Raising the Princess to Overcome Death Chapter 125

125. Childhood Friends - Gathering

"Priestess Ophelia, thank you again for today. Your help has been invaluable."

In a modest office devoid of any decorations, Lena expressed her gratitude while gathering the ancient documents she had brought.

Since meeting with Cardinal Mihael, Lena had been working on a thesis to break church customs.

It was a study on why the marriage of priests was prohibited, an overwhelming task for a novice who had just entered the church's educational institution. She had to attend regular classes that began with spring, reducing her sleep as she delved into centuries-old documents.

Veronian had provided a lot of help. However, Veronian was also a novice, and Lena felt guilty about taking away his study time, so she sought advice from Priestess Ophelia, who had recommended her.

Priestess Ophelia readily helped her.

Not only did she give advice, but she also personally found materials that could serve as references, to the point where Lena was bewildered.

So a couple of months ago, Lena had asked,

At Lena's cautious question, Ophelia had smiled and replied,

"It's nothing. I think it's a good research topic. I hadn't thought of it myself. Just between you and me, I also had someone I liked. We broke up when I left to become a priestess."

As she gazed into the distance, lost in her memories, Lena, having caught onto something, exclaimed, "Oh my, oh my."

It was surprising to learn that the elegant and devout Priestess Ophelia had such a past.

When Lena asked eagerly, "What kind of person was he?" Ophelia had glanced at her and said, "Just a friend from the village. He used to swing a shabby sword around, dreaming of becoming a knight. I don't know if he ever succeeded."

"Wow! My friend was like that too! He brought a sword from somewhere and boasted about it. He even dragged that heavy thing up the mountain to surprise me..."

"My goodness, it's amazing how similar their actions are. Boys, I tell you..."

A middle-aged priestess close to becoming a high priest and a novice dreaming of becoming a priest shared a light-hearted conversation, temporarily shaking off the heavy atmosphere of the central church.

Boys could be annoying sometimes, but they were always fascinating subjects for girls to study, especially if they liked them.

"Now it's all memories. But I hope you achieve good results, Lena."

Having given up love herself, Priestess Ophelia deeply empathized with Lena's situation and offered her unwavering support.

However, that support ended today.

As Lena gathered the ancient documents, Priestess Ophelia spoke.

"You've worked hard. But I'm afraid I won't be able to help you for a while. I need to go on a journey for a few months."

"Oh? Have you been assigned somewhere?"

"No, I haven't been assigned. I need to go to the Kingdom of Orun. I'll return as soon as the work is done, but I don't know how long it will take."

She hid the full details.

The novices and citizens didn't know because it was kept under strict secrecy, but the central church was in turmoil.

Communication with the church in Nevis had been cut off.

Not only had regular daily communications ceased, but contact with the crusader division dispatched to the Kingdom of Orun had also been lost. Upon inquiring with churches near Nevis, they learned that the entire region had turned blood-red. After that, communication with the surrounding churches also ceased.

"Please be careful on your journey. There's no need for you to apologize, Priestess. I'm already grateful for all the help you've given me."

Though disappointed, Lena sincerely wished her a safe journey and bid her farewell. After seeing Lena off, Priestess Ophelia sighed softly.

A few days later, Ophelia left Lutetia.

She wasn't the only one. All the priests and crusaders of the central church also departed, forming an enormous procession.

Nearly a thousand priests were split among dozens of carriages, and over four hundred crusaders guarded the convoy.

The central church had mobilized its entire force, leaving it nearly empty. Priests who taught novices and retired crusaders were all called upon.

The teachers at the educational institution were replaced with monks.

But that wasn't all. As they moved south toward the border of the Kingdom of Orun, the size of the punitive force continued to grow. Cardinal Mihael, convinced of the appearance of the Apostle of the Evil God, had immediately summoned priests and crusaders from churches across the region as soon as contact with Nevis was lost.

'Though it can't be helped, isn't this a bit too much? At this rate...'

Ophelia couldn't help but worry. The punitive force brought a holy relic for smooth communication, and as the one responsible for the communication, she had a detailed understanding of the situation.

Priests from all over the continent had been summoned. To confront the Apostle of the Evil God and to prepare a second line in case of defeat.

But calling all the priests was dangerous.

Priests were not just clergy; they were also teachers and doctors in their villages. Without them, unexpected events, like the outbreak of an epidemic, could have devastating consequences if initial responses failed.

The more serious issue was the lack of awareness of such problems.

Priests handled all the communication on the continent. The convenience of the church's communication system had left the world's postal system somewhat underdeveloped.

Though the Apostle of the Evil God made this necessary, the thought of the continent being paralyzed in communication for a while made Ophelia uneasy.

Fortunately, the Apostle hadn't moved. The saintess who remained in the central church communicated the Apostle's location, and for some reason, it hadn't left the vicinity of Nevis for months.

When the Apostle finally began moving north, it was the peak of summer, and by then, their preparations were nearly complete.

Most of the priests and crusaders near the Holy Kingdom had arrived.

Additionally, the Frederick royal family of the Jerome Holy Kingdom, the orders of the Church of the Cross, sent not only the royal knights but also the knights and squires of the nobles.

As a result, the encampment of the punitive force near the border of the Kingdom of Orun was bustling with over four thousand soldiers...

"I apologize for troubling you. May I use the communication system? This time, I'd like to contact the estate of Viscount Bocali in the Kingdom of Orun."

Prince Cleo de Frederick asked Priestess Ophelia with courtesy. Despite her slight frown, Ophelia contacted the church in the Viscount Bocali estate.

Prince Cleo led the knight order sent by the Frederick royal family.

At first, it was unclear why the prince had come, but now Ophelia understood his intentions a little.

"Connected. Is the message the same as before?"

"Yes, please convey to the viscount's heir that the Frederick family is deeply concerned about the disappearance of Viscount Bocali and is ready to provide assistance at any time. Also, please let them know that I, Cleo de Frederick, am near the border and would like to meet if possible."

The prince was trying to bring the nobles of the Kingdom of Orun over to the side of the Frederick family.

During the time of the Arcaea Empire, the Frederick family had been the powerful House of Jerome, which controlled the western part of the empire and was fiercely loyal to the imperial family.

But about seven hundred years ago, the Arcaea Empire began to falter. Plagues and famines struck repeatedly, and in the northern part of the empire, two heroes named Maunin and Letii emerged, uniting the oppressed barbarians to form the Kingdom of Aslan.

This Kingdom of Aslan later split into the Kingdoms of Astin and Aster in the north.

While Maunin and Letii's military tactics were formidable, the Arcaea Empire faced additional turmoil as two imperial princes fought for the throne.

Their fierce power struggle led to the empire splitting again into the Central and Southern Empires, while imperial family members fleeing to the eastern swamps used the power of the Cornel Magic Tower, which was in the midst of a magical renaissance, to establish the Kingdom of Aisel.

It was a time of severe chaos.

The House of Jerome also sought independence during this period. Though the Central Arcaea Empire was in decline, it remained powerful, so the house sought assistance from the Church of the Cross.

The church had no reason to refuse.

The Church of the Cross supported the House of Jerome's bid for independence, allowing them to declare themselves the Frederick family and establish the Holy Kingdom of Jerome in the west of the continent.

Of course, there was a price.

Having gained independence with the church's help, the Frederick family became subject to the church's constant interference, and over the centuries, they had become little more than the church's administrative arm for secular matters.

Prince Cleo de Frederick was deeply dissatisfied with this.

He didn't want to become a puppet of the church like his father.

But the royal family, tightly bound by church law, was powerless, and the nobles, entrenched in their own territories, had no desire to be involved with the ineffective royal family, leaving Cleo with no apparent way to change the situation.

Greatly disheartened, Cleo de Frederick spent his weekends hunting, lamenting the royal family's plight and his fate... until an urgent message arrived from the Church of the Cross.

An Apostle of the Evil God had appeared, and they were requesting help.

Though not confirmed, the message also suggested that the royal family of Orun might have been massacred, which caught Cleo's attention.

This might be the chance to free the royal family from the church's grip after centuries.

He rushed to his father to gain command of the knight order and joined the punitive force, trying to win over the nobles of the Kingdom of Orun, who had lost their royal family.

Prince Frederick asked,

"May I ask one more question? Are there any movements from the Kingdom of Conrad?"

"...Are you asking if they have sent reinforcements?"

"That would be helpful to know as well. But I was asking about any actions taken by the Yeriel family regarding this situation."

"...The Yeriel family has sent reinforcements too. They dispatched two knight orders. And... it seems you needn't worry. Prince Eric de Yeriel is hastening his coronation ceremony."

"Hmm! I see. Thank you."

The prince smiled with satisfaction as he walked away, but Ophelia pursed her lips in slight discontent.

She was displeased with the prince's political maneuvering even in the face of a great enemy like the Apostle of the Evil God.

However, it was also true that the prince had brought hundreds of knights and that the nobles of the Kingdom of Orun, who had received his message, had sent their knights, thereby strengthening the punitive force.

The church was in no position to criticize the prince.

"It can't be helped..."

Ophelia sighed softly.

They were in a situation where even one knight was precious. The Kingdoms of Aster and Aisel were too far to send reinforcements, and the nearby Kingdoms of Bellita and Astin had sent replies that they couldn't dispatch knights due to ongoing wars.

The four thousand gathered here were all the forces they could mobilize immediately... The knight orders from the Kingdom of Conrad were en route, but their arrival time was uncertain.

Priestess Ophelia stepped outside for a moment. While knights and squires might not notice, priests and crusaders with divine power could feel an eerie chill.

Something was approaching.

A strange distortion was sensed far beyond the southern mountains.

The Apostle of the Evil God was not far.

"Sir Corin, there you are."

Concerned, Ophelia, who had been looking around the camp, spotted an elderly crusader and approached him.

He had escorted her to the central church the previous year, and she greeted him warmly, but he didn't seem to hear her, staring blankly to the south.

"Sir Corin, hello..."

When she tried to greet him again, Ophelia hesitated. Up close, Sir Corin was grimacing severely.

No, he was looking south with a pained expression.

It was the first time Ophelia had seen such an expression on him.

The elderly crusader she knew was always stoic, dutifully performing his role...

"Priestess. Hello."

Sensing her presence, Sir Corin turned around.

The old man, trying to hide his painful grimace and becoming stoic again, seemed pitiful.

"...Is something the matter?"

Ophelia asked cautiously, trying not to hurt the pride of a warrior before a big battle. The old crusader paused for a moment.

"No, it's nothing. I should go back. It's hot."

"..."

It's hot.

Though not wrong, Ophelia realized Sir Corin had been rambling. He wasn't one to make unnecessary comments.

Sir Corin trudged back to his tent, and Ophelia, unable to hide her puzzlement, watched his retreating figure.

After that, Sir Corin's strange behavior continued.

He frequently wandered the camp anxiously, praying often instead of maintaining his sword and armor. Concerned, Ophelia would visit him often, silently keeping him company.

Several days later, while the prince frequently came to communicate with the nobles and the southern mountains began to turn red even before autumn arrived, a group arrived from the east.

Among them was a familiar face.

"Ophelia. It's been a while. Ah, you're a priestess now. How have you been?"

"Ah!"

An elderly man with white hair, looking disheveled from the hurried journey. Ophelia ran to him and bowed deeply.

"Teacher... No, Cardinal! It's been so long. So you brought reinforcements."

It was Cardinal Verke.

He smiled warmly at his former student, who had become a middle-aged priestess.