My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 306

306. The Unveiling Truth (2)

The Holy Empire of Lutea.

At its heart lies the Papal State.

And within the Papal State, the very epicenter.

The Pope, Saint Anaristo’s chambers.

The abode of the Holy Empire’s supreme leader.

This place should have been the most solemn and sacred of all.

“Your Holiness! How could you suddenly declare a Holy War!”

Yet, it was now filled with unexpected turmoil.

Cardinal Alberto, the head of the Dawn Sect, no less.

“We cannot initiate a Holy War so hastily!”

Alberto had rushed to the Pope upon hearing the news of the Holy War.

More precisely, he had dropped everything and hurried upon hearing of the imminent departure.

“A Holy War is a sacred war! Unlike the empty gestures of secular nobles, it requires a justification that everyone can agree on!”

Alberto raised his voice at the Pope.

The Pope gazed at Alberto and spoke in an indifferent tone.

“It is said that heretical doctrines are rampant, and we are merely trying to eliminate their base. What could be a more fitting justification?”

“What heretical doctrines are you talking about! What kind of heresy warrants mobilizing the entire Holy Empire!”

“A sinister heresy related to demons.”

“Are you perhaps referring to the Charlotte Empire’s emperor branding Eladure as a demon?”

“You are well-informed.”

Damn it!

Alberto swallowed the words as if chewing them.

He couldn’t help but find it ridiculous that the Pope was shamelessly uttering such absurd justifications.

Well, if one had to interpret the justification, it was simple.

Labeling a family where a holy god resides as demonic.

It was, in every sense, a sinister heretical act.

However, the Pope himself was likely well aware.

That such a thing could not be grounds for labeling someone a heretic.

Especially when the target was the Charlotte Imperial Family.

Yet, he was spouting such nonsense, which was obvious.

Justifications held little significance.

Originally, Holy Wars required more meticulous and justifiable reasons than other wars.

A Holy War was a war to realize the will of God.

Therefore, if the justification was not legitimate, the will of God would also be tainted.

That’s why a truly justifiable reason, not a forced one, was necessary.

However, on the other hand, this too was merely a justification.

And justifications were, after all, just justifications.

It depended on how you framed it.

And how you interpreted it.

It could be likened to treason.

Victory justifies the king; defeat brands the rebel.

After winning, one could simply slap on a plausible justification, and there would be no problem.

The dead tell no tales, and ultimately, history is a record of the survivors.

Therefore, bringing up justifications now was largely meaningless.

However, he couldn’t back down like this.

“It’s not just about the Imperial Family! It’s about judging the entire Charlotte Empire as heretical. Have you considered the repercussions, regardless of the truth of the heresy?”

It was no joke; a war of unprecedented scale could erupt between the Charlotte Empire and the Holy Empire.

No, a war of unprecedented scale would erupt.

And the result would likely be the Holy Empire’s defeat.

Although both were empires, the Charlotte Empire was a step ahead.

Above all, a war prepared so suddenly could not proceed properly.

“It is the will of God.”

Yet, he was spouting such absurdities.

Alberto scowled.

If this were the Charlotte Empire, he would have ignored it.

Even if the target were the Emperor, he would have been ignored if he spoke like that.

The Charlotte Empire was, after all, a nation of humans.

However, it was not the case in the Holy Empire.

“Are we not about to commence a Holy War to realize the will of God?”

It was truly the ultimate forced justification.

Alberto gritted his teeth and shouted.

“What good is that damn will of God!”

In an instant, the Pope glared at Alberto with a cold gaze.

Yet, Alberto did not lower his voice.

“Does it save the lives of the people!”

Alberto couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Or does it soothe the starving people! Or does it give even a drop of water to a child dying of thirst!”

Of course, Alberto was a high-ranking priest serving God as a cardinal.

The de facto second-in-command of the Dawn Sect.

But this, this was not right.

The clergy should not exist in this way.

It should never exist for the sake of God.

The Holy Empire’s clergy must exist to spread the will of God.

The benevolence of God. The love of God.

Thus, a better life for existence.

A steadfast heart to persevere through a hellish reality.

Unwavering courage to those living in difficult trials.

God exists for your children, not for Himself.

Love for your children.

Peace for your children.

The Holy Empire’s clergy exists to spread that sacred will.

The clergy exists to care for and bring happiness to people through that sacred will.

To substitute the love of God, the parent.

This is the doctrine and belief pursued by the Dawn Sect.

Absolutely. Never.

“How can the will of God be for Himself!”

The will of God must not be for God Himself.

You must not force sacrifices on the lambs for your happiness and faith.

That is our sublime and sacred God who loves all things in this world.

However, if God forces obedience for Himself.

If God demands sacrifice for Himself.

“I will defy the will of God!”

That being can no longer be called God.

Evil that forces blind faith.

That being would be no different from a demon.

Alberto growled and shouted.

The Pope merely stared at Alberto with a cold gaze.

And just then.

Alberto felt a presence behind him.

“Is that the kind of remark a cardinal serving God should make?”

At the same time, an unfamiliar voice was heard.

He turned to look.

A blonde woman stood there.

A posture and expression without a trace of disarray.

An unknown dignity flowing from her well-maintained blonde hair.

Isabelle Eladure.

Isabelle walked in calmly.

One step at a time.

With each step, the dignity felt in her poised movements exuded a smooth yet elegant sophistication.

And behind Isabelle, another woman appeared.

“It’s been a while, Your Eminence Alberto.”

A hair color resembling a pure white lily.

A beautiful woman with a dreamy yet radiant aura.

“It seems Your Eminence Alberto has been possessed by a demon while I haven’t seen you.”

Cardinal Rachel, the head of the Twilight Sect.

With the appearance of Isabelle and Rachel, a series of knights poured in behind them.

The Holy Knights, who guarded the Papal State, no less.

The Holy Knights widely surrounded Alberto.

“What is the mean–”

Just as Alberto was about to panic.

Rachel looked at Alberto and quietly opened her mouth.

“He is a heretic who defies the word of God.”

At the same time, the Holy Knights grabbed Alberto as if to arrest him.

Alberto was a cardinal who wielded powerful divinity.

However, he could not resist the strength of the Holy Knights.

“You… you…”

All he could do was glare at Rachel with murderous eyes.

Rachel faced Alberto.

And then, she smiled.

“It’s all the will of God.”

She simply gave a small smile.

Soon, the Holy Knights dragged Alberto out of the room.

After Alberto was dragged out.

“God has spoken.”

Isabelle slowly opened her mouth.

At Isabelle’s words, not only the Pope but even Rachel calmly bowed their heads.

The sight was like a devout priest receiving the words of a holy god.

Perhaps because of that, a certain reverence permeated the room.

In that reverence.

“Commence the Holy War for God.”

Isabelle’s voice echoed softly.

It was clearly a human’s words.

However, Isabelle was no ordinary human.

Kai Eladure’s mother.

The holy being who conceived God, the Holy Mother.

“I shall obey the will of God.”

The Pope showed not a trace of doubt.

#

Thousands of years ago, the demon that consumed Kyle, Pride.

His mind became intricately entangled and confused.

However, within that confused mind.

Now, all the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together.

Certainly, Kai had been strange.

A talent that was not only innate but overwhelming.

Panat of Rothschild was also a star of the same empire, but frankly, Panat could not keep up with Kai.

Kai was a genius among geniuses that no one could approach.

And Kai’s appearance in the Beastmen’s kingdom.

A certain sense of incongruity he had felt there.

In addition, Kai’s absence from the war with Eladure.

Furthermore, the Holy Empire’s attempt to wage war against the Charlotte Empire.

Finally, Isabelle’s absurd rebellion.

Now, all those pieces began to fit together.

A real God.

If so, everything becomes possible.

The Charlotte Empire is a nation ruled under the power of the Emperor, the Balua family.

A nation ruled by numerous nobles under the mighty power of the Emperor and the Imperial Family.

The Charlotte Empire is a nation of ‘humans’.

However, the Holy Empire was not.

The Holy Empire is not a nation where the Pope’s rule is paramount.

A nation built by believers in God.

The Holy Empire is a nation of ‘God’.

Thus, if.

Kai Eladure is the demon of Pride.

If he is trying to become God at the end of Pride.

All of this makes sense.

The reason why Isabelle showed confidence in her rebellion against the Imperial Family.

The reason why Isabelle could now hold and move the entire Holy Empire.

All of that makes sense.

Of course, questions still remained.

Is Kai Eladure really the demon of Pride?

More precisely, whether Kai was consumed by the demon of Pride.

Or whether Kai had the demon of Pride from the beginning.

If so, from when had he harbored Pride?

Or was Kai the demon of Pride itself?

He could not give a definite answer to any of these questions.

However, whichever it was.

As of now, the fact that Kai is the demon of Pride remained unchanged.

A real God who can grasp the Holy Empire.

Kai was the demon of Pride and at the same time, God.

Isabelle used the authority of that God.

Thereby, she could move the entire Holy Empire as she pleased.

Thus, everything pointed to one thing.

“War…”

The Charlotte Empire and the Holy Empire.

The war of unprecedented scale where the two continental powers clash.

It was the moment when that uncertain speculation finally solidified into conviction.

However, Ciel overlooked one more fact.

“L, Lord…!”

Suddenly, the door to the office burst open, and a hurried voice was heard.

And the person who appeared was a silver-haired woman with the moonlight.

“Diana?”

Diana, the head of Ruben’s intelligence department, who had left to investigate the Holy Empire.

However, Diana’s appearance as she entered the office was not good.

Her dreamy silver hair was soaked with blood.

“Diana. Are you okay?”

Ciel hurriedly got up from his seat and examined Diana.

As he approached, he could hear Diana’s painful gasps.

Upon closer inspection, blood was gushing out of Diana’s left shoulder in sync with her heartbeat.

“Don’t tell me… you came all the way to Ruben in this state?”

Diana did not answer.

More precisely, she couldn’t answer.

Perhaps due to excessive bleeding, Diana was struggling, rolling her eyes back.

Fortunately, Ruben had the blessing of the World Tree, Instiz [a magical tree that provides healing and protection].

The moment she arrived in Ruben, her life was not in great danger.

However, the pain could not be helped.

If left like this, Diana would lose consciousness.

If there was no danger to her life, there was no need to rush.

However, Diana was investigating the Holy Empire under Ciel’s orders.

The fact that Diana had suffered such a serious injury.

Also, the fact that she came to see Ciel first, rather than receiving treatment as soon as she arrived in Ruben.

That meant there was something important and urgent to tell him.

Ciel glanced at Aria.

Aria quickly understood the meaning and moved her lips.

“La Akrasi Homme.”

With an incomprehensible sound, a brilliant light of divinity erupted!

A tremendous light of divinity enveloped Diana.

Judging from the fact that Ciel’s magic power flickered for a moment, it seemed that she had used Divine Language [a form of magic using sacred words].

The divinity amplified by the Divine Language quickly restored Diana’s condition.

By the time the light of divinity had subsided to some extent.

“The Holy Empire… has moved.”

Diana opened her mouth with difficulty.

“The Holy Empire has moved?”

“Th… that’s right.”

Why weren’t all the wounds healed even with Aria’s divinity?

It seemed to be because the wounds were inflicted in the Holy Empire.

In other words, wounds inflicted by the same power of divinity.

That seemed to be why the divine healing was not working well.

No matter how powerful Aria’s divinity was, divine power was not omnipotent.

This could be seen from the fact that she could not heal bruises.

A bruise is a blood clot under the skin caused by a ruptured blood vessel.

Such bruises are absorbed by the body on their own if left alone.

In other words, it could be said to be nutrients for the body.

Therefore, divinity does not heal bruises because it considers them beneficial.

In that sense, wounds inflicted by the power of divinity were difficult to heal with divinity.

Divinity is beneficial to the body.

Anyway, Diana swallowed her panting breath and barely managed to answer.

“The Holy Empire’s forces…”

Diana continued.

Ciel immediately jumped up from his seat.

The Holy Empire has moved.

And the Holy Empire’s forces.

He knew what the rest of the words were without hearing them.

More precisely, now that he knew that Isabelle was holding the Holy Empire.

Now that he knew that Kai was the demon of Pride.

He knew what the purpose was.

The war between the Holy Empire and the Charlotte Empire.

That’s why he had to let them know right away.

He had to contact the Imperial Palace and inform Conrad and the Emperor of this fact.

Ciel immediately got up and moved.

However, he had no choice but to stop moving.

“N… no.”

Diana’s voice was heard again.

“The Holy Empire’s target… is not the Charlotte Empire… not the Imperial Palace…”

Diana suppressed a groan of pain.

She swallowed her words with a distorted face.

“Ruben.”

And she managed to spit out the words again.

“The Holy Empire… is aiming for this place, Ruben.”

With those words, Diana finally fainted.