Chapter 165
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: Bastards Who Haven't Even Pissed for Neruman
'What the hell are these guys?'
Neruman was always overflowing with work anyway, no matter what.
If there was something to say, he'd trusted the words of Duke Harudaim, who told him to fire off the Lumikar he'd given him, and had politely sent a warning to the Bazran Empire using that Lumikar: cease the invasion of Bazran Imperial territory at once.
If they dared to get greedy any further, they would face the true might of Bazran and end up crossing swords with him.
While waiting for Duke Harudaim's reply like that.
An urgent message arrived from the wyvern squadron patrolling the border of Habis Kingdom.
The contents, swiftly relayed through fortresses and makeshift communication posts.
A group that appeared to be priests, carrying the banners of various temples, were heading toward Denfos.
At that moment, he recalled how the dark information broker Seikre had mentioned yesterday that important guests would be visiting.
'If they're flying each temple's banner, it has to be the Heresy Inquisitors.'
The Heresy Inquisitors, something even he was well aware of.
Anyone who wasn't an idiot knew it was the doing of the foolish lackeys of the Goddess of Mercy Neran, stirred up by Armis.
'Guess we'll have to clash sooner or later anyway.'
He waited leisurely in his office for them.
'Here they come.'
Standing by the office window, he spotted a group of wyverns flying in.
It had been quite some time since the communication, so plenty of time for them to arrive.
He waited unhurriedly for these uninvited guests.
In any other territory, the lords would rush out barefoot to greet the servants of the gods.
But he didn't.
These pathetic creatures, who were nothing but corpses without their "holiness," daring to judge him for heresy.
They'd picked the wrong guy.
Today, he would show them exactly what the true will of the gods was.
'Whoa! Neruman's developed this much!'
The priests from each temple, who hadn't believed the rumors of Neruman's explosive growth.
They crossed the border and flew along Neruman's main road on wyverns.
And during the journey, the prosperous landscapes of Neruman they'd witnessed.
Then, upon arriving at Denfos, the colossal capital city that greeted them.
The priests, who had pilgrimaged through the Empire and various kingdoms, couldn't hold back their awe at the mighty grandeur of Neruman's capital towering before them.
"Have the holy knights and priests land in front of the empty hangar!"
A shout infused with mana rang in the ears of the Heresy Inquisitors and the holy knights escorting them.
Kuaaaaaa.
Kieeeuuuuuuu.
The words were a polite request, but suddenly over a hundred wyverns revealed themselves from all directions.
They flew in a long circle around the inquisitors, issuing a warning flight.
Flaaap, flaap flap flap.
The heresy inquisitors, flustered by the first truly intimidating situation they'd ever faced, hurriedly landed.
"Welcome. I am Derbal, Chief Administrative Knight of Neruman."
As the heresy inquisitors and their thirty-odd escort holy knights—Sky Knights—landed, they were greeted by Neruman's Chief Administrative Knight, the one-armed knight.
"No, where is Neruman's lord? Why is a mere knight greeting us?"
The priest of the God of Light and Sun Rasaar, who hadn't yet tasted any real heat, eyed Derbal with a sneer.
"His Lordship has ordered me to escort you priests to Lady Neran's temple. Please follow me."
Derbal spoke steadily, unfazed by the priests' sneers and tones, and took the lead.
The embarrassed priests flushed red as they dismounted their wyverns and followed behind.
Crunch crunch.
Trailing them were about twenty holy knights.
"Halt. You lot wait here."
"Wh-what is this? We are holy knights tasked with protecting the priests! How dare you block our path!"
A group of knights suddenly appeared, blocking the holy knights' way.
They stood firm, ignoring the holy knights' shouts.
"We are the loyal knights sworn to protect His Lordship's command and the territory. Do not put us in a difficult position by defying His Lordship's orders."
The knights blocked the holy knights with cold expressions, not budging an inch.
Kuaaaaaa!
Above their heads, Sky Knights clutching spears flew their wyverns in menacing patterns.
Creeeeeak.
'About time they showed up.'
The heavy doors of the temple swung open, the sound echoing through Lady Neran's temple.
"It's a pretty grand temple."
"But why is there only Lady Neran's temple here? I heard they were ignoring her..."
The priests' voices ignored the rule that one must enter reverently, seal their lips, and offer prayers to the divine.
Thud thud.
Their heavy footsteps reverberated through the temple.
"My lord, I have brought the priests."
The loyal Derbal's voice reached his ears as he knelt in prayer.
'Lady Neran, from this moment on, keep your eyes peeled. I'll give these punks a proper education.'
The golden holy relic of Neran, shaped like a circle embracing a cross.
Whether she heard his inner voice or not, he offered the utmost courtesy(?) he could muster.
Swish, swish.
He drew the holy sign and concluded his reverent prayer to the goddess.
'Damn, my legs are killing me.'
He'd only knelt on the hard floor briefly while waiting for them, but his legs were numb.
He quickly circulated his mana to dispel the pain.
Then, slowly turned his head.
Presenting the solemn, sacred image of a faithful believer who had just finished praying.
"Welcome. I, Kaier, the humble lord ruling Neruman, greet the priests of the various temples."
He greeted them in the manner of Neran's faithful.
"I, Amorrent, priest of the Goddess of Fate Para'an who governs January, greet the lord."
"Goddess of Abundance and Blessing..."
The priests followed with their greetings.
It was only natural they couldn't spit in the face of his smiling courtesy, done in the temple's own style.
After the priest of the Goddess of Wisdom and Beauty Barshua finished, eleven priests—no, ten priests, excluding the cold-faced priest of the Goddess of Mercy Neran—completed their greetings.
"But what brings you to my humble territory amid your busy schedules? Is there something this inadequate lord can assist with...?"
Derbal had already vanished quietly at his command.
He asked their purpose in a voice dripping with feigned politeness.
"We apologize for our sudden visit, which must have caught you off guard. However, a formal heresy judgment petition has been filed against you and Neruman. Cooperate fully, and there will be no issue."
Amorrent, priest of the Goddess of Fate Para'an, spoke on behalf of the priests, stating their purpose.
"A heresy judgment petition? I've welcomed you to my citadel with the utmost hospitality I could offer to Lady Neran's temple, and yet a heresy petition against me...?"
He put on a bewildered expression.
"That's..."
The priests faltered at his acting.
"What nonsense is this? Do you think building a temple without the High Priestess of Lady Neran conceals your wickedness? Reveal your true colors at once! Don't hide behind this sham temple that deceives the gods and sullies Lady Neran's name!"
Neran's priest was clearly radiating battle intent.
Her temple, where holy knights had been smashed and Armis—used as a holy water generator—treated like a dog.
There was no reason for sweet words toward him.
"Sigh, how unfortunate. Does serving the gods require the High Priestess's permission? Is building such a grand temple with sincere faith itself a crime?"
Wearing a sorrowful expression at Neran's priest's interrogation, he looked to the other temples' priests.
"..."
The priests were speechless at his words.
They had eyes; they couldn't deny the golden temple's splendor, grand enough for a high temple.
At least they had a shred of conscience left.
"Enough nonsense! No temple has been built without the High Priestess's permission. Construction is restricted because scoundrels build temples privately, gather followers, and exploit wealth. This applies not just to Neran's temple, but all others. Isn't that right, priests?"
Unlike his tone toward him, Neran's priest spoke softly to the others.
He seemed specially selected for today, his tongue slick as an oiled eel.
"Indeed. We understand your sincere faith, lord, but temple construction authority lies solely with the High Priestess. Only after receiving a special divine response is it permitted."
Amorrent, apparently pre-selected as representative before arriving, sided with Neran's priest with a regretful look.
"Ah... I see. Everyone must receive the gods' responses."
He feigned utter ignorance, unleashing his tenth-degree inner pretense technique.
"Hmph!"
Neran's scrawny priest snorted at him.
"Lord, coming to Neruman, we've seen how much the gods' love dwells here. Though we've come as heresy inquisitors, we can confirm some of your sincere faith. However, with suspicions of heresy not fully dispelled, why not prove your rejection of true corruption?"
The plump priest serving the Goddess of Blessings Nermis's eyes gleamed as he demanded proof.
"Proof, you say..."
He'd already grasped their black hearts fully.
But wanting to see how far their act went, he wore an innocent "I know nothing" expression.
"Ahem... All this stems from the absence of proper temples serving the gods. Thus, fund the construction of each temple here in Neruman from your own pockets. While you're at it, match the scale of this Neran temple, and the gods will be greatly pleased."
The priest of the God of Truth and Justice Sipotain shamelessly spoke without a hint of shame.
"Ah! I see..."
He nodded, pretending realization dawned.
Unlike Neran's priest, whose face turned shit-colored at his positive signal, the others' eyes sparkled like hyenas before prey.
"But I have one question."
He eyed the priests with a puzzled look.
"If you have a question, please speak, lord."
Amorrent smiled benevolently.
"Before coming here, did all you priests receive divine responses? It seems the gods descend frequently enough for you to meddle in temple construction..."
He trailed off, narrowing his eyes at them.
"Th-that's..."
The priests stammered, caught off guard.
"And one more question."
"..."
They stared, expressions saying more questions?
"Has anyone here ever prayed to their god for our territory's sake? Or bought goods made in Neruman for its development? Or donated even one bottle of holy water for Neruman's people?"
His voice gained strength toward the end.
"Uh... well..."
"..."
His innocent gaze toward them at the questions made them panic, averting eyes or blushing.
"Lord... why do you ask that...?"
Even in confusion, Amorrent—clearly today's rep—cautiously questioned him.
He flashed a bright smile at Amorrent and the priests.
Then slowly opened his mouth.
"You fucking dogs! Hey, you bastards, who the hell do you think you are, digging dirt for a living? Bastards who haven't even pissed for Neruman, threatening me? Don't you know who I am? I'm Kaier, lord of Neruman! Emperors Poltbiran of Bazran and Hardberya of Raviter shit their pants at my name alone. The fuck you on about? Build temples like this to support you? You'd have to take an arrow to the head to pull that shit! You goddamn bandit bastards, if I hadn't sheathed this sword!"
His furious roar thundered through the temple.
As it ended, the priests' faces drained white.
'Heh heh heh...'
He smirked inwardly at the priests frozen like idiots.
Pitiful puppies wagging tails, begging to be devoured.
Today, they'd experience a new world.
They'd feel bone-deep the gravity of their sins, living off peddling the gods' names.
'Something's gone wrong.'
Amorrent, the eldest among the priests and priest of Para'an, foremost son of the chief god, blacked out at the lord's outburst.
Truth be told, he'd been half-doubting the heresy judgment even en route.
He couldn't believe Neruman's lord treated a runaway orc as a god.
This continent's people couldn't live without faith; Neruman's folk wouldn't stand for such a corrupt lord.
Their own investigations confirmed the priestess of Mercy Goddess Neran moved to Neruman of her own will.
They knew but withheld it, using it as leverage to threaten mighty Neruman, which could war with empires.
But the lord's mercenary-like cursing signaled things were awry.
'And the holy knights too...'
Before landing in the vast airship hangar, the menacing Sky Knights.
Neruman knights isolating the dispatched holy knight escorts for priest protection.
Something felt off.
He suspected the lord's pure facade, now an enraged ogre hunting a runaway female, was all calculated.
"Your words are excessive. We priests offered to clear you of the blasphemy charge, yet you insult our proposal thus..."
Even if calculated, he couldn't yield.
Even a hegemonic lord warring with empires couldn't ignore gods and temples for his people's peace of mind.
Continental history proved it.
"Indeed! The vile words you spat at us, faithful servants of the gods, will return as divine wrath! Repent at once!"
"Right! Fail to retract those words, and you can't escape heresy judgment!"
Seizing the moment, the priests pressured the Neruman lord in unison.
Unfazed, not even twitching an eyebrow, Kaier—black-haired like a demon race, smirking viciously.
"..."
The ominous aura from Kaier's body silenced the priests.
"Done yapping?"
His heavy voice echoed quietly through the temple.
"Y-you're admitting your own heresy!"
Amorrent probed for confirmation.
"Admitting? You clowns are a joke. One more question. You cling to your 'gods'—do you even know why they're gods? Think your rotten, greed-soaked pig asses getting smited would make a god blink?"
Kaier leaned cockily, demanding why they knew gods were gods.
"Insolent! Questioning the definition of gods to faithful servants? Gods are exalted, omnipotent beings no fallen soul like you can utter. Priests serving such gods, soaked in greed like evil..."
Amorrent couldn't even say "pigs" himself.
"That's the kind of scum he is! The bastard who kidnapped and imprisoned the pure priestess serving Neran. No more words needed. Back we go—under the heresy judgment banner, punish this evil-souled wretch in the gods' name!"
Neran's priest spat froth, demanding punishment.
The priests saw he had no forgiveness after calling them filthy pigs.
"Indeed. Let's go. No more talk with the devil's minion."
"Hmph! You'll witness true divine fury!"
'Still haven't figured out their place.'
Groupthink was a fearsome thing.
These priest bastards hopping mad, oblivious this was his land—their death trap.
He'd let them leave.
But not unscathed.
"Kuhahahahahahahahahaha!"
He threw his head back, belly-laughing heartily.
Whiiiirrrrr.
Simultaneously, he activated his newly installed Unique-grade item, the 7th Circle Mana Hole.
Sssssss.
Any who handled mana would instantly recognize the dense mana rapidly expanding.
"Gasp!"
"Th-this is..."
Even as priests, these inquisitors wielded holy power.
Knowing holy power as mana’s variant, they broke cold sweat at the terrifying mana filling the vast temple.
They'd etch deep why empires lost repeatedly to tiny Neruman: he could erase them in an instant if he wished.
"Smash... heads."
The word slipped quietly through his lips.
"..."
But the priests huddled together, shrinking.
They read the lethal intent in the mana, gripped by terror.
"Didn't you hear? Smash your fucking heads, you shit-for-brains!!!"
At "smash heads," their brains froze, faces blank as rice bowls.
"Those who don't, you're on your own! I'll make sure each gets home to cry before their god that the evil Neruman lord pulped them beyond recognition. Heh heh heh."
Embracing the devil role fully.
Grinning sinisterly, he approached the trembling priests amid crude curses.
Wrapped in layers of shields from his activated 7th Circle mana laced with killing intent.
"Stop, please stop..."
The priests stared blankly, abandoning even defiance.
As he gathered mana in his hand to deal with them.
A quiet voice in his ear.
He turned toward the source.
And saw her.
Clad in sacred white robes, wearing the world's kindest smile, aura of divinity enveloping her.
'Armis...'
He'd forgotten.
This temple he stood in belonged not to him, but her...
TO BE CONTINUED