Against the World II: Transgression
Chapter 28: Sheer Stupidity, Part 2
...—Carolina, Ekralina Kingdom—...
Cainabel who sat at the top of the palace's tallest tower in her small form was not surprised to see the Knights Templar's entourage enter the palace gates. In fact, he expects it.
The Saint named Alfonso this morning before leaving had shouted that he would bring troops to storm the city and ensure all ghosts would be exterminated. So, the arrival of the Knights Templar troop was none other than to declare its intentions.
Actually Cainabel did not plan for Alfonso to do that at all. Cainabel just wanted to make Alfonso paranoid by thinking that his disguise was discovered. Alfonso considered him a ghost. Cainabel didn't know whether to laugh or pity.
Nevertheless, he must admit Alfonso's reaction is very profitable. If they had decided to attack blatantly, the war had unofficially begun. Moreover, the Imperial Army troops had also camped in the south. They had already obtained intel on the existence of the Knights Templar in the north, and were now waiting for the first move from the enemy side.
If it had to take control of the Ekralina Kingdom, doing it as a savior was better than being an aggressor. The people of Ekralina will certainly regard the opening of the attack as the aggressor. If the Imperial Army came and fought the Knights Templar so heroically as they attacked, the people would not hesitate to side with the Imperial Army.
Did Alfonso Alsabnitz not think of that so he directly attacked? Or, he thought about it, but ignored? Thinking that condemning Ekralina against Luciel's Great Church would be enough to make the people accept?
Cainabel did not know, and so she decided to enter the palace with the Knights Templar.
Cainabel flew with both of her vampire wings. His body size that is slightly smaller than a mosquito will not make others realize it. If there is a sensory user, he only needs to shrink his body so that it cannot be seen with the naked eye.
...—The Throne Room of Istana—...
Mortana burst into laughter as the emissary warrior of the Holy Kingdom finished reciting the letter which he said was written directly by Twelfth Saint Alfonso Alsabnitz. The soldier's face was red with anger, but Mortana was ignorant. He quenched his laughter until it stopped on its own.
“Come back, and tell your leader:‒” pause Mortana while leaning forward with an expression full of condemnation. “‘Protect with the demons in hell.’ Ekralina Kingdom has become the chosen land of gods. He himself has whispered to me about the heresy of Emiliel Holy Kingdom. Your two-faced country has betrayed the god. He has chosen this land as a place to be blessed, and he has made me his chosen man. No one can destroy this country. No Imperial Army, no New World Order, and certainly not Emiliel Holy Kingdom.”
Mortana again sat properly on the throne, her left cheek resting on the left palm. “Go. Get your stinking body out of here. If I see you any longer, I'm afraid I'll order you to be killed. I don't want the air in the palace to be contaminated with the breath of god-sculpting humans like you, the stench is disgusting.”
The soldier's body trembled violently, his anger so mounting. If in this throne room there was only him and Mortana, it was certain that the warrior would swing the sword and cut off the king's head. However, even though he was a member of the Knights Templar, the warrior understood that he would only die a ridiculous death if he returned Mortana's insults, let alone attack him.
The soldier turned around and stepped away without saying anything more ‒ he did not want to try his luck by berating when the spears and swords of the soldiers were ready to be moved.
“Your Majesty, do we really have to let him go? Would it not be better for us to kill him to show that Ekralina Kingdom isn't messing around?”
Mortana glanced at her confidant at a glance, before then returning a glance forward. “I also want so,” he said. “However, this is the land of god's choice. The god has chosen me among the other humans. I can't do such a barbaric thing. After all, we must still follow the unwritten rule that the messenger must not be killed.”
Mortana nodded in agreement. “Now I want you to order the others to instruct the resident to evacuate to Favilifna Kingdom as soon as possible,” his orders. “We have made amends to them, and we have established a better relationship with them. They will surely accept our request to take care of the people. And after that, announce to all the soldiers to prepare for battle. The god has promised us victory over all enemies, but we must also strive.”
“Hamba will do as His Majesty titukkan.”
Mortana nodded, praying for the ease of the work of her trusted man, and also for the victory of her promised land.
...— — — — — — — — — — — —...
Cainabel is now really curious, who washes Mortana's mind? Is it possible that Mary Anna— did that would explain her whereabouts in Carolina?
Cainabel doesn't know, but it might be Mary Anna. The fourth party cannot exist. Neither Fie Axellibra nor her queen, Vermyna Hellvarossa, would tolerate any foreign interference in the affairs of the Islans. Although there is no longer Lake Deus here, still the name “Islam” has a great meaning for everyone.
“Let's see what the reaction of the Vermillion Empire is,” muttered Cainabel then left the palace.
...—Translation Knight Templar—...
“APA?!” Alfonso stood pounding the table, looking at the soldier rapporteur sharply. “He dared to say so? He dared to accuse Emiliel of the Holy Kingdom of god-enforcers?”
“That's right, sir, Mortana is really insulting and belittling us all. He even said he was not afraid of anyone. He really challenged us, Sir.”
Alfonso sat back and folded his arms around his chest, frowning as brain activity increased.
Recalling the results of his encounter with Mortana while he was undercover as well as the information Rossia gave after trying to negotiate with the king, hearing the soldier's report was not surprising.
Mortana has changed drastically, she seems to have become a new individual. The conclusion they had was Mortana had been brainwashed, but Mortana claimed to have met the god in a dream.
Taking it into consideration, Alfonso did not feel it was impossible for Mortana to meet the god in a dream. The Church of Luciel did teach the veneration of Edenia and glorification of the Archangel Luciel, but that was only on the surface. The one they worship is Fie Axellibra, and the one they are referring to is Seraphim Emiliel. Mortana is not wrong to say that Emiliel Holy Kingdom is a god-god.
However, it does not rule out the possibility that he was completely washed his mind. Alfonso can test it by using the power of the Seraphim Emiliel there during a visit earlier. However, in order to maintain the confidentiality of his identity, Alfonso did not do that. After all, Pope Genea said to act like Mortana was still normal.
“Let's just that,” Alfonso said after a few moments of silence, not wanting to think longer. “Inform all troops to prepare. We attack tomorrow morning after perfect sunrise.”