Early the next morning, the news spread through the Hori Kingdom as though it had grown wings.
"The Black Nightmare Army has officially risen in revolt!"
"Just last night, they took Koester. The scene was horrific... The blood that flowed out flooded the gates! The Kingdom Army was no match for them at all—some died, some fled. The sky is really about to change this time!"
"Have you heard? The Black Nightmare Army has already occupied Koester and made it their base, welcoming all aspiring men dissatisfied with The Church to join them."
This time, the entire kingdom was thoroughly shaken. They knew the Black Nightmare Army existed, and they knew The Church had suffered quite a few losses at those people's hands. But the army had always hidden in the shadows and never clashed head-on with The Church's main forces, so it had seemed like little more than minor skirmishes.
Thus, when the Black Nightmare Army got serious, everyone was left stunned.
—This meant they now stood on the same level as The Church.
For a time, the people were thrown into chaos. Some packed up their belongings and fled southern Hori Kingdom as fast as they could, unwilling to be swept into the conflict between the two sides. Others were galvanized; after gathering information, they rushed toward Koester without hesitation...
And this scene had formed entirely on its own among the populace. Benjamin had not even done anything behind the scenes.
At that moment, he was still busy bringing over the bulk of the Black Nightmare Army.
"You're the first group to arrive?"
On the morning of the second day after taking Koester, Benjamin flew to the kingdom's eastern border. Using wooden chips to communicate, he met up with the first—and relatively important—unit of soldiers.
—Maurice had led