Chapter 53. We Accept Your Debt (1)
“Faith” is an ambiguous concept in reality, but in this world, it is a tangible resource that can be utilized.
When followers devote their faith to a deity, it accumulates as divine power. This accumulated divine power serves as a dium that allows priests and bishops to perform miracles. In other words, if the deity allows it, the more followers one has, the stronger the power priests can wield.
“Even tentacles, if infused with divine power, could unleash much greater strength.”
The reason tentacles couldn’t exert their full power against Golruwa, despite being a miracle, was because they lacked divine power. However, if enough faith is gathered and manifested as power, it would directly beco Isaac’s strength.
He had no plans to grant the unnad miracles of chaos to anyone else except for loyal servants like Zihilrat. However, he was considering bestowing simple physical enhancents or miracles that wouldn’t be discovered.
Of course, it would be problematic if a high-ranking individual who renounced their faith erged. But starting from the bottom, Isaac needed to quickly expand his influence. Moreover, he kept the doctrines flexible enough so that there wasn’t a strong incentive to renounce faith.
“He promoted universal morals and equality, values that other faiths don’t prioritize much… Greedy ones wouldn’t be interested in this side in the first place.”
This faith was for the marginalized, the fugitives, the forsaken… those at the bottom of society.
There were many such people in Seor, whose foundations were shattered by the fall of Loracus. Isaac planned to covertly spread his faith among these people, along with their dissatisfaction with the existing faiths.
Isaac did not believe he could control his followers perfectly. It was enough to control his close associates. And Isaac was determined not to let these associates betray him.
Those who possessed the unnad miracles of chaos had no choice but to be loyal to Isaac.
And Jacquette was the first saint.
Of course, compared to other priests or clerics, her knowledge and abilities were lacking, but it’s typical for early mbers of any multi-level marketing company to reap greater benefits.
Considering the abilities and influence Jacquette demonstrated throughout the Loracus surge, her lack was not significant. Moreover, having sided with Isaac early, she had much potential to grow stronger.
Luck is also a skill.
Isaac did not consider the possibility of Jacquette betraying him. Like many from the bottom, she knew how to recognize and seize opportunities.
Moreover, people subdued by fear often choose to align with that fear rather than suffer from it. People may quickly forget kindness, but fear lingers.
Isaac only hoped that Jacquette would perform well in her role as a saint in Sør.
“Hmm, speaking of which… Did you manage to retrieve it?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
Hesabel happily pulled out a stained rag from her bosom.
Though it looked like a dirty rag, Isaac imdiately recognized it as a relic.
[Carlyle’s Holy Bandage (B)]
[When applied to a wound, it imdiately heals the bleeding and injury but consus blood.]
[When she was designated as an archangel at the Carlyle Monastery, she carved out her own heart as the last proof of faith, wrapping it in cloth and offering it to the Red Chalice. Pleased, the Red Chalice skinned her and reorganized her flesh, thus the Prophet of Red Flesh was born.]
“It had to be sothing related to the Prophet of Red Flesh.”
Despite the eerie records it contained and being less prestigious than a division ritual, it was still a relic associated with an archangel.
Hesabel was offering the holy bandage with so expectation, thinking of Isaac as a representative of the Prophet of Red Flesh. However, Isaac had never claid to be the Prophet of Red Flesh nor intended to lie. He was rely taking advantage of the other’s misconception.
“That’s fortunate.”
Without showing much reaction, Isaac reached out his hand. Hesabel hesitated but eventually handed over Carlyle’s Holy Bandage to Isaac, transferring a relic that had been pawned to Yukhar into Isaac’s hands.
[“You have acquired the ‘Carlyle’s Holy Bandage’ relic.”]
[“The effects of your noble journey are strengthened.”]
It seed like he had resolved all matters in Seor. He had cleared the debts to gain access to most of the Golden Idol Guild’s assets, obtained the blessings of the Golden Idol, Carlyle’s Holy Bandage, and Hesabel Gulmar as an apostle.
It was an unexpectedly great harvest.
“I’m curious how Hesabel will act when she discovers my true identity…”
Indeed, drawing the successor of the Gulmar ducal family to his side was not without risks. For now, she seed unaware of whom she was serving, so she wasn’t considered a complete apostate, but the mont of inevitable betrayal would co.
Isaac did not believe Hesabel would choose him when the ti ca.
However, he still invested effort because there was a good example in Kalsen Miller.
“It’s faster to take believers cultivated by others than to grow them myself.”
After all, the most painful betrayal cos from the most faithful believers.
Considering her potential for growth, Hesabel Gullmar was worth the effort. The fact that she was a vampire was not a concern.
After all, Isaac himself was a monster who consud humans.
Unaware of Isaac’s thoughts, Hesabel waited quietly for his command.
“Where shall we go now, Lord Isaac?”
“Hmm.”
Isaac had several places in mind already. However, he chose to wait for the right timing instead of leaving imdiately.
“Soon, soone will co looking for .”
Isaac had no intention of resolving the problem first.
If it was a problem that needed solving, it would be more advantageous to have soone co to him with a request.
***
“How much is the loss?”
“That, that is…”
Hearing the report, Lord Kyle Hendrake of Hendrake felt dizzy.
“Why? Didn’t you say the Golden Idol Guild was also buying in?”
“The Golden Idol Guild also suffered significant losses from this event.”
The investnt moves of the Golden Idol Guild were the most watched issues in this arena, a testant to their credibility. Economic activities blessed by a deity were not supposed to fail easily. If the Golden Idol Guild incurred significant losses, it could only be explained by an act of terrorism or provocation against the faith of the Golden Idol.
“But why now?”
The Hendrake domain was on the outskirts of the Gerthonia Empire.
Too far from the capital and not close enough to the front lines to gain fa.
It was just a rural domain in an awkward location, though there were tis when it prospered.
However, Kyle was an ambitious man. His ambition grew noticeably after his father died of an unexplained illness. Kyle believed the Loracus surge in the nearby city of Seor was an excellent opportunity to increase his power.
“I even borrowed money from other nobles using the na of the Brandt ducal family!”
To entice nobles into investing, rumors were spread that the Brandt ducal family, a major noble family of the empire, was interested in this investnt. Though the rumor’s source was made to appear unknown, the nobles essentially knew Kyle was behind it. They turned a blind eye because the more nobles that participated in the investnt, the better for them.
But now, the investnt had failed.
They would bla Kyle for everything.
“Refuse to pay back?”
Kyle considered the worst-case scenario, but even that was impossible.
He had already contracted with the neighboring lord, Reinhardt, to buy mature Loracus trees months ago. As the price of Loracus rose, Kyle delighted in Reinhardt’s envy, but when the price plumted, their positions reversed.
Now, as Reinhardt delivered mountainous amounts of Loracus, Kyle was sure to spiral into bankruptcy. If he decided to default on his debts, Reinhardt would undoubtedly lead an army instead of Loracus trees.
Before bankruptcy, whether one was an apostle of the sa faith mattered not. Reinhardt too would suffer significantly from this event, and other nobles would support him to recover anything they could.
Kyle nearly collapsed from weakness in his legs. He staggered for a mont but was supported by a woman standing beside him.
“My lord.”
The woman with red hair whispered to him. Slling her scent, Kyle regained his senses.
“Raela.”
Raela was a maid who always offered him wise advice. Even when his father hesitated to invest due to indecisiveness, Raela advised Kyle to be bold.
So, when his father died of an unexplained illness, Kyle’s first act as lord was to declare an investnt in Loracus. Then, about a month ago, Raela advised him to sell the Loracus, but he ignored her advice, thinking the price could not possibly fall, and the situation was too big to handle.
“I should have listened to you. How could this happen?”
“It’s too late for regrets. Let’s focus on the cause. Why did the price of Loracus suddenly crash?”
Her words jolted Kyle to attention.
Why did the price of Loracus, which had been setting record highs every day, fall? Even when the Golden Idol Guild was investing in the market?
“Was it a terrorist attack against the Golden Idol Guild?”
“Beyond that.”
Raela’s lips twitched before she spoke again.
“Wasn’t there a larger goal?”
“Could it be… targeted at ?”
“Yes. As you said, the intention might have been to inflict an economic crisis on the nobility of the Empire. The nobles are the most faithful followers and protectors of the Codex of Light, so perhaps it was an attempt to undermine the foundation of the Codex of Light.”
Kyle was shocked by the realization that he was caught in an unprecedented attack targeting the Codex of Light, and that he had uncovered its entirety.
However, even with his keen intellect, he could not find the words to convince the other nobles. How could he prove that it wasn’t his mistake but an attack by so malevolent entity that caused the investnt to fail?
“I’ve heard rumors that a Grail Knight nad Isaac played a significant role in the crash of the Loracus prices.”
“Isaac? I’ve heard stories about a Grail Knight, but was his na Isaac?”
“Yes. It’s said that this Grail Knight defeated villains in the black market and freed rchants who were being ntally controlled by an evil monster, causing the prices to plumt.”
“What a great feat. If he cos to our domain, we must treat him with the utmost respect.”
“That’s not the point.”
Raela suddenly stopped and assud a posture of prayer. Her piety was astonishing, but for Kyle, it was difficult to catch the timing.
After a short prayer of ‘grant patience’ passed, Raela spoke again.
“Doesn’t it all seem too well-constructed? Mind control linked to the Loracus surge? Would a lord living in such a distant place from Seor, like yourself, also be subject to mind control? What about the other nobles? And the sudden appearance of a Grail Knight defeating monsters, leading to the drop in Loracus prices… Doesn’t it seem strange?”
“Could it be… the Grail Knight attacked the forces of the Codex of Light?”
“Just because he’s a Grail Knight doesn’t an he serves the Codex of Light. I’ve heard that Grail Knights can also co from the Order of Elil or the World’s Forge.”
Kyle shuddered at the unfolding revelations.
A Grail Knight from another faith attacked the Codex of Light, and he was the first to suffer from that attack. Kyle felt a sense of duty as a protector of the faith, beyond just the problem of bankruptcy.
Of course, shifting the bla to another sect wasn’t solely to find a way out for himself.
“It’s unknown. The Grail Knight nad Isaac might actually serve so other malevolent faith, roaming in disguise to expand his influence and power.”
“That’s going too far, Raela.”
Even if she offered wise advice, Kyle thought it necessary to distinguish between fantasy and theory. Sotis Raela would make such outlandish statents that he had to be even more strict.
Becoming a Grail Knight wasn’t sothing easily acknowledged.
Kyle had grown up hearing legends about Grail Knights. He beca curious about this Grail Knight nad Isaac. If Isaac were on his side, perhaps the creditors would think twice before blaming him.
“We must send a delegation.”
Kyle made his decision.
“I’ll send the Hendrake Knights. Invite that Grail Knight politely, and then I will et him and judge for myself.”
“A wise decision, my lord.”
Raela bowed respectfully. Kyle left her behind and imdiately exited the hall to issue commands to the knights.
***
Once Kyle was gone, Raela lifted her expressionless face. It was not the face of a person, but rather one that seed to wear skin inside out, devoid of humanity. At her quiet command, a colossal black knight erged silently from the shadows behind a pillar.
“The daughter of the Gullmar family does not seem to possess a trace of faith.”
Raela calmly issued her command to the knight.
“The daughter of the Gulmar family last followed the Grail Knight nad Isaac. Investigate her whereabouts while accompanying the Hendrake Knights.”
“Is it Hesabel Gullmar, not Isaac?”
“That anachronistic Grail Knight is not of interest to the Red Chalice. What’s important is the heir of the Gulmar family. If it’s confird she has renounced her faith, execute her imdiately and recover the relic.”
The black knight hesitated for a mont before asking cautiously.
“Could she have been killed by the Grail Knight?”
“If that’s the case.”
Raela replied as if it were obvious.
“Then he’s not soone you could deal with. Don’t even look back, just run.”
At Raela’s words, the black knight quietly nodded.
“Yes, Prophetess.”
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