TBR CH47

When Noah hurried back to the Holy Son’s residence, he happened to run into a knight conducting an inspection, with an elderly cleric following behind.

Due to the urgency of the situation, the Holy Son unhesitatingly plucked a rose from the flowerbed, brought it to his lips, and lightly sniffed it, pretending that he had merely come outside to appreciate the fragrance of the flowers.

Bathed in sunlight, the Holy Son of the Church radiated an aura of pure, sacred beauty.

Noah tried to ignore the sticky discomfort of sweat left from his hurried journey, maintaining his carefully poised demeanor. He raised his eyes and smiled at the knight.

It was a charm that could bewitch all beings. The Holy Son firmly believed this.

“Hello,”

He softened his voice to make it even sweeter and more enchanting, looking at the knight with wide, innocent eyes.

“I was just a little bored, so I came out for a stroll… Did I do something wrong?”

Noah wasn’t sure whether the knight had questioned the passersby who had seen him earlier, so he deliberately used the vague phrase “came out for a stroll,” leaving the scope of his whereabouts undefined.

The knight’s demeanor visibly softened. Under the Holy Son’s smile, he seemed dazed for a moment, momentarily forgetting his original purpose for being there. He simply waved his hand and said,

“No, no, my apologies for disturbing you, Your Holiness.”

The charm of the Bewitching Halo was working perfectly. Noah was well acquainted with this state and was certain that the knight before him would believe anything he said. Right now, the man had completely fallen under his spell.

Noah exhaled in relief, but at the same time, a trace of contempt arose in his heart.

Men like these were countless—foolish, gullible playthings…

Just as this sense of smug satisfaction was about to spread through him, it was abruptly interrupted by a low, stern voice.

It was the elderly cleric.

His clouded eyes fixed on Noah, hands clasped together at his chest as he murmured a passage from the sacred texts—words meant to expel evil.

As Noah met his gaze, an ominous premonition welled up within him. His fingers instinctively clenched, crushing the rose petals in his grasp, smearing traces of floral juice across his knuckles.

“System, I need to confirm something again,”

Noah’s voice wavered slightly, laced with a hint of fear for the unknown.

“No matter the age, everyone should be affected by the Bewitching Halo and hold immense fondness for me from the very start, correct?”

Almost instantly, the system responded with a firm confirmation.

Then… the current situation was definitely abnormal.

Forcing himself to maintain his smile, Noah watched as the knight turned around in confusion, seemingly about to ask a question.

This elderly cleric might not hold a high position, but he had devoted his entire life to the Church. Though the Church wasn’t an entirely pure place, most still showed respect for elders who had no personal interests at stake.

The young knight addressed him as “Cleric Bart.”

At this moment, Noah could clearly sense the sharp suspicion in the old man’s gaze. However, being as devout and rigid as his appearance suggested, he wasn’t planning to expose anything publicly.

“Your Holiness,”

Cleric Bart said,

“I believe we need to speak in private.”

The knight, sensing Noah’s reluctance, instinctively tried to intervene, at least ensuring that Noah wouldn’t face the strict clergyman alone.

Yet, in an unexpected move, the ever-gentle and pure Holy Son suddenly pushed away the knight’s protective hand.

“I… Let’s go inside and talk.”

Noah pressed his lips together and, under the knight’s puzzled gaze, accepted the request.

The Holy Son’s residence was the greatest testament to divine favor in the entire Church. While simplicity and humility were expected of clergy, Noah enjoyed the privileges that came with his status.

The room was filled with gold-crafted ornaments, hand-sized pearls used liberally as decorations, and fruits freshly delivered from the royal orchards, still glistening with dew. Exotic varieties abounded, dazzling to the eye.

None of it matched the sight of the elderly cleric, dressed in robes that had been washed so many times they looked worn and faded.

His voice was just as cold and unyielding.

“Your Holiness, I must give you a stern warning.”

His very first words sent a chill down Noah’s spine. And then, with resolute force, he continued:

“I saw it.”

“W-What…”

Noah was completely caught off guard. Instinctively, he put on a frail, innocent expression.

“I don’t understand what you mean…”

“Your Holiness, I revere you as one devoted to serving the divine, and that is precisely why I must privately remind you—not to be misled by demons. The man you met today within the Church carries an ominous presence.”

“H-How much did you see?”

At this point, there was no use pretending ignorance.

Noah struggled to regain some composure. The cleric didn’t seem intent on making this public just yet. That meant there was room to maneuver.

Cleric Bart cast him a reproachful glance—like an elder pained by the mistakes of the younger generation.

“Most of it. Your Holiness, you are the closest being to the divine. This is a warning. If you do not wish to be forsaken by the gods, then stay far away from such wickedness. For now, I will not expose you, but I will continue to watch.”

In the entire Church, few clergymen were as rigid and conservative as Bart, but his devotion reached an almost fanatical level.

He had entered the Church at the age of eight, mastered every sacred scripture of the God of Light, and dedicated his life to serving the divine. If the God of Light commanded his death, he would obey without a shred of doubt.

An hour earlier—

When that strange man in black had stopped Bart to ask for directions, an inexplicable dread had surged within him.

Bart had originally intended to report directly to the knights. However, along the way, another priest greeted him and, in hushed tones, mentioned seeing the Holy Son conversing with someone at a nearby street corner.

Now that he thought about it, the priest’s face was oddly indistinct—Bart couldn’t even recall the color of his eyes. But that wasn’t the point.

The key was…

That remark had led him to witness something he never should have seen.

The Holy Son—who had sworn to serve the divine—had been leaning intimately against the man in black. Their close relationship was undeniable.

Bart had been ready to report this transgression immediately. But out of respect for the Holy Son’s unique status, as well as the leniency an elder might show to the mistakes of the young, he chose instead to offer a warning.

This must never happen again. It must be forbidden forever.

The gods taught that sin was a part of human nature, and that those who sincerely repented could be granted redemption.

This was Bart’s earnest hope for the Holy Son.

And what was Noah thinking at this moment?

Now, he understood why the old cleric was treating him this way. Out of both reverence for the Holy Son’s position and strict adherence to doctrine, the man wouldn’t immediately expose him—but he wouldn’t stop watching, either.

“System,”

The Holy Son bit his lip, his expression one of remorseful sorrow, as if overwhelmed by guilt.

Yet in his heart, a terrifying, violent malice surged forth.

“I have to kill him… As long as this old fool is alive, there’s always a chance he’ll reveal my secret. I can’t let that happen.”

Even as he thought this, he obediently spoke:

“I was wrong. I will follow your advice, serve the divine with sincerity, and never see that man again.”

The devout cleric had no way of knowing the Holy Son’s dark thoughts. Seeing Noah’s apparent repentance, his expression softened slightly.

“The gods will forgive a young soul who has strayed, Your Holiness. You know this—as long as you sincerely atone.”

Ah, yes. The gods—

The system had no time to stop the host’s thoughts before a brilliant plan slowly took shape in Noah’s mind.

At this moment, he was being blackmailed by someone—it was a stifling situation.

And this method would allow him to take the most thorough revenge.

…If he could make the god this man believed in abandon him, torment him, and make everyone in the Church see him as a disgusting and lowly fraud—how would this most devout old high priest feel?

He would probably have no choice but to shut up, right?

Before long, Cleric Bart was sent away by Noah’s insincere display of remorse.

Noah touched his own face, feeling the texture of his skin beneath his fingertips. He knew that, in the eyes of others, this appearance alone was enough to dazzle them without him needing to do anything at all.

Even the system advised him, though not out of any sense of mercy:

“As long as the host disguises himself more cautiously from now on, or seeks the help of a capture target to kill him, either option would be relatively safe and wouldn’t require much effort.”

Noah smiled. At this moment, his smile was still as angelic as ever, and his words carried the innocence of a child:

“He made me unhappy, so I’ll let him experience what it feels like to be abandoned by faith. Isn’t that the most fitting revenge?”

The system emitted a static-like buzzing sound but remained silent, as if its persuasion protocols had been cut off.

At this moment, its authority was not as strong as that of this self-important host. So, it could only accept his greed and resentment without resistance and do its best to believe that events would unfold as he anticipated.

“So,” Tal asked, “what do you plan to do next?”

When the question was asked, Edwin was reading further down the pages of a book that the demon had flipped open.

It was an encyclopedia compiled by someone who called themselves “the great alchemist Mephistopheles,” detailing the author’s observations and understanding of demonic nature—though, of course, it contained no small amount of speculation.

The archbishop of the Holy Church knew far more about demons than people imagined.

Perhaps, subconsciously, he paid attention to his own bloodline. When this gray-eyed high priest stood atop the steep white tower and ordered the burning of the low-ranking demons captured by the Church, he couldn’t help but observe these peculiar creatures.

Once bound in chains and dragged into the Church’s square, these lowly creatures had no chance of survival. The God of Light had once bestowed a divine blessing, and the Church’s chains possessed an extraordinary restraining power over evil beings.

Even if a lord-ranked demon were shackled with consecrated mithril chains engraved with spells, escape would be difficult—provided it submitted first. That was why this method was mostly used on low-ranking demons.

Some had bewitched the people, others had slaughtered wantonly. When they were dragged to the execution platform, their twisted forms revealed bestial traits, and they howled in inhuman tones, filled with rage.

Black markings swelled across their bodies, spilling pure black blood that was soon consumed by the sacred fire, which cleansed all.

At times, from high above, Edwin would think: he was actually just like these lowly creatures.

These twisted, wretched beings carried the same blood as he did.

In secret, Edwin had once conducted small experiments on the demons captured by the Church. Of course, it was nothing serious. Through these experiments, he had found a few effective ways to suppress his own bloodline.

Now, in this situation, those methods could only buy him a little time.

So when he repeated Tal’s question to himself, he found that, at this stage, he had no perfect answer.

The book the demon had been reading put forward many conjectures about bloodline magic, but most lacked credible evidence.

Edwin fell silent for a moment and looked at Tal.

At that moment, Tal casually picked up another book. His sharp demonic horns were fully exposed, and his slit-pupiled eyes were uncovered as well. Yet, suddenly, Edwin felt that he was… different.

The low-ranking demons burned at the stake all had murky, malevolent eyes gleaming with greed and malice. But Tal…

Tal’s beautiful red eyes were as clear as fine wine. Edwin had never seen a demon like this before—one who could captivate with a gaze alone.

“The transformation of my bloodline cannot be stopped for now, so…”

Edwin glanced at the book in the demon’s hands, paused for a moment, and continued,

“Rather than placing my hopes in gaining power to directly oppose a lord-ranked demon, it would be more suitable to disguise myself. Tal, you just said you can cast magic to conceal demonic presence—”

“Yes, I’d be honored to serve you.”

Tal nodded theatrically, as if he considered bowing, but was too lazy to stand up.

“…At the same time, we need to be prepared. Prince Angelo will set a trap for me in the future, and for now, there are still some obvious pieces of evidence that need to be dealt with.”

A sharp, misty gray light gradually gathered in the archbishop’s eyes. Unveiling the past was like slowly peeling back an old, scabbed-over wound—but he had already eliminated all the witnesses.

That meant only one thing remained: the “his kin” that the gray-haired man had mentioned.

He was unwilling to sit and wait for his doom. Perhaps, more than facing Prince Angelo, Edwin preferred to be a venomous serpent himself:

“Also, I need to gather evidence of the prince’s dealings with demons…”

He murmured, as if he had never done the same thing himself.

“That sounds difficult,” the demon laughed, narrowing his eyes. “Where do you plan to start?”

When he had first considered this option, it had only existed as a future possibility. But now that he had to face the matter he had been avoiding for so long, Edwin fell silent for quite a while.

He tried to speak as calmly as possible:

“I need to find that man… the one who is, nominally, the source of my bloodline.”

“Archbishop,”

Tal removed his hand from the book cover and leaned closer. Only then did Edwin realize how near they were sitting after he had temporarily given the demon a chair, and how he had gradually let his guard down against this devil.

The archbishop slightly pulled back, but the demon directly placed a hand on the back of his. Edwin instinctively resisted whatever was coming next.

“Your hand is trembling,”

Tal observed, somewhat puzzled. “Are you cold?”

No…

It wasn’t what Edwin had expected to hear. He inexplicably felt relieved, yet at the same time, ashamed of his own reaction.

However, he did not want to hear anything that could directly reveal the identity of the “man” he spoke of. He would rather describe him as the “source of his bloodline” than directly call him “father.”

The prince’s men said they had already found this person. Edwin was unsure whether he could trust them, but if things had truly gone so smoothly, he might not have been able to escape so easily today.

The bishop was more inclined to believe that they had grasped a clue but were still in the process of investigating and confirming it.

Kinship was a mysterious connection.

Blood came from both parents, and ancient magic could be used to guide one toward their relatives. However, this had not applied to Edwin before, because he had forcibly removed half of his bloodline. The incomplete blood could not contain enough information.

Soon, it would be possible.

“Do you need me to go with you?”

Tal saw through his thoughts. The demon lacked strength but was exceptionally intelligent and perceptive. Edwin hesitated for a moment.

“Yes, I need you.”

That was what he ultimately told the demon in front of him.

Strange things had been happening in the royal capital these past few days.

Experienced elders would light a cigarette in the deep of night and tell the younger generation with a knowing tone:

“Some unwelcome guests have arrived in our city.”

First, in the walnut grove on the western outskirts of the city, numerous animal corpses had inexplicably appeared. Their bodies had been drained of all blood, their lifeless eyes staring blankly at the blue sky obscured by tree shade. Later, even travelers who got lost in the forest began to be affected.

Then, many people claimed to have seen strange black birds gathering in certain places, letting out hoarse cries. However, their memories were all hazy, unable to recall any specific details.

In addition, an elven physician who had lived in the city for many years had mysteriously disappeared. He had never made enemies and was known for his kindness. His entire race devoutly worshiped the Light, and people were deeply worried about him.

Lastly, it was said that the largest tavern in the royal capital, Azure Whispers, had suffered a terrible theft in its kitchen. That day, a newlywed couple had ordered enough fig-roasted meat to feed hundreds of guests, but by the next morning, all of it had vanished without a trace, leaving only scraps. The owner was devastated and swore to take revenge on the despicable thief.

Well, all of these events were, to some extent, secretly connected to the beloved Holy Son.

Noah had an eventful day. Under the watchful eyes of Cleric Bart, secretly meeting his remaining lover had become even more complicated. He bit his lip, fretting over how to stop his passionate lover.

Even if they managed to reach the rose garden unnoticed, the Holy Son could no longer carry out his plan as discreetly as he had hoped.

Just then, he heard a knock at the door.

A Holy Knight outside informed him that he had a visitor.

The man followed the knight inside with an air of confidence. As the knight politely closed the door and left, the visitor leisurely gazed at Noah.

Then, he heard his long-lost, delicate lover let out a terrified cry:

“Edward! How did you get in here?!”

“My dear.”

The most powerful count among the bloodkin was deathly pale, no longer concealing his true appearance. His gaze softened slightly as he looked at the only person he cherished in his heart, but he quickly noticed Noah’s reaction.

“I received help from an ally, so I entered using a legitimate identity. Are you not surprised, my nightingale?”

Aside from the initial thought that at least Cleric Bart would no longer have evidence against him, Noah was not at all surprised by what was happening—he was panicked.

“We agreed not to let anyone else know about this, Edward.”

The beautiful young man did not rush forward as Edward had imagined to express his longing. Instead, he looked utterly flustered, as if a scandal was about to be exposed.

Edward felt a slight sting in his heart, but his overwhelming love quickly suppressed it.

“Making my little nightingale worry is truly a sin.”

He had heard that Noah had been seriously injured, so he had rushed to the capital. In his mind, his fragile, pure lover must have been feeling exceptionally lonely at such a time, waiting for him to come and comfort him.

“Don’t be afraid. I simply asked an old friend for a favor. He won’t tell anyone.”

This was entirely beyond Noah’s expectations and could even lead to disastrous consequences.

“Who is it?”

He grabbed Edward’s sleeve tightly, demanding an answer.

Edward sighed indulgently, helplessly.

“It’s Sata, a demon I have ties with. Your kingdom’s prince relies on him, so he was able to introduce me as an honored guest to the Holy Church. Now, you don’t have to worry anymore, do you?”

“I…”

Noah relaxed slightly, only to hear the bloodkin count speak in a lighthearted tone.

“With this connection, my little nightingale and I can see each other all the time. Noah, aren’t you happy to hear that?”

W-what?

His grip, which had just loosened, tightened once more. He looked at Edward in disbelief.

“No, wait a minute. So he agreed to—? You can’t—”

Edward had not expected this reaction at all.

Even though he was utterly infatuated with the young man before him, as a noble bloodkin, his dignity had been challenged repeatedly. His brows furrowed slightly.

“Why, Noah? Do you not want to see me all the time?”

Those words struck like a bolt of lightning, but Noah was fully awake now. He could not continue down the wrong path.

He put on a sweet smile, gently chiding the man in front of him.

“How could you think that? I love you so much. Of course, I want to see you every day. But I have my responsibilities as the Holy Son to fulfill. Even with this connection, it’s still not entirely secure. We shouldn’t meet here anymore.”

His words felt weak and unconvincing.

Even so, the youth’s delicate and pitiful demeanor, amplified by his irresistible charm, still mesmerized Edward, making him overlook parts of the argument that didn’t quite add up.

Normally, Edward would have agreed to anything he asked.

However, this matter was directly related to their love. He did not want to give up such a golden opportunity to be close to his beloved.

“We have plenty of time.”

Even though he knew his words were unconvincing, Noah still tried to persuade Edward to abandon the idea. It was one thing to deal with Adelaide in the morning, but if Edward also remained in the capital, things would become even more chaotic.

“My dear.”

He spoke in a gentle, coaxing tone.

“When I find the right time to leave my position as the Holy Son, I will spend the rest of my life with you. There’s no need to rush. If you stay here, I… I’m afraid we’ll be discovered. Of course, I’m more worried about you. Even if the chances are low, there’s still potential danger. This is the Holy Church, after all.”

Noah spoke tenderly and earnestly, pausing only to take a breath.

The bloodkin count’s dark eyes locked onto him, making the Holy Son feel slightly uneasy. But soon, those eyes were once again filled with love and desire.

He pulled the youth into his arms and nibbled lightly at his ear.

“My little nightingale has said so much. I understand. But I haven’t seen you for so long. Shouldn’t you do something to make it up to me?”

Well, that was technically a success.

But this development was not part of Noah’s plan.

His pupils shrank involuntarily. No, no, he had another meeting planned later. If Edward stayed, the aftermath would be a complete mess.

Yet, he had no reason or room to refuse. Edward had already made concessions for him.

The Holy Son gritted his teeth, pushed away Edward’s arm, and hastily made up an excuse.

“I still have to go pray later…”

“The knight just said you have no duties today, Noah. You—”

His lie was exposed on the spot. Noah was truly at a loss.

He pressed his lips together, then took the initiative to kiss the man in front of him.

Breathless, he said—

“Don’t let anyone else come in. Please ask the knight outside not to approach this place either.”

That way, the visitor disguised as an ordinary passerby would be met with a firmly shut door.

Dealing with the aftermath could wait—right now, the most important thing was to suppress Edward’s curiosity and prevent him from repeatedly “visiting” him in this manner.

After all, in the future, he would have to win over the God of Light in the Holy See.

Lost in his lover’s intimacy, Noah clenched his fingers tightly, his sharp nails digging deep into his flesh.

He kept telling himself over and over:

“No problem, no problem. I can handle this. This is just a small accident. Everything is still under control.”

He was the Child of Fate.

And his targets were meant to be played in the palm of his hand.

“Don’t let anyone else come in. Please ask the knight outside not to approach this place either.”

That way, the visitor disguised as an ordinary passerby would be met with a firmly shut door.

Dealing with the aftermath could wait—right now, the most important thing was to suppress Edward’s curiosity and prevent him from repeatedly “visiting” him in this manner.

After all, in the future, he would have to win over the God of Light in the Holy See.

Lost in his lover’s intimacy, Noah clenched his fingers tightly, his sharp nails digging deep into his flesh.

He kept telling himself over and over:

“No problem, no problem. I can handle this. This is just a small accident. Everything is still under control.”

He was the Child of Fate.

And his targets were meant to be played in the palm of his hand.