“The grand title of a knight of honor is disappointing to the point of being regrettable.”

The lips, previously used only for breathing, parted. The words that came out through the small lips were somewhat provocative.

“I dare to claim that I am the one who vanquished that monster. Respected Pope.”

The attention of those around, including the two people dominating the platform, turned to her.

She stood tall, unaffected, with her neck and waist straight. Through the dense lace, her blue eyes shone one after another.

The kind smile the Pope had been wearing gradually faded. The now-hardened gaze vaguely revealed his feelings towards her. To the Pope, she seemed like a strange person speaking nonsense alone in a sacred temple.

“Be silent! How impertinent!”

A senior priest guarding the Pope raised his voice instead.

Cloé didn’t answer hastily. She withdrew her gaze from the platform and briefly closed her eyelids.

‘That monster is mine.’

When Cloé heard the news that Calis had been selected as a knight of honor after becoming the victor of the hunt, she sensed an injustice.

They were together that day, but people naturally assumed that Calis, the one who dealt with the monster, was the hero.

She grabbed Kun, who was preparing to leave for the Pantheon Temple, and confessed out of the blue.

Even she couldn’t be sure if Kun would believe her confession as a truthful statement rather than passing wind.
He was a knight who had been subduing monsters for a long time, and, more than anyone else, a mentor who knew well that Cloé had no ability to defeat them.

“…Do you really believe what I’m saying?”

“It’s a much more convincing story than that foolish guy defeating the monster.”

But, without a doubt, Kun trusted Cloé. He had even started searching for a way to return the favor she had been robbed of.

First, he declared that he would suspend all procedures at the temple.

Even if the temple initially did not believe their claims, once he intervened, they would have to pretend to reinvestigate. All they needed to do was prove that Cloé was the actual hero.

“I’ll take care of it, Kun. I want to correct the situation myself. Please leave the knight inauguration ceremony scheduled to be held at the Pantheon Temple the day after tomorrow as it is.”

Cloé had a different intention.

Delaying the originally planned inauguration ceremony and changing the winner of the hunt to dispose of Calis was not enough. The rumor that Duke Arhen had actually contributed nothing to the hunt was nothing more than gossip and could be easily dismissed.

For him, who had already lost his reputation, a brief backbiting seemed like a trivial punishment.

She wanted a result that, although a bit riskier, would be much more valuable.

However, it didn’t mean she wanted scenes of disgrace in front of countless people.
Something that could reveal his disgusting past…

Cloé needed it.

And now was the moment to seize that something.

“Slowly, step by step. Only the important things.”

She opened her eyes, repeating the pledge. The stained glass, with its iridescent colors, shone brightly like the dawn.

“Forgive me if it’s impolite, but I must speak. This sacred Pantheon Temple, which should shine with the utmost purity and innocence, is tainted with falsehood and hypocrisy, insulting the great Pontiff and our revered deity.”

Cloé, on the altar, faced the corpse of the monster strewn before her and then turned to Calis, standing beside the Pontiff.

“As it is a place to select an honorable person to be elevated to the sacred Pantheon Temple…”

She spat out grand accusations veiled in muttered self-talk. Even in the silence of the hall, she knew the impact of her small voice.

Facing her confidently behind the veil, the man’s face appeared, seemingly resigned. He, who was chewing his lips, suddenly turned his head elsewhere.

There was no need to follow the man’s gaze. She already knew who was behind him, who had encouraged this foolish act.

Instead, she turned her head firmly. The stern face she faced was that of Cloé.
The solemn-faced Pontiff, for some reason, did not respond differently. Unless it was a sanction, he had at least granted her the right to speak.

“It’s questionable how they appointed such an important position without proper discrimination.”

Although her voice and expression were finely crafted to appear polite, her manner of speech remained raw.

“W-What is this!”

A novice priest, unable to tolerate her rudeness, spoke up on behalf of the Pontiff.

Instantly, the surroundings buzzed with murmurs. The novice priest seemed poised to expel the intruder from the temple at the Pontiff’s permission.

Contrary to his wishes, the Pontiff did not reprimand the lawlessness.

“Continue speaking.”

Seemingly, he urged Cloé.

Without missing the chance, Cloé continued with a clearer voice.

“Yes, esteemed Pontiff. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Now, let me ask one thing. Have you closely observed the corpse of the monster, Your Holiness?”