Dark, who was connected to Ghislain's consciousness, groaned dramatically.
— Damn it! The energy inside this guy is constantly trying to push me out! It's hard to hold on!
'Hang in there. Right now, he's too focused on escaping to deal with his injuries.'
— Got it. I'll split my mana into smaller fragments and try to remain unnoticed.
Ghislain had inserted a portion of Dark's essence into Ravier's wound as he severed his arm. Given the size of the injury, Ravier wouldn't easily distinguish it from the remnants of energy left from the battle.
'I need to gather whatever intel I can.'
The Salvation Church was an organization that, at this point in history, had yet to fully reveal itself. Even with Ghislain's knowledge of the future, his understanding was limited. To prepare effectively, he needed more information. Planting Dark was a calculated risk.
'Could they be the ones behind everything? Not just allies but the masterminds themselves?'
In his previous life, Duke Delphine had formally recognized the Salvation Church as a legitimate religion. Ghislain had assumed their relationship was purely one of convenience. But seeing how deeply their alliance ran, it was entirely possible the church was pulling the strings.
'What could the Duke possibly need from them?'
The Duke's faction had immense power—enough to overturn the kingdom without relying on a cult. Their collaboration suggested a larger, more sinister objective.
'They must be aiming for something beyond the kingdom.'
Although Ghislain didn't know exactly what, it was clear that the chaos of the Calamity, the Salvation Church, and the Duke's rebellion were all interconnected. That realization alone was a major breakthrough.
'Fine. I'll treat them all as the same enemy from now on.'
He exhaled deeply, acknowledging the challenge ahead.
"This won't be easy."
Though he hadn't used his full strength in the fight, neither had Ravier. In his previous life, Ravier had been even more powerful, capable of matching a Master in direct combat despite not being a battle priest. Worse, the Salvation Church reportedly had dozens of individuals of his caliber.
While future allies would join the fight against the church, Ghislain couldn't afford to wait passively. As someone who had already become their enemy, he needed to prepare thoroughly.
"Count! Are you all right?"
Toleo rushed over, his voice filled with concern. Ghislain pushed his thoughts aside and nodded.
"I'm fine."
"What were those monsters? And that man—how could he fly?"
As an experienced knight, Toleo had remained composed during the battle, but now that the situation had calmed, his curiosity was overwhelming.
"They're creatures created by a faction preparing for rebellion within the capital."
"What?!"
"They were made by an organization called the Salvation Church. I'll explain further soon. First, I need to meet with the Marquis."
Ghislain immediately sought out Marquis Branford, dragging a reluctant Forisco along.
The Marquis was overwhelmed. What had started as a straightforward plan to eliminate the Duke's hidden operatives had turned into a battle against monsters and a mysterious foe who could fly.
After listening to reports from Toleo and the knights, Branford addressed Ghislain.
"The Salvation Church? What is that?"
"A cult that has allied with the Duke's faction."
"The kingdom recognizes no religion outside the Four Goddesses' Church. Where could such an organization have grown strong enough to create something like this?"
"I don't know. But it seems they planned to incite rebellion alongside the Duke during the civil war."
Though Ghislain spoke as if he were speculating, he was recalling events he had witnessed firsthand in his past life.
When the civil war erupted, the Duke's subordinate organizations incited rebellion in the capital and other royalist territories.
Exploiting the widespread suffering caused by drought and the nobles' focus on their armies, these groups distributed food to win public support and instigate chaos.
Organizations disguised as charity groups, like the one Ravier had led, were particularly effective at manipulating public sentiment.
The royalists, already struggling against the Duke's forces, were forced to divide their attention to quell internal uprisings.
'But even then, the Salvation Church never revealed itself.'
In hindsight, it seemed deliberate—like they were trying to conceal their identity and power until the tribulation arrived.
Ghislain carefully chose his words.
"They have immense power but appear unwilling to fully reveal themselves just yet. I only uncovered them by chance."
"That man… the one who flew away—was he a mage?"
"A priest, from what I could tell. He had the power of at least a 7th-circle mage."
"..."
Branford glanced at Toleo, who nodded solemnly.
"The Count is correct. Even with our entire knight order, we couldn't land a significant blow."
"This is…"
Branford pressed a hand to his forehead. It was troubling enough that unknown forces had allied with the Duke.
The revelation that these forces included superhuman individuals was even worse. Their numbers were unknown, but if these "priests" joined the battlefield, they could cause catastrophic losses.
Sensing the Marquis's anxiety, Ghislain offered a solution.
"There's no need to worry too much. We'll bolster our own forces in response."
"Bolster? From where? Most have already chosen a side."
Thanks to Ghislain's efforts, few nobles had defected from the royalist faction. Beyond the neutral parties, the lines were clearly drawn.
At Branford's question, Ghislain turned to Forisco.
"The Churches of the Four Goddesses must participate in this war. Isn't that right, Bishop Forisco?"
"Huh? Why us? Why would we involve ourselves in a civil war…?"
Church doctrine prohibited political involvement, let alone participation in internal conflicts. But Ghislain seemed unbothered by such rules.
"This isn't just a civil war. It's a fight to punish the Duke's faction for allying with heretics. Isn't combating heresy the Church's sacred duty?"
"Well… that's true…"
As Ghislain pointed out, fighting heretics was indeed a core tenet of the Church. Regardless of rank or status, heretics were to be hunted down and executed without exception.
In his past life, every Church had declared war on the Salvation Church with fervent zeal.
"So this isn't a civil war. It's a holy war."
"A holy war…"
Forisco's chest puffed with pride. A holy war! The very thought was thrilling.
Though an extraordinary honor, experiencing a holy war was rare.
Forisco, visibly moved, thumped his chest and addressed Branford with newfound determination.
"I saw the demon with my own eyes! The Juana Church will join this holy war, and I will inform the other Churches immediately!"
"A demon, you say?"
"Yes! Its form matched the one described in the scriptures foretelling the apocalypse! We must stop it!"
"...Hmm."
Branford coughed to hide a smile. Personally, he didn't believe in demons or apocalyptic prophecies.
But this was an excellent opportunity. By framing the Duke's faction as heretics, they could justify the Churches' full participation in the conflict. It would also sway public opinion against the Duke, potentially causing defections within his ranks.
Branford turned to Ghislain.
"Are you certain these creatures were made by the Salvation Church?"
"Yes. But whether it's true or not doesn't matter. What matters is how we use this."
With a grin, Ghislain delivered his answer. Branford couldn't help but return the smile.
Whether the Salvation Church created them or the Duke's faction did, it no longer mattered. The important thing was that many people had already seen those monsters.
All they needed to do was spread rumors that these creatures were experimental subjects created by the Duke's faction, borrowing power from heretics. They had enough evidence and witnesses to make the claim stick.
With a grim expression, Marquis Branford issued his orders.
"Summon the archbishops of every church in the capital and the nobles. We will consider this a serious threat to the kingdom and punish all involved."
His eyes began to glint with a chilling intensity.
"Furthermore, designate the Salvation Church as a heretical sect and root out anyone associated with it. Those bearing the symbol of the Black Sun are to be arrested immediately, or executed if they resist. Make sure this information is disseminated to every noble in the kingdom—and even to foreign nations."
Once his course was set, Marquis Branford wasted no time.
"Finally, declare Duke Delphine's faction as a public enemy of the kingdom for conspiring with heretics. The same applies to nobles aligned with the Duke. We will work with all the churches to bring them to justice. Let those claiming innocence prove it themselves."
Though attacking the Duke's hidden agents without explicit justification had been risky, the situation had now turned overwhelmingly in their favor. Thanks to Ghislain, they now had a chance to shake the Duke's faction to its core.
In a straightforward civil war, it might have been advantageous for nobles to side with the powerful Duke's faction. But with the churches backing the royalist faction, the calculus changed. The nobles aligned with the Duke would now have to make a serious decision.
Branford's vassals set to work immediately, not only in the capital but across the kingdom, targeting the Duke's agents. This operation would likely uncover even more evidence of heretical connections and monstrous experiments.
Marquis Branford, his expression one of satisfaction, turned to Ghislain.
"Thanks to you, this has gone exceptionally well. Having the churches join the fight will be an enormous boon."
If the priests of the Four Goddesses openly participated in the war, soldiers would have access to healing and stamina recovery during battles. Knights, too, would benefit greatly.
The priests of the Goddess of War, in particular, were known for their combat prowess, rivaling even seasoned knights. The military strength gained from their involvement would far exceed that of any regular army.
Furthermore, framing the enemy as a heretical force could even prompt foreign nations to send aid. Truly, this was an optimal outcome.
Marquis Branford acknowledged it: this time, Ghislain had been a priceless asset. For once, the Marquis took the initiative to ask:
"You'll be leaving soon, I assume. Is there anything else you need before you go?"
"Well, I didn't originally have any requests, but after the recent battle, there's something I now realize I need."
"And what would that be? If it's within my power, I'll grant it."
"Give me more Dragon Hearts. Actually, just give me all the ones you have left."
The Marquis momentarily regretted his earlier boastful offer and asked again, as if to confirm.
"...You're asking for all the royal treasures?"
"This isn't the time to hold back. We need to strengthen our forces, even by a little. There isn't much left anyway, is there?"
"So why should it all go to you...?"
"This is no time to worry about treasures. We don't even know how many superhumans are on the other side. Besides, haven't you already distributed them to talented individuals in the royalist faction? I'm aware those efforts failed."
"Hmm..."
He wasn't wrong.
Although the churches joining the war would strengthen their side, the presence of mysterious superhumans in the enemy ranks posed a significant problem. Strengthening their own forces, even slightly, was crucial.
But as Ghislain said, the royalists had already used the Dragon Heart fragments on promising knights and mages, all of whom had failed to advance to the next level. This had caused much lamentation among the nobles, who saw the fragments of heart as wasted.
After much deliberation, Marquis Branford sighed deeply and asked:
"Do you truly have individuals in your territory who can advance with this?"
The Dragon Heart fragments were the most precious gifts, reserved for a select few whose loyalty was beyond question. Yet if they failed to break through, the loss was irreparable. The fragments were far too valuable to merely boost mana reserves.
Confidently, Ghislain replied:
"I can put them to full use."
In the end, the Marquis had no choice but to nod. It felt excessive, but the benefits Ghislain had brought far outweighed the cost.
Particularly, framing the Duke's faction as a heretical group was a gift greater than any material support Ghislain had provided, as it had the potential to completely shift the tide of the war.
"If we hoard treasures only to lose the war, they'll be meaningless anyway."
The royalists had already exhausted all other potential candidates. Ultimately, Marquis Branford decided to back Ghislain a little more.
"Very well. Take what remains and use it to strengthen our forces."
"Thank you."
Ghislain grinned, clearly pleased. With the Dragon Heart fragments, the power of his territory's forces would surge significantly, elevating them several levels at once. He had secured more of these rare treasures than he had even hoped for, all thanks to the fortuitous link to the Salvation Church.
'Once those guys reveal themselves, others will rise to counter them. That's probably why they've stayed hidden this long.'
But Ghislain didn't share that thought. In such uncertain times, it was vital to build up as much strength as possible.
'Good. I've gotten everything I can for now.'
It was Ghislain's creed to seize every opportunity to prepare and stockpile resources.
***
Deep within a forest surrounded by dense trees, sunlight filtered through the branches, scattering across the ground adorned with vibrant flowers. The forest was breathtakingly beautiful and mystical.
At its center stood a colossal tree, towering into the sky. Its base alone was large enough to encompass an entire village.
Seated on a throne-like tangle of vines in front of the tree was an elven woman. Her arms and legs were wrapped in vines, leaving her unable to move. Yet her expression was one of utter tranquility.
Birds chirped around her, flocking close and settling on her body as if serenading her. She smiled softly, listening intently to their song.
A gentle breeze swirled around her, brushing against her skin. Energy from the earth coursed to her feet, while the babble of a nearby stream whispered in her ears. Sunlight flickered through the leaves, casting playful shadows across her face.
It was as though the world itself was sharing its stories with her.
The elf, her serene smile unwavering, suddenly opened her eyes.
Flash!
Brilliant green light momentarily flickered in her gaze. She stared ahead, her expression now devoid of emotion, and spoke softly:
"So, that's where you were."
[T/L: Please support me and read 385 extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]