Chapter 102. Three Eyes (1)
While I was away in Le Capital, the Church of the God of Abundance approved the elevation of the Marcel Diocese into an Archdiocese.
Nothing physically changed.
The diocesan office merely changed its sign to an archdiocesan office, and Bishop Daniel became Archbishop Daniel.
For the time being, no subordinate diocesan offices would be established in Ronalp or Dijon.
The Marcel Archdiocese would handle their work directly.
Building new churches in the various territories and cities required funding from the Holy See, however, so that would take considerable time.
Churches in this world had neither taxation rights nor tithes.
They survived entirely on donations.
Naturally, their finances were unstable.
As I had seen in the Chancellor's office when I visited the Holy See, most priests lived modestly because of budget problems.
Archbishop Daniel appealed to that fact as he pleaded with me.
"I apologize, but I believe new churches in Dijon will only be possible under the budget two years from now."
Since it was already the end of the year, expecting new spending from next year's budget was practically impossible.
But I knew a magical phrase.
"Supplementary budget."
"...I will do my best."
"Donations should have increased recently. Money from the Lisboa colonies is flowing in, and Berber has started selling sugar too."
"That is true."
"And your own standing has risen quite a bit, hasn't it? Go visit the Holy See. Do some politics. Have a drink with your acquaintance on the Finance Council."
Enrique had done his job as a wandering singer so well that songs praising Archbishop Daniel could now be heard all over the Northern Continent.
I had even confirmed his reputation in Le Capital.
If his public standing had increased, then so had his influence over the Finance Council.
In any religion, a popular religious figure backed by the masses was terrifying.
"I understand. I will leave immediately."
Daniel returned fifteen days later.
He wasn't alone.
He had brought his former superior, Manuel, Director of Internal Affairs.
Manuel had also brought twelve priests and twenty-four novice priests.
Officially, they had come to participate in the expedition to retake Liguria.
Their true purpose was different.
During a private meeting, Manuel brought up the apostate incident from a year ago.
"Count Marcel, do you remember the apostates inside the Holy See?"
"Of course. I was the one who caught them."
"They finally confessed. The followers of Hela came from Germania's colonies on the Southern Continent. They are dark elves."
Finally confessed?
Had they really interrogated them for almost an entire year?
They probably hadn't tortured them, but resisting interrogation magic and magic items for that long couldn't have been easy.
"Was their purpose the liberation of dark elf slaves?"
Dark elf slaves from the Southern Continent were scattered all across the north.
Even Marcel had the Akra dark elves Noah had once sent.
"That is one of their objectives. But their real goal is greater."
"What is it?"
"To plunge the Northern Continent into chaos and ultimately bring about its collapse. Their goal goes beyond freeing slaves. They want revenge."
"So that's why they kept approaching religious organizations and noble families."
Manuel's expression changed.
"How did you know?"
"Patterns repeat."
I had no intention of explaining every detail.
Manuel changed the subject.
"Do you think the current orc movement is also their doing?"
"No."
I answered immediately.
I knew the orc migration was a butterfly effect that had begun with my own actions.
But obviously, I couldn't say that.
"The orcs merely moved in search of better land. Humans just happened to be living there."
Our conversation revealed other information I hadn't known.
"This war is being led primarily by the Sun God Church. That is also why our Holy See is only sending priests and not Holy Knights."
That explained why the Sun God Church had ignored my warning.
They had allowed Liguria to fall.
Then they planned to enter this war as heroic liberators and strengthen their influence.
The Sun God Church was a highly political religious organization.
Compared to most other churches, it was almost a cult.
If Helios allowed them to behave this way, then perhaps it benefited him.
Or...
Maybe he simply finds it entertaining.
After receiving blessings from several gods, I had already learned that the gods did not act purely out of kindness.
Anyway, Manuel intended to travel to the battlefield to find Hela's followers.
Apparently, one of their bases was near the allied gathering point.
"That is why I need your help, Count Marcel. If we catch them, please use the ability you received from the gods, like you did last time."
"Did Pope Catriel tell you about my ability?"
"I apologize. It was unavoidable. Her Holiness cannot personally go onto a battlefield."
In other words, Catriel trusted Manuel deeply enough to send him in her place.
I had thought he was simply a stubborn old man who lied about his background, but apparently he was surprisingly trusted.
"Since we're already involved, let's fight together properly. And we'll find Hela's followers while we're at it."
Manuel smiled.
* * *
La Spezia.
A port city roughly eighty kilometers south along the coast from Liguria.
Its surrounding terrain was rugged, making it an ideal point to gather troops and stop the southward advance of the orcs.
"Attention!"
Martin's voice rang across the field beside the river.
He was serving as standard-bearer.
The priests, knights, and mages from Franche all looked toward me.
Three hundred and three knights.
Around fifty mages.
Roughly eighty priests.
Once their squires, servants, novice priests, logistics personnel, and soldiers were included, nearly three thousand people were gathered here.
Some had joined with the noble goal of protecting humanity.
Some had been ordered here by their lords.
And many had simply come for money.
A great number of the knights were Free Knights hired because territorial lords were reluctant to send their own people.
A long personnel report continued.
"Knights, total three hundred and three! Present, three hundred and three! Absent, none!"
I looked across the enormous camp.
Tents.
Stables.
Supply stores.
Weapons.
Flags from territories across the Northern Continent.
There were even groups from beastkin tribes in the chaotic Balkan region, probably hoping to gain international recognition.
"...This concludes the full personnel report!"
Once the long report ended, the Sword Master appointed as my deputy commander approached me.
He was the Knight Commander of the Golden Lion Knights.
The Franche royal family possessed two major knight orders.
One was the Royal Knights, essentially the palace guard.
The other was the Golden Lion Knights.
They were deployed when the royal family needed military force outside Le Capital.
Most of their members were children of nobles.
Even their Knight Commander held the title of viscount.
"Commander Marcel, now that everyone is gathered, perhaps you should say a few words."
A few words?
Fine.
I stepped forward.
"Ahem. Just stay in the damn line like you're told. Don't charge forward alone. Don't run backward. Anyone who breaks formation dies by my hand. Understood?"
"Yes, Commander!"
Their voices were loud.
But once real battle began, many of these random knights would lose their heads.
Especially the inexperienced Franche knights.
I really hoped they wouldn't embarrass us in front of the other countries.
This makes me nervous.
I should at least train the knights to stand in line properly.
While having thoughts that would horrify them, I summoned the officers.
Since each nation had already been assigned its position in the coming battle, there were few special orders to give.
The meeting was mostly for building relationships.
I passed around wine.
"Drink. This will be your last alcohol."
A young knight's eyes suddenly filled with tears.
Then he downed his entire cup.
"Calm down. I didn't say you were going to die. We're abstaining until the battle is over. Then we'll drink again."
I refilled the cup.
"Now, a toast. Woo! Ha! Ha!"
Silence.
