As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 189

Luize nodded. [Luize: I feel a bit guilty seeing how emotional the captain looks, but given the urgency of the situation, I’ll just pretend I didn’t notice.]

 

Matthias quickly made up his mind and spoke. “…What kind of help do you need?”

 

Everyone inwardly cheered.

 

Luize replied. “We need weapons made of Venber, which have magic resistance. There are many dark magic orbs hidden in the temple. We intend to destroy them all to save those who have fallen under dark magic.”

 

“Did you say those who have fallen under dark magic?”

 

“Yes. In fact, the sleeping sickness that has spread across the empire…” As Luize continued to explain, Matthias’s face was filled with shock.

 

While she was speaking, a familiar voice echoed in her mind.

 

[Edward: Could you leave out the parts related to the imperial family?]

 

“…!”

 

Luize was momentarily startled and paused, causing Matthias to be confused.

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

“I-It’s nothing. So…”

She finished her explanation. Matthias was stunned to learn that the temple was at the center of the sleeping sickness plaguing the empire.

 

During this time, Luize had a silent conversation with Edward.

 

[Luize: Edward, is that you? Were you listening to everything?]

 

[Edward: I sensed everyone’s surprise, so I was assessing the situation.]

 

[Luize: Ah, I see. We’re doing well on our end. Nothing unusual on your end, Edward?]

 

She heard a low chuckle from the other side.

 

[Edward: Nothing, except that I miss my fiancée.]

 

Luize blushed and cleared her throat awkwardly. Robin, watching Luize and Matthias, was puzzled.

 

[Robin: Lady Luize, why are you blushing all of a sudden? No way… You can’t. If you do that here, who knows what might happen between the imperial family and the temple.]

 

[Edward: Robin, I’m glad to see you focused on your duty.]

 

“Eeh?” Robin looked around, bewildered.

 

[Robin: Are you here? You heard everything?!]

 

Edward then gave everyone the same explanation he had given Luize earlier.

 

[Edward: Everything seems to be going smoothly, so I’ll leave now.]

 

[Luize: Alright.]

 

[Robin: Yes!]

 

[Aiven: …Yes.]

 

[Quirrel: Jjik!]

 

Finally, Matthias looked up, his expression as serious as the others who had been acting. “In that case, as the sword of the Supreme God, I, Matthias di Edvin, Captain of the Second Order of Paladins, will also fulfill my duty.”

 

Everyone except Quirrel felt a pang of guilt but quickly brushed it off. After all, saving the citizens of the empire was the god’s will.

 

Once Matthias made up his mind, he actively planned the operation. He meticulously divided the personnel assigned to the seven rooms and scheduled the operation to the hour. As expected of someone who had held the position of captain for a long time, he was highly experienced.

 

“Come to think of it, Captain, how did you know we were gathered here? You wouldn’t have understood Quirrel’s words.”

 

“This was left in my office.” Matthias pulled out a small map he had given to Quirrel. A tiny Quirrel paw print was marked on the location of the room they were in.

 

Quirrel put its two front paws on its hips and tilted its chin up. “Jjik!”

 

“…That pose looks familiar.”

 

“So Quirrel says it’s Ren’s territory, and even their mannerisms are similar.”

 

Robin and Aiven reflexively clapped their hands, a habit from when they used to praise Ren.

 

“I don’t know how much time it will take, but we should be able to finish within two days. Please participate while wearing priest robes to conceal your identities.”

 

“Wouldn’t it be more natural to wear the paladins’ uniforms?”

 

“There are so few paladins that everyone knows each other. You’d be recognized immediately. It’s better to pretend you’re newly assigned priests.” Robin answered on behalf of Matthias.

 

“Then let’s all head to our assigned rooms. Captain, please check on the situation as well.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Thus, the operation, nicknamed ‘Breaking the Orbs’ began.

 

* * *

Clang! Crack. Thud. Bang!

 

The orbs varied in hardness and the extent of their corruption by darkness. It was easier to work while everyone else was asleep, so they chose to rest during the day and work at night. However, they continued to carry out their tasks during the day as long as the noise wasn’t too loud.

 

“Do you think the captain will be able to procure weapons made of Venber in just a few hours?” Luize asked, her voice tinged with concern as she and Robin broke orbs in the same room.

 

“Don’t worry. There are plenty in the armory. The temple is always prepared for all kinds of dangers. However, they rely so much on barriers that their response to internal threats is rather poor.”

 

“I see.”

 

Creak. Crack.

 

“It would be nice to see the effects right away.”

 

Luize’s wish came true the next day.

 

“…Some of the sleeping sickness patients inside the temple have awakened?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Matthias’s faith soared to its highest point.

 

The commotion that began early that morning spread across the nation the next day. Naturally, Edward also received this report.

 

“They say that sleeping sickness patients are waking up one by one!”

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

“Pipi Ppippik!” [Luize and the others are doing well!]

 

Ren raised its hand beside Edward. It was making sure to make its presence known whenever people from the imperial family came to Edward. Edward responded calmly, but the citizens of the empire began to naturally associate these events with Edward’s reinstatement and Ren’s appearance. The imperial family was no exception to this realization.

 

The empress dowager, who had been observing a large orb in her room, looked up at the emperor, who had entered without notice.

 

“If things continue like this, everything will fall apart, Mother!”

 

“Don’t worry. The important power has already been gathered. Although it feels a bit lacking…”

 

“Important power?”

 

The empress dowager smiled. Her face was surprisingly calm. “We’ll recover it today. Send the Shadow Light knights to the temple. Sariel will open the door. They must be in complete panic by now.”

 

“I will do as you say!”

 

Thus, while the sudden awakening of sleeping sickness patients caused a stir throughout the empire, an unexpected incident occurred on the temple side, where things had been progressing smoothly.

 

“Be careful! Assassins are here!”

 

Clang! A large number of assassins sent by the emperor had arrived.

 

“Was the temple’s security always this lax? High Priest Michael… No, Robin, hide over here!”

 

“It’s all Sariel’s fault.” Robin shrugged and stepped past Matthias, who was trying to protect him, and swung his sword at an assassin who was charging from behind.

 

“…!”

 

“I didn’t waste my time in the knight order, you know. Besides, Captain, you should check the other rooms. If you stay here, the balance will be off.”

 

Robin pointed in the direction where Luize was. Five assassins were already surrounding her.

 

“See?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

When the assassins burst in, Matthias was the first to rush to the room to protect Robin, but soon moved to another room.

 

Finally, after dealing with all the assassins, Luize spoke to Robin. “The assassins aren’t a problem. We can deal with them quickly.”

 

“The problem is that they’re slowing down our work.”

 

“Yes. We’re already half an hour behind.”

 

If the situation in Luize and Robin’s room was like this, the other rooms would be even further delayed. Other paladins glanced at Luize and Robin.

 

“For a priest, he’s quite skilled with the sword.”

 

“They say they used to be quite formidable. The captain said not to be surprised.”

 

“Well, some people return after a long time outside. Their sword skills are impressive enough to make one feel small.”

 

“If they had become paladins, the captain of another order might have been replaced.”

 

The paladins exchanged understanding glances as they continued breaking the orbs.

 

The assassins sent by the Shadow Light knights attacked them at intervals, seemingly according to a plan. By the end of a day spent fending off assassins and destroying orbs, the paladins and Luize’s group were gradually growing exhausted.

 

“Jjijik…” Even Quirrel, who had been breaking orbs with a small Venber ornament in a corner, was losing strength.

 

“Wicked animal, rest here.” Matthias, having dealt with all the assassins, placed Quirrel in the breast pocket of his uniform. Quirrel, nestled snugly in the pocket, fell asleep as if fainting.

 

It was a time of endurance. No one could rest as they tirelessly broke the orbs. Finally, it was just past midnight on the last day that Luize’s group had set as their target.

 

“The last assassin has been dealt with. I-I’m almost out of power. If this keeps up, it’s over.” Sariel murmured in fear. He had just decided to bring the members of the first order of paladins under his command.

 

“High Priest Sariel, the pope is calling for you.”

 

“…What?”

 

“He orders you to come immediately with the paladins.”

 

Sariel’s face paled. It had been a long time since he had drained the pope’s mind and weakened his body with dark magic. Normally, a person wouldn’t be in good mental or physical condition even if the effects of dark magic wore off. Still, the pope had not only regained consciousness but also recovered enough to distinguish between reality and illusion.

 

Is this the power of someone with divine power at the level of the pope? Sariel gritted his teeth. He was already at a dead end.

 

Sariel had gradually taken control of the temple and had finally become the most likely candidate for the pope, even surpassing Raphaela. Although his power was still somewhat lacking, if he could eliminate the pope in a private meeting, the position of the pope would be his. Since Raphaela was currently in a period of self-reflection, no one could stop him.

 

Hiding his sword, Sariel followed the priest’s guidance.