Chapter 24. Something's Weird (1)
The crowd buzzed.
Countless children had gathered in Eshua's domain.
Lillai and Isaac watched the scene with identical expressions.
Even a rough headcount showed one, two, three, four... fifty, hundred...
Finally facing over 100 children, Lillai couldn't stay silent:
"Well... something's off here."
Seriously? You think "off" covers this?
"I distinctly heard there were only 25 Saint candidates."
Damn right, you lunatic. Even the bishop said so.
"Then why are there 148 Saint candidates?"
Exactly! Why the hell did the numbers balloon, you little shit!
They were currently receiving Saint candidates for the selection ceremony.
Gamo's summons had been sent a month prior - barely enough time for such numbers. But all candidates had been training at the Papal Court. With holy magic, traveling from the capital to eastern Eshua territory was feasible.
The real problem? There weren't supposed to be 24 candidates, let alone this bloated count.
"Actually... there are foreign Saint candidates too."
"What? Foreign nationals?"
"Well... a prince from a neighboring country arrived claiming candidacy."
"WHAT?!"
For heaven's sake. Now they're naturalizing just to become Saints?
The Saintess's influence in human territories had always been substantial enough to shift continental politics. Foreign interest made sense, but not to this degree.
Though Isaac seemed delighted.
"I can't believe His Majesty came personally!"
The Eshua hosts failed to contain their excitement. What magic convinced the Emperor? Once His Majesty moved, nobles had no choice but to follow.
"With this turnout, it's practically an official selection!"
"Indeed. The Papal Court can't ignore such visibility."
"If Young Master Isaac obtains the best relic here..."
He'd effectively be recognized as the Saint.
Hence Lillai's shock when opening Eshua's treasury for him:
"Unexpected. I thought Gamo's words were a trap - that none would come."
Truthfully, Lillai expected nothing. He merely wanted to give Isaac proper relics - even considered charging the boy's ring with holy power himself.
Then:
"Why would we suspect a trap, friend?"
Simon approached laughing, Lillai's friend reveling in the chaos: "Every imperial house is in uproar over Eshua! With two Eshua weaklings participating, of course there's no trap! Hahaha!"
Snap!
The sound of belts tightening came from Eshua knights and stewards alike - a telling reaction to society's view of Eshua men.
"Still, the boy shows promise. Truly Eshua folk seem like different species. Standing together, they look like some elf-blenny hybrid?"
Too late for compliments, asshole.
"Besides, how could we refuse when Gamo himself issued the challenge? Even the Papal faction couldn't ignore it."
Gamo? That nonsense?
While Isaac tilted his head in confusion, Simon slyly prodded Lillai:
"Speaking of which... Isaac doesn't have a fiancée yet? My house has a girl his age. If you could put in a good word with the family head... GACK?!"
Simon paled, desperately clutching his falling trousers.
His belt had vanished.
"Lillai! You bastard!"
The steward already draped the jeweled belt around Isaac: "Here, Isaac. Your ugly blenny-fish uncle gifted this! Like it?"
"Mine!"
"Hey!"
Simon glared at his own stolen accessory: "Using your power to steal now?! You call yourself a clergyman... GACK!!"
Snick! Snick! Snick!
Golden buttons flew from Simon's coat at invisible speeds - Lillai's signature divine swiftness.
"My, my! Ugly Uncle gifted pure gold this time! From a mining magnate too. Oh, he even gave snack money for our Isaac?"
?!
The little shit stole his wallet too!
Knights gaped as Simon frantically patted himself down. Saintly Lillai stealing? The paragon of virtue committing such depravity!
Meanwhile, Lillai noticed his nephew's dollar-sign eyes.
Sure enough, Isaac drooled over 99% pure gold with a toothless, perverted grin.
'Oh? Mining rights, you say.'
That familiar bear crest on Simon's red accessories clicked - seen in crucial mining regions. The crimson-counted Agei family, perhaps? Managers of noble treasure vaults.
Such merchant houses were infinitely more useful than martial families. One must infiltrate to exact divine vengeance.
Particularly that ancient red ring on Simon's thumb...
The newly beggared noble complained: "Stripping me naked over one joke? Some friend!"
"Keep eyeing my fragile nephew, you lose more."
Huff. The brat's sulking.
Simon clicked his tongue. First time Lillai didn laugh off a prank. Would he swallow humiliation but move mountains for family?
Who knew Eshua rats had familial love instead of camaraderie?
"Mine!"
"Wait! Not the ring! THE RING!"
Since when did Eshua spawn include money-crazed maniacs?!
Isaac crammed the ring into his drooling mouth. As Simon panicked, Lillai giggled while summoning attendants:
"Selection ceremony's starting. We'll wash and return it after."
"That ring's crucial! Swear you'll return it!"
?
What item could make a wealthy house so desperate?
Simon glanced around: "Where's the Papal faction? His Majesty came, but not them?"
Lillai gave him a "what nonsense" look.
"However could they attend?"
The fifth ducal house, greatest opposer of Saints - Golden Dukedom Berit. The Saintess's Eshua family's archenemies.
Simon shrugged knowingly: "Right. Those shit-stained-faced Papal pricks too proud to mingle with commoners wouldn't...!"
"Simon, watch your...!"
"Why? My son's a candidate too! Just needs better loot than those sanctimonious...!"
Then:
"Consorting with lowlifes. How typical, Eshua."
Lillai's face darkened instantly.
"Cardinal Berit!"
A brown-haired man in his mid-twenties, older than Lillai. Simon bowed with strained courtesy:
"Ah! Never imagined Your Eminence would grace us."
The Cardinal ignored him, glaring at Lillai like rotting filth:
"Came to see Eshua's so-called Saint candidate. Where is the brat?"
Lillai's scowl deepened. This man undoubtedly orchestrated the recent poisoning attempt on Isaac.
"Pathetic Eshua whelp hosting a selection. Let's see if he returns empty-handed."
Just as suspected.
But realization struck Lillai like lightning - 148 unofficial candidates? The Papal Court would never allow this. The Cardinal knew.
The treasury's sacred grounds permitted any "accident." With so many children present, harming Isaac would be simple.
'Iaac!'
His nephew was in mortal danger.
Eshua-born males were infamous.
Tragic children.
Sickly props from the Saintess's line.
Only their looks and bloodline held value - the boys themselves, useless.
Perfect targets.
Every Holy Empire noble knew the Papal faction's hatred for Eshua. Humiliating them here would curry favor.
Like doping Isaac to leave empty-handed.
-Follow through with pranks.
Obedient children moved swiftly.
Yet...
"Mine! Mine! MINE!"
Treasury entrance.
148 candidates stared dumbfounded at Isaac.
Shuri pretended not to know him, distancing herself.
Isaac chugged drugged juice like a fiend. The culprits sweated bullets.
Something was wrong.
Eshua's sole infant candidate kept demanding more.
"Gimme!"
Why??
"More!"
Why wasn't the laxative working???
"You spiked it!!"
The brat's eyes gleamed drunkenly.
"Magic rising! Faster, priestling brats! Respect your elders!!"
He even BIT the flask for more!
