Holy See

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Holy See (神聖教廷)
Occupation/Role	Suzerain religious organization of human nations; political, military, and religious power on the Saint Cassis Continent
Headquarters	Holy Mountain
Leader	Great Pope Menrossa
Status	Active
First Appearance	4

Background / History

The Holy See unified humanity approximately three thousand years before the main story, overthrowing Behemoth Orc rule and driving the Behemoths north beyond the Great Wilderness. A thousand years ago, it consolidated the southern continent under human rule; five centuries ago, it began major northern expeditions to exterminate the Behemoth Orcs, but its forces were halted by the Great Wilderness, its beasts, and the Barbarians. 225

Its earlier rise was intertwined with the fall of the Elven Empire. Following the mutual destruction of the Elves and Behemoth Orcs, humans and the Holy See betrayed the Elven Empire; the Holy See subsequently formed an alliance with the Dragon Race and helped establish Blazing Dragon City. 384

The opening of the Words of the Holy Father by the Second Great Pope released abundant Holy Light elements across the continent. The Holy See established its headquarters at the location of greatest Holy Light concentration—Holy Mountain—and designated the next six concentrations as its major dioceses. 444

By the present era, the Holy See is the paramount power in the southern Saint Cassis Continent. Its authority is challenged by Allen's Bloody Hoof Tribe, whose victories inflict major losses on Holy See forces and eventually compel an alliance between the two powers. 547

Organization and Influence

Category	Details
Believers	Hundreds of millions of believers; later accounts place its following at roughly 90% of humanity. 225 547
Armed forces	360,000 armed personnel, including the Holy Light Protector Army and multiple elite legions. 225
Human vassals	Twenty-three affiliated nations are recorded. 225
Dioceses	More than 600 smaller dioceses, organized under six major dioceses: Eastern, Southern, Western, Northern, Southwestern, and Northeastern. 209 225
Major-diocese leadership	Each major diocese is managed by two Cardinals. The Southern Diocese is overseen by Cardinals Lando and Lorenzo. 209
Headquarters	Holy Mountain is a fortified military city at the southernmost point of the continent, housing major legions, the Ascetic Hall, Temple Knight Camp, and Mage Towers. 205
Secular authority	Human kingdoms pledge allegiance to the Holy See, which acts as their suzerain despite not being a nation itself. 28
Revenue	Religious taxes and donations from wealthy noble families fund its military, personnel, and influence over affiliated states. 409

Holy Mountain

Holy Mountain is the Holy See's central city, political center, and principal military stronghold. It is protected by elite formations and powerful combatants, including the Dragon Knight Legion, Ascetics, Temple Knights, Mage Towers, Saint-tier Mage Albert, and the Great Pope. 205

It is also a pilgrimage site for hundreds of millions of believers and the origin point of much of the Holy See's doctrine, decrees, and missionary activity. 387

Major Dioceses

The six major dioceses administer the Holy See's continental operations. The Southern Diocese includes Outpost County in the Kingdom of Locke, Salun Border City in the Duchy of Rothel, and the capital of the Duchy of Sadido; its headquarters is Holy Light Fortress. 209

Major dioceses retain considerable autonomy as long as their actions do not damage the wider interests of the Holy See, allowing local leadership to form temporary alliances of interest without direct intervention from Holy Mountain. 290

Doctrine and Policies

The Holy See venerates the Overgod, also called the Holy Father. It presents the Holy Father as the supreme deity and treats worship of other gods as false belief or heresy. 4 141

Its official messaging calls for spreading the Holy Father's blessings “without prejudice,” describing other gods as children of the Holy Father. The same directives reserve force for those who refuse conversion. 24

In practice, the Holy See historically conducted campaigns against races and faiths that did not accept the Holy Father. Its forces have fought Behemoth Orcs, Barbarians, Elves, Druids, Dwarves, Giants, and other peoples. 28 141

• The Diocese clergy act as the Holy Father's “left hand,” administering doctrine and law. 22
• The Heretic Extermination Legions act as the Holy Father's “right hand,” enforcing submission through military force. 22
• The organization uses saints, saintesses, Holy Sons, miracles, sacred images, and propaganda to reinforce devotion among believers. 6 23 24
• Holy Father statues are enchanted with Holy Light spells that encourage worship among common people. 6
• The Holy See has slandered foreign deities in its propaganda, contributing to long-standing hostility from the Ice Goddess Cult, Dwarves, Giants, Elves, and other races. 406

After major military and political setbacks, Great Pope Menrossa begins a more conciliatory policy, including a 20% reduction of religious taxes for major dioceses and affiliated powers. 409

Military Forces

Heretic Extermination Legions

The Heretic Extermination Legions are the Holy See's principal punitive forces, deployed against individuals, groups, and races branded as heretics. The Holy See originally has three such legions, including the Earth Dragon Legion and the Iron Cavalry Beast Legion. 14 170

• Earth Dragon Legion — Led by Xiulunte during its deployment to Outpost County; known for mounted forces and Earth-walking Dragon mounts. 4 14
• Iron Cavalry Beast Legion — Sent against the Bloody Hoof Tribe under Sokas; equipped with Holy Crossbows, Ascetics, Battle Qi swordsmen, and cavalry. 169 170
• The legions later receive the designation Holy Father's Whip, while retaining their former core function; the renaming is presented as ending the pursuit of alien-god worshippers. 557

Temple Paladins and Guardian Knights

Temple Paladins are elite Holy See warriors who fight in coordinated formations and are equipped with heavy shields, warhammers, and Battle Qi. 197 244

Faith Guardian Knights and Holy Protection Knights serve diocesan security and religious enforcement roles. They operate separately from the Heretic Extermination Legions, though both belong to the Holy See. 22 28

Ascetics

Ascetics are Holy See mages who enter the Hall of Valor after reaching the limit of their advancement. They surrender ordinary freedom in exchange for Holy Light Divine Arts of an equivalent tier and normally only emerge to participate in battle. 47

The Hall of Valor is a secluded settlement behind Holy See headquarters, inhabited solely by Ascetics and Templar Knights. 47

Elite Legions

• Holy Dragon Knight Legion — Considered the Holy See's strongest legion; commanded by a Sword Saint and supported by three Dragons. It is usually stationed around Holy Mountain to protect the Great Pope and senior leadership. 283
• Dragon Knight Legion — Permanently stationed at Holy Mountain. 205
• Flame Dragon Cavalry Legion — Deployed during the Behemoth conflict and later stationed at Holy Light Fortress. 396 557
• Sacred Dragon Knight Legion — Remains among the forces defending Holy Light Fortress during the retreat from the Behemoth war. 408

Leadership

• Great Pope Menrossa — Supreme leader of the Holy See, thirty-fourth Great Pope, and father of Orpheus. A Dual Saint possessing Saint-tier Holy Light cultivation and Sword Saint-level Battle Qi. 382 590
• Holy Son Orpheus — Menrossa's son and designated successor. The Holy Son is directly trained by the Great Pope in Holy Light magic, civil affairs, and military strategy; every Great Pope was formerly a Holy Son. 228 277
• Albert — Saint-tier spatial mage and the Holy See's Chief Saint-level Archmage. He is one of Holy Mountain's foremost combatants. 205 589
• Hachas — Supreme commander of Holy See and allied forces during the Behemoth war. 354
• Cardinal Lando — Cardinal of the Southern Diocese and a key figure in the Holy See's southern operations. 196 209
• Lonningte — Chief Temple Paladin of the Southern Diocese; later handles duties in the Northwest Grand Diocese under Orpheus's authority. 209 463
• Xiulunte — Former commander of the Earth Dragon Legion and one of the Holy See's youngest Heretic Extermination Legion commanders. 14

Sacred Items

• Words of the Holy Father — An Epic codex associated with the Holy Father and the origin of the Holy Light magic system. It contains Holy Light elemental symbols rather than written text and can continuously gather Holy Light elements from space. 444
  • It was once sealed on Holy Mountain and carried by successive Great Popes. 444
  • Menrossa uses it to counter Amon Sol's Undead Creatures even within a domain that suppresses ordinary Holy Light elements. 444 445
• Holy Father statues — Enchanted religious images distributed among believers and used as symbols of faith and authority. 6 176
• Holy Crossbows — Heavy military crossbows deployed by Holy See legions. 170
• Holy Light Bullets — Rapid-cast, single-target offensive Holy Light spells used by Holy Light Priests. 214

Relations

• Human kingdoms — Most human states are affiliated with or subordinate to the Holy See, though relations are often strained by taxes, political intervention, and religious authority. 28 409
• Kingdom of Locke — A vassal state whose growing independence and incomplete devotion to the Holy Father create tension with the Holy See. 14
• Duchy of Rothel — One of the Holy See's two most loyal major human allies. 547
• Behemoth Orcs — Historic enemies driven north by the Holy See. Their conflict repeatedly escalates into major wars, though the two sides later cooperate against the Demon Race. 225 406
• Barbarian tribes — Long-standing adversaries whose resistance repeatedly frustrates Holy See campaigns in the Great Wilderness. 20 28
• Bloody Hoof Tribe — Initially a major enemy following repeated clashes with Holy See legions and the Southern Diocese; later becomes a necessary and uneasy ally against larger threats. 321 547
• Ice Goddess Cult — A millennia-old religious enemy that refuses cooperation with the Holy See even when the Demon Race threatens the continent. 406 448
• Dragon Race / Blazing Dragon City — Long-term allies whose partnership began after the destruction of the Elven Empire, though their relationship later becomes one of mutual convenience and tension. 384 415
• Elven Empire — The Holy See and humans betrayed the Empire after its war with the Behemoth Orcs, contributing to its destruction. 384
• Demon Race — A looming existential threat that forces the Holy See to seek unity with races it had historically oppressed. 406 534

Story Role / Major Arcs

Outpost County conflict

The Holy See dispatches the Earth Dragon Legion through Outpost County, ostensibly as part of its continental campaigns. Under Xiulunte, the legion occupies the county, searches civilians and homes, and attempts to seize Dina after discovering her suspected Titan Bloodline. 4 22

The Church then promotes Dina's conversion and appointment as a Candidate Saintess across its dioceses, using her as proof that even a Barbarian blessed by the wilderness can accept the Holy Father. 24

War with the Bloody Hoof Tribe

After Allen's rise, the Holy See sends the Iron Cavalry Beast Legion into the Great Wilderness. The expedition's stated tribute mission conceals an intended purge of the Bloody Hoof Tribe. 170

The campaign ends in a major Holy See defeat. Allen breaks the legs of captured invaders and releases them, while the surviving force becomes a burden on the Southern Diocese. 173

The Holy Mountain later regards Allen, the “Child of Chaos,” as a major threat after his forces defeat a Holy See legion and publicly denounce the Holy See's doctrine and history. 205

Behemoth war and alliance

When Behemoth Orcs besiege Holy Light Fortress, the Southern Diocese is nearly destroyed. Allen intervenes to prevent the fortress from becoming a Behemoth bridgehead into human territory, preserving the Holy See's southern position despite his hostility toward it. 209 265

The Holy See and the Bloody Hoof Tribe eventually cooperate against the Behemoths. This alliance remains unstable, marked by negotiations, threats, military confrontations at Holy Mountain, and disputes over control of Holy Light Fortress. 286 375 396

Demon Race crisis

The Holy See secretly investigates Void Rifts and dispatches elite teams to hunt demons that have entered the continent, suffering substantial casualties while withholding the threat from the public to avoid panic. 406

Its past religious persecution undermines Menrossa's calls for racial unity. The Behemoth Orcs, Ice Goddess Cult, and many other peoples retain deep grievances against the Holy See, complicating the formation of an anti-Demon alliance. 406 501

The Holy See later joins Behemoth forces against the Ice Goddess Cult and mobilizes Menrossa, Albert, Archmage Donny, human archmages, Qi Warriors, and the Flame Dragon Cavalry Legion against Demon Race elites. 534 544

Decline of prestige

Repeated defeats, the destruction inflicted on Holy Mountain, and the Bloody Hoof Tribe's rapid growth weaken the Holy See's previously unmatched authority. Menrossa pursues alliances and accommodation partly because the Holy See can no longer dominate the continent as it once did. 490 547

During the Demon Plane expedition, Menrossa leads Holy See elites into an ambush in an attempt to restore the organization's prestige and prevent the Bloody Hoof Tribe from eclipsing it. The Holy See suffers devastating losses. 589 590

Trivia

• The Holy See's wealth allows it to equip forces with short crossbows on a scale uncommon among other continental armies. 236
• Its standard equipment is regarded as inferior to the later fine-steel equipment of Bloody Hoof elite warriors. 321
• Holy Sons hold immense symbolic status but do not possess final decision-making authority until they become Great Pope. 307
• The Holy See once labeled Consylate its most wanted criminal for practicing Dark magic and opposing its authority. 203 442