festival preparations, isn't it?"
Tersada, still wearing a kind smile, struck up a conversation.
Wearing the High Priest's ceremonial outfit with golden embroidery on a white base, his figure walking with his hands clasped behind his back was exceptionally dignified.
"It's only natural to be busy preparing for the festival."
Kraush responded to his words without difficulty.
Tersada gave Kraush a look of surprise that he tried to hide.
Kraush was, at most, only 15 years old.
At such an age, his manners and the maturity of an adult exuded from him, which was remarkable.
One would expect him to be nervous when speaking to one of the Ten Strongest Under the Heavens.
'He's certainly different. So this is it.'
When it comes to the Ten Strongest Under the Heavens, it's normal to have an ear in every corner of the world.
And through those ears, the name most frequently heard recently was none other than Kraush.
The Young Hero, the star of the next generation, the Youngest Direct Descendant of Balheim.
Kraush, who carried numerous epithets, had accomplished feats that astonished not just Rahelrn Academy but the entire world several times.
Perhaps because of that.
Even the aura emanating from him was quite extraordinary.
'An unusually transparent aura.'
From Kraush, even Tersada could sense an intangible aura that he couldn't fully comprehend.
Furthermore, the size of that aura was so immense that it was difficult to gauge with the naked eye.
'The Young Hero is different from the start, I see.'
Indeed, this was something that many would covet.
'At this rate, he will likely join the Ten Strongest Under the Heavens by the time he turns twenty.'
By then, even Tersada would hesitate to call him casually.
Thus, Tersada came to a conclusion.
The Freeman of the future would need a new Young Hero.
A religious hero, detached from things like Balheim.
Tersada's steps came to an abrupt halt.
Where he stopped was a garden with almost no people.
The garden was exceptionally neat and tidy.
It felt like a space filled with Divine Power.
Originally, it was a garden the Current Pope would often visit for rest.
However, after the current pope became too old to walk on his own, it became a place where the High Priests occasionally came to have secret conversations.
"There shouldn't be any listening ears here, so it should be fine."
Tersada inhaled the fragrant scent of the flower petals and looked back at Kraush.
In Kraush's eyes, which were staring straight at him, a distinct boldness could be felt.
"First of all, I sincerely thank you again for the matter concerning my daughter."
"I only did what needed to be done."
"Anyone can say that. But in this world, there are far more people who fail to do what needs to be done."
It was a rather meaningful remark.
"And Mr. Kraush is someone who can do what needs to be done."
He leisurely moved and pulled out a chair in the center of the garden to sit.
When Kraush also sat in the opposite chair, Tersada gestured.
Then, a butterfly formed of light flew in from the garden.
The butterfly, as if it were familiar, poured tea into Tersada's teacup.
It was a butterfly created with Divine Power.
"Is there something you'd like to entrust to me?"
The moment Kraush quickly caught on and asked, Tersada slowly narrowed his eyes.
He liked perceptive individuals as well.
"Yes, since you came with the Saintess, I thought you might have heard through her. Currently, the Holy Royal Family of Freeman is quite corrupt internally."
And unexpectedly, Tersada was very straightforward.
"Mr. Kraush, do you know about the process of creating a Saintess?"
Kraush raised his eyes.
This man, Tersada.
He had known even before the regression that Tersada was someone who acted without hesitation, but this was beyond what he imagined.
To casually bring up something that Freeman should absolutely keep secret to an outsider.
He was out of his mind.
"......Is that something you should be telling someone from Balheim?"
"Haha."
Tersada gave a short laugh as he looked at Kraush.
"This is something the Saintess herself directly confronted the Holy Royal Family about, isn't it? And I also know that the Saintess and Mr. Kraush met before she made such a statement."
He had approached with full knowledge of everything.
"I, too, have ears everywhere."
Looking at Tersada's curved pupils, Kraush gave a displeased look.
"You seem worried about what kind of proposal I might make."
"Well, if you're willing to mention such things, of course, I'd be worried."
"Haha, you don't need to worry too much."
Tersada waved his hand as he took a sip from his teacup.
"I just hope you'll accept the Holy Sword, one of the Ten Great Heavenly Swords."
And, as expected, an absurd proposal came.
The Holy Sword, one of the Ten Great Heavenly Swords.
The Holy Sword, passed down through the Freeman Kingdom for generations, carried many legends.
Such as the one who possesses the Holy Sword will save the world.
Those typical, old-fashioned legends.
The problem is that those old-fashioned legends.
Are far more powerful than expected in terms of the image they project to people.
'Because it's the sword Arthur used.'
Before the regression, Arthur had wielded the Holy Sword.
It was because it could be used most powerfully as the first image seen by people.
Kraush's gaze became subtle.
After all, the sword Arthur had used was now being offered to him.
The Holy Sword had quite a variety of values.
Starting with the abilities inherent in the Holy Sword itself.
It could potentially serve as an opportunity to draw out the Red Witch, Adela.
After all, Adela would want the Arthur she remembered to return perfectly.
'The issue now is.'
Kraush looked at Tersada.
'The intention behind offering the Holy Sword.'
Kraush already knew that Tersada had a high evaluation of his worth.
After all, even now, he was deliberately converting the power of World Erosion into aura through the Four Seasons.
That was why Kraush's appearance seemed particularly unique to Tersada.
'I can understand using me as a heroic narrative to inquire about Mirey's matter.'
Freeman had packaged him as an incredible hero.
He was well aware that it was for political reasons as well as to lay claim to his rising sanctity.
But that alone wasn't enough reason to hand over the Holy Sword.
"You must have something you want from me."
Another reason for offering the Holy Sword.
Kraush noticed its existence and looked at Tersada.
Tersada, who met Kraush's gaze, tilted his teacup once more.
That action was deliberately meant to delay giving an immediate answer, creating tension in the other person.
'Pulling off a cunning fox-like trick.'
However, to Kraush, who was accustomed to such tactics, it was a meaningless gesture.
"Mr. Kraush is unlike his peers and is an intelligent person, so I believe you won't misunderstand my words."
Tersada, who had set down his teacup, once again wore a gentle smile.
"I intend to eliminate the existence of the Saintess created by the Holy Royal Family."
Kraush stared at Tersada without any emotional fluctuation.
"The Saintess is an existence akin to the disgrace of the Holy Royal Family.
She is a being perpetuated solely for symbolism. Of course, I highly regard the Saintess's heart and power.
But in the past, I witnessed a Saintess who was abandoned after exhausting her strength."
The Fake Saintess who had stirred up Freeman for a while.
That Fake Saintess was a former Saintess deliberately released by the Opposition Faction.
After not dying due to the divine power within her body, she continued to act as a Saintess for a long time.
Mentally broken, she was discarded after all of her divine power was drained.
Naturally, Tersada would have also witnessed such a former Saintess.
""On the outside, it was said that the former Saintess fulfilled her purpose and ascended to the heavens."
But in reality, she was used solely for Freeman's symbolism until the very end and then discarded."
"I believe such a vile custom must disappear."
Kraush agreed with that.
"And the owner of the Holy Sword is the perfect person to eradicate such a vile custom of the Saintess. A new hero who uncovers the vile custom of the Saintess, someone who cannot tolerate injustice and cuts off the vile custom of the Saintess."
Tersada's smile was undoubtedly gentle.
However, that smile now seemed like it was intertwined with hundreds of cunning snakes.
From the moment Kraush saved his daughter.
Everything about packaging Kraush as a hero had been accompanied by such plans.
The reason he summoned Kraush to the Festival of the Gods through Austria was also for this purpose.
Perhaps Austria had unwittingly invited someone who would tighten her own noose.
"Isn't this the most fitting image for the hero promoted by Freeman this time?"
As mentioned earlier, Kraush also agreed with eradicating the vile custom of the Saintess.
The existence of the Saintess was merely a product of humanity's creation, a combination of divine power.
However, there was one unresolved issue in this matter.
"What do you plan to do about Saintess Austria?"
Who is the current Saintess?
It was none other than Austria.
Kraush had no interest in other Saintesses.
He was not a saint or hero trying to protect everyone but someone trying to prevent the world's destruction.
What Kraush wanted was simply to protect his people.
In this moment.
Austria was someone Kraush could never afford to lose.
From the connection of the previous round to today.
Austria was one of the most precious people to Kraush.
The moment the Saintess is designated as a vile custom, Austria's life would shatter.
No matter how much she wanted to escape the cage of being a Saintess.
In the end, she had lived as a Saintess.
That was the outcome Kraush desired the least.
"It seems Mr. Kraush has a deep connection with Austria."
"Yes, that's because she is a fellow Second Year Student. It's only natural since I've received her help many times."
However, Kraush did not show even a hint of that.
This was because he knew too well that it could instead be used as a weakness against him.
"And I also know that Saintess Austria genuinely saved many people with pure goodwill. I believe this is something Mr. Tersada is also well aware of."
"Yes, I do not deny that."
No matter how much the Saintess was deemed a vile custom, Austria's good deeds were a fact.
[ Those cunning foxes are fiercely engaged in a battle of wits. Aren't your eyes tired? ]
As those words suggested, in just a few minutes of conversation, the two had been probing each other's intentions continuously.
"Then let's return to the first question."
Kraush pushed aside the teacup he had never touched.
"What do you plan to do about Saintess Austria?"
It was a straightforward remark, telling him to stop beating around the bush.
"I will strip her of the title of Saintess."
Tersada, having accepted the meaning, conveyed his words precisely.
"And I want to entrust that to the hero who will possess the Holy Sword, Mr. Kraush."
This was a kind of proposal for a deal.
Tersada and the Opposition Faction were determined to strip the Saintess of her title, no matter the consequences.
That determination would not waver under any circumstances.
After all, nothing could make a bigger name for the Religious Revolution than the abolition of the Saintess's title.
So he had proposed.
That the treatment of the dethroned Saintess would be left to Kraush.
Asking him to play the role of a puppet hero wielding the Holy Sword.
If he did so, at least protecting Austria would become Kraush's responsibility.
"Give me some time to think."
Kraush rose from his seat.
"Yes, just until midnight today, please."
Tersada did not stop him.
This was because he knew Kraush would respond within a short period anyway.
Within his subtle smile.
Kraush left the garden.
Tersada did not realize the faint spark of rebellious spirit that had ignited within Kraush.