Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Revival of the Viper
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The meeting resumed only after Rosalyn regained consciousness.
There was a minor issue once it restarted: Rosalyn was openly staring at Rex and only Rex.
"Uh... Rosalyn? Wouldn't it be better to look at the blackboard? No, ahem, wouldn't it?"
She shook her head vigorously.
Rosalyn quickly shook her head toward Rex.
She'd have to witness that horrific moon again if she turned her head,
and now it even carried the same scent as the person who had inflicted her childhood trauma.
To avoid passing out again, she had to keep her eyes fixed on Rex.
Rosalyn's reaction left Duke feeling downcast.
'Both Grace and Rosalyn... Am I really that cursed...'
No wonder this life had been full of bad karma.
Still, Duke felt a bit wronged.
He'd at least been mindful of accumulating good karma.
'Maybe because it wasn't sincere?'
Good deeds valued intent as much as results.
Someone helping a child for a reward versus out of pure goodwill—obviously, the latter held greater merit.
Duke reflected on his past good deeds.
Being kind to kids for reverse appeal.
Protecting people because it seemed cool.
Comforting folks to build character.
'Yeah. No wonder good karma didn't stick.'
While Duke held his solo self-reflection session,
Rex learned the secret behind Rosalyn's eyes.
"So, the Saintess sees good karma, and Miss Rosalyn sees evil karma?"
"Yeah. That's right."
"Then..."
Rex checked the karma values of everyone gathered in the room for the first time in a while.
Grace and Rosalyn both had good karma levels high enough that placing just one in a national office would guarantee the kingdom's prosperity.
But the figure that caught Rex's eye was elsewhere.
'It's up about 80 since we first met.'
As a Wandering Knight saving individuals, it rose steadily, but on a national scale, it skyrocketed.
But according to Rosalyn's explanation...
'So how much is this 474 docked from?'
With his veteran instincts, Rex estimated Duke's true karma was in the 1000s.
Dropping to the 400s spoke volumes.
'Well, yeah. It happens. They say the opposite of justice is another justice.'
It had absolutely nothing to do with recalling Duke's Madness stat and nodding along.
Anyway, with Rosalyn staring only at Rex, the meeting resumed.
With Duke's past revealed, the topic shifted.
From how to stop the Holy Kingdom to what to do with its subjects.
No worries about losing the war.
Just concern over the subjects' reactions.
"The Holy Kingdom is ruled by religion, right?"
Most nations in this world didn't fret over post-war issues.
Rulership was by might, and every kingdom extended from imperial culture.
Subjects only cared about taxes, no matter who ruled.
But Providence Kingdom was different.
A kingdom not carrying the Empire's will could easily provoke backlash from others.
- "How dare filthy Ein mingle with humans at the table! We can't allow it!"
- "Gaaah! Evil metric system persecuting the inch-pound faithful!"
Problems like that.
And the opponent was the deeply religious Holy Kingdom.
Its faith reeked of Ein hatred and human supremacy; it wouldn't blend easily with the kingdom.
Rex's retainers agreed.
"As much as I hate to admit it, the Holy King has good public support within the kingdom."
Grace nodded bitterly too.
Sorry to her twins, but compared to other nations, the Holy Kingdom was endlessly kind to its own citizens.
Of course, it oppressed dissenters and minorities without hesitation—a dictatorship.
But put another way, it was quite a proper nation for the majority, very livable.
"Honestly, the subjects showed me so much... kindness."
Subjects greeting her on walks,
kids gazing at her with admiration,
merchants fetching books for the Saintess.
Unlike the Holy King or Holy Knights, they truly revered her.
They just didn't know better, pointing fingers at her beloved little sister as a witch.
Rex cautiously asked the Saintess's wishes.
"Saintess, what do you want to do with the subjects?"
"No need to ask my opinion, Your Majesty."
"Can't do that. Justice that dismisses minorities as a matter of course can silence majorities anytime. Besides, it'd make us no different from the Holy King."
Rex's point gave Grace plenty to ponder.
After long deliberation, the Saintess chose...
"Ask Rosalyn instead of me."
She couldn't easily decide on the subjects' fate—not even for the Holy King and his cronies.
Her sister in the bell tower was precious, but so were the subjects.
Ignorance might be a sin, but she couldn't be harsh to those who'd genuinely loved her.
The Saintess's lashes trembled as she gauged her little sister's mood.
Rosalyn, suddenly handed decision power, was just as flustered.
"M-Me? I'm just a lowly nun!"
"Rosa. I get it's overwhelming. But you're the victim. Even as your sister, I can't speak for your feelings."
"Sister..."
Thus, the subjects' fate passed to the nun they'd oppressed.
She recalled their deeds against her and soon decided.
"I... I hope you can forgive them."
Reactions in the conference room varied.
Sneria and Ari applauded, moved;
Peter and Rex were surprised but understood.
And Grace...
"Wh-Why?"
"Ignorance isn't a sin. I want to believe in people's goodness. And..."
Rosalyn scratched her cheek shyly.
"I don't want Sister hating people because of me."
Revenge and hatred eat at you, building evil karma.
Rosalyn knew that better than anyone.
Raised seeing Grace's brighter-than-anyone full moon, she didn't want shadows on it.
"I want Sister to always be my full moon."
Tears welled in Grace's eyes at Rosalyn's words.
Rosalyn's halo in Grace's eyes swelled in real time.
As if forgiveness was the ultimate good deed and virtue.
"Oh?"
Rex was impressed too.
Rosalyn's good karma had surged.
Respecting their wishes, Rex set policy to peaceful annexation.
The sisters smiled, gazing at their radiant sun and moon.
'Kyrie eleison, kyrie eleison.'
The knight with his bizarre sun and moon clapped from within his helm.
The twins' touching saga ended, and time passed.
The Holy Kingdom broke its silence, declaring the kingdom heretical and marching.
- [Hear, heretics.]
- [You've defiled more than one woman.]
- [You've torn heaven's promise and clipped an angel's wings.]
- [Do you know faith?]
Pretext: [Crime of defiling the Saintess's purity]
They'd take her back from that knight Duke.
Duke's words when killing the Knight Commander fueled their belief he was an evil knight.
- [Sword repentance for the foolish king fallen to witch's temptation]
- [Flames of purification for the wicked knight]
- [And prove our truth in blood.]
They blamed a witch to preempt the Saintess denying it.
Reading the Holy Kingdom's declaration in the newspaper, the Saintess sighed in her embassy room.
"If I'd actually given up my purity, it'd be less unfair..."
"Pardon, Saintess?"
"Nothing, Lady Sneria."
She replied to the woman's voice outside.
Stroking her flushed cheeks, she calmed her pounding heart.
Thinking of her sister, she asked the door again.
"Lady Sneria. Is Rosalyn alright?"
"Regular updates from Lady Jane. All clear so far."
But Grace's face soured slightly at the reply.
She quickly composed herself, resuming her routine.
Reading, tea, reviewing go records alone.
A few hours later.
"Seems you've arrived."
The Saintess looked up, addressing outside.
Crash!
Her window shattered as an intruder burst in.
The intruder's dagger flew at her throat.
But it passed harmlessly through.
The intruder's face twisted in horror.
The Saintess, deflecting the dagger, faded like a mirage with a smile.
"I've been waiting, Swift Knight Commander."
"Damn, a trap..."
Crunch.
A massive shadowy giant's black greatsword smashed through the ceiling where the Saintess's illusion and intruder stood.
The so-called Swift Knight Commander spat curses at the charging blade.
"Fox bitch."
Two battles erupted simultaneously in the Holy Kingdom's capitals.
Reports reached Rex in real time.
"Good. Legitimacy secured."
If they used incitement, so would he.
The Saintess knew the upper echelons' corruption and had entrusted herself to the kingdom; now she and her sister were attacked.
That proved their guilt.
The kingdom would guarantee Holy Kingdom independence and return it to the subjects.
'Conveniently, we have a legitimate ruler in the Saintess.'
With no plans to expand further, Rex intended to hand the Holy Kingdom to her post-war.
'Not like with Ari. I'll make sure.'
Shuddering at memories of being saddled with the kingdom over a birth secret like Ari's.
Days on the throne already burned his gut; absorbing a religion would punch holes above.
No feeling—it was certain.
Holy Kingdom succession was by faith and support, not blood, so bastards weren't an issue.
Still, he'd prepare thoroughly this time.
'Even if I absorb it by some fluke, leave an exit.'
From past events, Rex learned: cursing others boomerangs.
Who knew the no-retirement king clause would choke him?
Thus, he'd add a clause barring the next Holy King from also ruling secularly.
'I'll reform the religion, but...'
Afterward, it'd stay an ally, not a vassal.
Rex reaffirmed this repeatedly.
With those thoughts, he awaited news from his legitimacy trap.
Soon, good reports from Sneria and Jane.
Rex nodded at the messages.
Legitimacy gained; next, conquest justification.
Holy Kingdom declared war first and crossed borders.
But that justified defense, not conquest.
To chase them beyond, annex land—that needed justification.
To paint themselves not invaders, but righteous liberators.
Rex had that calculated too.
'The Holy King will definitely loot Opfir's tomb.'
No fool, he wouldn't face Providence head-on with Duke there.
So, invade first, secure the stone tomb,
then lead with a Seraphim made from Opfir for full invasion.
'When tomb looted and Seraphim made, rage over that.'
Recent dead rising in rebellion precedent.
Link it: they desecrated fake(?) Opfir into Seraphim—righteous revenge.
Denounce Holy King and cronies' corruption, side with Saintess faction, reform religion in her name.
Crown her new Holy King; Rex steps back.
'Perfect!'
Rex leaned back, praising his plan solo.
Suddenly, a doubt hit.
He messaged Duke to resolve it.
"Realized I never asked: whose body is in that tomb instead?"
[The Empire's 10th Emperor.]
"...Huh?"
Why that guy here?
To clarify Rex's confusion, Duke explained at length.
TL;DR: To prevent misuse of the Emperor's corpse, he sealed it in his stone tomb.
Hearing it, Rex nodded pleased.
"Jackpot..."
He'd handed over a fake/empty corpse for justification.
Give hair, take bone—efficient.
Should've been.
But contents...
"Bone for bone swap..."
Rex tore at his hair over the desk.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
[Thought Your Majesty wanted me fighting him again.]
Then Rex realized his blunder.
'Damn. Shouldn't have trusted 9th Hierarchy senses.'
From Duke's view, Emperor was a once-killed foe—worth round two.
Problem: others.
9th vs. 9th was apocalypse for mortals.
Example: Hexion Empire's old capital—Opfir vs. Emperor aftermath left a bottomless pit.
Surrounding area barren wasteland.
'Here?!'
Rex urgently changed plans.
"Duke! Stop the Emperor's revival somehow!"
[What about justification?]
"Stop it somehow! That's an order!"
Panicking, Rex issued a do-or-die command.
Realizing his slip, he checked Duke's status—but too late.
"Shit."
[Understood, my liege. As you will.]
"Cancel order. Cancel!"
The red alert mockingly replied .
"Oh, Lord."
Rex clasped hands to another world's god.
But his prayer never reached beyond worldlines. (Never had in his original either.)
Hours later, ominous alerts appeared.
Somewhat prepared, Rex grabbed Ari's hands and convulsed.
"Ia! ftaghn y'hah nglui-vor r'luh! Shugg nglui… ai, ai! Y'hah zhro shuggoth!”
"M-Master?"
Ari asked the seizing Rex.
"Sir Duke came back before too. No need to worry..."
Rex silently shared his authority with Ari, showing the Shadow Knight's view.
Soon, Ari understood Rex's freakout.
"This is... Opfir..."
She realized.
Why Rex handled Duke so delicately.
Her pure admiration for Duke was just ignorance's blessing.
The Shadow Knight gazed down a sudden canyon in the wasteland.
Between sheer cliffs, deep gorge below,
blood mist so thick sunlight barely pierced,
a fairy-like man in red robes billowed crimson hems, stepping onto the red river.
Gliding over the river without a ripple, strolling.
Peering at the bed: pebbles replaced by screaming skeletons and Holy Knights' armor.
Above, hands behind back, humming poetry, advancing through the canyon.
Finally, etching the poem in blood on the canyon wall, Opfir nodded satisfied and resealed the gorge.
Ari now understood the scars Opfir left on the continent.