Duchess Vera vividly described the recent events to Damon.
The Empire's forces had scattered, slaughtering the priests and clerics of the Church of Morning Radiance everywhere, then forcing the noble lords to serve the doctrine of light. Otherwise, they would refuse to drive out those horrifying Demon Kin.
She had used the word "forcing," and Knight Damon's gaze turned furious.
The Path of Dawn existed to gather the faith of believers and restore The Church to greatness. If everyone became followers of the Church of Light, it would be the most devastating blow the Church of Dawn had suffered in centuries.
The loss of faith was always more despairing than defeat in war.
The Church could never allow the Empire to harvest the faith that belonged to Dawn like this, leaving The Church stripped of its ruling position across the Norris Continent.
If news of this reached the Holy Mountain, the countless believers there would surely go mad.
No, it would not get there.
Knight Damon raised his head, closed his eyes, and clenched one hand against his chest. He walked the Path of Dawn, and the Path of Dawn existed to expand Dawn's glory, spread the Lord's faith, and deepen the devotion of believers through preaching.
Perhaps Pope Solarian had already seen how mixed and impure the faith of this world had become. That was why there was this Path of Dawn, and why he, Holy Knight Damon, had appeared here.
He walked in the darkest places, spreading the most dazzling dawn.
If humanity's faith no longer served the great Lord of Dawn, then what he needed to do was—
Make them believe again.
At that thought, Knight Damon's gaze became incomparably firm as he looked at Duchess Vera before him.
"Your Grace, may I ask whether you are