L99VL 72

Chapter 72

“Sorry, everyone. I was actually planning to send you on leave this time.”

Upon hearing that the Eastern Fortress had fallen, Eric left his family estate at dawn.

No matter how urgent the situation, a member of the Grand Ducal family could not intervene in matters of other territories without permission.

For the time being, he borrowed a carriage from the temple and headed east in his capacity as a hero of the Order.

“No, it’s fine! Even if we got leave, there’s nowhere special for us to go anyway.”
“Considering the circumstances, there’s no need to worry. Besides, this will count as a merit as well.”

Watching Lillian and Leona wave their hands as if to say it was fine, Eric smiled in gratitude.

In truth, the affairs in the east were not something he could intervene in lightly.

The fall of a fortress at the heart of the eastern border implied that the other fortresses and the eastern diocese behind them could also be in danger. While the justification for the Order’s hero to step in was clear, the northern threat had not yet fully subsided.

Due to past events in the old diocese, even within the Order, he was considered closely associated with Gregorius, and any misstep could lead to unnecessary suspicion.

Could it be… that this was their intention from the start?

A sudden, ominous premonition crossed his mind.

As soon as Gregorius faced the Divine Trial, the Zamawang mobilized his forces.

Thanks to that, Gregorius was temporarily released under the pretext of defending against the rat swarms carrying venom and plague. A major battle erupted at Castrum Fortress, but Zamawang did not overextend and withdrew after a while.

The scale of the battle means there were some losses, but it’s far less than initially expected.

Yet, amidst all this, the Eastern Fortress fell—struck not by the openly mobilizing forces of Zamawang, but by the Mahuwang, who somehow gathered troops at a border adjacent to the kingdom.

It’s a mystery how Mahuwang managed to assemble such forces on a border that faced the kingdom. Still, apart from that, it’s just a simple feint operation. The real issue…

The real problem was that the greatest beneficiary of this event was Gregorius himself.

The fact that the Eastern Fortress had fallen into the demon king’s hands only reinforced his perceived necessity.

Of course, this alone was not evidence of Gregorius committing wrongdoing.

But for those seeking to bring him down, it was an irresistible opportunity. Those who had even involved two cardinals from the south and west to tie Gregorius’ hands would never back down quietly.

…They might even use this as a pretext to summon Gregorius again.

The fall of the Eastern Fortress had already heightened tension. Whether the Order would risk public trust to summon Gregorius, the only one capable of shifting the battlefield with Divine Magic alone, for trial was uncertain.

Still, it was better to prepare for the worst.

There was no harm in taking preemptive action.

I conveyed the matter regarding Bishop Impietas to Isabella through Malefica when leaving the capital, so by the time I return from this, there should be news.

Impietas.

He would occupy the vacant seat left by Gregorius in the original timeline, though it was uncertain whether he had truly committed wrongdoing.

This was merely speculation; there were no rumors in the game that Impietas was colluding with the demon king.

But… based on circumstances, it’s clear he’s somehow involved in the trial.

He had suddenly emerged from the north claiming he would expose Gregorius’ corruption. A mere bishop taking the vacant seat of a cardinal was suspicious enough.

Finding corruption in such suspicious circumstances was precisely the work of the Inquisitor. Isabella would surely uncover evidence from Bishop Impietas.

The Raven of the Order—she was that kind of person.

If they try to summon Gregorius for a futile scheme… I’ll just crush that plan completely.

For now, they could not be stopped outright. But with prior connections to Justia, the Second Princess, and a little evidence, even the strongest backers could be obstructed.

Well, even if they don’t act and keep their distance, I’ll deal with them when the time comes.

With the already difficult conditions, he could not afford the risk of carrying a potential demon king’s pawn inside.

“Your Grace, we’ve arrived.”

It had been just over two weeks since Eric had left his estate for the east upon hearing of the fortress’s fall.

He finally reached his destination. Though the city was some distance from the border, it appeared outwardly unharmed.

I’ve come briefly to the east before to recruit talent, but this is the first time I’ve come this deep into the city.

Ergen, a commercial city. One of the empire’s busiest cities and the eastern center of the Order’s diocese.

“The streets… are so quiet.”
“I heard Ergen was supposed to be as lively as the heart of the east…”

Thanks to the carriage bearing the Order’s crest, Eric passed through the gates without inspection. But as he entered, he immediately sensed an unsettling atmosphere.

Normally bustling with merchants and buyers, the city streets were now empty, heavy silence hanging over them.

The Eastern Fortress is some distance from Ergen, yet the defeated mood has reached here. The situation must be worse than I thought.

Eric had come partly to gain merit as the family heir and partly to investigate what had gone wrong compared to the future he knew. But this was clearly not a simple matter.

“This is it.”

After passing through the subdued streets, Eric followed Malefica to a massive cathedral. Unlike the quiet city outside, a commotion emanated from within.

Creeeak—

“Support request from Altain Fortress! Monsters, provoked by Mahuwang’s forces, are rampaging!”
“Monsters? Just tell them to handle it! We don’t have enough priests to send to where Mahuwang’s troops are!”
“Refugees from the fortress are about to reach Ergen!”
“Relief supplies? What? All the merchants have fled north and central regions? Fool! Surely there’s stockpiled aid!”

The shouts hit his ears as soon as he opened the door. Eric had expected chaos with an empty cathedral entrance, but not to this extent.

Despite the door creaking loudly, no one noticed him entering.

“Damn! When will the central request for support arrive… Ah!”

As Eric lingered at the entrance, surveying the scene, a man furiously directing priests suddenly spotted them and widened his eyes.

“Are you from the Papal Court? You’ve arrived just in time!”

His expression brightened, clearly relieved. He seemed to mistake Malefica for someone else, eagerly grasping her hand while glancing outside. Then he spoke again in confusion.

“Uh, excuse me… where are the others?”
“They… aren’t here.”

Seeing Malefica awkwardly smile at the man’s confusion, Eric subtly reached out and guided her back.

“…Excuse me, who might you be?”

The man assessed Eric’s attire and spoke with deliberate politeness. Clearly not a mere attendant; his refined clothing and dignified bearing marked him as someone of high status.

“I’ve been newly appointed as a hero under the Goddess’s grace.”
“A new hero? Y-you mean the northern r… huh!”

The man blinked, realizing Eric’s identity, and quickly stifled the words forming on his lips.

Eric Ater.

He had heard that the troublesome scion of the Ater family recently became a hero of the Order. It was said that an Inquisitor had actively pushed for it…

But… this is different from the rumors.

Rumors painted him as a reckless fool wandering marketplaces indulging in vices. Yet the outward appearance he now presented was nothing like that.

His calm smile, even after the earlier slight rudeness, was fitting for a hero of the Order.

Ah, now I remember. Northern branches reported on the new hero.

He had resolved anomalies in Dalnaerim Forest, dealt with notable figures in the old northern diocese, eradicated the plague roaming the fortresses, and had a major role in the battle against Zamawang’s forces alongside the famous northern small giant, Cardinal Gregorius.

His skill, height, and handsome appearance now made the prior rumors seem doubtful.

“…Ah, my apologies! A noble guest has arrived, and I acted without thinking. Please, would you enter and speak with us?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”

The man composed himself and led Eric upstairs, smiling politely.

“Should the others wait outside?”
“Sir Leona, Lady Lillian, please wait a moment. And you, Malefica, step aside. Let the two speak freely.”

At the door, Eric subtly nodded, excused himself to the others, and followed the man inside.

Creeeak—

A modest bookshelf lined one wall; a desk by the window, piled high with papers; a sofa for receiving guests.

Perhaps he holds a higher office than I thought.

As Eric surveyed the room, a sudden thud drew his gaze downward.

“Hero!”

The man immediately knelt before him.

“W-what is this? Please rise!”