Chapter 62 – Benedict

At first, Arin wondered what was going on with Emilia. She didn’t think she would come back after investigating Ed.

And she could see Emilia’s eyes shaking the moment she faced Ed. She realized something intuitively.

Something happened to Emilia’s heart.

And she has made a ridiculous request. Why does she need Ed’s help to catch Caren?

Caren was using the power of the demon. He was just a sinner among humans. Why does Ed have to help her catch or kill someone like that?

This is an abuse of authority.

Even before Arin could say anything, Ed accepted her request. Arin looked at Ed.

Then Ed turned around and approached Arin.

“Arin. I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Yes?”

“Can I borrow the eyes of Astron church?”

The number of members of the Astron Church in the Kingdom of Travia is approximately over 80%. Compared to other denominations, it has so many members that it is overwhelming. The church gathers all kinds of information.

The eyes of the Astron church are used to identify those who are possessed by the demon and show unusual behavior.

It is mainly used by heresy interrogators, but she didn’t know Ed would ask her to use it.

Holy knights can use the eyes of Astron church, but why at night? Moreover, this is a political matter.

“The eyes of Astron church can only be used to catch demons.”

Ed smiled. He thought she was so innocent.

There is no place as sensitive to politics as the denomination.

“Can we go to the temple and meet Archbishop Benedict.”

Arin knew that this request was to do Emilia’s favor.

“Let’s go then.”

Ed looked back at Emilia.

“You can come with us.”

When Ed spoke, Emilia must have been thinking about something else.

“Ah! Yes.”

Arin was unhappy with her, but she just took the lead because she was a holy knight.

“Dex. Keep this place safe.”

Dex put down his drink and began to shine. He seemed to need some tension.

Thane waved and said.

“Don’t worry too much. This is Pendragon’s house. Nobody will come unless they’re crazy.”

“Then we’ll be back soon.”

Ed moved after Arin. The butler had already prepared two horses, so they were able to get on and move straight.

Ed, who was confirming that Emilia and Ban were running behind, suddenly felt a gaze. An owl was sitting on a branch where he could watch the mansion.

As soon as Ed saw it, he instinctively felt reluctant. If it were a regular owl, it would not stare at a person.

Ed pulled out an arrow. If it’s a regular owl, he can grill it later anyway.

As the arrow fired by Ed flew like a thunderbolt, the owl flapped its wings and flew away. Ordinary owls cannot be agile enough to avoid arrows.

Even if it was looking at it with its eyes.

Ed turned in the direction of the arrow. The moment the arrow hit the flying owl’s chest, it froze and fell to pieces.

When Arin saw it, she slowed down the horse and asked.

“Why did you kill that owl?”

“It’s not an ordinary owl. Magicians that use witchcraft have a lot of talents. They can be fearless.”

Since Ed recognized it, Pendragon would have noticed it right away too. And if it had offended Pendragon, it might have been torn apart.

Especially if you are a magician with the power of the demon.

Arin was shattered by the words for a while and looked at the dead owl and turned away. She also looked at the owl as if it were passing by. She had a question for a moment, but she didn’t even think about asking it.

Ed was moving at Emilia’s request, but he was always tense. Arin pulled herself together and drove the horse.

While following Arin, passing through the place where the great mansion was concentrated and crossing to the central square, the people of the royal road were seen moving busily.

The reason why so many people move and search does not cause much disturbance is probably because it is the period of mourning for the prince.

They were quietly searching without making a fuss, perhaps because the rules of the royal road is stricter than expected.

It is the knights of the Royal Guard who lead them. They checked Emilia, Arin, and Ed, then quickly opened the way.

They ran loudly on the night of the royal road. They arrived at the church of Astron.

The tall pillars and roofs reminiscent of Greek temples were impressive. The height of the pillar alone reached 20 meters, so Ed wondered how the heavy rocks were moved and made.

The investigators who were guarding the front of the church saw Arin and stepped aside.

The party got off their horse, and a priest from the inside quickly approached.

“Arin. What brought you here at this late hour?”

“Is the Bishop sleeping?”

“He’s still awake.”

“If so, please take us to him.”

“Follow me.”

Although the priest does not have sacred power, he seemed to be a person who would have a lot of power.

They went inside, passed through the wide hall.

Investigators guarding everywhere stood out, and their skills seemed unusual.

They were comparable to the guards’ Ed saw when he went to the royal palace.

Passing through them and going inside, there was a staircase. It was a staircase built inside the pillar behind the church Hall. When they went up the stairs, the office located at the highest point appeared.

It seemed like a workplace, but it was so neat. An old man, sitting at his desk and quietly reading the Bible, quietly covered the Bible and raised his head when Ed and his party arrived.

“Miss Arin. Why did you come at this late hour?”

“I’m sorry. I came here because I have an urgent request.”

The old man’s gaze passed through Ed, who stood behind Arin, looked through Emilia and Ban, and fixed his gaze on Ed.

“I know that you are not the type to rudely request something at night, no matter how urgent you are. Are you here because of one of them?”

The old man slowly got up from his seat. The old man with a straight back recommended to sit down.

While everyone was sitting down, the old man brought a teapot from the side and poured the tea, and Ed admired the steam rising from the teacup. The old man smiled as if he had noticed it.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not spending that much on excessive luxury items.”

Nobody looked at him weirdly. They were just surprised that the teapot looked like a relic class artifact.

“I’m just surprised by the relics-class artifact that I’ve never seen before.”

The old man smiled and raised the cup. Ed picked up the tea without saying anything and savored the scent first. He was a little surprised that it gave off a very colorful scent.

Ed quietly took a sip of tea. Contrary to the colorful scent, there was a subtle sweetness. It was a tea that satisfied him.

The old man opened his mouth while watching Ed savoring the tea.

“Are you the demon hunter Ed?”

Ed put down the teacup and looked straight at the old man.

“Yes, I’m Ed.”

The old man eased his stiff-looking eyes and smiled.

“Miss Arin keeps complimenting you. I treat Arin just like my granddaughter, so that made me feel jealous. I wanted to see what kind of person you really are. I’m Benedict, who was in charge of the royal palace.”

Arin’s face turned red like a persimmon, but Ed couldn’t see her because he was focusing on Benedict.

“Nice to meet you. Archbishop Benedict. Aron told me about you.”

When Ed took out the artifact he was wearing around his neck and showed it, Archbishop Benedict reached out and touched it, closed his eyes, and prayed quietly. Soon the necklace began to shine.

“This is just an apology for being mean toward you at first.”

Seeing that the sacred power of the necklace has deepened, Ed also feels strengthened. Ed politely bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

Benedict turned to Emilia.

“Nice to see you, sister Emilia. I think you’re on a serious mission. Is that why you came here?”

Emilia is also a person of the Astron Church, so she sometimes came to pray before. But Benedict only saw her from afar and had never had the chance to say hello.

It was just amazing that Benedict knew her.

Ed answered instead.

“I’m looking for Caren. I’m looking for Caren because he’s a sinner.”

“Caren···”

Benedict took a sip of tea, looked at Ed, and turned to Emilia.

Archbishop Benedict is a celebrity within the royal road after King Raiden and Pendragon. He is very famous, but meeting in real life is more difficult than picking stars in the sky.

Emilia felt nervous at his gaze. The gaze was as if trying to find something from her.

Benedict put down the teacup and opened his mouth.

“But this is very political, so it’ll be noisy when people find out that the church is involved.”

Ed could tell from Benedict’s words how strict he was. He was not like Charlie, the Head Priest of Kalim City, but Ed can see that he knows how to mess with politics.

If you look past his deep sacredness, he was part of the faithful Astron Church and a person with political eyes.

These people communicate rather well.

“We won’t forget your gratitude if you help us.”

“You? Or sister Emilia?”

“Both of us.”

It is not pleasant to be in debt, but it is not bad to have a relationship with someone like Archbishop Benedict. Moreover, Ed has no intention of staying on the royal road anyway.

Since Pendragon is guarding the royal road, Ed can continue to catch demons.

This debt is ultimately a debt that Emilia has to pay off.

It’s not bad for Emilia either. She seems to be in the king’s eyes now.

She would now have a connection with Archbishop Benedict. Archbishop Benedict has no choice but to support her even to properly receive her debt.

It’s a win-win situation for both of them.

Ed also looked at Emilia as Archbishop Benedict’s eyes turned to Emilia.

Emilia, who received the attention of the two, came to her senses.

Ed vaguely came to her mind while looking at her notebook. And she asked him for help believing that he would definitely solve this problem.

She was relieved when he said he would help. She saw him only twice, but she wondered if she could trust him like this. It was her first time doing something like this, so she was embarrassed and confused.

Ed brought her all the way here.

“I will never forget your help.”

It was only then that Benedict smiled and walked to his desk and spoke.

“Someone saw Caren at the hotel tonight.”

Benedict continued, leaving a note on the paper.

“Two went in, four came out, and they said they headed somewhere.”

Benedict looked at Ed as he folded the note.

“I believe you will understand that this should not be related to the church.”

Ed got up from his seat and approached Benedict. Arin can’t be with them to search for Caren.

They were just happy that she brought them to see Benedict.

As Ed approached, Benedict handed over the note and said.

“I understand.”

Ed smiled as he received the note.

“Are we friends now?”

Benedict burst into laughter at Ed’s words. After laughing for a while, Benedict smiled and spoke seriously.

“Were friends. I would like to give you a heads up about those who are with Caren. We haven’t figured out who they are yet.”

When Ed heard that they avoided the Astron church, he thought they were not easy opponents. Ed opened the note and spoke casually.

“It doesn’t matter. Whoever they are.”

Caren will die before the night is over.