Episode 785 Blood Alliance (1) [Part 3 – Chapter 2: World Conference]
On the surface, the full force of the Luas Church, which actively responded to the Blood-Crying Plague crisis, was mobilized.
News has spread to various nations that hordes of the undead, which are running rampant across the continent for unknown reasons, are being successively suppressed.
Of course, other news as well.
According to investigations by the Artisan Magic Tower, the lethality rate is significantly decreasing due to the Blood Cry Plague alleviator developed in Eon. Taking note of the alchemical community.
The Kingdom of Estiria, the Autonomous Region of Midlos, the Republic of Beldirn, and the Principality of Liviant are cooperating as nations for a large-scale extermination of the undead. At the center of this is Adrian Chambers, the Heavenly Sword and the Transcendent Being of Eon.
───The central part of the Eastern Continent forms close friendly relations centered around Eon! However, only the City Alliance Kylians remains silent… …?
───The Saintess of the Ruas Theocracy declares judgment against the malice of the continent… … The Cardinals of the Three Courts, the Seven Archbishops, and the Paladin intervene in the Undead crisis… … .
───Extermination of high-ranking undead that appeared in the Kingdom of Valdera from the Lefragium Magic Tower.
───Eon’s Identification Golem. Save the city.
The underworld, rebelling against the Three Commandments of the Divine, colludes to form a Blood Alliance. Eon and the Blood Alliance engage in battle in the heart of various cities! The Elves support Eon.
───Statement by the Tenth Aspect of Eon, the Four Powers of the Central Continent, and the Ruler, who executed Hovancher, the notorious criminal known as a Blood Alliance executive and the murderer of 33 people. “The Blood Alliance will pay the price.”
───Land without an owner, the safest land, a land preferred even by elves.
───A chaotic continent. Will the World Conference scheduled for the end of the year be postponed? Ignatius of Gargant, the host of the World Conference, listens attentively to the matter. “Postpone the World Conference? That doesn’t sound fun. Do you guys want to experience boredom too?”
───Breaking News. No changes to the World Conference schedule!
All human species in one place? It has been announced that the Great Beastmen Tribe and, exceptionally, the Dwarf clans of the Volcanic Regions will attend this year’s World Conference. What will be the next move of the Elves of the Great Forest?
Will the lords of Delharun overcome the mistakes of their predecessors and participate in the World Conference? Or will they remain out of the international stage?
───Adventurer’s Guild Headquarters. An emergency extermination order has been declared due to a surge in casualties among demi-humans and异형 (abnormal) species caused by the paralysis of national functions across the continent. News has arrived that adventurers of Mithril rank or higher have been dispatched to various regions… … .
… … .
International newspaper articles are very boisterous.
It is a media business based in Gargant, a megacity in the central continent, so it is of such a large scale that it does not even bother to look down on it unless it is a major power.
Of course, the transcendent was an exception.
Out of concern that it might offend the transcendents, direct mentions were few, and every sentence was careful and polite.
Landerk of Manyeon, the third servant of the Glory of the Dead, folded the newspapers he had been reading while drinking a cup of tea with his legs crossed.
Seeing things like this always makes me realize just how much times have changed. Just 300 to 400 years ago, you couldn’t even find things like newspapers.
The learned act learned.The ignorant act ignorant.
Kicking away the ladder so that those without pedigree cannot climb up just because they have limbs—that is what the structure of class domination is like.
It is the same now.
The powerful hold vast amounts of information in their hands, while the ruled suck up the surplus that slips through the gaps in their grasp.The weak cannot take the lead. This is not unique to humans; it is the fundamental way of the world.
In that sense, newspapers were not something I particularly liked. To put it bluntly, the amount of information is excessive. Should I call them useless?
Of course, if used effectively, it could strengthen control… but there was no need to go to such lengths to govern ignorant commoners.Why should such a troublesome act of governance be required for the mere act of pulling a dog’s leash?
puck.
Grant, the great elder of the Blood Alliance, fell down after being struck by a carelessly thrown kick. Yet, he bowed and scraped without even showing a sign of pain.
Because I don’t want to die.
Grant wants to extend the lifespan of his worn-out body, and the Glory of the Dead, to which Landecure belongs, knows how.
Overwhelmed by power and seized even by his desires, Grant is silent. For to Grant, Landerck was a ruler against whom resistance was impossible.
This is truly absolute power.
That’s right.
The reason the world is so noisy is the absence of such an absolute being. Therefore, ambiguous things in many ways are running rampant here and there, making noise and causing a commotion.
It is an unjust world.
Landerck’s conviction was always firm. To build a quiet and peaceful world, a single absolute being was indispensable.Therefore, as the third servant, he embraced the glory of the corpse.
Old King.
Having devoted himself to the organization for centuries, he has earnestly longed for, and longed for, an absolute monarch capable of ruling over all beings beyond humanity.For a world without conflict was Landerck’s long-cherished wish and dream.
Finally, we’re almost there.
Landerk rose from his seat. His eyes were clearer than usual. Although hispath as an existence was not predetermined like that of a transcendent being, he was not the only one capable of harboring an ideal in his heart.
“Resuming the assassination.”“Yes?”“Luring Eon’s key figures out of the ownerless lands.”
Now that the long-prepared Plague of Blood-Cry has been unleashed across the entire continent, there is no way to escape the pursuit of the Luas Cult alive.
Even at this very moment, I can feel countless pathogens shrinking rapidly. Before long, when the pathogens narrow down to a single entity and the true nature is revealed, death will inevitably follow.
I need to gather more information before that.
Landerck was not afraid of the death given to him at all. After all, dying is merely a temporary state.
On the day the great corpse reigns over this world again, an immortal world will come.
“Outside the ownerless land, you mean?”“Do not doubt, Grant. If you desire the eternal life you have longed for so dearly.”
Gulp.
“Young, life.”
Grant involuntarily swallowed at the sound of those sweet words. He found the age spots and wrinkles that had appeared on his skin particularly unsightly today.
thud!
Grant slammed his head on the floor.
“I will follow……!!”
* * *
The sinner of death, the junk dealer, Reginalf, stroked his chin.
The blood alliance is strange.
I had been providing substantial financial support to the Blood Alliance and secretly extracting internal information using skills honed over countless years… but the overall movements of the Blood Alliance that I uncovered this time were extremely chaotic.
Is it a disturbance?No.
There are many flaws to consider this as a cover-up made out of fear of insiders. The Blood Alliance had also not yet fully recovered from the damage inflicted by the preemptive strikes from Eon.
There is a change.
However, coincidentally, that period coincided with the time when the Ruas religion was active, so it was undoubtedly related to the glory of the corpse.
‘Surely… … you’re not planning to use up the Blood Alliance?’
It is true that the Blood Alliance is a fairly threatening force by global standards, but to the Glory of the Dead, that is merely talk.Even if the entire Blood Alliance were to step forward, they could not handle even a single Bone Dragon.
Then, what do they intend to do with the blood alliance?
Swish, swish.
Instead of making hasty guesses, Reginalf wrote a letter to Eon. The contents of the secretly written letter were summarized as follows.
───Assassination, caution advised.
* * *
Adrian, who had killed 26 Landerks in the Eastern Continent, briefly returned to the ownerless land. His death was due to a letter sent by a sinner.
… … This is a dilemma.
Not only was the Great Hall of Black Hour impenetrable by most means, but Eon’s total military power was also stationed there.Therefore, there was no need to worry about potential damage to the Great Hall.
Then, what about ownerless land?
Arrain, which could be called the capital of the ownerless land, is relatively safe. Eon’s forces are always stationed there, and the elves of the Great Forest brought by Isabella are also staying nearby.
However, the opponent is the glory of the dead.
The third servant single-handedly inflicted this much damage on the continent. It is an established fact that the second and first servants above him are transcendent beings.
If one of them moves while Adrian is away, or if both of them step forward… the damage will be irreversible.
“…….”
Adrian tried to come up with what he considered the best option in his own way, but as a transcendent being, his hesitation grew even greater.
It was then.
Small footsteps approached from the corner of the hallway, and then Aisha appeared.
The fortune teller’s granddaughter.The child who foresaw the Blood-Crying Plague.A mysterious seer.
“It’s fine.”“……What?”“The ownerless land will be fine. Even if the undead swarm in, even if assassins come looking for it.”
Aisha wore a smile that was unlike her usual one, a truly innocent smile.
So go eradicate the plague and come back.
Is it a prophecy?Or is it encouragement?
For a moment, Adrian felt an indescribable sensation from Aisha, but it was far from unpleasant or ominous.
anyway.
It was clear that a few words from Aisha helped Adrian make his choice.
* * *
We received word from the Sinner of Death that the Blood Alliance may have resumed assassination activities, but there is absolutely no reason to be intimidated by that.
Just be fully prepared andstay alert.
The Blood Alliance’s forces have already suffered damage from Eon’s massive preemptive strike that cannot be easily overlooked. Even at full strength, there is no chance of victory in an all-out war against Eon.
If the blood sworn brothers, who had been hiding in the cave in fear after seeing some blood, were to crawl out on their own accord, that would be something to welcome in its own way.
Eon’s activities continued.
“I heard that you were in charge of supporting the extermination of the undead that appeared in the Kingdom of Belmair as a representative of Eon. As a Highness of Eon, could you please say a few words?”
‘Kasine’, a rookie reporter who happened to witness the ruler of the Din-el Kingdom dealing with an executive of the Blood Alliance and wrote the first exclusive story about the conflict between Eon and the underworld, asked energetic questions.
The Ruler, Lateon Offniel, answered with his arms crossed.
“Eon intends to stabilize the political situation turbulent by the Blood-Crying Plague. This is merely support, not a protection treaty formed through trade. Bear this in mind.”“May I interpret those words as meaning you intend to refrain from interfering in the affairs of other nations as much as possible?”“At least regarding this matter, that is the case. However, I have heard that some countries have mitigated the damage from the Blood-Crying Plague through so-called quarantine measures.”
The reason Rateon approached this coverage was to officially convey Eon’s attitude through various media outlets.Personally, it was also an opportunity to make his achievements widely known and be recognized as a pivotal figure in Eon.
Raise your rank by any means necessary.
Tenth phase.
After singling out Adrian, whom he didn’t know was a transcendent being during Eon’s ranking battle, Rateon was beaten like crazy in front of everyone.Because of that, he felt like he would have a seizure just recalling the memory of being designated as a low-ranking officer of Eon.
Lateon took a deep breath inwardly and focused on his reporting again.
“As soon as the situation is resolved, Eon will launch a large-scale investigation into the acts in question. And if a violation of the Three Divine Commandments is confirmed, appropriate measures will be taken.”“……If you resist.”“I would like to advise you not to do anything you will regret.”
Kasine twitched the corners of her mouth.It was a scoop.Just as the rumors said, every move Eon made was shaking the continent to its core.
Although she thought it might be dangerous to stay this close to Eon, Kasine prioritized her journalistic instincts for the moment.She was capable of going to a battlefield for the sake of reporting, even if she hadn’t had the opportunity until now.
Kasine quickly jotted down the Ruler’s remarks and spoke again.
“Then, next…”
Boom!
A loud noise was heard from nearby, and the entire room shook violently.
While Kasine let out a short scream and scrambled her arms around, Rateon gathered his war gear and went out into the hallway.
“What’s going on?”“It’s a surprise attack by seaplanes.”
Rateon was currently heading toward the Kingdom of Belmair aboard Eon’s airship, accompanied by a new reporter and his combat unit.Since it was right next to ownerless land, there was no need to use a spatial teleportation circle.
“Prepare for battle. Report to Eon.”“Yes.”
Rateon immediately left the cabin and stood on the spacious deck. Kasine, who had followed him out late, flinched at the sight of the three unfamiliar seaplanes.
“What is that……?”“It’s a blood alliance.”
No sooner had Lateon finished speaking than a man even larger than himself emerged menacingly from the nearest enemy airship. Hewas fully armed with full body armor and a heavy longsword befitting his physique.
“Are you a ruler, you bastard?”
Leader of the Blood Guard───Feedrock.
The top executive of the Blood Alliance, known as the upper echelon of the martial arts world, a level prior to the extreme. Upon realizing his true identity, Rateon lightly warmed his neck.
“It looks like Gongjeok came of his own accord.”“Uh, excuse me…”“We’ll continue the coverage later. For now, just take a look.”
Rateon advanced forward, holding a sword and shield in his hands. Though it was merely the western part of a masterless land, he was its king.Rateon, who immediately displayed a majesty befitting his moniker “The Reigner,” gave an order.
“stop.”
Eon’s airship came to a stop.
Boom!
As a result, it rapidly closed in on the Fidlock’s seaplane, which was following closely without a safe distance, and collided violently.
“Pfft!”
Kasine buried her nose in the deck.A nosebleed broke out.At the same time, Rateon charged boldly, using the recoil of the hull. Clashing immediately with Pidrak, the two men clashed swords.
Kagagang! Kaang! Kagagagagak!
The air trembled as shockwaves flew with every clash of sword strikes. The members of the Blood Alliance recoiled at the brutal engagement, which was impossible to approach.
“To think he could easily withstand Lord Feedlock’s sword pressure… As expected, even a ‘lower-ranking officer’ in the ‘tenth’ position is still a transcendent force….”
*Pow!*
Suddenly, Rateon twisted his movements and struck the Blood Alliance member on the head. The guy, with his face crushed, plummeted down from the airship.
Silence fell.
I asked because I was really curious about Feedlock.
“What are you doing?”“Damn it, who’s the tenth?”
* * *
A few days passed.
Amidst the flow of the world where the continent’s winter was gradually deepening, Verden stroked the giant tree of life and focused on the spatial coordinates of this land.
Eventually, Verden slowly opened his eyes.
Alpha asked.
[Spatial Coordinates. Stability?]
“okay.”
Verden affirmed.
It is time to go back now.
Finally, the day dawned when we left the silent desert and returned to the continent.
