Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Nobles Dyed in Darkness (3)
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The Emperor had managed to stabilize the capital to some extent before sending a letter to the Holy Kingdom.
Originally, he had no intention of sending it, if only out of pride.
After all, everyone knew that relations between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom were poor.
Even so, Duke Apontuna had persuaded him that they needed to request support despite their strained relationship.
The Emperor, who had initially ignored the idea, finally relented after persistent convincing and dispatched the letter.
Upon receiving it, the Holy Kingdom convened an emergency meeting.
Led by the Pope, along with the cardinals, archbishops, and even the Saintess.
The Holy Kingdom's top brass had all gathered in one place.
However, the real power here lay with the archbishops.
"Everyone's read it, I assume. I'd like your opinions. What do you think?"
"I'm against it. We don't even know for sure if it's black magic! And even if it is, I've never seen such an arrogant letter!"
The man with the long dangling beard slammed the table.
Several archbishops nodded in agreement with him.
The one holding the letter cleared his throat to call for attention.
"In front of the Pope and Saintess."
"Hoo, my apologies."
He took a breath to calm his excitement and sat back down properly.
He coughed awkwardly as if he'd committed a faux pas, but the Saintess wasn't fooled.
Anyone else might praise the archbishops' conduct.
But to her, it was just an act, nothing more.
Still, she couldn't call them out directly.
After all, the archbishops were the real power in the Holy Kingdom, and even the Pope stayed silent.
All she could do was swallow her frustration inwardly.
While the Saintess held her tongue, the archbishops exchanged words among themselves.
Of course, their views were remarkably consistent.
"I'm against it too. As you know, we have no reason to help the Empire."
"Exactly. Helping them once recently should be enough."
The speaker subtly glanced at the Saintess.
He was alluding to how she'd gotten involved in the recent murder case in the imperial capital.
The Saintess ignored him, of course.
Instead, she offered an opinion opposing the archbishops' stance.
"Everyone. As you know, this involves black magic. We can't confirm right away if black magicians are truly involved, but the Empire is in real danger."
She stated firmly that they must help, but the archbishops didn't listen with half an ear.
They even smirked mockingly at her.
"Saintess. Don't you know? You're no naive girl ignorant of the world."
"You...!"
"Whoa, whoa, calm down. My words slipped out."
Slipped out, my foot...!
Her anger surged at their blatant lack of effort to hide their amusement.
But she couldn't press the issue further.
As the Saintess, she had her dignity to maintain, and there was no gain in it.
In the end, she gave up first and asked the others.
"So, you're all refusing to provide support, is that it?"
"That's right. So, let's end it here—"
"Hold on a moment."
As the archbishops tried to unilaterally end the meeting, the Pope raised his hand.
Everyone fell silent at the words of the Pope, who had quietly observed until now.
He'd merely raised his hand, yet no one dared speak.
This was the Pope's charisma—and the archbishops' deliberate silence, waiting for an opening.
Of course, the Pope knew this and kept it concise.
"As Pope, I command it."
"Pardon?"
Confusion spread across the archbishops' faces.
In contrast, relief washed over the cardinals and Saintess.
Because a command "as Pope" carried special weight.
He issued orders regularly, but voicing it this way was different.
It meant the leader of the faith was invoking his authority.
"From this moment, the archbishops are ordered to dispatch support to the Empire. This will involve seventy percent of our total forces. I will entertain no complaints."
He shut down any refusal outright.
Normally, everyone would acquiesce here.
But the archbishops knew all too well their own power.
They believed protesting could change things.
"Your Holiness! How can you say such things to us? As children of the same Goddess, this is too much!"
"Quite right!"
The archbishops raised their voices in unison.
They decried it as unreasonable, unjust, and harsh.
The cardinals looked flustered at them, while the Pope merely stayed silent.
The Saintess, meanwhile, gazed at them with eyes full of contempt.
To defy the Pope's command, no less.
Who knew the Holy Kingdom's archbishops could reveal their ugliness so shamelessly.
Lips pursed, she stared at these shameless men.
Then the Pope spoke in a quiet but resolute voice.
"Saintess, cardinal. What are your thoughts?"
Perhaps thinking he couldn't stand alone, he sought their agreement.
The two nodded without hesitation.
"Of course I agree."
"I as well, Your Holiness."
The archbishops stared blankly at their assent.
But it changed nothing.
In the end, the archbishops had no choice but to obey the Pope's command and head to the Empire.
As the archbishops stormed out of the meeting hall in a huff,
the Saintess bowed to the Pope.
"Thank you."
"No need. Just do as you wish, Saintess."
No explicit order had been given, but she understood.
She nodded, as if to say she'd been entrusted with it, and rose.
Leaving the meeting hall at once, she sensed it was time to enact her prepared plan.
"Goddess. And sister."
She clasped her hands and prayed from the heart that the Holy Kingdom would return to normal.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The documents stated it simply, but now I had a personal reason to step in.
These damn black magicians had messed with my golems.
They'd reinforced them with mana crystals and tainted them with black magic, remodeling them to their tastes.
This was a clear challenge aimed at me, their creator.
"Wow, so this is what it feels like to have something stolen."
I pressed my forehead in disbelief.
Why on earth did they think they could touch my golems?
Fortunately, they hadn't reached into the Magic Tower itself.
They'd just bought magic circles or the like to acquire the golems.
If they'd raided the Tower and wrecked the source, I'd be even angrier now.
"You look motivated."
As I fumed, the major spoke with a pleased expression.
His face made me frown involuntarily.
"Motivated about what?"
"You looked unenthusiastic earlier, but now it seems you've got some fire."
Well, wouldn't it be weirder if I didn't?
"Anyway, since you're willing to help now, let me explain."
The major pointed to the documents in my hand and began briefing the situation.
His explanation was concise and easy to follow.
The rebels currently held the Empire's north and west.
Outbreaks had occurred in the east and south too, but being small-scale, they'd been swiftly suppressed.
The front lines were pushing back rapidly, but there was an obstacle in the middle.
That being the corrupted mass-produced golems.
"Your mission isn't grand. Just sweep away the golems and weird muscle clumps occupying this area here."
"In other words, special forces?"
"Special forces?"
Ah, no such concept in this era?
I explained in detail, and the major slapped his knee, calling it a great term.
"Exactly, special forces. This operation will be handled by our 1st Magic Battalion alone. Don't worry, though—we'll bring along a few knights."
The major patted my shoulder reassuringly as he spoke.
"So, get friendly with the kids too. Doesn't matter about the others, but you need to bond with my disciples."
Disciples?
In this battalion with me?
The major pulled me to my feet and led me outside.
Two people immediately approached and stood before us.
A woman and a man, both with sturdy builds.
This was supposed to be a battalion of mages, right?
Surely they weren't the "few knights" he mentioned?
Thankfully, both were mages.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Fiona."
"I'm Reting."
Fiona and Reting—I committed the names to memory.
We shook hands in turn while exchanging greetings.
"Edn von Rlangbur. Looking forward to working with you."
After introductions, we dove straight into the operations briefing.
We could get to know the major during the meeting, he said.
And so, two days remained until the operation launched.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Philips Haita.
He was the mastermind behind this rebellion.
He'd devised the details with the black magicians, but in the end, he had to lead it.
The black magicians shied away from the front lines, while Philips refused to hide in the shadows.
Their interests aligned perfectly, allowing them to reach this point.
And Philips had his vision for the future.
If the rebellion succeeded, he'd be the hero of the revolution.
He could bury the defeated Emperor in the past and crown himself as the new sovereign of tomorrow.
If it failed, he'd be branded a traitorous dreamer, bearing the weight of foolish folly.
In this precarious situation, he was filled with deep regret.
"Sigh. Why did I ever agree to this?"
At first, it had been hatred for Edn.
Planning with the black magicians had felt right back then.
But now that it was underway, he was terrified.
Was it the scale that had changed everything?
Philips couldn't say, but one thing was clear.
Continuing like this meant he would lose his head to the Emperor.
So he couldn't stop.
Stopping meant surrender, which led straight to death.
He sighed heavily as he looked down at the golems and test subjects below.
Beside him stood a figure in a dark blue robe.
She spoke in an altered voice.
"You know the current situation, right?"
"Of course. I know the front lines are faring poorly. But I also know there's no need to worry too much."
It sounded optimistic, but there was reason for it.
Dozens of golems and dozens of test subjects stood arrayed before them.
Deploying them to the front lines to sow chaos would tilt victory their way.
No need to fret over the imperial knights or mages.
No matter how elite, they couldn't be everywhere in the Empire at once.
"We just need a solid plan. Proper deployment requires it."
"Right. Then let's outline it now."
They began sketching the framework for the operation three days hence.
But that time didn't last long.
Boom!
"Wh-what?!"
"...We've been had."
A sudden explosion injured many test subjects.
The golems, having some immunity, could still move.
"Didn't expect them to strike first."
Philips laughed maniacally as mages and knights poured in from all sides.
The dark blue robe, meanwhile, wore a faint amused smile.
Lt. Col. Return shouted at the contrasting pair.
"Everyone, charge!"
The subjugation operation by Edn's 1st Magic Battalion had begun.