“We are truly grateful that His Majesty has given us this opportunity to spread the Goddess’s grace among the people of the Empire.”

If one were to name the two most significant figures in the Church of the Goddess, they would undoubtedly be the Saintess and the Pope.

While the Saintess served as a symbolic figure representing the Goddess, the Pope was the public face of the Church, handling all external affairs.

Thus, whenever matters involved the Imperial Family, it was customary for the Pope to lead the discussions.

At this moment, the Pope had accepted an invitation from the Emperor and was meeting with him in private, discussing welfare programs for the Empire.

“What we do pales in comparison to the Church’s efforts to help those the Imperial Family has not been able to reach.”

The conversation between the Emperor and the Pope was unusually amicable.

Considering how rare it was for the Imperial Family and the Church to get along so well, this warm and friendly scene was truly surprising.

This harmonious atmosphere owed much to the current Pope, Gregorio.

“The glory of the temporal world and the glory of the heavens must be kept separate.”

Before Gregorio ascended to the Papacy, the typical dynamic between the Imperial Family and the Church was one of mutual restraint, each striving to gain more influence over the Empire.

But after Gregorio became Pope and initiated the separation of religious and secular affairs, there was no longer any need for conflict.

Gregorio, who had personally taken action to punish clergy members overly obsessed with wealth and power, constantly criticized the Church’s drift towards secularism.

With reform-minded clergy and the Saintess rallying behind him, the Church was transforming into an institution dedicated solely to the Goddess’s children.

Gregorio led by example, living frugally and prioritizing aid for the poor. As a result, even those who harbored discontent could not openly criticize him.

The Goddess herself had declared, through the Saintess, that Gregorio was indeed a holy man.

Thus, the people of the Empire began calling him “Saint Gregorio.”

“Yet, Your Majesty, I sense an air of concern on your face. Is there perhaps an issue troubling you?”

“It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with, Your Holiness.”

“Please, do not hesitate to share. Any worry of Your Majesty is a concern for the Empire, and I would like to help if I can.”

The Emperor hesitated. His concerns had been triggered by a report he received before this meeting with the Pope.

“Your Majesty, the Empire’s Parent-Teacher Association, a gathering of nobles, has filed a request for an Agora against Professor Rupert Somerset.”

After hearing this report from the Count Palatine, the Emperor had been filled with anger.

The reasons cited by the Parent-Teacher Association in their Agora request against Rupert, decrying the harmful effects of manga, were utterly preposterous.

But what made matters more complicated was that, on the surface, their complaints seemed somewhat legitimate.

“Rupert Somerset’s manga contains numerous violent and brutal scenes, which may negatively affect young children who are the future of the Empire.”

“Misinformation spread through manga could lead to incidents of public unrest and manipulation.”

“By learning to read through manga, ignorant commoners are beginning to challenge noble authority, which could ultimately lead to the erosion of social distinctions.”

These three main arguments garnered significant support from some nobles, making it difficult for the Emperor to dismiss the matter outright.

“I could refuse the Agora, but the consequences would be severe.”

The Agora was a right granted to nobles since the Empire’s founding.

Blocking it by force would undoubtedly cause even those nobles who were currently uninvolved to rally together and pressure the Imperial Family.

“How unfortunate. I had hoped to welcome him as part of my own family.”

The Emperor regretted not being able to proceed with his plan to unite Iolin and Rupert, believing that if he had done so, this outrageous Agora request would never have been raised.

“Sigh… Nobles have requested an Agora, and the target is…”

Feeling trapped, the Emperor confided in the Pope, seeking to relieve his frustration.

“Hm… Rupert Somerset, now a professor. I do know a bit about him.”

“How do you know him, Your Holiness?”

“The Daughter of Gaia has met him. She mentioned that he was a man of composure and quick wit.”

“Oh, I’m surprised the Saintess would speak so highly of him.”

“So there is little need for concern, Your Majesty.”

The Pope reassured the Emperor, but he kept the rest of his thoughts to himself.

“He already represents the Goddess’s will, so mere nobles can’t harm him.”

After the Saintess visited the Somerset estate, she had received a revelation regarding Rupert, a secret known only to a select few. Because of its sensitivity, the Pope simply assured the Emperor that all would be well.

“May I ask what brings the Daughter of Gaia to visit the Academy?”

The Imperial Academy was much quieter during the break.

In the principal’s office, the headmaster, Eustaf, greeted his guest with utmost caution.

“Thank you for granting me your time, Mr. Eustaf.”

The person before him was none other than the Saintess of the Church, so Eustaf took great care with his actions.

Historically, relations between the Tower of Magic and the Church had been far from friendly.

As seekers of knowledge and researchers of natural mana, wizards often crossed lines, such as conducting experiments on humans or delving into dark magic that drew upon demonic power.

It was the Church, and specifically the Holy Knights of the Church, who had once rooted out and executed dark wizards and witches. The bloody conflicts between wizards and the Church were as recent as a century ago.

Though current wizards acknowledged that many among their predecessors had indeed gone astray, they still harbored resentment for the many innocents who had died under the guise of eliminating heresy.

In turn, the Church viewed wizards, who ignored the teachings of the Mother to pursue forbidden knowledge, as a group to be eternally wary of.

Eustaf was thus quite surprised by the Saintess’s visit, suspecting it was no trivial matter.

“Do you know of the Night’s Servants?”

“I never expected that name to come up.”

When the Saintess finally spoke, her mention of the Night’s Servants took Eustaf by surprise.

The Saintess had mentioned a race that had seemingly disappeared centuries ago, a race tainted by demonic power.

“As far as I know, they were wiped out by the Allied Races.”

Yet Eustaf noticed the subtle reaction in the Saintess’s expression at the mention of “exterminated.” He pressed, wondering if any remnants remained.

The Saintess responded with a smile.

“If there were only remnants, I would not have come to see you.”

“Then what are you saying?”

“There exists an elf who has inherited the power of Karys the Trueblood, the only one of the Night’s Servants.”

Information about Sataniel and his followers was highly classified, so Eustaf was unaware of the ongoing situation.

The Saintess proceeded to reveal the horrifying events among the elves centuries ago that had given rise to the dark elves, and the secret organization known as the Crimson Warden, led by Swordmaster Karl Oregon, who now fought against them.

“Oregon! So he was there?”

Eustaf was elated to hear news of his old friend Karl Oregon.

The two had been close since their days as a novice wizard and a young knight. Eustaf had often wondered, and even resented, Oregon for disappearing after his family was slaughtered by bandits.

“He is dead.”

But the Saintess’s words brought a grave look to Eustaf’s face for the first time.

“Is this truly the right decision?”

Alone in his office after the Saintess had left, Eustaf lit a cigarette, lost in thought.

He was not a regular smoker, but on rare occasions of great joy or sorrow, he would indulge.

Today was undoubtedly a time for sorrow.

Upon hearing of Oregon’s death, he had wanted to go and slaughter those responsible himself.

Now, knowing that it was the dark elves who had massacred Oregon’s family, he felt a deep sadness imagining the pain his friend must have endured alone.

He despised himself for not understanding his friend’s silence, mistaking it for abandonment.

“I will send Xenia, my apprentice, along with some trusted wizards to aid you.”

Eustaf longed to confront Sataniel and his dark elves personally, but he was warned by the Saintess that his sudden absence from the Academy would raise too many questions, compromising the secrecy of this mission.

Therefore, he needed to send someone he could trust, and he chose none other than his apprentice, Xenia.

“She’s strong enough.”

Although she had only been training under him for half a year, her skills had improved remarkably.

Her power, stemming from her dragon bloodline, was tremendous, but it was her intelligence that truly shone.

Eustaf recalled the new spell techniques she had demonstrated, which were both efficient and destructive.

But Xenia was still young, and at times she seemed driven, as if running from something, with emotions that swung wildly.

Seeing this mission as an opportunity to give her some grounding experience, he decided to include her in it.

“To control that power, she needs experience.”

Xenia had reached a level that was challenging even for him to handle. Eustaf could only hope that by unleashing her strength against the corrupted, she would learn to harness it.