Chapter 381: Holy War (1)
'It's not going as planned.'
-Die!
-...
-Die! Traitor!
-...
-Die!!!
'Savage... So, so savage.'
Yev Karina looked virtually like a demon's servant through the Goddess' Mirror.
Striking the head of a revered priest in the Republic with the statue of look like a psychopath killer to anyone's eyes.
I knew it would not be hard for people to believe that she was a member of the brigade from the first round. No, not only the brigade.
No one could deny that she indeed looked like a demon's servant. Even Belial would laugh out loud if he were to witness this scene.
'That's a good stuff, good stuff.'
Not only were her face and clothes covered with blood, but her hair was in a messed up craze.
This was no different than a criminal caught in the act.
In fact, it was a little different from what I had originally intended, but this wasn't all that bad, either. If it were as it was, the Bishop Priest's death, who had been moving for justice, would not have happened.
He would be useful, too.
'The Senior Bishop Priest moved too early.'
It seemed that the sacred wine did not fit the taste of the Senior Bishop Priest.
I had explained that it was an urgent situation, but I hadn't expected him to move in such a hurry. I had refrained from using this tactic as much as possible because of this kind of side effect, but...
'Since she was someone qualified I met after a long time...'
It would be unfortunate to send him off empty-handed.
It wasn't that I wasn't worried, but the result itself wasn't bad, apart from what I had been worried about.
Anyway, the enemy's commander was almost dead, and the Republic's soldiers had come in at the right time.
This meant that confusion could not possibly be avoided.
The Bishop Priest's desperate martyrdom would soon spread within the unit.
Everyone would see the truth through the Goddess' Mirror, even if they were to try to hide and conceal the demon minion's identity, to say the least.
In fact, I didn't even need to do anything else.
Even at this moment, several sounds were being heard from the inside. He must have preached to the priests under his command to some extent.
'The priests of the Republic are also quite good.'
I felt stupid upon having looked down on them in the past. It was also true that I doubted that they would be a little different from the ones from the State.
However, I could once again confirm that everyone felt the same way about God. This siege had gotten easier, thanks to the Bishop Priest's ultimate sacrifice.
As I looked outside, I could see the soldiers preparing for the fight. I really wanted to fight together, but I still felt too comfortable within the safe confines in the rear.
'I have to do things like speech.'
Just in time, I started to hear a slow knocking on the door.
As I walked outside, I saw Elena waiting for me. Naturally, it felt like this was the first time that I had seen her after a long time.
However, I didn't show the fact that I was happy to see her.
It seemed that she was watching out for Jung Hayan, and now that I was about to participate, it was time to get a little serious.
Not surprisingly, I could see her slowly opening her mouth.
"Probably..."
"Yes?"
"You will probably be a great source of courage for the soldiers, Lee Kiyoung. I'm sorry I gave you a very burdening role."
"No, Elena. It's just embarrassing to say it's a heavy role. This is a place that should be protected because this place is now my hometown, too. Rather, I am very grateful for the opportunity to help."
"Honorary... Cardinal."
"..."
"..."
"Then let's go, Elena."
"Okay."
As if she had seen Elena slightly blushing, Jung Hayan began to frown, but she didn't care much because I hadn't fully recovered yet.
I always felt good when going up on the platform. As I looked around, I began to see some familiar faces.
The Blue Guild members who were forced to head into the battlefield seemed a little nervous.
Others seemed to be determined, but Yoo Ahyoung, who was having such a large-scale war for the first time, seemed quite nervous.
Kim Chang-ryul was so calm that it felt a little amazing. Park Deokgu had some unknown anxiety on his face. Kim Hyunsung looked the same.
'He seemed uneasy.'
Of course, Kim Hyunsung would think it would be better to go in after preparing a little more, but now was the time.
The urgent thing to do right now was to support Castle Rock. It would be counterproductive to argue now.
I thought about making a trap that Kim Hyunsung would approve of, but I wasn't confident enough to gamble like that right now.
I had to keep the troops in front of me as far as I could and head to the Castle Rock Front. Anyway, the more I climbed the stairs, the more my vision began to expand.
As a commander in the backline, I looked safe in any way. Of course, there was no way I could show a relieved expression.
This was the beginning of an important war, and most of the troops must have feelings that were hard to imagine.
As I slowly turned my head to both sides, I could see those who were alleviating the anxiety in their own way.
Some were resolutely tying their swords or helmets, while others were busy praying. Some were holding their colleague's hand or patting them on the shoulder, while others were quietly looking at the enemy in front of them.
One thing they had in common was that they waited for my voice, standing on the podium.
'I can feel the pressure.'
I could bet that no one could look at this scene without any thoughts.
As soon as I had adjusted the crumpled clothes and opened my mouth, I could see the soldiers listening in immediately.
"The most important thing in a fight is justification."
-The most important thing in fighting is justification.
However, my voice was not light. The place had become very quiet. When I opened my mouth again, everyone was listening with rapt attention.
-Yes. It is justification. It is important to witness and face properly why you have to fight, why you have to lift your sword, why you have to risk your life, and why you have to take away precious life. We lifted the sword. We made up our minds to fight, and now we are facing the enemy. I will ask you. Why did you lift the sword? What is the cause and justification for lifting our swords?
There was no way someone would answer.
It wasn't a question I had asked to have an answer anyway, but everyone would indeed be feeling it.
-Why, why are we here now? Why are you facing your fearful enemy with your sword? Why are you standing here with a flag, knowing that you may lose your life? I believe everyone knows. Probably everyone is aware of it. This fight! This fight is for the future! Our good cause is not who invaded first or who disrupted the order of the continent. Our cause lies in the future we should live in and enjoy.
This was correct.
-A future for prosperity among races! It is the future where there is a perfect harmony between different races and humans. It is a future that is made up of harmony, not to fight against each other. I am here. As a human who stood on the other side of the tribe for an immeasurable amount of time, I am now standing on the battlefield with you. I am here now to face a common enemy. It's a small step right now, but it will soon lead to a big leap forward, and it's the utopia we need to build together.
Naturally, I looked at Elena, who was next to me.
The daughter of the notorious Elune and the Bomb of Light potion's precious ingredient quietly smiled at me and nodded.
No sentence would probably sound sweeter to her than what I just said. Of course, I thought it would be the same for most of the other elves.
'I like harmony.'
-That future is the future for this continent and light. It is not for a dark continent but a future with light. Benignore, Elune, Varian, and all the lights that exist on the continent live in harmony.
This was an important speech.
With confidence apparent in my voice, I once again looked straight into the soldiers' faces. The divine power that surrounded my body was just a bonus effect.
Some devout elves' eyes began to change as if they remembered the radiant light from the last propaganda activity.
-That future is the future for the things we must protect! It is the future for our ideas, freedom, and right thoughts and actions.
This was also important.
Of course, it would be standardization, not regulation, but saying that would not induce the effect that I was going for.
-That future! It's the future for our future generations. It's the future for our future generations who will live on the continent in the future. The place our sons will live will not be a continent full of darkness. The place where our daughters will live will not be where humans and different races point their swords at each other. The place where our children will live will be where the right ideas and philosophy are placed. You are here for all of this. We are here for the future we must protect and for the future we each dream of. Some are here for the family, some for drinking and singing together, some for the loved ones, and some for the future with God!
'Here, I hold my breath and...'
-We are strong!
And thus, I uttered it.
-Those with cause and justification are strong. An army with a cause and justification is strong. We will win! In the name of every God that exists on the continent, we will triumph. We will win that way to draw our own utopia.
'This is good.'
-Let's take a step towards the future.
All the soldiers stepped forward. There was conviction in their faces, and everyone held their weapons straight.
-That step is a step toward the future. Let's fight together. For the utopia, we draw. For our future generations! For all who live on this ground! Let's go!
The shouts burst out in no time.
It was impossible to tell if it was a polite shout or simply to forget fear, but the noise had grown louder.
Dwarves were acting the same as usual, while the elves were being unusually responsive.
Numerous troops reworked their helmets in response to the signals of the commanders of each unit and took one more step.
-All! Advance!
Soldiers crammed themselves into a large battlefield. It was truly a sight to behold.
-Let's go together! Those who fight with the light!
'Someone, pour some light!'