Ch.462Territory Declaration

The view of the city from atop the wall was shocking beyond words.

Every district visible had hastily constructed barricades erected around it, and before them, red flames and golden light clashed in a brutal combat.

No, perhaps “brutal combat” wasn’t quite the right description.

Despite the fierce battle between the two churches, there weren’t many corpses strewn about.

The reason was simple.

Paladins who were injured in battle immediately retreated to the rear, where they recovered their wounds with the help of priests.

Perhaps this was fitting for Paladins—pathetic yet tenacious.

Unless killed in a single blow, it was only natural they wouldn’t die easily.

But more importantly.

“Haah…”

Is this what it feels like when everything goes dark before your eyes?

Looking at the scene, I could only sigh.

What on earth is this?

Civilian uprising? Armed suppression? This was far beyond that level.

What unfolded before me was a full-scale war.

A city-wide urban battle with two churches in direct confrontation.

Yes. Neither the Crusaders, nor Lacy, nor even I had considered it.

That Arad wasn’t managed by the Church of Astraea alone.

Kranus of Fire and Civilization.

I thought they would be quiet after losing their cardinal… but it was the opposite.

Whether it was the church’s collective decision or the Arad branch acting independently, they had joined the protesters and were directly confronting the Church of Astraea.

The protesters’ armor, the barricades surrounding the districts, and the burning oil barrels—all must have been provided by them.

The god of fire and civilization was, in other words, essentially the god of blacksmiths.

I could tell just from scanning the scene from above.

It was because they had joined the civilian militia to hold back Astraea’s Paladins that the horrific massacre I had anticipated hadn’t occurred.

“For Astraea—!”

“For Kranus—!”

Instead, an urban battle was unfolding across the entire city.

…Seriously, what am I supposed to do with this?

I just looked down at the catastrophe below with a sense of helplessness.

A scene where I couldn’t even begin to guess where or how to intervene.

—-

Everyone has a plan.

When I left Nashiriya, I had also made something resembling a plan.

Though it was a bit crude, as expected of something that came from my head, it could have minimized casualties if it had worked well.

Of course, what I had envisioned at the time wasn’t a scene like this.

Yes. The plan I had organized in my head was discarded as soon as I arrived at the scene.

As always.

…Maybe I should just stop making plans and act. They never seem to be of much use anyway.

“Huh…”

I sigh once more and gather my resolve.

What else can I do? I’ll have to use all my improvisation skills to somehow prevent further chaos.

Right now, the fight between the two branches is maintaining some balance, but news of Arad must have reached the Holy City by now.

The moment the main force of the Church of Astraea arrives, this fight would be over.

With the massacre of those who resisted “rightful execution” as the conclusion.

So, I needed to somehow stop this urban battle before that happened.

The method… let’s think about it after I get down there.

I threw myself into the empty air beneath my feet, then drove Frosting and Durandal into the wall, tearing through it as I descended.

Shattered fragments rained down like a shower.

—-

After landing on the ground, I leaped across rooftops toward the site of the most intense fighting.

All the while contemplating what I should do when I got there.

The first options that came to mind were two:

Help the suppression forces quickly resolve the riot and then stop the Paladins from executing the protesters, or help the citizens defeat Astraea’s Paladins.

Unfortunately, neither approach particularly appealed to me.

Even if I chose the former, I didn’t think Astraea’s Paladins would heed my intervention. If they were flexible enough for that, they wouldn’t have caused this situation in the first place.

Rather, considering the hostility Ceylon showed me, I’d likely just be cursed after helping them.

…And I didn’t want to help those who had massacred protesters and caused this mess.

But what about helping the citizens and cutting down Astraea’s Paladins?

Morally, this seemed like the right choice.

However, helping the protesters troubled me because of the Crusader’s report.

He had suspected that the protest itself was someone’s instigation.

Although voices criticizing Astraea’s strictness had been growing, it wasn’t at a level that would flare up this quickly.

I don’t know which bastard orchestrated this… but those instigators were undoubtedly positioned among the civilian militia.

The moment I helped the citizens, I might be fulfilling that person’s objective with my own hands.

Moreover, even if I defeated the Paladins in Arad, it wouldn’t end there.

The moment their main force arrived, I would inevitably clash head-on with an entire church.

…My concerns deepened.

At times like this, what would others I know have chosen?

Demian would probably have opposed whoever attacked him.

Millia would have attacked whichever side looked like kobolds.

Ophelia wouldn’t care about such matters, while Leonore or Nigel would have chosen to protect the weak according to chivalry.

And Hersella…

She would have said something like, ‘What are you pondering about? Just cut down everything that opposes your will.’

…

…That’s not bad, is it?

Thinking about it, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.

Simple, definitive, and requiring only strength.

Yes. Alright, let’s go with that.

There are things to learn from Hersella too.

I finally decided how to deal with them.

Of course, I don’t intend to create a slaughterhouse that Hersella would enjoy. I’m not crazy.

I’m just trying to carve out the displeasing factors from the displeasing options.

The deliberation was over.

Looking at the battlefield that had drawn just a few steps closer, I leaped off the roof.

Toward the center of the battlefield where flames and holy light erupted.

Toward the barricade separating the protesters and suppression forces.

In matters like this, first impressions are crucial.

An impression so shocking that they forget even to fight.

That was my specialty.

My body, having soared into the air, now plummeted toward the ground.

The barricade rapidly approached. I pulled my left arm far back behind my shoulder and, upon landing, thrust it downward.

– KWAAANG!

A deafening explosion that drowned out even the noise of the battlefield.

The force imbued in Frosting pierced and shattered the wooden barricade.

The sturdy palisade crumbled in an instant, and the fragments that burst forth swept in all directions.

Wooden pieces shot out like arrows. Those hit screamed and were flung back.

A cloud of dust mixed with debris rose with a whoosh. In the silence where even shouts and curses had ceased.

I slowly rose to my feet, drawing my sword.

Trampling on what was once called a barricade.

—-

Something that fell like a crashing comet, shaking everything around it.

Could there be a more impressive entrance than this?

As planned, all eyes were focused on me.

Forgetting even the fact that they had been swinging swords at each other just moments ago.

“Uh… huh?”

“The barricade, the barricade… it’s gone…?”

“From the sky, something…!”

Those who still couldn’t grasp the reality unfolding before them.

“What is it, what fell? A catapult?!”

Paladins who readjusted their grip on their swords and took defensive stances.

“Keuugh…!”

Those who were hit by fragments and were groaning as they rolled on the ground.

Taking them all in, I swung my left arm to the side, dispersing the dust cloud that obscured my vision.

The hazy dust was torn apart by the wind and faded weakly.

Now they too would be able to recognize who I was.

Come on, say my name!

Just then, a man whose eyes met mine seemed to recognize my identity and opened his mouth with a blank expression.

“…Valkyrie?”

What…?

What is he saying now? Why is the name of Volberg’s angels suddenly coming up?

Judging by his nonsensical utterance, it seemed this man had received a greater shock than I had anticipated.

Not helpful.

I turned my gaze away from him and looked at Astraea’s Paladins who were pointing their swords at me.

Perhaps it should be said that they were worthy of being called Paladins of Order. Even in this situation, they were maintaining their composure.

As expected, as soon as they saw me, they widened their eyes in shock.

“The blue-eyed Ka’har…! Could it be. Could it be the Winter Assassin, Haschal Median Aishan-Gioro!”

“Haschal?! The Radiance of the Church of Elpinel…? Why is a woman who should be in Nashiriya… here…!”

They all know well. Well, of course they would.

They might not have met me directly, but men of their caliber would have heard rumors about me.

“Descendant of the Great’s Twelve Knights. The Empire’s First Sword, Median…!”

“Yes. You know well.”

Pointing Durandal at the Paladins of Astraea who had taken combat stances, I pronounced in a calm voice, as if imitating Hersella.

“If you recognize me, then withdraw. I cannot tolerate any further damage to my property.”

“Property…? What are you saying…?”

– THUD!

Durandal, driven into the ground, cut off the Paladin’s words.

With my right hand placed on Durandal’s hilt, I shouted loudly to everyone present.

“As a plunderer and conqueror, I declare on the bloodline of Aishan-Gioro! This city, Arad, is now mine! The land, the walls, the buildings, the goods, and every human in the city. Without exception!”

This is now my land, so get out immediately.

The Ka’har are originally a plundering people.

Isn’t it only natural to seize territory by force?