You think you're worthy of saving the world?

"Really? Really... You think so too?"

The Imperial Prince gazed thoughtfully at the mottled ceiling above the confessional room.

"But intelligence suggests that Rosalia..."

"I plan to further strengthen my influence within the Papacy, and then... just like Albion..."

The religious reformation of Albion occurred 200 years ago.

With the intervention of the Albion royal family, the power of the Church of Heaven was completely eradicated.

This is the most devastating blow the Church has suffered since the beginning of the Holy Calendar.

Upon hearing the prince's warning, the young priest calmly shook his head.

"Impossible. She's not foolish enough to attempt to declare war on the Church of Heaven. This action is likely just a provocation against 'us.'"

"Even the queen who rules the Holy Land has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of the church... It's been ten thousand years since the elves were allowed to dictate to the Church of Heavenly Principle."

“You are right, but the Holy Tree Queen is, after all, the daughter of the White Night, and still holds great weight in the hearts of ordinary believers.”

The obese prince wiped his sweat as he said, "So in a way, she was probably testing the waters."

"Well...that's true."

The young priest stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then smiled: "So you came all this way just to sow discord between 'us' and Rosalia?"

"!"

His Highness was startled and quickly shook his head in denial: "How could that be! I absolutely did not mean that! I just wanted to give everyone a heads-up! You should know Rosalia's ambition better than I do!"

"That's true, but isn't Rosalia your niece?"

The prince said solemnly, "I am a devout believer in the goddess. If my nephews and nieces were to launch an invasion against the holy Church... I would be deeply saddened."

The young priest chuckled.

"Yes, you're right, Rosalia definitely needs to be guarded against..."

If that guy launches an attack under the guise of supporting the Pope, and with the support of the Holy Land of Elysium, even "we" will be in serious trouble.

"so……"

The prince rolled his eyes and asked in a low voice, "What are the plans of the Papal Court... no, the Twelve Holy Sees, for tomorrow's gathering?"

Rosalia and the Elf Queen's social gatherings, I think, must be stopped no matter what, preferably..."

“I don’t intend to do anything,” the young priest replied.

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

"Didn't I just say it? It's too suspicious."

The young priest smiled and said, "Being this flamboyant is completely out of character for that woman... She must have some other scheme."

His Highness frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

His eyes suddenly widened.

"Could it be... that this gathering is actually a trap!?"

"A trap..."

The young priest neither agreed nor disagreed, then changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, Your Highness... do you know Euryphus Falsion?"

"Of course, that is the name of the prophesied child."

"What concerns me most is that the Child of Prophecy was also invited as a guest this time," the young priest said, frowning.

"That's because the Child of Prophecy is quite popular lately. Even in my own territory, I've heard a lot of rumors about him. Are those rumors true? For example, that he defeated the Void Demon."

"It's mostly fake news."

"Haha...I thought so too."

Upon learning that the Papal Court had no intention of punishing Rosalia for her outrageous behavior, the Imperial Prince left dejectedly, muttering, "It was a trap! Luckily, I didn't fall for it! That cunning Rosalia, she almost sent someone to cause trouble!"

Long after the obese nobleman left, the young priest stretched and walked out of the confessional.

In the end, he still couldn't figure out the meaning behind Rosalia's decision to hold this party.

Is it simply a matter of testing and provoking the Papal Court...?

No, she's not the flamboyant type.

or……

What was it that made her willing to risk the hostility of the Papal Court to achieve her goal?

"..."

The young priest thought to himself.

Rosalia and Celestia's true target will be the person who benefits the most from tomorrow's social meeting.

……

……

……

"Lady Rosalia, I heard that the Son of Prophecy also attended today's gathering. Where is he?"

I was so excited I could hardly contain myself, and I wanted to say a few words to the Savior…

After the "Eternal Queen" uttered these words, dozens of pairs of eyes in the entire venue turned to Yuri.

"Oh, oh, oh... To be chosen by the Elf Queen, how lucky..."

The whispers of the nobles reached Yuri's ears, and at the same time, they parted the sea as if a saint had parted it to make way for him.

Yuri quickly stepped forward; he couldn't very well let the Queen come to him in person.

You could see the blush on Celestia's cheeks and the upturned corners of Rosalia's mouth...

Yuri's unease deepened, and the security breach from earlier was forgotten.

What are these two women plotting...?

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness Celestia."

"Oh my, you must be... Lord Euryphus."

Celestia spoke demurely.

"I've been looking forward to it ever since I heard from Lady Rosalia that you would be attending... You really came, hehe, but something seems a little off, doesn't it?"

"what?"

"This isn't actually the first time we've met, is it?"

The Elf Queen spoke in front of many nobles.

"!"

Yuri was taken aback: Was she going to reveal that we had met in private? No way!

Then, the Queen added, "I held you when you were a baby in swaddling clothes, and now you are a fine and handsome young man."

"........."

Seeing the black-haired boy's embarrassed expression, Celestia covered her mouth with her hand and smiled with a very queenly air.

This woman is definitely making fun of me...

If there were many onlookers around, Yuri would love to lift up her silk princess dress and then slap the elf queen's huge buttocks hard.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Euryphus."

"Hehe, me too, Your Majesty," Yuri said sarcastically.

"Oh my, really? That's wonderful!" Celestia squinted her eyes.

“My heart is filled with joy, so much so that I want to kiss the back of your hand,” Yuri said.

“Unfortunately, elves are forbidden from physical contact with humans,” Celestia said.

What are you pretending to be innocent for, you lecherous little devil!

"I know exactly where the mole is on your chest," Yuri thought to herself.

After that, the two exchanged some perfunctory pleasantries.

"Your Majesty, I must take my leave now. Please continue with your business."

Yuri was preparing to retreat, as other nobles were waiting to pay their respects to Rosalia and Celestia, and he couldn't afford to waste too much time.

"Time flies, it was a very pleasant chat with Lord Euryphus."

"Hehe, I'm honored that you would say that."

Just as Yuri was about to leave—

Suddenly, he noticed something.

Four or five figures had appeared on the railing on the second floor of the venue at some point.

The reason we didn't notice it sooner was because we couldn't sense any life in them—

It has no nose or eyes, no clothes or skin, only ball joints and a white face like a doll model.

"...!"

At the same time that Yuri noticed them, the dolls took action.

He leaped from the second floor as if he were about to land directly on Celestia.

Recalling the lax security measures at the venue, Yuri realized that the other party was probably an assassin—

Without time to think, his body had already begun to move.

Yuri lunged forward, trying to shield Celestia with his body, while raising his right hand.

"The Demon King's Branch!"

The black slime extending from the right wrist transformed into black lightning, piercing and tearing apart the body of one of the pounced dolls.