Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: Make Way, Sheep of the Holy Pantheon!
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Spring was creeping in slyly. Fernandez gazed at the distant port from the bow of the deck, lost in thought. Merlinport. At his request to head for the departure point, Leia had cheerfully raised anchor.
"Thank you."
"No trouble at all! If anything, the voyage felt too short."
Leia smiled brightly. The northward journey had been rough and perilous beyond measure, but now that they had claimed Maleirn's flagship, the Gaymern royal family had reclaimed their title as the supreme naval power of the North Sea.
The small ships scattered like grains of rice around the massive vessel were each warships rivaling the galleys of any decent kingdom, and the existing civilian ships they escorted were now repurposed as supply transports and merchant vessels.
Relay trade across the entire North Sea, bolstered by overwhelming military might. The Gaymern royals were amassing wealth as swiftly as they had during their occupation of Infermer. And all of it—for the sake of escorting a single passenger—they had willingly forsaken an entire season's voyage.
It was treatment befitting a head of state. A full week had passed since they departed southward, leaving behind the grand northern celebrations. The weather grew clearer and warmer with every league south.
By now, spring harvests would be in full swing back in the Cerned Barony. It had been two years since he last left the barony, and he couldn't help but wonder what state it was in.
-Home sick?
'Like some old fogey.'
-Denying my age now, are you?
'I'm twenty.'
-Sure you are.
Feizashi grumbled briefly, interrupting Fernandez's reverie. At any rate, it was spring. At least they hadn't spent a full season in the bitter cold. He might have managed, but for Kirhas, born in warmer climes, it must have been sheer torment.
"I hope we're not too late."
"They sent a fast courier ahead, didn't they? No way we are."
"The Inquisition moves faster than you might think, Queen Leia."
Before crossing the Bifrost to Asgard, Fernandez had sent Zephys south first. Naturally, the situation at the time would have been reported to headquarters... There was no way the Inquisition, upon hearing that a saint had crossed into the hellgate, would sit idle.
Thus, Fernandez felt a somewhat pleasant anxiety. Beorn's face—straining to maintain a poker face while inwardly freaking out with every report—had been quite the sight.
"Port ahead!!"
-Tatata!
A flash of white dress fluttered past him. It was Freya. Having spent nearly her entire life in Asgard, with the rest in the North, the southern continent was uncharted territory for her.
Her eyes sparkling, she clung to the bow and shouted.
"Great Vanir, rightful heir to the throne of Vanaheim, goddess of life and spring and flowers and all other beautiful things, approaches! Southern civilizations!"
Kneel!! Freya spread her arms wide and yelled. Of course, there was still plenty of time before docking, and Maleirn's flagship was far too massive to enter the harbor proper, so the only ones who could respond to her cry were Fernandez and Leia.
"Send the bill to the Beitasser Church."
"Hah. You've gotten wittier! I like it. Any plans for this summer?"
"...None?"
"Ever heard of it? There's this stunning island where the entire beach is paved with jewels. Scoop up a handful, and you could live luxuriously for a year... Truly breathtaking. Care to accept a royal invitation?"
Leia stepped closer, murmuring softly. Fernandez chuckled and took a step back.
"Tempting a monk with worldly luxuries? It violates my vows of chastity."
"You don't look all that chaste to me... Would any man traveling with two beauties as attendants pass for a monk? Ah, make that three now. Even nobles with their strings of mistresses couldn't snag women like that."
"Allies. Local allies."
"Of course."
Leia chuckled softly. Then, without lingering, she turned and called out.
"Prepare to anchor! Ready for disembarkation! Salvo fire as well!"
"Yes, Your Highness!!"
Soon, the hearty shouts of the navigators echoed as swift boats chained to the ship began launching into the sea one by one. Fernandez said with a bemused expression.
"Salvo fire?"
"Indeed, a salute is only fitting. Last time we sent you off in a rush, without proper honors."
Leia gripped her coat collar and bowed her head playfully.
"Grant me the courtesy due a benefactor of the realm. Your prestige is our people's prestige. I can't have you docking like some refugee."
Leia spoke briskly and flitted away. She swung her hat behind her back and added.
"And don't forget my offer! That island's scenery is exquisite not just in summer, but autumn, winter—even this season!"
Fernandez smirked, glanced at her, and turned back to the port. At any rate, it was spring. Warm sunlight, a gentle breeze. The spring of southern Merlinport.
-Plop!
The spring of a goddess of spring, blooming flowers across the entire deck in her joy.
* * *
-Bwooooo!!
Merlinport was the Gaymern royal family's central hub for logistics and trade, the most prosperous free port, and the linchpin of the northeastern triangular trade.
Thus, its city guards were disciplined to a fault, and harbor defenses were nigh impeccable. Patrol boats sounded alarms the moment they spotted the approaching Serpent King's flagship.
Of course, no one could harm the Serpent King's flagship with cannon fire. Alarms or no, it closed in on the harbor.
The colossal ship spanning the horizon warped everyone's sense of distance as it approached. Citizens near Merlinport's harbor panicked and scattered at the sight, like a city wall bearing down on them.
They were city folk remarkably accustomed to disasters. Just last year, the Walker Plague had ravaged the entire city; before that, lycanthrope riots; and after, the Gaymern Golden Fleet had seized the harbor without permission.
But familiarity with disaster didn't mean composure in the face of it. Even the boldest sailors fled in terror as the sea fortress advanced unscathed through warning shots.
"Who's coming...?"
Amid the chaos, some felt bafflement over fear. First, the administrative nobles in the safest spots of Merlinport.
"Patrol boats report a personal dispatch from the Gaymern royals."
The intelligence networks of various royals and factions scattered across northern sea cities at that very moment.
"Gaymern? Brother, Allen brother!! Reports—bring the reports! Where was the first operational zone Fernandez brother was assigned?!"
"...Gaymern royals."
"Oh gods, please. Not the entire royal fleet docking unannounced in a secular kingdom's port..."
"Shall I fetch Brother Zephys?"
"No. Just take me to Lord Beitasser."
Some Inquisitors, hoping for last rites. No, the Inquisitors were as terrified as the demoralized citizens—but not from threat to life. From something closer to shame.
-Kabooom!!
When sudden cannon fire boomed across Merlinport, and word spread it was an elven royal salute.
"Prepare my last rites..."
"Macto supelau do."
Inquisitors plotting to slip Fernandez to Inquisition Keep before contacting other intel groups requested their own funerals.
* * *
Clear skies, warm spring. Four figures approached the harbor from a flower-strewn swift boat.
Kirhas buoyant on the spring breeze, Abel relaxed after a long mission, Freya simply thrilled, and Fernandez playful at the thought of debriefing—his first mischief in ages.
They paid little mind to the horrified citizens amid the port's covert intel skirmishes and sudden salute, or the guards swarming toward the incoming boat.
Truth be told, there was no need. Unauthorized docking was a serious misdemeanor, but little more than a fine. No one would dare fine an Inquisitor of the Beitasser Church for it.
'Perks of high office.'
-We dodged a bullet.
'No problems for a while—naturally uplifting. Now we can leisurely hunt for archangels.'
-Any leads?
'Well, I'll swing by the Aseas High Council first. In my past life, they were enemies, so I only saw ruins, but at their peak? One hell of a mage tower. Always wanted to visit.'
Uncharacteristically upbeat, Fernandez spoke. He'd exterminated two great demons. In civilized history—not so short—no such feat had ever occurred.
And rescued two archangels. The unified North was stabilizing fast, shaking off Pimbplest's influence, weather normalizing. Northerners would be self-sufficient for centuries.
Thus, one of civilization's two greatest pre-apocalypse events was resolved. With pitch-black Erik dead and archangels ruling the North, corruption wouldn't spread. Dispatch a few Inquisitors occasionally; he'd already coordinated with Aeren on that.
The other: Karadskar's great northern advance was at least thirty years off. The doomsday clock for civilized society had definitively been pushed back.
Exhilarating. Tangible feedback in pursuit of goals. Fernandez stepped onto Merlinport's docks, basking in the warm sun.
"Halt!"
Even as guard shouts rang out, his mind remained as serene as Freya's flowerbed.
"No, you halt."
Until knights suddenly appeared from afar. Well, that could happen. Fairn knights might show. Fernandez reached for his credentials.
"Count Albert Cerned, right?"
"Wrong guy."
Instinctively replying, Fernandez's mind raced. That name—a phonetic code from Dane Kingdom...?
Bemused, he eyed the approaching group. Green banners fluttering with the royal crest... King Vicente's seal...
'Uh... what the hell?'
Only then did Fernandez's mind cool. At least three different factions knew him—and were approaching. Far from good.
And the worst...
"Brother!!!"
"Eek?"
"Hngh!"
-Kaboom!!
A gravelly voice boomed across the sky! With a sonic boom, a Demonica plummeted from somewhere, shattering the street tiles!
"Brother! Praise His holiness! Oh! Brother!!"
-Woosh!
The Demonica, Fabiano, bellowed and charged, crushing Fernandez in a bear hug. Fernandez grasped the situation the instant he appeared.
'Ah, damn it. Brother Beorn...'
-Must've called in at least three factions.
Seemed obvious. Zephys reported the great demons' revival a fortnight ago; Inquisition wouldn't sit idle.
Fabiano held tight and whispered.
"Should've been quieter..."
"Unavoidable circumstances. Is the abbot furious?"
"I'm thrilled, brother. We all are. Not your fault—don't worry."
"Who's in Merlinport?"
"Brother Zephys. Inquisitors at every northern port tied by sea lanes. To 'covertly' escort you."
"And the other factions?"
"Luminous Martyrs, Relief Knights, Fairn royal intel, Dane inner circle, Empire Ironsides, et cetera. Every group under papal influence awaits you."
"Hah."
"Zephys had a message: 'It's noisy anyway—go all in. Be as shameless as possible.'"
"I like that."
Fernandez laughed dryly, prying Fabiano off. Recalling two years prior, he cleared his throat.
-No, not that again? That was embarrassing enough.
'First time's hard; second's easy.'
-Normally, once teaches shame.
'Sacrifices for the greater good. Like always in our lives.'
Fernandez steeled himself and bellowed.
"Inquisitor Archangelello! Make way, sheep of the Holy Pantheon!!"