After Ceres departed.

Erich’s unit spread out in all directions to gather information about the dead.

They did only as much as possible, making sure to avoid any collisions as much as they could.

As a result, Erich learned that the dead were surrounding the First Research Facility in a ring.

It was a dense, circular formation with the facility at the center.

Erich leaned his chin on his sword, staring intensely at the map.

Just staring wouldn’t yield a solution, but that didn’t mean he was doing nothing.

‘I’ve already requested support from Hern, and notified the main force as well. At the very least, Milon will bring additional troops.’

To face the dead on this scale, considerable preparation was necessary.

What’s more, no one knew how many necromancers or death knights might be hidden among them, so extra caution was required.

But Albrecht could have predicted this much as well. Erich wanted to devise another move.

Especially, a way Albrecht would never expect.

Thus, Erich convened a meeting to devise a way to recruit Günter.

Just then, Mikhail, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

“No matter what method you use, Günter isn’t the type to cooperate so obediently. He still hasn’t fully accepted that Albrecht truly intends to commit treason.”

“But conversely, if Albrecht’s crime is confirmed, he’ll certainly side with us. That’s just how he is.”

“… But until the moment Albrecht stands on the gallows, Günter won’t make a move first.”

Erich nodded. Mikhail’s concern was clear.

If they wanted to bring Günter over to their side, they’d have to drag Albrecht to a trial for treason.

Once his guilt was revealed in front of everyone, Günter would accept it and follow the higher authority’s orders.

But Erich needed Günter’s support not at some indeterminate time after a trial, but immediately.

Ironically, to capture Albrecht in the first place, he needed Günter’s help.

‘It’s maddening.’

Without Günter’s help, it would be difficult to capture Albrecht, but to get Günter’s help, Albrecht’s trial had to come first.

Just then, Frederick spoke up.

“… How about just beating the hell out of him?”

“Who? The 5th Fortress Commander, Günter? Are you going to do it?”

Frederick gestured toward Mikhail and Erich with his chin.

“With two of those mighty swordmasters, what’s there to worry about?”

“… Simple-minded fool. You think beating a fortress commander is that easy?”

Within the Watch, fortress commanders held an unrivaled position. They were more like independent warlords, commanding at least thousands of their own troops.

Frederick’s suggestion was basically akin to a band of the grand duke’s soldiers saying they’d just attack a subordinate baron.

In other words, an absurd proposal.

What’s more, members of a fortress often pledged personal loyalty to their commanders. It had been that way with Richter, with Hern, and would be the same now.

At that moment, Hrung-ga, who had been picking up the imperial tongue from comings and goings, offered some advice.

[There’s also the way of getting support from another tribe, Erich.]

[If you send the word, you think they’ll come?]

[They’ll come. Though we fought before, we’re united now, so it shouldn’t be an issue.]

Erich nodded slowly.

The barbarians, more than expected, proved powerful against the dead—something he’d noticed watching Hrung-ga and his warriors fight lately.

‘If I can bring in more grassland tribes, it would certainly help.’

Of course, he didn’t know how many troops they could send, given they had become the vanguard in the ongoing struggle with Ungrim.

Word was that on the eastern border, small skirmishes between Ungrim’s forces and the barbarians who’d joined their side were still going on.

‘Still, it’s good the young Wolf Tribe chief is doing so well.’

If nothing else, it meant Hrung-ga’s grand strategy was falling into place.

The young chief and his warriors were putting up a good fight against Ungrim.

But the pressing issue now was that Erich had the vaguely aligned power of Günter hanging in the balance behind him—and that was far from a good thing.

So Erich was busy considering ways to draw Günter in, but hadn’t come up with anything yet.

He still had no idea what kind of hidden card Albrecht might have prepared.

Only if King awoke or Ceres returned might he find that out.

Erich asked Bans,

“How is King?”

“It seems he’s past the critical phase. Every day, the holy knights heal him with holy power.”

Erich smirked. The holy knights were proving helpful in more ways than expected—though their fanaticism was unchanged.

‘They can heal themselves and fight too. If only it weren’t for their madness for Incensus, they’d be remarkable men all the same.’

The Watch had their own medical squads, but they were really only for emergency first aid.

The Incencus Church’s divine healing was on an entirely different level.

‘… Wait. The Church?’

Erich’s eyes narrowed.

Now that he thought about it, instead of trying to figure out how to use unknown elements like the 5th Fortress or the barbarians, there was a much more reliable card right at hand.

‘The timing isn’t bad.’

The current main force had the Partriarch of the Incencus Church with them in person.

Rumor had it that he complained daily about sleeping quarters and rations, but that didn’t change the fact that he was the Partriarch.

And as Erich understood it, Günter was of imperial blood, albeit a cadet branch.

And what did that connection imply?

‘Members of the imperial family can never ignore the Church.’

Even a distant imperial relative exiled from the main line—imperial ties with the Incencus Church were that strong.

‘All the Partriarch needs to do is say a single word to Günter.’

Erich spoke to Frederick.

“Frederick, I’m going to send a letter. Take it to the main force.”

“… A letter? Calling for more support?”

“Support… Yes. But a very big one.”

Erich’s lips curled upward.

***

A priest quickened his pace toward the snow-white tent. His name was Aldeber, the same who had relayed the Partriarch’s message to Erich before.

But this time, his reason for seeking out the Partriarch was different: a letter had arrived from Erich.

As he approached, the holy knights guarding the tent bowed their heads. Aldeber made the sign of the cross to them and spoke urgently.

“Is His Grace inside?”

“Yes, servant of Incensus. Shall I relay your message?”

“As quickly as possible, please.”

A holy knight went inside. Despite Aldeber’s earnest plea, it took quite some time before the Partriarch called him in.

Entering, Aldeber respectfully opened the snowy curtain.

“Aldeber, your urgency—should I take it as good news, or bad?”

“Your Grace, shepherd of all lost lambs, I, the humble servant Aldeber, greet you.”

“That’s enough with the formalities. Get to the point.”

The Partriarch rose from his lavishly decorated fur covers. The white-garbed nuns nearby quickly dressed him in his robe.

His golden ornaments shimmered in the soft light. The title “Savior of the Poor” was just a facade.

Above all, his massive frame testified to that. On the table, a huge leftover hunk of meat from the night before lay drying.

Aldeber again made the sign of the cross and spoke.

“The Apostle of Incensus has sent Your Grace a letter.”

“… To me?”

The Partriarch’s eyes narrowed. It was certainly not a bad thing for him.

Leaving the comfortable Church halls of the capital for this place was all to strengthen ties with that ‘Apostle of Incensus’.

Elections for Partriarch in the Incencus Church occurred every ten years.

Right now, though, the Partriarch was quite anxious.

To be appointed Partriarch required achievements as a bishop. Failing that, he could be removed at any time.

The next election was scheduled for the year after next—in other words, fast approaching. Worse still, news had come that a rival bishop had achieved great feats in mission work in the central provinces.

If not for that, he would never have journeyed to such a remote, backward place.

And now, the Apostle of Incensus himself had sent him a letter. How could his mouth not water?

The Partriarch grinned broadly, showing his half-rotted teeth.

“Bring it here.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Aldeber handed the sealed letter to the Partriarch, who read it swiftly. His thick lips twitched.

“… Ho.”

“What does it say?”

“It seems Incensus truly protects us.”

“It’s…good news?”

Aldeber asked cautiously, and the Partriarch crumpled the letter lightly.

“It says that after the war, he’ll come to the capital and personally display God’s power. How gracious. So very gracious! Kuhahaha!”

His cheeks quivered with joy. For him, this could only be good news. But Aldeber, if anything, grew more anxious.

“… For a member of the Watch to come personally to the capital surely requires a tremendous decision.”

The meaning in Aldeber’s tone was clear: what did the Apostle want in return for this?

But the Partriarch did not care about such details. The most popular hero in the Empire offering a campaign speech in the capital? With such a condition, he was guaranteed to win the next election.

Perhaps it was hard for those in the Watch to sense it, but in the capital, “the one who returned from death,” the ‘Apostle of Incensus’, Erich was enjoying popularity beyond all imagination.

Accordingly, the Partriarch narrowed his fatty eyes and glared at Aldeber.

“Do not doubt the wishes of the Apostle of Incensus. That alone would be blasphemy.”

“… My thinking was shallow.”

With his mood improved by the promised campaign support, the Partriarch said,

“He wants me to declare Albrecht a heretic. That is hardly a difficult matter.”

“… Excuse me?”

“No, there’s no time for this. Prepare a proclamation. I’ll deliver it myself.”

Unlike the excited Partriarch, Aldeber’s eyes filled with confusion. Why suddenly declare Albrecht a heretic?

It wasn’t as if the Church would declare a holy war over it.

But Aldeber bowed quickly. If the Partriarch commanded it, that’s what he had to do. Still, he couldn’t shake his doubts.

He was gripped by a strange sense that somehow, they were being used.

————-= Clacky’s Corner ————-=

Of course, you are indeed being used…

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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