“The Root of the Temple…… I see.” I looked down at the Holy Staff and nodded my head. I had wondered what she meant when my teacher revealed the origin of this item. It was peculiar to hear that a building had ‘roots.’

I was surprised once again when Hanan saw the staff and gasped. Her red soul had shook intensely and her voice had echoed loudly.

– How absurd……! Are you saying that you are a Cardinal?

‘I am a twenty-nine year old Archbishop, your Majesty.’

– How is it that a mere Archbishop has a staff carved out of the World Tree?

‘The World Tree.’ The name itself gave off such force. Basically, the tree trunk wrapped around the Temple of Boundaries was no mere plant. It was a blessing from the Almighty God that coexisted with the building, an important part known as the temple’s roots. It was also a holy and precious material that you could only possess once you became a Cardinal.

Sir Johann had said something else on our way here. ‘The records of the temple are not open for the masses to read. Even the residents of the neutral region do not know much about it and most are only passed down as tales. Only the highest-level officials of the Empire and Holy Kingdom are allowed to approach.’

‘Yes. That was the case,’ I answered.

I had scoured through the Imperial Family Library while studying up on divine items. But there were weirdly no books about the temple. My guess was that it was in an area only the Imperial family could enter. < Kaboom! Yves’ Great Adventure > was one of the few books about divine items as well. Information about the Vatican and the nine divine items seemed to be handled most stealthily and cautiously in the QNW world. It wasn’t weird in a place where religion was basically power.

‘……Or maybe nobody really knows.’

It was a plausible hypothesis if you theorized this place as the center of the world.

– The World Tree is a divine existence that only allows the most noble and worthy to see itself.

“Yes, your Majesty.”

– Furthermore, to decorate and defend this place…… When this Queen was alive, some even called the World Tree the true essence of the temple.

“I can see why they would think that. How amazing.”

– Amazing? There were just many busybodies gossiping nonsense. Anyway, the underground maze is also a part of the World Tree, so it shouldn’t do you any harm to bring that staff.

“Thank you very much, your Majesty. Oh right, I will make sure to tell the Vicarius Generalis about you and the ruins, your Majesty. You have nothing to worry about,” I smiled brightly and answered.

Hanan clicked her tongue talking about how priests these days were so easygoing.

Christelle got excited and made a joke. “I actually like that so much, your Majesty. Don’t you feel the fatigue in your soul washing away as well?”

– Ahem! Truly frivolous.

– Squeeeee.

I could hear Isabelle quietly chuckling as well.

While Demy crossed over my knees to get to Tithé, I quietly organized my thoughts. If I was right about the Almighty God being the author, it made sense that the home of the Pope, the leader of the Church of the Almighty God, would possess the World Tree.

‘Then what could the Pope be an allegory toward… The reader……? No, that can’t be right. That’s too far off the mark.’

– Take that thing as well.

“Excuse me?” I raised my head and became shocked.

The rag doll liege was pointing at Percy in his small box. She had never interacted with the chimney bird until now.

Percy had been asleep since we dodged Captain Hervé’s interrogation. He was in his own little bed with a tiny little blanket, but I thought she wasn’t paying him any attention because she had not said anything, but……

I petted the gently breathing little bird and then looked at her.

– I can feel it conserving its strength, but it has no plate. It must be a divine item, right?

“Y, yes your Majesty.”

– Based on the aura, it must be an air attribute.

“Yes, your Majesty!”

‘As expected of a Monarch Cardinal Ghost. She’s so smart!’

– It seems serious. I’m sure there is a reason, so make sure to take it with you.

“Yes, your Majesty.”

Compensation. I felt like I needed to make sure to get her some compensation. I looked around before realizing that the only thing I had to give her was clear and formed numerous ether orbs in my hands.

Shaaaaaaa……! Hanan scoffed while watching the gold light flash.

‘Is amazing ether not satisfying enough for a Green Queen like her?’

– Leave it there. I’ll eat them as snacks one at a time.

“Yes, your Majesty.”

‘That’s a relief!’

– Knock knock knock, click!

There were some urgent knocks and the living room door opened right around then. We both looked toward the same spot. A round body was rushing into the room. Joanne, who was on the ground drawing, jumped up.

“Balls! You’re finally back!”

“Soooooob, Baroness! I was almost taken away by my father!”

“What’s going on?! Why? Should I cause a scene?” Christelle ran over and raised her voice.

The Viscount couple, who had been peacefully drinking their tea, urgently came over to console the priest. Sand was sobbing, but I was in big trouble, holding myself back from laughing.

He slowly explained in a teary voice. ‘Aigoo.’

“That…I got in a lot of trouble. About how I became naturalized without even seeing them face-to-face, how it hurt my mother so much…… He told me to cast it all away and come back! He yelled at me. Waaaaa.”

“He’s such a funny person. Does he think naturalization is child’s play? Why can’t he accept it like an adult that his adult child thought long and hard about it before making up his mind? Why does he need to yell?”

“He wants Balls to come back so that he can line up his kids, give them scores, and only pick on him again? Unbelievable!”

“Right? He clearly told me that I was no longer his child in the past……”

“He said shit like that too?!”

I quickly grabbed Christelle to keep her from rampaging out. ‘Sand’s situation may lead to a war at this rate!’

“Christelle, I understand that you are angry, but please calm down!”

“Does he think he can do whatever he wants because he is Count Palatine? Who cares if the family is good when the environment is bad for the kid?!”

Our MC was rightfully angry.

“What a terrible person! Not only did he upset our beloved priest, he’s making our granddaughter angry too!” Viscount Clément got angry in his own way.

Sand found the right timing to say the next sentence. He started to fold up his chubby fingers as well.

“S, so I told him. I told him everything without leaving anything out! I said that I am happy right now and that I am living very well, incomparable to how my life was in the Holy Kingdom. I’m healthy, I’m eating well, I have a lot of friends, I am happily working as a priest……”

“Good!”

“Great job!”

Joanne and Christelle shouted. Isabelle and I looked at each other and started laughing. The Imperial Crown Prince let out a deep sigh. A cool breeze blew through all of our hair.

It was one day before Christelle’s birthday.

*

A large bedroom window.

In an area covered by curtains, scared children were crying.

“Sob, sob……”

They were clenching their teeth because they were not allowed to make noises, shaking their little bodies in fear that the Chief Attendant would punish them.

The children had done everything Werner had ordered them to do until now. They didn’t even dare to say no or ask any questions. He had a beautiful face and magnificent voice, and he truly looked like an angel when he did not get angry. He even bestowed sweet crackers or gold to them if he felt like it.

But when he got angry and started to scheme…… The man turned into the cruelest man in the entire world.

– Ss, ss, ss……

The children were grinding a knife with their little hands. They were told that ‘this is a dagger the Prince Consort will personally use.’ Nobody explained where he would use this or why he suddenly needed a scary item like this. But the children knew. They knew that his highness, Prince Jesse, was in this cold and eerie temple. They knew that the Prince Consort would be going to the same place as the esteemed prince.

They just knew. That’s why they kept crying.

“Ugh, sob……”

They were so scared that their lips were shaking. They didn’t want to do something like this. They just wanted to see their families. They kept looking out the window. They could see free people. They could hear loud shouts as well. A market seemed to have been set up next to the temple to match the last day of the large-scale pilgrimage. The Vatican’s soldiers on break, nearby residents, and believers were all crowding the desert.

“Sirs, take a look at this! This is a two night three day voucher for the Giegold caravanserai. It’s available at half price!”

“We have figs and prickly pears! Figs and prickly pears!”

“Too expensive!”

“Blades, spears, Crossbows! Made in the Empire! Blades, spears, Crossbows! Made in the Empire!”

It looked exciting. The children blanked out for a moment.

– Chh!

“That’s probably better.”

Flinch! The children flinched and lowered their heads. A child who almost dropped the knife urgently raised his hand.

‘Ow.’ His palm that was sliced open was bleeding but nobody asked the child if he was okay. They could not ask. They did not dare to open their mouths in the presence of the Prince Consort. He loathed those below him causing a fuss.

“Over there. Do you see him? There is a merchant selling Imperial weapons.”

“Yes, your Royal Highness……”

“Go buy two small daggers from him. Get rid of these things.” The man calmly ordered them to follow his capricious decisions.

The most mature of the children quickly answered. “As you command, your Royal Highness.”

“Make sure they don’t figure out your identity……” The Prince Consort’s order continued.

The children avoided his gaze, secretly shed some tears and wiped the blood off.

“The old woman next to him is coincidentally selling apples. Buy up all of her apples and hide the blades at the bottom of the basket. The second princess likes apples, so the crown princess should not be suspicious if you do that.”

“Yes, your Royal Highness. We will keep your warnings in mind.” The children bowed.

Werner calmly looked beyond the window. He then suddenly scowled. The apple merchant…… Was looking right at him. An odd feeling brushed past the man’s back.

“……”

The small grey eyes had no focus. Her wrinkled face made her look over ninety years old and the robe that covered her from head to toe was as old as a rag. She was clearly a wandering blind beggar. She was a lowly thing that would never get to speak to the husband of a monarch. The Prince Consort’s face filled with chaos. So why was it-

“……Why is she smiling?”

Did she know who he was and was just daring to look up and smile like that? No, could you really call that as ‘looking?’ There was still nothing visible in the old woman’s empty eyes. The black inside of her mouth was visible through her open mouth.

The Prince Consort instinctively moved back.

– Tap!

“Eek!”

“Hicc!”

The surprised child attendants hiccuped like a groan. Werner finally looked out the side. The children were all pale.

“Why are you crying?”

“……T, that. That……”

He had never asked a question like this. The children could not find a suitable answer and shook. They knew they had to stay quiet whenever the Prince Consort was planning something. They did not even dare to make breathing noises because it might disturb his concentration. The slightest mistakes would lead to things being broken or someone getting hit.

But a situation like this was truly……

“You do not need to worry about me.”

!!! The children’s jaws dropped and they looked up at Werner. His brown eyes were curled up sweetly like chocolate. They got the chills for a moment.

“Even if I return dead, I will not be alone.” His voice was as soothing as a lullaby.

The children quickly nodded their heads as if they were bewitched. They did not know what he meant…how dreadful the meaning behind his words truly were. They just moved because they felt like they needed to do so.

Ten years old. A single tear dripped down the youngest child attendant’s cheek.

*

One day later on March 18th. Christelle’s twentieth birthday, the day we were scheduled to go into the maze, arrived.

– Bang! Bang!

A few poppers went off during breakfast. Colorful pieces of paper instantly filled the room followed by a three-tier pink cake. Although it wasn’t said, it seemed like Sir Johann controlled some wind for us. Otherwise, colorful pieces of paper would not flutter in such a pretty fashion.

“Happy birthday!”

“Hahahaha.”

“Huuuuuu!” Christelle smiled beautifully before blowing out the candles, leading to another round of applause. The deacons who delivered the wagon clapped and celebrated her as well. A lot of them were young, so their long sleeves were fluttering.

‘Will they be shocked if I help them sew the sleeves later?’

“Happy 20th birthday, my beautiful daughter. Thank you for coming into my life.” Isabelle gave Christelle a tight hug and then a kiss on the cheeks. Miss Ga-in looked extremely embarrassed, but also very happy.

“Happy birthday, our little bundle of luck.” Lady Marise kissed her on the other cheek.

Viscount Clément was seated next to the crown prince crying.

The mood made it feel like a first birthday. Just seeing such a happy family made me emotional and happy. When Hanan placed her hand on Christelle’s forehead and blessed her… Cheers burst out like we were at a festival.

– ……’You will choose eternity in between life and death and continue to breathe, even in places the Almighty God cannot preside.’ Become a water of life. Aqua vitae.

“Woooooooooooo!”

“Happy birthday, Dame Christelle!”

“Pink princess! Happy birthday!”

“Happy birthday, my dear student. I will help you get even stronger this year.”

“Thank you very much everyone!” The MC smiled beautifully and looked around at us. She exchanged a long glance with crown prince Cédric.

By the time her gaze moved onto me, I could read the hidden guilt behind her eyes. I wanted to console her because I was very clear about what was making her feel guilty. I just hoped she would treat it as us celebrating her birthday late since Ga-in’s birthday had not been celebrated for the past year. But instead of saying consoling words like that……

“Happy birthday, Christelle. I hope you continue to be happy.”

I just spoke with sincerity. Her eyes curled up like crescent moons. That was enough for this moment.

I could think that because I had no idea what would happen that night.

—
Translator’s Comments

Happy birthday to our pink princess!

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