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Episode 214: The Eve of the Storm (3)
The air turned cold with just one word.
The nobles watched the meeting with astonished eyes. In particular, the face of the one in question, Prince Valgna, froze like a plaster statue.
Matapju looked at the royal bloodlines with a cold gaze.
Valgna parted her lips with difficulty.
“Archbishop Joseph. What is that…….”
“Still can’t figure out what’s going on?”
Joseph took a wad of paper out of his bosom and threw it.
It was a record of the casualties caused by this undead incident. It was also made directly by the kingdom and sent to the Luas Church.
“There were hundreds of casualties in the diocese. Bishop Neviron and Bishop Feldarin were among them, and most of the other victims had their organs torn to pieces. The number is even higher in the kingdom as a whole.”
More than 7,000 people have been killed or missing in the South.
Because the corpses of the dead were all turned into undead, the damage increased rapidly because there were so many of them, and even stronger undead appeared.
And that's not all.
Tens of thousands of citizens have been injured, lost their homes, and are in despair over the deaths of their family members. Even now, the sound of their wailing can be heard.
Even the southern granary is contaminated with the spirit of death, and food shortages are certain. If the Luas Church does not carry out purification work, it may last a lifetime.
I just can't help but laugh.
If you understand even a little bit of its seriousness and pain, you shouldn't laugh.
“But Your Majesty, you never spare a smile to please me. Surely you do not think that you have fulfilled your duty by cutting off the heads of the nobles who are nothing more than the tail?”
“A tail, that’s…….”
“Lord of the Tower.”
He interrupted.
Joseph bowed his head slightly to Matapju.
“As a reference, I would like to ask for your advice.”
“That’s simple.”
A red light flowed out from the staff of the Matapju.
An eerie magic that chilled the spine. Six heads emerged from the pouch and floated into the air. Their mouths gaped open as they began to rot.
Death whispered.
“Tell me about your feelings from when you were alive.”
The severed heads opened their eyes.
Knock knock. His jaw started to move.
[I want to live, I want to live!]
[My property! Give it back!]
[I am a noble! I mean a noble!]
[Aaaaaaaaaa]
[It's unfair… … I'm unfair… … .]
[Why do I have to die! Why!]
The cries of the dead poured out.
It was a bizarre and horrifying sight. Several high-ranking nobles who had never seen the undead before stepped back in horror.
The top priest asked the fifth and sixth heads.
“What are you guys so upset about?”
[I, I was just following orders… … .]
[I wasn't the only one who ran away! He also abandoned the people and ran away! But he wasn't executed because he gave too much bribe!]
“Who is that person?”
At that question, both heads shouted at the same time.
[Count Chedienne!]
A clear name was called.
Everyone's eyes turned to the right. Count Chedienne's face, which was dripping with cold sweat, turned pale.
“I, I……! So……!”
“Do you still intend to say no, Your Majesty?”
The archbishop's eyes stared straight at the throne.
Valgna opened his mouth.
I wanted to say something, but I just couldn't.
Denying the facts is no different from doubting the abilities of the Matapju, and admitting them will only lead to responsibility and a worsening of the atmosphere in the talks.
The six heads went back into the pocket.
There was silence.
As Valgna continued to hesitate to answer, the Archbishop said:
“The original format of this meeting should have been a meeting, but since Your Majesty does not seem to have any intention of doing so, I will, as instructed by the ‘Saint’, convey the demands of the Luasian Church as one of the seven archbishops.”
Parish reconstruction costs, fully compensated.
Consolation money for the families of deceased church members.
Providing materials and manpower needed for the purification operation in the southern part of the kingdom.
I do not expect prayers that are not in your heart.
It was a more practical demand. The kingdom had been avoiding interference from the Luasians because of their power, so it was like a punishment to the royal family and nobles.
Valgnagna bit his molars.
'Fuck, fuck… … !'
The price is astronomical.
It seems that the Luas Church is planning to exert influence over the kingdom. It must be rejected outright, but… … the one who is being pushed is Valgnar himself.
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Moreover, the name of the saint was even mentioned. This meant that the transcendent being of the Luas Church was watching this situation.
'I need time to think. I have to reduce the amount somehow… …!'
There is no other way.
Yeah, that's the best.
Valgna said.
“……We need time to discuss this.”
“I refuse.”
The moment you leave the audience room, the meeting is over.
Joseph gave no room for any argument. He was just straight and firm.
“Ugh…….”
Valgna looked to the side, cornered.
I wanted Leonil, the strongest man in the kingdom, to do something… … but it was no use. Leonil just lowered his head and looked at the magic tower master.
The logic of power.
Transcendent and Archbishop.
The kingdom was weak in front of just two people.
There was no choice from the beginning.
“I will accept the demands of the Luas Church……”
The one entrusted with the kingship bowed his head.
He couldn't even properly say what he had prepared and all he could do was nod to the announcement from the Luas Church.
This concluded the talks.
There was no longer any reason to remain in the audience room.
Joseph's head turned to the side.
“Marquis of Esperance.”
“Yes, Archbishop.”
“Now that the meeting is over, it would be best to move on to the next schedule.”
As previously announced, to the Marquis' mansion.
“I will guide you right away.”
After the Marquis paid his respects to the First Prince, he personally opened the door to the audience room.
“Then let’s go, Your Majesty. Let’s go, Lord Matap.”
Joseph turned around and walked away.
The golden cross, the symbol of the Luasian faith, fluttered on his robes. The power of the world religion was not something the decaying kingdom could endure.
“…….”
Matapju narrowed his eyes.
Starting with Leonil, the 1st Prince, 2nd Prince, 3rd Prince… … Although they are supported by the kingdom, they are beings of no interest to him.
But the first princess, Silis.
She was different, sitting like a doll.
Appearances are deceptive.
Beyond the platinum eyes, a soul is seen, capable of causing vast death, which only the Understander of Death can perceive.
“……That’s interesting.”
It was good that you came.
The necromancer followed Joseph with a smile on his face.
Kuung.
A closing door.
… … .
Leonil raised his head in the quiet audience room.
'Fucking Transcendent… …!'
The moment the magic tower appeared, I couldn't do anything.
Just facing it was scary. The oppressive feeling brought about a deep sense of helplessness.
6th tier wizard, Leonil.
If he ascends to the 7th level, he will meet the qualifications of a transcendent being, like the Magic Tower Lord.
The gap is only one step.
But it was also a gap that could never be narrowed, because Leonel had already reached the limit of the hierarchy.
but.
'Once the experiment is complete, I too… … !'
Leonie clenched her fists tightly.
The culmination of decades of experimentation.
It was within arm's reach. I couldn't give up, no matter who got in my way.
I will complete it no matter what.
It will go up like that.
In the ranks of the absolute rulers of the world.
Leonie looked at the spot where the magic tower had disappeared, dreaming of himself soon being in that position.
* * *
The road to the king's mansion was peaceful.
Even though the Archbishop's cold attitude toward the kingdom was still unknown, and even though Matapju was hiding his presence, no one approached him.
And there is even a quiet road where carriages can pass easily.
It was the result of the advance planning of the Marquis of Esperance.
This kind of detailed hospitality was the most basic of the basics.
After arriving at the mansion, the two were guided to the reception room.
He quickly figured out their tastes and brought out snacks that matched their tastes. They were special snacks that the Marquis had personally brought in, prepared just for that day.
Fortunately, it was well received.
Now it was time to begin the three-way meeting.
As the Marquis left the audience room, Kalia was the first to enter.
Joseph smiled kindly at her stiff appearance as she greeted him politely.
“There is no need to be nervous, Miss Kalia. We have not come here to accuse you of wrongdoing, but to express our gratitude for the sacrifice you have made and to hear about the situation.”
“Ah…… Thank you, thank you for your words.”
“Please sit comfortably and don’t feel pressured.”
Kalia sat down carefully.
In particular, I swallowed my saliva at the sight of the transcendent being. Sweat formed on the hands placed on my thighs.
No matter how much the Tower Master tried to hide his power, he couldn't help feeling the invisible pressure from his position.
In the midst of such tension, Joseph opened his mouth.
“Then let me ask you. The group of black magicians called Corpse Glory. When did you first come into contact with them?”
* * *
To the Archbishop's questions, Kalia answered only with facts.
Although he occasionally stuttered, he was calmer than expected. Kalia praised herself.
Finally, the questions ended.
Joseph nodded, organizing the information in his head.
“Thank you for your hard work, Miss Kalia. You speak so eloquently. Thanks to you, I was able to understand the situation as if I was seeing it with my own eyes.”
“Thank you, Archbishop……!”
“We will discuss the reward for your efforts and achievements later. So, would you please call that Asher?”
“Oh, yes! I’ll bring it right away.”
Kalia bowed her head and went straight outside.
Hearing the sound of footsteps receding, Joseph asked Matapju.
“The Three Princes and the Black Magician are in collusion. What do you think about this?”
“It’s not collusion, it’s exploitation.”
widely.
Matapju put down his teacup.
“The undead legion that appeared in the southern part of the kingdom was created by the 7th-tier black magic, <March of the Dead>. It is unknown whether they used some kind of magical item or if there are black magicians of that level, but they are definitely a group that cannot be ignored. Why would they consider the likes of the 3rd prince to be their equal?”
“So you’re saying that there’s no information that can be obtained by questioning the Three Princes?”
“It’ll just be a waste of time. But do you really need a clue?”
“……What does that mean?”
“The will left by the black magician Nosaran is, ‘On the day the great corpse appears again in this world, the immortal world will come.’ You know very well what the great corpse means, don’t you? It is one of the pieces of history that the Luas Church has personally erased.”
Joseph did not answer.
The taboos established by the church must not be revealed no matter what happens.
One silence was also an affirmation.
“The appearance of powerful dark magicians who disappeared hundreds of years ago. The reason they came to the kingdom was probably to find the ‘sealed body fragments’ that disappeared long ago. And the fact that they disappeared again means that they achieved their goal.”
“…….”
“I will also recognize you as the leader of Dark Warton’s Tower. So you too, keep a close eye on the sealed body fragments that the church is managing. The moment those corpses are resurrected, the continent will be engulfed in war once again.”
“……Thank you for the advice.”
Joseph nodded heavily.
Matapju picked up the candy.
A rapidly changing world. It was a great stimulus to the necromancer who understood that death was what the living feared the most.
He smiled slightly and said that it was really good that he came to see me in person.
dripping.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Joseph gave his permission.
Finally, the door opened and an ashen-haired wizard appeared. He bowed deeply to the two.
“My name is Asher the Wizard.”
Verden introduced himself briefly.
'The Transcendent and the Archbishop.'
Kalia said that it was hard to even look them in the eye. Of course, that would be expected since they are close to the top of the world.
Anyway, this was the most important thing.
The fact that he was facing a new transcendent being and a magic tower lord, other than the Bohemian magic tower lord, meant a lot to Verden, as he was able to know his current position.
I slowly raised my head with such anticipation and tension.
The moment I made eye contact with Matapju.
Bam.
The top hat dropped the candy.
Eyes that were closer to astonishment than surprise turned to Verden.