Chapter 134: The Regretful Hero. The Magic Division of Passion Part 2

The squad members screamed at Kise’s mission briefing.

“Huh? Just looking at it from the expedition, it seems like a considerable distance!”

Quite a few people agreed with the wizard who spoke.

In reality, it wasn’t that far.

“Ah, it was like that during the expedition, but from here to Crad Castle, the distance isn’t that long. And it’s at the border—we’re only going near it.”

That area was already a safe zone.

With the military stationed there, there was no real reason for the mage division to enter Crad Castle itself.

“Then… is this like a casual outing?”

“No. The mage division’s goal is to eliminate the monsters along the way and secure public order in the area. After that, the roads will be connected. More importantly, the Holy Knights of the Church are stationed there right now.”

The Holy Knights of the Church?

I turned to Kise and asked, “Why is the Church involved?”

“Ah… Olivia-nim, that is…”

She’s even adding ‘nim’ now.

This is exactly why I don’t like Kise.

If she had any sense, she’d just say it.

“I am merely a member of the mage division.”

Then act like a proper superior instead of being so meek.

“Hmm… Olivia. Ahem. The reason is that there are matters to discuss regarding the last expedition. The next head of the Ashtar family will likely handle it, and the mage division will only be responsible for exterminating the monsters in the vicinity.”

The Church’s presence seemed suspicious.

“Maybe we could settle everything there instead of going all the way to the Church? We could talk with the priests accompanying the Holy Knights right there.”

“Oh, that’s not a bad idea.”

“If I go there and secretly request something from the second son…”

“Olivia-nim.”

“I get it, I get it. Stop making that face.”

Syria was glaring at me intensely.

She was basically telling me to behave.

In the end, she meant that I should go to the Church.

‘Damn it. This sucks.’

***

The first mission for the mage division had been assigned.

Since it was similar to what I had in mind for Atlerina, I thought there would be some sort of lecture first.

But unexpectedly, even the entire reserve mage division was being put through training.

“Hmm. So this is how it turns out.”

In my case, I ended up leading the entire reserve mage division.

Apparently, since I was the reincarnation of Eldakrad, they decided the reserve division should be placed under my command.

More than anything, my abilities had already been proven through Void Magic.

There was no opposition—if anything, Kise had been pressured by the reserve division into making me their leader.

“Thinking about it, this is actually better.”

That fool Kise had probably wanted to keep me by her side.

If she had, there would’ve been constant tension with Syria, which would’ve been annoying.

Anyway, thanks to the reserve mages, I was now leading them.

With each of them on horseback, draped in cloaks, they looked quite dignified.

‘Yes. This is exactly what I wanted.’

Leading mages into battle.

“Alright, let’s move out.”

“Yes!”

I unfolded the map again.

The mana trail Kise had marked started at the mage division’s headquarters and wound its way up to Crad Castle.

Since this was our first mission as a mage division, we should take it at a steady pace.

***

Crad Castle

Currently, Rokton, the heir to the family, had arrived on an inspection tour. During his visit, he was met by an envoy from the Church.

The fact that the Church’s envoy had personally followed Rokton’s inspection route was not something that could be ignored.

Thus, Rokton met directly with the Holy Knight who had come as the envoy.

“What negotiations do you wish to conduct by sending someone here?”

“Ahem. His Holiness, the Pope, wishes to extend his congratulations on Ashtar’s successful capture of Crad Castle.”

‘I figured as much.’

The Church had been involved in this matter.

Now that the expedition was over, some form of acknowledgment was expected.

“I understand, but you wouldn’t have come all this way just for that, would you?”

“Haha, indeed. Actually, Crad Castle is situated right in the middle between the Demon Realm and Ashtar, is it not? The land itself contains more demonic soil than Ashtar’s.”

“That’s true.”

“If you walked just outside the northern gate, you’d see the gray soil immediately. So, what do you think about co-governing Crad Castle with the Church? Our priests could help purify the demonic energy—it would be quite beneficial.”

‘All of a sudden?’

Crad Castle barely had any Ashtar citizens to begin with.

At best, it housed Ashtar’s soldiers and a few others.

There had never been any plans to station civilians at a fortress on the frontline of the Demon Realm.

“What exactly do you mean? This castle was reclaimed entirely through Ashtar’s efforts.”

It was restored by Ashtar’s strength alone.

Even though the expeditionary force had included support from the Church, it was Saintess Olivia who had led the charge to retake Crad Castle.

If they tried to argue that its capture was the result of a joint expeditionary force, then there wasn’t much to say.

But the reality was clear.

“We are not forcing this upon you, but wouldn’t rejecting this proposal create difficulties in future relations between the Church and Ashtar?”

‘So that’s how they’re going to pressure us.’

Realistically, there was no need to maintain relations with the Church.

However, the crucial point was that the Church was the headquarters of the Goddess’ faith.

For Ashtar, a noble family of the Empire that followed the Goddess, severing ties with the Church would be akin to betraying the devout believers among their own citizens.

‘Perhaps Olivia will have to intervene.’

Crad Castle was built by Ashtar’s hero.

Handing it over was not an option.

If they agreed to this, they’d face heavy criticism from the people.

“If we are to sever ties, moving the headquarters of the Imperial Goddess Church to Ashtar could be one way.”

But thinking about it carefully, something feels off.

‘Or is there another ulterior motive?’

“No, this whole incident started because the Holy Nation failed to properly manage Saint Bernoa in the first place. So why bring this up out of nowhere?”

I decided to test the waters.

“Bernoa was sent to the kingdom, and the kingdom, in turn, handed her over to Ashtar as a gesture of goodwill. If she fell into corruption in Ashtar, doesn’t that mean Ashtar failed to properly manage the saint?”

Bringing up something from decades ago so abruptly—it’s almost laughable.

‘Ashtar didn’t manage the saint properly?’

Honestly, it’s absurd to even hear.

But if the Holy Nation insists on pushing this, we might have to take a step back.

No matter how I look at it, this is unreasonable.

There must be something else going on.

There’s no reason to be kind to those who dare to challenge Ashtar.

“Hah. So, what you’re asking for is to rule Crad Castle together?”

Rokton spoke curtly.

Right now, I want nothing more than to bring my younger brother inside and have these holy knights thrown out. But I hold back.

“Yes.”

It doesn’t make sense.

There must be a reason why the Holy Nation is doing this.

“Even if you twist the truth, at least speak plainly. You’re doing this because you want something, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s be honest. The Holy Nation is a country ruled by the Pope. I don’t think a nation like that would be foolish enough to covet someone else’s land. The fact that this is absurd must be obvious even to the holy knights sent by the Holy Nation.”

“Uh… well…”

‘Was it true?’ The holy knights of the Holy Nation looked troubled.

I knew it.

There must be a reason why that Pope is acting this way.

“So it was just as I thought. You have another motive.”

“Ahem. Fine. There’s no point in beating around the bush, so I’ll be direct. His Holiness wishes to see the Imperial Saint.”

“Yeah. It’s better when they’re straightforward.”

“So that’s what they really want.”

“Olivia, you mean.”

“Yes.”

Strange.

‘Are the holy knights being so forceful just because of Olivia?’

‘Is something going on?’

‘Or do they just want to take her because she’s considered a useless saint of the Goddess Church?’

Either way, this isn’t good.

“For what reason?”

“Exactly as I said. His Holiness has taken great interest in the Imperial Saint who has taken Crad Castle.”

‘Interest in the Imperial Saint?’

Fine, that’s plausible.

But even so, the Holy Nation’s reaction is strange.

‘Olivia is already with the Mage Division. So why insist on this?’

She could naturally visit the Holy Nation for diplomatic reasons through the Mage Division.

“Olivia is with the Mage Division right now. Why go through all this trouble? She’ll meet the Holy Nation when the division visits anyway.”

“His Holiness does not wish to meet Olivia as a member of the Mage Division. He wishes to see her as a saint and as the Taesa.”

In other words, they want her sent as an envoy.

“So that’s why you’ve been making ridiculous claims to damage Ashtar’s authority.”

“Ahem… No, it’s not exactly like that…”

Their awkward coughs as they try to hide it are suspicious.

“Not exactly? That’s a weak excuse. Aren’t your words too provocative?”

“Well, it can’t be helped. The Emperor of the Empire appointed an Ashtar noblewoman as the Taesa.”

So, they judged that she couldn’t be treated carelessly.

Rokton narrowed his eyes.

Even so, trying to undermine Ashtar’s authority like this is excessive.

“Still, isn’t this going too far?”

“Please understand the position of the Holy Nation. Suddenly, the saint of the Goddess Church is also an Ashtar noblewoman. From our perspective, as fellow believers of the Goddess, we can’t simply ignore your country’s saint. But… You understand, don’t you? Your Emperor…”

“Ah. Right.”

‘Maybe I was getting too serious about this. That Emperor is a madman, after all.’

He’s the type who never lets go of what he likes.

That’s why he gave his own sister, Olivia, such a position and locked her up in the capital.

Once the holiday break is over, he’ll probably summon her back to the capital immediately.

There’s no way that Emperor would let her be sent to the Holy Nation so easily.

So instead, they’re trying to pressure Ashtar, someone with influence over the Emperor, to test the waters.

“Is it possible?”

“Hmm. And what do we get in return?”

Rokton crossed his arms and silently studied the holy knight before him.

“If all goes well, His Holiness may recognize the Imperial Goddess Church.”

Recognition of the Imperial Goddess Church.

“But I heard your Pope has been ignoring its leader.”

“Anyone would oppose a corrupt man like him. He only wants to use the Goddess Church for his own benefit.”

“That’s true.”

“Actually, if we’re being honest, Ashtar has been secretly supporting the Imperial Goddess Church from behind the scenes. But if this continues, won’t Ashtar end up as the villain in all of this?”

“Then whose idea was it to target Ashtar?”

“That, too, was His Holiness’s idea.”

I didn’t think a mere holy knight could have come up with this.

As expected.

“If intimidation doesn’t work, then entice us with recognition of the Imperial Goddess Church?”

“Yes.”

I knew it.

“That old man must have lost his mind. Even if he is the Pope, to think he would play such games with Ashtar. Even if the times have changed, this is too much. Maybe we should send someone to deal with this.”

“That old man should be getting senile by now.”

“Ahem! That’s too harsh. He is still the esteemed leader of the Holy Nation.”

‘Esteemed leader?’

Looking polished on the outside doesn’t change the fact that he’s just an old woman inside.

‘If he ever lost his power, he’d probably wither and drop dead in an instant.’

Even during Eldakrad’s time, there was interaction between us, but this is beyond rude.

To think they would dare to insult Ashtar like this.