Chapter 290
“Nonsense! Are you mad?”
Istanya, having heard Chris’s demand, wore a dumbfounded expression.
It was only natural.
It was a story that went beyond being nonsensical; it was utterly absurd.
“What’s the matter? It shouldn’t be a bad proposal for the great Holy Emperor. If my proposal succeeds, your unstable position will be solidified, so isn’t that a welcome development?”
As one could guess from the previous conversation, the Holy Emperor Istanya’s position was not stable.
This was due to the nature of the Holy Empire, where the Holy Emperor is not a hereditary position but is elected by the votes of the Conclave of High Priests.
‘And so, the high priests have been electing someone they can handle like a puppet to suit their tastes, committing all sorts of tyrannical acts.’
Still, Istanya was no pushover and was trying to fight back against the corrupt Conclave of High Priests, but she was outmatched.
The entire Holy Empire was corrupt, and no matter how she struggled alone, there was a clear limit.
There was only one way.
“There is one way for you to make the corrupt high priests kneel. It is to receive the support of the common priests and the Starlight Battle Groups.”
Not all of the common priests and the lower-ranking battle groups were corrupt.
If she succeeded in winning their loyalty, she would be able to gain the power to check the corrupt priests.
Of course, it wasn't as easy as it sounded.
“But if you build the achievement of capturing the Magus Empire’s Ghost Sword King, it should be more than enough.”
“!!”
Istanya looked at him as if he were spouting nonsense.
Ruina, at her side, was the same.
“A-are you… no, Sir Hero, are you crazy?”
The Ghost Sword King.
To think he would target the leader of the Tri-Alliance.
It was an absolutely impossible story.
For reference, the Holy Empire’s main enemy was the Tri-Alliance, and the Ghost Sword King was the most infamous magus in the Holy Empire.
The people of the Holy Empire feared the Ghost Sword King more than Nordian or the Lord of the Four Kings’ Castle.
“Even nonsense has to be within reason….”
“Why do you think it’s nonsense?”
“!!”
“Have you forgotten that I am the Hero?”
Fwaat.
A light shimmered from Chris’s hand.
It was the Mana of Radiance, the highest form of the power of Stellar Radiance.
“…The symbol of the Hero.”
In truth, not all Heroes had possessed the Mana of Radiance.
Nor was everyone who wielded the Mana of Radiance a Hero.
Still, because so many Heroes of the past had wielded Radiance, the Mana of Radiance was considered a symbol of the Hero.
“But, even so, it is a story I cannot accept.”
Istanya shook her head.
Wasn't their opponent the Ghost Sword King, of all people?
“Not only is it an impossible task in the first place, but if we provoke the Ghost Sword King carelessly, it could lead to an all-out war with the Magus Empire.”
“You haven't heard my proposal properly. I said I would capture the Ghost Sword King alive, not kill him. If we take the Ghost Sword King hostage, the Tri-Alliance won't be able to move carelessly.”
This was an even crazier story.
Assassination was impossible, let alone capturing him alive.
Just then, Evan, who had been standing quietly by the side, stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, may I say just one word?”
“…Hero of the Meyer family.”
The Meyer family was the family name of the renowned swordsmanship house.
It was Evan, who had revealed his identity to the world after defeating the monster from the Fanatic Order a while ago.
It was because he had gained such fame that it had become difficult for even the renowned swordsmanship house to eliminate him easily.
“Please trust this man.”
“!!”
“I swear on my sword, this man is truly the Hero who will save the world. He is not one to speak idly.”
A vow on one's sword.
To those of a renowned swordsmanship house, it was a vow heavier than one's soul.
“…Hah.”
Istanya shook her head.
Evan was a figure Istanya had been keeping an eye on as a hero candidate for the coming age of chaos.
And yet, to see such a look of steadfast trust.
‘Just what is that ill-mannered looking bastard?’
Chris shrugged his shoulders.
“I understand it's difficult to believe my words so easily. Then, let's do this. I will solve your other worry, the problem of ‘The Mark’.”
“!!”
“Hasn't your Star Power become a problem as The Mark has faded?”
Istanya’s complexion turned white.
As if it were true.
Chris twisted the corners of his mouth.
“Your problem with your Star Power, I will solve it for you.”
***
The power used by the priests of the order is the ‘Mana of White Light’.
It is a power in which the blessing of a Constellation is imbued in mana.
However, a very small number of saints, both male and female, used a special authority, and that was ‘Star Power’.
‘It's about wielding the authority of a Constellation.’
For reference, the power used by Chris’s younger sister, Olivia, at the Gold Cross was also Star Power.
‘I wonder if Olivia is doing well. She keeps contacting me, saying she has something to talk about in person.’
Chris shook his head at the brief thought of his sister.
In any case, the Star Power used by the saints of the order was manifested in a somewhat different way from the Star Power used by the Law Clan of the Theocracy, which was Chris's bloodline in his previous life.
The Law Clan, born with the blood of the Constellations, have Star Power intrinsically embedded in their souls.
On the other hand, the saints of the order receive a blessing from a Constellation to use Star Power.
‘The Mark’ was the proof of the blessing received from the Constellation, and if it began to fade, their Star Power would weaken, and eventually, they could lose it altogether.
“……”
Istanya glared at Christian with sharp eyes.
“How do you know that fact?”
The fact that The Mark was fading was her secret alone, told to no one.
“Didn’t I tell you? I am a prophet who receives revelations from a Constellation. Of course, I would know this much.”
“……”
“In any case, this humble self will solve the great Holy Emperor’s worries.”
“…How could such a thing be possible?”
Istanya wore an expression of disbelief.
As explained before, her Star Power was received from a Constellation.
In other words, the fading of The Mark meant that the Constellation’s blessing was leaving her, so there was nothing that could be done, no matter what trick was used.
‘In fact, during the Age of Ruin in my previous life, Istanya had lost her Star Power. She could only use the Mana of White Light that common priests use. Though with just that, she manifested a power that exceeded most Star Power.’
However.
“I have a way.”
“!!”
At his firm voice filled with conviction, Istanya’s eyes wavered.
Evan, from the side, spoke.
“It must be true. As far as I know, this man has never once made an empty boast. No matter how impossible the task, he has always created a miracle.”
Evan repeated what he had said before, as if for emphasis.
“Because this man is the great Hero who will save the world.”
Istanya bit her lip hard.
She asked, with the intention of at least hearing him out.
“What is this method?”
“It’s not difficult. Dedicate your soul to me.”
“…What?”
“Did you not understand? I’m telling you to become my vassal.”
“!!”
At that insane story, Istanya had a blank look on her face for a moment, then soon, a fierce aura flared up.
“How dare you speak such blasphemy to me! Do you wish to die?!”
Fwaaat!
It was the moment a white radiance was about to burst forth from the staff she held.
“Stop.”
It was the moment Christian’s low, single word descended.
“!!”
Istanya’s body froze like a stone.
It was the effect of Myriad Demons' Submission.
“Wh-what? Sorcery?”
“Sorcery? No. Feel it properly.”
Swoosh.
Christian revealed the presence of his soul, which he had been suppressing.
“Feel what kind of being I am.”
Istanya’s complexion turned deathly pale.
As expected of the Holy Emperor.
She had discerned what soul-rank Christian possessed.
“A soul-rank like this? You, you are… n-no, Your Grace? Don’t tell me, a Constellation? N-no, that’s not it. Then a devil?”
A voice of complete confusion.
Chris shook his head.
“No, I am neither a Constellation nor a devil. I am human. One who has transcended the soul-rank of a mortal.”
“!!”
“Do you understand now? Why I told you to become my vassal. I will grant you Star Power with my authority.”
However, it was an incomprehensible story.
No matter how much his soul-rank had transcended the shackles of a mortal, Chris was not a Constellation. Naturally, he shouldn't be able to grant Star Power, so how?
“Y-you don’t have Star Power, do you?”
“Is that so? Take a look.”
Chris expanded the shadow of his soul and cast it upon Istanya’s soul.
“Th-this, don’t tell me?”
“How about it? Do you really think I don’t have Star Power?”
It was faint, but.
A trace of Star Power could be felt from Chris’s soul.
“H-how? Are you really a Constellation?”
“No, I told you. I am human. This is merely an authority that my soul has possessed from the very beginning.”
Possessed.
An understandable story.
But it was true.
‘I am of the Law Clan of the Theocracy, after all.’
All members of the Law Clan, who inherited the sacred blood, have latent Star Power.
Although awakening it and succeeding in manifesting it requires even more stringent conditions of the soul, all of them did possess Star Power.
It was the same for Chris.
So, where did the Star Power possessed by the Law Clan dwell?
It was in the soul.
And, since Chris’s soul was currently inside ‘Christian’s’ body, his soul still possessed Star Power.
‘Of course, I only possess it; it’s impossible for me to actually draw it out and use it.’
This went beyond mere talent; the soul had to have a form suitable for manifesting Star Power.
‘Still, it’s possible to grant the blessing of Star Power to others.’
It was because he had reached the rank of an Elder.
Since those who have reached a transcendent rank can share their authority with their vassals, he too could share the Star Power he possessed.
‘Of course, it’s not that anyone can use it just because I grant them the Star Power.’
As just mentioned, to manifest Star Power, the soul had to possess a form befitting it.
It was called a Sacred Soul Body, a trait that Chris was not born with.
Among the Law Clan of his generation, it was a trait that only Olivia possessed.
However, being born with a Sacred Soul Body was not something only possible for the Law Clan.
Istanya, right before his eyes, also had a Sacred Soul Body.
For reference, all the saints of the order who wielded Star Power had a Sacred Soul Body.
Because if one did not have a Sacred Soul Body, they could not use Star Power no matter how much of it they received from a Constellation.
‘In other words, if I grant the blessing of Star Power, Istanya can use it.’
Of course, the absolute amount of Star Power she could use would be less than before.
But, that was fine.
‘The sheer amount of Star Power isn’t that important to Istanya anyway.’
What was important was the symbolism.
If the Holy Emperor of the order were to lose her Star Power, the aftermath would be beyond words. She could be driven from her position as Holy Emperor, not to mention excommunicated.
In the worst-case scenario, she could be branded an unbeliever and burned at the stake.
In fact, in his previous life, Istanya had to struggle desperately to hide the fact that she had lost her Star Power.
‘Well, there were ways to compensate for the reduced amount of Star Power. Depending on how you wield it, even the same amount of Star Power can produce vastly different levels of efficiency. And that happens to be my specialty.’
Chris looked straight at Istanya.
“What say you? Will you become my vassal?”
“……”
Istanya could not answer easily.
No matter the circumstances, for the Holy Emperor of the order to become another’s vassal. It was only natural that it would be difficult to accept.
But Chris said, with a sneer.
“You’re an unbeliever anyway, aren’t you?”
“!!”