NOVEL NEXT Chapter 96
The events in the Forest of Labyrinth have come to a close, and once again, the Kingdom was shaken up.
It was no wonder, as the students of the Academy, which could be called the future of the Kingdom, were attacked by the Church.
“What in the world is the king doing?! How is it that such a heinous group of heretics can run rampant?!”
“If only you didn’t indulge in useless political squabbles every day, we could’ve used more resources!”
As a result of this incident, the conflict between the Royalist Faction and the Nobility Faction intensified.
“Aren’t there some of those who worship the evil gods among us?”
“This guy believes in the evil gods!!”
“No! It’s a misunderstanding!”
Among the Kingdom’s citizens, distrust and tension began to rise.
If you think about it, it was not strange at all. With the ongoing crackdown on the Church within the Kingdom, it was only natural for people to feel uneasy when such events occurred again.
The once lively streets began to fill with a gloomy atmosphere, and fights over trivial matters became common.
“What on earth is happening in the Kingdom?! Where’s all our tax money going?!”
“Exactly! We’ve already raised taxes, and we can’t catch a single heretic?!”
Gradually, distrust piled up among the people, and signs showed that it was about to boil over.
At the same time, the various Churches serving different gods took action.
The sudden movement of priests roaming the streets shocked not only the citizens of the Kingdom but also those within the royal castle.
But it was only for a brief moment.
Churches from all over the continent announced a joint statement.
[All Churches of the continent hereby declare a crusade, mobilizing all forces until the heretics who worship the evil gods are eradicated.]
A crusade.
This was declared by each Church when a threat that could endanger the continent approached, based on the divine mandate of the gods.
In other words, it was an official recognition from the Churches that the Church of the Eaters of Death could lead the continent to ruin.
At the same time, it indicated their determination to eliminate them by any means necessary.
“Did you hear? The Church declared a crusade.”
“Ah, yes, I heard. The Church of the evil gods, huh? Things have really gotten serious now.”
“I want to join the crusade too!”
It was unclear if this was intended by the Churches, but as the crusade was declared, the distrust and anxiety among the people began to ease.
And thus, it has been a month since the Church declared the crusade.
*
“Eh… A-choo!!”
A cold breeze blew, and Leje, wearing thicker clothes, sneezed loudly.
The fervent summer had ended, and winter was creeping in, making the air feel chilly.
And for the students, this meant that a long-awaited event was approaching.
“Ah~ next week is winter break~”
That’s right, winter break.
An event every student eagerly awaited!
“Right? Time really flies.”
It felt like just yesterday they enrolled in the Academy…
Thinking this, Rudell looked up at the sky.
A clear and bright sky.
“I wonder if Mother and Father are doing well…”
Suddenly recalling his parents back in the Count’s Domain, Rudell muttered and moved on.
After walking for a while, they arrived at a large building near the dormitory.
Recently built, it was none other than Silphier’s workshop and laboratory.
“Brrr… So cold…”
The large door creaked open, and shivering slightly, Rudell stepped inside.
And what he saw was the mysterious machinery left behind by the Church during the final exam incident.
[Oh, you’re here?]
With steam hissing, Silphier, standing in front of the contraption, bowed her head upon seeing them.
“I’m late.”
“The student council work has been quite busy.”
Kurt, who was next to her, also greeted Rudell and Leje, to which Rudell responded with a faint smile.
Still, the two were part of the Student Council’s Discipline Corps.
“Has the Student Council President not arrived yet?”
[She, she said she’ll be a little late…]
“This sister! What’s she thinking calling us here and then being late?!”
The reason they gathered here was due to Kaylee’s summons.
To report post-incident findings from the final exam incident.
At the same time, it was also an interim report on what Silphier had figured out about the machine before them.
“By the way, I don’t see Eleor?”
[Um, Eleor is said to have matters to attend to at the Temple…]
Since the declaration of the crusade from the Church, Eleor had frequently been absent.
Considering she was the Saint of the Gaia Church, it wasn’t surprising.
“Then it can’t be helped.”
Leje nodded with an apologetic voice.
Just then…
“Sorry~ I’m a bit late!”
“You’ve arrived, Duchess.”
“You’re late! Why do you take so long?!”
The door opened, and in walked Student Council President Kaylee Jane Karens, accompanied by her attendant.
Upon seeing her, Rudell and Leje greeted her.
[Ah, hello, Student Council President!]
“Hello.”
Silphier and Kurt also bowed their heads in respect toward her.
“Where’s Eleor?”
“She seems to have business with the Church.”
“Hmm… then it can’t be helped.”
Kaylee, reacting similarly to Leje, approached the machine connected with countless cables.
“So, did you find out anything?”
[Yes, y-yes…!!]
Silphier replied nervously to her question.
As if to echo her emotions, steam puffed out from inside the armor, and watching the scene, Kaylee went to the nearby table with a faint smile.
Rudell and the group also took their seats…
[Um, well… in a nutshell, this device is…]
“To put it simply?”
[It’s a b, bomb. And, a very powerful one…]
“…”
In that instant, everyone was left speechless, staring at her.
A bomb? Why is that here?
Everyone’s expressions seemed to say just that.
[O-of course it won’t explode…!! I-it’s low on energy… and I’ve removed the detonation mechanism…!!]
As Silphier shouted in panic, a sigh of relief escaped among the group.
“So, you’re saying that these heretics were planning to blow everyone in the exam away? Is that right?”
[Uh, perhaps…]
“Haah…”
As if on cue, a short sigh escaped Kaylee’s lips.
“Is this also the work of that Kentric guy?”
“Most likely.”
In the Church, no one had the technical capability to create such a device but him.
It was hard to think of anyone else.
“He’s way more dangerous than I thought…”
At Rudell’s answer, Kaylee pressed her forehead, looking troubled.
“Have you received any information since then?”
“No, unfortunately.”
It was only natural.
After all, it was obvious that it was unlikely to find information about him, a person from an Empire, in the Kingdom.
“I do have some information from my side…”
“What? Really?”
Seeing them, Rudell cautiously brought it up.
Originally, he intended to keep it hidden until a suitable time, but since the Churches had declared a crusade and the existence of the Church of the Eaters of Death was no longer a secret, there was no longer any reason to hide it.
“How did you find that out?”
“I’ll just say we have an informant on our side.”
‘Actually, that’s me.’
Rudell thought, responding to Leje.
“Okay. Tell me.”
“First, that guy is a Mage Scholar from the Empire. However… he has a psychopathic personality and has committed numerous murders, being a death row inmate waiting for his demise.”
“So, they extracted that guy from the Church of the Eaters of Death and made him work for them?”
“That seems likely.”
Kaylee looked at Rudell, nodding in understanding, but she wore a strange expression.
As if asking, how did you figure that out? But Rudell had no reason to answer.
What he needed to do now was to guide them without revealing his identity.
“In that case, we should contact our informants in the Empire. Looks like there will be a lot more work for a while.”
As Kaylee stood up, thinking deeply, she looked at Rudell and the others as they also rose from their seats.
“Alright! Then let’s wrap this up for today!”