Chapter : 73

When the main force arrived at the City of Mangtong, the atmosphere wasn't so bad.

No matter how many troops were mobilized for this subjugation, a city was a city.

Especially Mangtong, which was one of the more famous and larger port cities in the southern region.

If they had forcefully engaged in siege warfare, they might have suffered considerable damage.

Since every single soldier mobilized was an asset to the nobles, that could have been a truly troublesome affair.

But what was this?

When they arrived, the battle was already over, and the city was in the hands of our forces. It was an outcome that everyone could be satisfied with.

Of course, seeing this, the Prince-elector of Bohemia was even more pleased.

‘They captured a city with only 5,000 soldiers? Among the weak human kingdom nobles, there was one who moved like us elves.’

How many blunders of human lords had he witnessed until now?

If he had his way, he would have called the knights and whipped them, but this was not the Holy Empire.

He had been simmering with frustration while having to humor and coax them along, and now such a military achievement-! It was a stark contrast to the weak nobles next to him.

Moreover, there was something else that pleased the elf king, the Prince-elector of Bohemia.

“What? He set fire to the city and personally executed the chairman?”

“Not quite executed, he fell to his death, but…”

“He died while fleeing in terror, isn't that the same thing? And to personally charge into the enemy lines-! Bellua Margrave. You truly are a splendid and fiery person, just like us elves(?)!”

In the elven culture that revered warriors who defied death, the Bellua Margrave's military exploits were truly worthy of praise.

If he had his way, he would have wanted to give his widowed daughter to him. If marriage was difficult, he wanted to at least receive his seed!

Thanks to this, the Prince-elector of Bohemia and the nobles held a victory banquet as soon as they entered the City of Mangtong and were pleasantly discussing the future direction.

That is, until the bishop's bombshell declaration just now.

* * *

“Hmm….”

At the bishop's words to kill everyone, the banquet hall instantly fell silent.

It could have been dismissed as mere nonsense, but the problem was the status of the bishop who spoke. He was one who had come with the cardinal bishops dispatched from the Holy See.

It was a statement that could not be ignored.

“Surely you don't mean to kill everyone in this city? Bishop. The number of identified citizens alone exceeds 80,000.”

A noble asked again, just in case. Then the bishop who had spoken frowned as if asking what nonsense he was talking about and said.

“So what's the problem with that?”

“What do you mean, what's the problem? There aren't just people from the kingdom here. If you kill them all, how do you intend to handle the aftermath!”

The City of Mangtong was a famous port city in the south. Therefore, there were people of various nationalities, from as far as the Holy Empire to as close as the City-State Alliance.

And yet he was saying he would ignore that and kill them all? But the said bishop's logic was too simple yet powerful.

“When the Holy See issued the excommunication and sent the army, did it not warn those who are not heretics to leave the city?”

“Ahem, that is true.”

“Then are those who remain in this city now not heretics? They were told to flee, but they did not! Moreover, they even resisted us.”

“……”

Listening to that, my head was spinning.

“Isn't that guy crazy? Magician Agpiel.”

“Shh, someone might hear. We must be careful at times like this.”

Magician Agpiel clicked his tongue, looking around.

“As far as I know, that man was the former bishop who was chased out of Mangtong City.”

“Ah?”

“He was accused at the Holy See for amassing wealth and corruption and was kicked out. So there's no way he would have good memories of the citizens here.”

Somehow, it was a truly troublesome situation. To think a bishop blinded by revenge came here of all places….

“Well, still, it's not like there's no way out. We have a 'bishop' on our side too, don't we?”

“Pardon?”

“They say you fight fire with fire. Maybe it will be helpful…?”

As he said that, Magician Agpiel pointed his finger to the side.

At the end of it was Bishop Marco with the square eyes characteristic of goat beastmen.

Bishop Marco was greatly infuriated listening to the said bishop's words.

“Baaaaah-!”

“???”

“To kill them all! Unacceptable, baaah!!”

Right, right. Come to think of it, we had our money-loving goat beastman. He was usually a headache, but at times like this, he was quite reliable.

“What do you mean by that, Bishop Marco.”

“Baaaah. How can you kill all the poor little lambs! Our lord-nimu has embraced such lost lambs. Baaah. Forgiveness rather than punishment-! That will be more helpful in eradicating the heretics-!”

Of course, Bishop Marco didn't really say this out of such a kind heart.

To Bishop Marco, each and every citizen was money.

Killing them all would just be an unfortunate event where blind soldiers would loot the remaining assets, leaving nothing for him.

For that reason, Bishop Marco's eyes were spinning as he passionately argued.

“Ooh.”

“Indeed, that sounds plausible?”

It seemed that it was acceptable to the surrounding nobles. Their reactions gradually shifted.

“Haha, is that so?”

But he was immediately shot down by the bishop.

“Did you really think so?”

Bishop Marco flinched for a moment at the bishop's insidious gaze.

“Baaaah! Y-yes, that's right, baaah!”

“Hoo…. Yes. It's possible that Bishop Marco truly said that out of a gracious heart. But-!”

“Baaah…?”

“As I recall, you were just as benevolent in Markel City and Canton, weren't you? If that's true, you are a truly virtuous person. Should I perhaps speak to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints?”

To speak to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

It was a way of saying he would thoroughly investigate to find out the true meaning of this story.

But for Bishop Marco, who had been more zealous in selling indulgences than in aiding citizens, it was something that pricked his conscience.

How many shady things had he done, and what would happen if they were all discovered?

“Tsk tsk. Well, well. Your friend is still not of much help. Well, it's that naive and foolish charm that makes him good.”

“Ugh, stop teasing me, Magician Agpiel.”

My head was throbbing.

‘Oh dear…’

Honestly, this goat beastman, Bishop Marco.

If you're going to be brazen, you should be consistently brazen. What was this?

With his square pupils trembling like that, anyone would believe he was lying.

“Does the bishop truly believe that the people did not leave because they are heretics?”

Clicking my tongue inwardly, I took the baton.

I couldn't just stand by.

Wasn't the City of Mangtong a city I was to inherit? If I let that ruffian bishop have his way, I would only get an empty shell.

“Then? Is that not so? Margrave?”

“Of course not. How can people so easily abandon their homes and leave? Come to your senses.”

“Are you saying that the worldly home should take precedence over faith? Margrave?”

Well, well? Look at this rascal?

It was clear he didn't get his bishop's seat for decoration; his tongue was quite sharp.

“That's not it, I'm talking about the physical limitations. I recall hearing that Chairman Modric had sealed off the city in collaboration with the heretical church. Isn't that right?”

I asked the city council members who were watching the conversation with blank and anxious faces.

“Th-that's right, Your Excellency.”

The city council members testified, sweating profusely.

“The wicked Chairman Modric threatened the good church members.”

Even without my fierce glare, they knew well that their own lives were hanging by a thread.

According to that bishop's words, they themselves would be beheaded immediately.

‘Of course, it’s all a lie.’

In fact, Chairman Modric had never done such a thing.

But who cared?

Chairman Modric was dead, and all the city council members who could prove it were on my side. As they say, you fight coercion with incitement and fabrication.

“Eek-!”

Then the bishop, realizing the situation, flushed and shouted.

“We must deal with the heretics decisively so that the remaining lords will not have any foolish thoughts and will surrender. If we show such leniency, they will only become more arrogant and hold out!”

His will to never back down was visible.

“Hmm…. That is also true.”

Once again, the surrounding nobles began to stir.

Unable to reason with him, I turned my head and looked at the people from the Holy See.

“Is this truly the will of His Eminence, Cardinal Adriano?”

It was a plea for them to mediate, as I knew the inside story. But the cardinal bishops dispatched from the Holy See just cleared their throats and slightly turned their heads.

“K-kheum. But is what that bishop said not wrong?”

“What?”

“If they ignored the warning, isn't that the same as ignoring the authority of the Holy See? There is no reason to protect them.”

“Hah….”

This is crazy.

Listening quietly, I realized.

This was a ploy by the Holy See. How insidious of them….

If things went on like this, I, the ruler, would receive all the resentment, and because of that, I would need the Holy See's help even more.

Truly vicious.

‘To just push this through, I think I need a strong authority….’

It seemed impossible to persuade them with words. But did I have such a thing?

At that moment.

“Hmm, how truly unfortunate….”

The elf king, the Prince-elector of Bohemia, who had been watching this silently, opened his mouth.

Though he didn't look unfortunate at all, but rather amused.

“If opinions are so divided, isn't there really only one way?”

“What… do you mean?”

“What do you mean what? Naturally, wouldn't our omnipotent God pass judgment on such matters?”

“???”

“???”

* * *

As expected, even after watching for a long time, the Holy See's machinations were still sophisticated, sinister, and like a spider's web.

Even that brave margrave was caught and didn't know what to do.

Normally, he would have watched this situation and been mischievous, but today was different.

The elf king, the Prince-elector of Bohemia, had taken a liking to that brave Bellua Margrave.

An outstanding warrior deserved to be treated well. That's why the elf king, the Prince-elector of Bohemia, wanted to help the margrave.

“What do you mean by that…?”

At the Prince-elector of Bohemia's sudden intervention, the bishop seemed quite flustered.

“Literally. In disputes like this, especially those related to faith, wouldn't God judge? Where I'm from, we often use this method.”

“Surely not?”

“Yes, that's right. If he can split a shield that anyone can see is sturdy in a single blow, isn't this God granting a miracle, wanting mercy?”

“Ooh-!”

“Indeed, that makes sense.”

“And isn't the Bellua Margrave's nickname the Performer of Miracles?”

“If it's true, God will surely grant a miracle. Haha.”

The nobles, finding the sudden entertainment amusing, talked amongst themselves. For them, there was nothing to lose whether the people were killed or not.

“So, what do you say? Will you accept?”

The Prince-elector of Bohemia asked with a grin. Because such things happened often, the Prince-elector of Bohemia carried a rigged shield with him.

Whenever the stuffy priests nagged him, he would split the shield and shut them up, calling it God's answer.

‘What is this…! This barbaric king of elves!’

The bishop, who knew this well, was dumbfounded. It was a blatant trick, but he had no grounds to refuse.

‘Ah?’

At that moment, a stratagem flashed through the bishop's mind.

“G-good. Your Highness!”

“Hmm?”

“As the Prince-elector of Bohemia says so, I find myself deeply reflecting. On such matters, we should naturally follow His will.”

“Is-is that so…?”

The Prince-elector of Bohemia sensed something was wrong with the bishop's suddenly brightened expression.

‘Surely this bastard…?’

But sure enough.

“If God shows a miracle, it would naturally be right to show mercy, wouldn't it? I will bring a shield, so Margrave, please show us that miracle.”

“???”

The bishop had quickly countered. Furthermore, the bishop immediately received a sturdy-looking shield from a nearby knight and placed it in the center of the banquet hall.

“Here! Here it is. Now, show us.”

The bishop shouted triumphantly.

This shield, made of oak and clearly sturdy, could never be split in a single blow. Unless one wielded the monstrous strength of an ogre.

“Uh, no. That is…”

Therefore, the Prince-elector of Bohemia realized that the situation had gone terribly wrong. He had stepped in to help but ended up hammering a nail in the coffin.

But watching it, I.

“Well, well…. It seems God is playing a trick on you to set the stage. Are you going to show us another miracle?”

“Ahem, Agpiel. Such words are blasphemy.”

I just chuckled along with Magician Agpiel. It was so coincidental, it couldn't be more so.

“Very well. Let’s do it.”