第６３５堀：選別と方針転換 (Part2)
The fact that they had defeated the Demon Lord alongside the Goddess Haire, founded a nation, and were now revered was a matter of profound gratitude for the countries saved from the Demon Lord's threat—but it was also a source of intense jealousy.
Precisely to suppress such envy, the leadership of the Haire Church’s headquarters had established a succession system where the Archbishop was chosen from the four major powers. This was also one of the reasons why the central headquarters was not located within the Kingdom of Haiden.
"Yuki-sama, what about this Enor VIII?"
"Well, I was just wondering which side that Archbishop falls on."
"By 'which side,' do you mean whether he is sane or part of the Middle-tier God faction?"
"Exactly."
"…I suppose the honest answer is that we don't know. However, considering the deacon we captured in Ohnock, wouldn't it be safe to assume everyone at the headquarters is guilty?" Carrie asked.
If that weren't the case, there was no way someone sent from the headquarters would have committed such insane acts.
"I understand how you feel," Yuki replied. "But remember, this religion was originally founded by the ancestors of Kagura, Carrie, Duke Kamishiro, and even Princess Stasia for the sake of their brothers-in-arms. Do you really think the entire thing has been tainted?"
"Oh, no… That’s why we’re infiltrating secretly to investigate, right?"
Indeed. The plan was not to cut everyone down, but to identify the true enemy.
"No, that’s strictly to figure out who we *shouldn't* kill in the coming conflict. It’s about increasing our allies. But that also means it would be disastrous for the people working behind the scenes if their actions came to light, right? I mean, look at that old priest in Ohnock who resisted them."
"Um, what are you trying to say, Yuki? We already know that, don't we?"
Kagura tilted her head, unable to grasp Yuki’s point. The rest of us were equally lost.
"Ah, how should I put this… Do you really think the Archbishop is the one leading this? If the head of the church ordered something that deviated so drastically from the original teachings, do you think the subordinates would just accept it? Wouldn't it cause an uproar? People would be whispering that the Archbishop had lost his mind. Have you heard any rumors like that?"
"Now that you mention it, I haven't heard anything of the sort. Father, do you recall anything?"
"No, nothing. And Yuki-sama makes a valid point. Which means…"
"In other words, a specific faction is acting on its own. Furthermore, based on the Ohnock incident, it must be someone in a position to decide the deployment of deacons and other personnel."
Certainly, when one thought about it calmly, it made sense. We should have known that not everyone in the Haire Church was an enemy. Yet, our vision had been narrowed by sheer hatred.
"Right? I realized I’d become quite aggressive myself because I just wanted to crush those shitty gods. But looking at it objectively, the Archbishop—the top of the church—is likely either being forced to comply or has no idea what his subordinates are doing. The deacon in Ohnock is the perfect example. If the Archbishop, or even a majority of the church leadership, were on the enemy's side, they wouldn't need to go through such convoluted schemes. Even if they couldn't control every local church, they could have easily replaced the staff at key supply points near the Magic Academy with people they could manipulate."
"That’s true," Carrie agreed. "At the Ohnock church, only the deacon sent from the headquarters and a few of his subordinates were involved in those atrocities. The priest who knew the truth resisted at the risk of his life. From what we heard, they’ve had to dispose of several people who rebelled or learned the truth. That implies this is being done in secret by a select group."
It was exactly as Yuki and Carrie said. While there was no doubt that enemies lurked within the headquarters, the likelihood of the Archbishop being involved was extremely low.
"In that case, shouldn't we change our policy? There should be a way to open negotiations with the Archbishop," Princess Stasia suggested.
"Exactly as Princess Stasia says. That approach would be much better for our future developments."
"But won't that take more effort? And when it comes to negotiations..."
Changing a plan usually meant a significant increase in budget and labor. Moreover, this would turn into a complicated diplomatic affair rather than a simple military action.
Wait. I felt a slight sense of unease. Yuki generally preferred negotiations over fighting...
When I looked at Yuki’s face, he was grinning. I wasn't the only one who noticed; everyone in the room was staring at him.
"Man, negotiations, huh? That sounds tough. Alright, let’s scrape together all the evidence we have and make them our allies."
With that, he walked out of the room.
Ah... I have a feeling this is going to turn into something far more horrific than a battle. Many might have forgotten, but Yuki’s true forte is stirring things up from within the enemy's ranks. He increases his own allies, causes functional paralysis, and renders the opposition unable to move.
Meanwhile, Kagura had made a surprisingly quick recovery. She was supposed to have collapsed and been sent back to Weed, but the reason for her return will have to wait until next time.