Domain Managent (1)
[Anyway, if you’re thinking of approaching Setram, you’d better prepare yourself in every way.]
At Grancesia’s words, I stared at the ring on my finger with a strange look.
‘Don’t tell , are you worried about ?’
[Why, what. Can’t I worry about you?]
Grancesia’s voice rose slightly, as if she were a little embarrassed.
That detail was amusing, but at the sa ti, it was surprising to see Grancesia so wary. Normally, she tended to take things lightly, regardless of whom she was dealing with.
That was likely confidence stemming from the transcendent realm she’d attained.
But in Setram’s case, even Grancesia was cautious.
‘Is it because of the Inquisitor?’
[That’s part of it... but the influence Altair can have on the ground is greater than you think. They can’t easily descend to the ground, but through the pontiff as a dium, they can exert quite a bit of authority.]
I’d heard about the pontiff before.
The pontiff, who could be called the ruler of Setram, also known as the Holy Emperor.
Not only was his holy power remarkable, but he was also the deputy of God Altair.
In simple terms, he could incarnate the power of God in his own body and wield a fraction of that authority.
Of course, it was normally impossible for a human to endure a god’s power, so even the pontiff had to risk his life to use it...
[…And my mories are hazy.]
‘What?’
[In the past, I never questioned why I was inside the ring. But after eting you, I keep thinking about it.]
She groaned, as if she didn’t know the reason herself.
[My body still remains, and I’ve spent countless years without questioning anything. Why is that? Even for Altair, it shouldn’t be easy to influence . Why was I trapped inside the ring?]
‘Is that why you’ve been quiet lately?’
[Yeah, that’s right. I may not look it, but I’ve been pretty serious these days.]
So she’s been worrying about that on her own.
Ever since eting Damian, Grancesia would frequently fall into contemplation.
She must have been thinking about her situation a lot, even if she never said it to .
“Count, what do you intend to do now?”
At that mont, Jade, who had been waiting quietly for
to speak, opened his mouth.
It looked like he was asking whether I’d pursue Sehenz right away, or do sothing else.
“I’ll have to go to Setram.”
“When do you plan to leave?”
“I’ll leave right away.”
“That’s quicker than I expected. You don’t even pause to rest.”
Jade looked slightly surprised.
But I chuckled and shook my head.
“It’s just a short trip. What’s the big deal?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m just planning to fly to sowhere nearby and co back.”
“…I don’t understand what you an.”
Jade looked at
in confusion, but I only shrugged my shoulders instead of giving a direct answer.
I had no way of explaining it.
‘There’s still ti before the incident begins.’
Mount Tylaris didn’t have a specific synopsis, but fortunately, I’d managed to obtain so hints from a few characters.
That’s because in the profiles of Kisea, Teo, and Sehenz, there were details about the next episode.
‘First, the incident is set to happen in autumn.’
Since it was only just early sumr, there were still a few months to go before autumn arrived.
[Autumn? That’s quite a while from now, isn’t it?]
‘Fabian needs ti to get stronger, after all.’
In the original work, this was around the ti Fabian had just parted ways with Damian.
It was the period when he should be busy learning the Moon Severing Divine Sword he inherited from Damian.
Most likely, with Sehenz’s help, Fabian was able to learn the Moon Severing Divine Sword even faster.
Since Sehenz was one of the Seven Heroes, he’d have been more than capable of teaching Fabian swordsmanship.
I figured Teo and Kisea probably t during that process.
‘Still, it’d be best to check the synopsis just to be sure.’
Having co to that conclusion, I noticed Jade was still giving
a puzzled look.
“But... isn’t Setram too far to just pop over real quick? Besides, the magic towers near Setram are strictly controlled by priests, so it won’t be easy to get in.”
They say “near Setram,” but in reality it ans any area within Setram’s sphere of influence.
In short, you couldn’t really use a magic tower anywhere in the eastern continent unless you got explicit permission from Setram.
Which ant, to travel from here to Setram, you’d have to allow for about a month.
“No need to worry about that. Three days will be enough.”
“What? Wait, but...”
Jade, who’d begun answering with a confused look, opened his slit eyes wide, clearly bewildered.
It was rare to see him make such an expression.
But it was only natural for him to be surprised. Jade would be well-inford about the new guests staying in our domain.
“...Don’t tell , you’re not—?”
Naturally, what he was guessing was correct.
* * *
The Holy Kingdom of Setram.
Aside from the Asktalin Empire, it was the most influential kingdom on the continent, practically ruling the entire eastern continent.
What was frightening was that their authority extended not only over the eastern continent, but, through the “Order,” all across the continent.
That’s why even the Empire, the so-called overlord of the continent, couldn’t ddle in Setram’s affairs easily.
“I never thought Sir Jerta would actually beco a martyr.”
“I’m sure the Seven Heroes did sothing. You can’t trust such worldly groups.”
The magic towers near Setram were all under the control of priests, with a few Holy Knights and priests stationed at each one.
Their job was to root out any rats or heretics hiding in Setram.
One Holy Knight guarding a tower looked up and muttered, staring at sothing flying in the sky.
“Hmm? What’s that? A bird?”
He stared intently at the clear sky.
What he’d first thought was a small bird grew larger and larger as it drew closer.
“Wh-what is that?!”
“It’s a dragon! A dr-dragon is flying this way!”
Even for the elite Holy Knights of Setram, in front of a dragon they were still re humans.
The Holy Knights hurriedly prepared for a possible dragon attack. Clutching their swords, they shook with fear until a massive shadow swept past above their heads.
“…?”
But the dragon simply soared past the magic tower and flew toward where Setram’s capital lay.
The Holy Knight, who’d been dumbfounded at the sight, hurriedly sent a ssage to Setram’s main castle.
“Ergency! A dragon is flying toward Setram’s main castle! Ergency, ergency!”
It was rare for a dragon to reveal itself.
But there are always exceptions.
The dragons, commonly called “dragon,” would sotis show themselves to the world and terrify mankind.
Setram’s Holy Knights declared an ergency throughout the kingdom, and naturally Setram beca a scene of chaos.
* * *
“Geez, what a bunch of scaredy-cats.”
I, the very culprit of this commotion, was leisurely enjoying the view from atop the dragon.
[…So this is why you brought a dragon?]
“Well, I didn’t intend to use it this way, but it seed handy enough.”
Riding a dragon was a refreshingly new experience.
Especially watching the Setram priests below run around in confusion, their alarms blaring, made
chuckle.
「Hyung—no, Sir Clay, how is it? Comfortable enough?」
“Yeah, let’s keep going like this. Fly past and make a quick stop above Setram’s main castle, then we’ll head back.”
From rsaya’s back, I kept checking the synopsis.
There could always be details I’d missed.
‘Just as I thought. I knew it.’
[What do you an, as you thought?]
‘Just as you said, Altair is the enemy.’
God Altair.
Supposedly the deity who protects humanity... but the reality was different.
‘It looks like the temple’s been up to so shady business lately.’
Sehenz’s trip to Setram wasn’t solely because of the demonkin issue, but also to observe Setram’s movents.
The Altair Order had been increasing the number of Holy Knights recently, and experinting with a special secret art on them.
‘They plan to apply Sacred Arms to ordinary knights as well.’
[What? Ordinary knights couldn’t last even a few seconds before dying!]
‘They must have weakened the power. Dressing it up as divine strength, they kept engraving it onto the Holy Knights’ bodies.’
[They’re insane.]
Grancesia muttered, genuinely disgusted.
[Even the Altair Order has sunk this far?]
‘Not all of them. It’s probably the pontiff and Altair’s doing. The ordinary priests and Holy Knights have no idea and are just being manipulated.’
Their ultimate goal was to make the whole continent a single faith domain—in other words, to turn everyone into Altair’s puppets.
‘And…’
[What, is there more?]
‘I’m not certain yet... but sothing else is going on.’
I’d have to get to Setram’s main castle to find out more.
But as I approached the capital, rsaya began to slow.
「I don’t think I can go any further.」
“Hm?”
Flying, rsaya spoke in a tense tone.
That’s when I noticed the barrier spread out near Setram.
‘That transmission speed is incredible.’
I’d heard Setram’s communication magic was advanced. It looked like the rumors were true.
‘This is as far as we go.’
If I stubbornly forced my way in and got caught riding a dragon, I’d never live it down.
‘Well, I’ve confird the most important things.’
Most importantly, I’d checked out the key episode.
==
Chapters 267~273, “Michelle's Help”
Chapters 274~280, “The Ninth Calamity, Divine Disaster Altair”
==
The episode was about the ninth calamity.
I never imagined that Altair—a supposed god—would be included among the calamities driving humanity to extinction.
The confusion was enough to make my head ache.
This ti, more preparation would be needed than ever before.
“rsaya, let’s go back.”
「Yes, sir!」
rsaya circled proudly near Setram’s capital, then flew back toward the Vanhart territory.
* * *
Recently, the flow of people in Vanhart territory had greatly increased.
There were many reasons, but the biggest was surely that one of the Seven Heroes was now the lord here.
In the past, there were many stories about looking for knights in the Vanhart domain, but most knights turned their noses up at it.
No matter how much it was rising in prominence, no one wanted to serve in a fallen noble domain.
Now, the situation had completely changed.
The lord of the Vanhart territory, Clay Vanhart, was not only the real power behind the Talua Kingdom, he’d also beco one of the Seven Heroes.
It was a great honor to beco a knight under the Seven Heroes.
For all knights—especially in Talua, a land known as the country of knights—there could be no greater honor.
Naturally, all sorts of unaffiliated knights and accomplished rcenaries began to flock to the Vanhart domain.
“Those whose nas have been called, please step forward.”
Of course, not everyone who ca here could beco a knight in the Vanhart territory.
Most were eliminated through strict docunt screening, but even so, there was still a considerable number left.
“Alright, that’s it!”
One knight, his na called, headed excitedly to the designated place.
So knights looked at these excited ones with clear displeasure. Not everyone could accept the judging process.
“Hey, miss. I can’t accept the reason I was rejected.”
A rough-looking man shouted at Maria, standing on the platform.
Judging by his appearance, he was clearly an experienced rcenary.
He glared at Maria, a girl of youthful appearance, with contempt and rose roughly to his feet.
“Sit.”
At that mont, a beastkin man standing beside Maria spoke quietly.
Of course, the rcenary only sneered at the beastkin’s words.
“Hah! What’s a lousy beastkin like you trying to—Gah!!”
Before he could finish, sothing hit him and sent him flying several ters.
The previously noisy area fell deathly silent at once.
“S-Sword Master…”
There was only supposed to be one Sword Master in the whole kingdom—yet that very girl had a Sword Master as her guard.
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