Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Must Go to Hell 2
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The map of the continent lay spread out before my eyes.
It resembled the European continent from my original world almost exactly, but the national borders and country names basically followed the original novel.
Among them, the most striking was the vast territory of the Holy Empire, which encompassed nearly the entire northwest region from our location in the Bennetsa Republic.
A great empire situated at the central transportation hub of the continent, boasting the most fertile and expansive lands.
However, the internal state of this seemingly impregnable superpower was far from ideal, belying its formidable exterior.
Due to a series of blunders, the Holy Empire's emperor had lost much of his former authority. As a result, the regional lords within the empire—so-called elector princes—were eyeing opportunities to expand their influence centered on their own domains.
These elector princes yearned to break free from the emperor's shadow and bolster their own power by any means necessary.
For them, the recent uproar across the continent—known as the rebellion of so-called heretics—served as the perfect pretext to undermine the emperor's influence in their territories, enhance their independence, and in other words, strengthen their own rule.
Fundamentally, the emperor's authority rested on the church that appointed him and the Pope himself.
The heretics' doctrines, which defied this order, gave the lords legitimate grounds to challenge the emperor while providing an excellent tool to sway public sentiment in their favor.
The result?
Though the conflict hadn't yet erupted into the open, the Holy Empire could now be said to be divided into two factions.
The north, ruled by elector princes who officially tolerated heretic forces and embraced their ideologies.
And the south, centered on the emperor and his inner circle, which adhered strictly to church doctrine.
Yet despite this simmering tension, the northern lords had refrained from openly defying the emperor.
Though diminished from its past heights, his authority endured, backed by an undeniably formidable military might.
Moreover, the current emperor, Huz Matis, showed little hostility toward the heretics and pursued a conciliatory policy toward them, making any religiously justified rebellion a tricky proposition.
In the original story, their outright conflict didn't ignite until after Matis's death. It was only after his successor, Sisyphus Ferdinand, ascended the throne that the empire plunged into full-scale rebellion, civil war, and foreign invasions—a true descent into hell.
‘Matis is still clinging to life for now, but not for much longer. The Holy Empire is a powder keg on the brink of explosion. Which means we need to cross that godforsaken place as fast as humanly possible.’
With that resolve—to avoid getting crushed like a prawn in the clash of whales—my gaze shifted to our destination: the "pagan nation."
But the country marked there wasn't the Turk Empire we'd originally planned for.
The Holy Empire shared no border with the Turk Empire to begin with. And even if it did, the frontier between those two bitter foes—rivals on Hungary's level—would have been sealed tight amid the current chaos.
Thus, the pagan nation we'd selected in the Turk Empire's stead.
A realm bordering the Holy Empire, wielding territory and power that demanded respect.
The Dragona Empire.
This was the destination Shylock had recommended—the only viable pagan nation open to us now. Along with the Turk Empire, it was one of just two powers that had stayed on the sidelines throughout the original story, content to watch the Holy Empire's mess from afar.
In short, amid a world five seconds from total chaos, this was one of the precious few places where an excommunicated soul like me and a soon-to-be-excommunicated Kazeros could kick back and live in peace.
"Though it's a pagan land, merchant traffic across the Dragona Empire and Holy Empire borders is still flowing smoothly, unlike with the Turks. Pass through the Bohemia region here, then the adjacent Rhapsody area next door, and you'll enter the Dragona Empire safely. I'll send someone ahead to smooth the way."
"I see... At least we can be thankful a route still exists."
Our destination had changed.
Land travel promised headaches worse than by sea—higher odds of trouble and far more time consumed.
Yet in our predicament, I had to be grateful just for the chance to leave at all.
Linger too long here, and Maxim—whom we'd thoroughly humiliated on our exit—might sniff us out and give chase. Or we could get tangled in fallout from Kazeros's defense against excommunication.
Even if it took weeks, leaving now was the smart play.
Thus, I thanked Shylock for pointing out a workable path, desired or not.
"Anyway, thank you so much, Mr. Shylock. For helping us like this."
"Helping? If anything, you two helped me. Without your aid, I might've ended up swinging from the gallows. I'm the one sorry—this is the least I could do for such a debt."
"Not at all. Compared to your help, this is a mere scratch. When you've received grace, repaying it is just decent human conduct, isn't it?"
I spoke with genuine humility, and Shylock chuckled softly, glancing between Kazeros and me.
"Haha... Seeing you two, I get what they mean by 'God's true messengers' outside church walls. If every believer had your character, I might've joined the faith myself."
"Haha... You're too kind, Mr. Shylock."
He spoke half in jest, and I replied with a light laugh.
"Rest up here until the finer details are squared away. Long road ahead means plenty of prep and a stamina recharge."
"Thank you, Mr. Shylock."
With that, I settled on three days' stay for preparations before departure. Matters more or less decided, I began rising slowly from my seat.
Then...
A small, clear voice reached my ear.
"Dragona Empire, huh... So it comes to this."
The next instant, Kazeros voiced her new destination with evident unease.
Her reluctance seemed even stronger than when we'd discussed the Turk Empire before. Puzzled, I held back from pressing her right then.
Of course, that didn't stop my mind from churning with questions.
‘Did something happen there? Come to think of it, Kazeros was a foreigner. Maybe it's connected...’
Without her opening up, it was all idle speculation.
Harboring my curiosity, I decided to wait for her to share in time.
And back then, I had no inkling.
Of the weight behind Kazeros's words...
Or how they'd steer the course of my life...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Right after sending Santana's group off to rest.
A slow smile crept across Shylock's lips.
‘Never imagined that child would aid me like this... Truly... Is this what comes of being that man's son?’
As a merchant, he'd kept up relations without betraying a hint.
Yet... he'd watched in silence.
Tracking how the son of the man he knew had grown.
And where that path now led...
‘Plenty more to observe ahead... How Santana Andreas, that child of immense talent, will reshape this world...’