Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Holy War Marches
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Moabmon Alliance.
This nation, formed by a union of six city-states, had maintained a constant state of opposition with its neighbor, the Kanan Kingdom, since ancient times.
When their forces were purely combined, the Moabmon Alliance possessed nearly twice the national power of the Kanan Kingdom.
However, due to the nature of being an alliance, though they were under one banner, there were always large and small conflicts between the city-states.
While wars between them were strictly forbidden, their commercial and political rivalries prevented them from fully uniting their strength.
As a result, despite their overwhelming national power compared to the Kanan Kingdom in total, they had never attempted something as bold as outright conquest.
The Kanan Kingdom, for its part, found it burdensome to recklessly provoke the alliance, which held greater overall strength.
Thus, the two neighboring nations,
despite their historically poor relations compounded by the recent Kanan Kingdom's severance from the Baal God,
were merely watching each other warily, unable to attack carelessly amid this historical and religious divide.
But at this moment.
An event occurred that would end this deadlock.
The trigger was the bizarre statue worshipped in the Kanan Kingdom.
Already branded heretics for withdrawing from the Baal Church, they were now openly praying to what anyone could see as a devil or evil god.
Rumors circulated that this god uniquely demanded no sacrifices, but
regardless of such details, to the city-states of the Moabmon Alliance, it was a scene that screamed the low-quality heretics had finally gone too far.
In the midst of this, a single letter arrived from the Pope.
It commanded a holy war to sweep away the evil god and all the Kanan heretics who followed it.
"At last... at last, the opportunity has come..."
Lot Choir,
the leader ruling Choir, the largest city-state in Moabmon.
He harbored great expectations for this 'holy war' initiated by the Pope's command.
Though the Moabmon city-states had clashed over myriad issues great and small, they all shared the common ground of adopting the Baal Church as their state religion.
For them, the Pope's declaration of holy war provided an irrefutable justification, setting aside past petty grievances to unite toward a single goal...
The utter destruction of that accursed Kanan Kingdom.
"Even though that wench Lute opposed it, as if I'd allow that! With the Pope himself commanding a holy war, what can a mere woman like her do?!"
Lute had always fiercely opposed war, but in a situation where she risked being called a heretic, she had no choice but to hold her tongue.
Thus, under the Pope's decree, the armies of the six city-states gathered.
A total force of 60,000.
Considering the city-states' usual reluctance to unite, this was an enormous army, surpassing the Kanan Kingdom in pure combat strength.
Lot Choir, who led the largest contingent of 20,000 and served as the supreme commander of the entire force,
felt long-suppressed desires writhing within him.
"This time, we'll crush that damned Kanan Kingdom once and for all. Right after, under the pretext of temporary administration before division, I'll annex the entire area into our Choir. My power will balloon overnight. If I play my cards right, I could seize control of this alliance entirely and found a new nation! My nation, under Lord Lot!"
Lot dreamed of elevating himself from ruler of a minor city-state to founder of a vast kingdom... an empire.
To him, this 'holy war' was the vital first step and launchpad for realizing his ambitions.
"I say it once more! His Holiness the Pope has declared a holy war! Death is the only fate for heretics! No mercy for them, and unlimited pillaging of the enemy is permitted!"
"Wooooah!"
"Long live His Holiness the Pope!"
"Long live Lord Lot!"
"Let's sweep away every filthy heretic!"
"The only good heretic is a dead heretic!"
Due to the nature of city-states, patriotism and sense of duty were weaker than in other nations.
In reality, this meant morale was inherently low for offensive invasions rather than defensive battles to protect their homes.
In such circumstances, declaring unrestricted pillaging played a crucial role in boosting the soldiers' morale.
This was, after all, a holy war permitted by the gods.
Destroying heretics and seizing their wealth in the process was only natural.
Having thus greatly elevated the soldiers' spirits,
Lot turned his gaze westward, where they marched, toward the Kanan Kingdom that would soon come into view after a few more days.
A thick smile spread across his face, his eyes brimming with ambition.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The enemy forces marching toward the Kanan Kingdom...
Gazing down at them from 50 kilometers in the sky, where they crawled like ants, Arcroyal cried out in a resolute voice.
🧠 TELEPATHIC LINK 🧠 Arcroyal: Seraphim, let me go! With that level of force, I can reduce them to dust without you needing to lift a finger! Arcroyal spoke with utter confidence.
Though they weren't true enemies, the power these humans could muster was obvious.
To Arcroyal, who had swept away countless foes for the Baal Church until now, they were little more than a single meal.
However, Seraphim rebuffed her opinion by shifting his eyes—no head to shake.
🧠 TELEPATHIC LINK 🧠 Seraphim: That cannot be allowed. 🧠 TELEPATHIC LINK 🧠 Arcroyal: Huh? Wh... why not? 🧠 TELEPATHIC LINK 🧠 Seraphim: We are angels, no matter how they act. Though they intend to attack our followers, it's born of ignorance. Unlike those Sodam fellows before, many among them possess good hearts. Indiscriminate slaughter would be unworthy of an angel. "Hmm... Now that you mention it, you're right..."
Arcroyal had always acted on the church's orders without distinction.
Her thinking had been simplistic: the church's command was justice.
But after being educated by Seraphim, whose words now embodied truth to her, she realized this issue wasn't as straightforward as she'd thought.
🧠 TELEPATHIC LINK 🧠 Arcroyal: Then what should we do? If we leave them be, the Kanan Kingdom might be in real danger... 🧠 TELEPATHIC LINK 🧠 Seraphim: Stay put. I'm pondering it right now. 🧠 TELEPATHIC LINK 🧠 Arcroyal: Ah... Yes! I'll stay put! Arcroyal floated obediently in the air, even pressing her mouth shut.
Seraphim watched her oddly endearing form for a few moments.
Then he resumed his deliberations.
Honestly, Arcroyal couldn't even guess what he was thinking.
But she was certain that, at this instant, his mind swirled with grand thoughts far beyond her comprehension.
'He subjugated the entire Kanan Kingdom with just a few words. He must be scheming something incredible using these humans!'
Clinging to that vague faith, Arcroyal awaited his command.
And shortly after,
Seraphim spoke in a quiet voice.
But not to Arcroyal beside him.
"Eva." ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "What? Those Moabmon bastards are declaring war?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Intelligence reports that a force of 60,000 has just departed from Choir."
"Hmm..."
The wrinkles on King David's forehead deepened at the urgent report.
He and his ministers had anticipated this day might come.
After all, the Moabmon Alliance had been itching to devour them.
To them, Kanan's decision to serve the new god Seraphim provided more than enough pretext for war.
The problem was the Pope fanning the flames by declaring a holy war.
This spurred the usually sluggish alliance into action far faster than expected,
accelerating war preparations, troop mobilization, and all related processes.
Consequently, Kanan was forced into a reactive stance, several steps behind from the start.
"The battlefield will be Nehemia Fortress, as always... What's our total strength?"
"Around 40,000. Considering we'll fight a defensive battle favorable to us, it's not that disadvantageous, but..."
"Time is the issue. Even mobilizing forces immediately, given their advance speed, we'll likely be two days late. Nehemia Fortress must hold out until then..."
"Hmm..."
Nehemia Fortress, the gateway to the capital and Kanan's strongest stronghold.
Yet its current garrison numbered fewer than 5,000.
Even leveraging the sturdy walls for defense, they'd face severe hardship.
As the throne room grew heavy with tension amid this dire situation,
"Your Majesty, dispatch me. I'll lead the knights straight there and defend Nehemia Fortress."
"Eva, you?"
"But even taking the knight order and all subordinates, you'd have fewer than 500. We can't expect much from that..."
Of course, considering Eva's renown, it would boost morale somewhat.
But that alone couldn't overcome the overwhelming numerical inferiority.
Moreover, their foes weren't undead they could exploit with type advantages, but ordinary humans.
It was hard to expect major effects in any sense; better to wait for even a modest reinforcement.
Yet...
"It's possible. He commanded me as much."
"!"
"Th... that 'He' wouldn't be..."
"Seraphim?"
The king and nobles wore expressions of shock and anticipation.
Eva replied clearly to them.
"Yes. Last night, Seraphim gave me a revelation. 'Fear not and advance. I will deliver the enemies into your hands,' He said."
"Ooh..."
The assurance of aid from the 'god' they'd all hoped for deep down
brought visible relief to their faces.
"Very well. Eva, head to Nehemia Fortress at once. Show those fools Seraphim's might."
"As you command, Your Majesty."