Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: 52. Savior of the Magic Kingdom (3)
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Holy incantations. The 'power' granted to priests or holy knights in exchange for their unwavering faith in the gods.
In the world of the novel Empire of the Dead, there were numerous gods, which meant a wide variety of holy incantations and religions. But among them, the most peculiar was the 'Church of the Emperor'.
They worshiped not a divine being, but the 'Emperor'.
Devoting themselves solely to the Emperor with absolute loyalty.
The faith of the church and its priests toward the Emperor soared to the heavens, allowing even someone who had not ascended to godhood to wield divine power based on that belief alone.
Those who revered the Emperor to the point of manifesting divine power—they were the Church of the Emperor in the Philius Empire.
"Here it is."
Count Potas appeared in the bedroom. He handed Raymond the item he had been asked to procure: the patrol layout of the Royal Guard.
"You've done well, Count Potas."
"It was truly no small task. Even with His Majesty's assistance, the patrol layout is treated as the utmost secret even among the Royal Guard."
Raymond unfurled the patrol layout in front of the Count, who was boasting a bit.
True to its purpose for the Royal Guard, it considered the safety of no other facilities—only the Emperor's well-being.
"It's not without its flaws."
Raymond murmured quietly to himself. Marquis Blizzard might believe this patrol setup was flawless, but vulnerabilities clearly existed.
"When I reviewed it, I thought it was perfect..."
"With an inside collaborator, slipping out unnoticed is possible."
And in this situation, Raymond himself was the greatest inside man. Since he could issue orders to the entire Royal Guard, tweaking the patrol layout was no great challenge.
"Count Potas. If we want to maximize the vulnerability here, which part of the patrol layout do you think we should alter? Speak your thoughts."
Rather than deciding alone, Raymond chose to seek the opinion of an expert in this field. Count Potas stared calmly at the layout, his eyes scanning it thoughtfully.
"First, may I ask? Will Lady Silvia be accompanying you on this plan?"
"Of course, she'll stay by my side."
"In that case, we don't need any drastic changes that might raise suspicion. Simply expanding the patrol radius of the five Royal Guards at the main gate and Sector 2 should allow a smooth escape."
"Indeed... that makes sense."
As expected of an expert in covert operations—he thought differently from others. Raymond nodded in quiet admiration and decided to follow his advice.
Soon after Count Potas departed, Raymond summoned Marquis Tempest of the Royal Guard.
Today, Marquis Tempest was in charge of security in place of Marquis Blizzard.
"Marquis Tempest. Can you adjust the Royal Guard's escort formation slightly?"
"May I ask what sort of modifications you have in mind?"
Marquis Tempest inquired cautiously, and Raymond relayed exactly what Count Potas had suggested.
"That level of adjustment poses no issue."
Marquis Tempest nodded slowly in response. He judged that such a minor change wouldn't significantly impact the Emperor's safety.
"Then implement it immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Marquis Tempest bowed and withdrew. Not long after, Count Potas emerged through a dimensional gate and reported that the Royal Guard's patrol layout had been updated.
"Are you truly going?"
"Having second thoughts now?"
"Of course not... As your subject, I merely worry for Your Majesty's safety."
"Always so timid."
Raymond chuckled softly and headed toward the terrace. It was currently the shift change for the Royal Guards stationed in the garden below.
Moreover, with the patrol routes in Sector 2 expanded to cover the garden, now was the perfect moment.
"No presences detected. The Royal Guards have moved away."
Silvia spoke in a hushed voice. Gestain leaped over the terrace first, followed by Raymond, Desia, and Silvia as they landed in the garden.
"Safe travels."
Clinging to the terrace railing, Count Potas watched Raymond and his escorts depart, murmuring softly to himself.
Leaving Count Potas behind, Raymond quickened his pace. Soon, they rendezvoused with Bishop Gustav, who was waiting near the garden with the holy knights of the Church of the Emperor.
"Your Majesty. We are fully prepared."
"Good. We move out now."
"Understood."
After a brief exchange with the waiting Bishop Gustav, Raymond took the lead.
Before long, they slipped past the Royal Guard's perimeter and reached the entrance to the passage leading underground to the Governor's Mansion.
Though inside the royal castle housing the Governor's Mansion, its outer location meant no guards patrolled nearby.
Of course, it lay along the patrol route of the Governor's security detail, but Count Dernitz—under Raymond's orders—had temporarily rerouted them, leaving the area deserted.
"May I take the lead?"
Bishop Gustav approached slowly, seeking permission. Knowing Raymond had often taken point before, he hesitated, wary of encroaching on the Emperor's enjoyment.
"Of course, Bishop Gustav."
"I am honored that Your Majesty grants me the privilege of clearing your path."
With gestures bordering on excessive, Bishop Gustav led the holy knights of the Church of the Emperor down the stairs.
"Shall we go?"
Desia whispered softly. Raymond nodded without a word, and they followed behind Bishop Gustav and the holy knights.
"In the name of His Majesty the Emperor! Light, come forth!"
One holy knight bellowed sharply, and radiant light gathered above his head.
As darkness receded, the path illuminated. They pressed on without pause.
How far had they descended? A massive door loomed into view.
Caked in thick dust, the door was unmistakably forged from extraordinary ore at a glance.
"An unfamiliar sealing spell. It must date back to ancient times."
"I'll handle it."
Bishop Gustav examined the door closely before admitting frankly that it was beyond him.
In the end, Desia stepped forward from where she had been observing.
For some time now, with the Azure Tower Lord's aid, she had studied ancient magic texts solely to assist Raymond.
"Let's see if this works..."
Desia's mana swept over the door once. After analyzing it, she muttered to herself and swung her staff through the air. Blue mana flowed out, enveloping the door.
The door absorbed the mana and, despite the dust, emitted a deep azure glow. With a sharp click of unlocking mechanisms, it slowly parted to either side.
"An expert in ancient magic, I see."
Bishop Gustav murmured with interest. Desia shrugged nonchalantly, and one of the holy knights advanced with sword and shield at the ready.
"From here on, it's the domain of the wraiths. Everyone, stay vigilant!"
Bishop Gustav cried out, channeling divine power fueled by faith in the Emperor. His voice echoed ominously through the vast underground passage.
How long did they walk without relaxing? At least an hour had passed since the stairs ended, yet it felt as if they had delved into the earth's depths.
"They're coming!"
The tension had held steady amid a relatively calm atmosphere—until Silvia's sharp warning of hostile presences.
At her piercing cry, the holy knights surged with divine power. Golden light swirled around the knights clad in heavy plate armor.
"In the name of His Majesty the Emperor!"
"Light, come forth!"
Roaring battle cries erupted from them.
Charging fiercely toward the brilliant golden radiance were the wraiths of those executed in the heresy tribunal.
Armed with intense resentment toward the living, they pierced the divine storm, thrusting sharp spears and swords.
"How dare you!"
"This is His Majesty's domain!"
"Begone at once!"
The holy knights raged. With each swing of their swords infused with golden divine power, wraiths tore apart.
"More incoming!"
Silvia warned again, drawing an arrow while wielding her massive longbow.
"Heh! So many wraiths indeed!"
Bishop Gustav's voice rang out as divine power exploded. A golden wave crashed over the wraiths, annihilating hundreds who could not withstand its might.
"Is it over?"
"Don't underestimate the ancient Church of the Emperor, Desia. The wraiths slumbering here number in the thousands. Stay alert."
As the noisy assault ended, Desia asked quietly, though it was unclear to whom. Raymond reminded her of their location to keep her on edge.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Desia replied calmly. Having dispatched the wraiths, Bishop Gustav and the holy knights resumed their advance.
They repeated battles with wraiths several times. Yet the resentful aura seeping from the heresy tribunal showed no sign of waning.
How many lives had the ancient Church of the Emperor claimed in the name of heresy?
It was too horrific to imagine, but for now, the Church stood as a reliable ally.
"Silvia. Where are the wraiths?"
Raymond asked as they crossed a long bridge piercing the darkness. Unlike the initial storm of attacks, three hours into the depths, the assaults had eerily diminished.
They might be biding their time, but Raymond couldn't ignore the creeping unease.
"They're circling at a distance from us."
Silvia answered in a trembling voice, her tension evident.
"Waiting for something?"
It was a sudden thought. Raymond frowned and deployed detection magic around them, but sensed nothing suspicious—only heightening the ominous feeling.
Though the situation screamed caution, turning back empty-handed wasn't an option. They pressed on in grim silence.
And after some time, the unease became reality.
"His Majesty the Emperor has vanished?"
Marquis Blizzard, resting in his quarters, recoiled in shock at Marquis Tempest's abrupt report.
The Emperor missing from the Edriger Governor's Mansion—what calamity was this?
"What madness is this? Marquis Tempest, are you certain?"
"We mobilized the Royal Guard to search every inch of the Governor's Mansion, but His Majesty is nowhere to be found. The same for Sir Gestain, Lady Desia, and Lady Silvia."
"Not the worst-case scenario, then... But where on earth has he gone with only his personal escorts?"
Marquis Blizzard bit his lip, piecing it together as Marquis Tempest spoke.
"Any signs of battle? Even the smallest detail—tell me."
"We checked repeatedly. No traces of combat or lingering mana. That's certain, Marquis Blizzard."
"If true, it doesn't seem like His Majesty was attacked."
A swordmaster and high mage always guarded Raymond. No foe on the Western Continent could engage them without leaving traces—at least, that's what Marquis Blizzard believed.
"It appears His Majesty acted on his own."
Marquis Blizzard finally concluded.
"What should we do then, Marquis Blizzard?"
"What else? We find His Majesty. He's not under attack now, but moving with so few could lead to disaster."
"I'll summon the Royal Guard."
"Inform Sir Cassius of the Imperial Army as well. Deploy every available force for the search."
At Marquis Blizzard's words, Marquis Tempest nodded quietly and dispatched a messenger to Cassius of the Imperial Army with news of the Emperor's disappearance.
"What? His Majesty is missing?"
Cassius, resting like Marquis Blizzard, shot up from his chair at the messenger's report and bellowed.
"Assemble all Imperial Army forces stationed in central Edriger City immediately! This is an emergency!"
Pandemonium ensued.