Chapter 794

The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Release schedule: 3 chapters per week

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Ghislain tilted his head slightly and asked,

“So, you’ve come all the way from the Holy Empire to escort us?”

“Escort, huh… Yeah, I came to escort you. Very safely, in fact.”

Darents’ tone had changed from before. He twitched his lips repeatedly as he glared at Ghislain.

He had rotted away in this place for years because of the Julien Mercenary Corps. On top of that, he had lost an arm.

There was no way he could harbor good feelings toward them. But since he couldn’t strike at them immediately, he could only swallow his rage.

Behind Darents, the assassins of Crips had already gathered.

Seeing them, Ghislain let out a faint chuckle.

“I’ve heard the world’s been in turmoil lately—do you think you can really protect the Saintess with those few people? I mean, to start with, this doesn’t feel very respectful.”

“Respect?”

“Yeah. At the very least, shouldn’t you be treating her like the Pope?”

At that, Darents chuckled, his shoulders shaking.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that part. We’ve come with more than enough formality.”

Boom!

Suddenly, fireworks exploded on one side and shot up into the sky.

And a moment later—

Thududududu!

A force of soldiers began charging toward their location.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Knights in armor swiftly formed a perimeter in perfect coordination.

After a bit more waiting, countless soldiers swarmed in and formed ranks behind the knights.

They were a military unit dispatched directly from the Holy Empire.

Looking at the soldiers surrounding them in tight formation, Ghislain asked,

“Is that it? Doesn’t really look the part for an escort serving the Saintess.”

“Hmm… Well now…”

Darents let out a mocking laugh. Even for a Transcendent, to act so relaxed in front of the Holy Empire’s elite troops—

Well, the other side had several Transcendents too, so perhaps it was understandable.

But those bastards wouldn’t know. They had no idea how thoroughly this side had prepared to “serve” the Saintess.

Thududududu!

As time passed, even more troops kept pouring in.

Their uniforms were different from the Holy Empire’s soldiers. Forces from nearby lords had gathered as well.

By now, the surrounding area was so packed that the end wasn’t even visible. A rough count suggested the number exceeded ten thousand.

Darents spoke with a cruel smile on his face.

“This should be enough to properly serve the Saintess, don’t you think? Are you satisfied now?”

“You don’t look like the one in charge here. Maybe the brat should bow out of the conversation now?”

“You bastard…”

Darents’ face twisted in fury. But he didn’t step forward.

Even as a Transcendent, he had no authority over the Holy Empire’s army.

Then, the center of the army split open, and someone emerged.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

A middle-aged man, mounted on a horse, calmly approached the Julien Mercenary Corps.

He glanced between Ghislain and Julien for a moment before asking,

“I am Marquis Ferington, here by order of His Holiness the Pope. Pardon my rudeness, but may I ask—who among you is the representative?”

Ghislain gave Julien, who stood beside him, a light nudge.

Up until now, Ghislain had mostly taken the lead, but it was time for Julien to grow accustomed to standing at the forefront.

Julien stepped forward and addressed Marquis Ferington.

“I am Julien, leader of the Julien Mercenary Corps. Please, speak.”

“First, allow me to extend my deepest respect to you all, who have honorably fulfilled the sacred mission granted by His Holiness. Your achievements shall be recorded in the Holy Empire’s history, and your glory will be passed down to future generations. The Holy Empire will never forget your efforts, and thus, I have come, following His Holiness’s will, to escort you to the heart of the Holy Empire.”

“……”

Julien remained silent for a moment, overwhelmed by the overly verbose praise, before speaking.

“This seems like a bit too much for an escort.”

“Recently, the Demonic Abyss has grown more active, and black mages are running rampant across the land. Furthermore, there is intelligence that priests of the Salvation Church are targeting you. So, a force of this size is far from excessive.”

“I understand. Then I’ll be in your care until we reach the Holy Empire.”

At those words, Marquis Ferington paused briefly. He hadn’t expected Julien to comply so readily.

‘…Is he just oblivious?’

It actually worked out better this way. After all, the real objective today was to confirm and retrieve the Sacred Stones.

Putting on a dignified expression, Marquis Ferington spoke.

“Before we depart, I would like to inspect the Sacred Stones.”

When Julien looked at Deneb, she slowly detached the Sacred Stones from her necklace, bracelet, and ring.

The Sacred Stones resting in Deneb’s palm emitted a soft glow, radiating gentle divine power.

At the sight, Marquis Ferington’s eyes grew cold for a brief moment.

He extended a hand and spoke.

“I will take custody of the Sacred Stones until we reach the Holy Empire. It will be safer that way.”

“That won’t be possible.”

“I understand your concerns. However, the Holy Empire acknowledges your merits and guarantees your safety. Many already know that the Julien Mercenary Corps has recovered the Sacred Stones. So, I ask that you refrain from unnecessary suspicion.”

What Marquis Ferington said sounded reasonable.

Many people were aware of the Julien Mercenary Corps. In fact, their name was fairly well-known, especially after they had resolved several issues across various kingdoms.

Now that they had recovered the Sacred Stones too, it was only natural for them to be treated as heroes.

If the Holy Empire and the Pope wanted to preserve their honor, they had to protect and commend the Julien Mercenary Corps. In other words, there was no need to worry.

Despite Marquis Ferington’s words, the members of the Julien Mercenary Corps all wore indifferent expressions.

In peaceful times, they might have believed him. But this was an era where war against the Demonic Abyss had begun.

Words could be overturned at any time, and false charges could be pinned on anyone.

The Pope and the Holy Empire had the power and authority to do exactly that.

Julien shook his head and spoke firmly.

“We were the ones who recovered the Sacred Stones. And we’ve been recognized as their rightful holders by the representatives of each race.”

Marquis Ferington’s brow twitched. He suppressed his voice as he asked,

“So? Are you saying you won’t hand them over?”

“Correct. Deneb is the rightful owner of the Sacred Stones. We are going to the Holy Empire with the intention of explaining this to His Holiness and requesting his understanding.”

“……”

Marquis Ferington stared at Julien with a blank expression.

It seemed these petty mercenaries had gotten cocky after becoming Transcendents and gaining the support of various races.

‘Or perhaps they’re relying on the dragon.’

He had already heard Arterion’s warning.

The wrath of a dragon was terrifying. No one could deny that.

But that was a matter for after the war.

The real and immediate threat was the power of the Pope and the Holy Empire. Everyone knew this.

That’s why no one could openly oppose the Pope’s will.

‘His Holiness already anticipated that the dragon might react that way.’

Thus, the Holy Empire was prepared to fight even against a dragon.

The Pope was stronger than anyone.

Even the priests who had served him since childhood called him the greatest genius in human history.

It was with zero opposition that he ascended to the papacy.

And if he were to acquire the power of the Sacred Stones,

then even dragons would not be beyond his reach.

Marquis Ferington’s voice turned cold.

“Julien, I’ll give you one last chance. Hand over the Sacred Stones now.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Even if it means dying here?”

Julien looked Marquis Ferington straight in the eye and asked,

“Weren’t you planning to kill us from the start?”

“No.”

Marquis Ferington denied it flatly.

It was true that he had received orders to kill them and retrieve the Sacred Stones.

However, fighting against multiple Transcendents was a heavy burden.

He was confident in victory, but the losses would be substantial.

With the war against the Demonic Abyss now underway, every soldier was precious.

So, the plan had been to first secure the Sacred Stones, and then later eliminate the Julien Mercenary Corps one by one when the opportunity arose.

Killing them all here and taking the stones was the last resort.

Marquis Ferington softened his tone slightly and spoke again.

“Hand over the Sacred Stones. If you do that, there won’t be any conflict between us.

A treasure can only be held by those who are worthy of it.”

“The one worthy of it is Deneb.”

“If you continue to refuse, I’ll have no choice but to strike you down.”

“Go ahead, if you think you can.”

In an instant, the tension between both sides turned vicious.

The Julien Mercenary Corps remained unfazed, their hands moving to their weapons.

Anyone with half a brain would understand exactly what kind of situation this was now.

Marquis Ferington, his eyes filled with murderous intent, spoke.

“So, the rumors were true. You’re a bunch of blockheads who can’t be reasoned with. I’ll cut off your heads and take the Sacred Stones myself.”

He raised his hand.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

All the troops behind him lifted their weapons and assumed a combat stance.

Just then, Lionel shouted loudly and stepped forward.

“What in the world are you doing! How could you do this!”

He couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

He was a loyal servant of the Pope—so why were they trying to attack the Julien Mercenary Corps while he was with them?

Marquis Ferington looked at Lionel and said,

“It’s been a while. But this isn’t the time for pleasantries. Step aside.”

“Your Excellency! I am here under the direct order of His Holiness, accompanying the Julien Mercenary Corps!”

“Exactly. So, I’m telling you to step aside. I’d rather not kill someone working for the Pope and the Holy Empire.”

“W-what are you saying?”

“Do you really not understand? Did you think the Holy Empire would stand by while these heretics impersonate the Saintess and attempt to steal the Sacred Stones?

You will undergo intense inquisition the moment you return to the Holy Empire. Be aware of that.”

“I… Inquisition?”

“Yes. You may have been seduced by that witch and abandoned your faith.”

Those words shook Lionel to the core.

What the marquis was really saying was that the Pope had already discarded him.

For now, they would spare him because too many eyes were watching.

But once they returned to the Holy Empire…

He would be executed, branded with the shame of heresy.

“Y-your Excellency… I… I served under His Holiness’s command… I’ve dedicated years to carrying out my mission.”

“And? That’s not what matters now, is it? What matters is whether you’re a heretic or not.”

“I’m not… I’m not a heretic.”

“Then go and retrieve the Sacred Stones from that witch. I’ll have to see for myself whether your faith is true.”

Lionel turned his head with a devastated expression.

Ghislain simply shrugged with a cheeky look on his face.

Kyle was watching with a smirk, clearly entertained. Ereneth, as always, looked regal and composed.

Marika wore a confused expression, unsure of what was going on, while the other mercenaries gleamed with interest, as if watching an exciting play.

And Julien and Deneb…

They were watching him with gentle smiles.

Lionel lowered his head.

He had long suspected that a clash with the Holy Empire’s army might be possible.

But he had never truly believed it would happen.

He thought the Pope would never abandon him.

Even if such a situation arose, he believed he could mediate.

He thought he could convince the Pope somehow.

After all, he had served the Pope faithfully for many years and he believed the Pope valued and trusted him in return.

But now… it was clear that the Holy Empire had already prepared to annihilate the Julien Mercenary Corps.

And that included him as well.

Lionel looked at Marquis Ferington with sorrowful eyes.

Even now, he couldn’t believe he had truly been cast aside.

So, he steadied his trembling voice and spoke.

“Please… let me pass. I will meet His Holiness in person… and ask whether this is truly his will. I will persuade him.”

“Heretic.”

Chaaang!

Marquis Ferington drew his sword. A bluish Aura Blade flared from the blade.

He was one of the top-ranking Transcendents in the Empire—a Sword Master.

And he wasn’t alone. Several other Transcendents had come along as well.

The area was packed with elite knights, mages, and imperial troops of the highest caliber.

With just over thirty members, the Julien Mercenary Corps could absolutely be wiped out.

Marquis Ferington pointed his sword forward. Just before he could give the order to attack—

Ghislain snatched the Sacred Stones from Deneb’s hand and shouted.

“Hey! You wanted this, right? Here, take it!”

“Hmm?”

Marquis Ferington flinched.

If he could retrieve the Sacred Stones, there was no need to risk taking losses in battle here.

But then…

“Here! Come and get it yourself!”

Ghislain turned around and hurled the Sacred Stones with all his strength.

Marquis Ferington’s eyes widened.

“That lunatic…”

This place wasn’t far from the harbor. Which meant—right behind them was the sea.

A normal person wouldn’t have been able to throw them that far… but Ghislain was a Transcendent.

Indeed, the Sacred Stones soared high into the sky… and plunged deep into the ocean.

A suffocating silence fell.

Marquis Ferington and the entire assembled army stood frozen, their minds blank.

While they stared dumbfounded at the waves, Ghislain spoke.

“What are you doing? If you leave them like that, you’ll never find them. They might float away on the tide.

Oh, maybe a fish already gulped them down?”

“F-find the Sacred Stones! Now! Mages! What are the mages doing?! I said bring them back immediately!”

At Marquis Ferington’s shout, the knights at the front surged forward in a rush.

In a mad scramble, soldiers tore off their armor and dove into the sea, while mages hurriedly flew toward the area where the Sacred Stones had fallen.

“Anyone who can swim, get moving! Now!”

As commanders shouted from all directions, a large number of soldiers leapt into the ocean.

Even the assassins from Crips joined in the recovery effort.

The result was immediate chaos—Imperial formations were broken, and the entire area descended into disorder.

Marquis Ferington, red with fury, roared,

“You bastard! Are you insane?! Throwing the Sacred Stones into the sea?! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

The Sacred Stones were treasures entrusted to them by the representatives of each race.

If the Holy Empire were to lose the Sacred Stones and kill the Julien Mercenary Corps, the full weight of blame would fall on them.

No—more than that, how could he toss away humanity’s treasures so carelessly?

Ghislain replied with a calm expression,

“So what? Weren’t you going to kill us here anyway? Then we don’t need the Sacred Stones either.”

“Y-you… you… you—!”

“Better that none of you get them either. That way, maybe the Pope will chop all your heads off instead?”

“You… you bastard—!”

Marquis Ferington’s face turned crimson. He tried to argue but no words came out.

Because there wasn’t a single flaw in Ghislain’s logic.

In a rage, he shouted,

“Kill them! Kill these bastards immediately!”

Then he charged at Ghislain in a flash and swung his sword.

Kaaaang!

Ghislain instantly raised his staff and blocked Marquis Ferington’s sword.

“You wretch!”

Ferington exploded with Aura Blade energy, pressing hard.

But Ghislain didn’t budge an inch.

Instead, he smirked and muttered,

“Nakturah, to celebrate your return to the world, go wild.”

Kwaaaaaaaaah!

Dark energy surged through the air, and a robed skeleton emerged—

A lich, its eyes glowing with blue flame after centuries of imprisonment.

And above the staff it raised high…

Fwooooom!

A massive fireball roared to life, burning bright and fierce.