Praise the Light (End)

"Once this war is over, there should be no more opponents for me in the Andara Kingdom."

On Rhino Horn Mountain, Ryan said this, which made Avril, who was next to him, widen her eyes in a daze, completely puzzled.

She didn't want to ask, but Ryan really wanted to show off.

"The political struggles that the nobles are so proud of are always full of fun. I can't compete with them, but I have a lot of history to learn from and a lot of ideas to pursue in Pegasus."

"This is my advantage. We are all nobles, so let's play by the rules of the Game of Nobles."

"I didn't do anything. I just told that Mages that Daryl of the Andara Kingdom had become Legendary and could help him block the Mute Ascetics from the Church."

"I only told him this one thing."

"And then... Nyx Columbus died."

"Our esteemed His Majesty the Emperor must be even more furious than at the death of Marquis of Northwind, right?"

Ryan sat smiling in his chair, looking at the sky outside. The weather was getting colder, and the Frozen Earth Territory, which had finally warmed up for a while, was about to usher in another cold winter.

Avril pondered Ryan's words for a long time, then asked stiffly, puzzled:

"Will that Nyx become your opponent?"

She didn't understand, but she knew very well that Nyx ' death was definitely related to Ryan, and he would only tell her this. Thinking of this, Avril couldn't help but smile.

Ryan has many secrets, and she can sense when those secrets are shared—that's her skill.

"He may not, but he is the ambassador of the Florian Empire to the Andara Kingdom, and also the bishop of the Faith of Light's branch in the Andara Kingdom."

"He represents the Empire's attitude and rules in the Andara Kingdom."

"He holds the power to oppose me."

Ryan's smile faded. Was this the allure of power? Was this the beauty of the endless debates among the nobles?

"This land is cold enough; there shouldn't be a second leader to take away the last bit of warmth that is needed to fight against the Northlands."

"But..."

Avril said, seemingly understanding but not quite:

"His Majesty the Emperor will still send new members of the Imperial House bloodline to the Andara Kingdom. There are many members of the Imperial House. Because of the conflict between the nobles and the Imperial House, most members of the Imperial House bloodline have lost their qualifications to become Noble Title. He can send many people like Nyx."

"Even if he is still the son of Marquis Chixue, he can still choose a bloodline with a similar status."

No, it won't.

Ryan said confidently:

"War is breaking out in the South. The emperor has taken so many actions in an attempt to crush the Church of Dawn's authority on the Norris Continent in one fell swoop."

"He cannot fight the Church of Dawn on equal terms; he must crush them to secure his position as the Grand Pope of Light."

"So... the Imperial Ambassador of the Andara Kingdom, the Bishop of Light, may not be of Imperial House blood."

"Like Daryl of the Andara Kingdom, the royal family possesses a Legendary power that opposes me, but that power was bestowed upon him by me."

"I will also grant my followers the authority to safeguard the divine right of the Andara Kingdom."

Theocracy and Royal Authority combined equal absolute power.

"You'll soon be able to travel along Northwind Avenue."

Ryan stroked Avril's face, and she blushed and lowered her eyes.

Rumble!...

The galloping Northern Warhorse kicked up countless clouds of dust on the Northwind Avenue. All the members of the merchant guild could only retreat in fear off the road, not even caring about the overturned carriages.

"What happened? That's the Northern Baron's army. Where are they going?"

"Without His Majesty the Emperor's order, the nobles' armies are not allowed to enter the territories of other kingdoms. What is he trying to do?"

"Or is it an order from His Majesty the Emperor?"

The Stag Legion, with the banners of the Frozen Earth Territory waving, raced through the cold wind. Nidhogg had previously needed to use its army to suppress the worship of the Dragon Monarch, but now that was no longer necessary. Through faith and enslavement, Nidhogg had no more large-scale riots.

The Stag Legion have been freed up, and now is the perfect time to use them.

"Nyx Columbus, a noble member of the Florian Empire's Imperial House family, died in the Andara Kingdom, murdered by the damned Black Swan of the Church. This is a trampling of noble dignity, a disgrace! This is an unforgivable war!"

"But... who said His Highness Nix is dead?"

"How could someone of noble Flor Royal Family die at the hands of a shadowy assassin? His Highness Nix was indeed assassinated, but as with the previous eighty-five assassination attempts, his safety is beyond question."

"He is of noble Imperial House blood, a servant of the immortal God of Light who devoutly serves the faith of light. Light favors Nyx Columbus, just as this great surname, like Flower of Heaven, blooms with Eternity life."

"The bishop has never left. He represents the empire, the Faith of Light, and His Majesty His Majesty Emperor Flor, the Archbishop of Light, helping Him to always watch over this land of flourishing light in the Andara Kingdom!"

"The repeated assassination attempts by the Church have enraged the empire's nobles, and the righteous Baron Ryan of the Northlands cannot stand idly by while the empire's noble bloodline is threatened with death on the kingdom's soil!"

"The Baron swore an oath of loyalty to His Majesty the His Majesty the Emperor, vowing to protect the safety of the Flor Royal Family bloodline with his life! No threat will be allowed to approach."

"The army of the Frozen Earth Territory, under the pretext of fighting against the Orcs, briefly entered the Kingdom of Andara, which had once been aided by Baron Ryan and granted Baron Ryan the status of a great nobleman in the lands of the Andara Kingdom Andara Kingdom, to show their respect to the King with an oath of loyalty."

"And with the help of the esteemed King of Andara, they assisted His Highness Nyx Columbus and His Excellency the Archbishop of Light in resisting the unjust assassination attempt by the Church of Dawn!"

"To show respect to the King, the Baron's army will not dismount or linger, ensuring that the Imperial soldiers will not set foot on any part of the Kingdom's lands and will return to the Empire Baron's territory as soon as possible."

"His Highness Nyx Columbus will continue to assist the Grand Pope of Light in safeguarding his faithful faith, ensuring the immortality of the Faith of Light, preventing the desecration of the God of Light's grace, and leaving an indelible mark of the Empire's corruption upon the Church!"

"Praise be to the light, who shelters His believers with unwavering life."

"Praise be to the light, for it gives believers the courage not to be defeated by evil."

"Praise be to the light, for He gives believers the faith to fight against the Orcs."

"Praise be to the light, for He gives believers a bountiful land."

"Praise the light..."

"..."

"Let us face this heavy day."

Northwind Province, Winged Gorge.

Baron Ryan, clad in Mithril Armor, dismounted from his warhorse and stood on the ground with a somber expression. Behind him was a carriage covered in exquisite white brocade.

He looked at the weeping troop of Marquis Chixue ahead and said heavily:

"I'm sorry, but by the time my army arrived, the Church of Light had already been destroyed, and all the Mages, including His Highness Nix, perished. The Church of Dawn dispatched a Legendary Black Swan Assassin."

"We can only bring his body, along with the bodies of the assassins."

Behind Ryan were more carriages carrying the bodies of the assassins, hoping that Count William of Boulder Keep could find more evidence to prove that the Church of Dawn was waging another unjust war against the Imperial Noble, violating the ancient covenant.

"His Highness Nix did not die from an assassination attempt. A treacherous assassination attempt could not kill a noble, righteous, and valiant Imperial Noble."

Ryan had the knights drive the carriage next to the families of the Marquis Chixue. Unfortunately, the magical carriage, a gift from his earl father, had completed its final mission, and for some time to come, Lord Ryan's travels would likely be rather modest.

"Praise the light."

Ryan finished speaking, then turned and led the army away, leaving the place to the families.

One Stag Legion did not return directly to the Frozen Earth Territory from the Northwind Avenue.

Instead, they changed course halfway and entered the Sera Kingdom.

"Mr. Sven, it's time for you to leave."

Mikaela removed her helmet and bowed to Sven.

"Why?"

Sven, puzzled, took the note that Mikaela handed him.

"The Church's defeat in the wars between the Sera Kingdom and Andara Kingdom requires accountability, and your situation is very dangerous."

"And..."

"Moreover, I've found a place that suits me better."

Sven took over the conversation, put the note in his mouth, and a snow-white Divine Art annihilated it. Then, the moment he opened his mouth, it turned into a golden light.

"Praise the light."

In the Andara Kingdom, the Legendary Mage, Ivy Aven, stood atop the ruins, sensing the surging Magic Factor around him, and mentally reconstructed the battle.

Shortly after his departure, the Black Swan Assassin of the Church of Dawn, hiding in the homes of believers in the Andara Kingdom who still held the faith of Dawn, sensed his departure through some unknown means.

Immediately afterwards, hundreds of Black Swan Assassin infiltrated the Church of Light from all directions. In the ensuing carnage, none were spared. These Black Swan Assassin came prepared, their purpose being to destroy the Church of Light and kill all the believers who served the light within. Since they were Mages, they deserved to be killed even more.

Nyx died quickly because he was not only of Imperial House blood but also the Bishop of Light.

"My lord, we are here on Lord Ryan's orders, and no one from the Andara Kingdom is coming near."

The soldier approached Aven and, after speaking, whispered:

"Lord Ryan went to the Andara Royal Palace. His Majesty the King learned of His Highness Nix's death, but this news will not be leaked. Lord Ryan said that the Empire needs to face the victory of the Church of Dawn, His Majesty the Emperor will not allow his arrangements in the Andara Kingdom to end in failure."

"As long as the King of Andara has not confirmed that His Highness Nix's death has not been leaked, His Majesty the Emperor will not declare the Andara Kingdom defeated, and he will not hold the King of Andara accountable."

"And the Empire, once again, triumphed over the madness of the Church of Dawn here."

In the distance, a carriage slowly approached. After Sven alighted from the carriage, he bowed respectfully to Aven.

"I was originally commanding the Dawn Believers in the Sera Kingdom, but I never expected to suddenly have to abandon that place and come here."

Sven said with a hint of helplessness, then his eyes hardened.

"My lord, you may return to the Empire now."

"I will stay here. The Empire's war against the Church cannot be lost. Only in this way can we gain the support of the nobles who are resisting the Church on the Path of Dawn. Only in this way can we gain more land and believe in the immortality of light."

"The war between the Andara Kingdom and the Sera Kingdom will not be lost. Lord Daryl can deter the Sera Kingdom from continuing its attack."

"Next, we will fight the Orcs in the the North, and we will have more allies who oppose the Church."

Sven spoke methodically, then returned to the carriage.

"I need to meet with His Majesty the King and obtain his support to carry out the missionary work of Light in the Andara Kingdom as a servant of His Highness Nix."

Archbishop Adriana once said that no one could doubt Sven's devout faith.

He entered the Royal Palace. By this time, the King of Andara was in a state of panic. Nyx Columbus had died in the capital, and he was terrified, fearing that the empire would hold him accountable for it.

Fortunately, Ryan's arrival gave him a second option. King Adams agreed to Ryan without any hesitation, endorsing that Nyx Columbus was still alive. With an ancient kingdom personally endorsing him, the nobles in the South lands would not doubt it, especially since there was no evidence of Nyx's death within the Andara Kingdom.

Ryan's army arrived too quickly, so quickly that the knights of the Andara Kingdom didn't even have time to appear at the Church of Light to search for living creatures.

Sven's arrival allowed Ryan's plan to reach its second stage, and also put His Majesty the His Majesty the King at ease.

"From this moment on, you are Nyx, and you... you will live in my Royal Palace."

King Adams said this, he was really afraid, worried that the Church would go crazy again, but Sven shook his head.

"I am not His Highness Nix, I am merely a follower of His Highness Nix, a servant of the light, and a missionary."

"Of course, His Highness Nix is a distinguished bishop, and he has a place in your Royal Palace, doesn't he?"

"Yes."

Pastor Soto used to have a place to stay in the Royal Palace, but now he can live in a non-existent Nyx.

"The more insane the Church becomes, the more it proves their failure and fear. Your His Majesty the King, you may not know, but the reason why Pope of Dawn assassinated His Highness Nix instead of competing fairly is because the Church's Path of Dawn is already facing collapse and failure in the South lands. In that land, everyone is their enemy."

"The Pope is furious; he is already afraid of the light."

The Pope was indeed furious. On the Holy Mountain, the raging Holy Radiance was mixed with unimaginable power, and even the archangel Samir, who had just arrived at the Holy Mountain, was suppressed. She was extremely surprised.

"Even if I were fully recovered... I'm afraid I wouldn't be a match for this Pope."

Samir described her as an archangel who once fought against a great being, but under this angry will, she could only stand at the foot of the Holy Mountain mountain.

At the summit of the Holy Mountain, countless trembling clergy stood before the Pope's wrath.

"Your Pope."

"We... we searched through all the rosters, but we couldn't find the person Sven that the Sera Kingdom mentioned."

"Maybe... maybe his name is wrong."

"Didn't find it?"

"You've read through all of them?"

The Pope's voice was calm, a calm that was suppressed to the extreme. But beneath this calm, a group of people at the very back of the thousands kneeling in front suddenly exploded, turning into a blood mist. From within the blood mist, a snow-white Holy Radiance flew toward the Sun overhead.

They died, and the Pope seemed not to even glance at them.

"Why does the Church of Dawn have so many lists? How many have you found? And how many are still missing?"

"That Sven is a follower of the Dawn, how could that be fake? Can't all the clergy of the Sera Kingdom see through a false believer? Are they still servants of my Lord?"

They definitely are; otherwise, it would implicate many people on the Holy Mountain.

"So, you either didn't find him, or you didn't realize he actually had a very noble identity?"

"So, he was just a missionary?"

"The priests of the Sera Kingdom have brought up a missionary, claiming that he was responsible for the kingdom's defeat in the war and the annihilation of the entire army of the Mute Ascetics."

"Just because of a missionary?"

Yes, it's all because of a missionary, which is why the bishops and Archbishop on and off the Holy Mountain dare not speak out.

One reason is that they couldn't actually find Sven on the Church's internal roster, but they thought he might be on some roster somewhere.

Another reason is that they wanted to give Sven a suitable identity, such as a bishop, but because they couldn't find detailed information about him within the Church, they couldn't bestow Holy Radiance directly upon the distant missionary Sven to help him rise to power in one step.

They tried so hard to do it because Sven was just a missionary.

This is not enough. The fall of the Mute Ascetics and the crushing defeat in the Kingdom War represent yet another setback for the Church in the face of the Empire.

This failure is a terrible responsibility.

Back then, it was someone like Pastor Soto who was qualified to bear the blame for the defeat of the Andara Kingdom.

Now that the Kingdom's war of faith has failed, a missionary is not qualified to bear such a terrible responsibility.

To shoulder such a responsibility, a priesthood comparable to that of the Kingdom Wars must be present.

The status of Sven is not enough, no matter what, unless the Pope is willing to admit that he has sent a missionary to lead the Dawn Faith, one of the Great King on the Norris Continent.

This is an insult to the Sera Kingdom, a disrespect to the Lord of Dawn, and an indelible disgrace to his Pope.

If word got out, the nobles wouldn't laugh; they'd just think the Church was truly in decline.

Therefore... until now, the responsibility for the failure of the Sera Kingdom has not been determined on the Holy Mountain.

"This responsibility lies with Sigurd."

The Pope remained silent, and everyone continued kneeling until finally a Cardinal Archbishop was standing to one side, spoke up.

The focus shifted to the long-dead Archbishop Sigurd, the unfortunate fellow killed by Ryan on the kingdom's border.

"He should have led the Sera Kingdom away from the twisted heresy of faith war, and let the light of my Lord shine upon the land of the Andara Kingdom."

He should atone for his sins.

(End of this chapter)