I’m Going to Destroy this Country

Murmur.

Numerous children had gathered in Eshua’s estate.

Watching the scene, Lilai and Isaac wore the same expression.

Counting roughly with their eyes, there were one, two, three, four, fifty, a hundred children…

Eventually, seeing more than 100 children, Lilai seemed unable to help but speak.

“Uh… something’s strange.”

Hey, is this a situation that can be resolved by simply saying this is strange?

“I’m sure I heard there were only 25 Saint candidates.”

Yeah, crazy guy, even the Bishop said so.

“Why are there 148 Saint candidates?”

Exactly! Why has the number increased, damn it!

They were currently welcoming the Saint candidates.

Of course, it had been a month since the Saintess sent out the summons.

While it might be a tight schedule for so many candidates to gather, all the Saint candidates had been educated at the Papacy.

With the power of the sacred techniques, it was sufficient to come from the capital, where the Papacy is located, to Eshua’s domain in the east.

The problem is that there are not just 24 Saint candidates.

Especially not just an inflated number.

“Actually, there are Saint candidates of different nationalities as well.”

“What? Different nationalities?”

“Well… the prince from the neighboring country came, claiming to be a Saint candidate.”

“What?!”

Goodness, to think someone would go so far as to change citizenship to become a Saint.

Well, originally, the presence of a Saint-like figure in the human faction was significant.

It’s an event that could change the political situation of the continent, so it’s understandable that other countries are interested.

He just didn’t expect it to this extent.

For Isaac, it was good news.

“Who would have thought even His Majesty would come here!”

The people of Eshua, greeting the guests, couldn’t hide their excitement.

No one knew what kind of magic had been cast on the Emperor. But the nobles couldn’t have helped but move at the Emperor’s steps.

“With this level of participation, isn’t it practically an official selection competition?”

“Yes. With this much attention, the Papacy can’t ignore it.”

“If Isaac manages to bring the best thing here…!”

It’s practically being recognized as a Saint.

That’s why Lilai, who had opened the treasury for Isaac, couldn’t help but be flustered.

“This is unexpected. I thought no one would come, suspecting the Madam’s words to be a trap.”

Honestly, Lilai didn’t expect it at all.

She just wanted to give Isaac a good relic. If need be, he even thought of filling his ring with his own holy power.

But then it happened.

“There’s no way to think it’s a trap, my friend.”

“!”

A young man approached Lilai with a friendly face. Simon, Lilai’s friend, laughed, saying ‘Do you know that all the families in the Empire are freaking out because of Eshua?’

“The children of Eshua are participating, so there’s no way they could miss it.”

Lilai’s face brightened.

“Really? It’s an honor that Eshua is held in such high regard.”

“No? Because two weak men from Eshua are participating, they said there can’t be a trap. Hahaha.”

Snap.

Not just the uncle, but the sound of the bloodlines of the knights of the Eshua family could be heard, rising.

It was a moment that showed how the men of Eshua were treated in the world.

“Still, the child will grow up to be great. Eshua guys seem like a different breed. Standing next to them feels like you’ve stuck an elf and a seal together, you know?”

Even if you try to praise it, it’s already too late, you bastard.

“Especially with Madam setting this up, there’s no way they wouldn’t come. The Papacy couldn’t have stayed away.”

Madam? That thing?

Isaac raised an eyebrow, but the uncle’s friend playfully poked at Lilai.

“By the way, Isaac doesn’t have a fiance yet, right? We have a girl his age in our family, so if you could speak kindly to the head of the family… ack?!”

Simon’s face turned pale.

He hastily grabbed his descending pants.

His belt was gone.

“Lilai! You bastard!”

In the meantime, Lilai had handed a splendid jewel belt to Isaac.

“Here, Isaac. That ugly goby uncle gave you a gift, you like these, right?”

“Daya!”

“Hey!”

Simon, of course, knew it was his belt.

“You’re using this to steal abilities?! And you call yourself a priest… ack!!”

Rip! Rip! Rip!

This time, all the golden tassels on Simon’s clothes were torn off.

It was too fast for the eye to see. And that was Lilai’s ability, swiftness.

“Oh, this time the ugly uncle gave you pure gold. Since he’s a wealthy uncle with a mine, you can consider him a money tree from now on. Oh, he also gave you candy money to buy something tasty for our Isaac?”

“?!”

That bastard even stole my wallet!

Seeing Simon groping his body, the knights beside him were shocked.

My goodness, the model student, young master Lilai, a thief!

How could someone as just and honest as you do such a disgraceful thing!

On the other hand, Lilai noticed that his young nephew loved money.

Sure enough, Isaac, with his toothless mouth, was laughing perversely at the 99% pure gold.

‘Oh yeah, it’s like a gold mine.’

Looking at it, the bear emblem engraved on his red accessory did seem familiar.

It was a symbol he had seen on an important piece of land in the human territory.

Definitely the Red Count family, the Eiji family, right?

They were a family that managed the treasure vaults of the big nobles.

Anyway, such a top family would be much more useful than an unmanned family. Only if he could exploit them from the inside could he get revenge on the gods.

Especially that old red ring he’s wearing on his thumb looks very useful…

On the other hand, Simon, who had turned into a beggar, seemed to have gone too far.

“Just for a joke, you strip a person bare. And you call yourself a friend?”

“Why are you doing this, if you keep looking at my weak nephew, he’ll strip you even more?”

Geez. He’s pissed, so pissed.

Simon bit his tongue.

It was the first time Lilai didn’t pass something off as a joke.

Even if he had to swallow his pride, he wouldn’t stay still if it was about his nephew, would he?

He never knew they would have familial love, not camaraderie, among the Eshua.

“Daya.”

“Argh! Wait, you bastard! Not the ring! Not the ring!”

Who would have thought there would be someone among the Eshua so crazy about money!

In the end, Isaac, who had snatched the ring, put it in his mouth.

Seeing this, Simon was somehow startled, but Lilai laughed and had Isaac taken away by the attendants.

“It’s already time for the Doljabi*. Take the ring out of your mouth, wash it, and return it.” (tl/n: Doljabi is a Korean tradition where a newly-turned one year old child selects anywhere between 1-3 items from an array of 6-9 items.)

“That ring, it’s really important. You really have to return it!”

“?”

If a wealthy family says it’s that important, what on earth could it be?