Chapter 209 For Worse (1)

Chapter 209 For Worse (1)

Episode 209 For Worse (1)

The Roselia Cathedral, located in the heart of the holy land, was the center of the Main God Church, the largest religion in Auterica. It boasted a vast scale, incomparable to other cathedrals in other regions.

Not only did many high-ranking officials, including the Pope and the Saintess, reside here, but the political, administrative, and intelligence work they handled was also continental in scope, so it was only natural.

And most of the headquarters of the holy knight orders and the Heresy Inquisitors, who were dispatched to other regions, were also located here.

And on one side of the vast grounds, there were many lodging buildings prepared for distinguished guests visiting from outside...

“Whew— I’m exhausted.”

In one of them, the lodging for the Azeria Empire’s delegation,

Princess Riley, who had just returned from the meeting, collapsed onto the sofa in her office, groaning.

Her entire body was aching because the meeting, which had started around lunchtime, had only ended late at night, but it couldn’t be helped because the agenda item that had suddenly come up was urgent.

“...Princess Riley? Please maintain your composure. This isn’t the imperial palace.”

“Huh? Ah, come on, it doesn’t matter. We’re the only ones here. Let’s just relax, I’m tired, Sister Seah.”

Isea frowned at her behavior, but Riley just lay down on the sofa.

The Church had provided each delegation with a separate lodging building, so they could relax more comfortably without worrying about the other factions.

And they had dismissed all their attendants as soon as they arrived at the lodging.

So there was no problem, as only those Riley was comfortable with were left.

“...But it’s not good to be so sloppy in front of Heron...”

“Hmm? Me? Ah, Master. What’s the big deal? We’ve already seen each other at our best and worst while we were stuck in the Immortal Fortress. This is nothing!”

Hesperon, who had followed them to the office, immediately chimed in when he heard his name.

He had been acting a bit dazed since earlier, but it seemed like he wasn’t completely out of it.

“Oh—? What kind of relationship is that?”

Of course, Isea’s eyes narrowed at his careless remark.

“No... wait, Heron! What do you mean ‘at our worst’? It wasn’t that bad, was it? It was just an unavoidable problem because of the harsh environment! ...A-and the situation we were in!”

Riley jumped up from the sofa, her face flushed, and protested, but...

The brief commotion didn’t last long and quickly subsided.

They had been chatting casually to take a break, but they couldn’t afford to worry about such trivial matters because the reality before them was too daunting.

“A large-scale attack by the Immortal Army... What do you think, sister?”

“...Honestly, it’s already a close call. The monsters rampaging everywhere, the White Giants suddenly appearing, and the Immortal Army’s periodic attacks. And now those attacks are going to intensify...”

They had been doing relatively well so far, considering that the Immortal King had descended upon them.

The casualties weren’t insignificant, but at least the other countries, except for the Rohan Duchy, hadn’t suffered enough damage to threaten their existence.

But as Saint Heinrich had said, if large-scale attacks began, most countries would face great difficulties in maintaining their current societies.

Some might even collapse like the Rohan Duchy.

‘Of course, excluding the Talia Kingdom, whose regime has already been replaced.’

Hesperon, who had been listening to their conversation blankly, nodded silently.

He had always been a bit clueless, but it was especially bad today.

It was because of the heated debate going on in his mind.

-Hannibal Strauss: The preparations are almost complete. When should we attack? I will not accept any objections.

The one who started it was the cause of all this,

Immortal King Hannibal Strauss.

-Heinz the Second: I disagree, but if we must attack, it would be best to do it after the summit. If things happen too quickly, it’ll disrupt our plans.

-Heinrich: No, we should stop him now. Hans is moving too recklessly. We still have a lot of time, there’s no need to rush!

-Harley: I’m hungry, let’s eat! We should add ten servings of meat to tonight’s snack!

-Hubert: Tsk, he’s definitely going to do it, isn’t he? Then we should use this opportunity to eliminate that annoying merchant alliance. It’ll be efficient.

-Harris: Ah... this is annoying... Should we just quit everything...?

-Howard: Ugh, that stubborn bastard! Is he really going to do it? Then at least don’t cause any trouble near Tarak! I’m at a crucial moment right now. Something I’ve been working on for a long time is about to be completed!

A frivolous voice echoed from a mountain where the World Tree looked quite large, as if it was nearby, and at the same time,

Growl—

Grrr! Woof—!

Blood-red ghost fires started to glow one by one around him, accompanied by the chilling howls of beasts consumed by their primal instincts.

“Then~ shall we begin the clown show? Hehehehehe—!”

And his voice, which had been high-pitched, gradually deepened as he spoke, eventually turning into the growl of a beast.

They were similar to beastmen at first glance, but they were fundamentally different.

Lycanthropes were a race whose potential grew by devouring the hearts of their prey, and they were inherently born with dark magic power... They were practically monsters.

They were also a race that wasn’t welcomed anywhere because of their ferocity, targeting the hearts of not only monsters, but even other intelligent beings.

If Hans hadn’t discovered Heaven’s Turn Society’s ‘Complete Evolution Project’ on Earth, Harley might have ended up like them.

“Hahaha—! Now then, let’s go rip open the bellies of those pigs steeped in peace!”

And countless black shadows followed the grotesque laughter of the monster leading them,

Sneaking through the mountains of the Enamel Continent under the cover of darkness.

______________

The eastern part of the Ion Continent, the Zepia Republic.

“Are the preparations... complete...?”

“Yes, Lord. We can begin whenever you command.”

A cracked old man’s voice and a seductive woman’s voice exchanged words in a vast cavern filled with darkness.

“How... were you able to... make it in time...?”

“It’s all thanks to your presence, Lord. It would have been impossible otherwise...”

The woman’s silhouette bowed before the small old man’s shadow in the darkness.

“You know... the situation... right...?”

“Yes, Ufersh and Brokoslack joined forces and are swallowing up the lower clans. I didn’t expect them to go that far, but they’ll regret their choice.”

The woman answered confidently to the old man’s slow question.

It couldn’t be helped, as they had invested a very long... an incredibly long time in this.

Their lord hadn’t even hesitated to join forces with those pests from Heaven’s Turn Society.

“I don’t know what he was thinking, making such a reckless move, but it’s absurd to think he can forcibly merge all those bloodlines and rule them all. The Vampire Clan Alliance Hybrid, that fool must think he’s the King of Vampires.”

The woman mocked, her voice filled with scorn.

The small old man looked down at her, then slowly opened his mouth.

“Then... begin immediately...”

“Your will be done.”

And with those words,

The legend that had been dormant in the eastern region of the continent for a long time, the Obaifo Clan, started to move.

And the suspicious movements didn’t stop there.

“Hurry up, you idiots!”

“Ugh! Y-yes, High Chieftain!”

“Damn it, if it hadn’t been for that Revolutionary bastard, we could have finished this sooner!”

Not only in the Tribal Federation in the southern part of the continent,

“Are the preparations complete?”

“Yes, everything is done as you commanded. But Duke, are you sure it’s okay to proceed like this...?”

“Hehe, it’s all for the sake of our Empire. We need to buy time until His Highness the Crown Prince returns. Don’t tell me you think that lowly bloodline is worthy of the throne?”

“T-that’s absurd!”

But also in Jeron, the capital of the Azeria Empire.

The seeds of chaos, which had been dormant in every corner of Auterica, started to sprout all at once.