Chapter 23. This Should Be Easy (3)
"Rejoice, Isaac!"
Isaac dropped his milk bottle at the familiar voice. Turning his head, he saw Rillai approaching with open arms from the nearby garden.
That flower-crowned, sickeningly cheerful face probably meant he'd come to inflict another tedious reading session. Well... whatever. Books were good.
Early education for proper child-rearing? Splendid! Never mind that he was reading encyclopedia-thick history books to a brat who didn't even know the words "mom" or "dad" yet!
Actually, historical knowledge helped understand spell origins. Understanding origins meant wielding magic faster and better. So this skirt-chasing uncle's book-pushing was surprisingly helpful!
The problem was the specific history being shoved down his throat - the tale of how the Skull King got his ass kicked by the Saintess. Fuck!
[My Lord! Stealing the Saintess' purse despite your poverty? You're no Demon King, just a common thief!]
Ah, these damn brats.
The history books recorded every fucking detail.
Whisper, who'd absorbed all stories during Isaac's naps, squinted judgmentally.
[Have some demonic dignity...]
Shut up! Those Saintesses who chased me to the ends of the earth over a fucking wallet and tore off my legs were worse!
Anyway, when I wondered what tome he'd brought this time, Rillai unexpectedly produced a small box instead.
It was Ashili caring for Isaac who gasped in recognition.
"Good heavens! A ring!"
What? A ring? A birthstone ring? Gold ring?
Isaac's lips twitched upward in anticipation. When Rillai opened the case, there indeed lay a beautiful physical object...
"Here, your uncle's gift."
"......"
For a gift, it looked absurdly ancient - like some Iron Age relic. As a birthstone ring, it resembled a worthless lump without even 1mg of gold.
Isaac shot him a protesting glare.
Creak.
The jealous gaze came from nearby - Isaac's other uncle Goel (that tight-fisted bastard). Why this asshole glared at an innocent ring was unclear, but his expression spoke volumes.
That look of someone hearing their cousin bought prime real estate confirmed this was no ordinary ring. Goel ground his teeth while staring at it.
'Goddammit, why did that have to surface now?'
Truthfully, Goel hadn't anticipated this outcome. As fifth son of House Eshua and Papal faction leader in the Holy Empire, he'd been gradually usurping power.
His plan to integrate the Papal family into House Eshua and claim patriarchy was progressing perfectly... until 'that flower-crowned bastard Rillai interfered.'
Isaac's existence as first son and Saintess' child blocked their power grab. Even his son Shuri's papal aspirations would be thwarted.
Thus they'd tried eliminating the nursing nephew using the demon-infested treasure vault...
-Pardon? What was that?
Summoned before the elders about the coming-of-age ceremony, Goel nearly lost his mind.
-So we're supporting Isaac now?
-Why the questions? Don't we normally scatter single-use blessings from the vault? It's dangerous otherwise.
Treasure vault blessings were lifelines granted upon entry. While item assistance was banned, minimal protections were permitted.
Knowing this, Shuri had already secured premium blessings.
-Shuri obtained Papal blessings, yes?
-Yes. A child's life matters. No rule violation if it's not items.
The vault's blessing device?
Utter trash.
<Warriors fear not death! Greater trials prove greater worth!>
Typical Saintess ceremonial nonsense. The vault only offered basic, low-grade blessings.
Goel hadn't mobilized funds and connections for Papal blessings without reason - they were the Empire's finest!
'So struggle with cheap protections, Rillai. My blood will claim the true treasures.'
What could they do? Would the Saintess' spawn refuse her own vault's blessings?
As Goel smirked triumphantly at Rillai...
-Ah yes. The vault's blessing device broke.
-So Her Ladyship authorized special lending of Saintess relics.
-?!
What fucking nonsense?!
-Oh! Saintess relics rival blessings!
-Nay, surpass Papal ones!
-Hence Rillai shall choose from the Saintess' treasury.
Gasp!
Saintess relics! How could Papal blessings compare?
Goel's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.
-Lend us those relics too!
-You already received Papal provisions. Moreover, Shuri bears stigmata.
-But-
-Wasn't it you who insisted Isaac enter the vault lacking stigmata?
-Saintess relics are low-grade at best. Should a priestly uncle covet his stigmata-less nephew's lifeline?
-Tch, never took you for such...
No! That's not-
Thus Rillai obtained the Saintess relic - [Elder Ring]
A ring containing divine fragments.
Centuries-old relic from battles against the Skull King, now nearing expiration.
Though only usable once or twice, Goel knew its secret value - a relic the Papacy secretly coveted.
'I meant to siphon it as "donation"!'
Regardless, Goel could only glare at Isaac while grinding his teeth.
Predictably, the perpetually dissatisfied uncle approached with feigned warmth.
"Our nephew grows more adorable daily."
"?"
"Have you adjusted well here? This uncle worried you might be crying."
"???"
Isaac stared like Goel had gone mad.
Fuck, did this bastard finally snap?
All Eshua descendants shared model-like beauty, but Goel's Papal-resembling smile induced nausea.
"Rillai. If gifting, do it properly. Must you give junk?"
"Junk? This is the Saintess'..."
Ashili tried protesting, but Goel glared the servant into silence before smiling at Isaac.
"Isaac is precious to me too. Entering lethal zones requires reliable gear, not dubious scraps."
Goel produced an identical-sized box while grabbing the ring case.
Ah, attempting a swap.
"Brother, other House candidates will attend. Consider our dignity. Gift like this shames the Five Great Duchies! You're no better - frontlines-paid upper paladins can only afford such junk?"
"......!"
Goel's ring outshone Rillai's in opulence. Its cutting-edge magic was unmistakable - something Rillai could never obtain.
"Specially blessed by the Papacy. More helpful for tomorrow's vault."
Rillai bit his lip at the gleaming ring. He knew the Saintess relic's true worth, but between tarnished antique and sparkling new treasure...
With Saintess prestige waning and Papal influence rising, the choice seemed obvious.
Noticing this, Goel smirked and reached for the relic.
"I'll return this properly... Huh?"
Goel froze mid-reach.
Crunch.
Isaac death-gripped the Saintess ring, glaring 'Who said you could take this?'
Goel strained to pry it loose.
"Isaac! Take the better... AGH!!"
Isaac smashed Goel's face with the Papal ring case.
Thwack!
"Young master!"
Ashili recoiled with Isaac as Goel clutched his bleeding face. Goel's servant rushed over.
"Are you alright? Fetch a medic...!"
Surprisingly, Goel forced a smile instead of his usual rage.
"I understand. You lack discernment. But this is His Holiness' gift! Far superior..."
Nah. Fuck that.
Isaac yeeted the Papal ring into the pond.
Splash!
"AAH!"
As Goel's treasure sank, chaos erupted. Isaac smirked.
'Use Papal-tainted gear? I'd rather die.'
Though weathered, he recognized it instantly - the Saintess' noble relic from centuries of life-risking battles against the Demon King. How could contemporaries dismiss it?
Dozens of mediocre relics couldn't match this Saintess treasure's worth! These fools only saw surface decay, not its premium-grade essence.
Moreover, the Skull King could restore its durability. Likely other faded treasures too.
Unaware, Rillai stood speechless, moved by the child seemingly valuing Saintess heritage over Papal glitter. For Saintess' son, this mattered deeply - especially with the Papacy demeaning her memory.
Even if just a toddler's whim.
"Retrieve it NOW!"
Goel's servant frantically prodded the pond with a pole.
"Apologies! Can't find it!"
"It just fell! Why can't you-?!"
"Seems... sank deeply..."
"A child's toss shouldn't-! Stop excusing!"
As if they'd find it. Isaac had secretly weighted it with magic - probably buried in bedrock by now.
Unaware, Whisper praised:
[Defying the Holy Leader's might! Rejecting tainted treasures! Truly demonkind's paragon...!]
'Retrieve it at dawn.'
[Pardon?]
'Sell it premium later.'
[...Must I?]
'Rather me?'
Whisper despaired.
"So the Saintess' ring remains with Young Master Isaac?"
Goel exploded at his knight's question.
"Never speak that name!"
Merely hearing "Isaac" enraged him. The chastised knight fidgeted.
"But that ring absorbs surrounding holy power to auto-cast. With Her Ladyship summoning Saint candidates, doesn't this advantage..."
"Benefit him?"
"Y-yes..."
Goel snorted.
"True - optimal for magic-incapable infants. Commendable choice. But..."
"!"
"Requires minimum 20 users nearby. How many candidates will come? All 148?"
"Y-"
"With Saintess' reputation and Eshua's suspected trap, nobles will boycott. Maybe 10 attendees?"
Holding the ceremony in Eshua territory insulted Saint candidate nobles. An empty hall would humiliate them.
Goel laughed at their naivety.
Yet...
"What? How many?!"
On ceremony day, Goel couldn't believe his ears.
"148 candidates?! Here?!"
"Yes. Precisely 148 candidates with 3,789 retainers and nobles... Unprecedented turnout."
Goel gripped his neck, swallowing curses.
"Must be riffraff moths to flame."
"Actually... major marquessates and central nobles..."
"What?!"
The servant's eyes darted nervously.
"And also..."
"WHO ELSE?!"
"His Imperial Majesty..."
Goel's jaw dropped.
Why would prideful nobles...?
What caused this turnout?!
