The Metra Cult had appeared a hundred years ago and vanished eighty-three years ago. It was the third-largest heretical group in history.
There was only one Metra Cult that Marma knew of.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Basus nodded and continued.
“Eighty-three years ago, we located the Metra Cult’s headquarters, and the previous Pope secretly dispatched a Holy Order-level punitive force.”
“……!”
Marma couldn’t help but be shocked.
And for good reason—the Holy Order was Seionia’s supreme combat organization, possessing overwhelming power and scale capable of even eliminating a 7-star demon world rift.
Yet they had assembled a punitive force at the Holy Order level?
Just how powerful had the Metra Cult been to warrant that?
And one more thing.
Why was the Metra Cult coming up in a story about a promise with Gaon from eighty years ago?
For now, Marma suppressed his surprise.
He listened attentively to Basus.
“But a problem arose. The headquarters had already been nearly razed to the ground by Gaon.”
“…?”
Marma couldn’t help but look puzzled.
If the headquarters was already devastated, why was that a problem?
It was like getting something for nothing.
One could even call it a situation blessed by divine favor.
“At the time, the punitive force was led by Captain Aul. And by then, Gaon was already branded a blasphemer.”
“Ah…”
At Basus’s next words, Marma let out a quiet sigh.
Captain Aul had been the leader of the Golden Eagle Knight Order three generations prior.
And the Golden Eagle Knight Order’s primary duty was the reformation of blasphemers.
With Gaon—likely exhausted from razing the Metra Cult—right in front of him, what choice would Aul have made?
“Captain Aul saw it as a golden opportunity. He believed that if not now, a chance to reform Gaon would never come again. In the end, Aul attacked Gaon.”
“It failed, I assume.”
The outcome was obvious even without hearing it.
If Aul had succeeded in reforming Gaon back then?
Gaon’s name would have been removed from the list of blasphemers.
But Gaon remained on the list to this day.
“Yes, exactly. He only managed to wound Gaon, not capture him. And then…”
Basus trailed off and gave a bitter smile.
“One year later, Gaon stormed in. Many, including the Golden Lion Knight Order leader at the time, stood against him but failed.”
Hearing Basus’s words, Marma finally understood the diary left by Brigona, the knight order leader from eighty-two years ago.
“In the end, the Pope at the time was forced by Gaon’s threat to swear an oath to the Lord God. That the Holy Empire would not invade the lands of Varta…”
Basus trailed off again, recalling the day he had learned the truth from the previous Pope—the day the oath to the Lord God had been passed to him—and clenched his teeth.
“Then the promise from eighty years ago…”
“Yes, it refers to the promise from eighty-two years ago.”
Marma was rendered speechless.
He thought he understood why the promise from eighty years ago had been passed down in secret.
That was when it happened.
Knock knock.
A knock sounded, followed by a voice.
“Your Holiness, First Saintess Adela has arrived.”
The Intelligence Agency of the Holy Empire of Seionia.
In front of the holy relic “Eye of God” at the center of the agency.
First Saintess Adela stared blankly at the Eye of God.
Soon regaining her senses, Adela swallowed hard.
What on earth is happening?
The demonic energy in Coexistence Zones 14 and 15 was rapidly decreasing.
At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before the demonic energy vanished entirely, and the zones would return to being fully human territory as they once were.
But the surprise wasn’t limited to those two zones.
The demonic energy concentration in the northern region of Coexistence Zone 15 was thinning at an exponential rate.
So fast that it was even quicker than in Zone 15 itself.
There were largely two possibilities for this.
First, the demon faction was using demonic energy to prepare something in the north.
Second, someone was killing demons and demonic beasts from the north, driving out the demonic energy.
Adela placed more weight on the second possibility.
To cause this much upheaval in a demonic-energy-dominant region…
And for good reason—there was one being that came to mind.
It must be Gaon.
She didn’t know if Gaon was acting directly.
But the chances of it being related to him seemed extremely high.
That was when it happened.
“What in the world is this…”
High Priest Rai approached and let out a shocked voice.
At Rai’s words, Adela ended her thoughts and spoke.
“I need to see His Holiness.”
She couldn’t know the exact situation.
But one thing was certain.
This was a golden opportunity to reclaim territory and drive out the demon faction.
She had a feeling they couldn’t let this chance slip by.
“If any major changes occur, please send someone to the Papal Palace.”
“Understood, Saintess.”
Rai replied, and Adela left the Intelligence Agency.
She headed straight for the Papal Palace.
Soon arriving at the Papal Palace, Adela went to the Pope’s office along with the dedicated priest.
Knock knock.
“Your Holiness, First Saintess Adela has arrived.”
Upon reaching the office door, the dedicated priest knocked and announced.
“Come in.”
Basus’s voice soon came from inside.
Creak—
The priest opened the door and stepped aside.
Adela passed the priest and entered the office.
She paused slightly.
Because Golden Lion Knight Order Leader Marma was there.
Why has he returned first?
Marma had been escorting the first investigation team sent to Kranium.
Yet the investigation team hadn’t returned yet.
That meant Marma had come back alone.
Did something happen?
Had something occurred in Kranium?
Was there something to report to Basus about it?
As she pondered—
“I’ll take my leave and greet you again later.”
Marma bowed to Basus.
Then turning, he greeted Adela as well.
“I greet the First Saintess.”
“You’ve had a hard journey.”
Adela returned Marma’s greeting.
Marma passed her and left the office.
Adela looked at Basus.
She was far too curious about what had happened.
Of course, Basus didn’t satisfy her curiosity.
“What brings you here, Saintess?”
Basus asked with a gentle smile.
“There have been changes in the coexistence zones.”
Adela paused briefly before getting to the point.
She relayed everything without omission—the changes in Zones 14 and 15, and the northern region of Zone 15.
“Even the northern region?”
“Yes. It seems…”
Adela trailed off, thought for a moment, and answered.
“I believe it may be related to Gaon.”
“……”
Basus let out a low hum.
Adela thought the changes in the coexistence zones were due to Gaon.
It made sense.
The current situation was hard to explain without Gaon.
But how so soon?
The problem was that Gaon had appeared in Kranium.
Considering the distance between Kranium and Zones 14 and 15, it was hard to see it as something Gaon had done personally.
Did he use spatial magic?
Of course, it wasn’t a 0% possibility.
If he had used spatial movement magic, it would be entirely feasible.
When Basus remained silent, Adela continued.
“I believe this is a golden opportunity to completely drive out the demon faction.”
“Hm.”
Basus let out another hum.
As Adela said, it was a golden opportunity.
The problem arose if the changes in Zones 14 and 15 were indeed related to Gaon.
Gaon had told the first investigation team sent to Kranium.
To remember the promise from eighty years ago.
In other words, not to invade his land.
Would Gaon view favorably the dispatch of a Holy Order to Zones 14 and 15?
Might he think they were trying to freeload again?
Gaon had already issued one warning.
Considering the information passed down through generations of Popes and Gaon’s personality as recorded in history, the chances were high that Gaon would act rather than talk.
But staying idle was also a problem.
Anyone could see this was a golden opportunity—yet if the Holy Empire didn’t move?
Confusion would arise both internally and externally.
…That could work.
A sudden idea flashed through Basus’s mind, and his eyes gleamed.
He opened his mouth.
“We’ll dispatch a Holy Order to Coexistence Zone 16.”
Zone 16, right beside Zone 15.
Currently, Zone 16 was split evenly between human and demon forces.
Neither side could claim dominance.
But considering the situation in adjacent Zone 15, the balance was highly likely to collapse.
If a Holy Order was deployed here?
They could easily reclaim the lost territory in Zone 16.
It would secure practical gains without provoking Gaon.
“…?”
Adela didn’t respond immediately.
She couldn’t understand why he would deploy to Zone 16 instead of 14 or 15.
“Which Holy Order are you thinking of sending…?”
But in the end, she had no choice but to accept.
He was saying he would dispatch a Holy Order—what could she say?
“I’m considering either the 5th or 7th Holy Order. What do you think, Saintess?”
“The 5th has only recently returned, so sending the 7th would be better.”
“Then we’ll do th—”
Basus nodded as he began to reply to Adela, but a sudden thought made him stop.
“…?”
Adela looked puzzled, and Basus spoke.
“It would be better to send the 5th Holy Order.”
The leader of the 7th Holy Order was the captain of the Golden Eagle Knight Order.
And the Golden Eagle Knight Order’s primary duty remained the punishment of blasphemers.
It seemed unlikely Gaon would appear in Zone 16, but just in case?
Unpleasant events could occur.
At Basus’s words, Adela paused again before nodding.
“Understood. Then I’ll convene the grand council immediately.”
I wonder if they’re doing alright.
Gaon recalled the demon group he had encountered earlier.
A large force with two demon viscounts.
And it hadn’t been just demons and demonic beasts.
There had been human slaves as well.
Naturally, they were from Ruhen.
At the time, Gaon had pondered.
Whether to escort them to a safe area or not.
In the end, he decided not to go with them.
The area he had already cleared was secured and safe.
Drawing attention from within seemed better in many ways than traveling together.
They’re probably fine.
Gaon turned his attention away.
He looked ahead.
Far in the distance, massive walls came into view.
The walls of his destination—the city of Ruhen.
Swish.
Gaon then turned his head to the sky on Ruhen’s right.
A massive rift to the demon world hovered there.
A 7-star one.
Judging by its size and aura, it was definitely 7-star.
Should I close the rift first?
It had been open for so long that the protective barrier was gone, no longer visible.
In other words, closing the rift wouldn’t be difficult.
If Gaon gave it his all?
It would close in two minutes at most.
Or the city first?
Gaon looked back at Ruhen.
Immense demonic energy emanated from the city.
When he tried to close the rift, interferers or escapees might appear.
Interference didn’t matter.
It wouldn’t hinder him anyway.
The problem was escapees.
Unless they all fled in one direction, some would inevitably slip away.
“……”
Gaon pondered.
The deliberation didn’t last long.
Clear Ruhen first.