Chapter 145: The Royal Capital of Mineta

Bang—!

A heavy killing intent filled the Great Hall of the Dior Empire.

The man kneeling before the throne was Redius, who had just returned from the expedition to Panir.

“Th-the cave w-was mostly collapsed. Th-there were no survivors.”

His voice trembled violently, and Emperor Lapis Dior’s brow twitched sharply in anger.

The oppressive air grew heavier, pressing down on Redius’ entire body.

“Ghk…!”

“How long must I continue hearing that the Temple’s Offering we’ve gathered has been lost?”

Lapis’s fierce gaze turned toward the priest standing on one side—Haran.

Crushed beneath the emperor’s killing intent, Haran’s knees hit the floor.

Thud—!

“My deepest apologies, Your Majesty…”

“What do you intend to do? More importantly, have you grasped the situation?”

It had been the product of countless efforts and sacrifices.

Now, it had vanished without anyone knowing how—Lapis couldn’t help but rage.

After a moment of silent thought, Haran opened his trembling lips.

“It seems that the Offering of the Dark Temple hatched earlier than expected.”

“You mean the divine beast was born? But there was still plenty of time left, wasn’t there?”

“It is an ancient existence. None can predict such things with certainty.”

The size of the divine beast could be guessed from the traces left in the cave.

Of course, even that was information the priests had reported.

“But if the divine beast was born… how could we not have known?”

“That is what puzzles me as well. I have already dispatched priests to Panir Territory and the surrounding kingdoms.”

The divine beast was an entity of immense importance even to Haran.

“That seems the most likely explanation for now. Find it—no matter what.”

In that instant, pitch-black energy burst out from Lapis’s entire body.

It spread like a creeping shadow, devouring the surroundings and dyeing the air of the Great Hall in darkness.

.

.

.

After leaving the imperial palace, Redius returned to the headquarters of the Black Crescent Moon.

There, Craven was waiting for him.

“You’ve worked hard. I’ve heard all the reports.”

Even for the Black Crescent Moon, this incident was far too grave. Craven let out a long sigh.

“I am deeply sorry. I fear I may have caused His Majesty to doubt our loyalty…”

“There’s no need to worry that much.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“We’re still useful to His Majesty, aren’t we? More importantly… to think the Temple’s Offering has vanished.”

“Chief Priest Haran sent other priests to investigate, but the traces found there were unusual.”

At that, Craven’s brow furrowed.

He had only heard the surface-level reports and not the full details.

“Unusual, you say?”

“Chief Priest Fargodas and many other priests were all found dead in that place.”

“All of them…?”

There had been over fifty priests staying in that hidden cave.

And Craven knew well how powerful Chief Priest Fargodas had been.

“I imagine Chief Priest Haran is furious.”

“It was utter chaos.”

“But if the priests have begun to move, it won’t take long—no matter where the Temple’s Offering has gone.”

“I hope so.”

Redius nodded in agreement.

Then Craven recalled something he had momentarily forgotten.

“Ah, news came from the Holy Kingdom of Bachenan—about Turklan.”

“Turklan? The one we sent to kill Regina Foster? He’s alive—and went to the Holy Kingdom of Bachenan?”

Like everyone else, Redius had assumed Turklan died in the Kingdom of Canel.

The unexpected turn of events left him confused.

“Had I known this earlier, I would’ve told you before sending you to Panir Territory.”

“Now that you mention it, Turklan’s wife was taken to the Kingdom of Mineta, wasn’t she?”

“Indeed. As long as she remains in our hands, Turklan won’t act rashly.”

Turklan was a high-ranking Sword Master.

He had been too valuable to lose, so this news was welcome to Craven.

“That’s good to hear.”

“With so few pieces left to play, it’s a relief indeed.”

“But… why appear only now?”

If Turklan had survived, he should have surfaced much sooner.

The long delay made Redius somewhat suspicious.

“I’m wondering that myself. But I won’t force him to kneel quietly this time.”

Craven had climbed to the top of the Black Crescent Moon through countless assassinations and schemes.

He never took any situation lightly.

Of course, he had made one great misjudgment regarding Raion of the Kingdom of Canel.

In a single moment, they had lost several Sword Masters and two mages above the 4th Circle. It had been a tremendous loss to the Black Crescent Moon—one that still stung.

“He might have played some trick. It’s even possible he’s joined the Kingdom of Canel.”

“I’ve already prepared for that possibility.”

“Who did you send there?”

“Rashid.”

Redius’s expression stiffened instantly.

“Rashid—the one who was in Moratz?”

“There were signs of internal strife in the Kingdom of Mineta. I sent him there to help suppress it—good timing, really.”

Despite Craven’s explanation, Redius’s face remained grim.

“Won’t he end up killing Turklan?”

“Rashid has always desired a duel with him.”

“That’s true… But if Turklan has allied with the Kingdom of Canel…”

The mention of Raion Canel made Redius’s voice trail off.

Too many powerful figures had fallen to Raion’s sword.

“We’ll see soon enough.”

“Did the report from the Holy Kingdom mention any companions?”

They needed every bit of information.

“A young man and woman, and a middle-aged man were traveling with him.”

“Could Raion Canel be among them?”

“Would a prince of a kingdom move that far himself?”

The Kingdom of Mineta’s royal power struggle and the Dior Empire’s invasions of neighboring nations had thrown the continent into chaos.

In such times, it was rare for a nation’s key figures to move freely.

“Still, we can’t rule it out.”

“Unlikely, perhaps… but would someone of that stature really cross several borders just to come here?”

The distance between the Kingdom of Canel and the Holy Kingdom of Bachenan was immense.

It was hard to imagine someone making that journey solely because of Turklan.

“In any case, we’ll have to trust that Rashid handles it well.”

“He’ll manage.”

Craven was eager for the return of the Sword Master, Turklan.

The Kingdom of Mineta was shrouded in unrest.

It was because the tyranny of the newly crowned king had begun.

Taxes had risen to unimaginable levels, and soldiers oppressed the people under the guise of conscription and taxation.

Amid such chaos, there were those attempting to enter the royal capital.

“How dare you stop us?”

Among them was a woman dressed as a priestess, accompanied by five men in the same attire and five armed swordsmen.

At the shout of one of the sword-bearing men, the guard at the gate scowled.

“We have come from the Holy Kingdom of Bachenan.”

“The Holy Kingdom?”

The pure white robes of the priests were instantly recognizable to anyone.

At that, the priestess stepped forward.

“I am Marianne, High Priestess of the Holy Kingdom. We are on an important journey and wish to rest briefly… may we enter?”

Marianne pulled from her bosom the seal of the Holy Kingdom.

No kingdom could deny passage to the Holy Kingdom.

The soldier knew this well.

However, due to the orders issued within the royal capital, he found it difficult to make a decision.

“I am sorry, but you may not enter.”

“And why not?”

“By royal decree, no one except those of the capital may enter.”

“The Holy Kingdom of Bachenan should be exempt from such a decree.”

“I cannot help it.”

He kept his tone polite.

Even so, the guard refused.

In fact, he looked around nervously and summoned more soldiers, wary of what might happen.

At this, the men accompanying the priests stepped forward to protect them.

They were Holy Knights—symbols of the Holy Kingdom’s power.

Among them, the foremost was Larsen Heights, the one called the greatest of them all.

“The High Priestess herself has come in person. Even if it is by royal order, there are limits. You should know when to stop.”

Larsen’s middle-aged voice carried a heavy authority.

The soldier swallowed hard at the sight.

“M-my apologies… but I cannot.”

“What did you just—?”

“Sir Larsen Heights, please. Let it be. They said it’s forbidden. We cannot stir up trouble and cause conflict between kingdoms.”

“But…”

The journey from the Holy Kingdom of Bachenan to the royal capital of Mineta had been no easy task.

Of course, for the Holy Knights, physical strain was nothing.

But the priests were different. After several days of travel, they were visibly exhausted.

“The day grows dark. Let’s camp nearby.”

“I’ll find a suitable spot and begin preparations. But our provisions are running low—it could be a problem.”

“We’ll have to restock at a nearby territory later.”

At her words, Larsen turned back to the soldier.

“Excuse me. Could we at least purchase some food and leave?”

“No. Outsiders may not enter under any circumstances. If you are in such need, seek supplies in another territory.”

The guard refused to budge.

Larsen frowned deeply and let out a long sigh.

“Haa…”

He had no choice but to withdraw.

Together, they moved into the nearby forest.

Even as they prepared camp, murmurs of discontent spread among them.

Larsen was already thinking of formally appealing to the Holy Emperor once the journey was over.

“For now, we must ration what food we have left.”

“I’m fine. Please see to the knights first.”

Marianne was concerned for the Holy Knights under Larsen’s command.

“We’re fine, truly.”

“No, you fought monsters along the way. You should take more care of yourselves.”

“We only did what was expected of knights.”

“But I’m worried about where we’re supposed to find these Messengers of Grace the Holy Emperor spoke of.”

That was the very purpose of their mission outside the Holy Kingdom.

But finding those mysterious figures was not an easy task.

They had set out hoping to trace their trail backward.

“Still, didn’t we hear rumors while crossing Mineta’s borders?”

“Yes. That the Messengers of Grace were traveling with a merchant caravan marked by a strange emblem.”

“It’s not much, but at least it’s a lead—though it won’t make them easy to find.”

“It was described as some sort of bizarre snake, wasn’t it?”

Their campsite wasn’t far from the western gate of Mineta’s royal capital.

Once darkness fell completely, they lit a fire and began to rest.

Then, from the forest road, came the loud sound of a wagon approaching.

“Hyah! …Huh? Is this not the place?”

The man driving the wagon had followed the flickering lights from afar—only to realize he’d come to the wrong spot.

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