370. The Beginning of the Fissure
370. The Beginning of the Fissure
- 1 -
Less than a day after the Holy Kingdom's declaration of heresy, an emergency communication conference was convened, gathering the major monarchs of the Eastern Continent.
Three archbishops sat in the chairs of the Holy See's Archbishop Council chamber, and before them floated four crystal balls.
The light streaming from each revealed the figures of powerholders from different nations.
Amid a heavy silence, the old Griffin of the Norn Empire, Emperor Maximilian, was the first to speak.
「What in the world is the meaning of this, Anselm!」
His shout spread through the crystal ball.
It was a ferocious force difficult to believe came from a man in his eighties.
His voice carried the spirit of a young predator.
「It seems the story has changed considerably from the beginning.」
King Nicholas II of Kakia also shook his head with a displeased expression.
「I hear every single one of the saintesses expressed opposition? Explain how this came to be.」
At his cold voice, King Talbart of Theilrand also silently nodded.
He had his arms crossed without a word, but his stiff expression showed his agreement with the two monarchs.
Meanwhile, the figures from the Holy Kingdom were breaking out in a cold sweat.
Beads of sweat dotted the plump face of Finance Archbishop Cornelius, and Southern Archbishop Clotilda was biting her lips restlessly.
"Ah, that is... perhaps there was some issue in communication with the saintesses. As you know, women are so terribly fickle..."
As Cornelius laughed obsequiously and offered excuses, Talbart's face crumpled in disgust.
「Do you call that an explanation right now?」
"Please do not be so angry, let us first hear the story. This can be sufficiently handled..."
Clotilda hastily tried to mediate, but her voice only seemed to fan the flames of the other kings' anger.
"Can this truly be said to be our problem alone?"
At that moment, a single gentle voice silenced all the noise.
"Rather than the saintesses turning their backs on us, could it not be that they are merely disappointed in all of you? For example..."
It was Central Archbishop Anselm.
With his face still appearing frail, yet with unwavering eyes, he looked at the monarchs of each nation and retorted.
His gaze, sharp as a hidden blade beneath a gentle expression, turned first toward the emperor who had expressed his discontent.
"...I hear that the Crown Prince of Norn has remarkably complicated personal relations. Is it not possible that Saintess Clementine was greatly disappointed by that?"
「What!! You dare!!」
Maximilian slammed his fist on the table. His rage exploded with a Kwang!
Clenching both fists that had struck the table tightly, he glared at Anselm.
But Anselm merely tapped his own table quietly with a finger. Tok.
Tung——!
A clear and deep sound.
But within it lay an immense holy power.
Enough to convey that pressure intact across the communication channel to the monarchs of each nation.
「...!」
All the kings flinched momentarily.
Taking advantage of that brief silence, Anselm calmly stated his opinion as if nothing had happened.
"Hasty speculation only breeds conflict, so identifying the cause can be done later without issue. First, let us return the saintesses to the Holy Kingdom. We shall handle the persuasion ourselves from there."
「That would be difficult.」
The Holy Kingdom's closest ally, Arminius III of Rugnisah, refused firmly.
Even while being pressured, he had swiftly regained his composure.
It was a demeanor befitting a king of a great nation bound by fate.
「If we return the saintesses to you at this juncture, it will appear as if we are siding with your retaliatory actions. The populace will not look kindly upon that.」
「They are vermin, but if they gather and cause unrest, the royal authority will fall, after all.」
Nicholas II also shook his head in agreement.
'It didn't work.'
Anselm clicked his tongue behind his gentle expression.
To think they would regain their composure this quickly even after he had displayed his holy power.
For those occupying insignificant thrones, they were not entirely stupid.
'Annoying things.'
Their words were true.
In each nation, public opinion among the clergy had already begun to fracture following the saintesses' declaration of opposition.
More than half of the priests called to serve as military chaplains had refused orders, stating they would 'escort the saintess.'
This was the case even within the Holy Kingdom itself.
A significant number of holy knights summoned for the holy war had planted their swords in the ground and were refusing to move, claiming 'this war is not the will of God.'
To the holy knights, the orders of their superiors were important, but their ultimate master was, to the very end, God.
And it had always been believed that the saintesses who performed miracles, rather than the Holy Kingdom itself, were the ones who truly acted as agents of God's will.
Maximilian delivered his conclusion.
「Therefore, you resolve this yourselves! Persuade the saintesses, or find another method! Build a new justification! Until then, we will not move!」
The emperor unilaterally cut off the communication, leaving only his own words behind.
One of the crystal balls lost its light and vanished.
Nicholas II and Talbart also cut the communication without further comment.
Only one crystal ball's light remained.
From beyond it, Arminius III spoke in a bitter tone.
「...Contact me if there is anything necessary. As for returning the saintess, we will consider it once the public eye has turned elsewhere regarding this incident.」
Once he vanished, leaving behind a pointless remark, only the archbishops of the Holy Kingdom remained.
"When they were happily siding with us, they were all for it, and now they flip their hands like this?!"
Only after all the monarchs had left did Cornelius explode with rage as if he had been waiting.
'Noisy fool.'
Anselm inwardly sneered at his colleague's predictable tantrum.
"...What will you do, Brother Anselm?"
"We must produce a solution swiftly. If the saintesses are acting this way, then perhaps by detaining their families..."
Cornelius cut off Clotilda's words again.
"Do you think those vermin have anything like familial affection? They are all people who only exploited them. Do you truly believe they would bat an eye if we took such people hostage?!"
"Then what do you propose we do?!"
While the two argued anxiously, Anselm simply maintained his silence.
But soon, he turned to the two of them and spoke with chillingly gleaming eyes.
"It seems we must use what we have hidden."
"Surely not...!"
Clotilda was horrified. Cornelius's face also turned deathly pale.
"You intend to awaken that?"
Anselm quietly nodded.
"If we can first suppress that alliance by force, can we not handle the aftermath somehow?"
Leaning back in his chair, he wore his usual gentle expression.
But to the eyes of the other archbishops, who knew his true nature, that face only appeared utterly cold and terrifying.
- 2 -
In the office of Clarent Citadel, I was listening to Serica's report.
"So right now, the human world has gotten incredibly noisy. The saintesses openly opposed it, right? A real war is going to break out soon, isn't it? Right?"
Finishing her report, Serica pulled up the corners of her mouth with keen interest.
To her, this matter seemed to appear like one grand festival.
"Yes, probably."
I caressed her hand and smiled with satisfaction.
"It seems a larger rift has formed than I expected."
The opposition of the saintesses had been a prearranged event.
But the result was more excellent than I had thought.
I had expected it would shake the board greatly, but I hadn't anticipated it would even bind the movements of Rugnisah, following the other two nations.
I looked around at the other confidants remaining in the office.
Saya, Yuran, Shue, Evangeline, and Esther.
"The alliance between the Holy Kingdom and the kingdoms that sided with it is creaking from the start. Each nation is in a position where it must first enforce internal discipline. However..."
I lifted my teacup and continued my analysis.
My gaze remained on them.
"There's no way they will back down like this. Especially the Holy Kingdom, which will strike us by creating a justification somehow. Most likely, they will draw their 'final card.' But that is fine. Because it's far easier to deal with them showing their hand than foolishly holding out."
The power hidden by the Holy Kingdom.
I couldn't know what that was, but I could expect different 'information' from them.
"...I heard about it when I was young, and in the last 'future.'"
Esther, who had been toying with the mace at her waist, slowly opened her mouth.
"There is talk that deep in the mountain ranges surrounding the Holy Kingdom, there are entities sealed away by the saints of previous generations."
"Do you have any hints as to what kind of entities?"
At my counter-question, she shook her head.
"Regrettably, no. Only speculation that, since they are entities personally captured and sealed by saints, they are not very benevolent beings..."
"Very well. That is sufficient."
Though she said there were no hints, their identity was obvious.
At minimum, elite-grade demon beasts; at most, lord-class demon beasts.
If it went further, they could be other complex entities, but even in those cases, it was no great problem.
I turned my head to look at Saya.
In preparation for war, there was a need to elevate our core fighting power by one more stage.
"First, let us proceed with the plan we have already laid out."
I placed the core of 'Aktarque', the lord-class demon beast I had killed just the day before, on the table.
A demon beast whose individual martial power was not lacking, but whose ability to lead a horde had been more outstanding.
At the same time, one who had been lacking for us in both aspects.
However, its magical power alone had not been lacking.
"Saya. Let us prepare for your promotion. This core will be sufficient. Once this promotion is complete, you will take charge of the front lines against Gaph and Andras."
Saya's eyes shone with resolve.
"Yes, Master. I will live up to your expectations with my life."
"I have also looked into a settlement for the Cheoneungcheongu clan, so do not worry about that and focus solely on the ritual."
The preparations were sufficient with this.
I sat in my chair, receiving tea from Evangeline, and looked at the face of Archbishop Anselm in the crystal ball.
His appearance during the Holy Kingdom's grand proclamation. Behind that gentle, aged face, the aura of a beast was emanating.
'War will begin again.'
There was no fear whatsoever.
There was only regret for those who would be sacrificed, and possessiveness for the future to be gained through it.
- 3 -
In the deepest part of the Holy Kingdom's Holy See, the bedchamber of Clemens IV.
A divine light lingered there.
But the light was not warm. Like a shroud laid over a corpse, only the scent of death stirred.
On the bed in the center of the room, an old man slept like a living corpse.
Mixed with the smell of sacred oil, the faint stench of decay stung the nose.
"「——」"
Around him, 'priests' shaped like faceless shadowy figures chanted bizarre spells that sounded like the droning of insects.
Anselm, who had entered the room, asked.
"How fares His Holiness?"
"He is in a very comfortable state now. He will soon be able to deliver the next divine message."
"I see...."
Wearing a benevolent smile at his lips, Anselm clicked his tongue inwardly.
'Tenacious old man.'
The Holy Emperor was enduring far too long, beyond expectations.
Of course, he knew.
The lifespan of a Holy Emperor blessed by God averaged over 150 years.
'Though I am the designated successor, I have no patience to wait for the old man to die a natural death....'
His pupils emitted a chilling light.
Despite the current Clemens IV being 112 years old this year, he was abnormally aged, as if all his life force had been rapidly consumed.
Thanks to the 'various measures' taken against him.
Clemens IV was dying.
He was now nothing more than a puppet who occasionally woke and delivered the scripts written by Anselm.
Out of habit, Anselm headed to his personal prayer room.
In the holy water basin at its center, there was holy water shimmering faintly with a pinkish glow.
"I am... the Holy Emperor."
He looked at his own face reflected in the water and whispered quietly.
"No one can interfere. No one."
The smile that rose to his lips was eerily grotesque.
So much so that it was hard to believe he was a clergyman at all.