Chapter 84: Saint of the Hor Church (2)

A deep shadow settled over the face of the King of Barentis.

The dark circles beneath his eyes clearly reflected the torment he had endured.

“Phwe…”

What sin did this country commit to deserve this?

Though the King wanted to curse the cruel reality, he swallowed his bitterness with great effort.

What he had to manage were the frightened people trembling in fear, and the knights and soldiers who laid down their lives like grass for the homeland.

As a king, he could not afford to show weakness.

He closed his eyes, calming his heart first.

But instead of darkness, vivid images of Riot Castle appeared before him.

The banners of the Allied Army fluttering in the wind.

The soldiers bowed with heavy hearts, struggling to fortify the castle.

The knights silently awaiting the nightmare that was to come.

Tension and fear concealed beneath resolve and duty.

Surely, Riot Castle must be in such a state right now.

He knew this even without seeing it firsthand.

Ugh—

The King grit his teeth.

One day, without any warning, darkness had descended.

That terrible nightmare swallowed half the kingdom in an instant.

The Barentis Kingdom had suffered a devastating blow.

The once proud Polin Castle had become a den of evil, and rivers of blood had flowed through Riot Castle.

Without the aid of Bartenberg, the kingdom would have already perished.

But now even they had left.

Support from other countries was an unavoidable necessity.

Yet, the neighboring nations at the border with Barentis sent nothing but a few soldiers and useless supplies under the guise of alliance.

Worse still, not a single knight they boasted about could be seen.

[The malicious entity called ‘Demon’ has invaded, and our country has strengthened its defense. We are not unaware of Barentis’ dark fate…]

Along with the supplies came a letter from the west, filled with fervent pleas.

Excluding the unnecessary requests for rituals, it clearly stated that no military aid would be provided.

The King tore up the letter and burned it.

Watching the paper fragments turn to ash, he swallowed his anger.

Did they think there was no ‘Demon’ here?

If anything, more people were driven mad here than anywhere else.

After all, half the kingdom had been swallowed by the nightmare.

There was no place in the entire continent more saturated with dark magic than Barentis.

“After hundreds of years, all our promises will shatter before darkness like fragile glass.”

The King bitterly muttered as he recalled the cowardly allied nations.

It was not just the allied nations.

Those who once boasted as the northern continent’s barrier had long since averted their eyes from Barentis.

They knew well what would happen if this country collapsed.

Yet they wrapped themselves up tightly, intending only to protect themselves.

Then, suddenly, the King realized that until recently, he himself had acted like a coward.

He only began to regain a hint of his former self after meeting Bartenberg’s youngest son, Richard.

The King sat as if buried in his throne, recalling Richard’s debt.

That brilliant and glorious radiance alone gave him courage.

His vision sharpened with clarity.

He could not keep wrapping himself in despair.

Just as he was about to summon someone to compose an important letter, hopeful news arrived.

“Richard von Bartenberg has crossed the border leading the knights! Reinforcements! It seems Bartenberg has sent aid once again!”

Light did not only bring courage.

Hope returned to the kingdom.

The King and the royal court waited with eager eyes.

They prepared a grand welcome and dispatched royal knights to receive Bartenberg’s reinforcements.

Several days later,

Richard arrived at the capital leading his troops.

“By the mercy of Bartenberg… hm.”

The King’s voice was filled with emotion and astonishment.

Richard and the knights behind him.

Yet, the emblem that should have adorned his chest was missing.

Richard met the King’s gaze with a calm expression.

It was the reaction he had expected.

***

“We and the knights are no longer Bartenberg.”

Richard said as he addressed the King and the nobles gathered in the capital.

Those simple words stirred great upheaval.

“What nonsense is this all of a sudden?”

Knights who take an oath of loyalty would rather die than break it.

And now, the entire knight order—the symbol of loyalty—had broken away.

More unbelievable was Richard’s decision to remove the illustrious name of Bartenberg.

The nobles and the King’s faces stiffened at such sudden words.

“We simply differ in will from Bartenberg.”

“Hmm…”

The King muttered quietly.

He did not know what intentions Richard bore when he left his family name behind, but what mattered now was that he had come leading an army.

Of course, Richard was a hero of Riot Castle, but that was when he was Bartenberg.

Now, the Barentis royal court had opened their gates to an army whose allegiance they could no longer be sure of.

A tense silence filled the room.

“We came seeking the brothers of Riot Castle.”

Richard smiled gently as if reading their thoughts.

But the expressions in the royal court showed no sign of relief.

“There is little that Barentis can owe him.”

Coming out of his house to ask for support was surely not out of charity.

What did he hope to gain by coming this far to a kingdom on the brink of collapse?

“We seek no reward…”

Despite the wary glances, Richard maintained his smile.

“By the way, Riot Castle is well prepared.”

“How do you know that…?”

“God has shown me.”

The King’s brows furrowed slightly.

The word that was spreading wildly in Riot Castle: God.

The newly deployed royal knights and soldiers were also invoking God.

The King knew the origin of this trend was Richard.

But he did not know the full details.

He only thought he would eventually find out, but was too preoccupied holding up the faltering kingdom.

He had dismissed it as merely a prayer to overcome fear, but Richard’s serious expression suggested otherwise.

“The reason I shed the glorious name of Bartenberg was because of religion.”

If the word ‘God’ Richard used was truly religious, then his renunciation was instantly understandable.

Such a great house as Bartenberg would never tolerate superstition.

The nobles exchanged cautious glances.

Even as the royal court calculated their next move, Richard spoke again.

“Barentis Kingdom must be facing considerable turmoil.”

“Not only the nightmare at Polin Castle but also military, political, and diplomatic problems. Isn’t that so?”

“…Indeed.”

Thud, tap—

Richard’s long fingers struck the table.

“Even if you block the nightmare, the problems will only grow.

Barentis has already lost its function and may even be blamed for the eruption of dark magic on this side of the territory.”

It was no lie.

But it was a reality they knew well without Richard pointing it out.

“Just get to the point.”

“Very well.”

Richard took a deep breath.

His brow furrowed as the dark magic mingled with his breath.

A brilliant aura began to shimmer around him.

That radiance spread wide, bright enough to cover the royal castle.

Where faith had passed like a cleansing wave.

“Ah, ahh…”

The nobles’ eyes widened at the first taste of such divine energy.

Even the King, who had experienced the hardships of Riot Castle, could not hide his surprise.

***

“I wish to share Hor’s blessing with the Barentis Kingdom.”

Richard threw out the topic.

The expressions of the King and the royal court twisted in confusion.

He spoke with the intention of offering goodwill, yet their faces looked as if they had just been handed an unreasonable demand.

“…You mean to spread religion throughout Barentis?”

He answered ‘yes’ to the noble’s question.

Sighs sounded here and there.

He raised his hand again to emphasize his faith.

Though seeing that radiance, the royal court’s unease could not be wiped away.

“The men of Riot Castle overcame the dark magic through faith. To have something to believe in is a great blessing.”

“Hmm…”

Though they had experienced faith, disbelief and anxiety remained.

The more you hold in your hand, the more doubt naturally grows.

He wanted to grant the people of Barentis freedom of religion.

Since the Hor Church was to become their base, it was only natural.

But he did not want to force them to believe in God using their dire circumstances as leverage.

Winning hearts rather than overwhelming by force was the surest way to conquer.

“Of course, this is not coercion. Even if you refuse religion, support for Riot Castle will be promised.”

“Nothing is easy.”

The King closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

“We know nothing about this religion you speak of. We don’t even know if God truly exists, or how this will resolve Barentis’ dark fate.”

“You will know from now on.”

The royal court began an interrogation.

They asked, and he answered.

This exchange repeated several times.

‘It’s similar to when I talk with the head of the household.’

From the biting questions about whether God truly exists and what God can do, to inquiries about who leads the religion.

He answered every sensitive question sincerely.

“Haah.”

They expressed their astonishment.

It was because they had heard the detailed account of how religion spread in Riot Castle.

‘Damn raccoons.’

The royal court was no easy opponent.

Though they praised him and God in words, their eyes were deeply cautious.

If they were not sure which choice was best for the kingdom, they would maintain a neutral stance to the end.

That was the basic nature of those who rule a country.

“Now I understand why the military of Riot Castle calls Richard a saint.”

“My only skill is to reveal the truth. The truly great one is Hor.”

“Even so, isn’t it remarkable that the hearts of the men who stubbornly followed Richard have come together? Even rulers find it hard to win the hearts of knights.”

Amidst the praise and admiration came subtle sarcasm.

Their weapons were their mouths and minds rather than swords.

Their artful rhetoric sought to gather information without revealing much.

Because of this, he liked them.

Their constant suspicion and careful weighing of pros and cons made them excellent business partners.

If only they truly became his allies, it would be a great relief.

“Again, I do not force this upon you. I only recommend one possible choice.”

“Please understand this is not a decision to be made lightly.”

The King’s sharp gaze was fixed on him.

He could not tell what thoughts were running through the King’s mind.

He could only hope the King would make a wise decision without unnecessary detours.