Chapter 97
Ami is leading the army into Dortmund.
Dortmund, already in an uproar due to the incident involving Frikkanrisk and Craine, is now shaking even more.
Though barely controlled by heroes, clergymen, and soldiers, panic has set in, with many hoarding items in fear.
It’s not common for an archbishop to attack a major city.
Of course, they were unpredictable monsters, but that’s how history has played out.
The 3,500 enemy soldiers might not sound like a huge number, but what’s terrifying is their overwhelming breeding capability, even more terrifying than their strength.
The priest-level Altife, capable of using people as hosts for their offspring, instilled great fear in the citizens.
Rumors are circulating that six nearby villages have already suffered from their wrath.
Naturally, the community has prioritized individuals over families, and families over community.
Due to all the chaos, Craine’s execution was postponed. He is now imprisoned in the church’s dungeon in Dortmund during the ongoing war.
I can understand Frikkanrisk’s desire to decide his fate quickly, but this is not the right time.
I, too, silently observed Dortmund’s war preparations, trying to gauge the situation.
… Thus, the Dortmund branch of the church, faced with an emergency, called for Helion’s team. Finn and I joined them.
“Dortmund is facing an unprecedented crisis. An evil horde reeking of hatred and the stench of blood sharpens its fangs in threat.”
Colored light from towering stained glass illuminates the church’s interior.
Various pictures representing the colossal, sacred tree Yggdrasil and the warriors protecting it, alongside the first magician, are lavishly displayed.
Inside the church.
Warriors affiliated with Dortmund line both the long nave and side aisle as if in a hallway.
At the forefront, before the chancel and altar, stand Helion and his team. Finn and I kneel on one knee, listening to the words that follow.
The calm yet resolute voice of the branch’s head, the Holy King, echoes through the church.
“I, the Holy King of Dortmund, hereby command Archbishop Clemens, Helion, and his team.”
The Holy King of Dortmund tapped his staff, engraved with the symbol of Yggdrasil, twice on the ground. This was a pre-ritual before assigning heroes their missions.
“Protect Dortmund from Archbishop Ami and her army.”
The clear instructions reverberated.
The commands of the branch kings and the Holy Emperor, central to the continent, are absolute. The heroes must follow them without question.
Think of it as a fusion of military and religion, and it becomes clear.
Helion and his team promptly showed their acceptance. Their heads still bowed, they displayed no dissatisfaction with the command.
After exchanging a few more words regarding the war’s details and procedures, our names, Finn and I, were then mentioned.
After a few more words exchanged through the channel of procedure, the names of me and Finn came up.
“Students of Academia, Schugenharz Troa Vargan and Toylen Troa Finn, please choose.”
It sounded similar to the context with Frikkanrisk earlier.
The students’ participation was deemed too risky for this battlefield. It would be a shame for those who have not fully developed their talents to lose their lives.
The Holy King asked us a question.
Whether we would participate in this war or not.
At the same time, he referred to the situation with Frikkanrisk.
“The contribution of the young heroes to Dortmund has been significant. Restoring the relationship with the Twelve Divine Beasts’ Frikkanrisk and revealing the false accusations against him. Even exposing the wrongdoings of Craine means no one would blame our heroes.”
In short, even if we chose to step back, there would be no repercussions. If we lacked confidence, we could hold back for now and allow our talents to bloom in the future.
Moreover, according to the words exchanged in private, it was said that if Finn and I were recognized for our contributions in this matter, we would receive due rewards upon returning to the Central Church.
Even for the sake of receiving this without issues, staying quiet wouldn’t be a bad option.
But… I couldn’t be satisfied with just that.
I still hadn’t obtained Ami’s Judgment Weapon.
Besides, what could be more pathetic than fleeing from a battlefield where victory is assured? It was a chance to easily elevate glory alongside Helion.
The Holy King’s questioning came to an end. A moment of silence hung in the air.
Now it was our turn to respond.
My voice thundered like in a cave.
“I, Schugenharz’s third son. Schugenharz Troa Vargan.”
I subtly lifted my head to look at the Holy King’s feet. Showing at least basic courtesy is a noble’s duty.
“For the glory of the Church and for Dortmund. I shall serve in this battlefield. This is my declaration.”
Of course, Finn felt the same.
*
After notifying the Church of our participation, Finn and I followed Helion to the armory of Dortmund Church.
It wasn’t as large as Academia, but the overall quality was higher.
What we received at Academia were practice weapons, so that was to be expected.
While admiring the dazzling array of weapons, Finn asked Helion.
“Is it really okay to take any of these?”
“Yes, usually it entails a much more complicated process, but for students Finn and Vargan, given the situation with Frikkanrisk and the sudden call to participate, the procedures have been simplified.”
Of course, it was still a loan rather than a gift, but it showed a willingness to make a gesture of goodwill.
In truth, for me, since various weapons were within White and as this wasn’t the Central Church, it wouldn’t have anything useful, so it wasn’t that captivating.
But for Finn, who had been carrying around practice weapons from Academia, this was not a bad deal.
“Hmmm.”
Finn and I surveyed the weapons, looking for something to pick. However, nothing particularly caught our eye.
While the condition and quality were decent, they fell short compared to what I already possessed.
I didn’t even use the weapons from within White for training, so seeking something here seemed pointless.
As I pondered this, Helion approached and tilted his head.
“Looks like you don’t find anything you like?”
“To be honest, yes. Since it’s just a loan, I’m not that interested.”
“Since anything not personally delivered by a hero is considered communal property of the Church, I’m afraid I can’t gift you anything.”
“I understand. It’s just that I’m not seeing anything suitable… Hmm?”
As I continued my conversation with Helion while examining the weapons, I spotted an ancient-looking dagger.
Its storage condition was dreadful.
While the others shimmered as if polished just yesterday, that one seemed to have been pulled from a grave, not even having the rust removed.
It seems the book hasn’t removed the rust as it is.
I pick up the dagger and examine its condition.
Like all armies, the condition of the equipment is never really good, but this one is over the top. There must be a specific reason for this…
It’s highly likely that this is a relic with a specific power.
When I perform the purification task, the imbued energy could get tangled. Or it might be too fragile to remove the rust. Nah, if that were the case, they would have kept it away from contact with the air.
In any case, if this were an ordinary rusted weapon with no magic on it, it wouldn’t be stored at the church, so this must be a relic.
“Choosing something unusual, huh?”
As I subtly insert mana while analyzing, Helion asks. Truly, he has a keen interest in everything I do.
“I’m curious about what kind of characteristics it has.”
“It’s best not to expect too much. The fact that these weapons aren’t stored separately means they are at most Grade 3 relics.”
He’s right.
If it were something rare or valuable, they wouldn’t allow such easy loans. I’m not expecting much either. I’m just curious.
As the mana I let flow returns, the analysis results appear.
As expected, it’s a Grade 3 relic with a fixed amount of mana inside. It will break after just a few more uses.
The effect is… Ah, it seems to help with curse removal.
“It seems like a useless item for Vargan.”
“…That’s true.”
At my lukewarm response, Helion asks, puzzled.
“Does that mean you like it?”
“It has a significantly high output despite its extremely limited uses. If it had just a bit more mana, it would surely be a higher-grade relic, which I find intriguing.”
It’s impossible to imbue mana into a consumable relic.
The mana ring I used to capture Zagan last time was a consumable relic too. But its effectiveness is assured.
I ask Helion.
“Helion, what happens if a rented weapon gets destroyed for some reason?”
“It varies depending on the situation, but mostly it’s overlooked. It’s not just any incident; it’s something that happened during a fierce battle with Altife.”
Realizing that I intend to choose this relic, Helion reveals the truth. He doesn’t lie about such matters.
“I’ll go with this dagger.”
Even if that relic is damaged through this war.
*
At the middle of the snowy mountain, a bit away from Dortmund.
In that pure white place, the winter dragon, Frikkanrisk, looks down at the battlefield where the winds of blood will soon blow.
If one merely saw this scene, it would resemble a beautiful young woman stepping barefoot on the snow, like a picture.
“Ami….”
Her delicate brows wrinkle as she calls out the name of the one leading Altife from afar.
The deep voice filled with rage harbors a desire to fly over and snap his neck right then and there.
But one, it’s impossible.
Even as a Divine Beast, her power alone isn’t enough. Acting independently would deviate from the covenant established in the Cardinal contract with a human named Vargan.
“……”
The memory of that day quickly shifts back to when she made the pact with Vargan.
⎯I will help you with your revenge.
That human said.
Even if she wanted to be angry about what an ignorant human was saying, she couldn’t muster the anger.
The name he called, Iris.
She knows her true name.
That alone made it impossible to carelessly disregard the existence of the human named Vargan.
Could it be that Aintern disclosed this during his lifetime? A moment of doubt fleetingly crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.
⎯You know very well that your husband, Aintern, is not a light-mouthed man. It’s unfortunate about Craine, but wasn’t it Craine who acted rudely?
Where on earth does this knowledge come from?
How does he know this?
Is he giving off vibes of hostility towards Craine while actually being an ally?
He spoke as if reading her thoughts. Clearly, he was skilled at reading expressions.
⎯I know the future.
What?
You know the future?
So, you mean to tell me this slippery human is a saint?
Despite having seen and heard many saints throughout her life, she listened as he revealed the power to visualize thoughts.
⎯At any given time, there have always been two saints. Except for those figures who were intentionally kept under wraps to maintain the status of a saint within the Church, it has always been this way.
The public believes that saints manifest as one or two individuals, but that is actually incorrect.
There are always two saints.
If one of them dies or has just lost their power, there may be a gap of a few years, but like a law, two saints always appear.
However, contrary to common sense, the power of a saint is not necessarily bestowed only upon devout individuals aligned with the Church.
Additionally, it is said that to awaken the power of a saint, one must receive baptism from the Church, but that is also wrong.
Sometimes, even a back-alley thug can receive this power, or a notorious murderer.
Thus, if power is granted to an unworthy individual, the Church will either kill them or, if they believe there’s potential for awakening, will make them operate from the shadows.
The only known saint at the moment is Saint Diphelia.
She considered the possibility that there was another saint, one who was either active soon or quietly.
⎯I aim to save you.
He claimed to have seen a future where she perishes and that he had stepped up to prevent it. Apparently, Aintern witnessed the scene where he called her by name.
Honestly, she was skeptical.
However, that man was so charmingly persuasive that listening to him naturally made her nod along and even feel hope.
The thoughts reflected in her eyes also weren’t spitting out lies. If he’d been deceitful, no matter how skilled he was, his background would have turned dark, but it didn’t.
He naturally delved into her hidden wounds and offered a remedy, saying he would show her how to heal them.
Until he writes her name in the cardinal’s contract. No, even now, she couldn’t completely shake her suspicion.
She decided to trust in the efficacy of the contract rather than humanity.
She despised those from the Goddess Church equally, but the cardinal’s power was real.
No matter if it was the power of the Twelve Divine Beasts or even the might of the strongest curse, if violated, one would meet a swift demise.
Through Beled’s contract, they aimed to achieve their mutual goals. The conditions she proposed were:
Rescue and protection of the child.
Authority over Craine’s punishment.
These were the two. Moreover, he claimed the value of trust and even offered to clear her name, which he accomplished quite easily.
……
For some reason, a lingering unease akin to having made a pact with the devil was in the air.
Even if everything flowed smoothly, she couldn’t shake the feeling that destruction awaited.
But.
Even so.
“If I can protect my child.”
He moved according to the contract.
Now it was her turn.
The appearance of Frikkanrisk gradually transformed as the flashback ended.
What had once been a beautiful woman now donned ice armor and spread massive wings to become a dragon.
The Winter Dragon.
The true form of Frikkanrisk among the Twelve Divine Beasts.
Wings that ought to be called majestic spread out wide, stirring the air.
Gliding.
With a single flap, a blizzard arose from where she had been standing below.
She steadies herself once more.
The great dragon heads toward the battlefield.
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