Ch.562562. The Saint’s Debut (2)

The barony’s walls had been breached by the allied forces’ fierce attack. Though they surrendered and fled before crossing the first defense line inside the walls, they had ruthlessly trampled all buildings outside the defense line. They even used bizarre tactics within the urban center to burn down several key facilities in the commercial district—the lifeline of our territory.

Now that the territorial war had ended in victory, the barony was using its experience from improving the once pig sty-like slums to rebuild the collapsed center of the territory better than before. Thanks to this swift response, the territory’s residents and merchants breathed sighs of relief despite their misfortune.

“The barony… no, the baron’s intentions seem to remain unchanged.”

“If anything, the flames of public sentiment seem to be growing stronger. It doesn’t look like this will end with just a momentary flare-up of the baron’s propaganda.”

“…This has become troublesome.”

Among such people, there were inevitably those who harbored concerns about the baron’s course of action.

“There is no place on the continent untouched by God’s blessing. They surely must know this.”

A voice like one encountering something immoral and unpleasant.

The lament of someone witnessing behavior they found utterly incomprehensible carried such deep emotion that listeners couldn’t help but sympathize with her feelings.

“I mean, what does the title and position of ‘Saint of Humanity’ actually signify?”

For humans, the title of Saint had, since the church gained power and established the Holy Nation, consistently existed as their face and symbol of divinely granted permanent authority.

Thus, the bishop of the barony sighed in exasperation.

“Moreover, in a place where our church and believers openly exist, they not only bestow the title of Saint upon a mere child but even revere the child’s immature words as divine messages.”

“……”

“It’s unacceptable. What’s more, these so-called ‘messages’ are cleverly playing on the hearts of the territory’s residents in the current situation.”

While she could understand a hundred times over why the barony would elevate a girl who saved them from the chaos nearly caused by the Demonkin’s appearance…

The current behavior, which seemed to be propagating their own independent doctrines and ideologies quite unlike other religions—far from crude—was troubling.

“As a result, not only are fewer people coming to church, but so many are now listening to a child’s words rather than God’s will. How sorrowful this is.”

For those whose influence and power depended on believers, the current situation could only be perceived as an encroachment that diminished their authority and financial resources.

In the earliest days, the virtue of a church untainted by material desire and allowing no greed in their hearts was something the now-massive organization still claimed to aspire to while drifting further away from it. The bishop was no exception.

Therefore, she couldn’t help but be conscious of those behind Tasha, who was at the forefront of the current situation.

“There was a reason why the bishop who went to the count’s house suspected the baron.”

So the bishop thought.

“Though it may be a hasty suspicion, I wonder if the sharp reaction from the sisters of the Beast-kin Special Forces toward us might have been the result of the baron’s scheme, anticipating an opportunity like this.”

Unless it was a place with a definitively existing god capable of performing actual miracles—or more precisely, a place with military and financial power too strong for them to trample—

They maintained a position more hostile than anyone toward other religions and would not be satisfied until they had crushed any seedling of possibility that might rise to their level.

In accordance with their church’s methods.

“Nothing is more unfortunate than when imperfect human philosophies, rather than the pure will and word of God, take root as religion.”

Even as a bishop of a small church in the kingdom.

She had already earned her position as bishop through her achievements in the Holy Nation.

“I must take action personally. Sister, I apologize, but I will write a letter. Would you deliver it to the baron on my behalf?”

She needed to use her abilities to their fullest to stop the baron’s misconduct.

“I believe I must speak with the baron now.”

Because she kept thinking that this misconduct might grow uncontrollably large.

* * *

“Lord Benner, have there been any recent news from the Akion Viscounty?”

“As they say, no news is good news. They’re currently busy preparing for the succession ceremony. Once the baron’s preferred candidate becomes the head of the family, we should be able to secure favorable compensation quickly.”

“I suppose so.”

The Akion Viscounty was completely turned upside down right now.

Considering the items Sione brought back and what I reported to the royal family, even the Queen herself reportedly shouted for a thorough investigation in anger.

With the head of the family in such a state, and royal inspectors and troops dispatched to the viscounty, it was obviously a complete mess without even having to see it.

‘The same goes for Amelie.’

Since the Lephelia Duchy was known for its political influence in the central government.

With this opportunity, Leona would surely handle that side well.

After discussing work matters a bit more with Lord Benner, I rose from my seat without hesitation.

“Well then, I’ll go check on the knights’ and assault team’s training.”

The changes that had come to the barony weren’t just limited to that.

‘Change everything possible.’

Without rigorous training that assumed total war—no, a war of extermination—against demons, victory in the battle against the final demon would be an unaffordable luxury, even if we could handle the remaining two.

Heading to the knights’ training ground, I could hear fierce shouts erupting from various places. The most eye-catching scene was naturally the duel between the Knight Commander Hanelrn and the knight selected as her opponent.

“After experiencing the Winter War and this territorial war, are you still clinging to chivalry?”

“That’s…!”

“You said you trained as a knight at the Royal Academy. With that unnecessarily polite swordsmanship, you couldn’t properly face either the demon from before or the drugged imperial knights.”

“……”

“At best, you’d just waste time before your head gets cut off and you die. Don’t you think that’s pathetic even by your own standards?”

…Hanelrn was quite skilled at delivering hurtful insults in a calm manner.

The knight, seemingly very provoked by her words, even trembled his lips.

“…I’ll do it properly!”

“If you think you can dodge, you should even roll on the ground. Still trying to maintain your dignity.”

She then struck his body, tripped him, and cleanly hit him with her wooden sword several times, leaving nothing but fighting spirit.

…It seemed less like a duel and more like bullying.

But with the commander showing such an example, the others seemed to be training well on their own before being caught for dueling practice.

‘Certainly, the enemies we’ll face in the future…’

Rather than the techniques that central nobles often use, which they call “classical swordsmanship,”

The swordsmanship and martial arts that had continuously evolved to face monsters and demons—like those from the north or the count’s territory who had long defended the borders—would be more effective.

After checking on the knights, assault team, and other units that had changed from formal training to more active approaches,

Finally, I naturally went to find Sione, who was at the shooting range with her bow instead of being in the garden with the landscaper as usual.

“Hoo—”

Unlike the arrows she rapidly fired during battle,

She was aiming at the target using only muscle strength and arrow-handling sense,

With all mana and techniques completely removed.

Her blue eyes focused on the target at the arrowhead’s tip.

“……”

Pang—!

The arrow that tore through the air struck the center of a tiny circular wooden board in the distance.

Despite my watching from behind for a while, Sione remained caught in the afterglow of shooting, just staring at the distant target.

She seemed to be deeply contemplating something.

I carefully made my presence known.

“Ah, Ray. How long have you been there? You could have at least made yourself known.”

“You were in the middle of shooting.”

Sione showed a small smile at that.

Nothing is more annoying than having your concentration broken when you’re focused.

After lightening the mood with that understanding, I asked:

“Do you have something on your mind? Your arrow seemed to fly quite heavily.”

“…Can you even distinguish such things now?”

“No, just a feeling.”

She released the bowstring more heavily and slowly than usual. That’s just how it felt.

I’m not sure why she found this so surprising.

She soon answered my question.

“…I’ve started to feel that Divine Power little by little, but I still can’t figure out how to use it.”

“Ah.”

“It feels like I’m about to grasp something, but then I can’t. I think I need some new insight.”

“So that’s why you were practicing just the basics?”

Sione nodded immediately.

Her previously subdued expression and atmosphere had already changed to her characteristic clarity, making her look more like a cute child than a mature woman.

“So, you know, since the star seems to be connected to Divine Power, I thought I should also talk with Tasha—”

Before Sione could finish her sentence,

Someone arrived with a commotion that broke everyone’s concentration at the shooting range.

“Forgive my rudeness. There’s something urgent to report.”

She saluted me as soon as she saw me and opened her mouth.

“The church has approached Lady Tasha who was out at the reconstruction project! Currently, her escort forces and church forces are in a standoff!”

The helpers who would make Tasha’s debut as a saint even more spectacular had finally begun to move.