Volume 2
Chapter 4 Part
5
Days Go By,
Conspiring to Sleep 5
Translator : PolterGlast
[―Benedetta, you seem
to be in a very good mood, huh?
Did you gain something
from your conversation with that boy?]
[Yes. A lot of
things.]
As they were hurrying
back to their lodgings, which were only illuminated by lanterns, Salvatore
broke the silence and called out to Benedetta.
Benedetta's tone of
voice was so cheerful that even Salvatore, her childhood friend, had not heard
it for a long time.
[O my divine pillar, I
am grateful to you
I was reluctant to go
on this journey, but it was all worth it.
―Looks like this will likely end in a way that Sir
Ambrosio does not expect it to be.]
[Benedetta?]
The faint mumbling
added at the end of her words was definitely not directed at Salvatore.
However, the silence of the night brought the unsettling voice to Salvatore's
ears without dispersing into the void.
Salvatore raised his
voice to ask about the murmur that he could not ignore, but unfortunately, they
were already standing at the entrance of the church where they had their base
of operations.
Even if he wanted to
question her, he couldn't expose such an unseemly behavior in front of the
church, which served as the sanctuary of the divine pillar.
The church door opened
slightly with a heavy rattle in front of Salvatore, who had no choice but to
remain silent.
[......You seem to
have enjoyed your vacation, and returned quite carefree, huh?]
[Yeah. I made a lot of
discoveries, and I'm sure our home country will be pleased as well.]
Vincenzo Ambrosio, who
was standing at the back of the small room for secret meetings made of
concrete, uttered his usual sarcastic greeting as he faced the table placed in
the center of the room.
His sarcasm, which had
been inserted between conversations even throughout the long cruise, was at
first a source of annoyance, but after this long, they had grown accustomed to
it.
Benedetta stood across
the table from Ambrosio, smiling without a wrinkle between her brows.
The clock on the table
showed that it was a little before 10:00 p.m.
It was a little
earlier than scheduled, and not a time to be anxious to be met with sarcasm.
[―Oh, am I perhaps the
last one?]
[Don't worry, Captain
Batista.
I have just arrived
myself.]
A short time after
Benedetta's arrival, the door was opened by a tanned, reddish-bronze-skinned
man of great stature.
It was Paolo Battista,
captain of the high-speed sailing ship [Catarina], which had brought Benedetta
and the others to Takamagahara.
Ambrosio's mouth was
about to utter sarcastic words as usual, as Batista leaned his back against the
wall to his right.
Benedetta hastily
interjected to stop him.
Ambrosio, who had lost
his speech, glared at Benedetta, but the latter was determined to just ignore
him.
[My apologies, Sir
Ambrosio.
I'm a man of the sea,
and I'm very strict about time, so I will neither late nor early.]
[...... Well, that's
fine, there's nothing worse than wasting time. Now, let me explain our future
plans.]
Benedetta's attitude
was met with a snort and a sigh.
With that, Ambrosio
switched his mood and the topic.
[First of all, I would
like to ask you to report regarding the supply issue, which is our current
concern.]
[It's my turn then.
Replenishment is going well, at least for the time being.
The Lord of Kamotsu
seems to want us to leave as soon as possible, and we are receiving the supply
quite easily.
......If everything is
going well, we will be ready a little earlier than we expected.]
[―No. We will proceed
as planned.
It seems that our
country is in an emergency situation.]
[Our country? How did
you get this information?]
Something happened in
our hometown. Benedetta's eyebrow shot up upon hearing this information, which
had not even been reported to her.
Vansuir and
Takamagahara were separated by a distance of roughly three oceans.
As far as Benedetta
knew, it would be impossible to cross this physical distance, even in the form
of information, with modern technology, which still only had a wired telephone
line.
[It is a military
secret. I can assure you that this information is highly accurate, though it
will not be immediate, with a delay of half a month or so.]
She looked at
Ambrosio, who was puffing out his chest, with a hint of suspicion, but
Ambrosio's smile did not waver.
In any case, it is the
content of the information, not the technology, that matters.
With a single sigh,
she switched her attention back to the subject at hand.
[......Understood. So
what's the situation back in our country?]
[The Pope is not
feeling well.
According to the
information, the Chief Cardinal has prepared a silver hammer.
In the worst-case
scenario, there is a possibility that he may have passed away by now.]
Not to mention
Benedetta, everyone in the room was shocked by this important information.
[Is this true!?]
[Yes. The conclave
should be underway by now.
To repay His
Eminence's kindness for having shared our aspirations, do you understand that
we cannot afford to make even the slightest mistake?]
[Understood, I promise
to do my best.]
Ambrosio's words were
met with an affirmative response from Benedetta, who did not object.
Cardinal Stefano
Sorrentino is the biggest sponsor of Ambrosio's plan for this operation.
He was the one who
almost single-handedly decided to dispatch Benedetta and her team, even though
there were many who opposed the plan because of the high probability that it
would fail.
It was also said that
he had been reckless in pouring his personal funds into this operation,
including the mobilization of the [Catarina], Vansuir's navy ship.
The conclave was
undoubtedly intended to elect a Pope's successor, who was on the verge of
death.
The achievement of
taking control of Takamagahara, the origin of Dragon Den, would be the perfect
appeal to outwit others who were busy gathering votes.
Failure, on the other
hand, would mean the downfall of Sorrentino.
At the very least, it
would mean that Benedetta and the others who had been complicit in the
operation would have no place to return to.
―If they did not succeed in the operation that Sir
Ambrosio had devised, Benedetta would literally be left to wander around as a
homeless person.
Benedetta clenched her
fists in determination so that Ambrosio would not notice.
Sorrentino and
Ambrosio, who had moved Benedetta and the others on their own initiative, were
not concerned with what would happen, but neither were they willing to let
Benedetta and the others become collateral damage.
[Now then, I would
like to disclose the outline of this operation. But first, let me correct a
fundamental mistake we have made.
We had previously
thought that there was only one Dragon Den in Takamagahara, and although it was
lower in rank, there were five of them.
And as many as five
barbarian deities ruled over those Dragon Dens.]
*Nod.* Yes, it was
worthy of being the Dragon Den of the Beginning.
Since the origin of
the dragon veins on the Tomoe Continent, both East and West, were found only in
Takamagahara, it was almost certain that this was the case.
[Therein lies the
greatest flaw.
The greatest rule of Dragon
Dens is that there can be only one divine pillar in each Dragon Den.
This applies to any of
them, even if it is the Dragon Den of the Beginning.
―However, there are five divine pillars in Takamagahara.
If so, the truth is simple. We should think that there are five Dragon Dens in
Takamagahara.]
[In an island like
this?]
Ambrosio unfolds an
outline map of Takamagahara.
Although it was not a
detailed map, there would be no problem if it was only to be used for the
current operation.
[Certainly, if Dragon
Dens were densely concentrated in such a small area, it would not be surprising
if this entire island had sunk into the Divine Realm.
The reason why it has
not happened is only a hypothesis of mine, but I believe it is because of the
dragon veins mutually circulating each other that it has remained so stable.]
Ambrosio's bony
fingers pointed to each point on the map.
East, west, north,
center, and south.
[Although our
fundamental information was wrong, that in itself is a blessing in disguise. The
point is that there is no difference in the output of the end dragon vein, and
it is no longer necessary to subdue five divine pillars to capture a single Dragon
Den.]
[......However, new
problems are bound to arise.
In our current
situation, where there is no support from our country, and the Holy Church of
Ariadne can only bring up three knights, how do you plan to conquer a Dragon
Den with this level of strength?
Besides, even after we
conquer one of them doesn't change the fact that the other four are unharmed,
and it's very likely that the other party will take back the Dragon Den before
our backup forces arrive].
Benedetta's, or rather
her country's, cardinal committee's biggest argument against this operation was
the reality of the necessity of defeating five divine pillars in succession in
order to conquer Takamagahara.
No matter how one
interpreted the fundamental information, there was no question that this fact
would not change in the slightest.
However,
[―There is no need to
capture the Dragon Den.]
Ambrosio, unperturbed
by Benedetta's rebuttal, which had been discussed extensively back in their
country, bared his teeth and scoffed.
[Those barbarian gods
supported each other by dividing this land's structure into five elements. In
other words, if one of the Dragon Dens falls, the other Dragon Dens will be
forced to fall as well.
...... Though this
might be a bit of a pain in the ass, we can use the Nirvana religion's
technique to our advantage here.]
[Nirvana religion?]
Benedetta's thoughts
were not able to catch up with the subject, which had suddenly taken off in the
opposite direction.
The Nirvana religion
was supposed to be a religion dedicated to the divine pillar of Bharatush (Han
Country).
Benedetta's memory of
the Nirvana religion was that it was a religion that attempted to dominate the
East Tomoe continent, but had met with setbacks along the way, and now it was a
religion that had managed to maintain a low level of authority within
Bharatush.
[A long time ago, the
Nirvana religion developed a technique to draw in the dragon veins from other
countries by twisting the flow of the dragon veins.
The Nirvana religion,
which came to the same conclusion as ours, set its sights on Takamagahara in
the end. By switching the wind holes at the base of the dragon vein, they
created a direct spiritual connection between Baratush and Takamagahara.
...... Well, before
that could happen, the plan was foiled by Tsonma (Shin Country) of the East
Tomoe Continent.]
[Interesting
technique, but what's the point in doing that?]
Of course, there is no
point in just having a direct connection.
Because the total
amount of spiritual power will not change even if they do so.
―But there is a meaning that comes from having a direct
connection.
[By having a direct
spiritual connection, the Dragon Dens in Takamagahara that have not taken
countermeasures will be exposed and adjacent to each other.
Conversely, if we
trace back the dragon vein, St. Ariadne, who unites all the vassal gods of the
Western Tomoe Continent, can easily restrain a single barbarian god or so.
We have made a
considerable investment for this purpose, and the preparations on the
continental side have been completed. All that remains is to suppress the
windhole that serves as the entrance to the Takamagahara, and we should be able
to conquer the Dragon Den.]
[If that is possible,
then surely our victory will be assured.
...... Sir Ambrosio. I
would like to ask you, where did you come into possession of this information
and technique?]
It was said that
Baratush is currently in a state of civil war, as Rhondaria and other countries
of the Western Tomoe Continent have been trying to gain access to its various
territories economically, as if they were carving up a cake.
It was also mentioned
that Vansuir (Nami Country) is also making many investments, including naval
forces, in order to gain access to these concessions, and perhaps this
information and technique were obtained in the process.
However, even in
Baratush, this technique must be of the utmost importance.
It would be unlikely
to be easily obtained, even in the midst of a civil war.
[I was the one who
told Mr. Ambrosio about the technique.]
The words were heard
from the left side of the wall, where no one was supposed to be.
The tone of voice was
somber, with no distinguishing features.
Everyone, except
Ambrosio, stiffened their spines when they heard the voice coming from a
direction they had not even been aware of.
In the tense
atmosphere, a man with no discernible features, just like his tone of voice,
stepped out from the shadows created by the candlelight.
If one had to pinpoint
his features, it would be that his appearance could be identified as that of a
person from Takamagahara, or that he was dressed in a long black robe, which is
typical of those who serve in the priesthood, although it still looks a little
strange.
[Since when......!?]
[That's a strange
thing to say, even though I've been here from the beginning.]
The gratingly calm
tone of the voice caressed Benedetta's mind, which was about to raise a
questioning voice. The moment her hair stood on end, her disoriented mind was
unnaturally calmed down.
―I see. He had been there from the very beginning.
[Indeed. That's
certainly the case.]
It seemed unlikely
that Ambrosio would let a man from Takamagahara stand by his side without any
purpose.
Then, it must be
certain that he is an ally.
The man bowed deeply
to Benedetta, who had let her guard down.
[My name is Padre, and
I am in charge of teaching the [Holy Church of Guidance].
People often ask me
this, but I gave up my mundane name when I was converted to the priesthood.
Therefore, please call me Padre.]
[What a noble thing to
do.
This man, who went
alone on a pilgrimage to Vansuir to devote himself to the [Holy Church of
Guidance], generously offered to St. Ariadne the techniques he had acquired in
Baratush which he had stopped at on his way.]
Ambrosio, following
the words of the man who called himself Padre, praised the man from whom he had
obtained the technique as though he found it irresistible.
[I see.
―Are you okay with this?
This act is nothing
short of treachery, and you are selling out your own homeland.]
[No problem. I am
willing to die if I can be a cornerstone of the [Holy Church of Guidance].]
The man kept his head
bowed, and there was not the slightest hint of hesitation in his words.
Although there was a
stench of discomfort in the air, Benedetta's mind naturally calmed down each
time the man's words came to her.
[A faith I would like
those in my own country to learn from, excellent.
―Padre. The date and time for this operation is the
same as I have informed you, and at the same time, the [Holy Church of
Guidance] will revolt in the abandoned village that you control.
If all goes well, I
assure you that your faction will be invited as representatives to Vansuir.]
[Thank you for your
thoughtfulness.
―Please be at ease. By applying the technique of
twisting the dragon vein, we were able to dam the water vein in the abandoned
village.
Currently, the
excessive water Qi is affecting the abandoned village, which is the domain of
fire Qi. Under these circumstances, even the Great Divine Pillar of Shumon
Province would not be able to discern the exact location, and the oracle would
be equally ambiguous.]
[Alright. Then, Padre,
you should now prepare for the uprising.
We will work out the
details of this operation.]
The priest bowed his
head in a grand gesture, without objecting to Ambrosio's order.
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