The Kingmaker System
Chapter 281 - 280. My Burden (2)

Chapter 281: 280. My Burden (2)

The morning sun painted the city in warm hues as Asher was getting ready to be escorted to the Temple.

"You remember your task well, don’t you?" I asked him before he could step out of the inn.

"Yes, Lord Dragon." He responded and I sighed.

"It’s Master if you are going to address me like that, Asher." I corrected.

"I don’t want to go around being called a Dragon."

"Yes, apologies, Master." He spoke in an uncertain voice.

"Make sure you don’t mess up and here, you have to have this." I said handing him the crest that Pope carried with him.

"We’ll follow behind in some time, till then narrate the story properly and if they don’t listen use your position as a Templar Knight and also use the High Priest’s name. We’ll take it from there." I instructed and he nodded.

"I understand, I’ll do my best." He assured me and I nodded back.

Two of the men belonging to Lyall’s team here came forth with a small carriage and Asher got on after one glance at me.

His steps deliberate and his expression resolute. His task was critical: deliver the fabricated story convincingly enough to shift the narrative in our favor.

After I had seen him leaving, I headed toward Damon’s residence. I had left detailed instructions with Lyall to handle the child’s care, ensuring there would be no confusion or mishaps when he awoke.

Damon was already waiting at his door when I arrived. His usual calm demeanor faltered for a moment as his eyes flicked to the mask and gloves I now wore. He quickly looked away, his posture straightening as he bowed slightly.

"Master Ocean," he greeted, his voice a little too formal, tinged with unease.

"We’re late," I said sharply, brushing past him into the residence. "We need to leave now."

"Yes, of course," he replied, following close behind, though his steps were hesitant. His gaze lingered on me as if searching for a hint of what lay beneath the mask.

"Something on your mind, Damon?" I asked, my tone clipped.

"N-No, Master," he stammered, his hands clasped tightly. "I was only... concerned. You seem... different."

"Focus on the task at hand," I said, pulling my cloak tighter around me. "We don’t have time for distractions."

Damon nodded quickly, his respect for me mingling with an underlying fear that he didn’t dare voice.

We left his residence in his carriage, making our way toward the Temple. The air was thick with tension, and I could sense Damon stealing glances at me every so often. He wouldn’t ask outright, but his curiosity was evident.

As we approached the Temple, the crowd outside was larger than I anticipated. Priests, acolytes, and civilians alike gathered in clusters, their hushed conversations creating a buzz that hung in the air. At the center of the commotion stood Asher, his voice clear and commanding as he addressed the skeptics.

"...And when the news reached them, they acted without hesitation," Asher declared, his tone unwavering. "The Pope, the Saint, and the Saintess all left immediately for the borders to save our knights and the Crown Prince from imminent peril."

"Get out, we might not be able to go ahead in the carriage." I told Damon.

I got out of the carriage after activating the invisibility spell and Damon also stepped out. I walked behind him making sure to not bump into anyone as the crowd was quite engrossed in Asher’s story.

The crowd murmured, their faces a mix of curiosity and doubt. Among them was Dorrith and Longland, Dorrith had his arms crossed and his expression skeptical.

"Bold claims, boy," Dorrith sneered, stepping forward. "But words mean little without proof. Do you expect us to believe this tale blindly?"

Asher’s eyes narrowed slightly, but his demeanor remained calm. "Proof, you say?" he replied, reaching into his cloak. With a practiced flourish, he revealed the Pope’s crest—a gleaming insignia that caught the morning sunlight.

The crowd gasped, and even Dorrith’s composure faltered.

"This crest," Asher continued, his voice ringing with authority, "was entrusted to me by the Pope himself as a token of his word. Will you question its authenticity, Father Dorrith?"

Dorrith’s eyes flicked to the crest, his jaw tightening. "That could be a forgery," he said, though his voice wavered.

"A forgery?" Asher echoed, a sharp edge to his tone. "Are you accusing the Pope of deceit? Do you realize the gravity of such an accusation?"

The tension in the courtyard was palpable. Dorrith hesitated, his gaze darting around as if searching for support. Before he could respond, another priest stepped forward, eyeing the crest carefully.

"The crest... it is genuine," the priest said quietly but firmly.

A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. Dorrith’s lips pressed into a thin line, his expression darkening as he stepped back.

"I trust the Captain of Templar Knights." Damon announced, his voice cutting through the noise making the crowd to look at him and gasp in shock as they saw the Duke appear.

"Your Grace?!" Dorrith gasped and his strained expression tightened even more.

"But, Your Grace why wouldn’t His Holiness inform us about such an emergency?" One of the Priests asked.

"Do you think the Pope had time to personally pen a letter during such a crisis?" Damon countered sharply.

"But, some of the Templar Knights said that the Saintess was taken by a Dragon and the others said that the Saint and Pope were probably kidnapped."

"Who in their sane mind would dare to abduct the Pope and Saint?" Damon asked.

"And about the Saintess then the Knights might have had some mistake." Damon clarified.

Though his claim about the Saintess was a bit unbelievable but the logical reasoning for the former seemed good enough.

"But, even High Priest said that-"

"He might have meant that the plague that’s be spreading over the borders might be the wrath of Dragons, Father Dorrith. Not the other misunderstanding that are spreading like wildfire." Damon said sharply making Dorrith grimace.

"Said that, I’m here to discuss about the incident with High Priest." Damon announced.

"And everyone," he addressed the people, "Please don’t panic or be worried, His Holiness, the Saint and our Saintess are serving this kingdom and saving the lives of the knights who are protecting Denril against the forces of Sestia. So, it’s a request from myself and all the other nobles that you maintain discretion in these hard times and pray for the well-being of our saviours."

His words almost moved the people who responded positively and then Damon and I still invisible were set to go inside with Asher.

Dorrith seemed like he was going to burst any moment as he followed behind us, I could have enjoyed his expression but I still had work.

Asher stopped in front of the prayer room making me and Damon halt as well, Asher looked at Damon and then around us to see if there was anyone eavesdropping. There were Priests around but they were far enough.

"Where is he?" Asher whispered and Damon looked back his eyes searching for me.

I rolled my eyes and placed my hands on their shoulders making the two flinch.

"Hurry up," I hissed and Asher nodded before he knocked on the door.

"High Priest!" He called.

There was no reply from inside, I could hear the sound of faint heartbeats and low breathing but nothing apart from that.

"Since when was he cooped up in this room?" I asked.

"Apparently since the time you abducted Pope and Saint." Asher whispered.

"Open the door, he’s passed out inside." I ordered.

"What?!" Asher pushed the doors open and we entered to see the white bundle slumped over the ground. Benedict had fallen on his side, his body barely moving.

I rushed ahead and gripped Benedict’s shoulders and made him lie on his back as I studied his physique.

His face had gone pale and he was barely breathing, I activated my Mana Eyes and noticed his mana levels dipping lower than what they used to be.

"What the- How’s this possible?" I wondered aloud.

"What’s wrong?" Damon asked.

I removed the invisibility spell and looked at Asher.

"Bar the doors, no one should come in here till I’m done."

"Yes, Master." He rushed towards the doors and closed them shut while I observed Benedict’s body.

There were no traces of poison or anything as such but somehow, I found it like how the drug patients would be after they hadn’t taken their dosage.

"Benedict?" I called as I slapped his cheek and shook him.

He groaned softly, "Please forgive my sins, Oh great Dragon... I was blinded..."

Damon looked at me and I sighed before I used the Healing spell on Benedict. His eyes fluttered open and he gasped jerking up as he saw me.

"Gr-Great Dragon!" He almost shouted and clasped his hands together and all but smashed his head on the ground as he prostrated in front of me.

"Please, please forgive me! I-I did all that you told me. I have sinned but please-please forgive me, Oh Great Dragon Lord!"

Damon and I exchanged a look as he saw Benedict before I opened my mouth.

"Do you really want my forgiveness, Benedict?" I asked.

He lifted his head slightly and nodded vehemently as he said, "Yes, yes, Great Dragon!"

"Then, do as I say." I ordered.

"I’ll do anything, I’ll do anything that you tell me, Great Dragon!"

"Go outside and tell the people that the Saintess wasn’t kidnapped, tell them that she was carried away by the Dragon for a great purpose of saving this kingdom."

His eyes widened and he stared at me, I waited for a couple of seconds to let it sink in.

"Pa-Pardon?" He stuttered and I sighed.

"You saw me taking her away, didn’t you? Go ahead and tell the people that she was taken by me but to save the kingdom." I said.

"Y-You... also took Saintess."

"She was mine to begin with," I muttered and he blinked.

"Al-All right, I’ll do as you say, Great Dragon."