This Bastard is Too Competent Chapter 124 - Is That All?

 

 

Patience’s successor?

 

Haverion was taken aback by Ian’s statement.

 

King Eloin raised an eyebrow as well.

 

Nevertheless, Ian shouted again with a stern gaze.

 

“Can’t you hear me? Strike him!”

   

However, the ministers and even the soldiers of the royal guard could not move.

It was understandable.

   

“But the other person is…”

 

“If any issues arise, it will turn into a diplomatic problem…”

  

Haverion was not just a priest.

He was one of the seven cardinals directly under the pope, the supreme leader of the Holy Empire.

Moreover, many among the soldiers shared his faith.

 

‘But how can we strike him!’

 

‘If we are ostracized by the priests for the rest of our lives, we won’t go to heaven!’

 

‘He’s a priest, after all…’

 

On the other hand, Haverion’s pupils were shaking violently. He could not believe what the youngest had said.

Since childhood, he had been blessed with divine power, eventually becoming the youngest cardinal in the Holy Empire.

 

‘He dare accuse me of being the pawn of evil?’

 

Haverion was beyond enraged. 

But the humiliation did not end there. 

The heresy inquisitor beside him urgently shouted.

 

“Your Eminence!”

 

Chk!

 

At last, the royal guards pointed their spears at him.

It was no wonder.

 

Woong!

 

Patience’s light, as bright as the sun, was an impeccable symbol of nobleness.

 

‘That orange light…’

 

Although it was clearly a fairy tale, it resembled a phenomenon he had read about in ancient texts. 

It was apparent to everyone that Ian had a valid justification. 

Moreover, it was a light so brilliant it blew away even the slightest doubt settling in a corner of their hearts just by looking at it.

 

‘Compared to that, the divine power over there is just like a firefly.’

 

Furthermore, the power of the Seven Virtues had the ability to eliminate the Seven Sins.

And with such a stark difference, it was clear which side to believe in. 

Sure enough, the captain of the royal guard shouted at the soldiers, his gaze frosty.

 

“We are the royal guards who serve the Kaistein royal family.”

 

“We cannot let someone who insulted the royal family go as is.” 

 

The royal guard captain’s rage was understandable.

They had even specifically allowed the heresy inquisitor to carry a sword under the pretext of protecting the cardinal.

 

‘How dare he draw his sword in His Majesty’s presence!’

 

That was an unforgivable offense. 

As the captain of the royal guard, he naturally followed what Ian, who could be considered a hero of the kingdom, ordered. 

However, the ministers shouted with distraught at the sight.

 

“All of you, what sort of rudeness are you doing!”

 

“Quickly put down your weapons and apologize!”

 

Just dismissing the current situation as a misunderstanding was enough.

But the moment they pointed their weapons at the cardinal, they would become a traitor to the continent.

However, in the midst of the ministers’ hurried attempts to calm the situation, a voice posed an unexpected question.

 

“Do we really have to apologize?”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“No, I mean, the cardinal who labeled Kaistein evil is just a priest. His Majesty Ian, however, is the successor of Patience of the Seven Virtues, not the Seven Sins.”

 

“That’s…”

 

The ministers faltered.

After all, there was no one on the continent who didn’t know about the Seven Virtues. And the significance of the legend held in Kaistein, the home of the legend, was substantial. 

That wasn’t all. 

There was a legend that one of the Seven Virtues had founded the Holy Empire. 

And now, they were accusing Ian of being the pawn of evil.

 

“So, if His Highness Ian’s power is real, wouldn’t it be the other side that should apologize?”

 

Having read their gaze, Haverion and the heresy inquisitor couldn’t help but be dismayed.

It was inevitable.

 

“Y-Your Eminence. That power.”

 

“…”

 

It was because they could feel Ian’s great power.

The heresy inquisitor, in particular, who had been assisting Haverion since his childhood, groaned.

 

‘From a young age, Cardinal Haverion was famous for his enormous divine power, which made him the youngest cardinal.’

 

He possessed such abundant divine power that the number of patients he had treated easily surpassed four digits in no time.

Haverion was made a cardinal solely on the basis of his power.

But if they took a look at Ian now.

 

‘I heard he spent his entire life as a serf. He possesses divine power that is both stronger and greater than His Eminence’s. Is that even possible?’

 

Even if it was one of the Seven Virtues, Patience, it made no sense.

The light, so radiant it illuminated the entire hall, reminded him of the pope’s.

 

‘I have heard stories of the bravery of those who inherited the power of the Seven Virtues throughout the long history of the continent.’

 

But that wasn’t the problem now.

 

‘We judged the successor of the Seven Virtues to be the pawn of evil.’

 

It was equivalent to sullying the honor that should never be tarnished.

There was also the matter at the treatment center.

 

‘The continent’s rage might boomerang to the Holy Empire.’

 

However, Haverion had regained his composure in the meantime.

Sure enough.

 

“Youngest, it seems like you have heard about Patience, one of the Seven Virtues, somewhere by chance.”

 

“!”

 

“I don’t know where you’ve got your hands on such a magic tool, but things would be complicated if you insulted me and the Holy Empire with such false power.”

 

Haverion’s words greatly stirred up the crowd.

 

“A magic tool?”

 

Haverion smirked at their bewildered reactions. 

He couldn’t hold himself back from doing so.

 

‘After all, even if they are nobles, they have no way to know if this Patience is real, right?’

 

All the sagas related to the Seven Virtues were only found in fairy tales and ancient texts. 

Haverion himself only knew detailed distinctions from ancient literature passed down exclusively to cardinals. 

Of course, the priests could somewhat discern the divine power mixed in with Patience.

 

‘Would the priests, who serve God, choose to follow you rather than me, the cardinal of the Holy Empire?’

 

Moreover, Haverion recalled literature that had been passed down in the past.

 

[Patience, one of the Seven Virtues, is the vanguard hammer that finds and destroys evil. Its power is focused solely on detecting and vanquishing evil.]

 

Haverion, on the other hand, had the divine power of healing. 

It had a different purpose than Patience’s power, which was primarily used to destroy. 

And thus, Haverion smiled.

 

“A light-emitting magic tool is valuable, that’s for sure. But can you use that power to heal people?”

 

Haverion gradually began to unleash his divine power.

Although it was a smaller and dimmer light than Ian’s, his divine power quickly formed a sphere and floated above his head.

The ministers could tell right away.

 

“Th, that is…!”

 

“The divine power manifestation. That’s a technique only highly devout high priests can use!”

 

Of course, it wasn’t perfect yet.

Therefore, Haverion poured all his divine power into the sphere.

A soft light immediately radiated throughout the audience room.

The ministers exclaimed in astonishment.

 

“How warm.”

 

“This is unbelievable! The chronic pain in my knee has disappeared!”

 

“My back pain is gone too.”

 

The majority of the nobles had experienced divine power to some extent. 

However, the effect of objects that embodied the divine power manifestation was bound to be amplified.

As Haverion’s already strong divine power was amplified by the divine power manifestation, the ministers’ chronic illnesses disappeared in a flash.

Haverion smiled as he relished the surprised looks of the ministers.

 

“How is it? Can your magic tool demonstrate such power?”

 

A warm and caring touch, like a mother’s caress.

Its highly effective power greatly shook the ministers, who had been attacking Haverion just a second ago.

 

‘Are you familiar with the power of Patience?’

 

‘Even if I am, I don’t know how to tell it apart.’

 

‘If it is indeed light created by an artifact, then we would be desecrating the Holy Empire with sorcery.’

 

‘…!’

 

The ministers became alarmed at the thought.

Satisfied with their reactions, Haverion continued his words.

 

“The Seven Virtues are the power that annihilates evil. They should be capable of producing a power similar to divine power. That’s what the scripture only handed down to cardinals dictates.”

 

Crossing his arms, Haverion said with a light smile.

 

“So, prove it. If what you possess is truly a magic tool, it won’t be able to imitate divine power.”

 

As Haverion uttered those words, he broke into a triumphant smile.

It was no wonder he felt that way.

 

‘Patience, the virtue that exterminates evil, is a power that cannot manifest without “evil.”’

 

This was because Haverion knew the conditions for Patience to activate.

To put it simply, it was impossible to imitate divine power with Patience without evil.

After all, evil was not something that could be easily obtained.

So, Haverion snickered.

 

‘I just need to get out of here right away anyway.’

 

By the time the youngest obtained evil and presented evidence of Patience, it would already be too late.

Because everything would have gone according to the will of the Holy Empire.

 

‘Even if His Majesty can do something in this situation, he will eventually have to pay the price for insulting me.’

 

Haverion chuckled. 

No, perhaps things were going in an even better direction than expected. 

Although there had been a slight setback, in the end, Kaistein had no choice but to follow the will of the Holy Empire. 

 

It was precisely at that moment.

 

“Hahaha.”

 

Ian’s laughter echoed throughout the hall.

Haverion shot him a glare, his face frozen stiff.

Ian, unable to hold back his laughter, asked.

 

“Is that all you can do?”

 

“What?”

 

As Haverion was about to ask what he was talking about.

Without hesitation, Ian increased the power of Patience.

Not the light meant to show off to others as it had been before, but the true power of Patience itself.

 

Woong!!

 

Haverion and the heresy inquisitor could only gape.

It was a completely natural reaction. 

Above Ian’s hand, a giant hammer of light had manifested.

The divine power mixed with it lit up the surroundings, sparking a sensation of exhilaration in their hearts.

 

Thump. Thump.

 

Ian spoke to the nobles, who were staring at him with contemplative looks.

 

“The symbol of Patience is a hammer. And it is the weapon of those who annihilate evil.”

 

The standard of evil was not solely about the Seven Sins.

 

‘A person with deep darkness in his heart can be regarded as evil.’

 

Like Haverion right in front of him.

Despite his dazzling smile, the terrible darkness lurking within him was burning strongly.

No, it wasn’t just that.

Unlike Faith, Patience possessed a great deal of divine power as it served to vanquish evil.

 

“L-l-look over there!”

 

“Isn’t that similar to divine power?”

 

A warm breeze swept through the hall, and the withered small flowers began to bloom. 

Even the priests were slightly shaken by the sight.

 

“Isn’t that an impossible feat without divine power?”

 

“That power seems closer to divine power than any magic tool.”

 

Only divine power had the power of life.

The sight even made the heresy inquisitor, said to have a heart of steel, break into a cold sweat.

Sure enough, Ian looked at them with raised eyebrows.

 

“‘The power of the Seven Virtues is imbued with divinity.’ Isn’t that proof enough?”

 

Ian spoke coldly to Haverion, who could no longer afford to smile.

 

“If you still won’t admit your guilt…”

 

He would personally smite his head.

Hearing Ian’s cold words, Haverion closed his eyes tightly.

  

 

*** 

 

 

After a while.

Once the situation in the audience hall calmed down, King Eloin spoke up.

 

“All envoys of the Holy Empire shall retreat. I will personally handle this affair with the pope.”

 

“…”

 

Haverion simply bowed his head at the king’s words.

There was nothing more he could do.

He couldn’t help it.

 

“I will not detain Cardinal Haverion. However, your sincerity is highly questionable. Stay at the place I have chosen until we get the pope’s reply.”

 

He was allowed to continue treatment activities, but it would be under the king’s thorough surveillance. 

In other words, he couldn’t do anything.

 

‘At this rate, the pope will come forward himself.’

 

To make things worse, his position as the Fifth Prince was not even properly acknowledged.

 

“I will treat you as a cardinal until this matter is over. Do you understand?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

Haverion could only leave the audience hall with his lips slightly pursed.

This felt similar to the humiliation he felt when he was forced to leave this kingdom years ago.

 

In the place where all the people of the Holy Empire and the ministers had left.

King Eloin gestured toward Ian.

 

“Come closer.”

 

“…”

 

Ian slowly moved his feet without saying a word. 

While he appeared to be obeying the king’s command, there was a hint of him scrutinizing the king. 

His gaze seemed to demand confirmation of what the king was thinking by sending him to Duke Garcia.

Whether he knew it or not, the king whispered slowly, ensuring that no one else could hear.

 

“Since when?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Since when did you become the successor of the Seven Virtues, Patience?”

 

It wasn’t a simple question.

His voice sounded as if he was reprimanding Ian.

Nonetheless, Ian replied nonchalantly.

 

“I obtained it during the conquest of Bahara. It was hidden in the throne room.”

 

The king fell in thought after hearing Ian’s words.

But it was only for a fleeting moment.

 

“The throne… Was it hidden there? I see.”

 

King Eloin nodded and waved his hand. 

He gestured for Ian to leave now that his curiosity had been satisfied. 

However, Ian remained in place.

 

“Is there anything else you want to say?”

 

“I have yet to receive my reward.”

 

“Reward?”

 

Ian did not hesitate at the king’s question.

 

“I prevented the Holy Empire’s scheme and re-established the status of the royal family. I demand a reward befitting that, Your Majesty.”

 

“!”

 

It wasn’t wrong.

If Ian had not stepped forward, the king would have had to helplessly hand over the observation rights of the Garcia family to the Holy Empire.

Moreover, if the rumor spread that Ian was the successor to Patience, the kingdom’s status would also be elevated.

King Eloin smiled.

 

“Very well. What do you want?”

 

“Can you give me anything?”

 

“Is there anything I can’t give you other than this crown? Of course, the elders have not yet made a consensus regarding your position as successor, so I can’t give you a definite answer.”

 

But that wasn’t what Ian wanted.

Not the knights or soldiers the king had, much less gold and treasures.

There was only one thing Ian wanted.

 

“Then, please tell me one thing.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Why did you, despite possessing the power of the Seven Virtues, not intervene earlier?”

 

“!”

 

King Eloin’s gaze immediately turned sharp at the completely unexpected question.