Chapter 198: To the Southern Continent
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 198: To the Southern Continent
The declaration of war meant that the Southern Continent intended to take its own independent religious path.
The justification was excellent. Many people knew the Church had been corrupted by the previous pope, and it was a fact that Raceni had used improper methods to ascend to the papacy.
Moreover, one could not overlook the fact that religion always serves as a powerful justification.
If I hadn't had the Church backing me, would I have been able to deal with Bronx II and Duke Baeneng so easily? No matter how I thought about it, I was skeptical.
One more thing. There was no better cause than religion to unite the various factions running rampant in the Southern Continent.
“Vivian has made a clever move.”
Ophelia wasn't wrong. What caught my attention was the word 'apostle'.
“The Dream Witch has made her move.”
“The Dream Witch?”
Ophelia answered Eleanor's question in my stead.
“She’s a witch with the ability to enter other people’s dreams and manipulate their content at will.”
“Uh… what’s the significance of that? At best, isn’t that just changing a nightmare into a good dream?”
“It’s not something to be taken so lightly. What if an angel of the Lord visited you in a dream and told you that you have a holy mission? And what if that dream remained vivid even after you woke up?”
Only then did the confusion vanish from Eleanor's face, replaced by a gasp of understanding.
“A revelation…?”
“Exactly. It would look just like a revelation.”
This was an age sensitive to superstition. Anyone who had such a dream would find it impossible not to obey.
“The Dream Witch must have used her power to frame herself as an apostle of the Lord. Then, feigning the Lord’s will, she would have turned the southern factions against us and won them over.”
It was an ability on a completely different level from those of Aenya, Eleanor, Cynthia, and Ophelia.
Eleanor's power is uncontrollable, and Cynthia's has its limits. Ophelia's ability only applies to herself.
In comparison, the powers of the Dream Witch or the other witch of the Southern Continent were strong enough to change the outcome of a great war.
That must be why Vivian left the witches of the other continents to me while she built her foundation in the south.
“But I heard that while they’re gathering troops, there’s no sign of them assembling an expeditionary fleet?”
Piole said, waving a parchment containing intelligence from merchants in the Southern Continent.
According to the intel, the southern nobles are gathering soldiers, but they are reluctant to commandeer ships, which are essential for attacking us.
Some nobles with ports even seemed to be taking a different stance altogether.
“So, they’re planning to defend?”
At Adeleade's words, Piole frowned, slapped the parchment down on the table, and said.
“Hmm. Something stinks. It stinks to high heaven.”
“Did you forget to wash your hands after using the restroom?”
Eusebia's comment made Piole's face flush red. She might have gotten even more flustered because Eusebia had said it with such an innocent, clueless expression.
“That’s not it! Look! If the Star Witch isn’t an idiot, she would have sent spies and would know we’re about to face the Eastern Continent! In other words, from her perspective, this is the perfect chance to strike us. But instead, she’s giving us time? There’s no way she doesn’t know the Southern Continent is next after the East! Something’s weird, isn't it?!”
“Oh…”
At her long speech, all the members present at the Imperial Supreme Council couldn't help but be impressed.
Far from being pleased, Piole's face grew even redder. She knew the hidden meaning behind their admiration.
“Damn it, I’m not stupid, you know? I just haven’t been using my head!”
Piole's nostrils flared. It was proof that she was genuinely angry.
Those who had been teasing her quickly averted their gazes. An angry Piole was capable of retaliating against even Aenya or Eleanor without thinking of the consequences.
“Then why do you think they’re acting like that?”
Of course, the clueless Eusebia was different.
“Uh… I don’t know?”
Seeing Piole explain everything so well only to fail at the conclusion, the council room once again filled with laughter.
Piole shot a glare at Eusebia, the cause of it all, before sitting down with a groan. She knew Eusebia meant no harm.
It was Aenya who answered in Piole's place.
“It seems she hasn’t managed to get the Southern Continent completely under her control. Otherwise, there’s no explaining why she’d miss this opportunity.”
My thoughts were the same.
“The Southern Continent is harder to unify than the others.”
The Southern Continent is a prosperous land. So much so that you can make a living just by minding your own business. That's why city-states, merchant unions, and various guilds have flourished there.
In other words, the Southern Continent was a land of chaos, teeming with various factions. Uniting all of them was a plan that even I would find difficult to conceive.
Aenya picked up where I left off.
“And it must be even harder since she can’t step into the spotlight herself.”
For various factions to become one, they need a central figure. But as a witch, Vivian would not have been able to fulfill that role.
“Still, even considering that, it’s strange. With her ability to see the future, Vivian should have been more than capable of winning over the powerful figures.”
It was then that Ophelia spoke up again.
“She couldn’t have. Her power would have started to fade the moment she twisted fate. Twenty years have passed already, so she probably can’t even see tomorrow.”
All eyes immediately turned to Ophelia. I asked on behalf of the others.
“Why are you only telling us this now?”
“Because you didn’t ask?”
“This isn’t a matter light enough to be dismissed with such an excuse.”
Ophelia put on an aggrieved expression.
“I thought you would have known, naturally. Do you remember what I told you before? Only one witch can exist at a time, and if there are two candidates, the second can only inherit the power after the first one dies.”
“So? What does that have to do with the current situation?”
Ophelia's eyes widened slightly before she turned her gaze to the side. There sat Aenya, with a look of complete ignorance on her face.
“If Vivian lost her power, it would naturally have been passed down to her daughter, wouldn’t it? The signs would have appeared long ago, so I naturally assumed you knew.”
Suddenly, the image of Aenya I had seen before flashed through my mind. Beneath the moonlight, her eyes had glowed red, shimmering bewitchingly.
This time, all eyes fell on Aenya. Her own eyes went wide.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Ophelia looked at Aenya with an all-knowing expression, but Aenya smoothly deflected with another hypothesis.
“I could have an older sister, couldn’t I?”
I had never even had a proper conversation with Vivian. Even if she had actually remarried and had a daughter before, there was no way for me to know.
“I’ve never heard anything of the sort.”
“Well, I guess Vivian didn’t tell you because you didn’t ask.”
Ophelia closed her mouth, looking displeased. Not only had she been beaten with her own logic, but she also wasn't the type to pry into others' personal affairs.
There was a real possibility that Aenya was right. She continued.
“So, what are you going to do? It’s not a bad situation for us.”
Since we've bought some time, we could deal with the Eastern Continent first and then focus on the South. No, that was the most surefire method.
“No. I can’t give Vivian any more time.”
I knew I couldn't do that. Aenya tilted her head.
“Why?”
“The Dream Witch is a threat, but the last remaining witch, the Sky Witch, will be an even greater one.”
The Sky Witch possessed clairvoyance. In gaming terms, it was like having a maphack. An ability like that is bound to shine in a great war.
However, what I was wary of was something else.
‘The Sky Witch is a brilliant strategist, often described as bizarre and unpredictable.’
She was an opponent I couldn't guarantee I could beat in a battle of wits. The problem was that her strategic mind was a perfect match for her clairvoyance.
I could probably win by overwhelming her with sheer numbers, but I would have to be prepared for heavy losses. That was not what I wanted.
When I explained, omitting the part about her strategic prowess, Aenya and my other wives nodded. Aenya asked again.
“So, what’s the plan?”
I looked around at my wives for a moment, pausing before I spoke.
“The art of war states that it is best to fight a battle in an environment advantageous to oneself.”
My strength was my skill in one-on-one combat, where I would lose to no one. Furthermore, if I moved alone, I wouldn't be detected by clairvoyance.
Understanding my meaning, Aenya frowned.
“Are you planning an assassination?”
I was also the strongest of assassins. I had the ability to openly infiltrate enemy territory, kill my target, and escape.
“That’s too dangerous!”
“Eleanor’s right. Vivian will definitely be prepared. She knows you better than anyone.”
“That would be true if I went with my own face.”
I looked at Ophelia. In fact, this had been my plan from the moment I saw Jin transform her face with Ophelia's help.
Meeting my gaze, Ophelia gave me a mysterious smile.
@
In the bronze mirror was a man with a simple, rustic impression. His eyes, in particular, were large and clear, like those of a cow.
Except for the eyes, not much had changed, yet my entire image was transformed. It seemed my sanpaku eyes, which made me look like I was arrogantly looking down on people even when staring straight ahead, had been that intense.
“Hmm. Not bad. You’re cute!”
Aenya, who had been studying my face as if appraising it, snuggled into my arms. Then she took a deep breath and said something I couldn't just ignore.
“Hnng. It feels like I’m doing something naughty.”
“You…”
Aenya lifted her head. Her eyes curved like a mischievous child's, and a sly smile played on her lips.
“What? Isn’t that what you told Jin? That it felt like you were holding another woman.”
It seemed Jin, who had finally slept with me with a different face at my urging, had left me with this big mess. At a loss for words, all I could do was groan.
Aenya chuckled and handed me some clothes. They were the rough garments worn by commoners.
“So, are you really going to kill her?”
“If you’re against it, I won’t.”
Aenya shook her head.
“I don’t mind. It’s not like I remember her anyway.”
Aenya was only a child of three or four when Vivian ran away from home. She had less than a handful of memories of her.
“Then why?”
“Because I’m worried about you, of course. Killing the parent who gave birth to you with your own hands is bound to be a huge shock.”
She seemed to remember how shaken I was when my father died. I gently stroked Aenya's hair.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
The reason for my hesitation was a single question.
Would killing Vivian truly wash away the resentment etched deep in my heart? Compared to what she did to me, isn't death too easy an end?
It was a question that hadn't left my mind since I learned that the Star Witch was my mother.
Aenya, in turn, hugged me and stroked my back.
“Whatever you choose, I just hope you don’t have any regrets.”
“I’ll try.”
Just as I finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. The person who entered was Boatman, a spy and a merchant.
“Preparations are complete.”
“What’s the identity I’ll be using?”
“Bill, from a small village in Longju City, at the southernmost tip of the continent. He was an employee of our trading company who was killed by bandits on a recent trip. As long as you don’t run into anyone from his hometown, your identity won’t be exposed, and since that town was wiped out by a flood, there will be no one to recognize you.”
That wasn't all Boatman had prepared. To provide a source for my swordsmanship skills, he had recruited a friendly sword guild master, and he had also hired people to establish a network of relationships, including friends and relatives.
It was so thorough that even someone who originally knew Bill would only tilt their head in confusion if they saw me.
“Well done. I’ll be there soon, so hurry with the departure preparations.”
“Yes, sir.”
I slowly followed Boatman as he quickly exited the room, mulling over my future plans.
I still hadn't decided what to do about Vivian. For now, I planned to meet her under a disguised identity.
The problem was how… Suddenly, Aenya's words from the council meeting flashed through my mind.
“Vivian must be very particular about her guards, right?”
“Of course. Her opponent is you. To buy even a little time to escape, she’d have to hire several elite knights to accompany her.”
Vivian knows my skill, and she also knows that I can't be detected by clairvoyance. So she must be extremely concerned about her personal safety.
“But there probably aren’t any decent candidates. A truly skilled person wouldn’t be satisfied with being a mere guard knight.”
The credit for guarding someone of high status isn't that great. For a skilled individual aiming for greater heights, the position of a guard knight was not an attractive one.
“Brother, don’t tell me…?”
“That’s right. I’m going to become her guard knight.”
I planned to exploit that opening.