Chapter 109 : Chapter 109

Chapter 109

Permission to construct a medium-sized Warp Gate, Eurasia…….

Pierre moved the quill dip pen made from a peacock feather busily.

He couldn't honestly write what he felt, so his letter to the Holy Nation wasn't flowing smoothly and kept faltering.

The Holy Nation was located in the center of the continent, with the Empire situated a little further above it.

‘Scattered throughout the continent are the Empire's vassal states and the Holy Nation's temples.’

This geographical situation was the reason why the Empire's Imperial Knight Order could not immediately support the Brussels Kingdom.

Even the mages of the Magic Tower owned by the Empire or its numerous Superhumans had to switch between dozens of warp stones and gates to travel to the frontier.

And using a gate consumed a significant amount of mana and stamina.

It might be different for short distances.

‘If such travel is repeated, it will inevitably cause problems in future battles.’

But the Warp Gates owned by the Holy Nation were different.

They possessed the technology to minimize the burden on Mana Heart users with an unknown divine power, Shinryeok.

That was also the reason why the Empire, which called itself the ruler of the continent, tried to avoid causing diplomatic problems with the Holy Nation, despite having a military power that far surpassed it.

The Kingdom Alliance, which had almost brought down the Empire in the past.

The common opinion was that Eurasia, which had been at its center, had fallen because, in the end, the priests of the temple did not lend their strength in the battle against the Grotesquery.

‘Grotesquery…….’

Eurasia is not related to the Grotesquery.

After writing that, Pierre hesitated for a moment.

“……”

Then, he let out a sigh and moved the pen again.

The Holy Nation and our temple have been mistaken.

Therefore, we have decided to permit the use of the existing small Warp Gate and approve the construction of a medium-sized Warp Gate.

In truth, he couldn't be sure if Eurasia was really unrelated to the Grotesquery.

What was certain was that Pantera had manifested.

And although the Holy Nation was keeping it quiet, it was a fact that numerous priests had currently lost their connection with the gods.

‘It's been a long time since even those of the Chief Priest rank lost their connection.’

Pierre was no exception, so there were times when he was overcome with the thought that he might just be a guardian of the temple now.

‘This isn't simply a matter of faith.’

Fortunately, the secret was being kept for now, but if the Empire were to find out about the Holy Nation's situation, it would surely start a war.

Furthermore, even if they didn't immediately raise their swords against the Holy Nation, they had plenty of cards to pressure it.

The Empire's White Magic Tower now possessed a significant number of mages who could use healing magic on par with most priests, and among them, the Superhumans could use healing magic of the Chief Priest class.

Priesthood was a profession, and healing magic was certainly a special skill, but the roots of the temple and the Holy Nation were originally.

‘Pure faith in a god.’

What if the special act, which until now had been performed solely through faith in a god, was no longer special?

‘And what if those who were the only ones who could contact the gods were to be deprived of that opportunity as well……. The very existence of the Holy Nation would be in danger.’

That was why the fact that the priests had lost their connection with the gods must never leak to the outside, but.

“Killian Eurasia…….”

That bastard, who treated Lord Pantera with an utterly disrespectful attitude, had found out that fact.

Because the divine object was broken and the Authority of Domination was acting on him, he was now in a situation where he was caught by that bastard.

In the process, he had even learned of the existence of the dragon named Hazard, but he couldn't write a single letter about the creature in the correspondence.

If he did, the Holy Knight Order would surely be dispatched, and he didn't know how that madman Killian Eurasia would react.

“Haa.”

Pierre sighed as he thought of Killian.

‘He said he personally took care of the piece of the Grotesquery that was in Brussels, and that he would take care of the remaining pieces in the future.’

If the disappearance of the gods was related to the remnants of the Grotesquery, then the Holy Nation had to help Killian Eurasia.

That was why he was submitting such a report while hiding the fact that the divine object had been broken.

Your faithful servant.

From Pierre de Pantera to the Pope.

After casting a few spells on the letter, he walked to the Pantera Temple's Warp Gate and handed the letter to Vice-Priest Esteban.

The reason for sending a person directly instead of using communication magic was because of the high risk of wiretapping.

“……”

Esteban avoided his gaze as he received the letter.

“Don't worry. I would like you to continue to stay by my side in the future.”

“Chief Priest Pierre…….”

“However, unlike before, you will need to keep your lower half in check.”

“O-of course.”

“For now, go and get a reply from the Pope. We will talk about future matters after that.”

“Understood.”

Esteban stepped onto the Warp Gate with a visibly lighter expression.

Even with a title like Vice-Priest, it would probably take about a week to return with an answer.

Considering the distance, it could be called a very short amount of time.

Pierre suddenly thought of Killian Eurasia's whereabouts.

“Cornelia's territory, you say……”

He couldn't know the exact location, but the Pantera Temple could grasp the warp reactions in the area to some extent.

‘He must have moved secretly to help with Cornelia's war. Is he looking after his fiancée?’

Since their previous visit, he and the Annihilation Squad had been unofficially using the temple's warp stones and gates.

He, who had been helping in Eurasia's ruin, was now moving for Eurasia's prosperity.

“What on earth is your identity?”

Not only was he handling a dragon, a species thought to be extinct, but he was also the youngest Sword Master in human history, an unprecedented feat.

“What was it that Lord Pantera was trying to say?”

No matter how much he thought about it, a lowly being like him could never know.

“To think it was a manifested Lord Pantera……. And a divine dragon. The mysterious, exquisite scales and the overwhelming grandeur……. To think I would see a dragon, so beautiful in its very existence, in my lifetime.”

Pierre entered his office with a dazed expression as he recalled Hazard.

Perhaps a great punishment would befall him if he did not help Killian.

A premonition that something terrible would happen if he acted carelessly.

“This too might be the will of a god.”

He would find out the details as he continued to associate with him.

***

The place Killian visited was an old, shabby hut.

Unlike at the temple, next to Killian was Hazard, transformed into an ordinary wolf, his ears perked up.

He could have gone to Sharle's secret laboratory, but that would consume a lot of mana, and he couldn't be sure she would be there, so he was waiting here.

‘Why are there flower petals in the tea…….’

Killian let out a chuckle at the sight of the flower petals floating on the teacup that Pete had brought.

‘Treating me like a guest of honor now.’

Killian drank the tea with an awkward smile.

“You're here.”

“Hazard, you've grown a lot.”

That was the first thing Sharle said as she appeared quietly.

[Grrr~]

Hazard made a pleased expression as she petted his head and chin.

But in contrast, Sharle's expression looked full of worry.

It was probably because she had been responsible for many roles since the war began.

‘Sharle is someone who can save many lives.’

She herself would know that best.

That was also the reason why Killian had come here.

[Grrr~ Grrrr~]

Hazard was soon making pleasant sounds, nestled in Sharle's arms like a child.

“Isn't that enough of a greeting?”

“Hazard, your master still only knows work.”

[Grrr~]

Hazard replied as if agreeing.

Only then did Sharle meet Killian's eyes and straighten up.

“What brings the busy Annihilation Squad Leader of Eurasia here? I assume you've come to help with Cornelia's war.”

“What's this?”

At her unexpectedly sharp tone, Killian wondered if he had done something wrong.

“No matter how much I think about it, I don't know.”

“Haa.”

Sharle let out a sigh.

“You are still so clumsy, Sir. Sometimes I feel like I'm dealing with a blade, not a knight.”

“……Was I found out?”

“Your jokes are like a blade too.”

Killian was surprised for a second time.

‘This woman is really…… like Diana.’

If she were a little older and her magic skills reached 8-stars, one would believe she was her reincarnation.

“Enough with the jokes, I'd like to hear about the war situation.”

He had grasped the general information through Absinthe, but he needed to hear it properly from the people involved.

Sharle shrugged.

“Neither good nor bad.”

Cornelia was currently focusing on defense, and because of Hegel Cornelia's 8-star magic, which had assimilated with the Magic Tower, the forces of Romero and Prince Isaac could not rashly launch an offensive.

The Prince had brought six Superhumans; three mages and three knights.

In addition, three magic orders and two knight orders were mobilized, and Mainz Kimbel was attached as the prince's escort.

Including the infantry, their number was 1,000.

Even though they couldn't have fully mobilized because of the battles between the princes, their military strength was already equivalent to a walking kingdom.

“So, like with Brussels, the Prince brought his personal soldiers instead of the Imperial Army moving directly.”

“It's just a shame he couldn't make the same choice as King Simon.”

“It can't be helped now. I will also participate in the war.”

Sharle nodded with a complicated expression.

The participation of a Sword Master would be a great help to Cornelia, which lacked knightly power.

“I'll guide you to where my father is.”

“There's no need for that.”

“……?”

Sharle tilted her head.

“What do you mean? My father also……”

“I'm participating as a mercenary.”

A brief silence followed.

Sharle continued speaking.

“Don't just state the conclusion, tell me the reason too.”

“It's no good if it gets out that I've left my post. A renowned mercenary with a new alias sounds about right.”

“Don't tell me you're planning to use the Annihilation Squad as mercenaries?”

“No. Those guys are busy.”

The Annihilation Squad was already short on members.

Their bodies wouldn't hold out if they had to handle such personal matters.

“This one is enough for a squad member.”

Sharle's gaze shifted from Killian to Hazard.

[Krrung~]

Hazard let out a refreshing laugh.

“This one grows faster than I thought. Since it's been a while, let's test a new magic.”

“If you're participating as a mercenary without revealing Hazard's identity……”

“Right. Isn't it about time he polymorphed into a human form?”

“No, if you say that so suddenly……. The Polymorph magic has a high chance of being undone on the battlefield.”

“I didn't say I was heading to the front lines.”

“…….”

Killian, who had stood up, walked over to a map hanging on the wall and pointed to a spot with his index finger.

One of the mountain ranges located on the frontier, and a base for numerous monsters.

A place where Cornelia had not conscripted troops even during the war in preparation for a Monster Wave.

“Flask Mountain Range.”

A place considered not very important in the battle being fought at the border, as it was far from Cornelia's main castle.

“I'll take this place.”

***

Nox Benjamin.

He was a man who had mastered the 5-star magic of the five great elements, and he was the next successor of the Benjamin Family, which ruled over the area.

The Benjamins had been in charge of the defense of the Flask Mountain Range for generations, and they were an outstanding magic family, so much so that both the previous and current heads of the family had reached the realm of Superhumans.

They had even received the title of Count from Cornelia, which was now a kingdom.

But none of that mattered to Nox now.

He had reached 6-stars at thirty-six. If he mastered 6-stars before he turned forty, he might even reach 7-stars after fifty, just as his father had.

Then, when the time was right, he would become the head of the family and inherit the title of Count.

‘I thought it was a dull life.’

He had never imagined things would turn out like this.

If only he had known that a war would break out in Cornelia, which had declared itself a kingdom.

And that the magic order he led would be so easily crushed by an Empire's Superhuman.

‘I wouldn't have lived like this.’

To think that there was a mage in the Romero Kingdom who could command monsters.

‘I'm ashamed. Father needs to find out quickly.’

Nox, bound by chain magic, stared at the monster before him with a troubled face.

The monsters were not the problem.

He and his magic order had annihilated the ones that were at most 6-stars.

The problem was the Empire's Arch Mage who was hiding in the gap and had bound him.

‘Is there no other way?’

The power of the Magic Tower reached this place, albeit weakly.

A warp stone was hidden just in case.

‘I need to lure him that way…….’

Just then.

Fwoosh.

From not too far away, two men appeared with a wave of mana.

“…….”

It didn't take long for him to realize that the location was the hidden warp stone he was supposed to use.

“What's this. Have they already made their move?”

A gruff voice that sounded like he was over forty.

As he swung the greatsword he carried on his back.

Crack.

The chains that had been binding Nox were easily broken.

“Looks like I came to the right place.”

The man with the greatsword stepped forward.

“Hmph~”

A man of large build in jet-black armor snorted.

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