Overlimit Skill Holder - Book 6: Chapter 17.2

** Kruvan Holy Kingdom **

The Holy Royal Palace is the place where the head of the country, the Holy Queen, lives. Therefore, the entry and exit of people is strictly controlled.

On the contrary, the entry and exit of the “assembly”, where the administration of the Holy Kingdom is carried out, is different. The Holy Queen and nobles can freely enter and exit.

「——Is this true?」Earl Sillys asked.

The Holy Queen and Earl Sillys met in a room so small that no one knew what function it served. Perhaps, unexpectedly, a small room such as this was prepared specifically for such a secret meeting. The Holy Queen was here without even her attendant.

「Yes, it is true. Representative Holiday died from being stabbed by one of his aides. From hereafter, the Deputy Representative will be in power temporarily. But he will be completely helpless in the next general election.」

「Why did they contact Your Majesty regarding this?」

「You know why. Because it has something to do with the goddess.」

Sillys almost collapsed on the spot.

Too many things happened at once.

Although they were somehow able to stop Grenjido’s reckless actions in the Holy Kingdom, they had no leeway to meddle in other countries’ affairs.

「Earl Sillys. Keeping an eye on my father and acting as the link with King Geffert must be a heavy burden on you… I am sorry. I will ask someone else to look into the Windle Republic–」

「Please wait, Your Majesty. I will do it.」

「However……」

「Please forgive me for my weak-mindedness earlier. This is what I do best. Because I have the “Magic Eye of Inquiry”, and I can detect the lies of even the goddess’ pawns.」

Similar to Duke Grenjido, the Holy Queen values Earl Sillys’ abilities highly. He possesses high emotional strength and cool-headed intellect.

Exactly because of that, the Holy Queen felt the tremendous burden placed on him from the exhaustion briefly exposed on his face.

「I shall burden you once more.」

「It is my duty as your vassal. So please tell me the details.」

「Read this later. I will get in touch with you again.」

「Yes, Your Majesty.」

The Holy Queen handed him a piece of paper and left the small room.

This small room had two doorways. Sillys left the room with a piece of paper in his pocket.

「——Victor? You were here?」

「Your Excellency.」

Grenjido came from the other side as Sillys walked down the corridor.

A number of nobles were around him – they are the ones who have flocked close to Duke Grenjido recently. They also voted in the “assembly”. And although they are supporting Grenjido because of their interests, they are the ones who will leave in an instant if he loses his position.

「What were you doing? I needed you.」

「I apologize. What is the matter?」

Earl Sillys answered with a bow. Disagreeable remarks were heard from the surrounding crowds such as, “Earl Sillys is so free to take a walk in the assembly”, “Even though we have our hands full with the construction of the temple.”

In the past, Grenjido would have said “shut up” to those remarks, but he hasn’t said anything now — rather, he agreed with them.

「We will proceed with the temple construction.」Grenjido said.

「…What?」

「It looks like we can pull the budget from the Ligra Kingdom. This guy made it possible.」

One of the nobles around Grenjido puffed out his chest with pride.

「I negotiated with them. I asked the Ligra Kingdom, which has already completed small-scale temples in the double digits and is building a large-scale temple at a rapid pace, to provide the technology and budget.」the noble said.

「Impossible. This can’t be true.」

It’s no wonder Earl Sillys would say that.

How does the Ligra Kingdom benefit from this?

「What did you offer them?」Earl Sillys asked.

「Nothing. If anything at all, just the land for the construction.」

「The land? What if they create a place where spies can infiltrate?」

「Shut up!」

The noble said with a high-pitched voice.

「You, the closest person to the Duke, have done nothing. Whereas I have strived to achieve this deal. Building the Temple of the Goddess is the Duke’s earnest wish. You simply ask about Her Majesty’s wellbeing and leave all the difficult work to the Duke——」

「Stop. Sillys is doing well.」

At last, Grenjido spoke.

「Victor. There is no room for spies in the temple. I will also keep an eye on it.」

「…Yes, sir.」

「Contact the Ligra Kingdom and proceed with the construction.」

「Understood……」

Earl Sillys bowed his head. The noble who screamed in a high-pitched voice grumbled, “B-But this is my deal…”, but Grenjido did not yield.

「Listen, Victor. It must be built.」

After reminding him once again, Grenjido left.

With an expressionless look, Earl Sillys returned to the mansion in a hurry.

It was raining outside. The same as when Representative Holiday had been stabbed, but Earl Sillys doesn’t know that much.

The butler greeted him when he arrived.

「Is Eva at home?」

「The young lady is away from home. Is it urgent?」

「Yes. I will be in the office. Send her to me when she returns.」

「Yes, sir.」

Upon entering the office, Earl Sillys locked the door, closed all curtains, and turned on the magic lamp.

From his pocket, he took out the piece of paper given by the Holy Queen.

「……What is this?」

Earl Sillys does not know that it’s a copy of the last memorandum left by the Holiday. He does not know how the Holy Queen obtained this.

「It seems to be related to the Windle Republic. Zenmaru Kingdom is the closest to the cathedral… the cathedral in Brunstalk. The first temple of the goddess…」

Taken aback, Earl Sillys jumped to his feet. He took out the world map from his drawer and spread it out on the desk.

「The first was built in Brunstalk. The next was…」

The arrangement of temples in various places was similar to that shown by King Geffert.

「It’s spreading, in turns.」

The temple construction spread around the headquarters of the church in Brunstalk, and then around the capital of each “Pledger”.

「This is like an infectious disease.」

Only half the map was not under the influence of the temple.

Kruvan Holy Kingdom.

Saint Knight Kingdom.

Lev Magic Empire.

Geffert Kingdom in the Keith Gran Federation, and Windle Republic.

These are the only remarkable lands remaining other than a few other small countries.

「I wonder if Eva is safe.」

Earl Sillys felt an indescribable vague uneasiness and approached the window.

He shifted the curtain and peeked out.

「!!」

He instantly pulled back.

Beyond the windowpane where the raindrops landed — four knights mounted on horses were on the main street facing the mansion.

Their hood was pulled down deep. The emblem on the wet cloak clearly indicated their affiliation.

The knights of Duke Grenjido.