Chapter 213

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 213

Chapter Title: Blueprint of the Plan

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We need to go over the rules of this game in a bit more detail.

"I get that there are eight groups, but how do you decide the groups, and how is the bracket draw done? And can anyone just join whichever one they want?"

"First, there's the preliminary round. I believe it's already underway, but it's the spell prepared by the Goddess Church, Three Hounds Guarding the Goddess... If you can strip away even a single layer, you pass."

"Ah, that magic."

I've seen Tara use it before. It's a holy spell with outstanding defensive capabilities that summons a massive shield adorned with three dog heads.

It's perfect for weeding people out. On average, you'd need at least two stars to even make a dent, so no village farmer A is crashing the Hero Selection Tournament.

So, what happens to those who make it through?

"Those who pass the prelims gain the right to participate in the sequential group tournaments."

"What does that mean?"

"Once the Courage tournament ends, the Faithfulness one begins, followed by Immutability, then Obedience. Prelim passers can choose one to enter."

In essence, it's up to the participants to pick their group.

I can already feel the heat of the information war brewing. No one will want to join a group with a top contender, so there'll definitely be people watching the strong ones' moves and betting on their chances. It'll be a brutal game of chicken.

For example, say the Empire's Sword Saint, that boy knight, suddenly enters the Courage tournament. No one in their right mind would join that; they'd aim for a later slot instead. Intriguing.

It seems fair enough up to this point...

"So, how are the matchups in those tournaments decided? What's the method?"

"Through a 'fair draw' to set the brackets."

"A fair draw, huh."

Yeah, I figured there'd be something like this.

Just from the field priest's tone, it's obvious it's not fair. Naturally, the Cardinal faction's rigging it.

Say there are three top contenders and one the Cardinals are backing. They could shove all the favorites into one group and let them duke it out.

Because each group selects not one, but two Hero candidates.

It might look a bit sloppy, but if they get lucky and face only weak teams, they could still snag a Hero spot... That's the kind of ploy the Cardinals might pull.

That's the background covered.

Next up: the players.

"Then, about the named participants in this festival... I'd like to hear about them. What do you say, Bennett? Care to explain the ones we need to watch out for?"

"We should start with the major powers. Here's a list of targets of interest—listen while referring to it."

First, the Redburn Ducal House, spicy red flavor.

According to Reformist intel, they're aggressively preparing for the Hero Selection Tournament and gathering participant info. But who exactly is entering remains unknown.

"We've confirmed several knights from the Redburn Ducal House's order have entered the Holy City. Guessing they're sending them out."

Sending in multiple knights, no less. Is the Redburn Duke seriously gunning for a Hero slot? Might need to link up with Roderus in a dream for more intel.

Next, the Imperial faction.

Pingbalrez shared this intel.

"His Highness Second Prince Irid has no interest in the Hero position. But at First Princess Elaine's request, he's traveling with one knight. Vice Captain of the Blue Wind Knights, Cisselle Yurensuto."

Irid himself isn't reaching for the Hero spot, but Elaine is. Looks like he's handling it on her behalf.

"...Hold on, Yurensuto?"

"Yes, exactly what you're thinking."

My heart skipped a beat.

The Magic Tower Master's full name is Yuna Yurensuto Violetiris, and that long bit at the end is a surname bestowed by the Imperial family. By blood, she's from the Yurensuto Count family.

Yuna hated the Yurensuto Count family where she was born and raised. She'd call her father "the Count" so stiffly, with a bitter aftertaste that lingered like poison.

...When I persuade Irid, I might get to meet that vice captain. Could ask about Yuna.

Next, the Northern Grand Duchy.

This one I can guess without intel. The Northern Grand Duke 'Daisy' forces blabbed every trivial detail to Heart, so I know the North pretty well.

The trickiest issues in that icy wasteland are food and heat. Both have to be imported for the territory to function.

'Daisy' always griped about it. Solve those internally, and they could redirect import funds to Northern development.

From the Northern Grand Duke's view... a Hero is tempting. If a loyal Hero emerges from his house and uses that immense holy power for the territory.

If it were me, I'd leverage holy magic's powerful 'preservation' to build a massive greenhouse. Bring spring to a patch of eternal winter and farm it.

Or use the Hero prestige to mooch Goddess Church support. Either way, huge boon for the North.

Pingbalrez was impressed by my guess.

"Life's full of surprises, Mima. Thought it was just funny at first, but it's actually helpful. You really know how to reel in a guy."

"Don't tease, honey."

"........."

"Don't get embarrassed—fire back...!"

So, three major powers participating.

I'm so used to seeing their faces that it feels casual, but two of the Empire's three ducal houses, plus the Imperial family? Massive stakes.

The eyes of this vast nation are fixed on the Holy City. That's the value of the Hero title.

Naturally, ambitious individuals are flocking too. These are the ones I need to watch—they're unpredictable, unlike manipulable factions.

Bennett tapped the list.

"Obviously, we couldn't track every hidden master. Just compiled the somewhat famous strong ones—use as reference."

"...Yuri, could you read and memorize it for me instead?"

"Gladly."

I'm weak against documents crammed with names...!

Goal 1: Knock out the Cardinal faction's main pushed candidate. The tournament structure gives them bracket control, so tough, but best outcome if successful.

We'd start by screwing them over.

Goal 2: Maximize ally ratio among the eight Hero candidates who get Holy Sword rights. To buy me time to interfere with the sword.

I've extracted info from the Goddess's Divine Punishment before. Give me enough time, and I can probably hack the Holy Sword too.

Not sure how much access the Cardinals get, but assuming three minutes of fumbling to pull it...

Safe bet is four. Three or two is dicey; one is burdensome.

Proceed with these goals in mind. Persuade major factions one by one to our side, recruit standout individuals if possible.

For those immune to persuasion or recruitment, various options on table. Not going full villain wipeout, but honey traps or smears...?

Fill 4/8 slots, and it's certain victory.

And in the process... I get closer to the Goddess Church's secrets. Hoping to snag something useful for eliminating 'that thing.'

Also.

"If things go south, just stage a coup. Grab the Pope hostage, right?"

[Or we could hide away in some remote mountain village. Just the three of us. So don't worry too much, Tara!]

"...Wasn't worried anyway? Fine, whatever happens... as long as we're together."

Here's hoping that trio gets their happy ending.

...And my love life too!

That was the blueprint of my elaborate—grand—long-term plan.

Tap. Tap.

Under red lighting, pieces shift. The knight advances, seizing a key point. The masked man ponders the duke's clever move, then advances his pawn and speaks.

"Noose... I hear you've reached into Goddess Church affairs."

"Problem? Lamb."

"No... Just curious. With the Evil God Statue's casting so close, why expand the board?"

"Because I learned the Evil God Statue isn't absolute."

Squeeze.

The Redburn Duke's fingers crush the knight like it might shatter. Then tap. He slams it down. The gesture carried unease and doubt.

"Wasn't that just the Intact Virgin's mishandling?"

"Absolute power needs no skill. If sloppy handling leads to defeat, it wasn't absolute to begin with."

The Intact Virgin's final act was devouring the extermination squad that invaded her lair. Days later, she died.

Redburn Duke judged it Imperial handiwork. Baited her with the squad, then struck her down.

The Empire tracked its five Transcendence realm holders with all efforts. But that day, the Sword Saint was elsewhere... and others never left their nests.

The only suspect: Violet Magic ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Tower Master.

"Violet Tower Master never left the Academy. Certain. If involved, only remote ritual strike on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Queen's nest...

"By your words, Intact Virgin was a bad matchup for Violet Tower Master."

"Yes. Precisely, mutual stab... Her mind's unstable. Shake Violet's psyche past the threshold, her Transcendence collapses. Guaranteed."

And Intact Virgin's power resists mental attacks. Even if unskilled with the Evil God Statue, mutual destruction or escape should've succeeded.

Thus, Redburn Duke's hypothesis:

"What if... there's another like the Sword Saint?"

The Imperials might hide another Transcendence holder.

"A blade in the shadows, a master one... Suspicious indeed. If so, his mind must be ironclad."

"Or specialized in mental attacks, like the Intact Virgin."

The black mages imagined a sixth nonexistent Transcender. If real, they'd need more caution... and higher stakes.

That was why.

"Research on divine power's been ongoing. You too. Beyond the Evil God Statue, greed for its source binds us all."

"........."

"And I saw hope in the Goddess. Ever thought about it, Lamb? How does she grant holy power?"

In this vast world, among countless souls, how does she select the talented and bestow holy power? How detect apostasy and revoke it?

How know all that info?

Simple. The Goddess has such ability. A continent-spanning ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠detection always active, every second. In other words.

"The Goddess has the Eyes of the Sky."

"...Ah, and you have the Foresight Lantern..."

Redburn Duke's Transcendence, Foresight Lantern, dominates fate with knowledge. Potency scales with target intel.

Add Eyes of the Sky?

Boost its output via Evil God Statue?

"If even possible, when all aligns—my resultant Holocaust Transcendence would rule the world."

"Even partial theft of her eyes... immense power. Most wise, Noose."

Thus, Redburn Duke played his ace.

House of the Bastard for loyal minions. Experiments repeated, results harvested.

Roderus was fine steel, but not the pinnacle.

Ultimate blade: absolute obedience to Duke, fate-woven masterpiece. Emotionless Faceless.

He'd send her to the tournament. Hero unnecessary. Goal: approach Church core, steal Goddess's eyes.

Lamb smiled pale, laying down her king.

"You'll need a skilled illusion mage. I see ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠why you called me... Fine, let's collaborate."

"No mistakes, Lamb."

"I don't err. Nor your pieces. So this plan's as good as done."

To seal the deal, they clinked wine glasses. They'd seize desires via the Hero Selection Tournament.

The black mage's scheme and mad mage's plot intertwined.