“When I sought the power of the gods to eradicate the remaining strength of the monster.”

“Then, let me ask one more thing. It is known that monsters perish when their heart is shattered. Especially those appearing in the Zieghardt Kingdom possess a persistent power that continues to gain vitality if their heart does not break.”

“Your words are correct.”

“The heart of a brainless monster is located in the head. So, have you checked the wound on the head of the monster?”
At Cloé’s words, the heads of the audience, including the Pontiff, all tilted to one side. Soon, Cloé herself casually gazed at the monster’s corpse.

“Wouldn’t it be necessary to discern at least what kind of injury is on the monster’s head to properly identify the one who defeated it?”

At Cloé’s sharp remark, the Pontiff’s eyebrows lightly undulated. After briefly glancing at the monster, he eventually turned to the novice priest and asked.

“Did you check?”

“……Yes?”

“For the attack that inflicted a fatal blow to the monster, precisely examining the destruction of the heart.”

The novice priest’s mouth was abruptly sealed shut. It was an answer that could be easily inferred even without forcing him to audibly respond.

On that day, there were only two people in the fortress that the monster invaded.

One was a knight who was once renowned as the hero of the century, and the other was a former noble princess. It wasn’t unnecessary to verify the process of determining which of the two warriors defeated the monster.

Moreover, Theo, the rightful heir of the Sahir Empire’s army, also affirmed that it was him who struck the blow, leaving no room for doubt.

“None.”

Then, the Pontiff dryly uttered. Disappointment permeated his chilling tone.

“Do you even know where this place is?”

The tense atmosphere in the hall, gripped by the Pontiff’s outburst, vibrated. Standing next to him, Calis, and the novice priest, along with the audience, were startled and collectively held their breath.
“Today, this place is a momentous occasion for selecting the honorable knights who will receive the grace of God. It is the day to announce the knights who will live with the attention, admiration, and favor of the entire empire and kingdom! Yet, did I have to bring disgrace to myself and to God due to the mistakes of the followers! The day that should have been dedicated to serving the sacred knights has now become a dishonorable one!”

After a moment, the Pontiff pointed his finger toward the monster on the platform.

“Check it now.”

To verify the evidence Cloé mentioned.

Including the novice priest, the priests waiting in the back began to move the monster one by one. Despite their combined strength, it was not smooth due to its large size.

The Pontiff, who stared at them with piercing eyes, then turned his head.

“Thanks to you, we can maintain the innocence and purity of the temple. However, if your words are proven false! You’ll have to pay a hefty price for sullying the temple.”

This time, Cloé nodded her head.

It was only after mobilizing the temple knights that they finally succeeded in turning over the monster’s body.

When the novice priest approached the monster, the Pontiff’s hand stopped him.

“Step back. I will do it.”

“But, Your Holiness…”

“If someone other than me determines the truth, it will be difficult to gain complete trust. This time, I will personally handle it.”

With the Pontiff’s firm assertion, the novice priest had no choice. He took a step back, understanding the situation.
Afterward, the Pontiff leaned closely toward the platform. Having sheared the monster’s fur, he then began to inspect the inside of its head.

“What is going on…”

People sighed quietly in the shocking situation. Cloé, listening to occasional muttering behind her, kept her eyes on the front.

In fact, even she couldn’t be certain that her claim was correct; it was just a reasonable conjecture.

The Pontiff’s warning about holding her accountable brought back an old memory.

“As the defendant suggested, I will question the culprit to the plaintiff. However, if the defendant is indeed the culprit, they will face severe punishment. Be aware of that.”

Helena Argent, who had raised an entirely different argument and suffered a humiliating defeat.

Although it was an entirely different matter, the situation seemed similar. Perhaps that’s why the anxiety about whether her future would be similar to Helena’s overwhelmed Cloé.

However…

However, at the same time, there was an inexplicable confidence.

Perhaps it originated from this baseless self-assurance that led her to take a somewhat adventurous challenge rather than choosing a safe path.

Whether it was because of Kun, who blindly believed in her, or because Cloé herself blindly trusted in her abilities.

In the deepening tension, the Pontiff, who carefully examined the monster’s wounds, lifted his face as if delivering a verdict. No one could predict the outcome from the subtle change in expression.

“Marquis Argent.”
Instead of directly presenting the desired results, he called Calis, who had risen to the rank of an honorable knight.

“…Yes, Your Holiness.”

“You claimed to have defeated the monster with this sword,” the Pontiff said, pointing to the sword stuck next to the monster. Eventually, Calis nodded weakly.

“…Yes.”

Only then did wrinkles appear on the Pontiff’s forehead. The narrowed eyes twinkled, creating an impression on the aged face.

Now, he turned to Cloé and asked, “What tool did you use to repel the monster that day?”

“A bow, Your Holiness.”

Beyond Cloé’s field of vision, the Pontiff’s upright gaze seemed to twinkle momentarily.

“I see.”

The Pontiff turned his body to face forward as if indicating that it was time to announce the results. Slowly, an aged voice flowed through the slightly parted lips. The sacred voice that once sought others’ respect now served as a mere tool to capture their attention and interest.

“Listen, everyone. The weapon used by the honorable knight who cleaved the monster’s head and destroyed its heart is…”