“Let us all take our seats first.”

As Enzo tidied his expression and spoke to Raharta and Tarshan, the two sat down with regretful faces.

Erina also sat in her designated seat.

The table was circular with no separate designated head seat.

Temples and towers have been treated as autonomous and independent organizations like separate nations since ancient times.

Moreover, as they were not subordinate to the empire, Enzo carefully prepared the seating arrangements not wanting to create any unnecessary disorder.

Even though Enzo had prepared the seating after much consideration, judging from the two’s reactions, it seemed to be a wasted effort.

The welcoming atmosphere, the table without a head seat, the carefully selected refreshments and tea all seemed to hold no meaning to the two.

The gazes of Raharta and Tarshan were solely focused on Erina.

Erina did not know what to do with herself under the burning gazes from both sides.

No matter what, as this was an official meeting, there were basic procedures to follow.

The two, unable to take their eyes off Erina as if looking at a long-lost sister with affectionate eyes, seemed to have no intention of proceeding with the formalities.

Enzo openly let out a deep sigh at the sight of the Pope and the Great Sage, who were immersed in anticipation like children.

He had felt something was strange from the moment they urgently requested a meeting with Erina.

There seemed to be some ulterior motive, but it did not feel like it would be harmful to Erina or the empire.

Looking at the historical records passed down only to emperors, it was written that whenever a mana stone mine appeared for generations, the Pope from the temple and the Great Sage from the tower would personally come to meet the owner of the mine.

Seeing these two organizations, which usually had an ambiguous existence, moving directly, it seemed that mana stones held another symbolic meaning.

At the sight of Erina, who was at a loss and requesting help with her eyes, Enzo cleared his throat to divert their attention.

“Ahem.”

At that, Raharta and Tarshan seemed to realize and greeted Enzo.

“It has been a while, Your Majesty.”

“This is our first meeting since the coronation ceremony.”

Enzo nodded his head and exchanged greetings at the two’s concise greetings.

Their attitude was on a completely different level compared to how they treated Erina, but Enzo did not mind much.

“I will get straight to the point. May I ask the reason for your visit?”

As Enzo asked directly, he immediately noticed that the two, like himself, did not particularly enjoy formalities.

When asked straightforwardly, the two answered more comfortably.

“We came to request Marchioness Medelia to visit the Kamkarash Temple.”

“The tower is the same. After visiting the temple, we came with the hope that you would also come to Meltias Tower once.”

Under the inexplicably warm gazes, Erina could not answer readily.

Noticing this, Enzo asked on her behalf.

“Is there a reason?”

“The owners of the previous mines also followed the same procedure.”

At Tarshan’s answer, Enzo frowned and replied.

“There was no such thing in the records.”

While there were records of the Pope and the Great Sage coming to meet the owner of the mine, there were no records of the owner of the mine directly visiting the distant temple and tower of the empire.

Enzo sharply examined the two, wondering if they had any impure intentions.

Surprised by Enzo’s reaction, Erina tensed up, and Raharta smiled gently and answered.

“We cannot tell you the details, but Marchioness’ name has been engraved on the cup containing the temple’s ‘Goddess’ Spring Water’ and the tower’s ‘Book of Wisdom.'”

“Is that true?”

Asked the startled Enzo.

The reason the temple was maintained even though there was no one who could manifest divine power anymore, and the reason the tower was maintained even though there was no one who could use magic anymore, was because of the Goddess’ Spring Water and the Book of Wisdom.

The Goddess’ Spring Water, called the pillar of the Kamkarash Temple, was located in the deepest part where only the Pope could enter.

It was a place where the words of God descended, a place where even the emperors of successive generations had never been to.

After the collapse of the magical era, the number of times the Goddess’ Spring Water reacted could be counted on one hand, but whenever there was a great danger to the continent, it reacted and helped overcome the crisis.

The Book of Wisdom was similar.

Just before the collapse of the magical era, a prophecy appeared in the Book of Wisdom, helping humanity on the verge of destruction.

Stored at the very top of Meltias Tower, it was protected by the power of a strong artifact and could not be seen without visiting the tower.

Enzo had no choice but to ponder.

Having a name engraved on the inside of the cup containing the Goddess’ Spring Water meant that the words of God had descended upon the person whose name was engraved.

Likewise, the Book of Wisdom also had the name of the person who would receive the prophecy engraved, and only the person whose name was written could see the contents.

For both, Erina, whose name was engraved, had to go to the temple and tower no matter what.

However, Erina was currently being threatened by an undisclosed allied force.

To visit both the temple and the tower, at least a month had to be devoted to travel time.

The temple and tower were as heavily secure as the imperial palace, so he was not worried, but he was concerned about traveling back and forth.

Various places had to be passed through, so it was impossible to predict what might happen.

As if reading Enzo’s concerns, Tarshan proposed to Enzo.

“Therefore, we ask you to authorize the activation of the gate connecting the temple, tower, and imperial palace.”

“Ah.”

Enzo thought of the gate located north of the imperial palace.

The gate, known to have existed long before the height of the magical era, allowed travel to a place where another gate existed.

The gate connected the imperial palace, temple, and tower.

However, this gate had not been activated for nearly a thousand years.

This was because the amount of mana stones required to operate it once was enormous.

Due to the small size of the mana stone mines discovered for generations, the gate was not utilized and remained like a relic.

“The cost of mana stones used for this trip will be paid by the temple and tower with holy water and artifacts.”

At the mention of holy water and artifacts, Enzo did not answer and looked at Erina.

In fact, as the emperor, he had no justification or reason to refuse.

However, it was a deal that could only be made with the consent of the party involved.

Erina, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between the three, widened her eyes as the gazes suddenly focused on her.

“Marchioness Medelia, since you are the one being requested to visit, it seems right for you to make the decision.”

At Enzo’s words, Raharta and Tarshan’s eyes lit up.

Erina thought that visiting the temple and tower would be helpful if it could help, and it did not seem like it would be harmful.

She might be able to find out the reason why she knew the original work there.

As Erina slowly nodded her head, Raharta quickly spoke as if he had been waiting.

“Then, although it may be too sudden, would it be alright to leave tomorrow? When the words of God descend upon the Goddess’ Spring Water, it does not flow until the recipient of the words sees it, and as a result, the functions of the temple have been paralyzed.”

The Goddess’ Spring Water was also the holy water of the temple.

Holy water was water that showed remarkable healing power and was the only source of income that sustained the temple.

However, the quantity was so small that it was very rare, barely completing one bottle a day.

Although Raharta left the temple as soon as Erina’s name was engraved on the Goddess’ Spring Water, a week had already passed due to the distance.

Of course, it was an exaggeration to say that the functions of the temple were paralyzed, but it was true that there was interference.

“You don’t have to stay for a long time. If it’s alright with you, Marchioness, would you please allow it?”

As even Tarshan pleaded, Erina could not think any longer.

When Erina consented, Raharta and Tarshan left with very happy faces, saying they would prepare.

After the two left, Enzo sighed with an exasperated face and asked Erina.

“Marchioness Medelia, will it be alright to move so suddenly like this?”

“It’s fine. I have notified that I will return to the marquisate in a week, so there should be no problem.”

Using the gate to travel between the temple and tower, the travel time was close to none.

Since they said she did not have to stay for a long time, it seemed that everything would be handled before then.

“You said you would return to the marquisate in a week.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm. Did Sandes not say anything in particular?”

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Enzo smiled meaningfully and avoided answering.

It seemed that although he returned as if he would confess and keep her by his side right away, he did not do anything.

Seeing the stagnant Sandes, who had tremendous drive in public affairs to the point of making it difficult to breathe, Enzo clicked his tongue inwardly.

Seeing that Sandes was utterly clueless when it came to romance, Enzo thought that as a married senior, he should provide some help.

Enzo smiled meaningfully as he thought of the advice he would give when he met him.

Erina, unaware of Enzo’s inner thoughts, was only puzzled by his meaningful smile.

As soon as morning dawned the next day, Erina prepared to move to the temple using the large gate located in the northernmost field of the imperial palace.

The gate seemed to be about 5 meters high with only a round frame.

It was as if the glass had disappeared, leaving only the frame of a large mirror.

People operated the gate using mana stones according to the instructions of Great Sage Tarshan.

Then, a translucent purple barrier appeared in the hollowed-out space.

“The location is set to the temple. After visiting the temple together, we will move to the tower.”

At Tarshan’s words, a large number of people passed through the gate together.

Erina passed through the mysterious purple barrier with the Imperial 5th Knights Division and Hera.

The feeling of moving through the rippling gate was marvelous.

Crossing the gate, they arrived in front of the gate located behind the temple.

“It’s amazing.”

“Jumping over a distance that would take more than ten days with a single gate is truly remarkable.”

The knights, excited to have used the gate, were busy conversing with each other.

It had not been activated for nearly a thousand years, so even the ancestors of much higher generations had not used it, but they had directly experienced it.

The knights could not hide their excited demeanor even while vigilantly guarding the surroundings.

It was not only the knights who found it amazing.

The priests who came with the Pope and the sages and members of the tower who came with the Great Sage were equally amazed.

The priests made the sign of the cross, saying they had directly experienced the power of God, and the sages were busy examining the activated gate, wanting to know the principles.

Amidst the quiet commotion, Erina stood still and gazed at the temple made of pure white marble.

She felt a strange feeling of unfamiliarity yet familiarity.

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.