Change
"The brothers who remained in Elvenheim have all left under the pretext of the 'incident' and the monster wave. There's nothing that Morse bastard can gain from Elvenheim anymore. No, he'll likely face humiliation if he keeps pushing his baseless claims."
"……Still, he really went to Elvenheim. To the place with the World Tree, which was originally our next target."
"Is he really the hero?"
"Even if he is the hero, it won't matter. The elves have never been on good terms with the temple, so they won't believe the report either. If he starts making a fuss looking for our brothers, he might even lose his head."
Voices emerged one after another from around the round table in the pitch-black dark room. The shadow at the head of the table then delivered the conclusion.
"Well, regardless, it's reasonable to infer that he is the hero at this point. Number 8, you haven't forgotten what I mentioned before, have you?"
"Yes!"
"If he leaves Elvenheim, mobilize everything to kill him. You can use all forces except those in the Black Rhino tribe. Use all remaining Thunderbolts as well."
"B-but the Thunderbolts are for preparing against the orcs……."
"If Thunderbolts appear in the orc matter, it would give Aslan an excuse to intervene. Do I have to explain every little thing!?"
The shadow who raised the objection shrank back at the head shadow's roar. The head shadow let out a small sigh and turned to the shadow called Number 8, opening his mouth again.
"Thunderbolts can be produced again soon. So deploy all remaining ones to kill the hero. Number 8, you lead personally, and all the elders who have time now should join you. Number 3, Number 6. You don't have anything urgent, right? Assist Number 8. End him for good!"
"……Yes."
"Yes, understood!"
"But his movements are too fast. Won't it be too late if we react after he moves?"
Number 8 in the corner raised another objection.
"You idiot……!"
Before the head shadow could erupt in rage, Number 3 spoke first.
"We can ambush him on the way from Elvenheim to Bator. If he moves upon hearing about the orcs, he'll charge straight like always, so predicting the route is easy."
"……Fine. Prepare as Number 3 says. Surely I don't have to instruct you on how to use the Thunderbolts one by one?"
"N-no, sir."
At the sharp tone, Number 8 immediately backed down. Seeing this, the head shadow smiled secretly where no one could see.
'Whether he's the real hero or not, we'll kill him this time. And report to Him that we've slain the hero.'
That would cover up the imperial family's failure. The head shadow thought only of his own self-preservation, with no intention of stepping forward himself.
In the southern mountain range of the continent, to the east of the underground kingdom and mega-city of the dwarves, Tertius, there was a low mountain that jutted out conspicuously from the mountain spurs.
It was a barren rocky mountain with not a single blade of grass in sight, but to most continentals, it held far greater significance than the entire southern mountain range.
The Holy Mountain, Nidus.
The mountain where the first apostle received the Goddess's will. At its peak stood a massive structure that overshadowed the mountain itself: the Central Temple, Sol.
Not built on the mountain, but carved directly from the upper rocky slopes by generations of pilgrims, the first apostle, and priests. And it was a miraculous creation blessed by the thrilled Goddess herself, infused with pure white holy power throughout its entire structure.
And deep within its innermost sanctum, two key figures of the Goddess Church, spread across the continent, were engaged in a grave conversation.
"An oracle has come down that the fate of destruction has been disrupted."
"Oh! Isn't that good news, Your Holiness?"
"……I don't know. Without knowing what the destruction entails, it's hard to judge if this disruption signals an even greater doom or if the fate of destruction will pass us by."
Pope Sentinel III, continuing with a stern expression, unwittingly let out a sigh.
'If only the Goddess had spoken more clearly…… No, it's my own inadequacy.'
The Goddess's will was too vast and profound for a human to fully comprehend even a fragment. This obvious truth felt unbearably frustrating lately.
"I feel utterly incompetent. Why did you place me in this position, Cardinal Jansen?"
His wrinkle-free face and clear eyes, unbelievable for a man over fifty, made even his petulant tone feel unoffensive. But Cardinal Jansen merely bowed his head with sad eyes.
"Who else but Your Holiness possesses the holy power to receive oracles and the purity to match? I am confident it was the best choice."
At those words, the Pope irritably scratched his head. Seeing a clump of brown hair come out unintentionally, he slumped in his jade throne with a despairing gaze.
"Ugh……."
Moments later, he thrust the plucked hairs into the cardinal's view and shouted irritably.
"L-look at this! My head will soon shine brighter than this bald pate. What good is a pope who receives the oracle of doom but can't convey it properly?!"
Knowing the brown hairs under the bald spot outnumbered the Pope's remaining hair, Cardinal Jansen could only wear a pitiful expression.
"It's unavoidable. Announcing the oracle verbatim would cause an uproar, piling up only negative images on the temple."
Aware of what the cardinal meant, the Pope ground his teeth again.
"The corrupt priests will cry 'end times' while peddling indulgences, dragging the oracle's credibility to the depths."
It wasn't speculation but a prediction close to fact. It was exactly what happened three hundred years ago when the temple foresaw the racial wars.
"……Yes. To convince the cardinals, we need signs of the fate of destruction that anyone can intuitively grasp."
"Then what's the point of the oracle? The Goddess specifically warned us to prepare for the doom!"
As the Pope's indignant voice echoed hollowly in the office, Cardinal Jansen could only bow deeper.
"I've instructed the eyes of the gods to watch the world's situation. Please wait a little."
"You've said that before! And there's still no change, is that it?!"
Seeing the Pope's desperate expression, the cardinal hesitated before speaking again.
"Well…… It seems the brazen demon worshippers have been up to something lately……."
"Demon worshippers!? Then is it the great war with the demon realm!?"
The startled Pope shot to his feet, but the cardinal just gave a wry smile and shook his head.
"……But it doesn't seem particularly effective. Plots in the maritime kingdom of Carun and the Aslan Empire have all gone awry. There were some sacrifices, but that hardly qualifies as the fate of destruction. There is a hero who emerged from the injuries, but if doom can be stopped by one man, it's not doom."
"Ha……. As expected of demon followers—utterly incompetent."
It might sound un-pope-like, almost hoping for disaster, but the cardinal understood his heart. Even with clear signs, convincing the oil-slicked, corrupt temple leadership was hard. Without them…….
"I've asked Sir God Hand to monitor worldly changes. We and the Holy Knights can't move without solid justification."
"Is that the best we can do……?"
"For now, yes. My apologies, Your Holiness."
"No. When the doom becomes obvious, even God Hand will move. Then we sweep out the rotten cardinals."
"We must be cautious, Your Holiness. If we mistime it or information leaks, the church's internal strife could drag on for over a decade. That would be our worst outcome."
"……True. For now, only we two and God Hand know of the oracle."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
The Pope sighed and pitifully shook out the clump of brown hair in his hand. The scattering hairs looked like fragments of his soul peeling away. Immense stress crushing his spirit.
'But no sign of improvement.'
Looking at the situation, becoming bald seemed an inescapable fate. Forcing hopeful words, he shifted his thoughts.
"By the way, you mentioned a hero earlier?"
"Ah, there's a young hero who thwarted the demon worshippers' plots. He's even earned the grand epithet 'Knight of Light'."
"Hm. A young hero? Could I meet him, perhaps?"
"Pardon?"
"If he's stopped demon worshippers, I could praise him in the Pope's name and offer some small aid. Even if not averting doom, we save one more soul, right? The best this incompetent me can do now."
"Your Holiness……."
As Jansen looked on with pity, the Pope forced a smile and waved it off.
"Why that look? I've seen so much rot, I crave something bright. We can still manage that much, can't we?"
"Rot…… Ahem, yes. This decaying old man has burdened Your Holiness's eyes all this time, oblivious……."
"Noooo! Absolutely not! H-how can you say that!? Who else would I trust if not you, Cardinal! I meant……!"
"I'm joking."
"……."
"……My apologies, Your Holiness. You seemed so down……."
"Ha. Ha. Ha. N-no, it was funny. R-really. Ha, haha."
With the joke that only deepened the melancholy Pope and cardinal's gloom, that day's conversation ended. The Pope's words were relayed to a few papal loyalists. And that very day, a holy knight departed swiftly from the Central Temple toward Elvenheim.
"Since Sir Tiny, who foiled their plots twice, is in Elvenheim, they might stir trouble elsewhere? Hm, a plausible guess."
Jay, in the guise of a merchant, eyed Tiny with a 'not bad' look.
But Jay's once-annoying gaze was now familiar.
"Tell the Sword Emperor quickly. Check for issues with other races, alliances, or near borders!"
"Of course. I'll report, but first, I'll move Blackwing on my authority. Commissioning the info guild will be faster. Our elites are all in the Great Forest anyway."
"Good."
"What about you, Sir Tiny?"
"Can't ignore Elvenheim completely. My info says it's their next target. At least a month. Until the World Tree guardian returns."
"Info, info……. How do you know things even I don't……."
His pout didn't suit the old man's face, confirming Jay's true appearance differed. The reason for his prickliness seemed embedded there.
But he couldn't reveal his past life's secrets.
"Whatever. The Duke ordered full cooperation, so I'll obey. But one suggestion."
"Hm?"
"Know what the elves are buying most from outside merchants?"
"How would I……."
"Bows and arrows. Elves, no less. Many merchants took bulk orders and left again."
"What?"
"Fruits, their staple, abound in the Great Forest, so just weapons. Get it?"
"……The monster wave is unusually severe?"
"Yes. Meeting the guardian might take not a month, but several more."
"Urgh……."
Overwhelmed by frustration, Tiny chewed his lip.
He'd planned to hold out months if needed, but circumstances changed. If their schemes started elsewhere as feared, sticking in Elvenheim would be pure waste.
So.
"……Guess I have to go find her. Damn it."
He had no choice but to change plans. Would the elves reveal Estina's location?