Chapter 81:

Chapter 81:

Isaac combed through memories from Kyle’s younger days.

He observed the meeting between the former lord, Lisfen Hendrake, and Kalsen Miller with a sense of admiration. At that time, Kalsen was not seen as a betrayer but as a hero and a saint, so it was natural for Kyle to look up to him with admiration.

Kalsen was having a conversation with Lisfen, and due to Kyle’s deep immersion in his own emotions, the sound was almost inaudible. This memory remained clear in his mind.

However, he distinctly remembered Lisfen Hendrake, tense and holding something resembling a white stone tablet. Kalsen examined the tablet before handing it back to Lisfen.

That was all he remembered.

‘What was written on it? And that stone tablet...’Reead new chapters at novelhall.com

Since it was returned to Lisfen, it was highly probable that the tablet was still within these lands. Isaac entertained a possibility. Considering Kalsen’s long-prepared plan to become a deity, it was only natural he had collaborators among the nobles and powerholders.

This meant Lisfen was likely one of them.

‘Then something went wrong, and he ended up being taken care of by the prophet of the red flesh.’

Isaac couldn’t detach himself from the memory of the white stone tablet.

He had a feeling it was a crucial clue.

***

Kyle’s fate was settled as ‘returning to the Codex of light, declaring a life of celibacy and poverty.’

For a noble who owned lands to become a mere servant in a monastery was a harsh punishment, causing even other nobles to express their discomfort covertly.

Nonetheless, the order was satisfied.

Since establishing a monastery here was already a foregone conclusion, someone needed to be responsible for the land. In this regard, Kyle’s actions were exemplary.

“Having troubled the faithful with ignorance, it’s only fitting to devote one’s life to serving them as atonement for enlightenment,” Isaac remarked.

Juan nodded in agreement.

“A model punishment that can serve as an example for the arrogant nobles.”

Inside the abandoned mine.

Bishop Juan and Isaac were touring the mine’s fallen angel while discussing. Around the fallen angel, inquisitors and priests had placed sealed areas and golden ropes. The church’s regulations forbade tampering with or removing parts of the fallen angel carelessly.

The official reason was to prevent corruption or evil influence, but in reality, it was to harvest materials needed by the order in emergencies. Many of the church’s sacred artifacts were secretly made this way.

However, parts of the fallen angel were clearly tampered with. It wasn’t natural erosion but deliberate excavation. But the priests conducting the sealing operation didn’t seem overly concerned.

“There might have been miners who found it and secretly took some. It’s common for the church not to always be the first to discover fallen angels. The rest can’t be stolen now, anyway.”

One priest even created a seal on the spot using parts of the fallen angel.

“What abilities does this seal have?”

“It prevents the evil aura of the fallen angel from leaking out,” the priest answered Isaac’s question, pleased as if honored by his interest.

“This might sound rude, but it doesn’t seem too labor-intensive?”

“Ha, you mean it looks like it’s made rather casually? Yes, what you see is accurate. To do it properly, we’d need a world forge master.”

World forge masters were priests of the World’s Forge order based on the northern islands, known for their ability to manipulate metal like clay and for being skilled warriors and blacksmiths.

Isaac used the friendly priest’s attitude to inquire about various tools surrounding the fallen angel and their effects, all while inspecting its material and texture. He casually asked,

“Would you know the use of a stone tablet made from a piece of fallen angel of this size?”

Isaac was referring to the stone tablet from Kyle’s memory, believed to be made of fallen angel material. Considering fallen angels were key in creating sacred artifacts, it was easy to speculate that Kalsen intended to use it for something.

However, after seeing Isaac’s gesture, the priest hesitated, unsure, then speculated,

“I’m not sure, as I only work with seals. Maybe if I saw it, I could guess its use.”

Yet, not wanting to end on an uncertain note, the priest ventured a guess,

“Still, if it’s a tablet made of fallen angel material of that shape... Are you talking about a Dawn Tablet?”

‘Dawn Tablet?’

Isaac suddenly realized there was indeed a famous relic similar to what he had seen in his memory. It was so famously absurd that he hadn’t thought of it until now.

Supporting the construction of the monastery was also because, in the long run, if Isaac were to govern this territory, he could extract much more in donations.

Then, Isaac would simply have to gently scratch Juan’s greed to extract what he needed.

“That’s not it. I am aware of the church’s difficult circumstances. What I need is the church’s influence.”

“Influence?”

“Money is fine. Please dispatch priests and paladins. Let their teachings take root in this land and spread the word to even the impoverished, so that, though their lives may be poor, their hearts will be enriched.”

Juan scratched his wrinkled chin at Isaac’s words, indicating that money wasn’t necessary. Sending a few priests and paladins was not a big issue for him. And with Isacrea becoming a gray area, dispatching priests to clearly demonstrate influence seemed like not a bad idea.

“That’s a good idea. I’ll do that.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ve made you the lighthouse keeper of this land; it’s the least I can do. Remembering the grace of the church is enough for me.”

Juan proudly flaunted his generosity, hinting that Isaac would pay a significant price later. Isaac simply smiled in response.

Juan ended the conversation and went back outside the mine. Now, he would return to his diocese.

***

After Juan left, Isaac watched his departure with an expressionless face. The humble smile was nowhere to be found.

“Good. I’ve secured the priests and paladins. Taming them will be done gradually...”

Isaac had plans completely opposite to Juan’s.

Isaac intended to make Issacrea his base and sanctuary. He had already confirmed that he was on the verge of being proclaimed a saint and saw how much admiration he received among the priests and paladins.

Isaac planned to tame the priests and paladins sent by Juan to follow him.

Isaac knew well how easily those filled with religious fervor could be brainwashed, as opposed to nobles or knights who were harder to control.

“The canon of light is full of its contradictions and errors as it is. Just look at the emergence of Barbarians within the influence of the White Empire, and you can guess.”

Barbarians are those who have forsaken religious beliefs.

This means that many within the White Empire have chosen to live rejecting the teachings of the Codex of light.

The craze for growing Loracus, a cash crop rather than a traditional food crop, had made it difficult for people to make a living, leading to an increase in their numbers.

In this situation, even the church was focused on speculation, showing how chaotic the church’s situation was.

In this context, Isaac intended to become a new trend himself.

By introducing a new interpretation of doctrine and teachings, he planned to infiltrate the canon of light with nameless chaos, sucking up money and talent to grow.

“To put it nicely, it’s internal reform; to put it badly... it’s becoming a parasite.”

In the history of religion, this is a common occurrence. Once a symbol of reform, a religion becomes conservative once it grows sufficiently large and powerful. Then, a new interpretation of doctrine and reform is demanded from within, leading to the birth of new factions and independence.

The Roman Catholic Church experienced this, with numerous factions emerging and doctrines changing before splitting into new forms.

Similar events have occurred in this world.

Elil was once a founding hero of the great empire that served the Codex of light, but eventually split into factions, Elil’s daughter, after ripping out his heart, fled and established the Red Chalice Club. Even the Immortal Order can be said to have branched out from the Codex of light.

In the midst of such transformation, each faith established its identity, solidified its internals, and underwent reform.

Of course, Isaac was about to introduce a completely different deity, named Nameless Chaos, which essentially made him a real heretic.

However, in this world where all faiths have firmly established themselves, the only way for Isaac to win was this.

To plug a straw into a more powerful faith and suck out its strength.

Juan believed he was the one who had placed a straw into Isaac within the Codex of light, but in reality, he would be the one being sucked dry.

‘First of all...’

Isaac looked at the heretical angel sealed by the priests. The gold chains that had already been fully analyzed for their function, weaknesses, and power would pose no obstacle to Isaac.

Isaac thought while looking at the petrified heretical angel.

‘This needs to be dealt with first.’