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Chapter 53:

When followers devote their faith to a deity, it accumulates as divine power. This accumulated divine power serves as a medium that allows priests and bishops to perform miracles. In other words, if the deity allows it, the more followers one has, the stronger the power priests can wield.

“Even tentacles, if infused with divine power, could unleash much greater strength.”

The reason tentacles couldn’t exert their full power against Golruwa, despite being a miracle, was because they lacked divine power. However, if enough faith is gathered and manifested as power, it would directly become Isaac’s strength.

He had no plans to grant the unnamed miracles of chaos to anyone else except for loyal servants like Zihilrat. However, he was considering bestowing simple physical enhancements or miracles that wouldn’t be discovered.

Of course, it would be problematic if a high-ranking individual who renounced their faith emerged. But starting from the bottom, Isaac needed to quickly expand his influence. Moreover, he kept the doctrines flexible enough so that there wasn’t a strong incentive to renounce faith.

“He promoted universal morals and equality, values that other faiths don’t prioritize much… Greedy ones wouldn’t be interested in this side in the first place.”

This faith was for the marginalized, the fugitives, the forsaken… those at the bottom of society.

There were many such people in Seor, whose foundations were shattered by the fall of Loracus. Isaac planned to covertly spread his faith among these people, along with their dissatisfaction with the existing faiths.

Isaac did not believe he could control his followers perfectly. It was enough to control his close associates. And Isaac was determined not to let these associates betray him.

Those who possessed the unnamed miracles of chaos had no choice but to be loyal to Isaac.

And Jacquette was the first saint.

Of course, compared to other priests or clerics, her knowledge and abilities were lacking, but it’s typical for early members of any multi-level marketing company to reap greater benefits.

Considering the abilities and influence Jacquette demonstrated throughout the Loracus surge, her lack was not significant. Moreover, having sided with Isaac early, she had much potential to grow stronger.

Luck is also a skill.

Isaac did not consider the possibility of Jacquette betraying him. Like many from the bottom, she knew how to recognize and seize opportunities.

Moreover, people subdued by fear often choose to align with that fear rather than suffer from it. People may quickly forget kindness, but fear lingers.

Isaac only hoped that Jacquette would perform well in her role as a saint in Sør.

“Hmm, speaking of which… Did you manage to retrieve it?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

Hesabel happily pulled out a stained rag from her bosom.

Though it looked like a dirty rag, Isaac immediately recognized it as a relic.

[Carlyle’s Holy Bandage (B)]

[When applied to a wound, it immediately heals the bleeding and injury but consumes blood.]

[When she was designated as an archangel at the Carlyle Monastery, she carved out her own heart as the last proof of faith, wrapping it in cloth and offering it to the Red Chalice. Pleased, the Red Chalice skinned her and reorganized her flesh, thus the Prophet of Red Flesh was born.]

“It had to be something related to the Prophet of Red Flesh.”

Despite the eerie records it contained and being less prestigious than a division ritual, it was still a relic associated with an archangel.

Hesabel was offering the holy bandage with some expectation, thinking of Isaac as a representative of the Prophet of Red Flesh. However, Isaac had never claimed to be the Prophet of Red Flesh nor intended to lie. He was merely taking advantage of the other’s misconception.

“That’s fortunate.”

Without showing much reaction, Isaac reached out his hand. Hesabel hesitated but eventually handed over Carlyle’s Holy Bandage to Isaac, transferring a relic that had been pawned to Yukhar into Isaac’s hands.

[“You have acquired the ‘Carlyle’s Holy Bandage’ relic.”]

[“The effects of your noble journey are strengthened.”]

It seemed like he had resolved all matters in Seor. He had cleared the debts to gain access to most of the Golden Idol Guild’s assets, obtained the blessings of the Golden Idol, Carlyle’s Holy Bandage, and Hesabel Gulmar as an apostle.

It was an unexpectedly great harvest.

“I’m curious how Hesabel will act when she discovers my true identity…”

Indeed, drawing the successor of the Gulmar ducal family to his side was not without risks. For now, she seemed unaware of whom she was serving, so she wasn’t considered a complete apostate, but the moment of inevitable betrayal would come.

Isaac did not believe Hesabel would choose him when the time came.

However, he still invested effort because there was a good example in Kalsen Miller.

“It’s faster to take believers cultivated by others than to grow them myself.”

After all, the most painful betrayal comes from the most faithful believers.

Considering her potential for growth, Hesabel Gullmar was worth the effort. The fact that she was a vampire was not a concern.

After all, Isaac himself was a monster who consumed humans.

Unaware of Isaac’s thoughts, Hesabel waited quietly for his command.

“Where shall we go now, Lord Isaac?”

“Hmm.”

Isaac had several places in mind already. However, he chose to wait for the right timing instead of leaving immediately.

“Soon, someone will come looking for me.”

Isaac had no intention of resolving the problem first.

If it was a problem that needed solving, it would be more advantageous to have someone come to him with a request.

***

“How much is the loss?”

“That, that is…”

Hearing the report, Lord Kyle Hendrake of Hendrake felt dizzy.

“Why? Didn’t you say the Golden Idol Guild was also buying in?”

“The Golden Idol Guild also suffered significant losses from this event.”

The investment moves of the Golden Idol Guild were the most watched issues in this arena, a testament to their credibility. Economic activities blessed by a deity were not supposed to fail easily. If the Golden Idol Guild incurred significant losses, it could only be explained by an act of terrorism or provocation against the faith of the Golden Idol.

“But why now?”

The Hendrake domain was on the outskirts of the Gerthonia Empire.

Too far from the capital and not close enough to the front lines to gain fame.

It was just a rural domain in an awkward location, though there were times when it prospered.

However, Kyle was an ambitious man. His ambition grew noticeably after his father died of an unexplained illness. Kyle believed the Loracus surge in the nearby city of Seor was an excellent opportunity to increase his power.

“I even borrowed money from other nobles using the name of the Brandt ducal family!”

To entice nobles into investing, rumors were spread that the Brandt ducal family, a major noble family of the empire, was interested in this investment. Though the rumor’s source was made to appear unknown, the nobles essentially knew Kyle was behind it. They turned a blind eye because the more nobles that participated in the investment, the better for them.

But now, the investment had failed.

They would blame Kyle for everything.

“Refuse to pay back?”

Kyle considered the worst-case scenario, but even that was impossible.

He had already contracted with the neighboring lord, Reinhardt, to buy mature Loracus trees months ago. As the price of Loracus rose, Kyle delighted in Reinhardt’s envy, but when the price plummeted, their positions reversed.

Now, as Reinhardt delivered mountainous amounts of Loracus, Kyle was sure to spiral into bankruptcy. If he decided to default on his debts, Reinhardt would undoubtedly lead an army instead of Loracus trees.

Before bankruptcy, whether one was an apostle of the same faith mattered not. Reinhardt too would suffer significantly from this event, and other nobles would support him to recover anything they could.

Kyle nearly collapsed from weakness in his legs. He staggered for a moment but was supported by a woman standing beside him.

“My lord.”

The woman with red hair whispered to him. Smelling her scent, Kyle regained his senses.

“Raela.”

Raela was a maid who always offered him wise advice. Even when his father hesitated to invest due to indecisiveness, Raela advised Kyle to be bold.

So, when his father died of an unexplained illness, Kyle’s first act as lord was to declare an investment in Loracus. Then, about a month ago, Raela advised him to sell the Loracus, but he ignored her advice, thinking the price could not possibly fall, and the situation was too big to handle.

“I should have listened to you. How could this happen?”

“It’s too late for regrets. Let’s focus on the cause. Why did the price of Loracus suddenly crash?”

Her words jolted Kyle to attention.

Why did the price of Loracus, which had been setting record highs every day, fall? Even when the Golden Idol Guild was investing in the market?

“Was it a terrorist attack against the Golden Idol Guild?”

“Beyond that.”

Raela’s lips twitched before she spoke again.

“Wasn’t there a larger goal?”

“Could it be… targeted at me?”

“Yes. As you said, the intention might have been to inflict an economic crisis on the nobility of the Empire. The nobles are the most faithful followers and protectors of the Codex of Light, so perhaps it was an attempt to undermine the foundation of the Codex of Light.”

Kyle was shocked by the realization that he was caught in an unprecedented attack targeting the Codex of Light, and that he had uncovered its entirety.

However, even with his keen intellect, he could not find the words to convince the other nobles. How could he prove that it wasn’t his mistake but an attack by some malevolent entity that caused the investment to fail?

“I’ve heard rumors that a Grail Knight named Isaac played a significant role in the crash of the Loracus prices.”

“Isaac? I’ve heard stories about a Grail Knight, but was his name Isaac?”

“Yes. It’s said that this Grail Knight defeated villains in the black market and freed merchants who were being mentally controlled by an evil monster, causing the prices to plummet.”

“What a great feat. If he comes to our domain, we must treat him with the utmost respect.”

“That’s not the point.”

Raela suddenly stopped and assumed a posture of prayer. Her piety was astonishing, but for Kyle, it was difficult to catch the timing.

After a short prayer of ‘grant me patience’ passed, Raela spoke again.

“Doesn’t it all seem too well-constructed? Mind control linked to the Loracus surge? Would a lord living in such a distant place from Seor, like yourself, also be subject to mind control? What about the other nobles? And the sudden appearance of a Grail Knight defeating monsters, leading to the drop in Loracus prices… Doesn’t it seem strange?”

“Could it be… the Grail Knight attacked the forces of the Codex of Light?”

“Just because he’s a Grail Knight doesn’t mean he serves the Codex of Light. I’ve heard that Grail Knights can also come from the Order of Elil or the World’s Forge.”

Kyle shuddered at the unfolding revelations.

A Grail Knight from another faith attacked the Codex of Light, and he was the first to suffer from that attack. Kyle felt a sense of duty as a protector of the faith, beyond just the problem of bankruptcy.

Of course, shifting the blame to another sect wasn’t solely to find a way out for himself.

“It’s unknown. The Grail Knight named Isaac might actually serve some other malevolent faith, roaming in disguise to expand his influence and power.”

“That’s going too far, Raela.”

Even if she offered wise advice, Kyle thought it necessary to distinguish between fantasy and theory. Sometimes Raela would make such outlandish statements that he had to be even more strict.

Becoming a Grail Knight wasn’t something easily acknowledged.

Kyle had grown up hearing legends about Grail Knights. He became curious about this Grail Knight named Isaac. If Isaac were on his side, perhaps the creditors would think twice before blaming him.

“We must send a delegation.”

Kyle made his decision.

“I’ll send the Hendrake Knights. Invite that Grail Knight politely, and then I will meet him and judge for myself.”

“A wise decision, my lord.”

Raela bowed respectfully. Kyle left her behind and immediately exited the hall to issue commands to the knights.

***

Once Kyle was gone, Raela lifted her expressionless face. It was not the face of a person, but rather one that seemed to wear skin inside out, devoid of humanity. At her quiet command, a colossal black knight emerged silently from the shadows behind a pillar.

“The daughter of the Gullmar family does not seem to possess a trace of faith.”

Raela calmly issued her command to the knight.

“The daughter of the Gulmar family last followed the Grail Knight named Isaac. Investigate her whereabouts while accompanying the Hendrake Knights.”

“Is it Hesabel Gullmar, not Isaac?”

“That anachronistic Grail Knight is not of interest to the Red Chalice. What’s important is the heir of the Gulmar family. If it’s confirmed she has renounced her faith, execute her immediately and recover the relic.”

The black knight hesitated for a moment before asking cautiously.

“Could she have been killed by the Grail Knight?”

“If that’s the case.”

Raela replied as if it were obvious.

“Then he’s not someone you could deal with. Don’t even look back, just run.”

At Raela’s words, the black knight quietly nodded.

“Yes, Prophetess.”