"This is the first time something like this has happened..."
"Report says many were injured."
"Dear Lord…what is going to happen to our Kingdom?"
Tension rippled through the council meeting, whispers bouncing off the gilded walls as the members discussed the recent dungeon anomaly.
"Settle yourselves," a stern voice commanded.
It was the Emperor—King Aurelius III de Viremont.
Everyone went quiet as he spoke again.
"Although this is a grave matter for our Kingdom…what's important is that no one died in that raid."
The council nodded in agreement, murmurs fading into respectful silence.
"And I heard…that the Valemont House played a significant role in the succession of the dungeon raid. Is that true, Archpontiff Edmund Valemont?"
All eyes turned to Edmund, seated at the edge of the table—parallel to the Emperor, a silent representation of the Kingdom and the Church, opposite powers in balance.
Edmund's expression remained calm, almost hypnotically serene, as he simply nodded.
"By the grace of God, the Heir of the Valemont House was chosen."
A gentle smile curved his lips. Calm. Collected. Almost unshakable.
"Grand Master Eryx Beaumont is a witness."
Whispers of awe spread through the council. Faith had not died entirely, it seemed.
The Emperor raised a hand, silencing them once more.
"If the heir is well, he shall be rewarded soon."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Edmund bowed slightly, gratitude in every movement.
The council adjourned—with more questions than answers, but with a sliver of reassurance.
—
—
Edmund walked into the room where Eryx sat beside the bed, watching over the unconscious Theo.
"Sir Eryx, I'll be here for Theo. You may go and rest."
"Allow me to stay," Eryx said, his gaze unreadable, lingering on Theo.
"Sir Eryx…" Edmund placed a firm hand on Eryx's shoulder.
"God's blessing is upon him. He'll be awake soon."
Eryx made no move, and with reluctance, finally bowed slightly and left.
Alone, Edmund's gentle expression shifted to seriousness. He sat beside the bed, staring down at Theo.
"So…you're finally here…"
His hand lifted, brushing a stray lock of hair from Theo's face—gentle, reverent, almost worshipful.
"My testimony…"
—
—
[Congratulations! ^o^ ]
"What is this?"
Theo had just woke up from his slumber to see the system bullshitting him again.
[Loading…]
[Currentbelievers: Edmund Valemont, Eryx Beaumont]
"What the ****…?"
[Cursedlanguagedeleted.]
The memory of his desperate actions in the dungeon surged back. His face burned red with embarrassment.
"Ugh…I hate this so much." He grabbed his hair, trembling.
"There is no way Eryx isn't going to strangle me…"
Clearing his throat, Theo tried to focus.
"Anyway…did the dungeon anomaly happen because I didn't complete my task?"
[Yes.]
"So…the system is responsible?"
[Notquiteso.]
[Since your soul is forcefully placed in this world, you must have strong spiritual power.]
[Without it, your soul is unstable, causing dungeon anomalies.]
[The only way is to complete tasks and receive Father's spiritual power to stabilize your soul in this world.]
Theo froze, eyes wide.
Then his expression grew irritated.
"...couldn't you explain it like that before?"
Silence.
[...teehee.]
"TEEHEE?! YOU ***********!"
[Cursedlanguagedeleted.]
He sighed, flopping back onto the bed, too exasperated to argue further.
"So…do I even have skills now?"
[Loading…]
[Skill: Holy Buff]
[Condition: Touch]
[Usermanual: Call upon the name of the Lord as you touch the person you wish to bless]
Theo blinked, disbelief painting his face.
"...You mean…like what I did in the dungeon?"
[Notnecessarily.]
[Because your soul was unstable, more intimacy was required.]
[Now your soul is stable.]
"So…just a little contact is fine?"
[Correct.]
Theo exhaled, relief washing over him.
'Thank God…this is so much less terrifying than…other options.'
Then came a knock.
It was Edmund.
"I see you're awake now." He stepped inside, serene as always.
"Yes…how long was I out?"
"Two days."
'Two days?!' Theo thought, flabbergasted.
The toll of using the power for the first time hit him harder than he'd realized.
Edmund settled on the bed beside him, calm as ever.
"I know you just woke up…yet apparently the Emperor cannot wait to meet you."
"The Emperor?" Theo asked, confused.
"Yes. The raid's success…was possible because of you."
"That's not—Sir Eryx was the one who—"
"But it was possible because of you."
Edmund's lips curved into a warm, almost magnetic smile as he took Theo's hand in his own.
'Ugh.' Theo's thoughts spun.
"That…ass—I mean, Your Majesty wishes to reward you."
'Wait, did he just…almost say asshole?' Theo's internal alarm went off.
The calm, priestly facade—had slightly cracked.
"And I believe you deserve it."
Edmund leaned in, pressing a soft kiss on the back of Theo's hand. Fragile. Reverent.
Terrifyingly intimate.
Theo internally screamed.
'This guy is crazy! Did I really make him like this?'
"Please…return home safely," Edmund whispered, standing and leaving the room.
As the door closed, maids bustled in to prepare Theo for his royal audience.
Theo groaned, curling slightly in the bed.
'I…don't think I'm going to survive this…'
—
TO BE CONTINUED