Forsaken Priest of the Hero's Party-Chapter 60: To The Capital

Lich Albatross still got headaches just thinking about that day.

If he were a living being, cold sweat would be dripping down his spine. The Beacon Of Sanctuary—A single beam of light from over ten kilometers away—had annihilated his entire army of corpses.

It wasn’t that their combat capabilities were lacking.

It was a total annihilation. The light simply swept through them and every single undead returned to being corpses. Not a single one survived.

“At that time, the Master sought to elevate the reputation of the Underground Castle by eliminating the hero’s party, aiming to rise in prominence through their defeat. He employed an encirclement strategy.”

Albatross took out a chessboard much larger than usual and placed three chess pieces at the center. They represented the hero’s party.

Each one had remarkable talent, equivalent to a queen in chess terms. They could go anywhere and do anything. Though there were only three of them, they could not be underestimated.

Elder Lich Balzac’s plan was to surround the three completely with his forces before closing in with higher-level undead like Dullahans, fellow Liches, and Death Knights—his main combat units. He relied on sheer numbers to overwhelm the hero’s party. He thought he could easily annihilate all of them by unleashing the power the underground castle had built up over hundreds of years all at once.

“But he failed, didn’t he?”

“Of course, he failed.”

Albatross smiled bitterly as he looked at his disciple, Calios.

“But it wasn’t anyone’s fault.”

That’s why the Flesh Underground Castle didn’t underestimate the hero’s party. They went all out, deploying an overwhelming force of 400,000 undead soldiers to form a massive encirclement, surrounding from all sides. Meanwhile, the higher-level undead like Death Knights and Liche held them in place at the center and prevented the hero’s party from breaking through.

Although corpses didn’t have unlimited stamina, theirs was far greater than that of living beings.

If things had gone to plan, the hero’s party would have withered and died there, their corpses transformed by the underground castle, becoming elite undead to further strengthen their forces.

“Who would have thought that there existed a being capable of sweeping away all the chess pieces?”

No matter how many knights, pawns, and bishops there are, even if queens covered the entire chessboard, chess pieces can be easily swept away with one hand.

That’s exactly what happened that day.

Kyle merely lit the Sanctuary’s Beacon against Lich Balzac, unaware of the ripple effects it caused. However, Albatross saw and heard it all.

A beacon was meant to signal others, and as expected, it could be seen from great distances.

From afar, the Liches and Death Knights, who had been lying in wait to hold back the hero’s party, were eradicated by the light of the beacon. At the same time, the other types of undead were almost instantly sanctified.

The army of 400,000 corpses became 400,000 pieces of fertilizer enriching the soil without even lifting a finger. The necromancers who witnessed this horrific event were left unable to think.

They just ran away without a second thought. What more could they do when their seemingly invincible army turned into corpses with a single flash of light? They fell into a panic, their morale completely gone.

“So, this time we’ll get our revenge because he is no longer with the Hero’s Party.”

Ultimately, Albatross avoided explicitly stating his desire for direct vengeance against Kyle.

The memory of that day remained a trauma deep in his heart, even now as a lich. His heart no longer beats, but the pulsing fear within is still alive.

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“The hydra’s poison has no effect on us, for we are already dead.”

“But the hero won’t survive.”

A combination of hydra poison and the undead.

It would truly be terrible for the living.

***Everyone went on their own journeys. They grew through them, gaining experience and knowledge along the way. That’s why I’ve always been grateful to Yurinel.

She was the one who showed me this vast world while I was living in Pumpkin Vine Village.

The adventure with the hero’s party broke down the walls of the well for me, the frog living there, and showed me rivers and lakes. I truly experienced many things, and as such, my knowledge and perspective also expanded.

“Sigh...”

I thought I had become accustomed to horrific sights by now, but I let out a sigh without realizing it.

I had to walk carefully, afraid I might accidentally kick a skull. The heads of children, no bigger than babies, were scattered around on Mt. Meso with only bones remaining.

“You didn’t even bury them or cremate them... You just dumped them on the mountain like this?”

Even the princess, who must have become accustomed to the blood of battlefields, couldn’t hide her shock. In fact, anyone would have reacted the same way. Mr. Layton averted his gaze, unable to meet our eyes.

“It was tradition to leave them like this to be food for mountain beasts.”

“Even so, this is... I mean... Just how long have you been doing this?”

“It’s probably been going on for almost 300 years.”

“How did the Herald only appear now?”

I held my head in my hands as I looked around.

It didn’t take long to confirm this was the origin of the Herald. This wasn’t something that could wait until tomorrow so I firmly told Mr. Layton to contact the temple immediately and show them this place.

The evil god that was born had possessed the Viscount’s son and slaughtered all the Lord-class vampires, but that was only the beginning.

A being born of resentment—there’s no way such a thing could be normal.

Though it may seem like justified revenge at first, the being will never be satisfied and will only bring catastrophe. Such a being will spread nothing but resentment throughout the world and will need to be exterminated.

But until then, how much tragedy will occur?

It’s something I don’t even want to think about.

“I tried praying for the souls of the children who were unjustly sacrificed, but my prayers didn’t reach them. Viscount, do you understand what you and your companions have done? It means that the unjustly wronged children are no longer anywhere to be found. Only the Evil God remains.”

I could remove the divine power of the evil god that filled this land, but it would be better to leave it to the priests of the Trinity Church. They need to know that an evil god has been born too.

The reason they receive offerings from across the entire continent is to prepare for situations like this. Though the holy knights and inquisitors also deal with demons, their primary purpose is to confront evil gods.

“So in the end, the one who harmed my son was me.”

Mr. Layton hung his head, but it was already too late.

The god took his son and with him, exacted revenge. Perhaps, for him, the price had been much more than he had bargained for.

“The evil god seems to have already moved far from here. I can’t tell exactly where it went, but if it appears again, terrible things will happen.”

We must not try to understand gods with human common sense. No one can know when, how, or in what way the evil god will appear again.

Perhaps it will emerge after we have all died of old age, in the time of our children or grandchildren. Maybe it won’t appear for hundreds of years.

Or it wouldn’t be strange if it popped up somewhere tomorrow.

It couldn’t be predicted. We can only hope the Trinity Church prepares adequately. The sooner they learn that an evil god has been born, the easier those preparations will be.

“It’s me. Tell the temple... that an evil god has appeared. Offerings? That’s not important. This is a truly serious matter, so they won’t be thinking about such things anyway. It’s enough to give offerings after this is over.”

Viscount Layton’s expression suddenly hardened as he communicated through a magic tool.

“What? Really? Is it true? Are you certain? No, no. I believe you. Yes. But this... you need to tell me properly. This is such an important matter.”

“...I understand. I understand. Yes. I’ll contact you again later. Good heavens...!”

His hand, holding the magic tool, trembled. After ending the communication, he slowly turned his head to look at us with a dazed expression.

He swallowed hard and slowly opened his mouth. The princess looked at him with a puzzled expression and spoke.

“What are you trying to say? Don’t beat around the bush.”

“Your Highness, Princess Ardein. It seems you should return to the capital as quickly as possible.”

“What do you mean?”

When the princess looked puzzled, Mr. Layton took a deep breath. Only then did he find the courage to speak the truth.

“His Majesty the Emperor... is in a very critical condition right now. Most of those who have already received this information are merely waiting for his passing.”

Like a bolt from the blue, I was quite shocked as well.

So how must the princess, the Emperor’s own daughter, feel?

Her body trembled, visibly shaken.

Her legs were visibly shaking. Though I couldn’t see her expression, I could well imagine it.

“How can that be, how can that be? I knew Father was unwell, but to think his condition deteriorated to such an extent in just a few months?”

“I dare not explain the reason with my own mouth, but it seems you should return quickly. Preferably right now, and Priest...”

Mr. Layton grasped my hand tightly and expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you... thank you so much. If we had a little more time, I would have properly hosted you, but I had no idea we would have to part so quickly and make no preparations. As you said, I’ve already sent word to the temple. We will resolve the rest in consultation with the Trinity Church.”

“Saint... Saint!”

Only then did the princess urgently seek me out and grab my hand.

She looked at me with desperate eyes and spoke rapidly. It was a rare sight to see her so flustered. There was no trace of composure on her face, but I didn’t blame her.

Nevertheless, I must not get caught up and become flustered as well.

“Father... Please help Father. He has always loved me, even though I have never done anything for him. Somehow... somehow, if you could help my father...”

Normally, I would have answered that I’m not sure. I would have said I don’t know if I can be of help without trying.

If His Majesty the Emperor is dying, it’s probably not due to illness or a curse.

His time was simply over.

As the emperor of a nation, he would have been able to receive treatment from even the saints of the Trinity Church.

For someone like him, Death could only claim him at the end of his natural lifespan.

My Lord has not granted me permission to extend another’s lifespan. He could do it, but He does not.

-If that were possible, the elders of Pumpkin Vine Village would have already been rejuvenated and become young again.

So even if I go, there’s a high chance I won’t be able to help at all.

Before experiencing what happened in Vlad’s territory, I would have certainly thought that way.

Everyone goes about their own journeys. They grow throughout those journeys.

If I hadn’t come here, if I hadn’t seen the problem that befell the vampires, and if I hadn’t solved that problem with my own hands, I would have never doubted.

Perhaps, just perhaps, my Lord might be more special than the others.

I wouldn’t even have had such thoughts, nor would I even have the opportunity to entertain them.

I may be able to find an answer from my Lord for things even the Three Goddesses cannot solve.

The One I serve, the One who watches over me, was an extremely mysterious being after all.

“If we could arrive before His Majesty passes away...”

So I was able to answer like this.

“I’m sure I can be of help.”

“Saint...”

“Let’s go to the capital. Together.”

I grasped the hand of the tearful princess and pulled her close. Now was not the time for this.

We must reach the capital as soon as possible. If we arrive too late,  then no matter how many skills I have, they would be of no use.