Regressor of the Fallen Family novel Chapter 247

Chapter 247

At Logan’s words, Fabian nodded without hesitation.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“If you do not wish to be punished for disrespecting the king, you’d better explain yourself, Fabian.”

Fabian’s complexion twisted at the remark.

– A cleric is supposed to be judged only by the laws of God, not those of man.

It sounded as if Logan was suggesting breaking the unwritten rule that had been respected by every dynasty on the continent since ancient times, upheld by the great temples of the nine supreme gods—even if no records remained.

“That statement itself is the problem. Your Majesty has no right to coerce us priests.”

Logan let out a dry chuckle.

“Do I have no say when I’ve donated a fortune to the temple and personally requested your services, only for you to slack off in front of me?”

“If you are dissatisfied with our conduct, you should lodge a complaint with the temple. If we are truly at fault, the temple will punish us according to God’s will.”

Confidence had returned to Fabian’s face as he spoke.

It was a logical statement after all.

No king wished to oppose the temples, let alone the gods themselves. For going against the temples, or the gods, meant turning both the populace and the nobility against him.

Of course.

“Is that so? Then I shall inquire with the temple later on.”

Logan, the intimidating superhuman king, had no choice but to back down…

Or so it seemed.

“…?”

In a flash.

“After I kill you.”

A golden aura, radiating fierce presence, hovered threateningly below Fabian’s plump neck.

“Ah!”

The two priests beside Fabian fell to the ground, screaming and scrambling backward on their buttocks as they witnessed the aura’s oppressive force.

“Argh!”

“Save… Save us…!”

It was an utterly unforeseeable spectacle for the priests.

Watching the situation unfold, the priests all fell into panic, but the ones to restrain Logan turned out to be the knights close by.

“Your… Your Majesty, please calm down!”

“Your Majesty. Killing a cleric, especially a high priest, will bring great trouble!”

“Great trouble?”

Despite the knight’s urgent tone, Logan merely sneered, continuing to fix his gaze on the now pale-faced Fabian.

“That couldn’t be.”

“…Your Majesty?”

As the knights looked on bewildered, Logan, with a sinister smile, lightly tapped Fabian’s chin with the tip of his sword.

“High Priest Fabian. Tell me, what kind of problem do you think will arise if I were to kill you? Eh?”

Faced with such provocation, terror-filled eyes of Fabian shifted.

As the shock of the unexpected event wore off, reason returned.

Creak.

“The temple will never sit idly by, Your Majesty. The entire McLain kingdom will crumble from its roots!!”

Anger welled up in place of fear, giving Fabian the strength to shout back.

But that anger was directed toward someone who merely sneered dismissively.

“You’re overestimating your worth, Fabian.”

“The temple alone has the right to punish priests, and you’re trying to cross that line! The price will not be small!”

Fabian’s voice grew stronger as he spoke.

But.

“Yes. It won’t be cheap.”

“…?”

“Would a high priest cost, what, ten million gold?”

“What are you…!”

“And if I deal with those low-ranking priests who were slacking off, another thirty million gold should suffice, for trash like them.”

“How dare you commit sacrilege…!”

“Will Archpriest Pamiel accept the gold and keep quiet, or will he call for the conquest of a kingdom that brings him no benefit? Shall we bet on that?”

Logan’s red eyes bore into Fabian with an icy ferocity.

Confronted with that gaze, Fabian thought of his faction leader and the kingdom’s Archpriest, recalling his notorious greed, and fell silent once again, his face turning pale.

“Rather not waste money needlessly, so do your job properly, priest. Understand?”

A resplendent golden aura gently prodded Fabian’s cheek.

“If you don’t want to, just say the word. It’s no trouble for me to increase my donation and call for other priests.”

Logan sheathed his sword, mockingly dismissing the trembling Fabian.

“Now, everyone back to your positions! Remember, treating the patients and containing the plague is the quickest way to finish this job! Priests especially, know that sloth will not be tolerated!”

His booming voice echoed through the village.

* * *

“…So that’s what happened.”

Shortly after the incident, Ilia, who had finished healing the patients and recharging her divine power through prayer, was briefed on the complete events by the knights of the temple.

“Are you going to let this stand?”

At the words of Timo, a knight of the temple, Ilia quietly shook her head.

“What do you mean?”

“Are you?”

“Aren’t you saying that what he threatened the priests with was not to slack off?”

“Ah…”

“We came here to aid people in distress. And they accuse us of slacking off… Had I been there, I would not have intervened either.”

Ilia’s face bore the trace of anger as she spoke.

‘A truly virtuous priest.’

Timo realized anew that the bishop he served was indeed a genuine servant of the faith.

Of course, he did not forget to remind her to be extra cautious, considering who they were dealing with.

“But you must remember, the king can see the movement of sacred power.”

“Ah, yes. That is certainly a marvel. It’s something normally invisible to the eye.”

“All the more reason it must be reported to the church. And…”

Timo trailed off hesitantly, prompting Ilia to inquire.

“…And? What is it?”