30 Years Have Passed Since the Prologue

War does not simply begin with a leader shouting “Yooshi, Tobatsuda.” (Those countries have all perished already.)

If there is anything that is most important in war, it is naturally wealth, resources, and personnel. Their importance diminishes as one moves backward. The issue is about money, food, and weaponry. Of course, people do not fall under the category of ‘issues.’

In other words, the preparation for war inevitably becomes a long-term plan. This is fundamentally because a nation is not a group that hoards money in order to be ready for war at all times. (Those countries have all perished already.)

“Summer…? Did you say it is summer now?”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness. At least, it should be summer to complete preparations…”

“Though I may be ignorant of war, isn’t it harvest season right now!”

The Pope’s outcry was precise. In general, the various sacraments of the church are carried out during the harvest season when farmers have time on their hands, and thus, those in the church are quite aware of the harvest period.

And unless it is a war against the Demon King, wars should take place during the harvest season. This is a natural logic given that most of the military strength is made up of serfs and conscripts. You cannot drain a nation dry just to wage one war.

“Your Royal Highness, a messenger from Albina says that under no circumstances can military stationing or passage be allowed within its territory…”

“Does that mean they intend to manage the entire northeastern part of Equitania on their own!”

“Yes, they say they will refuse any kind of military support except for military funding…”

“Th-This…!!”

The Pope grabbed his head and staggered. This should not be happening. Time… is absolutely running short.

Who knows when the Demon King will come? Tomorrow? A week later? Perhaps in a month?

Before the Demon King arrives, Drovian and Tylesse must fall. And those two nations… no, at least before Drovian collapses, negotiations with Krasilov must be completed.

I will overlook the sins that surrounded the Saint and provide the fallen lands of Drovian and Tylesse to build the only “Empire” in this world. In return, I will mobilize military forces and personnel to capture the Demon King.

All those conditions come down to just one thing: “rapid conclusion of hostilities.” In a situation where one cannot predict what variables may arise, it is to prevent the onset of the “Second Great War,” which could begin at any time…

And, if I may add one more thing.

To put down this burden. Even now, voices that cannot be heard by others endlessly resound.

Before that sweet whisper shatters his last ounce of patience. While he still retains his sanity. In a situation without sacred power, he must endure solely by will.

Thus, it is a race against time. Only a swift conclusion of hostilities…

“Your Royal Highness! We have received a reply from Lorensia!”

“…What did they say?”

“They have dispatched an assassination squad to the false prophetess! Thirteen knights strong! A few of the local priests cooperated actively, and they have confirmed their entry into the Frechenkaya region!”

“Yes, that… is good news…!!”

He was said to be a young man just over twenty. A devout seminarian. In a situation where divine power has vanished, with thirteen knights dispatched and the priests supporting them, there should be no problem in killing that young man.

If only there were a little more time, he would have attempted persuasion. If the truth of being able to foresee the future is indeed a grace granted by the Lord, even more so. But it has become difficult now. Since he has undoubtedly aligned himself with the Saint, he must be ruthless.

The fact that a young man who heard the Lord’s will supports the Saint is a potentially fatal threat. Attempting to persuade him would serve as evidence proving the Saint’s innocence. Patricia, that child is astute enough not to miss this.

Right and wrong no longer matter. At this point, what is important is only a rapid conclusion of hostilities. This might be the last war in the world—

Yes. Right and wrong are not important. Heh heh heh.

Shut up.

– Your contradictions amuse me, old priest. What actions have you taken while shouting the names of your Lord? Ah, yes. That’s right. Plans to kill young children in the dark!

I am a sinner. I am a sinner. I am indeed a sinner.

– Ah, have you started praying again? Who is listening? Does your Lord hear your prayers? Don’t worry. At the very least, ‘God’ is listening to your prayers. ‘I’ am listening to your prayers.

The attending priest felt an inexplicable chill as he looked at the suddenly bowing and praying Pope.

Bright fragments of divine power were visible on his body. Clearly enough to be seen with the naked eye. But… somehow it felt cold and eerie, so the priest could only watch it with a sense of reverence.

Since the Lord has punished us, it’s only natural to feel this terrified of the Lord’s power. The priest desperately thought this and quietly stepped aside.

“Are you planning to assassinate Eugene?”

“Yes, brother.”

The Saint was sitting in the splendid reception room of the Royal Court, drinking tea and relieving her fatigue. Ivan, who was listening to the story across from her, soon shook his head.

“That’s pointless.”

“…Huh? I’ve taken measures against the priests to a certain extent, but not all the priests in Frechenkaya will follow my will. Especially at this point where I’ve even been excommunicated.”

“Eugene is not in Frechenkaya.”

“Yes. That’s true?”

“Krasilov has an almost perfect counterintelligence network in my territory. Especially in Frechenkaya.”

Since last year, there have been quite a number of incidents that could be counted on one hand, and in the meantime, about half of them have occurred; they have faced invasions without regard to countries or races.

Elizaveta, who directly managed the Counterintelligence Command, has invested an almost paranoid amount into security in Frechenkaya. Even elven spies cannot operate freely there.

Foreign espionage is so incompetent that it is difficult to know easily, but concerning domestic espionage, Krasilov is the strongest on the continent, including against the Demon King’s forces.

“But brother, while I know that… priests can, in some aspects, become better spies than the agents of the Counterintelligence Command.”

“I know.”

As recalled once, no one suspects priests. Even if there are those who attempt to use them, at least there were no ones who suspected them.

In a world where the power of gods exists, how can one dare to suspect and exclude the priests who follow God?

Moreover, since the church has been a reservoir of knowledge since the time when educational facilities were scarce, this means that the major intellectuals of society were filled with church figures. In a civilization where the traditions of that era remain, priests hold an inviolable authority.

Respected without regard to borders, and regardless of titles or ranks, they can hear the most intimate information directly. In specific situations, this means that priests can become better spies than elves.

“Not all the priests in Frechenkaya will follow the Pope.”

“Yes, that would be so. If they hear that I’ve been excommunicated, even if they might be caught up in confusion, they won’t all stand on the Pope’s side in an instant. It would be difficult to shake off the stigma and suspicion of being an excommunicate’s confidant.”

“Thus, the assassins that a few of those priests you cannot control could send in are limited in number.”

Though it cannot be accurately estimated, it will not exceed twenty at least. Any more men would certainly attract the eyes of the Counterintelligence Command.

Then, even if all twenty of them are filled with knight-level power…

“You need not worry.”

Before leaving, he had told Eugene and Yuri to always stay together. Rather than preparing for assassination, it was a means to deal with any unforeseen situations.

And that means, at least the happenings occurring within ‘Frechenkaya’ could be handled by those two while he was absent.

With Enrique around, any assassination must be a small-scale, sudden strike. In such an environment…

“Eugene and Yuri will never lose.”

Just a year ago, during the entrance ceremony, the Hero Party’s kids were all mere chicks.

Even then, Eugene could ‘sense’ the stone that Ivan had thrown with ‘all his power’ and cut it down.

This means that even at that time, he had already mastered the detection of lethal lines, and not merely dodging; he had the skill to precisely split the incoming stones in half.

“Ugh—Aaaah!!”

Eugene immediately rolled on the ground to barely evade the sword path. He couldn’t gather his thoughts in the face of the flashing blades before his eyes.

“I told you this is why I chose to be a priest!!”

Common sense dictates that a person who has lived for over twenty years in the 21st century could not possibly fight against human butchers wielding cold weapons.

Eugene screamed as he fled. He entered the Theology Department to avoid fighting, and if he had to fight, he must surely cast mind spells to motivate himself; thus, it is an expected outcome.

“Yujin!! Don’t run away!! I really might die!!”

“Uwaaa—!!”

Yuri, who backed away to fend off the incoming blades, grabbed Eugene’s nape as he fled. At the very least, they should be able to face each other back to back to fight.

Right now, there were more than ten enemies visible. Each one of them was a superhuman, so a moment of inattentiveness could result in losing one’s neck.

The battle between superhumans can yield outcomes that are unrelated to the disparity of power. This is due to battles occurring within the limits of neural reactions. No matter how strong one becomes, human skin is not stronger than a blade.

If one gets cut, one gets hurt, and if one gets a fatal stab, one dies. In this simple logic, Yuri even had to hold onto her shoulder as she fought.

“Please! Come to your senses!!”

“Who! Mage!! Hurry!!”

“There’s none!”

Clang!! As she deflected a blade, she staggered back and leaned against the wall. The eyes of the approaching knights were fierce.

That there would be such a violent raid in Frechenkaya. She hadn’t expected it, and it was difficult to respond. Aside from a sword and a helmet that looked like a bucket… A helmet?

“What is that?”

“Huh—hoo!”

“Eugene?”

“Hit my head!!”

“Um…?”

Eugene shouted while his eyes, bloodshot and glaring beneath the visor of the helmet.

“Quickly! Hit me hard! To the degree that I lose my senses! But just enough that I won’t faint!”

“What… does that… mean…?”

“There’s no time! Quickly!!”

Yuri sighed and clenched her fist. Well, it’s nothing special that this guy says something absurd.

If this can bolster the fighting will, then it’s a deal worth making.

With a crash, Yuri slammed the helmet that looked like a bucket down. Eugene’s body trembled.

“Huuh… hu….”

His breathing became steady. She could see that he was still opening his eyes through the gaps in the visor. At least he did not seem to have lost consciousness.

Scrape.

The sound of a blade scraping against its sheath was chilling. Yuri looked at Eugene with suspicion.

“Eugene…?”

“There is but one God, and the Lord is great.”

“Did we… succeed…?”

The flawless upper stance, like something out of a drawing. Just getting closer felt like it would slice her. Violent madness.

Seeing that, Yuri finally let out a sigh.

Yeah, this guy. They called him the [Northern Grand Duke's Whimsical Swordsmanship Genius]. The novel he was possessed by.

   

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