Ch.588588. So You’ll Never Rise Again (2) AI: I’m sorry, but I need to see the actual text content that needs to be translated. What you’ve provided appears to be just the title “588. So You’ll Never Rise Again (2)” but not the body text that needs translation

“I’ve heard about the relationship between the Beastkin Alliance and the Holy Nation. The Holy Nation helps the newly declared Alliance to develop further on the continent… and the Alliance assists the Holy Nation with important matters, or corrects the church’s path from an equal and objective position.”

The relationship between the Beastkin Alliance and the Holy Nation is something no high noble could be ignorant of.

After all, their relationship clearly demonstrates how the Holy Nation tries to devour weaker countries or organizations.

While maintaining good relations with the church is important, they’ve already proven what happens when one depends on them too much or shares too much power with them. They serve as a perfect negative example.

“No matter how I think about it, the famous Beastkin Special Operations Unit didn’t come all the way to this far western land just to eliminate demon territories. Yet the Alliance’s exchange agency had such high expectations—”

Ainel responded to Bishop Kalli with a sharp smile.

“It means that even the Alliance members who are helping you couldn’t find a single thing in the County that aligns with your doctrine and goodness.”

“But as Lord Sharenne just mentioned, we cannot dismiss our concerns. If something goes wrong—”

“Bishop Kalli. It’s absurd for a religion that has been spreading goodness to claim that evil might spread from something that hasn’t even happened—or might never happen. Where have you sold the enlightenment and inherent goodness of existence that you preach so tirelessly?”

“……”

Ainel began to spread her aura throughout the gathering.

Even before reaching Master rank, Ainel was a knight who could instill fear in opponents with just her gaze and her uniquely sharp, blade-like refined Mana.

Kalli, receiving her pressure head-on, couldn’t help but freeze.

‘Bishop Kalli was formerly an Inquisitor, I heard.’

She had a greater aptitude for destroying evil than healing. Using this as a foundation, she learned combat techniques as a holy knight rather than a priest, living her entire life as a sword of the Holy Nation.

Her level of skill must be considerable, but as a retired Inquisitor rather than an Archbishop or Cardinal, it wouldn’t be easy for her to withstand Ainel’s pressure.

‘Even Sharenne, whom Ainel doesn’t seem interested in confronting…’

Perhaps due to beastkin instinct, her wolf ears and tail visibly stiffened.

Bishop Kalli naturally kept her mouth tightly shut, her body rigid. Whether she was relying on the backing of the Holy Nation or her own faith, she was somehow trying to maintain eye contact with Ainel.

“Bishop Kalli. I don’t know what you—or the Holy Nation behind you—are trying to do to us. But I understand well that from the beginning, you came here not to harmonize and coexist with us, but to suppress and confine our will. So I’ll give you one final polite warning.”

“……”

“Your saint’s holy war on the northern front is failing. Moreover, a demon has now approached not the Empire but the doorstep of the Holy Nation. In these difficult times, despite having power bestowed by your god—”

However, our Count was not one to quietly watch those who failed to understand their place and tried to climb higher.

When her warning gaze mixed with contempt, Bishop Kalli finally had to bow her head and submit, whatever her true feelings might be.

“The three Masters chosen by the new god might turn their backs on you completely.”

As Ainel said.

“Don’t forget. The County and the church have always been in a mutually beneficial relationship based on necessity. And now, the church.”

The church was blind.

Whether due to complacency among the high-ranking officials in the Holy Nation, or because they truly believed their status and power had grown strong enough to suppress us, or perhaps because there was something that shouldn’t happen considering that point.

“Is gradually losing its necessity in our family and territory. I hope you won’t cause any more trouble in my domain.”

How could one speak kindly to someone who only chooses to be unpleasant?

“I’m too busy to waste time wielding the sword handle against you myself.”

Bishop Kalli submitted to the growl of the knight who had slain a dragon.

“…I will be careful.”

Opening her mouth further here would be like asking to be completely trampled in person.

In the end, Bishop Kalli had no choice but to listen to the demands of the County.

* * *

After the meeting, Bishop Kalli returned to the church in the County and in her office.

With letter paper and a fountain pen before her, she closed her eyes briefly.

“I remember what Saint Artena and the Archbishops told me.”

She had come to the County because of orders from the Saint and the highest-ranking priests.

“They said seeds of distrust might sprout in the County. They told me to stop their new movements by any means.”

Saint Artena and the Archbishops were wary of the County.

Especially as one of the Saint’s cherished confidants, she was selected and sent to the County with their trust.

Bishop Kalli, backed by Saint Artena and the Holy Nation’s leadership, gained access to more and more information as her investigation of the temple in the demon territory deepened.

By now, she understood why she, a former Inquisitor, had been sent to the County, after making a binding contract pledging her life and faith.

“I never knew there was a history of shame hidden in the demon territory. While I should have delayed the County from digging any deeper… unfortunately, this matter seems to have slipped from my hands.”

Finally, Bishop Kalli picked up her fountain pen and began writing about the current situation on the letter paper.

As she organized her thoughts concisely, she spoke quietly to herself.

“The Beastkin Alliance has taken the County’s side. This fact has likely already reached the ears of the Archbishops in the Holy Nation. The attempt to suppress them using the Special Operations Unit’s statements has failed.”

The Holy Nation already had quite a few spies planted in the Beastkin Alliance’s exchange agency.

And their choice would soon be officially linked to the Holy Nation through established systems.

“The Beastkin Special Operations Unit and Commander Sharenne have been spending more time with the County’s knights than with church priests recently. It seems the Alliance and the Special Operations Unit are trying to form relationships with new powers, taking advantage of the Holy Nation’s crisis.”

However, the Alliance, already entangled with the Holy Nation in many ways, still hadn’t stopped trying to break free from the Holy Nation’s influence.

“Furthermore, the County is keeping the church in check. Their eyes and ears are always directed at me… as the forces directly connected to our vulnerabilities grow stronger, increasingly strict surveillance follows all our brothers and sisters in the church, as if they can’t miss this opportunity.”

The County was not only attempting new dialogue with the Alliance.

They had begun to directly interfere with the church.

Now that she had discovered that the famous County intelligence department personnel were seriously monitoring the church in the County territory after the meeting, her symbolism as an Inquisitor and rank as Bishop were no longer enough to put any pressure on them.

“Therefore, I wish to inform the brothers and sisters of the Holy Nation.”

Thus, Bishop Kalli wanted to report.

“The church in the County cannot exert any influence on them beyond purifying the remaining contamination in the demon territory and showing mercy to the poor.”

The County was not in need of the priests’ Divine Power. They had already recruited new talents who had flocked to the County, commanding excellent potion makers and doctors. Moreover, exploring the demon territory without holy knights or priests was not impossible with the County’s own strength.

In a situation where even offering their unique abilities for negotiation was insufficient.

With the three Masters watching over the County’s church, and issuing warnings rather than subtle checks.

“Our hands and feet have been torn off.”

The church in the County could hardly take any action beyond basic activities for the greater cause.

Bishop Kalli thought.

Without those two, the church in the County would gradually be pushed aside by that emerging religion. Eventually, the dark history hidden in the demon territory would become known to the public.

“Now more than ever, the church in the County needs the seal of Saint Artena and the Pope.”

She believed that the Holy Nation’s bold decision was needed to overcome this.

But despite Bishop Kalli’s report, instead of a response to her devotion, bad news reached her ears first.

—Holy Nation forced to grant sanctuary beyond the border to the great demon that had been tormenting the Empire!

“…Oh my God.”

The confused Holy Nation was only waiting for the Kingdom’s expeditionary force, skilled in war against demons.

At least for now, there would be no response to Bishop Kalli’s plea.

* * *

With the County’s complete conquest of the demon territory, and beyond binding the church so it couldn’t move, even the Beastkin Special Operations Unit still remaining in the County had become allies sharing the church’s internal situation.

There was no reason for Sione and me to stay in the County any longer.

“Baron, are you leaving now?”

“I need to prepare to form an expeditionary force. Even though I’m scheduled to join the second expeditionary force, there’s no harm in starting preparations earlier.”

“Since you’re heading to the Empire rather than the Kingdom… as you say, it’s not bad to put in more effort for longer. Then the next time we meet face to face will be when we set out on the expedition.”

“I pray you’ll uncover the secrets of the morning star and Divine Power by then.”

“Mm.”

After finishing our brief conversation, Ainel calmly approached Sione.

“Sione. Would you come over here for a moment?”

She removed a brooch attached to her ceremonial robe and placed it on Sione’s robe.

“Mother, this brooch—”

“…It’s one of your father’s keepsakes. Even on his sickbed, he always said he wanted to pass down his most treasured possessions to each of you when you grew up.”

“Ah—”

“I was too fearful and foolish, so it’s much later than when I gave the pendant to Siabel… but would you accept it now?”

“…Of course.”

The item from a father who now existed only in increasingly fading memories was pinned to the ceremonial robe of what was now a Barony, not a County.

Siabel and I watched quietly as Sione gently caressed the brooch with that peculiar sensation.

“I wondered when you’d give it to her. Mother, really… I told you these things should be given promptly.”

Siabel spoke frankly, as if she had been worried about when it would be given.

“Sione may be stronger than me, but her heart still seems more delicate. She might cry in the carriage. Brother-in-law, please take good care of our Sione.”

“…Of course.”

“That’s reassuring. It’s good to show it now. Even though she looks so calm—”

A happy yet somewhat bitter smile appeared on Siabel’s lips as she reflected on the past.

Sione, reflected in her heterochromatic eyes, seemed to feel the brooch she was caressing was unbearably heavy, showing neither words nor signs of joy or reminiscence about past happiness.

“Sione adored Father more than anyone. After she began speaking, she always said she wanted to be a daughter Father wouldn’t be ashamed of… but many things happened after that.”

She spoke calmly.

“If you, and no one else, listen to her, wouldn’t she be able to wear that brooch a little more proudly?”

She suggested that I, who had even served as a servant in the County, could unravel the old stories entangled between her father and Sione, which remained veiled in mystery.