Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: The Archbishops' Descent (1)
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Romancia outskirts.
Atop a barren hill devoid of even a single blade of grass, a pitch-black shadow stared toward Romancia.
“Brishura…… truly disappointing.”
He was a bizarre man.
His entire body, from head to toe, was wrapped tightly in jet-black bandages, with arms so long they dangled down to his knees.
The only parts exposed were his eyes, glowing red, giving the impression of a demon from legend having descended into reality.
“To think that an archbishop, no matter that he wasn’t in charge of combat, would be taken prisoner and humiliated.”
“That’s why I opposed it. I said even using Archbishop Brishura as bait would be too much for him.”
The one speaking from beside him was an elderly man dressed in white robes, in stark contrast to the black-clad figure.
His hair was pure white, and his long beard matched.
With his eyes closed and a serene expression, he appeared at first glance like a kindly grandfather.
“It couldn’t be helped. With Archbishop Sapphirus refusing to participate, Brishura was the only infiltration faction archbishop we could deploy.”
“That’s……”
“It’s the first major operation from the infiltration faction in the last decade. The two of us alone couldn’t handle it.”
Infiltration faction.
One of the Dialogue Church’s three major factions, focused primarily on terrorist acts under the name of “purification.”
There were currently four archbishops in the infiltration faction.
Archbishop Sapphirus waiting beyond the Winter Mountains, the captured Archbishop Brishura, and……
“Understood. I’ll say no more, Archbishop Egilas.”
“Indeed, what’s done is done, Archbishop Mekringel.”
Archbishop Egilas.
Archbishop Mekringel.
The two archbishops leading the Dialogue Church’s infiltration faction had gathered here.
“It’s regrettable that Brishura failed in his role, but the situation isn’t all that bad.”
“Indeed. The Holy Knight Order’s southern branch is effectively paralyzed.”
“The branch leader and vice branch leader have lost their heads, and the purging knights are combing through the entire southern branch. They won’t be able to respond quickly to whatever happens.”
As he spoke, Egilas gazed toward Romancia.
More precisely, toward the imperial palace at its center.
“That means the only ones we have to deal with are the imperial guard knights protecting the palace.”
“Have you forgotten? Ianus Aleyas’s grandchildren are still in the palace.”
“You think that worries me?”
Egilas smirked and raised his hand.
A dark energy poured from his unnaturally long arm.
“Do you think…… those brats are a match for me?”
“No, Archbishop Egilas.”
Mekringel bowed his head.
“Though Sion Aleyas reached 8-star at such a young age, he’s still just 8-star…… No match for you, Archbishop Egilas, who has attained 9-star.”
A 9-star swordsman.
That was Egilas.
Even among fellow 9-stars, he was incomparable to a researcher like Archbishop Brishura.
Within the Holy Knight Order, only Ianus the Knight Order Leader and his Sky Rank Knights could oppose Egilas.
“Still, Sion Aleyas has thwarted the Dialogue Church multiple times so far. We should be cautious.”
“If you’re so worried, why don’t you take him on yourself, Archbishop Mekringel?”
“Me, sir?”
“Yes.”
Egilas turned his red eyes toward Mekringel.
“A talented young knight…… Isn’t he your favorite kind of prey?”
“……”
At that moment.
Mekringel opened his previously closed eyes.
No, it wasn’t just opening them.
He opened them lecherously, flashing a wicked smile.
“If you’d yield him to me…… I’d be truly grateful, Archbishop Egilas.”
“Then handle Sion Aleyas and the rest of Ianus’s grandchildren yourself, Archbishop Mekringel.”
Watching Mekringel’s face flush with excitement, Egilas placed a hand on his waist.
“I’ll prioritize Agatram and Cassius of the imperial guard knights.”
“If we take them out, there’ll be no obstacles to seizing the palace.”
“Exactly. They won’t be able to stop us.”
As he caressed the Demon Spirit Sword ‘Alkais’ at his waist, Egilas spoke in a cold voice.
“Tonight, we burn the imperial palace…… and execute the Holy Empire’s emperor at the stake.”
* * *
The purification priests who had infiltrated Romancia in advance sprang into action.
Most purification priests possessed mana only up to 3-star, so their combat prowess wasn’t exceptional, but they excelled at covert operations and sabotage.
Over a hundred purification priests had already infiltrated the city, a sign of how much emphasis the infiltration faction had placed on this operation.
Normally, that many purification priests could reduce a city to ashes.
But the true target of this operation wasn’t Romancia.
The purification priests’ role was merely to sow chaos in the city, allowing the archbishops to infiltrate the imperial palace.
However, the rank-and-file purification priests didn’t know these details; they simply believed they were igniting a massive fire in Romancia to “achieve the Great Purification.”
“Move stealthily. It’s late, but people are still about in the commercial and entertainment districts.”
Bishop Oderus, the only one aware of the operation’s true objective, commanded the purification priests.
“Don’t worry, sir. We’ve been at this for over ten years.”
“Leave it to us. We’ll cleanse this city thoroughly.”
Under Bishop Oderus’s command, the purification priests dispersed to their assigned areas.
At the designated time, they were to set fires simultaneously using magic or fuel.
And rampage to maximize casualties.
“It’s about time……”
Hiding on the rooftop of a shuttered shop, Oderus scanned the surroundings.
Soon, flames would erupt across the city.
Flames to purify this world filled with false teachings.
“Oh……!”
Boom!
A nearby warehouse exploded, sparking the first fire.
Fires broke out one after another elsewhere.
“Perfect!”
The true target of this operation was solely the imperial palace.
Setting fires in the city was just to distract the enemy.
Oderus knew this, but watching the city burn still filled him with pleasure.
“Ah, to burn the Holy Empire’s capital…… Thank you for granting us this glorious task, Archbishop Egilas, Archbishop Mekringel……!”
As he shouted and raised his hands.
An anomaly occurred.
“……?!”
Crackle!
The warehouse, blazing fiercely and spreading to surrounding buildings, suddenly…… froze over.
“W-what……”
He couldn’t believe his eyes.
The warehouse and nearby buildings, roaring just moments ago, were now encased in ice.
Unable to comprehend, he peeked out, only for the ice to shatter and melt away.
“……?!”
What phenomenon could this be?
As Oderus looked around in bewilderment, he realized similar events were happening elsewhere.
No matter how the purification priests set fires, they were always extinguished under layers of ice.
“At this rate, purifying this city is impossible……!”
Shouting this, Oderus frantically tried to signal the purification priests.
“Exactly!”
But then, a woman leaped onto the rooftop.
She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, with a neat and composed look.
“Sion’s prediction was right! You’re a Dialogue Church purification priest? No, a bishop-level cleric!”
“……!”
Caught off guard, she raised her sword before Oderus.
Dazzling sword aura blazed along her blade.
“I’m Sena Aleyas, Ironclad Knight of the Holy Knight Order! Your plans are already exposed—surrender!”
* * *
Trouble had arisen in Romancia.
Archbishop Mekringel sensed it and frowned.
“Why aren’t the fires breaking out?”
“We don’t know, Your Excellency.”
The adjutant following beside Mekringel bowed apologetically.
“I’ll check.”
“No need. We can’t back out now just because the fires didn’t start.”
Ever since Archbishop Brishura’s capture, the operation had been going awry.
But aborting and retreating at this point was out of the question.
“This ritual will determine the future of the Dialogue Church’s infiltration faction…… We press on.”
“Understood, Your Excellency.”
Mekringel’s followers numbered only ten.
But all were one-man armies, especially the adjutant, a near-9-star swordsman.
With this force alone, they could defeat the imperial guard knights defending the palace.
However, Mekringel’s goal wasn’t victory over the guards—it was burning the palace and executing the emperor.
Thus, he intended to avoid unnecessary combat.
“Let’s go up.”
“Yes, sir.”
Mekringel launched himself into the darkness.
Despite his appearance as a white-haired elder, a single leap carried him atop the walls encircling the palace.
“Waves of repose.”
The moment he landed and murmured, black mist erupted from Mekringel’s body.
In broad daylight, it would have been visible, but in the late night, it blended into the shadows.
“We enter the palace interior.”
Anyone touching these “Waves of Repose” would fall unconscious into slumber.
Lacking the lethality of “Waves of Annihilation,” it had a wider range and was easier to control.
Mekringel planned to put all the wall sentries to sleep and infiltrate the palace.
“Your Excellency, wait……”
“What is it?”
“Something’s off. Isn’t it too quiet?”
“……?”
Hearing his adjutant, Mekringel looked around.
The Waves of Repose would naturally silence the area.
But…… why couldn’t he even hear the guards collapsing?
“We’ll check the surroundings.”
His subordinates moved.
Watching them vanish into the black mist, Mekringel clicked his tongue.
“More strange things keep happening……”
“Gah!”
An agonized scream pierced Mekringel’s ears.
Frowning and scanning about, another scream followed.
“Your Excellency……!”
Slash!
The adjutant’s voice cut off abruptly.
Then Mekringel realized: sword aura had flashed in the direction of the voice.
“This is……”
To assess the situation, Mekringel dispersed the Waves of Repose.
As the mist cleared and visibility returned atop the wall.
“……!”
Boom!
A shortsword laden with intense mana plunged toward Mekringel’s chest.
* * *
The elder who had led his subordinates atop the wall to infiltrate the palace interior.
Confirming his face, I bit my lip.
‘As expected…… Archbishop Mekringel.’
Archbishop Mekringel.
One of the key figures in the Dialogue Church’s infiltration faction.
I’d seen his face often back when I was Archbishop Hausel in the Dialogue Church.
[Hmm, what profound mana.]
Observing Mekringel huddled in defense, Igzard groaned.
[And…… his skill seems exceptional. Nothing like that fool Brishura.]
Mekringel slowly straightened.
In his hand…… was the Demon Spirit Sword Xantia, which I’d just launched with full power.
He’d caught it barehanded, without mana reinforcement, yet his hand bore not a scratch.
“I see……”
A gentle voice flowed from his lips.
Exactly as I remembered.
“You’re…… Sion Aleyas?”
“And if I am?”
“Splendid……”
Excitement began creeping into his once-gentle tone.
Just like in my memory.
“How fortunate. To encounter you so soon.”
He couldn’t tear his eyes from me.
His usually closed eyes now wide open, roving over my entire body.
[Like he’s licking you all over with his gaze.]
‘Don’t tell me—it’s making me feel even dirtier.’
Before me, feeling revulsion, Mekringel began emanating terribly intense mana.