"Very soon, all of the prepared Magic Crystals will awaken."
After Luciano’s words, silence swallowed the entire gallery.
As though every sound and sign of life had vanished.
Luciano raised one hand into the air.
Radiant light began spreading around them.
The Central Continent.
And the seas surrounding it.
A map depicting the entire world appeared in the center of the gallery.
"The King of the Dead. Everything will begin the moment that child is completed as a sacrifice."
Mel’s eyes trembled for an instant.
Today, for the first time, he had successfully administered Silencium to Astie.
Which meant that unless something unforeseen happened, Astie would fall into a state of ‘poisoning’ within at most four days.
‘Then the descent really will happen in four days?’
Until now, Luciano had controlled the Magic Crystals appearing throughout the world.
He monitored their flow, increasing or reducing the frequency of their appearance depending on the timing.
But what would happen if Luciano stopped ‘restraining’ them?
‘The end of the world.’
Mel unconsciously swallowed.
He had always known this day would eventually come, but now that it had become reality, his heart pounded as though it might burst apart.
"Once the King of the Dead is complete, mercenaries will become useless. We can exterminate them."
With a satisfied smile, Croix muttered,
"So the real purge is finally about to begin."
Luciano slightly tilted his head.
At that moment, a certain region on the projected map turned red.
One of Seraphina’s brows furrowed.
"Your Holiness. This place... Tallocium?"
"Yes. We’ll begin with Tallocium."
The land where the crimson glow burned brightest.
Surrounded by long mountain ranges, that territory was Tallocium.
A remarkably beautiful and prosperous great empire.
"The imperial authority of Tallocium has begun to falter. And at the center of it all stands Ardiana."
Seraphina’s pupils widened.
Tallocium. Blessed land.
Unlike the Central Continent, which was surrounded by seas on all sides, Tallocium possessed countless geographical advantages.
‘It would be difficult to find a better location for the birth of the next holy city...’
That was why the Order had secretly devoted years of effort to Tallocium.
Long ago, they had driven a wedge between the emperor and empress, leading to the empress’s death.
The dead empress’s place had been taken by Lavania, a foolish imperial concubine who was easy to manipulate.
Lavania appeared obedient, but she was greedy.
And above all else, stupid.
Seraphina had long assumed it.
That one day, that stupidity would stab the emperor in the back.
And when that happened, the imperial family of Tallocium would destroy itself even without the Order’s intervention.
‘But Ardiana involved herself in that filthy struggle?’
That part was unexpected.
Immediately after the empress’s death, Ardiana should have become nothing more than an empty shell devoid of a soul.
"Do not worry, Seraphina. For us, this is only beneficial."
At Luciano’s voice, Seraphina flinched and lifted her head.
"Chaos is a breach. And for us, every breach is an opportunity. Does it matter who ignited the spark?"
"...You are correct."
Luciano was right.
It did not matter where the weakening of imperial authority had begun.
For the Order, the only thing that mattered was the fact that Tallocium was now revealing its weakness to them.
"Besides, both the Holy Order and Agavert are stationed there, their greatest personal army. Tallocium will not withstand the Magic Crystals. Especially not the capital’s residents, who have never experienced true assaults."
Reverence appeared in Seraphina’s eyes.
Just as Luciano had said, the capital had never once suffered a full-scale ‘assault.’
Among the upper nobility were plenty who had never seen a magic beast in their entire lives.
‘And all of this was thanks to His Holiness’s foresight.’
Until now, Luciano had ensured that Magic Crystals almost never appeared within the borders of the old gods.
But what if Magic Crystals suddenly emerged directly in the capital?
And not just one or two.
But an enormous number at once, enough for magic beasts to flood the residential districts?
Then the nobles’ private armies would not be able to serve as a barrier.
The imperial palace would fall in an instant.
And over the capital, a new holy city would finally be raised.
"Croix."
Luciano looked at Croix.
"Tallocium is yours. Seal the gates and destroy the capital from within."
Excitement spread across Croix’s face.
"Gladly, Your Holiness!"
"Lionel."
This time, Lionel’s wings spread open.
"Once the Magic Crystals awaken, the flying beasts will move first. Aerial magic beasts and mobile combat are your responsibility. Break through the defensive lines and flatten everything that stands in your way."
"...Your command will be carried out."
"Seraphina."
Luciano looked at Seraphina again.
"The resistance within the Order is yours to handle. Believers trying to flee, priests hiding themselves away, doubtful Holy Knights — rip every last one of them out by the roots."
Seraphina straightened her back.
"As you command."
"And... Mel."
Luciano’s voice descended upon Mel one final time.
"Continue doing what you have done until now. Until the very moment the King of the Dead is complete. Do not fail."
Mel lowered his head.
His breathing had grown thin from the tension.
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
Only then did Luciano smile in satisfaction.
Wild, uncontrollable power swayed behind him.
And before that power, the four cardinals spoke at the same time.
"...In the name of the ascension of the new god!"
Several days later.
The dining hall, immediately after dinner.
Mel quietly looked across from himself.
"...Little one. Are you alright? Still nauseous?"
At the edge of the table.
The only child who had failed to climb down from her chair sat there with her shoulders hanging limply.
Astie.
Unlike usual — unfocused eyes and trembling fingertips.
"Her condition is bad. We can’t delay this any longer. We need to call a doctor or at least a priest capable of healing—"
At that moment—
"Astie!"
Astie suddenly swayed in her chair before collapsing.
Just before the child could strike the floor, someone caught her in his arms.
Tesetan.
The Fourth Young Master of the Luminel family and Agavert’s vice commander, who remained beside Tie like a shadow at all times.
After examining the child, he strode toward Mel.
"Hey."
Mel slowly lifted his head.
As always, a smile rested on his lips.
But his eyes remained cold.
"Astie is sick. She’s been sick for days."
Tesetan’s voice trembled faintly.
"Weren’t we brought here to support the siege? The main fighting force is ill, yet for days all you’ve done is repeat that there are no healers available!"
The corner of Mel’s mouth twitched.
He was barely restraining the laughter that had been threatening to spill out since the start of the conversation.
Tesetan continued,
"We told you we would leave the continent, treat her, and return. But you won’t even tell us where the siege location is, and you keep us locked inside the pilgrims’ quarters...!"
"Didn’t your brother Alexander already examine her?"
Tesetan fell silent.
With an unpleasant smile, Mel continued,
"Sir Alexander possesses healing abilities considered high level even within the Holy Order. Yet he found no abnormalities in the King of the Dead."
"That’s...!"
"Could this perhaps be a surge of magic power?"
Tesetan froze.
Seeing that reaction, Mel inwardly felt satisfied.
"If you wish, we can perform a Cleansing ritual."
"A Cleansing ritual...?"
"Yes. Occasionally, people come to Sercanos with symptoms similar to those of the King of the Dead. Abnormal magic manifests and causes disturbances throughout the body."
"..."
"There is nothing to worry about. A purification performed by the priests of the Grand Temple is on an entirely different level. She’ll immediately begin feeling better."
"But that purification...!"
Tesetan hesitated.
And then—
"We should agree to it, Vice Commander. We have to."
Bale hurried over to them.
"The little one’s condition is too severe! She’s been walking around in a haze for days already, like she could collapse at any moment...!"
Tesetan’s eyes shook.
Mel silently waited for his answer.
How much time passed?
Very soon, the exact answer Mel had been expecting left Tesetan’s mouth.
"...Fine. How is the purification performed? Will the priests come to the pilgrims’ quarters?"
Mel smiled broadly.
"Unfortunately, purification may only be conducted within a special area of the Grand Temple."
"A special area?"
"Yes. And only the priest and the subject undergoing purification are permitted to enter."
"What kind of nonsense is that? She’s still a child. Someone should remain beside her—"
"Such is the doctrine."
Bale fell silent.
Mel extended his arms toward Tesetan.
As though asking him to hand over the unconscious Astie.
"Will you place your faith in the Grand Temple’s purification?"
The air inside the dining hall turned cold.
While the squad members exchanged uneasy glances, Tesetan, who had remained silent the entire time with his lips tightly pressed together, quietly spoke.
"...If you harm her."
The veins on his arm bulged as he handed Astie over.
"I won’t let it go."
Instead of answering, Mel accepted Astie into his arms with excitement shining in his eyes.
And truly.
The instant he touched the child’s body, he felt the overflowing magic within her.
Never before had he seen magic so pure, so saturated with the power of the world of the dead.
"We’ll try to finish before dawn."
Suppressing the excitement in his voice, Mel turned around.
Thinking that by dawn, every mercenary except Astie would already be dead.