Reincarnated User Manual-Chapter 324: A Message Delivered (1)

The next day at noon, in the Great Hall.

Shiron appeared once again before the Holy King, as promised.

“Did you come alone?”

Unlike yesterday, this time he came unaccompanied.

The Holy King, Diego Kali Rio, smiled, his green eyes glimmering.

“I didn’t enter the room alone. My companions are on the first floor, likely admiring the sacred paintings in the corridor.”

“They could’ve waited until the conversation was over to take their time sightseeing.”

“Is there a need for that? We’ll leave right after handling our business anyway. Besides.”

Shiron glanced around, keeping his hands hidden inside his robe. Unlike yesterday, when twelve cardinals had gathered, the room was empty save for the Holy King himself.

“Your Grace also came alone, didn’t you?”

“The more people listening, the harder it is to discuss sensitive matters.”

“…”

“Didn’t you tell me that ten years ago?”

‘What a sharp mind. To remember every word from a mere child who hadn’t even become a priest.’

Shiron sighed audibly, his irritation plain to see. Though it wasn’t his nature to be disrespectful to those who deserved reverence, it seemed permissible when it came to Diego Rio Kali, the Holy King.

Even yesterday, when Shiron declared himself a hero, Diego showed no signs of disturbance. For over a decade, Diego had shown an unusual kindness to Shiron, and after yesterday, Shiron could somewhat guess why.

“Yes, that’s right. That’s why I came alone.”

Shiron stretched his neck from side to side as though loosening his body, then got straight to the point.

“How long have you known?”

“About what?”

“That I am the Hero.”

“…You may find this hard to believe, but I only learned you were the Hero yesterday.”

[He’s not lying.]

“However, I’ve always known you were extraordinary since our first meeting.”

“…”

“Of course, this was aside from the fact that you are part of the remarkable Prient family.”

Diego tilted his head back as though recalling a distant past. The glass dome of the Great Hall’s ceiling allowed him a clear view of the blue sky above.

[What sort of speech is he preparing for now?]

‘…Like I’d know.’

Though Shiron responded indifferently, a sense of relief washed over him.

Diego Rio Kali. A long-lived elf, the only one in Lucerne’s history to serve as the Holy King twice in hundreds of years.

Even that was exceptional, but knowing the process by which one ascended to the position of Holy King in Lucerne made Diego’s existence even more striking.

The privileges of the Holy King.

At the end of their term, a Holy King could choose the second to next successor.

Given the decades that most Holy Kings reigned, this meant choosing someone who wouldn’t ascend for at least another hundred years.

Some chose infants who couldn’t yet speak, or even someone not yet born. Once, a recluse elf tending a farm deep in the woods was selected.

In short, it was a miracle that defied explanation without prophetic power.

The position of Holy King itself was intertwined with divine intervention, imbued with the will of the gods.

Thus, the Holy King’s status could surpass even that of the Empire’s Emperor.

‘Diego’s decision to nominate himself for the next term wasn’t out of shamelessness. It was because divine revelations were involved in his ascension twice.’

A man intimately connected to an unseen and absolute entity. Even without yesterday’s eerie event, it was only natural for Shiron to be wary of Diego.

Why did Cha Hyeon-jun possess Shiron Prient? And where was Yura?

At first, Shiron had thought it was due to some absurd scheme of that Yura, that cursed woman. After all, weren’t there countless similar stories?

Insane psychopath programmers trapping people in death games to flaunt their twisted philosophies.

But after years of reflection, he revised that theory.

No matter how twisted Yura’s personality was, she would never endure the hardships of entering a chaotic era from 500 years ago.

-“You end up with stupid results because you act stupidly, you idiot!”

The Yura that Cha Hyeon-jun remembered was resourceful and clever, with a sharp memory and quick wit, though lazy enough to always leave her room cleaning to the maid.

That Yura wouldn’t have gone to such lengths for Shiron Prient, let alone prepared elaborate plans based on the assumption Cha Hyeon-jun would possess him.

If she had, it would have been done in a more efficient and intelligent way.

“Hero?”

Shiron was jolted from his grim memories by Diego’s voice. When he looked up, Diego was staring at him with wide eyes.

“Is something troubling you? You’re frowning.”

“…Did you receive a revelation?”

Instead of answering, Shiron changed the subject. On the podium beside Diego, sacred relics were displayed.

“Ten years ago, you asked me to grant you the Shield of Hesed.”

“Indeed. And as I told you, the Lord instructed me to show the utmost kindness to the bold child who visited me.”

“And now?”

“A conclave of cardinals was held.”

Diego nodded with a smile.

“We decided to hand over all the relics we could gather from Lucerne’s vault. The vote was ten in favor, two neutral.”

“No objections?”

“They feared divine punishment. The cardinals are the most devout individuals on the continent. In other words, they’re spoiled children who know only the Lord.”

“You seem rather harsh in your assessment.”

“I try to remain as neutral as possible.”

Shiron laughed heartily at that remark. Though standing under the scrutiny of the cardinals had made him uncomfortable, he couldn’t deny understanding their position.

“Isn’t neutrality just a way of shifting the burden?”

“That’s another way to look at it. But if you criticize clergy for living by the Lord’s word, well… haha.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Really?”

“I fight demons by my will alone. I won’t allow anyone else’s intentions to interfere, and I’d reject it outright if they did.”

“…So you’re saying you don’t need the relics—”

“When did I ever say that?”

Shiron snorted as he approached the relics.

They were too enticing to refuse.

A potion that restores mana three times a day. An ointment that nullified bleeding damage. While not as significant as the Shield of Hesed, they were items Shiron had refrained from requesting out of courtesy.

[…Hero.]

‘What? Oh, an Everlasting Torch too?’

[…Never mind.]

“Hero.”

While Shiron was sorting through the relics, Diego spoke from behind. Shiron turned back to him.

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“When do you plan to leave?”

“I’ll depart for Rien as soon as I finish collecting the relics.”

“Do you have a plan for subjugating the Third Apostle?”

“…”

[Don’t go.]

[You must not go to the Empire.]

[Head to the Demon Realm immediately.]

[Please.]

[Kill the Apostle.]

[Go to the Demon Realm.]

[Leave.]

[There isn’t much time left.]

[Just hold on a little longer.]

[There’s no time.]

[There isn’t much left.]

[You’ll die.]

[Don’t die.]

Shiron slowly straightened his back and glared at Diego with a cold expression.

“Holy King.”

“Yes?”

“Did you receive a revelation this time as well?”

“Yes.”

Diego nodded with a solemn face, his composure reminiscent of yesterday when he told Shiron to look at the floor, hiding any trace of surprise.

“You must not go to Rien immediately.”

Diego’s lips moved. Unlike yesterday, when the room was crowded, Shiron could clearly notice how much faster Diego’s heart was beating now.

Shiron, too, felt a cold sweat running down his back. His senses sharpened to the point of feeling like every inch of him was freezing over.

The cold sweat turned into shards of ice, and an unshakable chill settled on his back like frost.

“Do revelations happen this frequently?”

“I swear by the Lord, they do not.”

“Do you see these letters?”

“What letters are you referring to?”

“Latera, can you see the letters?”

[…No.]

“Truly a nasty personality.”

“…Whom are you referring to?”

“The one popping up in my head. Seeing text that others can’t makes me feel like I’m going insane.”

“…!”

Diego’s eyes widened.

The ceiling, the walls, the floor. At Shiron’s murmuring, the chaotic scribbles covering every surface of the room became visible, a grim and unsettling sight.

“Now… I see them.”

No longer the Holy King, just an elf.

Diego Kali Rio murmured.

Shiron felt heat rising to his scalp and wiped his face with his hand.

“Didn’t you see this yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Judging by your reaction, it’s clear this isn’t some trick you pulled.”

“I would never play tricks in the name of the Lord.”

Shiron wasn’t trying to blame Diego, but he couldn’t help feeling deeply… disturbed.

“Holy King.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Could you lend me your wisdom? There’s something I simply can’t comprehend.”

“Of course, anything you need.”

Diego still seemed unable to recover from the shock. Though Shiron had thought him a remarkably steadfast man, he now appeared timid—barely half as composed as Shiron.

“I found the Divine Sword when I was about ten years old, didn’t I? Then I went around calling myself the Hero, as embarrassing as that is.”

“…”

“And yet, during all that time, I’ve never once heard the Lord’s voice. Sure, I met a charming little angel, but I’ve never found any trace of the Lord anywhere.”

Shiron lowered the hands that had been covering his face. Diego’s breath hitched audibly as he looked at him.

“Even during the years I spent in Lucerne, nothing like this ever happened. So why now, of all times?”

“…”

“Just when everything is almost over, why the hell are there all these demands?”

Diego felt an emotion he had never experienced in his lifetime—rage.

The twenty-five-year-old before him radiated the same heroic aura Diego had seen 500 years ago when he first encountered the Hero.

“Because the time… has come.”

Diego could only answer that much.