DUFE - 2

Chapter 2. A Suspicious Guest (1)

The Era of the Great Revival.

Some called the present age by that name. What constituted this revival was so numerous it was impossible to pinpoint just one thing. Economy, society, religion – each domain forming a nation.

Or perhaps something that overwhelmed all of it.

Renie wanted to vehemently object to this ‘revival’ that everyone was talking about. This absurd situation sweeping through the empire was closer to absolute evil than a great revival. For her, as the Pope, it was as if hell was drawing near.

In the past, there were times when dark magic could not exert its power under the scorching sun. As aggregations of black magic, they instinctively sought dark and secluded places, unable to withstand the light.

But as the years passed, they evolved. Proving that it wasn’t only humans who thought, reasoned, and pondered who developed, they too leaped forward.

The Era of Absolute Evil, of Demons.

Pope Renie wanted to correct the current age with that name.

________________________________________

“Your Holiness.”

“......”

“Your Holiness?”

“Ah, yes.”

Renie, who had been gazing out the window, snapped back to attention at the sound of her name. Lately, whenever she had a moment of leisure, she would lose herself in thought. To be precise, she habitually reflected on a certain day in the distant past.

Renie took a sip of the tea that her maid, Cecile, poured for her and sighed.

“Why do you look so lost in thought? Is something troubling you?”

Cecile, who had asked tentatively, immediately waved her hand.

“O-of course, I, in my humble position, would not be able to resolve any concerns Your Holiness might have.”

The young girl, whose childishness had not yet faded, seemed flustered, thinking she had acted presumptuously.

Renie smiled kindly and shook her head.

“It’s nothing, my dear. Rather, just confiding in you helps, so you don’t need to say such things.”

At the benevolent reply, Cecile smiled brightly, as if she had never been embarrassed. Renie, holding her teacup, turned her gaze back to the window. The rear garden, a perfect reflection of the serene and peaceful atmosphere of the Holy City, filled her vision.

Her eyes grew somber again.

After coming to the Holy City and 본격적으로 studying theology, Renie could understand why the status of the church was rising in all countries these days.

From a certain moment in history, now only recorded as ‘very long ago,’ an evil power began to infiltrate the world. A power of destruction that was the complete opposite of divine power.

The identity of those who wielded this power was none other than demons.

The only thing that could counter the black magic possessed by demons was divine power, and thus, the existence of temples that specialized in wielding this power began to come to the forefront.

Even before Renie came to the Holy City, the world was relatively peaceful. But in just a few years, the state of affairs had changed drastically.

The aggressive invasion of demons had begun.

Alluring and cunning, they never directly harmed people. However, through insidious contracts, they would steal their very souls.

That was their uniquely cruel method.

People gained unimaginable power through contracts with demons. Business acumen that excelled at increasing wealth, or tremendous martial prowess that no one could challenge.

The power of demons made ordinary humans into special beings who could rule at the top. No one could resist such alluring power, even if it meant losing their lives as a result.

Contracts.

Whenever Renie recalled the demons’ methods, which she had learned belatedly, the strange deal she had made in the chapel as a child would flash vividly in her mind.

The voice had clearly identified itself as a god. Furthermore, after coming to the Holy City and confirming again, it was clearly stated that Renie’s divine power was a pure force, untainted by anything evil.

So, she should have simply dismissed what had happened to her as the mercy of a god who had taken pity on her, yet she still felt subtly uneasy.

‘You must become mine.’

A voice that was so sweet it felt dangerous. The price it had offered as a condition for pulling her out of the mire.

Perhaps that was the whisper of a demon...

‘No. That can’t be.’

Renie quickly shook her head at the chilling thought.

She had heard that divine power often manifested suddenly rather than being something one was born with. That is to say, Renie’s latent divine power had manifested in the desperate situation of her mother’s impending death.

If it had been the demon’s power from the beginning, could the power given to her have been so pure? Would the auxiliary bishop have truly named this power ‘divine power,’ no different from the power of God?

Furthermore, ten years had already passed since that incident.

For a long time, Renie’s divine power had been perfectly fine, and no strange things had happened in relation to it.

Besides, there was something among the conditions the voice had laid out that had not been fulfilled.

At that time, Renie’s mother, whom the voice had said it would save, had ultimately passed away. Still, she had lived much longer than the doctor’s initial prognosis, so everyone conveniently evaluated it as a good passing.

In any case, for these reasons, the dusty old deal had already fallen through.

Furthermore, even though she had escaped the Marquisate, Renie still hadn’t escaped her father’s clutches. Even though their residences were different and the distance between them had grown, the Marquis of Valois still tried to manipulate her.

For example, when he needed her prominent position as Pope for his business.

Just thinking about her father made her mouth taste bitter. Renie eventually put down her cup without finishing her tea.

Pushing away her complicated thoughts, she asked Cecile, “How much time is left until the Council of Cardinals?”

“About twenty minutes.”

“I should depart now.”

The Council of Cardinals was a meeting held once a week where the Pope, three archbishops, and high-ranking bishops gathered to discuss matters concerning the Holy City. Noble donations coming from the Royal Capital of Evreux and various large and small issues occurring inside and outside the Holy City were the main agenda items.

“This time as well, the Marquisate of Valois has made a very large donation.”

During the Council of Cardinals, the Second Archbishop Hosen murmured as he looked over the list of donations. Even though it sounded like a soliloquy, everyone present knew he was addressing Renie. Renie, as always, responded with a faint smile.

Since the Holy City was operated with funds coming from the Royal Capital, the donations from each noble were a very important factor. And the Marquis of Valois had been making large donations every year since Renie had ascended to the papacy.

But Renie was not happy at all.

Half of the wealth that the Marquis had frantically accumulated through ambition and greed had been amassed through illegal means. Her father, the Pope, was the very epitome of what happens when greed controls a human being.

To use funds stolen from others in such a way as offerings to God. Renie felt a sense of futility every time, wondering if anything could be more contradictory.

Furthermore, she knew that this was his way of holding her by the throat.

The level of donations had become a major criterion for evaluating the administrative abilities of each era’s Pope. Since they were closely connected to the Royal Capital through financial matters, it was believed that the more capable the Pope, the higher the amount of donations would be.

So, the Marquis of Valois’s enormous donations were like a means of proving Renie’s legitimacy as Pope.

However, this unwanted legitimacy only fueled her disgust and burden. Moreover, it made her acutely aware of the fact that she had yet to escape her father’s grasp, tightening its grip on her moment by moment.

The Council of Cardinals lasted for a full two hours. This was because they were devising countermeasures for the persistent famine problem in the Holy City and the frequent occurrences of black magic schemes in various districts.

Just as the meeting was nearing its end, the First Archbishop hurriedly spoke, as if he had forgotten an important report.

“Oh, and Your Holiness. A message arrived yesterday from the Royal Capital. A delegation from the Kingdom of Ferno will soon arrive in our Evreux, and they wish to stay here rather than in the Royal Capital.”

Renie, who had been organizing documents, paused.

As the role of the temple became more significant, the Holy City also prospered and flourished to the point where it could be considered an independent nation.

However, kingdoms usually revolve around their royal capitals. No matter how peaceful and serene the atmosphere of the Holy City was, it was a place where mercy was emphasized over status. It was a land for the common people rather than for the nobility.

Laws and regulations that formed the foundation of the country revolved around the royal family and some nobles who held power. The Holy City only governed matters within its own territory, while the Royal Capital managed the overall affairs of the nation, including the Holy City. Even that alone showed the higher status of the Royal Capital.

Therefore, it was only natural for a delegation from another kingdom to head to the Royal Capital rather than the Holy City. The treatment would be much more fitting there, and more importantly, the ‘King’ existed there.

Although the power of the church and the monarchy had become equal, the fact that the king was the highest ruler of a country never changed. In a way, the church’s influence flourished under the king’s permission.

“Is there a special reason for this?”

“I am not certain, but I hear that the King of Ferno insisted on it. We tried to persuade him several times, but his will is so firm that he wishes us to prepare to receive them here.”

“The Kingdom of Ferno, that newly established nation, you mean.”

Kingdom of Ferno.

Generally, the founding of a nation had clear roots and was recorded in detail in history. The Kingdom of Evreux, boasting a thousand years of history, was no different.

However, strangely, the Kingdom of Ferno had unclear origins.

The kingdom had suddenly begun to exist one day and had gradually seized hegemony over its surroundings, little by little. Although a new nation, it had already subjugated more than three neighboring countries with its tremendous military force. Its intense power had now placed Ferno in a position where it was difficult to treat it merely as a new nation.

“What is the purpose of their visit?”

“It is a goodwill visit to establish friendly relations.”

Even if it was a pretext for external display, it wasn’t a bad purpose in itself. The widely rumored aggressive momentum was quite concerning, but if they could make him an ally rather than an enemy, it would surely be a good opportunity for the Kingdom of Evreux as well.

“In that case, it would be best to prepare a grand reception as desired by the Royal Capital.”

A foreign guest in the Holy City, which had always been peaceful.

For some reason, she didn’t feel entirely pleased, but she couldn’t refuse, so Renie simply gave her instructions calmly.

________________________________________

The day after the Council of Cardinals.

Large-scale preparations began to welcome the Ferno delegation. After thoroughly cleaning the entire Holy City, luxurious decorations that were breathtaking to behold were hung throughout the city.

Two weeks passed quickly in this way, and finally, the day arrived when the Ferno delegation would arrive in the Holy City. Renie, dressed in pristine white holy robes that were spotless even today, headed towards the entrance of the Holy City.

The pure white flag hanging above the gate fluttered wildly, announcing the arrival of the guests. The golden-framed gate slowly opened, and fine dust swirled gently.

Clatter, clatter.

A massive black horse appeared through the scattering vision. The one at the head of the group was in full armor, from helmet to greaves.

Starting with him, five warhorses and two carriages entered. The jet-black flag hanging on the carriage was impressive. It was even more so because it contrasted with the white flag of the Holy City behind it.

Having been somewhat prepared for the arrival of a powerful new nation, Renie still clenched her fists tightly at the intimidating entrance that seemed as if a sword fight might break out at any moment.

The man at the head of the group drew closer.

Finally, when he was right in front of her, Renie mustered her courage and raised her head. The figure was blurry due to the backlight, but she could clearly see the sharp eyes visible through the helmet and the deep crimson pupils within, like pooled blood.

The man dismounted his horse with an efficient movement. She had sensed it even when he was sitting in the saddle, but he was a powerfully built man, not likely to be outdone by anyone.

Renie, facing the man, swallowed hard. It was strange. The weather today was mild, but as the man appeared, a strange chill ran down her spine.

Soon, the distance between them closed enough for a handshake.

“Welcome. Esteemed delegation of Ferno. I am Renie Valois, the Pope of Evreux.”

Renie offered a greeting with one hand placed over her chest. At the same time, she busily scanned the group, searching for the King of Ferno.

She had heard he would accompany them on this journey, so he must be one of them. She guessed he wasn’t the man right in front of her. Kings usually didn’t stand at the forefront due to security concerns. The most likely place for him right now was inside the carriage led by the warhorses.

She wanted to take a closer look in that direction, but it was impossible because of the man standing in her way. Renie had no choice but to withdraw her gaze and raise her head.

Burning, fiery eyes were staring down at her intently. Not knowing the meaning of his fixed gaze, she tilted her head questioningly. At that moment, the man moved his hand.

His helmet crashed to the ground. Gently swaying jet-black hair glittered as it caught the sunlight.

The moment the man’s face was revealed under the bright light, Renie was momentarily speechless. The man’s appearance was too outstanding for a knight wielding a sword. The lines forming his features were so straight that he even looked ascetic at first glance.

He slowly curved up the corners of his lips and unexpectedly took Renie’s hand. He kissed the back of her pristine white hand like a gentleman. The skin where his lips had touched and then parted felt hot, as if it had been burned.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Holiness.”

“......”

“I am Khan, the King of Ferno.”

His upturned eyes shone brilliantly. The moment she met those eyes, her heart plummeted to the distant floor, only to be pulled back up with difficulty.

King.

King? This man?

Renie was slightly taken aback when she realized that the person she had thought unlikely to be him was the one she had been looking for. Then, remembering the many eyes around them, she quickly composed her expression.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I was so ignorant that I failed to recognize you.”

“Apology accepted. More importantly, are you not pleased to see me?”

The shadow of the man slowly raising his upper body was pitch-black. It was as if black ink was thickly staining everything from Renie’s pale face to her snow-white holy robes.

Renie blinked.

Not pleased to see him? Why was he asking such a thing? No matter how she looked at it, it wasn’t a question suitable for a formal relationship. However, since he had come all this way, and he was the king of a newly powerful nation whose momentum was currently formidable, she couldn’t afford to offend him. So, she readily replied.

“Having received your message and prepared with a very joyful heart, I feel extremely pleased.”

It was a rather insincere answer even to her own ears. However, Khan, the King of Ferno, seemed satisfied and curved his lips up even further.

The man’s expression, which had been constantly smiling since the moment he saw her, was gentle, but it somehow felt strangely ominous. Perhaps it was because a strong sense of intimidation that she dared not meet filled the air.

Renie turned her body halfway, intending to avoid his gaze.

“Please, let’s move now. The journey here must have been tiring, so I have prepared a meal...”

Even riding horses day and night from Ferno to here would easily take a week. Without even asking, it was obvious that it had been an arduous journey, so she had prepared a sincere luncheon and a place for them to rest afterward.

“The meal is unnecessary.”

“Pardon?”

However, Khan, showing no signs of fatigue, casually dismissed her offer as he glanced around.

“But aren’t you hungry?”

“I am hungry... but perhaps, the meal I desire is not prepared.”

Khan looked at her with an expression of no expectation, as if he was sure his words were correct. Why was he showing such an unpleasant reaction when he didn’t even know what had been prepared for the meal? Contrary to his polite first impression, Renie was flustered by the completely unexpected rudeness and paused to choose her words carefully.

“The meal was prepared with carefully selected ingredients upon hearing of the Ferno delegation’s visit. The chef is also a skilled individual from the Royal Capital. So, I am certain it will be to your liking...”

“Rather than that.”

“......”

“Could you perhaps show me around the Holy City? I have heard many rumors of its beauty and am very curious.”

The man, who had dismissed the carefully prepared meal with just a few words, acted utterly nonchalant. His smiling face was so brazen that it made her forget he was behaving however he pleased.

Renie hesitated, but thinking it best to accommodate a guest she needed to impress, she nodded.

“Yes. Please follow me then.”

Walking with the man behind her, Renie looked up at the sky.

Dark storm clouds had gathered over the once clear sky. A wind stronger than usual brushed past, wrinkling her holy robes as if angry. It was a wind that felt somehow eerie.

Feeling a chill, she quickened her pace.

________________________________________

Khan toured various parts of the Holy City with considerable interest.

Even as she guided him, Renie couldn’t relax for a moment. She was afraid he might do something unexpected, just as he had abruptly refused the meal.

As they finished their tour and the sun began to set, rain started to pour down with impeccable timing. The scattering droplets clung to the deep green leaves before disappearing without a trace onto the ground.

The cool atmosphere created by the rain enveloped the entire Holy City.

During their stay in the Holy City, the Ferno delegation would reside in the temple. These were people for whom the Royal Capital had personally sent a message requesting a grand welcome, so it was only natural.

While the temple attendants guided them to their respective rooms, Renie returned to her own chamber.

The back of her neck, which had been stiff with tension all day, ached. Cecile brought her tea to relieve the fatigue. As she drank it, Renie reflected on the day’s events.

It hadn’t been a bad first day.

The Ferno delegation was scheduled to stay here for about two months. Since Khan had insisted on staying here, the Royal Capital had eventually decided to send a special envoy.

‘If it continues like today... it should be alright.’

She just needed to appease him appropriately, and when the person from the Royal Capital arrived, she could step aside. If smooth communication was established between the envoy and the Ferno delegation, it would lead to beneficial outcomes for both sides, and then the Ferno delegation would return without any problems.

Renie fiddled with her teacup, recalling Khan, who had been with her until just before she returned to her chamber.

The man had smiled at her throughout, as if they were acquaintances, no, as if they were very welcome company.

When she turned to look at him while introducing the famous sights of the Holy City, she would often meet his persistent gaze. For some reason, it made her feel as if he was looking at her, the Pope, rather than touring the Holy City.

‘That’s unlikely. It must be because I was talking.’

Finding strange something she wouldn’t normally pay attention to must be due to fatigue. Renie decided she should go to bed soon.

But she couldn’t. No sooner had she emptied her teacup than someone requested an audience.

“Your Holiness, the Holy Knights have come to see you.”

Renie’s eyes widened at the news from the gatekeeper. Whatever it was, the fact that they were looking for her so late at night meant it was no ordinary matter, so she quickly draped a robe over her nightgown.

When she came out of her chamber, several Holy Knights were indeed waiting for her.

“We greet the Holy Servant of God, Your Holiness.”

The Holy Knight at the forefront, Ruben with brown hair, offered a polite greeting. Renie recognized him but didn’t pretend to know him and asked, “What is the matter?”

“There is something Your Holiness needs to confirm.”

A deep sense of unease was etched on his face.

The knights led her to the temple stables. Faint light flickered in the darkness. Hearing the whinnying of horses, she arrived at a place where two carriages were parked.

Renie involuntarily covered her nose with her sleeve. From the moment she stepped into the stables, a severe stench had filled the air. She had thought it was just the smell of the stables, but it wasn’t. The pungent odor that stung her nose was coming from the carriages.

“These are the baggage carriages brought by the Ferno delegation that arrived today.”

Only then did she realize why the knights had sought her out.

Whatever was inside that caused such a terrible stench, they couldn’t arbitrarily touch it since it was brought by a foreign country. Within the Holy City, Renie was the only one who could handle it without the delegation’s permission.

She walked towards the carriage, carrying her fear. In preparation for any possible danger, the Holy Knights drew their swords and protected her.

Finally, Renie grasped the door handle. Clank. The massive door creaked open with a cold sound.

Instantly, Renie recoiled in shock as a stream of blood poured out from the opened crack. The Holy Knights quickly infused divine power into the tips of their swords and swiftly guarded her. But no matter how long they waited, there was no sound from inside the carriage.

Her heart rate gradually quickened.

“Open it.”

At Renie’s command, the Holy Knight Ruben carefully opened the carriage door with his sword. The stench intensified. Renie covered her mouth at the sight that was revealed inside.

“Ugh......”

Deer, sheep, pigs, cows, and so on.

The corpses of all sorts of decapitated animals were scattered inside the carriage. The disgusting stench originated from their spilled blood.

Instinctively stepping back, Renie couldn’t breathe, her face pale. What a terrible scene this was; she was afraid it would appear in her dreams. For believers who followed the commandment to cherish and love life, the gruesome sight inside the carriage was an extremely shocking scene.

She recalled the report that this was a baggage carriage brought by the Ferno delegation. Clearly, there hadn’t been such a terrible smell coming from the carriage when they entered the Holy City. Moreover, seeing that the blood splattered on the floor and walls hadn’t fully dried yet, it seemed that this horror had occurred not long ago.

Khan’s faint smile flickered like a hallucination over the brutally killed animals.

“I must... meet the King of Ferno.”

Renie, her face stiff, murmured and immediately headed towards Khan’s chamber.

She knew it was rude to visit so late, but despite that, she felt she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight unless she heard the reason for the shocking scene she had witnessed.

After a short wait, the chamber door opened, and Khan appeared, wearing only a nightgown and with his arms crossed. Perhaps it was because of his changed attire, but he didn’t seem as violent as when he was in full armor.

“I didn’t realize Your Holiness would come personally.”

“......?”

“I thought you might have sent a courtesan to help me unwind from my journey.”

The words flowing from his smoothly parting lips were extremely provocative and blatant. To mention a courtesan even after clearly seeing that she had come to find him. A feeling of being mocked instantly arose, and Renie’s eyes twitched.

She barely composed her hardening expression and replied.

“Your Majesty, there are no pleasure quarters in the Holy City of Evreux. Therefore, courtesans naturally do not exist here.”

“Is that so?”

He had turned her world upside down and yet asked back with such nonchalance. Renie endured, deliberately ignoring that point.

“Yes. I am truly sorry to visit you at this late hour. But there is something I need to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“I have just come from inspecting the baggage carriage brought by the Ferno delegation...”

Renie bit her lip, unsure how to describe the horrific scene she had witnessed. However, the repulsive emotion she couldn’t hide was clearly etched on her face.

“You saw it?”

Throughout her journey here, she had harbored a suspicion that perhaps someone was plotting to frame the Kingdom of Ferno. The union of a kingdom boasting a thousand years of history and a newly powerful kingdom with formidable momentum might be beneficial to the parties involved, but it could certainly be a threat to neighboring countries.

However, seeing Khan’s face, which remained unperturbed without a change in expression, or rather, seeing him ask “You saw it?” first, that thought wavered helplessly.

Was it really the doing of this man’s group?

“Why on earth, the animals......”

“It is a return for your kind hospitality.”

A return? Slitting the throats of all those animals to death?

Renie, recalling the earlier gruesome scene, stared at the man in astonishment. Khan, who had been gazing intently at her face, chuckled.

“Do humans not eat animals?”

The curve of his lips held a momentary chill. Renie swallowed hard and shook her head.

“......Even so, to slaughter living beings in such a way is not a proper thing to do.”

“It seems I have unintentionally made you uncomfortable. But that is simply the way of Ferno.”

The scene of the animals’ blood forming puddles disturbed her deeply.

Did Ferno so ruthlessly trample living beings just to show sincerity? Could it be that they possessed such cruel natures that they displayed such formidable momentum, causing a stir in the world?

At his reply that it was their way, Renie was speechless, like a mute who had swallowed a bug.

She felt a heavy responsibility as the Pope, given the high expectations of the Royal Capital. Therefore, she was cautious about everything related to Ferno. It would be truly disastrous if she provoked him unnecessarily and disrupted this goodwill visit.

Frankly speaking, since he hadn’t killed a person, it was a bit ambiguous to make an issue of it. The commandments bound the people living here in the Holy City, not the Ferno delegation.

In the end, Renie swallowed her rising emotions and decided to step back.

“......I am grateful for your sentiment, but the Holy City has a commandment to cherish all life, so we will bury all the animals in the ground.”

Khan merely shrugged, as if he had no interest in even that. This man, so impossible to grasp, was a first in her life. Renie felt even more tired than before for some reason.

“I will take my leave now. I apologize for visiting you so late at night.”

Feeling uncomfortable continuing to be with him, she immediately turned to leave, but something suddenly popped into her view. Khan had extended his arm, blocking Renie’s path. His sleeve had ridden up, revealing his forearm, upon which a beautifully intricate geometric tattoo, as black as his dark hair, was etched.

She had heard that such things were usually inscribed by heinous bandits or pirates. As if the slightly softened fierce impression had been a lie, a violent aura began to emanate from the man again.

“Aren’t you going to come in before you leave?”

A cavernous laugh brushed past her ears.

Renie turned back to him with a fleetingly hardened gaze. The crimson eyes facing her directly were alluring but truly dangerous. The ascetic atmosphere cracked audibly, and through the cracks, a hidden side that should never be approached was revealed.

Come in? Where? Surely not his bedroom?

“......Yes. It is very late, so it would be best to continue our conversation tomorrow.”

She stepped back, choosing to interpret Khan’s words in a wholesome way.

A moment of holding onto a subtle tension.

Fortunately, Khan lowered his arm. The tattoo that had blurred her vision also disappeared. Renie pretended to be calm but quickly moved away from his side with swift steps. Her heart was still beating wildly.

Returning to her chamber, Renie looked out the window. As if mocking the clear weather of the past few days, rain poured down endlessly.

It was a strangely calm night, like the eve of a storm.