Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Miracle (2)
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As time passed, Granok became as chaotic as a marketplace, with priests arriving from nearby towns, the White Mercenary Corps, and even a knightly order from the Empire joining the investigation.
Of course, in the meantime, I had secretly tried to absorb the demonic energy as spiritual power a few more times, but strangely, my spiritual power levels didn't rise as they had before. The demonic energy was simply purified.
That meant there had to be another reason. I still hadn't figured out the exact difference.
Thanks to that, I was only creating a deeper misunderstanding among the priests.
"Wow—how is his strength so..."
"There's someone trapped over there, too!"
Now I really felt like a monkey in a zoo.
"Yes, yes, it's dangerous, so please step back."
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
With Granok's demonic energy not yet fully subsided, I was the only one who could enter the town without issue and use my strength.
And it wasn't just strength; it was superhuman strength. That meant I was the most suitable person to rescue those trapped under the rubble.
Who would take responsibility if someone got seriously hurt by recklessly poking around with a sword?
It was burdensome how their eyes grew brighter and brighter with each rescue. Why did they have to whisper among themselves in front of me, muttering the word "miracle" so often?
"Pull them out carefully—!"
"It'll be a disaster if the demonic energy infects their wounds!"
"Carefully—carefully!"
Of course, I had to admit, even I found it a bit strange. I had tried to absorb the demonic energy, but it had turned into a large-scale purification.
Just as I'd thought before, the value of spiritual power seemed immense. Enough for the priests of the Holy Kingdom to call it a miracle.
At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if the Pope himself summoned me. I would be an attractive asset from the Holy Kingdom's perspective. Plus, the fact that I was already on very friendly terms with them made it even better.
"You've worked hard again today."
"Thanks to you, the rescue operation is proceeding smoothly."
"Oh, please. We're all in this together."
After that incident, the people from the Holy Kingdom had become strangely cautious in their demeanor. At the same time, I could feel their reverence.
"You're even purifying the demonic energy."
"That's right. That can't be an easy task. You, mercenary, are a true role model."
*Sigh*... It wasn't difficult at all. It was actually quite easy. I just had to diligently circulate my spiritual power for a long time, like a generator or a water pump.
However, at times like these, what's necessary is image management!
"It's a task that must be done, no matter how difficult. There are people suffering from the demonic energy."
Leaving behind the people who covered their mouths in awe, I received a shower of holy power and then moved near a tent, focusing my spiritual power into my ears.
"This incident seems to be the result of Lord Granok's unilateral deviation."
"The Empire classifies sacrificing an entire city to demonic energy as a 'deviation'? This is a serious crime against humanity! To hand over not just himself but the entire city to those demonic bastards! Did it not result in the sacrifice of innocent citizens!"
"That was a slip of the tongue. I stand corrected. This is Lord Granok's unilateral act of treason."
The priests dispatched from the Holy Kingdom grew angry at the infuriating response, but all they received in return was a mechanical reply, devoid of any change in expression.
We are trying. We are also baffled. We are searching. A conversation that only offered continuous assurances without any meaningful results.
It was the very definition of a detestable conversation.
"The Holy Kingdom cannot help but have its doubts. Does the Empire truly have any intention of resolving this situation?"
"That is an unpleasant remark. We are acting under the command of His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty has expressed grave concern over this situation."
"He expresses concern, yet you can't even find a trace of Lord Granok!"
The meetings between the Holy Kingdom and the Empire, which had gone on for days, continued to run on endless parallel lines. The Empire offered only textbook answers, a response that the Holy Kingdom found deeply dissatisfying.
However, that wasn't what Kratos was questioning. He was already well aware that the Empire was corrupt.
He had thought that most of the key positions were tainted by demonic energy, but was that not the case? A knightly order was surely a key position.
Seeing that the priests of the Holy Kingdom also showed no particular reaction, it seemed they weren't tainted. And considering the Holy Kingdom would meet with Imperial figures diplomatically, the lack of news suggested as much.
It was a mystery. What exactly was the criterion?
"The Empire should focus its efforts solely on tracking Lord Granok. We will handle the Granok issue. The Empire lacks the ability to purify demonic energy anyway."
"We cannot allow that. Granok is Imperial territory."
Wow. Their back-and-forth was intense. More accurately, it was like watching a conversation with a robot.
"Further discussion seems meaningless. We will look forward to the Empire's responsible actions."
A conversation running on parallel lines could never end well. The Holy Kingdom's priest was just barely holding onto his patience.
"We will do our best."
"We will leave Granok as soon as our rescue mission is complete."
"Understood."
***
"How is Captain Ren?"
"Fortunately, he's alive, but..."
Seamus couldn't finish his answer to Kratos's question. He was alive. No, to be precise, he was barely alive.
"It's not looking good. Not just Captain Ren, but the other members too."
It was the same for the other members of Unit 3. There were too many who were either just clinging to life or had been permanently disabled.
Out of 20 members, 9 were dead. 6 could no longer live as mercenaries. The remaining 5, even if they could continue, would require long-term recovery.
It was practically the entire Unit 3. Moreover, though the concept might not even exist in this world, there was the suffering of the survivors to consider.
Considering their PTSD, it was clear that even the remaining 5 would not find it easy to return to active duty.
"*Sigh*. It's a mess. A total mess."
"Still, what can you do? The vice-captain is just looking for a chance to pull out, but the Holy Kingdom won't let him go, will they?"
Peri Batoni wanted to start pulling out now that the Imperial knights had arrived, but he couldn't just ignore the Holy Kingdom's earnest plea, so he was helping the people.
After all, it was thanks to the Holy Kingdom that not all of Unit 3 had perished.
"The laboratory?"
"Completely in ruins. The ground itself just caved in."
"Hmm. Must have been intentional."
"Probably. Who knows how long they'll keep it hidden."
"It won't be easy. One wrong move and the backlash could brand the mercenaries as traitors and lead to their disappearance. It's an incredibly sensitive issue."
"It's just so frustrating. So frustrating."
After the priests entered Granok, while everyone was focused on the phenomenon of demonic energy purification...
The laboratory in the Kalkis Mountains had been completely destroyed. The entrance to the lab had collapsed, and the houses on the surface where people had lived were all demolished. All traces of battle, and even the bodies, had vanished without a trace.
The reason was unknown. They could only cautiously speculate that the being who killed the Raelian priests had cleaned up everything else as well.
"Anyway, we're lucky to be alive. These are dangerous times."
"Kratos—!"
Hearing someone call his name from a distance, he brushed off his pants and stood up.
"What do they want now? Can't even get a moment's rest."
"You're going through a lot."
As he went to where he was called, Peri Batoni, who had been packing, greeted him.
"Ah, are we leaving now?"
"It's about time we left. A mercenary's mission is done."
"The assigned mission is certainly over. We found all of Unit 3 and rescued the others."
Although the cleanup wasn't finished, the presence of a black mage had been openly revealed in the middle of the city of Granok. Politically speaking, the Empire was now in a position where it would face direct pressure from the Holy Kingdom.
"The men need to rest, too. We can't just leave them here indefinitely."
"That's true."
They couldn't just leave the bodies of their dead comrades here forever, even if they had preservation magic cast on them.
The dead must find their rest.
"It's going to be a difficult time."
"It will be an era of great upheaval."
The fact that Peri Batoni responded without needing further explanation meant he knew for sure.
He knew that this was the most critical time for the White Mercenary Corps.
Come to think of it, the Empire was also being pushed into a corner. It couldn't just pretend to be ignorant of the fact that stones of the Seven Deadly Sins were intricately planted in a city like Granok.
Something impossible without the lord's permission. It was time for the Empire to choose a clear path.
The worst-case scenario he could imagine was war.
The Empire could never turn its back on the black mages. The two had to be seen as sharing a common destiny now. If so, the Holy Kingdom would declare a general mobilization.
He didn't know the specifics without intelligence from within the Empire, but it was a wonder the connection between the Empire and the demonic energy hadn't been exposed until now.
However, war was not something to be spoken of lightly. It wasn't just leaders meeting and clashing; it was a total mobilization of everything each side had, a fight to the death.
"We'll have to prepare for the worst."
"We must assume the worst and prepare for it."
The two faced each other and grinned. He wasn't just the vice-captain of the White Mercenary Corps, but also the vice-captain of the resistance. His ability to read the situation was certain.
"Ah. And you will not be returning with us this time."
"Excuse me?"
What was this all of a sudden? Not returning with them?
"The Holy Kingdom has officially requested your dispatch. Since the Granok mission is wrapping up, they want you to return to the Holy Kingdom with them."
"Damn that miracle. How long will it be for?"
"Well. To be precise, you can think of it as the Holy Kingdom giving you a nominated mission. The duration is, for now, at least a month."
There was only one reason. A man with the power to purify demonic energy. And the situation that people were calling a miracle.
The Holy Kingdom couldn't let him go. If it were him, he wouldn't let him go either. The Holy Kingdom's biggest problem had always been demonic energy.
"Reinhardt and Seamus will remain with you instead."
"Reinhardt and Seamus?"
"It's best to be with people you're familiar with. You've already played a role beyond imagination in this mission. We can't let you carry the burden alone again."
Kratos was already shouldering too many burdens alone. Who would see his achievements as the work of a mere unit member?
"Kratos. You are not a solo mercenary; you are part of a mercenary corps. The White Mercenary Corps. Don't forget that. And to be clear, you are the leader of this mission. It's your role as a senior member."
His gaze was warm and full of trust, different from the start of the mission.
After all, for mercenaries, trust is built fastest and strongest when they watch each other's backs in a crisis.
"I'll contact you separately through the communication sphere. I'll also think about your reward for the mission. I have no idea what kind of reward to give you this time."
Peri Batoni couldn't stop chuckling. He wondered what the captain, who was unreachable while on a mission, would say when he heard this news.
Had the captain even anticipated a situation like this?
"*Sigh*. The problem now is what to do with Unit 3."
As he had discussed with Kratos earlier, it was time to reorganize the mercenary corps.
A time for both internal and external expansion. They had to assume the worst and complete all preparations.
It was time for the resistance's mission to take center stage, and at the same time, they might have to raise the banner of the White Mercenary Corps and fight against the Empire.
To do that, filling the ranks of Unit 3 was inevitable. However, there was no one suitable to fill it.
Except for Kratos. The only drawback was that he hadn't been with the corps for long. It was certain that there would be significant opposition from other members.
That was why he hoped this mission would quell some of that opposition.
And Peri Batoni was confident that Kratos could do just that.
***
Not long after the mercenary corps left for headquarters, the priests of the Holy Kingdom also prepared to depart.
Although they had completed their mission and the matter of Granok was well concluded, a sense of unease lingered on their faces.
The Empire had forcibly relocated the rescued citizens of Granok to other towns and designated Granok as a restricted area.
The reason given was that people could not live on land tainted by demonic energy. They could have requested purification through the Holy Kingdom, but the Empire did not.
"It won't take long to reach the Holy Kingdom."
"May I ask which person from the Holy Kingdom wished to see me?"
At that question, the bishop who had come as reinforcements smiled brightly, nodded, and replied.
"Someone in a very high position."
"Someone in a high position, you say."
At the bishop's words, Kratos nodded as if he had expected it.
Considering the Holy Kingdom's conservative political structure, it felt a bit fast, but given the current situation, it was understandable.
Come to think of it, he didn't recall hearing much about the Pope of the Holy Kingdom. In any case, not hearing much was a good sign.
If things weren't running properly, like in the Empire now, there would be countless rumors, but if things were going well, the people would just live their lives.
He was also curious about what kind of person he was. In the times ahead, having an indecisive pope would be quite a headache.
A time like this called for a pope with strong power.
"His Holiness the Pope wishes to see you personally."
At the bishop's words, Kratos simply grinned, as if he knew it all along.