CHAPTER 51: THE MAIN CHARACTER...?

With a quick gesture of his hand, Rhyne was immediately thrown in front of the statue, revealing his disheveled state to all in his capital.

The mastermind, now captured and weak.

"Feast your eyes!"

Justinian declared, arms wide open as he ensured to make a show, to show everyone that this is now a major change that will change his duchy forever.

"The leader of this petty rebellion who thinks he can overthrow me!"

He laughed.

"And now, my citizens, I know what you all are asking: should he be executed? imprisoned?"

Justinian shook his head, smiling widely.

"That’s too generous a punishment, is it not?"

"So what about-"

"May we suggest something, Duke Justinian?"

A sudden voice rang out from within the crowd that gathered, the growing audience suddenly parting to reveal a figure adorned in gold and religious symbols.

And one that caught even Justinian’s surprise.

It was the Holy Patriarch of the Divines, and in the novel, one of the most important characters in the entire story, who granted the MC his divine powers to save the heroine from the main villain.

And coincidentally, the MC was there as well.

Julius Von Victorian.

Gold hair, piercing blue eyes, and an armor made of pure holy steel.

The most powerful mortal in the entire world has arrived in his duchy, and with no warning as well.

"The gods have foretold this moment..."

The Holy Patriarch proclaimed, bowing before Justinian.

Patriarch Marcellus the Seventh.

A being who himself could communicate with the divine when needed, and one who caught the eye of Justinian.

One that was caused due to his trait ’False Divine’.

’Shit... is this due to the gods taking notice of me?’

Justinian was clearly terribly shaken, but he couldn’t show it; he just needed to act the same as usual.

"Revered Patriarch! I didn’t receive news about your coming to this humble duchy!"

Justinian went down from his elevated position, thinking it was disrespectful, as he kneeled in front of him, with Rhyne still beaten and battered just a few meters away.

"Rise, Justinian, a duke of your caliber should not bow down to someone as low as me."

Marcellus humbly ordered, his grace and elegance alone clearly taking effect on the soldiers and citizens around him, taking the spotlight out of Justinian and Rhyne entirely.

And Julius was no different; he was a beaming beacon of hope all around him, and all eyes were on the two of them.

"R-right..."

Justinian stood up, arms clasped behind his back, as he looked back at Rhyne.

"What is it that you want to suggest, Revered Patriarch?"

Marcellus smiled warmly, appreciating Justinian’s quick recovery.

"Straight to the point, I see, truly gifted by Arethrus himself."

Marcellus’ words sparked a major reaction from the entire audience; hearing the Holy Patriarch himself say those words was far different from hearing any other priest or soldier.

For someone who is as attuned as the gods as he is, his words were far more literal.

"The god of war has noticed our duke...?"

"It only makes sense..."

The citizens murmured to each other, with Lucan and Cassia reacting as well, knowing his ’nature’ as an arcanist.

"You are quite popular, you know?"

Julius spoke, his voice was as enthusiastic as a fresh knight, the radiant glow of his personality even rivaling that of the sun; if you couldn’t tell he was important, you would know.

"Thank you, but it’s all in the day’s work as a duke."

"Humble, I like that."

"Ahem..."

Marcellus interrupted them both.

"Let’s have this conversation after we deliver the gods’ judgment."

He laughed before pointing at Rhyne.

"I kindly ask that you allow us to bring him back to the capital for his judgment."

Marcellus took out an amulet from behind his ornate gold robes, handing it to Justinian.

"In exchange, we will handle integrating you back into the rest of the noble society."

Justinian thought about Marcellus’ offer; while he couldn’t refuse it, he could still think about the consequences if he did accept it.

The Holy Patriarch himself endorsing him would bring in tons of new opportunities in all fields, both in reputation, morale, and even military might.

It was all in one, but it would also risk making him a big target.

But if the Church itself was handling it... could he even be targeted?

"Of course, this is the gods’ bidding after all."

Justinian replied, grabbing the amulet.

"As for this...?"

"Think of it as a gift from Arethrus."

Marcellus looked back towards the watching crowd, seeing their hopeful and excited faces at the prospect of having the literal voice of the gods endorse their duchy.

After years of stagnation, this was a definite welcome change.

"Thank you all for greeting us warmly!"

Marcellus bowed to the crowd as Julius grabbed Rhyne, now unconscious, and slung him over his shoulder.

"Hey, we should spar sometime."

Julius gave Justinian a pat on the back, an impish grin on his face.

He was as sociable as he remembered.

"I am no match for you, Lord Julius."

"Quit the humility, it doesn’t suit your skill."

Julius answered with a laugh before heading to Marcellus, the two of them departing the city on foot as they walked towards the gates.

Their procession waiting outside the gates, bringing holy soldiers into a war-torn duchy, would only invite panic, not piety.

’They could have at least brought the carriage? I swear... holy figures and their elaborate entrances...’

Justinian thought, before pushing it away, nothing good would come from snooping into business that isn’t yours.

Looking back at the crowd instead, their focus was now back on him again, but this time, he no longer had Rhyne to leverage for his speech.

Now, he needed to make up a new plan on the spot.

"With Rhyne taken care of..."

Justinian laughed, scratching the back of his head.

"Why not just celebrate the promised festival in advance!"

He looked at Matthias to confirm if the logistics were possible, and it was quickly confirmed with a simple nod.

"That is all! You are all dismissed!"

Justinian gave a curt bow to the crowd before turning backwards and heading back to his palace for his dramatic exit.

More out of elegance than actual necessity.

’Now then... been a while since I checked on my system, I should see what’s changed.’