Chapter 252. The Holy Kingdom (1)
Caron and his group had successfully infiltrated the Holy Kingdom.
On the third day since they first set foot in the Holy Kingdom, they finally arrived in a large village located in the northwestern region—Kirea Village. The streets were lively, with a good number of residents bustling about. And yet, beneath that surface, there lingered a palpable tension—an unease that words alone couldn't describe.
"It seems that places where people live always end up looking pretty similar," Leo commented.
"The culture might differ," Caron replied casually, "but at the core, it's all the same. People trying hard just to survive—that's all there is to it."
As Caron spoke, he scanned their surroundings, quietly gauging the atmosphere. The villagers' faces were stiff, taut with something unspoken. More than anything, it was the Holy Knights who stood out—riding on horseback, patrolling constantly. Compared to other nations, the level of surveillance here was excessive.
"This place is home to Kirea Church, which can be considered the heart of the diocese," Saintess Seria said as she glanced around the village with a conflicted expression. "It's only natural the Holy Knights would be so active here."
The reason they had chosen this place as their first destination was precisely because of Kirea Church.
"But are you really sure about this, Saintess?" Caron asked.
"...I can't say I'm certain," Seria admitted. "But this is the village I grew up in. The archbishop here... He was like a father to me when I was a child."
Caron and his group's objective was simple. It was to quickly consolidate power. The first step to any coup was gathering a force. Without allies, nothing could even begin.
The disfavored priests who had been pushed aside by the clergy of the Order of Truth—if they could rally those outcasts, they could march on the Holy Capital and shake the foundation of the kingdom.
Caron gave a slow nod, then said, "This is going to be fun."
"Fun? Why is that?" Saintess Seria asked.
"We're stabbing them in the back," Caron said, smiling. "That kind of thing always gives one a thrill. Don't you agree, Leon?"
"You just showed up planning to stir up chaos from the start, didn't you?" Leon replied dryly.
"That's correct," Caron said.
He had never held much fondness for fanatics. And the atrocities he'd witnessed in the Southern Great Forest only added fuel to the fire.
"Alright, let's review the plan," Caron said, his voice soft but firm. "Our goal is to infiltrate Kirea Church and bring the archbishop over to our side.
"In other words," he continued with a smirk, "We're turning this village into the source of an outbreak."
"Did you just compare us to a plague?" Leo asked.
"What better analogy is there?" Caron answered.
In a society gripped by surveillance and control, rebellion naturally brewed in the hearts of its people. Not everyone in the Holy Kingdom was a raving fanatic of the Order of Truth. At the end of the day, this too was a place where people lived.
As the ruling class prepared for war, they had squeezed every last drop from the citizens. Public sentiment had turned sour, and although that unrest was being suppressed with swords and iron fists, it was barely contained.
"All we need to do is light the match," Caron explained. "Give the people an alternative, and their resentment will make them rally to it on their own."
As always, getting the first piece into place was the hardest part. But if they could win over the archbishop, the rest would follow with far less effort.
Evading the eyes of the many patrolling knights, Caron's group moved quickly toward Kirea Church.
After some time passed, the Saintess quietly said, "There it is."
A towering structure with spires piercing the sky came into view. Compared to the modest look of the village, the church was opulent—almost gaudy.
"Looks more like a fortress than a church," Caron remarked honestly.
Saintess Seria nodded slightly, then said, "In times of crisis, the villagers need a place to evacuate to. So, it cannot be small."
"From here, we have two options," Caron said, his eyes sliding over to the Saintess. "We either walk straight through the front gate, bold as ever... or we use Pluto's ability to sneak in."
"Going through the front means revealing who we are entirely," Leo pointed out.
"Exactly," Caron replied.
"Then the second option is the only choice, isn't it?" Leo asked.
"Sometimes boldness pays off," Caron said. "But this is Saintess Seria's hometown, so we should let her decide."
Caron handed the choice to Seria without pressure. After a moment of hesitation, she said softly, "...Let's sneak in."
"Good call," Caron said. "We don't know what the situation in the church is."
After all, the Saintess was still being hunted by the inquisitors, so any sign of her presence would only bring more trouble.
"Do you trust this archbishop?" Caron asked.
Saintess Seria nodded without hesitation, then answered, "Of course. He's not the type to be swayed easily. Even the clergy of the Order of Truth don't dare touch him lightly."
"Why is that?" Caron asked.
"He's an old friend of His Holiness the Pope and is well-respected throughout the surrounding dioceses. And... He's quite a peculiar man," Saintess Seria answered.
"Hmm... It's not easy for a priest to be called peculiar," Caron remarked.
"You'll understand once you meet him. Who knows? You and Archbishop Mitas might actually get along," Saintess Seria replied.
At that response, Leo shuddered and said, "Anyone who gets along with Caron... Well, that says enough."
That meant Archbishop Mitas had to be insane.
"Come on, though. Realistically, no archbishop is going to be like Caron—" Leo continued.
"What? What's wrong with me?" Caron cut in.
"You know better than anyone," Leo said flatly.
"Enough nonsense. Come over here," Caron said.
Gathering his group close, he summoned Pluto.
Meow!
"I'm always grateful, Pluto," Caron said.
Pluto's ability was perfect for infiltration missions like this. Without it, everything would be far more annoying.
"I'm counting on you," Caron added.
Meow!
At Caron's command, a thick darkness spilled out from Pluto's body, swiftly enveloping the group.
As shadows cloaked them completely, Caron grinned and said, "Let's go meet this peculiar archbishop."
"...Caron," Leo muttered. "Every time we move using Pluto, I get motion sickness—"
"Leo," Caron interrupted.
"What?" Leo asked.
"If you have a problem with it, then break through the front gate yourself," Caron said coldly.
"...I'll just shut up," Leo muttered.
And just like that, Leo proved once again that silence was half the battle.
Moments later...
Whoosh.
They were pulled silently into the darkness.
***
Archbishop Mitas, the head of Kirea Church and Overseer of the Holy Kingdom's Third Diocese, was seated quietly in a pew, offering up a solemn prayer. His hair was as white as snow, seemingly a testament to his age.
He let out a sigh, heavy with frustration. He was frustrated that even as the Holy Kingdom spiraled into chaos, God merely looked on in silence.
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"O Light, where are You leading this kingdom?" Archbishop Mitas said, his voice low as he sought an answer.
No matter how fervently he prayed, however, there was never a reply. Only the hollow echo of his words bounced off the stone walls, as it always did.
Hands clasped, he remained in prayer for some time, wordless but unwavering.
Creak.
The sound of a door opening reached his ears. Slowly, Mitas rose from his seat. A gust of wind swept in, causing his black priestly robes to flutter.
He realized that it wasn't just the wind, but that someone had entered the chapel. It was a scent unfamiliar to this sacred space.
...Could it be an assassin? Mitas wondered. Perhaps it was a blade sent by them . So, he clenched his fist and turned slowly.
But what he saw and heard was far from what he'd expected.
"Archbishop," someone said. It was a voice Mitas knew well.
A woman cloaked in a robe walked toward him. As she approached, she pulled back her hood, revealing a strikingly beautiful face.
"...Saintess," Mitas remarked.
"It's been a long time. Have you... been well?" Seria asked.
"How are you here...?" Mitas asked.
The unexpected visitor was none other than Seria, the Saintess—who was currently wanted by the Holy Kingdom.
Mitas recalled the official edict that had arrived not long ago. It said that Saintess Seria had aligned herself with heretics and defiled the honor of the Holy Kingdom.
In other words, Seria was now considered a heretic, a criminal who was to be reported to the Vatican the moment she was found.
"Why... Why have you come here?" Mitas asked, the worry clear in his voice.
He had hoped Seria would never return to the Holy Kingdom. It was far too dangerous for her now, and Mitas truly cared for her.
"You've made a terribly foolish decision," Mitas said.
"This was my choice," Seria replied firmly.
"...What are you trying to do, Saintess Seria?" Mitas asked, then his gaze shifted to the figures behind her. "You brought intruders with you."
Three people stood behind the Saintess, all with their faces hidden.
"I brought them for the sake of the kingdom. Please, just hear me out—" Seria began, but was cut off.
"I'll listen to you later," Mitas interrupted.
Crunch.
A grotesque sound of twisting bones echoed through the chapel. In an instant, Mitas' frame transformed. The frail-looking, elderly priest was gone, and in his place stood a man with a physique radiating overwhelming strength. His black robes strained against bulging muscles, threatening to tear at the seams.
"Huh," one of the strangers let out a small gasp.
Mitas glared at the speaker and coldly said, "I don't know who you've brought, but you've made a grave mistake."
"Hey, old man, how about listening to the Saintess first?" the same stranger quipped.
"Those filled with hostility cannot receive the Light. Saintess, we'll speak later," Mitas said.
Whoosh!
A radiant light began gathering in Mitas' hand. He clenched his glowing fist and charged forward without hesitation.
Boom!
His massive fist slammed down with terrifying force.
A normal man would've been flattened instantly. But the man before him didn't budge. He met the blow head-on. Their fists collided with a thunderous crash that shook the entire chapel.
"...Man, old guys really have a temper. Why are the elders I meet always like this?" the stranger remarked, now revealing his face with a grin.
"You're a battle priest, aren't you?" the stranger added. "I've heard that the martial skills of battle priests from the Holy Kingdom are quite impressive."
"You didn't even flinch," Mitas noted.
"Well, I'm not really the type to get knocked around," the stranger replied.
"Then let's see how you handle this," Mitas said as he raised his other fist and brought it crashing down.
Boom!
The impact was so strong that, even though the stranger blocked it, his feet sank deep into the stone floor.
But the stranger didn't just take the hits.
Boom!
With a surge of mana, the stranger sent a shockwave exploding from his fist.
Mitas swiftly leaped backward, but his opponent didn't miss the opening.
Shing!
In a flash, the stranger drew his sword and swung it without hesitation. Its sinister dark blue blade shimmered under the chapel's lights.
Neck... Mitas thought. Then he swung his fist, coated in holy power, and deflected the strike.
Fists reinforced with holy power were tougher than steel.
"You deflected that with your fist? Didn't it hurt?" the stranger asked.
"Pain is something I can endure. Haha, the Saintess brought quite the amusing fellow. I think I know who you are now," Mitas said.
"If you guess correctly, I'll give you a prize," the stranger said, grinning.
A wielder of a dark blue sword who could take Mitas' punches head-on... There was only one person who matched both conditions.
"Caron Leston," Mitas said.
"Oh, bingo," Caron replied with a smirk. He then asked, "Are all archbishops as strong as you?"
Mitas gave a dry chuckle, then answered, "If they were, we'd be ruling the continent by now, wouldn't we?"
"Can't say I'm convinced you'd take over the whole continent," Caron said, "but since you got it right, I'll give you your prize."
Whoosh!
Caron channeled mana into his blade, Guillotine. It began to emit a sinister hum, the air around it distorting.
"It seems like you're testing me," Caron said. "So I'll show you something for real. Oh, and just so you know, I don't care if someone's old or young. If you hit me first, I hit back properly."
"Sounds like your family raised you well!" Mitas shouted.
"Of course! Haha, I come from a pretty impressive family, you know?" Caron replied.
"Good. Come at me!" Mitas said.
The same glint that danced in Caron's eyes now flickered in Mitas' own as well.
Leo and Leon instinctively tensed.
That Archbishop's just as crazy as Caron, Leon thought.
They found each other somehow... Leo thought.
And moments later...
Boom!
The pillar of the chapel came crashing down.