Chapter 22: Headed for Hell 2

The map of the continent lay before me.

Its shape resembled an almost exact replica of the European continent from my original world. However, the names and border lines of the nations followed the original novel.

The most prominent feature was the vast territory of the Holy Imperium, encompassing nearly the entire northwestern region from our current location in Benetsa.

Situated at the heart of the continent, this great empire was a strategic transportation hub and possessed the most fertile and extensive lands.

However, contrary to its outward might, the internal affairs of this formidable nation were far from ideal.

Due to various missteps, the Holy Imperium’s emperor had lost much of his former authority. As a result, the regional lords within the empire, the so-called prince-electors, were eagerly eyeing opportunities to expand their own domains and influence at the emperor’s expense.

These prince-electors sought to emerge from the emperor’s shadow and strengthen their own power by any means necessary.

In their eyes, the recent unrest caused by the so-called heretics sweeping across the continent served as an excellent pretext to diminish the emperor’s influence within their territories, effectively consolidating their independence – in other words, their own power.

Fundamentally, the emperor’s authority stemmed from the Church and the Pope who had appointed him.

The doctrines espoused by the heretics provided the prince-electors with a legal justification to defy the emperor’s authority while simultaneously rallying the populace to their side, proving to be a potent weapon.

As a result, although the conflict had yet to manifest outwardly, the Holy Imperium was essentially divided into two factions.

The northern regions, where the prince-electors officially permitted the heretical movement and embraced its ideologies.

And the southern territories, where the emperor and his loyalists stringently adhered to the Church’s doctrines as a matter of principle.

However, despite this potential for conflict, the northern lords had not openly rebelled against the emperor’s rule.

While diminished from his former glory, the emperor’s authority persisted, backed by formidable might that could not be easily dismissed.

Moreover, the current Emperor Mattis had adopted a conciliatory policy toward the heretics, refraining from overtly provocative actions against them, thus depriving the northern lords of a clear religious pretext for rebellion.

In fact, in the original novel, the full-scale conflict only erupted after Emperor Mattis’s death, when his successor, the new Emperor Sigismund Ferdinand, ascended the throne – it was then that the empire descended into the hellish abyss of rebellion, civil war, and foreign invasion.

‘Emperor Mattis still clings to life, but not for much longer. The Holy Imperium is akin to a powderkeg on the verge of exploding. As such, our priority must be to pass through that wretched place as swiftly as possible.’

Resolving to avoid becoming embroiled in the impending cataclysm, my gaze turned toward our intended destination – the ‘pagan nations’.

However, it was not the Turkic Empire we had initially planned to visit.

From the outset, the Holy Imperium did not share a border with the Turkic Empire, and even if it did, the border regions of these two bitter rivals akin to Hungary would undoubtedly be sealed off in the current circumstances.

As a result, the pagan nation we had chosen as our destination in place of the Turkic Empire – a country bordering the Holy Imperium, possessing considerable territory and national power that could not be underestimated:

The Dragonian Empire.

This was the place Shaylok had recommended, the sole pagan nation accessible to us at present, alongside the Turkic Empire – the two countries that had merely observed from the sidelines throughout the original story, never directly intervening in the chaos engulfing the Holy Imperium.

In other words, this was one of the few places where an excommunicated individual like myself and Cazeros, soon to be excommunicated, could comfortably reside, far from the impending pandemonium.

“Although a pagan nation, fortunately, unlike with the Turks, merchant traffic across the border between the Dragonian Empire and the Holy Imperium remains unimpeded. By passing through the Bohemian region here and the adjacent Lepsody area, you should be able to safely enter the Dragonian Empire. I shall send word ahead to ensure matters are properly arranged.”

“I see… We must be grateful that such a route still exists.”

Although our destination had changed, and the overland journey increased the likelihood of further complications while also requiring more time compared to the sea voyage, I had to be thankful for the opportunity to depart at all in our current circumstances.

If we lingered here for too long, there was a high risk of the Church hierarchy catching wind of our defiance and pursuing us, or Cazeros facing repercussions for her role in the defense.

Even if it took several weeks, leaving this place was the prudent choice.

Thus, although not the desired method, I expressed gratitude to Shaylok for informing us of an available route, however imperfect.

“In any case, I truly appreciate your assistance, Lord Shaylok, in helping us in this manner.”

“Helping, you say… Rather, are you not the ones who have aided me? Had it not been for you two, I might have faced the gallows in the worst case. It is I who should feel remorseful for being unable to offer more substantial assistance in return for such a debt.”

“Not at all. Compared to the help we have received from you, Lord Shaylok, this is but a droplet of blood. Is it not the proper duty of a person to repay kindness when received?”

I spoke with humility, prompting Shaylok to laugh softly as he regarded Cazeros and me.

“Haha… Observing you both, I understand what the Church folk refer to as ‘messengers of God’. If all believers possessed your character, perhaps I, too, might have become a believer of the Church.”

“Haha… You flatter us, Lord Shaylok.”

Shaylok’s half-jesting words were met with a light laugh from me.

“Well then, you should take some time to rest here until further arrangements are made. Since you must embark on a long journey, there will be much to prepare, and you will require physical rejuvenation as well.”

“Thank you, Lord Shaylok.”

Thus, I decided to remain here for approximately three days to make preparations before departing. As the situation had been resolved, I began to rise from my seat.

At that moment…

A small yet distinct voice reached my ears.

“The Dragonian Empire, huh… So it has come to this.”

The next instant, Cazeros commented on our new destination with a hint of discomfort, her tone more subdued than when we had discussed visiting the Turkic Empire.

Although slightly perplexed by her reserved reaction, I refrained from inquiring further at the moment.

Of course, separate from her outward demeanor, various thoughts inevitably arose within me.

‘I wonder if something had happened?… Come to think of it, Cazeros did mention being from a foreign land. Perhaps it’s related to that…’

Without the person in question providing an explanation, I could only speculate vaguely.

Harboring these curiosities, I decided to wait for Cazeros to share her story in due time.

And at that time, I was unaware of the significance behind her words…

Or how they would shape the course of my life.

After sending Santana’s group to rest, a slow smile formed on Shaylok’s lips.

‘I never imagined I would receive such assistance from that child… Could it be… is he truly that person’s offspring?’

While maintaining a merchant’s relationship, he had never openly acknowledged it.

However… he had quietly observed.

How the son of the person he knew had grown.

And where he was headed at this very moment.

‘I shall continue to observe… to see how this remarkable child, Santana Andreas, will reshape this world with his extraordinary abilities…’