Chapter 158 Demonic Front (1)
Somewhere where sunlight doesn’t reach.
Around a stone table prepared in a dark space, people in black clothes were talking.
“Archbishop Arteklas, Archbishop Catoleas, and then Archbishop Munheisen… … .”
“I can’t believe it. Out of the seven archbishops, three have already been killed.”
“This is the first time that so many archbishops have been victimized in one year.”
They were the ‘archbishops’, the head of the Black Heaven Demonic Cult, who were threatening the imperial society.
They were powerful people who took the elixir ‘Soma’ to the limit and reached the peak of the graduate level, and were the absolute strongmen who subjugated the demons with their mighty power.
But now their expressions were quite dark.
This was because news came that Archbishop Catoleas, who had been infiltrating the imperial palace, had fallen, and Archbishop Munhaizen, who had been linked with the Duke of Yusbast, had collapsed.
That too, by a youngster named Ernas Landstein.
“When Archbishop Munheisen inspected the site of his last battle, there were traces of a sharp chill sweeping through it.”
The one who said that was a woman in her early to mid-twenties, Archbishop Charnard, who oversees information collection for the Dark Heaven Demonic Cult.
He has a youthful appearance and is actually the youngest among the people here, but his actual age is much older than he appears.
“Ferdinand, who inherited Cervest’s white-fire swordsmanship, went back to the academy for recuperation. Ferdinand couldn’t have been there, so we should think that Aernas inherited Kervest’s white-fire swordsmanship.”
A woman with wrinkles on her face said with her arms crossed.
She was Archbishop Jenula, who was in charge of the finances of the Black Heaven Demonic Cult, and was the oldest among the three present.
“That Aernas… Something is strange. Aren’t you also taking Soma? Elixir alone wouldn’t be able to get that kind of power.”
A middle-aged man with a grim appearance frowned.
He was Archbishop Polka, who was in charge of security for the headquarters of the Black Heaven Demonic Cult, and was a man with a body as big as a mountain.
“If Aernas had really taken the powerful Soma, he would have obtained it when he raided the stronghold of Archbishop Arteklas.”
“Did Archbishop Arteklas have such a strong soma? It seems that the current Aernas possesses the same magical power as the Archbishop of Catoleas.”
“Isn’t it that someone is making their own Soma somewhere?”
When the three of us, Archbishop Charnard, Archbishop Genula, and Archbishop Polka, were having a serious conversation.
A calm voice came from the darkness.
“I think it is unlikely that Ernas took Soma.”
“… … !”
A long-haired man with a white face approached slowly.
Heukcheon Demonic Cult’s technology development supervisor… It was Archbishop Alberich.
“Archbishop Alberich, what do you mean by that?”
“Archbishop Charnard would know. That Professor Ferdinand of the Academy was promoting the restoration of ‘Amrita’.”
“ah… … !”
The ancient elixir ‘Amrita’ that has already been lost.
If the restoration was successful, it would be able to reach the climax even at Aernas’ age.
“If it’s just that you have magical powers that surpass that of Archbishop Catoleas… It would be difficult just by taking Amrita. They may have improved Amrita or used some other method.”
“So, didn’t you get soma from somewhere and take it?”
Alberich shook his head at Archbishop Polka’s words.
“If I had gained that much strength by taking Soma, it would have been evident somewhere. However, judging from what has been said so far, there is nothing suspicious about it.”
“Hmm… … .”
“I’m sure there are some unknowns we don’t know about, but you’d better stop thinking of them as Aernas’ weaknesses.”
If Aernas, the heir to the Landstein family and candidate for Grand Duke of Liechtenau, took Soma, it would be a huge problem.
If you don’t do it, you could be accused of being a sympathizer of the Black Heaven Demonic Cult and be purged from the empire.
If this happens, it’s like blowing your nose without touching it, which is nice for the Dark Heaven Demonic Cult… As of now, there is no sign of that.
“Rather than that, I think it would be better to pay attention to the trend of the Lichtenau Knights.”
“The Knights of Lichtenau… … .”
said Archbishop Jennula, arms crossed.
“Archbishop Alberich, do you really think they are coming down south to search Jusbast’s estate?”
“You can’t just trust that. It will be an excuse to deceive others.”
“Yes, there is no reason to cooperate with the Agrippa family and the Schreyer family just to search for Yusbast’s territory.”
Currently, the Knights of Liechtenau are descending south under the command of Aernas.
Although they claim to be searching for traces of the Black Heaven Demonic Cult in the territory of Yusbast, in reality, they are stronger than when fighting masters of swordsmanship.
“Aernas… He might know the location of the headquarters here.”
“… … .”
There was a moment of silence at Jenula’s remarks.
No one knew how the location of the headquarters, which had been kept hidden for so long, was leaked.
“Either Aernas knows the exact location of this place, or only the approximate direction… We can’t just sit still and breathe.”
Alberich said in a calm voice.
“Following Archbishop Catoleas, Archbishop Munheizen was also defeated. If we leave Aernas alone any longer, we will suffer.”
“then… … .”
“For the annihilation of Aernas and the Knights of Liechtenau… Let’s rise up.”
The eyes of the other three also changed at Alberich’s remarks.
This does not mean conspiring secretly here and there, as in the past, but to start a war in earnest by raising an army.
Originally, it was planned to rise after the emperor died and the entire empire fell into further chaos, but the situation is such that it has no choice but to move forward.
“Now I can move.”
“If the decision had been made sooner, Archbishop Munheisen would not have been killed either.”
Jenula and Charnard put on faces of delight.
But Polka frowned and asked Alberich a question.
“Alberich, is this in accordance with the will of the Patriarch?”
“What do you mean?”
“It was the policy that the Patriarch himself instructed us to rise up after making the imperial society as chaotic as possible.”
Polka asked, glaring at Alberich.
“Is it really in line with the will of the Patriarch to rise up at this timing?”
“Archbishop Polka, then, would it be right for you to wait quietly at the headquarters?”
Alberich asked back to Polka.
“What if I leave Aernas alone and completely dominate the empire as the Grand Duke of Lichtenauer? Will the timing we want come?”
“that… … .”
“It is also dangerous to operate outside operations to create chaos. Like Archbishop Catoleas or Archbishop Munheisen, he could get caught by Aernas and run away.”
“… … .”
“Besides, if Aernas is heading south to directly attack the headquarters… We have to fight anyway.”
Polka fell silent at Alberich’s explanation.
Seeing that face, Alberich smiled.
“Patriarch Polka, anyway, if the Patriarch were here right now, he would have made the same judgment.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. You know something about the Patriarch.”
“At least we’ve been together longer than anyone else here.”
“Funny. You just do everything to the Patriarch who is sleeping in a glass coffin… … .”
After uttering such a harsh voice, Polka shook her head and sighed.
“No, it is. If I say things like this to the person who is doing the most for the Patriarch here, I’m getting dirty.”
“It’s all right, Archbishop Polka.”
“… … .”
Instead of Polka, who had kept her mouth shut, Janula opened her mouth.
“Archbishop Alberich, what is the condition of the Patriarch?”
“Very well, Archbishop Jennula.”
“Maybe you better hurry.”
Janula frowned and said.
“If they invade the headquarters… You may need to wake the Patriarch before the ‘ritual’ is complete.”
“It shouldn’t be when that happens.”
Alberich said with a bitter expression.
“so… We must all do our best to defeat the Knights of Aernas and Lichtenauer.”
“… … .”
The other three also nodded at Alberich’s words.
“Then, Archbishop Alberich.”
Charnard looked at Alberich and asked.
“Are you using the power we prepared?”
“Yes, of course.”
Alberich nodded.
“It is an all-out war. You don’t have to move secretly… Let’s go big.”
A cruel smile appeared on Alberich’s well-groomed face.
“For nobles who have only fought honorable battles between swordsmen, it will be a bit of a tough fight.”
* * *
The Knights of Lichtenau quickly covered the southern regions.
Since it was an order of knights organized by order of the emperor and the operation activities were approved by the Cabinet Council, no one stood in their way.
Rather, it was a situation in which large and small families were scrambling to support supplies.
“It’s a huge difference from when we first advanced to the south.”
“At that time, we were hostile to the Schreyer family, so fights broke out everywhere we went.”
While checking the supply documents, Serine and Chloe had a conversation.
Currently, the two were serving as the closest advisors to Aernas, the knight commander.
“Now, the Schreyer family is also cooperative with us… We can go all the way to the southern periphery without difficulty.”
“Hearing words like that makes me want to interrupt, Serine.”
Then, Berithlyze approached, sweeping her golden hair.
She had left the academy before, but was now participating in the Knights of Lichtenau as the representative of the Schreier family.
“Aren’t you thinking too much? The Dark Heaven Demonic Cult won’t just sit there and watch us move south.”
“Yeah… Yes.”
“Already Aernas-nim mentioned that possibility.”
If the Black Heaven Demonic Cult noticed that the real purpose of this operation was to attack the headquarters, they would definitely try to stop it.
“We’re also preparing in our own way, so you don’t have to worry, Berithrisse.”
“Heh, well.”
Berithlyze crossed her arms and said.
“If they mobilize all their remaining forces and launch an all-out war, it might be quite dangerous.”
“Even if we wage an all-out war… There are probably three or four archbishops left now.”
Serene said while pointing her finger.
“Right now, there are four top performers. And one of them… It’s Ernasgo.”
Leader, Aernas.
Vice-captain, Brantley.
1st unit commander, Valentiano.
2nd Division Commander, Angela.
In this way, four of them are currently at the peak of the graduates who are participating in the Knights of Lichtenau.
As long as there were four peaks, I wouldn’t be afraid of archbishops appearing in groups.
“Serine, war isn’t just for the best.”
“I know that. However, considering the fight against the Demonic Cult so far, the regular combat priests weren’t that threatening. Rather, the graduates of various prestigious families… … .”
Right then.
A scout’s whistle was heard from the south.
Hearing the sound, the three of them stopped working and moved quickly.
“Aernas!”
Aernas was already on the high ground and looking south.
Celine, Chloe, and Berithlyse, who had approached Aernas, held their breath as they saw the scene unfolding to the south.
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“I-that… what is it?”
A large army was coming from the south.
However, their appearance was far from that of ordinary humans.
It was because the whole body was huge and bloated in an ugly way.
It looked more like an orc or an ogre than a human.
“They are the magicians.”
“Aernas, are those demonic cults?”
“Yes, they are the Demonic Cultists who mutated by feeding them specially made somas in the Black Heaven Demonic Cult.”
Aernas said in a hard voice.
“Archbishop Alberich… Is it like this here too?”
“yes?”
“Serine, prepare the commanders for battle. Think of it as a fight against a monster, not a human, and tell them to prepare.”
After giving Serine instructions, Aernas turned his gaze to Chloe.
“Chloe evacuated the people who delivered supplies. Getting caught up in a fight is a headache.”
“all right. We should just leave the supplies behind.”
“And Berithlyze, you… Call Vice-captain Brantley.”
“Aernas, what are you thinking?”
Aernas turned his gaze to the south again at Berisrize’s question.
“There must be someone who controls the demonic cults who have turned into monsters like that. Perhaps the Archbishop.”
“The Archbishop?”
“We must quickly break through the enemy lines and defeat the archbishop. I’ve talked to Vice-Captain Brantly beforehand, so he’ll come running right away.”
“… … !”
Everyone held their breath at the words of Aernas, who seemed to have predicted that such a battle would take place.
“Archbishop Alberich… It doesn’t matter what strategy you have prepared.”
Staring south, Aernas spoke in a calm voice.
“Because I’m going to break them all down and rush into the headquarters.”
Set in the southern plains… A full-scale battle with the Black Heaven Demonic Cult has begun.