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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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The convening of the Alliance Council was an inevitability that even the Emperor, wielding absolute power, couldn’t prevent.
The Earth Mother’s oracle.
That was the justification for the council.
Since the leader of the Holy Kingdom had declared the oracle, the nations that worshiped the Earth Mother as the one true god had no choice but to accept the divine will.
As soon as news of the oracle from the heavens spread, countless nations across the continent began to stir.
“Damn it, we drove out those filthy demons, and now we have to deal with these cultists. Never trust the Holy Kingdom’s rye bread. All the Popes throughout history have been madmen blinded by faith.”
Perhaps the Emperor of the Valtarian Empire was the only one who dared to criticize Pope Boern, revered as the great father of all priests, so harshly.
The man with a magnificent mustache muttered in a nonchalant voice, raising his hunting rifle.
“Do you believe in the oracle, Your Majesty?”
“Preposterous. The oracle is nothing more than a convenient tool, a justification for whatever they desire. No one with a functioning brain would believe it wholeheartedly.”
The oracle was undoubtedly the voice of the benevolent Earth Mother.
However, all the oracles announced by the Holy Kingdom had been used as justifications for war.
Wasn’t it ironic?
The voice of the benevolent one true god serving as the cause of bloodshed.
Emperor Barbarossa scoffed, pointing out the hypocrisy of the oracle.
Bang!!
A sharp gunshot rang out.
Simultaneously, the deer, struck by the bullet, collapsed with its head pierced.
“The authenticity of the oracle is irrelevant. The problem is its impact.”
Barbarossa remained skeptical of the Alliance Council meeting proposed by the Holy Kingdom.
But he ultimately had no choice but to accept it.
No, he had to accept it.
The voice of the benevolent one true god carried enough weight to instantly reduce even the Emperor, who stood above all others, to a powerless commoner.
“As commanded by the benevolent Earth Mother, we eradicated the Demon King’s army and wiped out all the cultists. We turned the entire continent into a sea of blood… but it seems that wasn’t enough.”
We piled mountains with the corpses of demons.
And we created seas with the blood of those who worshiped forgotten gods.
Perhaps he felt guilty as the ruler who had ordered the merciless killings and bloodshed.
The Emperor let out a bitter laugh, filled with regret, as he lowered his smoking hunting rifle.
“Do you have any idea about the content of the oracle, Your Majesty?”
“Well, how could a mere creation comprehend the divine will?”
He was right.
How could a mere human understand the mind of the one true god?
God commands, and humans obey.
As history had shown, the relationship between god and humanity would never change.
“Let’s put aside the difficult and tedious talk… Sir Edanant, judging by your frequent outings with Mila, it seems your courtship is progressing smoothly.”
“Yes?”
“Didn’t you two visit the Hohenberc estate recently? Young people these days move quickly.”
“……”
Did he think the father-in-law and daughter-in-law had already met?
Barbarossa’s usually fierce face, like that of a ferocious lion, was overflowing with anticipation.
Hmm.
I didn’t know how to respond.
If I said, “Actually, Lady Ludmilla and I have no relationship whatsoever!” I would be dragged to the execution grounds along with my father.
After all, the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.
“This year is almost over.”
“……”
Get married within this year.
His voice was casual, but his sincerity was evident.
“I hear it’s trendy to hold weddings in the spring these days.”
“……”
Or get married next spring.
His muttering, carrying an oppressive weight, made it difficult to breathe.
“I-I will do my best to live up to Your Majesty’s expectations.”
Should I change the subject to avoid answering?
Or should I politely say that it’s difficult to give a definite answer?
No,
Any choice would lead to self-destruction.
My opponent was the doting Emperor of the Valtarian Empire, who cherished his children like precious treasures.
He wasn’t someone I could deceive with petty tricks.
So, I broke out in a cold sweat and gave the answer that would please the Emperor the most.
“Hmm, hmm. I wasn’t particularly forcing you to answer…”
How shameless.
Now I understood who Ludmilla, who occasionally showed her brazen side, took after.
“Anyway, let’s discuss the marriage after the Alliance Council meeting is successfully concluded.”
“…Understood.”
“To think I would be discussing marriage with the Hohenberc family again… As expected, human life is a series of twists and turns.”
“……”
Human life is a series of twists and turns.
I wholeheartedly agreed with that statement.
Because that was exactly how I felt right now.
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The Emperor of the Valtarian Empire accepted Pope Boern’s proposal and declared the convening of the Alliance Council meeting.
All kings who follow the Earth Mother, gather!
At the declaration of the Emperor and the Pope, the co-leaders of the Alliance Council, all the kings began to flock to the Imperial Capital.
“I hear all the dukes of the Laterano Confederation have arrived!”
“I see the Kingdom of Jistard as well!”
The dukes of the Duchy of Savoia and the Duchy of Siena, belonging to the Laterano Confederation, made their appearance.
Following them, the king of the Kingdom of Jistard, known as the overlord of the east, entered the city gates along with his royal guards.
The Laterano Confederation, which had amassed immense wealth through trade and finance.
The Kingdom of Jistard, which had grown into a powerful nation after conquering numerous surrounding territories.
The Laterano Confederation and the Kingdom of Jistard were the nations that had produced the Mercenary King and the Sage of the Saintess Party, respectively, so they received even more fervent anticipation and attention.
The endless crowds seemed to reflect this.
“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. To think that all the figures who have achieved fame across the continent are gathered here.”
“But it’s also dangerous. Their relationships must be tangled with complex grudges.”
The kings who ruled the continent were gathering.
It was like a powder keg on the verge of exploding.
I nodded at Zebeline’s words and observed the endless procession of kings.
“It’s a ridiculous farce. To think that the kings who rule the continent are rushing here to hear the Earth Mother’s oracle, whose truth and authenticity are unclear.”
“Truth and authenticity aren’t important to kings. They’re simply gathering to prove their faith and loyalty to the Earth Mother.”
The arrival of the Laterano Confederation and the Kingdom of Jistard was just the beginning.
Countless other kings followed, leading their valiant royal guards.
Were they competing with each other?
The appearance of the kings, accompanied by chariots adorned with rare gold and jewels and royal guards armed with dazzling weapons, was extraordinary.
“The escort limit for kings, excluding the co-leaders, was supposed to be one hundred. But there are too many, aren’t there?”
“It’s because there are many kings attending the Alliance Council meeting.”
The sight of the troops passing through the city gates, like a river overflowing with heavy rain, was truly magnificent.
No,
It was more than magnificent.
It evoked a sense of worry and fear.
Could they really allow so many troops inside?
It was impossible for the Valtarian Empire to be unprepared for potential conflicts, but a sense of foreboding lingered.
Perhaps it was because the Imperial Capital had been raided several times by cult forces in the past.
“Ludmilla must be incredibly busy.”
“Hmph, it’s only natural for the Empire’s Red Dragon.”
Isabelle and Elizaveta were in charge of welcoming the kings,
While Ludmilla was probably busy strictly commanding the troops in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances.
All the princesses were busy.
I smiled faintly, imagining the princesses fulfilling their duties and responsibilities as members of the Imperial Family.
“Don’t you have to go out? The Pope will be arriving soon.”
“Well…”
Zebeline frowned at my question, expressing her displeasure.
I don’t want to go.
Why should I meet that dreadful old man?
I wonder where Beatrice, whom he cherished like a precious jewel, has gone.
Her previously gentle expression, like the finest velvet, instantly contorted.
Through her blatant change, I could roughly guess how much Zebeline disliked the Pope.
“S-Saintess! Cardinal Baladi is urgently requesting your presence! Please prepare yourself immediately!”
“Sigh…”
The priests attending to Zebeline rushed over, their faces pale with shock, urging her to get ready.
The saintess reluctantly dragged her feet, her displeasure evident.
‘The oracle is just a trigger. The real problem is the upheaval that the one true god’s divine will will create.’
The flow of upheaval began to accelerate rapidly as the Alliance Council meeting was held in the Imperial Capital.
I could feel it in my bones.
The kings who participated in the Alliance Council meeting would all be used as chess pieces, manipulated by the Earth Mother’s will.
“It’s the Holy Kingdom’s envoy!”
“Ah! His Holiness has arrived…!”
The papal tiara, symbolizing the Pope’s authority.
The scepter and the white cross, representing the Earth Mother’s divinity.
There was no doubt.
The procession that appeared, waving the flag imbued with divinity, was the Holy Kingdom’s royal guard.
The paladin armor, crafted from refined platinum, was enough to captivate the countless crowds.
And as the invincible guardian knights, known as the pinnacle of paladins and the Pope’s personal guard, appeared, the crowd’s cheers reached a fever pitch.
“…Hmm?”
As I was observing the Holy Kingdom’s procession with interest,
I witnessed a rather peculiar sight.
I saw the dazzling white chariot, presumably carrying the Pope.
And several other chariots, almost as grand as the Pope’s, followed closely behind, like a long tail.
Who on earth was riding in those chariots?
Judging by the chariots’ ornate decorations, they must have been individuals of noble status.
“……!!”
I saw one of the chariots slowly making its way down the main road.
Simultaneously, I felt a wave of nausea, as if my stomach were churning.
My heart began to race.
And then, a murderous intent, as if the god of war had encountered its natural enemy, surged within me.
-Kill every last one of them…
Along with a primal fear, a thirst for blood boiled over.
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