Ch.534534. Internal Strife (2)

For a beast commander, specifically the captain of the Beast Special Operations Unit, subjective judgment is not permitted.

Their duty is to serve as the Holy Nation’s sharp weapon until the Beast Alliance stabilizes, and in return, to reduce the pressure from the larger Holy Nation on the Alliance.

The moment they left the Alliance and came under the Holy Nation, she had fully anticipated there would be unjust or dishonorable orders. But she couldn’t control how her subordinates’ hearts would waver.

‘This isn’t good.’

She didn’t view the current atmosphere in her unit favorably.

‘From wolves of the Alliance to loyal dogs of the Holy Nation.’

She knew well why they were voicing such complaints.

‘It’s because we’re doing menial tasks with insufficient justification.’

No matter how much the Beast Alliance was outmatched in scale and unstable.

Being assigned such worthless tasks couldn’t help but wound their pride.

Though she herself disliked the church’s actions, as captain, she ultimately had no choice but to disregard her subordinates’ opinions and follow orders.

‘…The bishop of the Count’s church seemed interested in this place.’

A heresy inquisitor of the Holy Nation.

She was famous as one of the sharp swords wielded by the Second Saint, Artena.

Once she learned that such an influential figure had intervened in the Baron’s church, she couldn’t ignore the directives coming from there.

‘With three parties already entangled in this matter, if we make a mistake and end up on bad terms with the Saint…’

So, abandoning the minimal authority granted to the Beast Special Operations Unit and proceeding with the mission by asserting her authority as captain.

The unit’s atmosphere began to deteriorate steadily.

One night after returning from patrol like any other day, the conflict intensified.

“Captain, did you hear what those damned priests said?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Starting with calling us primitive beasts. I mean how they’re actually using us. Haven’t you heard, Captain?”

“Explain in detail.”

“Our role is merely to create an excuse for the church to collect money. The beast ghosts roaming at night. Citizens offering donations to the church to get rid of us.”

Finally, wrinkles formed between the captain’s brows.

“You already know that hunting heretics and pagans is just a nice-sounding excuse. Their goal is simply to fill their coffers by having us create rumors, since they’ve lost their source of donations in this prosperous barony!”

“The priests said that?”

“I’m not the only one who heard them. Lanorya, who patrolled with me today, heard it too.”

If her words were true.

If this order, which she thought involved complex interests of the three nations and the Saint, was simply a mundane task assigned on the way to the Count’s territory because the Baron’s church revenues had decreased.

“They even insulted the Baron who greatly contributed to killing demons. How can church priests speak so ill of an honorable warrior?”

If she, as captain, had submissively followed their orders.

If she had made not only herself but all her comrades skulk through the night so shamefully.

“Even though we’re following the church’s orders now, our true allegiance is to the Beast Alliance. We who will someday return to the Alliance, who play a central role in the exchange between the church and the Alliance—is moving so shamefully preserving the Alliance’s honor?”

What would become of all the judgments she had made until now?

“Captain, are you still unwilling to change your mind?”

“…I need time. As you know, this operation is connected to too many things.”

“Captain…!”

“We’ll continue this conversation later. However—”

The captain frowned deeply.

“Thanks to you, I’ve become more vigilant. I’ll make a decision soon.”

She had no choice but to postpone her decision.

And from that day on.

“…Indeed, the number of people bringing donations to the church is increasing as time passes.”

“Captain, the other priests are the same. Do you know what they’re saying about us? They said we’re beasts who would still be living primitively if not for the civilization brought down by the Holy Nation…!”

“Heretics, pagans? How could such things exist? A cute little miss comes out every day to share the Baron’s grace with the lowest people. Is that what should be rejected as paganism and heresy? Even we who don’t know church theology can distinguish that much!”

Complaints began erupting from everywhere with strange intensity.

‘Complaints are erupting suddenly to a strange degree.’

Even if she thought it was like a bomb exploding from a lit fuse, the fact that they were showing such intense reactions to her was somewhat suspicious.

The captain herself had never once heard such outrageous remarks from the priests. Just as she was trying to objectively accept the majority opinion and make a decision.

“Bishop, may I ask how long you plan to use the Special Operations Unit?”

“…Are there any beastkin around?”

“They’re all resting in their private quarters or wandering outside.”

In the deepest part of the church, a voice caught her ear.

“I plan to use them until it doesn’t cause disrespect to the Bishop in the Count’s territory. After all, such opportunities are rare.”

“But lately the beastkin’s resistance has been visibly growing. How should we…”

“I’ve already exchanged letters with the Bishop about that matter. Haven’t we nicely fabricated that the Heresy Inquisitor’s gaze has reached this place? Unlike other ignorant fools, the beastkin captain is quite good at connecting dots. She’ll obediently comply.”

The voice of the Baron’s bishop, spewing the very slander her subordinates had mentioned.

“Grr……”

The captain gritted her teeth.

Anger, irritation, the feeling of having been thoroughly used.

As various emotions surged and she struggled to suppress the beastkin’s unique fighting spirit and killing intent with reason.

Sensing them approaching from beyond, the captain turned around and simply walked straight ahead.

“…So that’s how it is.”

Knowing that if she faced them now, her sharp claws would surely tear their skin and flesh.

The captain, with a crumpled face full of anger, retreated to a place where she could cool down.

A woman who had been quietly observing this.

“Phew……”

Bina wiped away the cold sweat from the recoil of precise magic manipulation. Confirming the captain’s reaction, she breathed a sigh of relief.

‘Successful.’

After spending days gathering every bit of information about the church priests—their scents, voices, and habits.

Having planted doubt in the mind of the most difficult captain paid off. Without needing to install a new captain, she succeeded in changing the Special Operations Unit’s stance.

‘I’ll need to work a bit more to make them cut ties so cleanly when they go to the Count’s territory.’

Having determined that the Baron’s troublemaker could now be easily removed.

“What about the 3rd Princess’s pawns?”

“All have been quietly dealt with. I don’t know about the future, but right now there are no spies in the Baron’s territory.”

“Well done.”

She merged into the crowd on the street and left these words.

“Now let’s go report.”

It was time to boast about how well the job had been completed.

* * *

“…Who are you?”

“Priest Tasha, please stay behind me.”

Oscar blocked Tasha’s path.

Following his lead, her other escorts put their hands on their weapon handles, showing a sharp atmosphere rarely seen from Orna.

Sensing their slight hostility.

The captain of the Beast Special Operations Unit raised both hands lightly to show she had no intention to fight.

“Priest Tasha, this is the one who has been following your path every night.”

“Ah—”

“Since her intentions are unclear, if you bear no ill will toward us, I believe you will gladly forgive our suspicion.”

The one-armed mercenary.

Despite appearing as though he might struggle to properly wield a sword, his aura was more refined and intense than that of ordinary mercenaries.

Perceiving that he was guarding Tasha out of genuine concern rather than because she was a beastkin.

The captain, recognizing Oscar as a warrior, willingly nodded.

“I’ve just come with questions, so there’s no need for such caution. May I speak with your young problem solver for a moment?”

“That’s—”

“It’s okay, Oscar. Beastkin are known for valuing honor.”

“……”

“Since you’ve said that much, you surely haven’t come with bad intentions. Right?”

“…That’s correct.”

At those words, Oscar reluctantly cleared the path, and the captain slowly approached and looked down at Tasha.

The small child, called a priest by the poor, seemed to radiate inherent goodness.

“I’ll ask directly. What do you think about the church, and why are you conducting this relief work?”

“There are many good people among the church priests. They’re people who train with justice in their hearts to bring peace to the world and defeat demons…and they’ve been supporting these poor people until now.”

Tasha’s answer was clever.

It was true that there were many good people. The church’s basic tenets were true. The support for the poor was true.

No need to mention negative thoughts, just remove them all and speak those truths with sincerity to be persuasive.

“The reason our Baron’s house conducts relief work is to follow the church’s example. My godfather wishes for everyone in the barony to enjoy at least minimal happiness.”

“Minimal happiness?”

“…The Baron comes from a commoner background. He knows how dark and unhappy the world below can be. He says every day that he wishes everyone could escape such situations and dream like he did.”

“Then about that fate—”

“A bird with broken wings cannot fly. Their fate is either to be eaten by ground beasts or to cower in fear, hiding in small crevices.”

The captain’s ears perked up at the talk of fate.

The story of overcoming hardship resembled the ideology her tribe held.

“Until a broken bird heals its wings, it must overcome a fate full of countless deaths and dangers. The people here are the same. I wanted to give them words of strength so they could break free from the obsession that living like this is their fate.”

“……”

After carefully listening to Tasha’s voice, the captain finally nodded quietly.

“I’ve heard your words well. You possess the intelligence worthy of being called a young priest.”

“Um…was I helpful?”

“Of course.”

The captain bent one leg to look up at Tasha and continued with a small smile.

“…From now on, there will be no more beast ghosts prowling the barony at night.”

As the captain, having made her decision, departed.

While everyone around watched silently.

Tasha was the first to change the atmosphere.

“Come on! Let’s all get back to work!”

With such a vibrant appearance, Tasha could only think to herself.

‘I’ve got another thing to be praised for by my godfather and godmother!’

For something she had just made up, she had spoken truly beautiful words.