Chapter 765

The unaccumulated deeds are returned to the heavens, strengthening the Heavenly Barrier.

The Apostles, having understood Peirus’s explanation, couldn’t hide their bewilderment. Especially the Eighth Apostle, Belnesia Valenstein, was so shocked that her body trembled.

“All the things I’ve done… were they just blocking my own path…?”

“Ah, it’s not that bad, don’t be too shocked. Even if you’ve wasted twenty years of deeds, it wouldn’t even amount to half of what the variable has wasted in just two months.”

Whether it was comfort or sarcasm, it was an undeniable truth.

The era when Valenstein was at her peak wasn’t a world overflowing with monsters like now. Even the strong ones were merely masters, with no one reaching the Realm of Heroes beyond the wall.

In a world filled with mediocrity, even if she spent twenty years strengthening the Heavenly Barrier, how much could it have been strengthened?

Just looking at the successful destruction of the first and second barriers, it was clear that Valenstein’s efforts contributed little more than a margin of error to the barrier’s strength.

– Crunch…!

Of course, to Valenstein, this must have sounded like the ultimate mockery. The decades she spent trying to surpass the wall were deemed less valuable than half a year of a young girl’s efforts.

“Ugh…”

Since it was the truth, she couldn’t argue back and just gritted her teeth in frustration.

“The exploits of the strong who have reached the pinnacle cause the Heavenly Barrier to strengthen… Then, what we must do is clear.”

“…Eliminate her?”

“What are you talking about? Have you turned into a lizard in the head after spending time with the Dragonkin?”

The Fourth Apostle sneered at the Fifth Apostle’s question.

“The forces gathered at the Sky Mountain Range could destroy a nation. Even with the Holy Legion’s assistance, how do you plan to eliminate a woman who single-handedly defeated them? Moreover, if we fail, the Heavenly Barrier will only grow stronger.”

“I agree. The Fourth Apostle’s words are overly aggressive, but… as he said, attempting elimination is too risky.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

Peirus, who had been listening to the Apostles’ conversation, spoke up again at the Seventh Apostle’s question.

“It’s simple. There’s no need to take massive risks to eliminate the variable. In short, it’s enough to hinder her from achieving further deeds. Until enough souls are gathered to destroy the fourth barrier.”

Attempting to assassinate Ha-shal-leur is a last resort. To destroy the Heavenly Barrier, it’s sufficient to keep her from running rampant. That’s what Peirus was saying.

“No, so how do you plan to hinder her—”

“That’s where you, the Seventh Apostle, come in.”

“…Me?”

The Seventh Apostle, Eleonora, turned pale.

“Didn’t you report to me? The variable plans to establish an independent nation from the Empire, and you are directly involved in this matter.”

“That’s… well… yes. That’s true.”

The Seventh Apostle reluctantly agreed. It was the truth, after all.

“Establishing a new dynasty isn’t as simple as it sounds. There will undoubtedly be numerous obstacles. Your duty, Seventh Apostle, is to use this to keep her tied to the throne.”

Until the fourth Heavenly Barrier is stripped away, Ha-shal-leur must be kept away from the struggle. It was a rational and safe strategy.

“Leave the military matters to your subordinates, and let her waste time quietly holed up in the palace, dealing with the flood of administrative tasks.”

“…I doubt she’ll comply so easily. If we force her too much, she might become suspicious.”

The Seventh Apostle, Eleonora von Wettin, replied with reluctance. It was a burdensome and perplexing order for her.

‘You want me to control that woman…? The one who openly suspected us?’

Controlling a woman with beast-like instincts, who suspected her and Belnesia after just a few conversations. If her suspicions turned into certainty, what then?

Considering she was a person who hated evil so much that she received Astraea’s Holy Mark, it was clear she wouldn’t hesitate to throw even the Emperor’s sister into a torture chamber.

‘…I should have kept it hidden. Reporting that I was chosen as her advisor has led to this order to leash a tiger.’

Eleonora sighed deeply.

If this continued, she might be discovered and killed by Ha-shal-leur. She had pleaded for a solution, never imagining it would lead to this.

Instead of a solution, she was thrust into an even more dangerous situation. Even her gratitude for being freed from being the Panam King’s plaything was fading.

“There’s no need to worry so much.”

Peirus, sensing the anxiety and reluctance in Eleonora’s sigh, tried to reassure her with optimistic words.

“The fact we’ve uncovered… that the deeds she’s wasted are being used to strengthen the Heavenly Barrier, she doesn’t know that. All she knows is that she’s reached the limit of her strength.”

“…So?”

“If she thinks that defeating enemies won’t make her any stronger, then it’s natural for her to consider directly engaging in combat a waste, isn’t it?”

Though it was just Peirus’s speculation, it sounded quite plausible to the other Apostles.

Though the Apostles couldn’t know, Ha-shal-leur indeed thought this way, recently delegating most enemies to her companions.

“Unless it’s a formidable foe that can’t be defeated without her… if it’s enemies that can be handled by others, I think she’d send her subordinates to give them a chance to accumulate deeds instead of stepping in herself. Don’t you think?”

“That’s… certainly… possible.”

After a moment of thought, Eleonora nodded in agreement.

Peirus’s reasoning was sufficiently rational, while her rebuttal was just a self-preserving complaint about the danger. The other Apostles wouldn’t side with her.

“Then, what we must do is…”

“Control the movements of various nations to prevent situations where she must step in. It shouldn’t be too difficult. In the past six months, all races, including the Kahars and humans, have suffered massive losses. Even if they want war, they lack the strength.”

The elite forces of various nations have been halved, and monster appearances are increasing. In such a situation, waging war against the Empire is impossible without going mad.

Even if fortune favors victory, the remaining forces would be lost in the process, reducing them to weak nations that could collapse at a touch.

Thus, peace will come to the world for now. Peirus thought so.

The other Apostles agreed.

======[ Ha-shal-leur, Dozens of Hours Earlier]======

Thanks to the Holy Legion’s arrival, the calamitous Insect-Dragon subjugation finally came to an end.

“No… this can’t be…!”

Ereneisia fought valiantly but eventually collapsed from exhaustion.

“Ah, can I cut off her ears? I’ve always wanted to try that.”

“Go ahead.”

Asha, along with the high-ranking Paladins, subdued Ereneisia and cut off her ears with a dagger.

– Slice.

As the long ear was severed, Ereneisia, already unconscious, jerked up like a fish out of water.

Asha pocketed the severed ear, then cut the tendons in her limbs and applied restraints.

Cutting off limbs entirely would be safer, but in her current state, that might cause fatal shock.

“Does Beherikes think he’ll die to you…? To you scale-less bugs! I’d rather…!”

Beherikes chose a different path instead of being killed by the Paladins and Damien. He broke through their encirclement, losing both arms, and charged towards Nidhogg.

He understood he was doomed, but he couldn’t accept dying to the weak, scale-less ones. Jin chose to become the Insect-Dragon’s meal rather than die by the greatsword.

【 K…rrrrr…! 】

The battle with the Insect-Dragon ended as expected.

Nidhogg desperately struggled against the Chains of Divine Light until the priests’ strength gave out… but by the time it regained freedom, its body was irreparably scarred.

Its waist severed again by Damien’s greatsword. Its wings reduced to remnants by Seilon’s bombardment. Its forelegs torn off by Asha’s charge. Its lower jaw ripped away by Durandal’s strike.

Even in that state, it thrashed about, but it was just the flailing of a dying beast.

Its lungs were torn, so it couldn’t breathe fire. Its lower jaw was gone, so it couldn’t bite. Its forelegs and wings were lost, so all it could do was sweep its neck around like a broom.

What could such an attack do?

Even ordinary Paladins could survive a direct hit without a shield. Though I and Damien were exhausted, we could still dodge such attacks.

“I’ll send you to meet your father in hell!”

“Creature of sin, face the scales of judgment!”

“This is the end!”

“My money. My workshop. My heart, you worm! I’ll never forgive you!”

The Oath Sword’s runes glowed, drawing a blue arc. The Thorn Sword poured a golden Rain of Divine Light. Damien’s Jin greatsword slashed wildly like a child’s scribble. Asha’s spear roared continuously.

Thus continued the hunt for over ten minutes.

【 Kyhaaaaaaaaak…. 】

Nidhogg let out its final death cry as its severed head slammed into the ground.

“Finally… it’s over. Tough bastard.”

I exhaled a breath so hot it felt like flames would erupt, pulling my arms from its skull.

Ice Blade and Durandal, soaked in Nidhogg’s brain matter, slid out with a squelching sound.