Chapter 80

Chapter 80

#80. The Northern Holy Power (3)

The Witch of Clay, Lulu, focused her mind.

Not just her, but the other witches surrounding her also maintained a high level of concentration.

Young witches, old witches, middle-aged witches, and even little witches…

Twenty-one witches stood in a wide circle, operating a purple magic circle.

Woo-oo-oo!

The purple magic circle burned fiercely.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Magic flames as big as rocks exploded all around.

[Keeyaaaah!]

[Keehahahaha!]

Spirits screamed or burst into laughter.

Hooooww…

In Lulu’s mouth was a short pipe cigarette, continuously smoking mana tobacco without rest.

Pooof~

Paah!

The other witches were the same. Regardless of age, they all smoked pipes out of their mouths.

D-d-d-ding!

Then, every now and then, when some of the witches started trembling…

“Almost exhausted. We’ll administer injections.”

Priests from the Lenslet Order watching this ritual from behind approached to give the witches shots in their arms.

“Haa…!”

When the mana potion, more expensive than gold, was injected, the witch who had been convulsing suddenly regained energy, smoking mana tobacco vigorously while refocusing on the ritual.

Right now, they were dealing with the black magic plague – specifically, processing the black magic.

This wasn’t happening only here.

In Haven, Shuen, Remme, Cadia, Narvik, and other major northern cities hit by the plague… rituals by witches were ongoing without fail.

“Thoroughly guard the perimeter! We must protect the witches and priests!”

“Prevent the angry citizens from reaching here!”

Around them, fully armed knights and soldiers stood guard in case of any unexpected incidents.

‘Why aren’t the Bell Witch and Black Wizards showing up?’

Lulu and the other witches, while focusing on the ritual, often glanced around nervously.

One of the biggest concerns…

was that no one knew when the Black Wizards and Bell Witch would appear.

‘And the witches in other cities are unusually quiet too.’

The longer time passed, the stranger it became.

There was no sign of the culprits from the Demon Den – the Black Wizards and Bell Witch.

High Knights from High City scoured the entire north, and Winter Hawks conducted more reconnaissance than ever, but there was no sight of them.

“All together, let’s keep going! The city’s condition is gradually getting under control.”

At that moment, a certain Lenslet priest who had gone to check the city situation came running and shouted.

The gray priest’s robe was stained everywhere from battling the plague.

“So, ladies! Just a little more! I think we can do it with just a bit more effort!”

With that shout, the witches responded with faint smiles and concentrated even harder on the ritual.

How much time had passed?

‘Hmm…?!’

While concentrating on the magic, Lulu’s focus was disrupted by an extremely foreign yet holy aura.

‘Holy power?! Why is there holy power here!?’

She looked around in surprise.

Then, she immediately understood why the holy power was being felt.

‘My goodness! Already holy power from the Lenslet Order?!’

From the priests who had always been treated as fake priests and were assisting the witches in stopping the black magic…

a faint aura was shining.

“What…!?”

“The birth of holy power was really like this all along!”

“The talk about northerners being monsters abandoned by God will finally fade away.”

Other witches besides Lulu also stared in amazement at the phenomenon before their eyes.

“Now we’re not needed anymore…”

“Yeah. We might get to rest.”

“If we’re unlucky, we might end up resting forever?”

“Huh?”

“No, no…”

The witches, including Lulu, looked at the priests of the Lenslet Order with complicated expressions.

“It feels like just yesterday when we helped establish that order…”

A witch muttered while looking at the holy aura.

Among the knowledge witches possessed…

there was quite a bit unrelated to magic, such as herbal medicine, healing techniques, and agriculture.

That’s why when the Lenslet Order was first established, witches directly and indirectly gave a lot of help.

“If only it weren’t for Haran’s curse, we could have increased our numbers and strength like that…”

Another witch lamented softly.

“Now it’s completely reversing.”

“Our usefulness is disappearing again.”

All the witches’ gazes were directed evenly toward the priests.

“Ladies…?”

“Is something wrong?”

“Why do you feel so full of power?”

They seemed unaware of what was happening to them.

Even though the witches’ concentration was disrupted and the barely contained black magic should have run rampant, it didn’t.

After all, the best cure for the black magic plague was undoubtedly holy power.

* * *

The Lenslet Order is a newly established religious group.

It was intentionally created by the government.

Therefore, most of the priests in this order were bureaucrats.

Naturally, the vassals serving the Lenslet Dukedom had their own families and clans.

The principles of primogeniture, or sometimes eldest daughter inheritance, were more strictly followed by noble families.

So, second sons, third sons, fourth sons, fifth sons, etc., had to find their own way to make a living once they reached adulthood.

Usually, they earned their livelihoods as maids or servants in High City, knights, healers, bureaucrats, merchants, etc.

The priests of the Lenslet Order were mostly cases where people working in these professions became priests alongside Mary’s blessing viral campaign.

At the time, the consecutive treasons and purges made the northern nobles uneasy.

There was an urgent need to prove loyalty and avoid the winds of purge.

The appearance of the Lenslet Order at this time was like a kind of indulgence shown by High City.

Working in the enthusiastic sect worshiping the Lenslet fervently overflowed with honor and righteousness.

The families gave near-command recommendations to their independent children.

No matter how much one claimed independence from their parents, it’s hard to ignore familial suggestions.

Thus, they became priests of a newborn order overnight, lacking even basic holy power or proper doctrines.

With all kinds of benefits and investments provided by High City, the order grew rapidly.

They won the hearts of peasants with Mary’s blessings and expanded their finances and influence exponentially, almost like a royal trading company.

And now…

the Lenslet Order has reached another stage of evolution.

“My hands! My hands are glowing!”

“If I do this… Wow! The wound is healing!”

Finally, holy power has come to the north.

“You mean this actually works?”

I observed the priests of the order wielding holy power with astonished eyes.

Not all priests of the Reslet Order could wield holy power.

But a significant number, over 40%, were manifesting it.

“So, holy power really has nothing to do with faith?”

They started out as mere civil servants.

Could they truly have followed the doctrines and believed in the Lenslet fervently? No way.

But looking at the faint holy power before my eyes now, such discussions seem meaningless.

“This is probably… because many northerners have genuinely started believing in the Lenslet fervor.”

Mary beside me said excitedly.

The north had a smaller agricultural base, so the intensity and scale of faith during Mary’s blessings were immature.

But this plague was different. It cut across occupational lines, penetrating deeper and wider into the beliefs and faith of the northerners.

“That makes sense. The saying ‘crisis is opportunity’ fits this moment perfectly.”

High risk, high return is real. This plague brought much gain to the north despite costing many lives.

Their deaths were certainly accounted for.

“Still, there’s one puzzling point. Though it’s the northerners who gathered the faith, why are the priests of the order the ones wielding holy power?”

“Isn’t that the same for the Papal Church or Imperial Church?”

“Hmm, you’re right. Do you have any guesses, boss?”

“Probably due to mana sensitivity and mental differences.”

“Mental differences?”

Mary tilted her head. She could understand the mana sensitivity part.

“But the sense of belonging and professional consciousness surprisingly enable many things.”

“Ah…?”

Mary’s eyes showed she understood about half of what I said.

“Are we done? Let’s start if everything’s ready.”

Leaving her aside for a moment, I focused on the work situation ahead.

I’m currently at the alchemy production line of Factory One.

There, our employees and priests dispatched from the Lenslet Order were present.

“With holy power, we can make potions.”

What they’re making now are potions.

The north can now produce its own potions.

And not just a few, but in mass quantities at a factory.

“In the original history, potions couldn’t be mass-produced. The church strictly controlled it. Even proud priests wouldn’t agree.”

If potion mass-production succeeds, the mortality rate of northerners will decrease further.

Of course, since it involves injecting holy power, the price won’t be cheap.

However, it won’t become so rare that money can’t buy it like before.

Normally using a med kit for treatment and finding a healer or potion only in emergencies seems achievable.

The population of the north is about to explode.

“Mr. Arad, the items sent by Bishop Company have arrived.”

As Mary and I watched the potion production process with shining eyes, Manager Te entered to report.

“However… half of the items we requested are missing. They say they can procure them, but can’t send them to the north.”

“Blocked by the royal family, huh.”

“Yes.”

I examined the purchase confirmation sheet checked by Manager Te.

A considerable amount of raw materials essential for making mana potions hadn’t arrived.

“Don’t worry about the cost. By the way, the sand?”

“The sand for making glass containers has arrived.”

“Then that’s settled.”

Had the north not gained holy power, it would’ve been a disaster, but now it doesn’t matter.

“So, did you hear the emperor died?”

Instead, I asked about the most talked-about news recently with a strange feeling.

‘Did my luck stat reach that far? Or was it just pure coincidence?’

No matter how much I’m an old-timer from Silver Era 1 and this body of Arad I possessed is a master creator, I couldn’t remember the exact date the emperor died.

I only vaguely remembered he was supposed to die around this time.

“Yes! In fact, the empire is reportedly in great turmoil because of this. I heard preparations are underway in the imperial capital to receive condolence delegations.”

Manager Te recalled her conversation with a merchant from Bishop Company.

“Condolence delegation… well, even if they’re enemies, an emperor is still an emperor, so we must go.”

Mentioning the condolence delegation reminded me of Duke Gard, who was also the head of Rune Trading Company.

“Mary.”

I turned my gaze and called Mary.

She had silently listened to my conversation with Manager Te since earlier.

“Did you hear anything from High City? Anything related to condolence delegations or congratulatory envoys.”

When the emperor dies and a new one ascends, condolence delegations arriving stay to act as congratulatory envoys for the coronation.

Honestly, I didn’t feel much about the emperor’s death. He was expected to pass anytime soon, and according to the original timeline, he was supposed to die around this time.

The important thing is what we can gain from utilizing this period.

“Not decided yet, as far as I know.”

“Is that so? Still, sending a condolence delegation should be hurried even though suppressing the plague is more urgent in the north… maybe it shouldn’t be sent at all.”

At my words, Mary expressed her personal opinion.

“Why do you think that?”

“The empire tried to send one legion disguised as relief forces to take advantage of the north’s confusion. It was canceled when the emperor died.”

Her expression darkened as she spoke.

“Besides, whoever says what, the empire’s royal family and church are behind this black magic plague.”

Her statement was understandable.

Though emotions shouldn’t be involved in international politics, it’s not easy.

If Earth’s international politics are influenced by public sentiment, then this world’s international politics are affected by the emotions of monarchs and nobles.

The Grand Duchess of the North, Ariana, and the northern nobles hate the empire more than anyone. Sometimes even more than the northern commoners.

‘Maybe Mary is delivering Ariana’s thoughts on my behalf.’

Grand Duchess Ariana of the North is a virtuous ruler. But she’s also a person and a woman.

Even a ruler aiming to be a superhuman cannot be free from emotions.

“For that very reason, we must send a condolence delegation even more.”

“Why is that?”

“The more chaotic the situation, the more important information gathering becomes. In that sense, a condolence delegation is a legal reconnaissance that no one can stop.”

“But…”

“Think about what we’ve suffered from this plague.”

“…!”

“There’s a clear lesson here. Being swayed by emotions and not sending a condolence delegation is something amateurs do. The more so, the more we must bow our heads, deceive the empire, and extract even a small piece of information from them.”

I explained my thoughts to Mary. I hope this message reaches Her Highness the Grand Duchess waiting in High City.

“…I see.”

Did my words get through? Mary nodded decisively with a determined look in her eyes.

‘Looks like it got through.’

Judging by her silvery-gray eyes, it seemed there was no need to worry.

“Phew! Thank goodness! Really glad you’re here! There you are!”

Just then…

Someone entered the workshop and shouted upon seeing us.

There were very few people who could move around so boldly without any hindrance in this industrial complex.

“Knight Valkyrie? Knight Sun?”

Sun, guarding High City, and Valkyrie, who had been traveling the north searching for black wizards and the bell witch, appeared.

“Come to think of it, today was the day, wasn’t it? The day you’d return to High City.”

“Exactly! Really glad we made it on time!”

“…?”

Valkyrie looked at me with an expression of genuine relief, more accurately, towards Mary’s direction.

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