—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The sight of Edanant and Zebeline feeding each other cake sparked fantasies in the minds of the prospective saintesses living in the women-only sanctuary.
The Holy Kingdom’s new hero.
The First Saintess, blessed by the White Dragon.
The prospective saintesses squealed with delight at their sweet and affectionate atmosphere, like that of a long-time couple.
“Are you no longer angry?”
“…I was never angry.”
Zebeline blushed and replied to Edanant’s question, delivered with a gentle smile.
What had gotten into her?
Weren’t they in a public setting with countless people watching?
Romantic relationships weren’t forbidden for saintesses of the Holy Kingdom.
The Earth Mother was not only the creator god symbolizing benevolence and abundance, but also the god of life symbolizing fertility.
In other words, even if Zebeline declared her relationship with Edanant right here in the ballroom, she wouldn’t be criticized.
“I’m sorry for doubting you. I thought… you might have secretly kissed Princess Ludmilla last night.”
“Hmm. That’s an amusing joke.”
Edanant responded to Zebeline’s apology with a relaxed smile.
However, his hand holding the champagne glass trembled slightly.
“You always wear your robes.”
“Yes, I have to wear my robes for official occasions. We need to show the dignitaries of each nation the sacred mystery to collect substantial donations.”
“Hmm… It’s a form of advertising.”
“If Sir Edanant wishes, I can wear a party dress for private occasions.”
Perhaps she wanted to counter Edanant’s playful teasing.
Zebeline smiled mischievously and delivered a bold provocation.
Her words were suggestive, leaving room for misunderstanding.
“I would love to see it, if I’m allowed.”
“Ugh…!”
Edanant readily nodded and stepped closer to Zebeline.
He reached out.
And gently caressed her beautiful silver hair.
He was skilled.
His technique in handling women’s hearts was incredibly smooth.
What on earth had happened last night?
If it were the usual Edanant, he would have turned away with an indifferent expression.
But the current Edanant was as skilled as a host who mainly entertained wealthy noblewomen.
“…Did you eat something strange?”
“Unlike the saintess, who just became an adult last year, I’m a grown man.”
That’s unpleasant.
Did he become a host instead of the Holy Kingdom’s hero?
Zebeline was taken aback by Edanant’s composed demeanor as he sipped his champagne with a melancholic expression.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Edanant. I apologize for the late formal introduction, I’ve been quite busy.”
“Your Holiness.”
Pope Boern, who had been conversing with the priests of the Valtarian Empire, approached Edanant.
Edanant and Zebeline bowed respectfully, welcoming the ruler of the Holy Kingdom.
Perhaps he sensed the slightly heavy atmosphere.
Boern smiled benevolently and chuckled.
“I apologize. I was being insensitive, interrupting your conversation as a couple.”
The Pope, who had declared the Earth Mother’s oracle, and the protagonist of the oracle had met.
The sudden appearance of the Pope drew even more attention to Edanant and Zebeline.
What would they talk about?
It would surely be a crucial turning point that would change the course of events.
The countless people gathered in the ballroom listened intently to Boern’s voice as he faced Edanant.
“I apologize for the interruption, I simply wanted to express my respect for the hero of the Valtarian Empire. On behalf of the Holy Kingdom, I would like to thank Sir Edanant for his hard work.”
The ruler of the Holy Kingdom bowed his head and expressed his gratitude in a public setting.
The crowd buzzed, witnessing the astonishing scene.
The Pope had bowed.
He had expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Holy Kingdom.
This brought even more attention to Edanant.
Especially since he had been chosen as the hero to stop the Demon King of Death by the Earth Mother’s oracle.
Even the priests of the Valtarian Empire bowed to Edanant.
‘What’s his game? I’m sure he has something up his sleeve…’
Boern’s appearance, devoid of any sense of shame, was like that of a living saint.
As expected of the representative of the one true god.
Now I understood why the cardinals of the Holy Kingdom followed the Pope so devotedly.
Following him, a cardinal dressed in crimson robes approached.
It was Hordamet Baladi, who had delivered the Pope’s personal letter to the Valtarian Imperial Family.
“Sir Edanant is practically our brother, having received the Earth Mother’s baptism. We would like to invite you to the Holy Kingdom… Would you accept our invitation?”
“……”
As far as I knew, there were no sane people among those who called others “brother.”
He wasn’t normal.
I could tell just by looking at his stern face.
Edanant expressed his skepticism at Hordamet’s proposal.
He seemed to believe that it was a ploy to lure him to the Holy Kingdom for some ulterior motive.
“Your words are incredibly generous, but I am a noble of the Valtarian Empire. Unless His Majesty the Emperor grants permission… I cannot accept the Holy Kingdom’s invitation.”
Heading to the Holy Kingdom’s headquarters on his own would be suicidal.
There were too many risks of being exposed.
Zebeline also subtly signaled the danger with a meaningful glance.
Therefore, Edanant tried to refuse the Holy Kingdom’s invitation, using his status as a member of the Valtarian Empire as an excuse.
Moreover, he believed that Emperor Barbarossa, who deeply despised Pope Boern, would immediately reject the proposal.
“I’ve been listening quietly from behind, and this is truly absurd. Are you suggesting taking my chosen son-in-law… no, my esteemed subject to the Holy Kingdom?”
“Sir Edanant is a subject of the Valtarian Imperial Family. Naturally, he requires the Valtarian Empire’s permission.”
Barbarossa approached, his displeasure evident.
And behind the Emperor stood the princess with flowing golden hair, her dignified presence radiating a chilling aura.
The furious Emperor was terrifying, but the princess’s cold hostility was even more intimidating.
It was as if she was determined not to let him go.
Hmm.
This was supposed to be a banquet for the sake of friendship between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom…
I felt like a prize being fought over by the winners.
My heart pounded as I witnessed the tense confrontation between the representatives of the Empire and the Holy Kingdom.
???????
While all eyes were focused on the Alliance Council meeting,
The apostles of the Disaster God, who had been hiding in the shadows, began to gather.
The signal for their assembly had been given.
Surprisingly, the one who had contacted the Disaster God’s apostles was the Fresh Blood Apostle.
Hadn’t she gone missing after attacking the Valtarian Empire?
The Fresh Blood Apostle, whom they had believed to be dead at the hands of those despicable Imperial bastards, had returned.
The apostles of the Disaster God accepted Ariel Spella’s summons to confirm her survival.
“How did you survive?”
“We thought you were dead at the hands of the Red Dragon…!”
Dark shadows gathered in an abandoned temple of the cult.
The apostles of the Disaster God.
They were the remnants of the cult who had miraculously survived by escaping to the chaos realm during the Racial War.
The large-scale offensive that had nearly brought down the Valtarian Empire had failed.
The cult forces, having lost a significant portion of their power, including the strategist and Ariel, were currently barely clinging to life, evading the pursuit of the Empire and the Holy Kingdom.
“I survived thanks to the Pioneer’s mercy! And the Pioneer, who serves the innocent calamity, not only bestowed his mercy upon me… but also revealed a grand revelation to achieve the Ascension of Evil, toppling the one true god’s throne!”
The vampire woman with beautiful black hair raised her hands high.
And then, she shouted in an excited voice, as if to demonstrate her boundless faith in the Pioneer.
Pioneer.
Innocent calamity.
Grand revelation.
Every word was absurd.
It was impossible to believe her nonsense, suddenly appearing after being missing for so long.
The apostles gathered in the temple responded with scoffs and sighs.
“Innocent calamity? That’s just nonsense the old priests used to spout.”
“To think the Fresh Blood Apostle has become a madwoman… How unfortunate.”
It wasn’t even worth listening to.
The dozens of apostles gathered in the temple were about to turn away.
At that moment,
A sharp roar and a dark whirlwind erupted from the center of the temple where Ariel stood.
“This is the power I received from the Pioneer… from the Disaster God of War!”
As Ariel grasped the choker around her neck with both hands, a transformation occurred.
The innocent calamity stirred.
She had activated the bomb necklace herself, proving her sincerity to the apostles.
Clank-!
Clank, clank, clank-!!
It was going to explode.
The loud metallic sounds from the bomb necklace signaled the imminent countdown.
The temple, along with its surroundings, would be obliterated.
Not even a single foundation stone would remain, as if swept away by days of bombardment.
The apostles of the Disaster God, caught in the violent current of the god of war’s divinity, had no choice but to accept Ariel’s sincerity.
Because as soon as Ariel’s bomb necklace activated, the Disaster Gods who had been controlling the apostles all knelt before the innocent calamity.
“I-It’s truly the innocent calamity…!”
“Ah! The god has spoken. The great War has descended, breaking its long silence!”
The innocent calamity had descended to usurp the one true god’s throne.
The apostles, witnessing the god of war’s divinity activated before their eyes, expressed their awe and worship, declaring that the Ascension of Evil had finally arrived.
“Follow the Pioneer! He is the one who will drive out the one true god and achieve the Ascension of Evil!”
My insignificant life doesn’t matter.
As long as I can spread his great teachings,
The Ascension of Evil will come.
The moment the wicked one true god falls is surely not far away.
The fanatic, who had activated the bomb necklace to its limit, risking her own life, preached the Pioneer’s greatness in a booming voice.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
