Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Continental Summit (3)
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“First of all, I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has taken time out of your busy schedules to join us here in this distant place.”
Right after Riesta, Heinrich, and Cardinal Cordelia took their seats side by side at the empty spots around the round table in the center.
“Then, let us begin the Continental Summit.”
With the cardinal's brief greeting, the formal meeting commenced.
“We now stand before an unprecedented crisis. One that may even surpass the two previous Immortal King incidents in scale.”
Cardinal Cordelia, who was overseeing the proceedings, infused her voice with holy power, letting it spread throughout the grand conference hall.
All eyes focused on her low, resonant speech, backed by the wisdom of her years.
“A thousand years ago, the Immortal King descended upon the world when the Abyss opened, blanketing half the continent in death.”
The people of that era had united their strength, paid a tremendous price in blood, and only then repelled the Immortal King and his undead legions.
“Three hundred years ago, a second Immortal King was born from a black mage who seized the Immortal King's heart. He annihilated the Sarb Empire, the most powerful force of that time.”
Yet even that threat had been quelled through the cooperation of many, preventing further devastation.
And unlike before, they had shattered the heart and sealed one fragment, believing such a calamity would never recur...
“And now, the third Immortal King has revealed himself to the world once more.”
Cardinal Cordelia calmly continued, explaining the newly arisen Immortal King, Hans.
He had first been detected in the Kingdom of Thalia on the western continent, but Hans had outmaneuvered them with uncanny cunning, toying with his pursuers at every turn.
The sly tactic of luring the Church into conflict with a vampire clan amid existing tensions.
The ruthless disposal of even his own black mage followers as bait once they outlived their usefulness.
The mobility to leisurely await a successful pursuit team, mock them, and slip away unscathed.
The stealth to evade the Church's full-scale search efforts and vanish completely.
“Hmm...”
“This is... more serious than we thought...”
As the cardinal spoke, faces grew sterner, but she pressed on relentlessly.
The unidentified, malevolent biological experiments in the Monster Forest of the western continent—and their brutality.
The bold exploitation of the exposed lab's location to draw out the forces of the Roselia Grand Temple.
And then... despite not fully inheriting the Immortal King's power, the magical prowess to breach the Church's ironclad security, infiltrate deep within, and steal a sealed fragment of the Immortal King.
All enabled by unimaginable growth speed and meticulous scheming.
“......”
“...Ahem.”
The air chilled as every expression turned grave.
And that included the saint, Heinrich, who sat quietly in his seat.
Whoa... Hans, that guy's way scarier than I realized!
Hearing the Church's compiled facts made even Heinrich shiver at Hans's calculated maneuvers.
But no matter how strong the opponent, I, Heinrich, will never give up!
He clenched his fist dramatically, adopting a solemn expression brimming with resolve.
A vow to fight against the darkness for the world's light, no matter how thick the shadows grew.
He felt a few gazes upon him but didn't bother checking.
This wasn't for show—it came straight from the heart!
As he immersed himself in the role of righteous hero, burning with a sense of duty, the speech continued.
“But the most critical point is this: unlike his predecessors, who acted blindly as if possessed, this Immortal King conceals his tracks meticulously, operating from the shadows.”
What Hans had orchestrated next was sacrifice rituals across the continent to tear open the Abyss once more.
The weakened Abyss boundary released countless undead sealed from previous eras, inflicting widespread casualties.
“Yet the true problem lay elsewhere—as you all know, the Abyss's 'madness' spread across the entire world.”
The madness primarily preyed on monsters with weak wills, dramatically boosting their physical abilities and aggression, plunging the world into chaos.
Not just monster havens like the northern mountains, but even secluded hill-dwellers rampaged wildly, with damage spreading rapidly.
And the situation worsened over time, as the scattered madness parasitized monsters, slowly multiplying.
Once amplified, it didn't vanish upon a monster's death—it dispersed back into the world or nourished stronger hosts...
“To quell this madness outbreak, we've concluded that sealing its core—the nucleus that emerged alongside it from the Abyss—is the only way.”
This came from the Main God's Church investigation team's exhaustive analysis of the ritual sites.
Though the botched summoning fragmented most of the madness, a tangible conduit must have manifested in the world.
And the Immortal King was likely hiding it, weaponizing it against the continent.
Recent subtle movements by the undead army were equally ominous, as if poised for something massive—the Church was watching closely.
“Thus, we must devote all our efforts to eliminating the Immortal King, the root of it all. Before things worsen further, and with your cooperation.”
Murmur, murmur—
As Cardinal Cordelia finished, the attendees buzzed in unison.
As high-ranking figures, they knew the broad strokes, but her revelations included many unknowns.
And some touched on Church sensitivities...
As glances darted cautiously, one delegate at the main table lazily raised a hand, drawing all eyes.
“I have one question after hearing that.”
A young man with bright golden hair and green eyes, his irritable demeanor ignoring the stares.
Crown Prince Simon Carte Azerion of the Azerion Empire.
“If the Church had properly managed the fragment from the start, the Immortal King wouldn't have revived, right?”
As he said, the cardinal had essentially admitted the Church's failing publicly.
The fragment under their watch had been stolen, leading to the Immortal King's resurrection.
“Does that mean you're admitting Church negligence caused the Immortal King's revival—and this entire crisis?”
Politics was Simon's daily bread; he wouldn't overlook such a weakness.
The Church was mighty, but the Azerion Empire claimed continental supremacy.
With a clear flaw on their side, he was confident of victory.
“How will the Church take responsibility?”
Murmur, murmur—
Many nations here had suffered losses; public opinion would back him.
This was prime to erode Church influence.
Perfect timing. Their power has been irking me anyway.
Stronger church meant weaker throne—an inevitable truth.
And the Main God's Church now rivaled or surpassed the Empire.
I'll be the emperor ruling the Empire. I respect the divine authority, but not priests lording over me. Best to curb them now.
Faith in the Main God was separate from this.
Priests were mere mortals wielding godly names; as royalty, Simon deemed himself superior.
“Haa...”
As the topic veered off, Riesta sighed softly from her seat.
Time was short for the imminent crisis, now further delayed.
Yet the mood suggested many tacitly agreed, even if not voicing it.
Blame-shifting was human nature in crises, unavoidable...
But with it raised, they couldn't gloss over.
As Cardinal Cordelia opened her mouth to respond—
“I understand your point fully.”
A resonant male voice filled the hall first, brimming with authority.
All gazes snapped to its source.
“But the Main God's Church...”
There stood Heinrich, rising silently until now, locking eyes with each leader.
Crown Prince Simon's face twitched faintly under Heinrich's piercing gaze.
“...has never once shirked responsibility.”
The prince's words rang true, but overlooked one thing.
The Main God's Church wasn't like petty schemers hiding flaws for gain.
They never intended to deny the mistake.
Had they, they wouldn't have disclosed everything.
But with graver issues at hand, now wasn't the time for debate.
“A thousand years ago, three hundred years ago, and in every crisis since. The Main God's Church has always bled on the front lines, never yielding that post.”
Uniting all forces.
Tracking the Immortal King amid sacrifices.
Clearing paths despite ally losses.
Opening the final battle for heroes.
Sealing the shattered fragments.
The Church led every effort.
“And it will be the same this time.”
Heinrich's fierce gaze pierced Simon.
His overwhelming presence silenced the room.
“We deny no fault in this. The Church and I will bear responsibility, one way or another.”
Silence blanketed the vast hall.
Only Heinrich's voice echoed, yet it felt anything but empty.
“I will stand at the forefront against the Immortal King. If retreat is forced, I will be the last to leave.”
And he wouldn't stand alone.
The entire Church would burn their lives like kindling until the Immortal King was eradicated.
“...As the Main God's Church always has.”
Even after he finished, the room remained hushed.
But the atmosphere had shifted dramatically.
Most nodded in agreement; even the scowlers relaxed without retort.
Heinrich's words boiled down to admitting fault, vowing to fix it, and citing past merits for leniency...
Yet the Church commanded universal respect not from faith alone.
Their proven track record over centuries had forged unshakeable trust—a formidable intangible authority.
“...We'll see about that, then.”
Even Simon managed only an awkward smile, leaning back.
He'd pivoted swiftly as the mood turned, abandoning his goal.
Overkill is as bad as shortfall. Best to stop here. Plenty more chances ahead.
Not fully conceding, his sunken gaze fixed on Heinrich.
The devout, noble, justice-filled holy knight.
Saint Heinrich...
And he wasn't the only one watching.
His striking impression etched into minds, drawing myriad gazes laced with emotions.
A successful saint debut, by all measures.
Phew—barely cleaned up my own mess. Not bad for me, though?
Of course, to him, it was just handling his own fallout.