385 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 385 The words caused everyone in the room from the Holy Nation to be utterly startled. "What do you mean, Lady Aran? Why are you saying such things all of a sudden?" The high priest, who had been treating her, was so taken aback that he stopped his prayers. Even the determined expression on Harmon's face cracked. However, Eileen let out a sigh and continued to speak calmly. "Please remember our original promise, Commander. We are bound elsewhere. We have a duty to prioritize our own safety." Eileen's gaze swept over her companions, who were wrapped head to toe in bandages, and returned to Harmon. The implication was too clear, prompting Harmon to bite his lip. "Once, just this once is enough. If we can withstand this final battle, where more legion-level forces are expected to join, the Empire will not strain itself further." His voice was filled with conviction. Though the premise seemed grim, five out of the seven legions in the western Empire had already joined the battle, with two of their leaders fallen. Should the Empire be defeated even with the addition of the mysterious Royal Central Army, public opinion across the continent would shift. The successive victories in unfavorable circumstances had already elevated Nobience's morale to the skies. - The gods are with us. Praises poured toward the gods from all over Nobience. Though the main figures of victory, currently being treated here, might find it slightly unfair, the people of the Holy Nation believed their aid was indeed divine will. This would change the atmosphere. - Even for the Holy Nation, the Empire is their opponent... - How can they dare defy the Empire? - Religion should remain as religion... Some forces were tied down by direct pressure from the Empire, but many regional archdioceses did not move with such lax thinking. Dioceses whose leaders chose not to send reinforcements. Even they would, swayed by the public opinion of a 'crusade directly blessed by the gods', head to Nobience, ready to sacrifice if necessary. In ancient times, rivals to the Empire had similarly opposed the Holy Nation, wasted their national power, and fell. 'It can be the same this time.' The Holy Nation prided itself on not lagging behind in the number of its forces, even if the quality varied. Hvis tens of thousands of fervently faithful holy army converged on Nobience, not even ten martial spirits could stop it, Harmon was convinced. Above all, the information from the person—or rather, the kingdom—before them was crucial. "...If the Emperor is truly contemplating a conquest war, he won't want to sustain more losses in this conflict. Historically, the Holy Nation has never sought direct territorial expansion." "You are right, Commander. But we have already stretched ourselves beyond expectations. Especially Lord Rolf, as you can see..." Eileen paused, eyeing the seemingly lifeless Ronion. Her or the others' injuries seemed minor compared to his severe wounds. Were it not for this being Nobience, flush with high priests, and Ronion not being a mid-level aura user, he would surely have lost his life. Her husband had told her to prioritize their safety, but what would he say seeing them in this state? 'Everyone has overexerted themselves.' Everyone believed that the next battle would occur in their homeland. Thus, they each pushed themselves to weaken the Empire's power in any way possible. That was the same for her. While killing two of the Empire's legion commanders was a tremendous achievement, the inability to completely eliminate the martial spirit after having the chance was a painful regret. Eileen, with a bitter smile, continued calmly. "...I'm not even sure if I will be able to walk by the next battle. We cannot overextend ourselves any further. I'm sorry, but this Nobience isn't the place we must risk our lives to protect." Her definitive words darkened Harmon's expression, and the room's atmosphere dropped sharply. Losing the power of five superhumans, especially when faced with potentially larger forces, felt practically like a death sentence to them. 'Still, we can't give up completely. The Holy Nation must deplete as much of the Empire's strength as possible.' Eileen left room to ensure the Holy Nation's resolve wasn't diminished. "But we also need time to heal. And there's no guarantee we will be fully recovered by the next battle." The time estimated for the additional Imperial troops to arrive was no more than a month. And for Ronion, Rolf's other identity, his wounds could not be fully healed within that period. "Then you mean...?" "If the war begins before then, we will band together to pave our way back home. To manage that, we’ll need to draw in and deal with at least one legion commander to ensure our escape remains untraceable." "Ah...!" Harmon's face brightened immediately. In fact, with the group's skill, slipping out of even the most complex battlefield without a sound wasn't difficult. While Eileen intended it as a final offer to reduce the Empire's power, Harmon inevitably saw it as a favor to the Holy Nation. Especially after hearing they would simply leave, any small offer of help was welcome. "…Understood. That seems to be the best course of action given the circumstances." Though there was some disappointment, there was nothing to do but plan based on that assumption for now. Harmon firmed his resolve once more, and the hope rekindled in the faces of the other priests listening to the conversation. As the discussion seemed to reach a conclusion, Victor, who had been quietly observing, suddenly stepped forward. "Commander. How is the Holy Maiden and the Pope?" "Pardon?" "At the last stage of the battle, she bestowed blessings upon me and then collapsed in exhaustion. I haven't heard anything since..." "Ah, Her Holiness is still recovering her divine powers through prayer. She's strained herself a bit, but her health is not at risk. Thank you for your concern, Sir Miller." "Ah, no, um..." "...?" "No, it's nothing." Do you know that there's something strange about the Holy Maiden? Victor swallowed the question that had risen to his throat. It was merely suspicion for now, and the words the Holy Maiden had spoken were so blasphemous that if any member of the temple had heard them, it wouldn't be surprising if they drew their swords. It was certainly not something to mention in front of many people. Perhaps interpreting his hesitation differently, Harmon nodded with a light understanding. "Come to think of it, Sir Miller, you've had ties with Her Holiness before. Do not worry. I will inform you as soon as she finishes her prayers." "Ah... yes. Thank you." As the awkward-looking Victor stepped back again, Harmon let out a small sigh and bowed his head once more to the group. "Please focus solely on regaining your strength. We will handle all the other preparations." A completely natural statement. Yet, somehow, Harmon seemed overflowing with confidence as he said it. Even if a single superhuman was aiding their group, their overall strength would still surely be at a disadvantage. "If you don't mind me asking, Commander, do you truly believe we stand a chance with just that?" Curious about his confidence, Eileen suddenly asked. "Of course. By then, I will have completely recovered." The prompt response left Eileen at a loss for words. No matter how famed the Divine Sword might be, he was still just one person, wasn't he? Has he let victory over a martial spirit inflate his ego? Eileen couldn't help but seriously harbor doubt. Though she wasn't so thoughtless as to voice these concerns outright. And in that moment when words failed her— "Urgent news! Additional Imperial forces have been deployed…!" The urgent voice from outside the door changed the expression of everyone present. "Already?!" * * * The Empire's shocking defeat. The impact it delivered to the world was enormous. The majority of the continent's people had expected the Holy Nation's loss. While some began to reconsider the strength of the Holy Nation, acknowledging its formidable power, many gossipers ended up mocking the Empire. – They lost with such forces? Was the command asleep at the wheel? Even I could have won. It wasn't unreasonable; the apparent disparity between the two nations' military strengths was stark. When news spread that Tris Hornsby, hailed as the continent's greatest swordsman, was practically defeated by the Divine Sword, more and more began questioning the Empire's dominance. They said it was the mightiest in history, but isn't the Empire just a paper tiger? Just a ragtag bunch? Such rumors began spreading rapidly as if deliberately disseminated. In response, the Empire—or rather, the Emperor—made an unexpected move before those rumors could spread within the Empire. – The Royal Central Army to deploy: over 200,000 strong, equivalent to 4-5 legions. – Seven superhumans from the Royal Guard to be dispatched. – Five of the Aselian's Seven Mage Towers' leaders to deploy. A colossal force, even surpassing the troops already deployed from the five Western Legions, began their deployment from Aselian. – Wrath of the heavens upon the fallen priests! I shall establish the true will of the gods upon this land. With the Emperor's roar, this massive military force began its march. The news of their advance was enough to silence those who mocked the Empire, enough that it could arguably sweep not just the Holy Nation but surrounding countries as well. However, right after this— In places like the Imperial party venues, gatherings of influential nobles, and even palaces of neighboring kingdoms, a crystal orb was delivered. Within it, a video played—one capturing shadowy masked figures consistently attacking a 'young man with black hair and eyes.' At the end of the video, the young man appeared, haggard and pale, and said: [These individuals are agents of the Imperial Special Inspection Bureau, commonly known as the 'Ghosts,' assassins. The Emperor of the Empire attempted to kill his own son to fabricate a justification for invading the Holy Nation. I, Varus Van Ares, swear upon my honor and royal blood that this is the undeniable truth. The Empire intends to make the Holy Nation a stepping stone for world conquest.] This statement effectively halted the Imperial army's advance. Beyond negating the justification for invading the Holy Nation, they were words that shocked anyone with even a grain of conscience. – Is the Empire truly planning a conquest? – Could they really want to kill their own son? – World conquest! The Empire was in turmoil, and countries across the eastern and western borders of the Empire began to react sensitively. In swift response, the Imperial family released a statement. – As stated before, this is merely the result of the dark wizards of the Black Serpent abducting and brainwashing the prince. The video itself is manipulated. The Empire and the Emperor would never commit such heinous acts. It's all a fabricated lie by the dark wizards and the fallen priests of the Holy Nation! Yet, the international response was cold. The existence of the Ghosts, known in whispers among the powerful elite, was now visibly confirmed in the footage. Moreover, the prince's eyes in the video seemed too clear to be under any mental manipulation known to the common people. Furthermore, the assessment of the Mage Towers in various countries was unanimous. – Although the video is edited, the footage itself is not fabricated. As a consequence, the Imperial army halted their advance, and backlash against the Empire began to mount.