[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-king":3,"chapter-the-reborn-king-the-reborn-king-chapter-368":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn King",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1100825,1437,"Chapter 368: A Painful Realisation","the-reborn-king-chapter-368",368,"\u003Cp>Michael, Gabriel, Constance and Rameil sat around a circular table. All of them waited patiently, only Gabriel staring at the door with cold eyes. The door opened, and Elijah walked in. Constance finally opened his eyes and saw the Grand Templar bowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forgive me, Your Holiness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sit,\" Constance said sternly, and Elijah complied. With all the Grand Templars together, Constant finally began. \"Today is a hard day for me.\" His tone was heavy. Peeking towards Michael, he could see the old man had a feeling about what was going to happen. \"In this room, you all have the same title, but one of you is a first amongst equals.\" Constance looked at Michael and frowned, \"But his failures in recent years have proven that maybe this shouldn’t be the case anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michael knew what was really happening. His failures were a good excuse, but the truth of it was that he got curious. Looking at Elijah and Rameil, he knew the two wouldn’t have much of an idea what was going on behind the scenes. Both spend most of their time out of the Holy Seat, with Ramiel fighting and Elijah recruiting for the Templars. \"Grand Templar Michael. Is there anything you wish to say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of the men looked his way, making him sigh. Leaning in his chair, he looked to the roof. On the ceiling, he saw an image of what was meant to be Sol’s Kingdom. \"I have faithfully given my life to the Sol and the Church, Your Holiness, but it does not excuse my failure in recent history. If you feel this is the best course of action, then I will accept.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michael knew there was no point in fighting it. Constance had already made his move, and fighting to keep his place as the head of the Templars would only give him more reason to suppress him. Closing his eyes, he suppressed the sigh in his throat. The Holy Seat had always been a mix of politics and faith, but recently it felt like it was becoming more political. He didn’t know if it was because of his findings in the archives or that it was Constance’s rule, but part of it was disappointing what he was seeing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men all around nodded deeply, and Consatnce turned to Gabriel, \"Grand Templar Gabriel shall take over as the first amongst equals. You shall all respect my decision.\" Constance stood up and looked at Rameil. \"Walk with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Templar got up and followed Constance out of the room, leaving the three. All of them stood up and looked at one another. \"Congratulations, Gabriel,\" Elijah said coldly and looked at Micgael. \"It’s a shame, Michael.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michael smiled and shook his head, \"My failure against Alfred Lindonfall caused this. Maybe fresh blood leading the order will do us good.\" Michael turned to Gabriel and held his hand out, \"I wish you luck, Gabriel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gabriel took the hand and stared deeply into Michael’s eyes. His suspicions were obvious. \"Your blessing means everything.\" The two knew the truth about the change of leadership. \"You are still Sol’s Sword, and I hope I can turn to you when I need help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Order exists to support one another. My door is always open.\" Elijah could see there was something more behind the decision and wanted to ask. But seeing Gabriel’s cold eyes and Michael’s acceptance, held his tongue, not wishing to probe too deeply into the politics of things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Constant attitude completely changed with Rameil. Matching the gentle smile the Templar wore, the two slowly walked, admiring the sights of the Holy Seat. \"When was the last time you were here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ramiel closed his eyes and chuckled, \"Eight years ago, I believe. I have dearly missed it here. The beauty, the peace, the air. Everything about it reinforces my faith and reminds me of what I spent all those years fighting for.\" Ramiel paused, \"I understand my vow, but I hate my work. I have tried desperately to make the Heathens see the light, but they never do. They force my hand, make me spill blood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are a good man, Rameil.\" Constance tapped his shoulder, \"Better than me or anyone in the Holy Seat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Holiness...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s true.\" Constance cut off the surprised voice,\" You see the good in all. It’s why I could never pit you against the Blessed One. Your kindness is a great strength, but a weakness. If I pit you against that man, he would play on that kindness and when the chance arises, stab you in the back.\" Constance looked over the balcony and leaned forward. \"He is evil. That’s why he must be destroyed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ramiel joined Constance and leaned over, \"Perhaps.\" He didn’t deny Constance’s claim, knowing he had been tricked before, \"May I ask you a question, Your Holiness?\" Constance nodded, and Rameil took a deep breath. \"Why did you remove Michael. There was more to it than his failures. We all have failed before and were never punished for it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Constance smiled and lowered his head, \"You’re right.\" He didn’t deny it and looked deeply into the man’s eyes. \"You understand that even with the grand archive, there are some things I have hidden away. Texts, tablets and other relics from the previous eras.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve heard rumours of it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Michael wanted access to them.\" Constance sighed, \"You must understand, Rameil, I am not punishing him because I believe he is a traitor or that he is curious. I am doing it to protect the Holy seat and Michael’s own faith.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Constance spoke softly, \"The things he would see would shake him to the core. The church has lied and cheated throughout history, sometimes because men were corrupted by the power as the Pope. But mainly it was done to protect the masses.\" Looking back up into Rameil’s eyes, his angelic face broke into a smile, \"I need you, Rameil, more than ever. I trust Gabriel, Michael and Elijah, but I will rely on you. They are good soldiers, but you are a good man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rameil looked over the balcony at the clergy wandering the large halls. \"They are all good men.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you sure?\" Constance said sadly.\" At one point, perhaps, but years of slaughter will corrupt even the most noble. You, on the other hand, are a man who, no matter how many times you have been tricked, will always hold out a hand to help your enemy. No matter how many you have killed, you will always beg for forgiveness. The others won’t do that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Constance watched as Ramiel finally lost his gentle smile. \"I trust Michael. I know what he does is for Sol, but if he does anything dangerous, I need to know you stand by me, even if it means committing one more sin.\" Constance took a step back. With a voice like an angel and a smile that was free of malice, he carried on, \"I’m not asking you to do this for me, but the people whose faith he threatens to destroy if he goes too far.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rameil watched Constance, regaining his smile, \"Much like the others, I have already damned myself from seeing Sol’s Kingdom. I did so to protect those who deserved it.\" Clutching the symbol of Sol around his neck, Ramiel brought it to his lips, gently kissing it. \"If Michael threatens to destroy what Sol holds dear, I won’t hesitate. I will mourn for him and shed tears, but I will protect the souls of the people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Constance walked over and grabbed Ramiel’s arm, firmly gripping it. \"This is why I will rely on you. Because you will weep for him, not try to fill his place. Thank you, Ramiel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Constance turned around, his soft smile gradually vanishing, becoming expressionless. Walking to his office, he thought of the final Grand Templar.’Michael’s reputation alone will be dangerous if he tries anything. I need them all on my side.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew Elijah would be the hardest. The man had great respect for Michael. He wasn’t as faithful as the rest either, only becoming a Grand Templar because of his skills in finding new talent for the order. He knew he would have to be careful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite that, Constance hoped he wouldn’t have to move against Michael, that he would let his curiosity die and remember his duty. Stripping him of his place as first amongst equals was a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michael looked down at the large book detailing all the contradictions he found within the archives documents. His finger bounced on the table as he wondered what he should do next. Part of him wanted to take the warning he had been given and burn it, but each time he thought like that, it was suppressed by an overwhelming desire to know the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was at the point of no return. Whatever choice he meant, he could never go back to the other. Michael looked at the worn-out holy book on his desk. It was obvious how much Michael had read it. Carefully, he opened up to one of the stories in the text and read. It was a story of a previous Blessed One, Saint Clement, one of the few Blessed Ones whom the church didn’t execute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reading through it, the usual peace Michael would have couldn’t be found. His brown furrowed with each word, and his breathing got slightly heavier. \"no.\" Softly speaking to himself, he grabbed his head in shame and fought to hold back his tears. It wasn’t obvious, but after reaching the previous Blessed Ones so heavily, he saw a new contradiction in the Holy Text.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This...\" Michael forced down the words in his mouth, but grinding his teeth, he couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with anger. Looking out his window at the large cathedral, the centre of the Holy Seat, he felt nothing but rage, \"To tarnish Sol’s Texts.\" It was beyond politics. This wasn’t a mistake but a perfectly covered-up lie that spanned generations.\u003C\u002Fp>",1671,"2026-06-03T11:17:48.775Z","2026-06-03T11:17:51.400Z",1,"novelbin.me","9f60737118332ee42c4938b29289fe2070ba872f3194bc81bde281fa13b1f75e","the-reborn-king-chapter-369","the-reborn-king-chapter-367",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-king-cover.jpg"]