Skeleton Knight, in Another World (LN) - Volume 4 - Chapter Ep

Epilogue 

In the northern continent’s northwest corner sprawled the Great West Revlon Empire. In the empire’s southeastern part lay the Beek Sea, a narrow body of water that split the continent and fed into the south-central ocean. The Beek Sea also served as the border between the Great West Revlon Empire and the Holy Hilk Kingdom, from which the holy king ruled his subjects on the northern continent. 

Beyond the bay, at the center of the Beek Sea, towered the treacherous Rutios Mountains, which served as the Holy Hilk Kingdom’s northern border with the empire. 

The Holy Hilk Kingdom was surrounded by three different countries to the west, east, and south. However, due to the church’s influence, believers living abroad enabled the kingdom to maintain peace along its borders. It had yet to be invaded. 

Mount Alsus, one of the Rutios mountain range’s peaks, was an important mythril source. At the base of Mount Alsus was the city of Fehrbio Alsus, the holy capital and center of the Hilk religion. Having faced neither war nor any other threat for many years, the capital was considered something of a holy land. 

The holy king ostensibly ruled the capital, although that was a custom left over from before the Holy Hilk Kingdom’s establishment. The royal family was royal in name only. The true power in the kingdom was the pontiff, who lived in a massive church halfway up Mount Alsus. The only way to reach the church was by climbing massive stone steps known as the Stairway of Faith. 

A huge clearing had been hand-carved out of the mountainside. At its center was a grand building surrounded by an open-air corridor. The entrance was a white color so brilliant that the sunlight reflecting off it nearly blinded those who approached. Intricate engravings covered the building, earning it praise as a piece of art in its own right. The church was majestic enough to impress upon all who saw it the true power wielded by the pontiff. 

However, only a select few were ever allowed entry. 

A tall woman walked along the polished white stone floors, the click of her heels resonating through the halls, asserting her presence. She had long, blond hair and a graceful face. Her white attire was completely inappropriate for this place of reverence; it exposed her gently swaying chest for all to see. A long slit ran up the side of her white dress, showing off her pale legs, and her jewelry screamed wealth as she moved lightly on her feet. At a glance, she could be mistaken for a dancing girl, or even a lady of the night. However, her rings, jewelry, and clothing were of a quality that such women would never in their lives have an opportunity to wear. 

A man with immaculately arranged black hair, dressed in a clergyman’s elaborate uniform, approached her. He wore a warm smile, although his face contorted as if he’d swallowed something unpleasant when he caught sight of the approaching woman. 

The two stopped in one of the church’s spacious corners. For a moment, they simply stared at each other. 

The smiling man spoke first. “Aah, Cardinal Castitas, what a surprise to see you. And here I thought you were in the western empire in search of a man.” 

Despite this unfair remark, Cardinal Castitas shot the clergyman an enchanting smile and crossed her arms. Elin Luxuria, who went by the name Castitas, was one of the seven cardinals—second in power only to the pontiff himself. 

Elin slid out her bright red tongue to moisten her plump lips, causing the man facing her—a fellow cardinal—to avert his eyes. 

“Oh? And here I was on a job the pontiff assigned to me. I used the transportation stones to report on movements in the west.” She fixed the clergyman with a derisive grin. “Besides, I could say the same for you, Cardinal Liberalitas. It’s rare to see you all the way out here. Your only joy in life seems to be tormenting others. Or did you do something naughty and get called in?” 

Palurumo Avaritia, known as Cardinal Liberalitas, stopped smiling. His face darkened, and he made no effort to conceal the disdain in his voice. “Hmph! I won’t have you treating me like that imbecile Charros, who got himself sent off to the southern continent! I lost two specter warriors on a mission to collect rune stones, so I’ve come to beg the pontiff to supply me with more.” 

A flicker of surprise passed across Elin’s face, although her smile quickly returned. She stepped toward Palurumo. “Oh? Just what kind of job did you send them on? Losing two specter warriors is quite the feat. Or are you just pretending to have lost them to bolster your forces?” 

A vein bulged in Palurumo’s forehead. “Why, you little… Are you accusing me of submitting a false report to the pontiff?!” 

Before the volatile atmosphere could escalate further, a calm voice called out. 

“That will be enough.” 

Elin and Palurumo jumped at the sound, immediately turning to the speaker. Dropping to their knees, they bowed their heads low in reverence. 

The man approaching them was the Holy Hilk Kingdom’s ruler, the pontiff himself. 

“It is an honor to be in your presence, Pontiff Thanatos.” 

The pontiff glided silently along the floor. He wore even more elaborate garb than his cardinals, and held in his hand the holy scepter, the symbol of his status. 

Atop his head he wore a tall miter, inscribed with the holy symbol of the Hilk. A white veil hung from the miter’s brim, obscuring his face. 

His full name was Pontiff Thanatos Sylvius Hilk, and he ruled the Holy Hilk Kingdom. 

He spoke in a warm, friendly voice through the veil. “I do not doubt Palurumo’s claims, and I will send for more warriors. Don’t be so hard on him, Elin.” 

The two cardinals bowed their heads even lower. 

“According to Elin’s report,” the pontiff continued, “the western empire has mobilized a massive number of troops to prepare for a war with the east, so the western border is exposed to attack. You two will need to work together to deal with that.” 

“Understood.” 

The pontiff turned his back on the two cardinals. 

As he made his way down the hall, his footsteps echoed off the white stone floor, and he hummed cheerfully to himself. 

A gust of wind off Mount Alsus blew through an open window and briefly pushed the pontiff’s veil aside. Alas, no one was around to catch a glimpse of his face.