“Let us begin with the orthodox argument.”

Saint Sirius of the Myriad Star Church was the first to speak.

The silver-haired handsome young man looked around the hall with a tranquil face and continued calmly.

“First, if one is of a great house’s bloodline, anyone from the Patriarch to a distant collateral relative has the qualification to observe the Elector Princes Council. That is the clear distinction separating the evil Ancient Empire ruled by the Dragon Emperor from our present, great and righteous Empire of Stars. The age of clinging to bloodline and binding oneself with it has already ended.”

The deacon nodded inwardly.

Formally, every word was correct.

But that is merely a rule written on paper, is it not? I do not know whether it will work on the great houses, which have ruled the world by the logic of reality.

Thus, a rebuttal soon rose in one corner of his heart.

“That is nothing but formality.”

As expected, Tyren immediately countered.

“You say the qualification to observe is open to anyone, but leading and speaking on agenda items in this council is an entirely different matter, is it not? Protecting that is the right of the Elector Princes and our responsibility as proxies of the Patriarchs. It is not something that can be loosened carelessly.”

“No. Kyrie is not merely a blood relative.”

“Not merely?”

“He is both a blood relative of a great house and the Protector of the Church. This old man can only represent the Church’s position, but he can maintain balance between the two. The adjustment between the sacred and the secular is worth entrusting to him.”

Saint Sirius narrowed his eyes and shook his head.

Tyren’s lips trembled.

For an instant, the deacon recalled the scene from just a few days ago, when Saint Deneb had called Saint Sirius aside and held a confidential conversation with him.

It seemed as though that heavy, low voice from that time once again circled his ears.

“I will bear your meaning in mind. But in a place where right and wrong are discussed, I believe what is needed is not balance, but conviction.”

Tyren countered with all his strength.

“It seems to be my turn?”

Andromeda immediately declared in a ringing voice.

“Kyrie is my younger brother. As royal brother, he is currently first in the line of succession for Astreos, and he is also one of the Empire’s foremost electric artists. Even if he has no vote, should he not at least be granted the right to speak? You are not going to deny a qualification proven by blood and star, are you?”

Tyren whipped his head around.

“I too agree to observation itself. I merely say that observation and speech are by no means the same qualification. If that line is not distinguished, what authority could today’s council possibly hold in the future?”

A certain light of triumph dwelled in his voice.

The deacon felt the air of the cathedral draw taut once again.

“Do you wish to discuss authority?”

Erica slowly opened her mouth.

“Then this queen must say something. It hurts my pride, but first, I shall acknowledge what must be acknowledged. This queen is indeed the Patriarch of Rikenta. However, this queen cannot say that she now perfectly controls Rikenta and governs all of its countless territories and cities.”

She looked down upon the hall.

“But if Duke Kyrie and his army stand with me, the story changes. Because he is by my side, the winds of Rikenta do not scatter. That is why he is now this queen’s husband, the Grand Duke of Wind. This is not a matter of this queen’s honor, but of the honor of all Rikenta. Therefore, even if Rikenta’s vote is divided in half between this queen and Kyrie, Duke Kyrie’s rights must be guaranteed. This is precisely principle, and authority.”

The hall was briefly swept into silence.

There is reason in it. Since ancient times, it has not been rare for siblings, sisters, or spouses to share a single vote.

The deacon saw Tyren’s face harden as though he had lost what to say.

“I do not understand why everyone avoids this matter.”

This time, the twins of Flammerios opened their mouths.

“The elixir of sacred radiance, I mean. Do you not intend to discuss it? It will certainly rise as one of the agenda items of this council, yet you would exclude its very creator from the conference hall. That foolishness is itself an act of denying this seat’s authority.”

The twin elder brother, Vicher, glanced sideways at Tyren.

It meant, are you an idiot?

“That is correct. The elixir of sacred radiance has already changed the fates of countless soldiers and knights. What decision can you discuss after driving out the one who created that power?”

The twin younger sister, Vichera, also glanced sideways at Tyren.

It meant, can you not read the room?

Tyren, who had suddenly become “the one whose intellect was being doubted,” flushed red in the cheeks.

The deacon panted for breath.

This is, this is!

He could distinctly feel the tension and weight inside the cathedral tilting completely toward Kyrie.

Kyrie leisurely shrugged.

He slowly looked around and smiled.

“Then I suppose I may sit.”

He looked once around the round table, confirmed that there was no empty chair at all, and shook his head slightly.

“But there is no seat for me.”

Kyrie’s blue single eye turned toward the deacon.

“Deacon. One chair, please.”

It was an eye that seemed to have a fragment of the dreaming thunderous star embedded within it.

The deacon could not have known, but in fact, something was embedded on the opposite side.

The deacon broke into a cold sweat.

What should I do?

He searched around, but all the furniture had already been removed by the noble warriors of each house and faction.

Only one chair remained.

The deacon hurried deep into the cathedral and brought out the chair used by the bishop when presiding over Mass.

It was the most splendidly decorated chair in the cathedral, and its legs were the longest.

“My thanks.”

When Kyrie sat in that chair, everyone had to raise their heads to look up at him.

“Hah?”

“Ugh!”

“Mm.”

Short exclamations and suppressed groans flowed from several places.

The Elector Princes Council began.

“The sea route of the southeastern sea is being encroached upon by the fish-men.”

Erica spoke firmly, opening her palm.

“They even mimic the language of humans and abduct children from every harbor. This queen defines them as ‘enemies of the Myriad Star’ and insists that we must receive the Church’s support for their subjugation.”

“Then what does that make Crosel?”

Narji moved his lips beneath his robe.

“There is not a single fish-man in the desert. If we call an enemy that does not even exist an ‘enemy of the Myriad Star’ and receive the Church’s support, this council will soon become a puppet moved only for someone’s convenience.”

Erica’s lips closed firmly.

At that moment, the deacon shuddered at the tension that seemed to stretch through a windless zone.

“This prince shall say one thing.”

Erica fell silent, and Valherios raised his voice.

“Reports have not ceased that superhuman noble warriors in every region are requisitioning the people’s grain and livestock without authorization. Limits must be placed on the right of requisition. Otherwise, the people will collapse in endless hunger.”

To the deacon’s ears, it was a justification that anyone with a conscience could never openly reject.

“Your Highness Prince, I shall interpret those words as interference in internal affairs.”

But Andromeda seemed to have no conscience.

“Do you intend to interfere even with the Blue Knights of Astreos moving according to the laws and customs of Astreos territory? Though Your Highness’s cause may represent the will from below, this seat is also a place where each house that received a contract from above protects its own prestige. To demand that legitimate rights be halted under the fair name of protecting the people… is deceitful.”

Valherios’s face flushed red.

The deacon thought the air had been mixed with shards of glass.

“The Church, too, will make one proposal.”

Saint Sirius joined his hands.

“At present, the rights of provincial knight-lords, Salic law, and primogeniture are excessively fixed in place. This does not suit the present age and breaks the possibilities of the younger generation. The Church advises each house to revise this matter.”

“Did this humble one mishear? His Holiness the Pope is quite careless. To make his closest aide speak such embarrassing words.”

Vicher cut him off with a cold laugh.

Vichera continued.

“You might as well say it outright. That the Church wishes to devour all the provincial territories! Is that not your true intent? The moment primogeniture is shaken, every territory will be torn to pieces, and the Church will seize those territories piece by piece!”

Saint Sirius closed his mouth.

The deacon bit his lip as he watched the scene before him.

Territorial disputes, demonic beast subjugation, legal reform, the rights and duties of nobles.

Interests clashed over every agenda item.

He felt as though this scene was like stars gathering together and scattering sparks.

The argument continued for quite some time.

“Enough.”

Saint Sirius raised his hand as if he were about to strike it down, bringing order to the council.

The silver-haired handsome young man’s eyes flashed green, but after a moment, he lowered his head slightly.

His lips stiffened subtly, and in that brief instant, shame crossed his face.

It seemed he knew that some of the claims he had been forcefully pushing until now were also unreasonable.

“Leaving aside whether the many agenda items raised today are all right or wrong, what we can handle immediately is limited.”

However, Saint Sirius was old enough to have learned that pursuing absolute perfection meant accomplishing nothing.

The young old man soon raised his head again and hardened his voice.

“Every house has its own problems. Let each take care of the matters each must handle. However, it appears there are three issues that the Empire as a whole must intervene in.”

The gazes inside the hall gathered.

Sirius bent one finger at a time as he recited.

“First, declaring the Hall of Purity a public enemy of the Empire. However, time will be needed before the announcement, so each of you must prepare your own justification.”

“Second, verification of the elixir of sacred radiance. Great power carries great responsibility. If that power is true, then even its purity must necessarily be proven.”

“Third, subjugation of the corpse-waste plains. If that place is left alone, the entire continent will collapse.”

A brief silence flowed.

“Ha, hahahaha.”

Before long, Tyren burst into low laughter.

“At least there is one agenda item I like. Very well. I desire thorough verification!”

The smile spreading across his ochre face was as stimulating as strong liquor.

Does he intend to kill Kyrie?

A chill ran down the deacon’s spine.

Moreover, if it is the elixir of sacred radiance, no fewer than three Elector Princes are additionally entangled in it. Erica of Rikenta, Andromeda of Astreos, and the twins of Flammerios as well. All three may end up covered in filth.

Without realizing it, he checked Kyrie’s face.

The deacon thought Kyrie would either be tense or angry.

He was neither.

Kyrie had one arm resting on the armrest and was smiling leisurely.

But why does he look pleased?

Without realizing it, the deacon drew the sign of the cross.

If the Myriad Star was looking down upon this scene, would the stars send a blessing, or a warning?

There was no way to know.

Inside the carriage returning to my encampment, I infused mana into my stigma.

【Hero’s Journey Step 12】

【Step 5: Attendance at the Elector Princes Council】

【Obtain authority beyond mere observation at the Elector Princes Council.】

【Punishment upon failure: Death】

【Reward upon success: Telephone Conversation】

At last.

【“You succeeded. Congratulations.”】

The constellation’s voice rang in my ear.

“Yes. I succeeded.”

Yes. Somehow, I had truly succeeded.

【“But I should delay unlocking Step 6 a little.”】

I checked Hero’s Journey Step 6 through Myriad Arts, Infinite Twin Stars of Fate.

【Hero’s Journey Step 12】

【Step 6: Military Exploit (Locked)】

【Establish a military exploit recognized by all great houses.】

【Punishment upon failure: Death】

【Reward upon success: Blue Radiance Lion’s Roar】

“Yes.”

Thinking about what had been said during today’s agenda discussion, it was understandable that the constellation would say that.

“You must think this situation could become a Kyrie hunt rather than a mutant demonic beast hunt.”

【“You make it sound as though you do not think so.”】

“Yes.”

I did not think so.

“I know that I cannot control everything. Nor can I calculate everything or understand everything.”

It was clearly +reality, but reality was full of things I could not understand.

If so, I only needed to assume that matters would occur in directions I did not understand.

“But even so, there were things I could understand. I have no doubt that tomorrow, those things will be more numerous than today.”

The dreaming thunderous star was silent for a moment.

【“Sometimes you sound like me.”】

And then, with a deeply satisfied tone, she let out a distant laugh beside my ear.

【“At least in that respect, it is fortunate that you are different from that wicked younger brother of mine.”】

The stigma in my right eye emitted light.

【Hero’s Journey Step 12】

【Step 6: Military Exploit】

【Establish a military exploit recognized by all great houses.】

【Punishment upon failure: Death】

【Reward upon success: Blue Radiance Lion’s Roar】

.

.

.

【Hero’s Journey Step 12】

【Step 6: Military Exploit】

【Detailed Objective 1: Elector Prince】

【Receive personal recognition from the Elector Princes.】

【Reward upon success 1: Thunderbolt Body increases by 100%】

【Reward upon success 2: Electromagnetic Railgun cooldown reduced by 1 day】

【Punishment upon failure: Thunderbolt Body decreases by 100%】

【“We should watch a little more before deciding Step 7.”】

“Yes. I thought so as well.”

As the constellation said, in the worst case, it might become a Kyrie hunt rather than a Hall of Purity hunt.

First, I prepared “Telephone Conversation.”

【Telephone Conversation (05:00/24h)】

“Telephone Conversation” had a different format from the perks until now.

It was a format where the amount of time I could use Telephone Conversation each day was fixed.

Who should I call?

After pondering briefly, I decided.

As expected, that person seemed best for the first call.

Chapter 211

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