Meanwhile, in the Magic Beast Mountains in the west of the kingdom, figures occasionally flashed through the dense undergrowth. Beneath the cover of trees and boulders, the newly established camps stretched out in one continuous expanse. They looked somewhat crude, yet magical glimmers flickered through them from time to time, shrouding the place in mystery.
Inside the largest tent in the camp stood Benjamin and quite a few others.
"Those priests from The Church... they probably never would have imagined that we'd hide in the Magic Beast Mountains, no matter what, right?" Duke Colin stood by the entrance, gazing outside as he remarked.
After several nobles had allied themselves with Benjamin, they cautiously mobilized their private armies. At the time, Benjamin had proposed an idea—taking on The Church by force was no easy matter. In terms of military strength alone, The Church was undoubtedly stronger than them. They had to make the fullest possible use of the situation.
And the princess ascending the throne was their opportunity.
Using the people's resentment and the chaos stirred up by the Truth Gazette, their fifty-thousand-strong army could disguise itself as bandits, blend into the great tide of rebels, rise up with the current, and occupy a mountain to declare themselves kings. This way, the six nobles would not be exposed, and The Church would find it difficult to distinguish them from the chaotic bands of brigands.
In fact, they had begun moving on the very night the princess's ascension was announced.
They captured several towns in western Hori Kingdom overnight, killed quite a few priests, and destroyed six churches in succession. Of course, they did not harm any innocent civilians. By the next morning, when enemy reinforcements arrived, their people had already withdrawn from the towns and retreated back into the Magic Beast