The Protagonists Of The Novel Escaped – Chapter 52

—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Zebeline, who had briefly remained in the Hohenberc Marquis Territory, was perplexed by the news that the trains traveling to the imperial city had been canceled.

Oh no, what should I do?

If I dawdle, that old maid might swallow up Edanant.

Her journey had been delayed because she was examining the Scepter of White Night stored in the fairies’ paradise.

Zebeline frowned and rented a carriage from the Marquis’ territory.

Using a carriage would naturally delay her schedule significantly, but now was not the time to complain.

She expressed her impatience as she recalled the Platinum Princess, who had left abruptly without a word a few days ago.

“Saintess!”

Just as she was about to depart in the carriage,

A holy knight in full armor came running, out of breath.

Had some calamity occurred?

The knight’s complexion was deathly pale, as if in shock.

“U-Urgent news from the Holy Kingdom…! A Meiros who worships the Disaster God has appeared!”

“The Disaster God?”

An ominous name came up.

The Meiros of the Disaster God.

Just hearing it evoked an unpleasant feeling.

The Holy Kingdom was a force that worshiped the Earth Mother, who belonged to the lineage of Creator Gods.

Naturally, for the Holy Kingdom, the believers who followed the Disaster God were heretics who absolutely had to be eradicated.

The Holy Kingdom continued subjugating the Meiros and cult followers in alliance with the empire until now to prevent the rise of the Disaster God.

“Lord Alferid was defeated by the Meiros of the Disaster God. Even the subjugation forces that set out to defeat the Meiros were completely annihilated.”

“This is certainly not a matter to be taken lightly.”

The Sword of the Earth Mother had fallen to those who followed the Disaster God.

It was indeed a humiliating result.

To think that a guardian knight serving the Holy King had been miserably defeated.

The cardinals who received the result must be raging and reorganizing the subjugation force.

After all, it was a disaster that had thrown the Holy Kingdom’s prestige into the mud.

They might even order the First Saintess dispatched to the empire to return.

“But… there are no casualties.”

“Isn’t it the vicious scheme of the cult followers trying to drag the Holy Kingdom’s honor to the bottom?”

“Perhaps it’s an unusual Meiros who has never killed anyone before.”

“Pardon? S-Surely there can’t be such a Meiros.”

Although Guardian Knight Alferid had been defeated and even the Holy Kingdom’s elites had been completely annihilated, strangely, there wasn’t a single casualty.

They had only been severely injured and rendered incapacitated.

Why on earth?

Indeed, the cult followers would consider the Holy Kingdom their mortal enemy.

Could the Meiros who worship the Disaster God follow a non-lethal principle?

Until now, the cult forces had thoroughly slaughtered personnel related to the Holy Kingdom.

They had even committed atrocities of massacring civilians unrelated to the Holy Kingdom.

That’s why the empire and the Holy Kingdom had defined the Meiros as ruthless monsters.

‘The Disaster God…. Of all times, for a Meiros of the Disaster God to appear now.’

While subversives in the empire were causing successive disasters, a Meiros worshiping the Disaster God had appeared in the Holy Kingdom, creating an explosive situation.

Could it really be a coincidence?

A dark, ominous feeling began to press on her intuition like a coiled snake.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Isabel had sent an invitation.

It was a request to please attend a tea party.

There was no reason to refuse, so I accepted the invitation.

Of course, it was a decision made knowing Isabel’s inner intentions.

As expected, Ludmilla was also present at the tea party.

Hmm.

How could it not miss my expectations?

To think she would promote a meeting so blatantly.

I sat down stiffly, like someone attending a blind date.

Ludmilla seemed to think the same way and showed an agitated expression.

“Ahem! So you were the guest indeed.”

“Of course, since it’s Princess Isabel’s invitation.”

It was clearly a blind date disguised as a tea party for anyone to see.

That’s why it was inevitable that things would become awkward with Ludmilla, whom I had been getting along with like close friends.

What should I say?

My lips felt dry for no reason.

On the other hand, Rue, who had entered the tea party with confidence, was munching on butter cookies while refreshing the atmosphere filled with only awkwardness.

“My, you already have such a cute daughter between you…”

“That’s not it!”

Isabel clapped her hands in delight.

At that, Ludmilla, her face reddened, shouted agitatedly.

“……”

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Ugh, it’s dreadful just imagining it.”

“Eek!”

I had imagined what it would be like if the mischievous fairy were my daughter.

How dreadful.

My head throbbed just imagining it.

I shook my head while letting out a heavy sigh.

At that, Rue showed a startled reaction.

“I invited the protagonists of the scandal to the tea party because I have many stories I want to hear. As the eldest daughter of the imperial family, it’s to encourage my younger sister to share a wholesome love. Though I secretly wish they would just make it an established fact already.”

“S-Sister!”

Isabel was a gentle-natured noblewoman but had quite an extreme stance regarding love.

As expected of a princess who had succeeded in a love marriage, she showed passionate values.

To think she had such an extreme side.

As expected of the eldest daughter of the emperor, who boasts a rough temperament.

The tea party, with its peculiar atmosphere, continued.

After I conveyed my inner feelings of affection for Ludmilla, Isabel reacted favorably.

Even while continuing the question and answer session, she subtly expressed nuances of supporting Ludmilla and me.

“Is the dessert to your liking, cute fairy?”

“The cream cake with lots of fruits on top is so delicious! I want to tell the Luinongs who have just stepped outside about it!”

“Fufu, I’m honored that you praise it so highly. I made the desserts myself.”

“Really?! Your skills are amazing!”

As Rue spoke with sparkling eyes, Isabel smiled gently.

Then she took out a handkerchief and wiped Rue’s mouth, which was covered in cream.

They looked like mother and daughter.

Isabel’s lips were full of maternal love as she looked at Rue.

At the same time, a deep sadness could be felt.

“Are you attending the banquet as well?”

“Yes, of course.”

When I felt momentary confusion at Isabel’s smile tinged with sadness,

Ludmilla asked in an urgent voice as if trying to divert attention.

She must have a secret she wants to hide.

I didn’t particularly want to know a secret that might be traumatic, so I readily complied with her intention.

“Your Highness.”

A maid attending to Isabel approached.

And she bowed her head and delivered the news.

“Her Highness Elizaveta has just arrived.”

“Liza?”

Isabel, who heard the news, and Ludmilla showed surprised expressions.

Of course, I was the same.

How did she arrive so soon?

Surely, all the trains must have been cut off.

How could she have quickly arrived from the Marquis’ territory to the imperial city without using the extreme method of multiple short-distance teleportation spells?

It was impossible by common sense.

Unless the fairies worked some magic…

“Sister Isabel!”

A princess with beautiful golden hair flowing down appeared, taking light steps.

Several fairies accompanied her, like bridesmaids helping at a wedding.

AH, so she borrowed the power of the Luinongs.

After all, the fairies of paradise possess mysteries that make the impossible possible.

I greeted Elizaveta, who was smiling with her eyes as she approached.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

After ravaging the Holy Kingdom’s subjugation force to test Sage’s authority, the Apostle of the Disaster God performed spatial leaps to the empire.

And another Apostle, hiding in the darkness, manipulated puppets full of vengeful hearts.

It was to bring down the empire.

And to avenge their brothers and sisters killed by the empire’s watchdogs.

The Apostles of the Disaster God, who had finally returned to the mortal world, prepared for revenge.

They could surely dye the empire and the Holy Kingdom in blood if they used the new divine status and powers bestowed upon them in the chaos realm.

“A banquet will be held in the imperial city tomorrow! We will strike then to eliminate Barbarossa!”

Some nobles attending the banquet had promised to participate.

Rebel forces that had infiltrated near the imperial city were waiting for orders.

Moreover, preparations to draw out the Red Dragon of the empire had just been completed.

It was perfect.

The possibility of failure was slim.

The puppets, deluded by their vengeful hearts towards the Valtarian Imperial Family, moved like cogwheels.

This was naturally possible because there was a strategist with foresight.

“Strategist, we will carry out the plan tomorrow!”

“Do so. Never forgive the mad emperor who ruthlessly murdered even his own kin.”

The old man, called ‘Strategist’ by the rebel leader, burst into laughter.

His face was full of wrinkles.

But his eyes shone as sharp as a bird of prey.

The old man who had ordered the puppets to call him Strategist was an Apostle who served the Disaster God.

The Apostle of the Disaster God, who had successfully infiltrated the imperial city, instilled one last brainwashing in the puppets, doubling their vengeful hearts towards the Valtarian Imperial Family.

‘For humans, revenge is the greatest driving force. It will continue to burn like an unquenchable sulfur fire.’

The old man had also lost precious kin to the Valtarian Empire.

He had lost them.

Every single one.

He had to wail without even being able to recover their bodies.

He had returned from the chaotic realm determined to drive out the empire and the Holy Kingdom and revive their faith, but it was too late.

Because three whole years had passed.

He understood the hearts of the nobles participating in the rebellion better than anyone.

That’s why the old man intended to use the nobles as puppets to achieve the ascension of evil.

‘It’s been strange for a while now. The activation of the blessing isn’t smooth. As if something is interfering.’

The blessing of the Disaster God, which had been activating smoothly like waves, was repeatedly being cut off and reconnecting as if hitting something.

It was a phenomenon he had experienced before.

It usually occurred when an Apostle who had received the blessing of the Disaster God was nearby.

That’s why the old man felt even more strange.

‘Ariel couldn’t have crossed over to the empire already… What on earth is it? Could there possibly be another Apostle of the Disaster God in the imperial city?’

That was impossible.

The other Apostles, besides Ariel, were in the Holy Kingdom.

There couldn’t be a new Apostle in the imperial city.

All the Apostles of the Disaster God who had led forces for the ascension of evil had died in the Racial War.

That’s why the old man ultimately ruled out the possibility that a new Apostle might exist.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇