CHAPTER 156…………………………..
Prelude to War
While the paladins were training and maintaining their gear in Solaris…
“…Has the reply arrived yet?”
Leonis was focused on selecting a new pope, together with the priests and bishops.
At his question, the priests and bishops showed uneasy expressions.
“Not yet…”
“…We haven’t received anything from anywhere.”
Sigh…
Leonis pressed his throbbing head and let out a deep breath.
In Solaris, there was not a single high-ranking clergyman left who could be elevated to pope.
All those with sufficient influence had been expelled from the south by Lucarion VII.
Most of them remained in the central regions.
Leonis needed to find someone among them who, without aligning with the First Prince Calyx, would remain neutral on religious matters.
The problem was that Calyx had complete control over the central continent.
He had stationed loyal noble families at the borders extending east, west, south, and north from the imperial capital Erion, allowing only a limited number of people to enter and leave the central region under their control.
Given the circumstances, even if the ravens had been sent out, news and information were inevitably delayed.
“To think he’d even block the postal routes…”
“This is blatant religious persecution!”
“That’s right! We cannot just stand by and watch Prince Calyx’s tyranny.”
Even the usually calm clergy voices grew louder with indignation.
From the beginning, these were people dissatisfied with the empire.
That was why Lucarion VII had left them in Solaris instead of sending them away entirely.
He believed they could be used and stirred up when needed.
And now, it was the same for Leonis.
…It’s all ready now.
He had already received news via Baldo that the northern expeditionary army had been annihilated.
The collaborators in the east had already been contacted.
Everyone would gather at Icecrown in the north.
With the Solaris paladin order joining, their strength was more than sufficient.
What was needed now was a justification to start the war.
…Even something minor would do.
Leonis was eagerly focusing on selecting a new pope to find—or create—that justification.
Meanwhile…
“It’s here!”
Finally, a reply had arrived from the central region.
“Oh!”
“F-Finally…!”
“Where—where did it come from?”
“Well… uh…”
The priest, bursting in with a bright face, quickly checked the envelope in his hands.
“It was sent by the Archbishop in Darc!”
‘Darc’ was a fortified city located along the route from the central to the southern regions.
It had a waterway leading to the sea, making it a frequent hub of trade with southern port cities.
The priest handed the envelope to a bishop nearby.
After exchanging glances with the other bishops, he carefully opened it.
When he unfolded the neatly folded parchment inside…
“Ah…”
The bishop’s face darkened, and a sigh escaped him.
“The archbishop… says he cannot leave the city.”
At his words, the other bishops sighed as well.
“B-But… you should see… this…”
The bishop holding the letter trembled in both eyes and voice.
He stood and approached Leonis to hand him the letter.
His wrinkled hands shook violently.
Upon receiving and examining the letter, Leonis immediately understood why the bishop was so terrified.
“This is…”
The letter bore red fingerprints.
The handwriting looked hastily scrawled.
It was crumpled carelessly, not folded neatly.
“…It seems we cannot assume the archbishop wrote this letter in a sound state of mind.”
Leonis held the letter aloft for all to see.
The bishops who had already seen it bowed their heads, and the other clergy present fell silent.
“Far from electing a new pope, the safety of the archbishops is in serious jeopardy. Therefore, I intend to inform the paladins and secure the archbishops’ safety as quickly as possible…”
This was what Leonis had long awaited…
“What are your thoughts?”
It was a very minor pretext.
The outer walls surrounding the imperial capital, Erion.
At one corner, the tallest, tower-like spire rose high above everything else.
The continent’s only magic tower, with floors stacked with the workshops of imperial magicians.
Under the orders of the imperial Grand Magus, Zeras Grim, preparations for the expedition into the Great Forest were in full swing.
“What a hassle…”
“Exactly. I became an imperial magician, only to be dragged to the frontlines…”
“If I had known, I wouldn’t have paid the money to become an imperial magician.”
“Tell me about it.”
Most of the young magicians grumbled.
Only a handful had truly come to the tower out of a genuine desire for magic.
Most had entered seeking a stable life.
Imperial magicians were dispatched to various territories to advise lords and nobles on magic.
That alone earned them a salary from both the empire and the local domains.
Moreover, they were allowed to craft artifacts, giving them opportunities to earn more if skilled.
Under these circumstances, it made more sense for the children of mediocre noble families to join the magic tower.
“But… is it really possible?”
A young magician carrying tools cautiously spoke.
“What?”
“The Great Forest. No one’s been able to enter it until now…”
“It’s because of the elves and dwarves. Damn nuisances.”
Someone swore.
“Elves never miss with their arrows, and dwarves strike with thunder. Can we fight and… win against such monsters?”
“But we’ve never fought properly before, right?”
“That’s true. No emperor in history ever seriously attempted to conquer the Great Forest.”
“This might be the first time imperial magicians are heading to the frontlines.”
The young magicians’ chatter seemed endless.
As more chimed in, preparations were delayed.
“Then maybe… this time will be different?”
“Zeras himself said he’d go. If it’s him…”
“Not just that. I overheard the high-level magicians…”
The tower’s magicians were divided by floor.
The higher the floor, the higher the rank.
Young magicians performed simple experiments and assisted mid-floor magicians.
High-floor magicians created practical spells, inscriptions, and optimized magic efficiency.
“The three top-floor magicians will go too.”
“W-What?!”
“They’re going too?!”
“Wow, then there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Exactly. They are all… Overlords.”
Five inscriptions—known as the Penta Chain—were considered the limit of human endurance.
Those who surpassed this limit through additional inscriptions were called Overlords.
The three highest-floor magicians were those Overlords.
“You brats!”
A middle-aged mid-floor magician shouted at the young magicians.
“Stop chattering and get to work!”
“Yes, sir!”
“We will! We will do it!”
The young magicians scattered quickly, grumbling.
Magical tools, scrolls, and artifacts were stacked neatly at the bottom of the tower.
The top floor of the magic tower was currently empty.
The three Overlords were kneeling in a grand mansion outside the city before a man.
“Kailos Maze. Greetings, master.”
“Jaden Shag. Greetings, master.”
“Elena Astria. Greetings, master.”
Their master, the head of the imperial magicians, and the tower’s owner.
“Apologies for calling you while busy with research,” said Zeras Grim calmly.
“But conquering the Great Forest will elevate your magic to an even higher level. I hope you do not find it unpleasant.”
“Unpleasant? Not at all, sir.”
The elderly magician smiled warmly, letting out a dry laugh.
“Thank you for calling this inadequate student.”
“You still flatter well, Kailos.”
A sharp young female voice rang out.
“Your tongue seems wrinkle-free, huh?”
“Show respect to your senior, Elena.”
A deep male voice scolded her.
“You studied magic to look young….”
“What?! Did you just say that?!”
“Kailos, Elena,” said the young man softly, trying to calm the two who looked ready to fight.
“You are before your master. Control yourselves.”
A heavy silence fell around them.
“Soft only… in voice, huh?”
“Apologies…”
The two stepped back quietly, subdued.
“Good. With you three, establishing a frontline in the Great Forest will be trivial.”
“About that!”
Elena laughed brightly.
“Why not just sweep everything away instead of building a frontline?”
“Just give the order. We’ll burn the forest before you arrive.”
“Even hearing that is reassuring.”
Zeras chuckled at their words.
“But it’s fine. Just show the act of establishing a frontline. Burning the Great Forest…”
In the darkness, his face twisted cunningly.
“…can wait until later.”
Kailos shivered at Zeras’ voice.
A chill ran down his spine.
…Even at this age, still afraid? Of the master…?
Kailos, a formidable magician himself, had always feared Zeras since youth.
Perhaps it was the inhuman aura he occasionally sensed, or the vast difference in skill.
Even now, in his old age, he did not know exactly why.
“Go to the tower and finish preparations by tomorrow. We leave at dawn.”
“…Understood.”
Kailos bowed obediently, then left the mansion with Elena and Jaden.
When their figures disappeared, and the mansion seemed drained of energy, Zeras muttered to himself:
“…Humans.”
He slowly walked into his study.
The walls were lined with portraits of the heads of the Grim family through history.
Zeras gazed at them with a distant look, smiling faintly.
“It took a long time…”
His voice echoed as if recalling a distant past.
“Not much longer now.”
At the last empty spot on the wall.
A place where his own portrait would hang.
“The moment this world ends…”
He wore a faintly bitter smile.
