469 At the time of the decision

"They all got together a lot. More urgent councils shall be held than this. Many of you may already know the agenda, but on the issue of Marshall Mercenary Corps Naja getting [the light of judgment]. Lion, I need a full report."

"Yes. Then let me report from me. A report came in the other day from a correspondent who was dispatching to the south against Lord Kyle. It is that Naja used [the light of judgment], the lost great magic of the Doren royal family, to extinguish the city of Gizania. This was found to be certain in subsequent research."

"It's Trion Barca. This one also has an investigation into the fact that the story is true through the merchants. The salt was undoubtedly white salt made by the Doren royal family, and it was possible to eat it."

"Oh, is that true, old man? Whatever the castle or the wall, you salted it with no people or creatures left, right? Was there one of those guys who ate that?

"It seems so. Even so, there are as many people as you don't know about [the light of judgment]. It's a great magic lost a long time ago that no one has seen again. I guess those who saw the scene left behind couldn't imagine that such great magic had been used to make people salt."

"Did you eat without knowing? Well, salt, indeed, is still quite valuable. If I stumble across a street, I might as well put it in my nostalgia."

"I'll keep talking. We then decided to find out what Naja would do. And on that occasion, Lord Ars received thankful advice from Archbishop Paul in the Church. Wouldn't Naja, with the power of [collecting], then attack the church and try to further enhance his power? The idea is that we might eventually head to the Holy Capital while raiding a nearby church."

"Right. Archbishop Paul is right, it's more efficient to [collect] magic by attacking church officials than by attacking ordinary people. And you would think that would be better for archbishops and cardinals with higher ranks than priests and bishops. Anyway, with [the light of judgment], you can make the other person a deceased person without question."

"Yes. I agree. I thought Naja would probably think and act that way, and I looked around the Sacred Capital side. As you know, the Holy City is located southwest of the King's Capital. A tracking investigation revealed that the Marshall mercenary regiment led by Naja was raiding all over the country as they headed west for the Holy City."

A council was held abruptly in the city of Fontana.

Essentially, a council is like a meeting of leading figures within Fontana, but there is no authority.

Even what has been discussed in the Council does not make the decision that the Kingdom of Fontana must defend it as a country.

but I have been running the country respecting the opinions of this Council as much as possible.

Originally, it's because I'm a farmer, and I've protected Garrod and let him follow me around in a temporary capacity.

Besides, it would have been convenient to have a council.

When nobles and knights in the country had any requests or grievances and wanted to say something, it was quite convenient to have a council that could pinch it all in one cushion while I was being asked.

Together, me, Lion, the former knights who were originally available to the Fontana family from the time they were Fontana territories and who have now become aristocrats, or those who were aristocrats, like the Lubitsch and Hermes families, but who were defeated and taken in by the Kingdom of Fontana, share information.

Lion explained it to me in that council.

Apparently, Naja is aiming for the Sacred Capital as Archbishop Paul expected.

To gain more power, or to have you revoke your Divine Enemy certification.

And more importantly, for your own sake, I guess you're going to smash the church.

"In the Sacred Capital, the Cardinal constantly takes turns activating the magic of [sanctuary]. I hear that thereby seals the king of the immortal. That's for sure, isn't it, Lion?

"Yes, Master Ars. It is an indisputable fact that the Church is sealing the King of the Immortal. If Naja uses [the light of judgment] to hang the Cardinal in the Holy City, the seal will surely be lifted."

"... can the Church cope with that?

"I don't know. Until now, the impact of the Church on this land has been immeasurable, and its benefits have been for all. As a result, no matter how much unrest continues, no attack has ever been launched against the Holy City. Also, the truth is that we have no idea how much resistance the Church can actually exert on this case."

"Right.... I guess you should throw away any hopeful thoughts. It would be too convenient to expect that the Church might actually possess tremendous fighting power and bounce back Naja. If Naja reaches the Sacred Capital, the Sacred Capital perishes for every church official. And as a result, the king of the immortal shall be resurrected, and those around him shall die with his filthy magic, or he shall also be immortal. We'll have to think about it and decide our future policy."

"... right. It is by our actions that the lives of all who live in the Kingdom of Fontana are at stake. I think we should always be prepared for the worst. So, can I ask you first what Master Ars thinks you should do?

Until just now, I ate salt. We were talking about not eating, but there was still an atmosphere where the council also bothered.

But when the problem came to talk about the collapse of the Holy Capital and the consequent resurrection of the King of the Immortal, there was just no one left to chat.

Rather than that, the surroundings are quiet, as if there were a rule that you shouldn't make a single noise.

It was just me and Lion who spoke out there.

Lion asked me what I would do with my future moves, reconfirming the factual relationship so that everyone could hear it.

When I hear that, all the gaze of the members participating in the Council pours on me.

On the occasion of the unusual atmosphere, I uttered my thoughts.

"You've made up your mind, Lion. Naja's actions must be stopped at all costs. The presence of the immortal is out of the logic of the world. You can't unleash it on the world."

"So do you want to send out an army?

"No, you don't have to"

"Huh?... What do you mean, Master Ars? Aren't you going to discuss Naja?

"That's right. But you don't have to move the army. A large army against Naja with [the light of judgment] can only be a duck. You'd better hurry up against Naja with a handful of elites. I mean, I think it's best if I raid with an empty sword."

"What... do you think that Master Ars himself would take only a few confessions?

"That's right. Apparently, within the kingdom of Fontana, there's more magic than Naja, like me and Garrod."

"Yes, no, but that's too dangerous. Master Ars is the prime minister and general of this country, isn't he? That's what we're going to do with a few..."

"But what are you going to do if you align your geese necks and we all go together and get turned into salt in [the light of judgment]? If you fail, this country will end before the King of the Immortal is resurrected."

"That's right..."

"Besides, Naja should be a lot closer to the Holy Capital by now in distance. Then we can't make it unless we ride the Valkyrie in a few. At least, Lion, you stay. When something happens to me, you're the only one who can trust Lady Garrod and this country."

When I was talking to Archbishop Paul, I would say that I had secretly made up my mind.

I wanted to lead the army and fight Naja if I could.

Drop your demon weapon from the top of the airship and attack it, and you will die instantly if you say how much more magic you've increased Naja.

I was going to pay you a visit to my must-have tactics.

But I can't do that anymore.

The structure of the airship prevents the ship from carrying much of its objects.

I couldn't even get into the mouth of my magic bag, and I said, flying through the sky is pretty slow.

If you take such a airship to the Holy City, you will undoubtedly reach it after the Holy City has perished.

If that happens, if we can defeat Naja, the king of the immortals will remain.

I don't know if the demon-guided weapon drop from the airship will work for the King of the Immortal, but it probably doesn't seem to work.

Anyway, more importantly, head right over to Naja.

Therefore, I decided to challenge a few without leading the army.

I honestly don't know if that's the right choice to make.

Maybe I'll fail, or I'll die.

but this would be where my life would be at stake.

The presence of an immortal bone dragon that I once saw was only harmful to all who lived.

And there are actually few who really know the fear of the immortal.

Even when I defeated the Immortal Bone Dragon, the immortal didn't show up for a long time.

Perhaps neither this country nor other aristocratic territories will be able to deal with the immortals properly when they appear.

That's why I move.

Thus I decided to head south to defeat Naja and stop the resurrection of the King of the Immortal.