Chapter 2 – The Success Rate of a Scheme Is Decided by Its Preparation

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Imperial Calendar, Year 260 – Moon of the Amethyst (February)

The food aid for the Goshoot clan was carried out without delay, giving Warid and his people a break after they got isolated within the mountain folk and found themselves in a life-threatening crisis.

Because the food aid was recorded as a request by the fief’s population during the patrol in the official documents, everything was handled as us sending additional provisions to the Slat fief. In reality, this was intended for the Goshoot clan, though.

Because of that, the Malji Company, the front of my own little intelligence agency, was reorganized on a big scale.

If you ask why it’d need to be reorganized, it’s because I hired those excelling in spywork and information gathering from the Goshoot clan as employees of the Malji Company and assigned them to the Foreign Intelligence Team which would allow me to dispatch them anywhere. They number fifty in total.

By recruiting them, the accuracy of the information would increase even further and currently I had them work at gathering information at various places in accordance to the annihilation plan for 『Hero’s Sword』. The gathered intelligence made it immediately clear just how dangerous an organization 『Hero’s Sword』 was, but I already knew about those people’s craziness since I used to be a priest under God Egeria in Alexa.

First off, they’re bad news because of their religious doctrine. The representative of 『Hero’s Sword』 was a self-alleged hero who had received an oracle from Sky God Eutel. Participating in 『Holy Wars』, they would slaughter the residents of countries supposedly believing in evil gods and they publicly announce that one can be reborn into a nice life after dying in this, if only you offered big amounts of money as donation.

Even if someone were to loudly proclaim that paradise is awaiting you after death, those hearing it would likely say, 『Hey, doesn’t that mean I’d need to die first? But, if I die, that’s not me anymore, is it?』…

However, in reality this world seems to have many people who believe it’s easier to just die, based on their hellish lives where they live from hand to mouth due to this era of constant wars. 『Hero’s Sword』 is immensely popular among those people because they promise them the possibility to reincarnate into a better life if they die during a 『Holy War』.

Especially Alexa, the place where I was born, has a history of many peasants uprising due to one year of heavy taxation following the next thanks to the drawn out war against Elancia. 『Hero’s Sword』 was founded as religious organization worshiping God Eutel in Alexa with its extreme disparity of wealth. It then spread centered around the peasants, expanding into the biggest religious organization of Alexa in merely ten years.

Their doctrine is bad news, but the creed of the hero is even worse. Not only does he marry the young, pretty female believers, but he also keeps many of them as mistresses. He spends the donations on boozy sessions and to buy up real estate in the capital as his own property. And on top of all that, he exhibits a worldly-minded, corrupt mindset by appointing his relatives to high positions within 『Hero’s Sword』.

Well, if he was no more than a crook who preys on his believers, I’d have left him alone for the sake of letting him rot Alexa from within, but Hero-kun is a truly annoying existence because he keeps flapping his mouth about 『Holy Wars』.

The information we obtained tells me that even the recent idea of invading Elancia, which that idiot of a prince thought up, was recognized as 『Holy War』, which incited Alexa’s king who’s considered to have a soft spot for the clergy, resulting in 『Hero’s Sword』 supporting the invasion by mobilizing their believers as soldiers and gathering huge amount of donations.

It’s all nice and shiny to instigate people, but the result of that so-called 『Holy War』 was an unprecedented, overwhelming defeat. However, Orgus concealed that fact inside Alexa, acting as if the expedition was still ongoing. Hero-kun couldn’t tell his believers the truth because of that, forcing him to frantically cover up the whereabouts of those mobilized soldiers. All his evasive answers were currently leading to him quickly losing trust among his believers.

Panicked by this change of mindset among his believers, Hero-kun buttered up to Orgus and they hatched a plan to crush Elancia by using the mountain folk next.

With that said, it’s clear that these guys will repeatedly attack Elancia after stirring up their believers over and over again in order to gather money in the name of a 『Holy War』.

These idiots give me unnecessary trouble by disturbing my peaceful life over here in Elancia, and since Warid seems to also be annoyed by all of this, I’ll have him crush them thoroughly.

As I thought about all this, our carriage arrived at its destination. The place we came to after having returned from the Goshoot clan’s village was Fables, the original fief of Malida’s brother-in-law Stephan.

Once we got out of the carriage in front of the castle, we were greeted by Stephan and his wife Laya.

“It’s great for you to have come for a visit, Albert. We’re quite indebted to you for your help in the previous battle against Alexa. We have prepared a banquet for you today, so please take it easy and feel at home.”

“Thank you kindly. I shall gratefully accept your offer.”

Stephan, a nine-tail with a broad forehead, was an all-rounder who could handle everything flawlessly. He was hailed as the demon king’s trusted retainer and the most successful margrave in the realm.

“Still, it sounds like you’re up to something interesting again, Albert. Various pieces of information have reached my ears as well. I heard you obtained good eyes and ears.”

“Nothing less of you, Stephan-dono. You have sharp ears. I have just taken the liberty to follow your wonderful example. Besides, I heard those three territories calmed down quite a bit.”

“Well, their previous rulers were far too cruel. In addition, it’s also because of you laying the proper groundwork.”

I’ve heard Stephan received Sura, Zaysan, and Benia as reward for his overwhelming victory against Alexa. Because all three fiefs had been continuously mismanaged, I considered them a burden, but it sounds like the internal administration has already been corrected, and now all three are showing first signs of renaissance.

That’s the trusted aide of the demon king for you.

Next to me admiring Stephan’s ability, Malida was burying her face in her older sister’s big cleavage. Just like Malida, Laya possessed silver hair, red eyes, and short horns. She was an oni beauty with a gentle atmosphere.

“Elder Sister, it’s been such a long time!”

“Shees, Malida, no matter how much time passes, you always act like a pampered girl. You got a husband now, so get your act together a bit more now.”

“I know all that! But, Albert will forgive me for getting spoiled by you!”

Mmh, I can understand her getting pampered by her older sister, but the way she’s touching Laya’s boobs with her hands is no different from a dirty old man’s groping, no matter how you look at it. She’s totally fondling them.

Watching Laya accepting that as if it’s normal makes me think that Malida’s love for women might actually be influenced by her sister.

I activated my power in order to grasp Laya’s abilities.

Name: Laya von Beyluria
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Race: Oni

Valor: 61
Leadership: 21
Intelligence: 22
Domestic Affairs: 6
Charm: 72
Three Sizes: B100 (I-Cup) W60 H90

Status: Margrave’s Wife

The average Valor value among oni women is in the fifties, so hers is unexpectedly high. It’s kind of like her possessing abilities that exceed a strong human knight. She looks gentle, but I guess I should have expected this from the big sister of Malida.

As I admired Laya’s stats, Stephan cleared his throat.

“Hrng! Laya, Malida, you met for the first time in a good while, so feel free to spend some time together as sisters. I will entertain Albert. There are some things I want to discuss with him anyway. Is that okay with you, Albert?”

“Yes, of course. As long as Malida-sama has no problem with it, you won’t hear any objections from me.”

“Yaaahooo! Elder Sister, we’re going to take a bath together! Today I’m going to wash your body!”

“Oh my, taking a bath you say? Well, it’s been a long time, so it will be fine to have you wash me. Very well, my dear husband, Albert-sama, pardon me for leaving.”

“Elder Sister! To the bath! To the bath it is!”

Malida disappeared inside the castle while clinging to Laya and making out with her.

“Let us go this way.”

After seeing Malida and Laya leave, Stephan led me to the banquet venue he prepared for us.

■

Our destination wasn’t a parlor, but Stephan’s private room. There I followed his invitation to take a seat.

“If we talk here, it will stay between these four walls. As such, it won’t pose a problem for you to expand on the plan you’ve thought up. Seeing how it affects me as well, I’ll be able to move more efficiently if I have heard the entire strategy in advance.”

Stephan is familiar with plots and schemes, so he apparently plans to make moves to his own benefit while using my plan.

“I understand. This plan won’t work without me obtaining your cooperation. Thus, it’s absolutely no problem to expand on it a bit.”

“As expected, you get straight to the point.”

It’d just become a bother if Stephan competes against me with his own schemes because I hid my plan.

“First off, my plan has the ultimate goal to thoroughly crush 『Hero’s Sword』 which possesses strong influence in Alexa.”

“『Hero’s Sword』…ahh, those fanatics, huh? They’re a troublesome bunch who would mobilize their believers to fight against our county while yelling something about a 『Holy War』.”

“Yes, that describes them quite well. My plan is to eliminate 『Hero’s Sword』 religiously, so that they’ll be banned in Alexa and have their organization taken apart.”

I will have their hero die and make sure to thoroughly destroy their structure so that they won’t ever be able to reform into 『Hero’s Sword』 again.

“How do you plan to achieve that?”

“I have connections to an Alexan noble who acts as my channel to Second Prince Goran. I’ll use that connection.”

“What!? You possess a connection to Prince Goran!? I have heard that he has been recently increasing his presence in the kingdom. Influencing royalty, huh…? I see.”

“Also, I’m a former Egeria priest. As such I have many connections among Alexa’s clergy.”

“That means you’ll get them involved as well, huh? If you get things rolling from two different directions, the probability for your plan to succeed increases drastically,” Stephan commented with a smile.

“『Hero’s Sword』, which has been loudly shouting about a 『Holy War』 during the recent battle, is in the process of losing the trust of its believers. The timing is perfect.”

“I understand. You’re certainly right about that.”

“I will spread word about the truth of the battle they pretended to be a 『Holy War』, the criminal acts of the leadership, the use of the donations, the leadership’s mess relationships with women, and other scandals of the organization’s leadership at this time of doubt festering among the believers.”

Well, the Alexa Team of the Margie Company will do the gossiping for me.

“If you publicize the scandals of the organization’s representative and leadership, get a royal to reject them, and have other clergy indict and excommunicate 『Hero’s Sword』 while the believer’s trust is in the middle of decline anyway, their organization won’t be able to hold up, no matter how much influence they might have.”

Nothing less of Stephan. Even without spelling it all out, he saw through my plan with just fragmentary pieces of information and deductions. Just as I thought, it’s better to deepen my relationship with him as a reliable family member while making sure to not turn him into an enemy.

“In that case, my job will be to get acquainted with the high-ranking priests managing Elancia’s Sky God Eutel temple in my territory, right?”

“You being so quick on the uptake is a huge help.”

Our demon king allows his subordinates to freely choose their religious beliefs as long as they don’t comment on his own religious beliefs. In other words, Elancia state religion revolves around War God Alexias, but the imperial citizens won’t be persecuted for believing in other gods, and thus temples of all six main gods have been erected in Elancia.

Every temple in Elancia is operated through donations by its worshipers, but the clergy isn’t allowed to possess land property, and the priests’ main duty is to pray to their god and provide blessings during important ceremonial occasions of their believers’ families. As long as they limit their rituals to matters of religion, they’re guaranteed the freedom to carry out their religious activities.

However, if the clergy interferes with politics or the administration, imperial law demands the head of the priests in question.

In accordance with the imperial laws, which permit religious liberty, Stephan believed deeply in Sky God Eutel and would invite high-ranking priests from the big temple considered to be the head temple of Eutel located in Alexa.

“Very well. I will get everything ready for you to have a meeting with the temple director tomorrow. Is it fine for me to accompany you as well?”

“Yes, please feel free to.”

Because I was able to secure Stephan’s help to organize a meeting with high-ranking priests of God Eutel, I could carefreely enjoy the banquet while discussing the current circumstances in Elancia and problems plaguing our fiefs afterwards.

■

On the next day, Stephan and I headed to the temple of Eutel with a carriage. A huge stone building soon came into sight ahead of my eyes.

There are six gods who are worshiped in this world. Allow me to introduce them in order.

• Sky God Eutel – he’s known to be the creator. As guardian of light, he’s the most important god in this world.
• God of Wisdom Egeria – the god of knowledge who understands all matter in this world. He’s a god who’s being worshiped by the intellectuals such as scholars, doctors, bureaucrats, and so on.
• God of Art Ascra – the god of crafting who created all the arms and tools of this world. He’s worshiped by all sorts of craftsmen like blacksmiths, carpenters, masons, and tailors.
• God of Farming Zadhoul – this is the god mostly worshiped by farmers. If you hurt his mood, he will pay you back with droughts.
• Water God Nephtol – a god worshiped by fishermen and everyone else related to maritime trade. He’s believed to cause floods and typhoons, if you anger him.
• War God Alexias – he’s said to be the god who creates savage wars. He’s being treated as an evil god after being banished from the divine domain by Chief God Eutel.

This world knows polytheism and when it comes to religious belief, most countries feel relatively loose, allowing people to choose freely, but there’s just one god you mustn’t believe. And our emperor has boldly declared to the other nations that he’s deeply believing in that particular god.

Of course I’m talking about War God Alexias who’s being regarded as an evil god by the other deities. Malida’s lord, Elancia’s emperor, is being called “Demon King” because since the time of the founding emperor, who established Elancia for the sake of the demihumans, the emperors are said to have believed in the savage War God Alexias while the empire continued to expand its domain by launching aggressive wars against its neighbors.

Thanks to that, Elancia is nowadays being attacked by its surrounding human countries with the reasoning that Elancia’s emperor is believing in a dangerous god and that they have to crush the empire because it’s constantly trying to expand its territory.

Of course, the Erwin family mostly believe in the same war god because they’re a clan of meatheads. A temple of Alexias has been erected in the castle town, and the oni priests over there are training their bodies every day.

They train their bodies despite being priests…

Anyway, the carriage seems to have arrived during this little excursion into the world of gods.

After I got off the carriage with Stephan, we headed to the temple director’s office deep inside the temple to have the meeting with the high-ranking priests of God Eutel.

“Stephan-sama, your request for a meeting came quite unexpectedly. Is there something troubling you?”

Temple Director Sander chose very polite words as his temple has been receiving high donations from Stephan for its operation. If I had tried to meet him while using my own name, I would have been turned away at the gate.

I used my power to get a grasp on his abilities.

Name: Sander

Age: 62

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Valor: 12

Leadership: 21

Intelligence: 74

Domestic Affairs: 49

Charm: 61

Status: Elancia Empire’s Residential Senior Priest of the Eutel Temple

Temple Director Sander, the man in front of me, is a top staff member of the Eutel temples in Elancia.

“As a matter of fact, things have become truly troublesome. It might actually deteriorate into a serious matter in regards to our faith.”

“A serious matter, you say!?”

“Yeah, the husband of my sister-in-law, Albert von Erwin, informed me of this grave situation. It’d be a big help if you let him brief you on the details.”

Thanks to Stephan’s skillful assistance, Temple Director Sander finally took notice of me.

“Albert von Erwin-dono?”

The temple director revealed a puzzled expression while looking at my face. After a short while, it turned into surprise as he apparently brought my name and face together.

“Aren’t you Albert-dono who was called the Crown Jewel of Wisdom!? Just when did you become a nobleman of Elancia!? If I remember correctly, there were rumors about you having been kidnapped and gone missing.”

It looks like he’s aware of me having been a priest of the Temple of Wisdom. Although I belonged to the faith of another god, I used to aim to make a career in Alexa, and thus the clergy of Alexa knows who I am.

“I’m alive, more or less. Currently I’m the husband of Malida von Erwin-sama, the younger sister of Stephan-sama’s wife.”

“Is that so…? So you were alive, huh?”

“Would it be alright to leave talks about me at that and proceed to explaining the situation to you?”

“Y-Yeah, of course. So, what’s that grave matter you’re talking about?”

“Given that you have been entrusted with the Great Temple of Elancia, I think you might already have an idea, but… ah right, would you understand if I mention the famous 『Hero’s Sword』?”

The instant I dropped 『Hero’s Sword』, the face of Temple Director Sander immediately changed. He likely thought that it’d be bad for me to go on as clear from his discomposed demeanor.

“They are unrelated to me. The Eutel temples inside Elancia have already cut all relations with 『Hero’s Sword』 and excommunicated their organization from our church.”

Large drops of sweat started to form on Sander’s forehead and ran down his pale face.

“I have heard about this as well. Due to that, His Majesty the Demon King is proceeding preparations to take strong measures against 『Hero’s Sword』 for promoting hostile actions against our Elancia by instigating their believers in the name of a 『Holy War』. Soon 『Hero’s Sword』 should be labeled as illegal organization inside Elancia.”

Yesterday during the banquet Stephan had informed me about the demon king’s plan to crush 『Hero’s Sword』 inside the empire. I’m sure the demon king also judged 『Hero’s Sword』 to be too dangerous to be left alone, seeing their missionary drive among the mountain folk.

“As I said, we are unrelated to 『Hero’s Sword』!”

I retrieved a piece of paper from my pocket and placed it on the table.

“This is the a document summarizing the funds circulated from Elancia’s Eutel temples to 『Hero’s Sword』. Would you be so kind as to take a look?”

Lowering his eyes at the document, Sander’s face became even paler. Officially they had supposedly severed all connections with 『Hero’s Sword』, but this document clearly exposed their backdoor support. Because of that, Temple Director Sander now also ran risk to lose his head for being involved with 『Hero’s Sword』 once the organization is flagged as illegal in Elancia.

“W-Where did you get this?”

“It’s something that was entrusted to me by a certain person.”

It’s a document Warid had stolen from a 『Hero’s Sword』 member inside the empire, but there was no need to be honest here, so I made up a suitable cover.

“Y-You’re wrong! This was selfishly carried out by the lot from Alexa’s headquarters. I haven’t participated in this at all!”

“Really? Aren’t you actually supporting 『Hero’s Sword』 as fellow organization of people believing in the same god as you?”

Hearing my accusing question, Sander’s face immediately turned red.

“The things these people are propagating have nothing to do with God Eutel! I’d like you to not lump me together with them! God Eutel is preaching that once should accumulate good deeds every day! Do you know how much we suffer from the bullshit doctrine people like 『Hero’s Sword』 are falsely spreading!?”

I remember that Temple Director Sander is a very pious believer of the Eutel doctrine, even when compared to the clergy working at the faith’s headquarters. Our investigations have clearly shown that he harbors a fairly adverse stance towards the doctrine spread by 『Hero’s Sword』.

“Is that so? I used to be a priest of Egeria, so I don’t know much about Eutel’s doctrine. I thought it’s about slaughtering all the people, who sold their souls to the evil god, in order to to be reborn into a better life, once you die.”

“Wrong! That’s a doctrine some idiot, who’s calling himself prophesied hero, is arbitrarily spreading after abusing the strong piety of Alexa’s king to get ahead of himself! Besides, God Eutel never made such a prophecy! It’s a completely false doctrine!”

“Going by his state, it doesn’t seem like Temple Director Sander has been involved in this matter, Stephan-dono.”

“Yeah, so it seems. It’s a big relief for me as well.”

Hearing our short conversation, Sander looked relieved.

“Thank you for honoring me with your trust.”

“We understood that you are unrelated to the matter with the monetary assistance, but there’s actually another matter of concern. The mountain folk clan close to us is being persecuted by 『Hero’s Sword』. They’re treated as heretics. Moreover, members of Elancia’s Eutel Temple, who ought not to be there, have been taking part in this persecution as well. If His Majesty the Demon King heard of this, I think things would become very bad for you――”

Temple Director Sander covered my mouth with his hand, looking flustered. It looks like he has an idea about the temple staff which participated in 『Hero’s Sword』’s missionary work among the mountain folk. Apparently he considered our lives to be in danger, if I were to speak about this loudly.

Now that it’s come to this, we’ll proceed at my pace. If he considers the other party to be underhanded, we just need to thoroughly use that against them.

“Albert-dono, please keep your voice down! I beg you, please treat this matter confidentially. We will punish the offenders internally, so I would be humbled if you could keep this a secret.”

Once he removed his hand, I turned towards Temple Director Sander and revealed a troubled expression.

“But, all of this has actually caused damage, resulting in a clan seeking asylum in our fief. That’s why we cannot simply stay silent about this.”

“Hmm, I understand what Albert is saying, too. 『Hero’s Sword』 is calling itself a religious organization of God Eutel, so shouldn’t the Eutel temples have the right to control them?”

“Stephan-sama, 『Hero’s Sword』 doesn’t approve of out right to supervise them.”

“In that case, we must have you resolve yourself to offer your head, Temple Director Sander-dono. As far as we’re concerned, we have no other option but to lodge a complaint with his Majesty the Demon King.”

As a matter of fact, the teachings of 『Hero’s Sword』 have been spreading in the south of Elancia, too. If we leave this alone, these teachings will eventually spread to us and the Alkor family, becoming a possible trigger for peasant revolts.

When it comes to the extermination of pests, the one making the first move usually wins. If we fall behind, it will be too late.

“N-No way…I have nothing to do with them!”

Sander started to tremble again after guessing that he could very likely lose his head over the crimes of 『Hero’s Sword』. Hence I threw him a life line.

“In that case, you have no other choice but to desperately denunciate 『Hero’s Sword』 and completely excommunicate that organization from the Eutel temples in order to save your own neck.”

“But, we have long declared their excommunication and broke off all relations with 『Hero’s Sword』 among the Eutel temples in Elancia. And yet, some of the clergy still remains connected to 『Hero’s Sword』…,” Sander squeezed out with desperation dying his voice.

“I haven’t said anything about doing it in Elancia. I’d like you to work on Alexa’s Main Temple of Eutel. You have been dispatched here by that main temple, right?”

“At the main temple!?”

I know that Sander has a close connection to Eutel’s Main Temple in Alexa. I mean, I’m someone who has worked in the same field as him. Therefore, the goal of today’s visit was to snipe him.

One must use everything available to them, even if it’s the gods. No matter the world, the voice of main temple’s god will exhibit a tremendous effect.

“Certainly, if I influence the Main Temple of Eutel, it might be possible to excommunicate 『Hero’s Sword』 entirely, but…”

“Many of the temple members should make their move if you start influencing the Main Temple. Besides, please feel free to use this here as well.”

I took out another document from my pocket and showed it to him. It contained the names of nobles who were connected to the Goran faction.

“This seems to be a list of Alexan nobles…”

“Those are the nobles belonging to Second Prince Goran’s side. These nobles should assist you in getting rid of 『Hero’s Sword』.”

“Is it alright for me to interpret this as Second Prince Goran desiring to crush 『Hero’s Sword』?”

“Yes, I think it would be fine for you to think of it this way.”

“Hmm…”

Sander accepted the document and scrutinized it with a serious expression.

“If it’s impossible, it’s no problem or anything. If it’s really impossible, that is. But, if we continue suffering damage, we will be forced to report to His Majesty. At that time, the names of the Eutel temple staff will be brought up alongside the name of 『Hero’s Sword』, okay?”

If we pass such a report to the demon king who is trying to crush 『Hero’s Sword』 inside the empire, it’ll likely turn into a huge issue for all personnel attached to the Eutel temples. After all, this demon king is said to be the most ruthless one among all emperors so far when it comes to punishing clergy which interferes with his rule or the empire’s politics.

Temple Director Sander lifted his face and looked my way as if having resolved himself. A grim determination was clearly visible on his face.

“I got it! I shall head over to the Main Temple in Alexa! I will make sure to drive out all the rotten bastards who are protecting 『Hero’s Sword』!”

Well, I’d say it’s safer for him to join the side attacking 『Hero’s Sword』 than having his head chopped off because he remained silent. Cherishing one’s life is important. Yep.

“Your assistance in this matter is very welcome.”

I also plan to support you, Temple Director Sander-dono. If there is anything you need, just tell me.”

“Okay, please lend me one carriage as I will be traveling to Alexa right away. Also, please allow me to entrust this temple to the Vice-Temple Director for a while.”

“Very well. I will have a carriage prepared for you right away.”

Sander had had a pale face until just a little while ago, but now that he made up his mind, his eyes were gleaming with motivation. He must hate 『Hero’s Sword』 quite a bit.

In this state he might be able to persuade the Head Priest of Eutel’s Main Temple in Alexa.

“I’m going to head over to the Main Temple of Eutel in Alexa and directly talk to the Grand Priest about excommunicating 『Hero’s Sword』 and its representatives. I will have them officially denounce the doctrine of 『Hero’s Sword』 as false heresy!”

“We’re counting on you.”

I firmly grasped the hand of Temple Director Sander.

At present, 『Hero’s Sword』 is a religious organization of God Eutel and its representative calls himself a hero who received a divine oracle from God Eutel. Being told that they can live a better life after death, if they kill all those who sold their souls to the evil god, the believers will fervently work at being pious, seeing how they’ll only suffer in this world of wars, even if they stay alive. The prospect of a holy land awaiting them after their death holds a very powerful hope.

But, their religious fanaticism can be extinguished in one go. Having the hero’s authority revoked by banishing him from the church is a powerful trump card to achieve that. If the Main Temple of Eutel excommunicates him and his organization and denounces all of 『Hero’s Sword』’s doctrine as falsehood, the authority of 『Hero’s Sword』 will plummet in no time.

Many of those sympathizing with the doctrine of 『Hero’s Sword』 are believers of Eutel in human countries. As such, the number of people distancing themselves from 『Hero’s Sword』 should drastically increase, if the organization and its representative get kicked out from the Eutel church.

Besides, I plan to propagate all sorts of scandals committed by 『Hero’s Sword』 at the same time. If people heard about the charismatic hero and leadership, who all stipulate their pious behavior, to live lives that are much more sinful than those of ordinary people, it should boast the rate of dropouts even more.

The more people drop out of 『Hero’s Sword』, the more the hero will panic and run around to tighten the internal order to maintain his own authority, making the doctrine even harsher than it already is and thus increasing the number of dropouts even further. As the number of people losing all faith in 『Hero’s Sword』 grows, the organization’s influence will rapidly wane as well.

Once that happens, isolating the noisy believers and making them fight amongst each other should naturally lead to an internal collapse.

We entrusted Sander with the banishment of 『Hero’s Sword』 and left the temple.

■

※ Orgus’s Point of View ※

“Orgus-sama, these women have been tasked with taking care of all your needs, Your Highness. Please use them as you please.”

Upon Bleach Oxner’s invitation, I had visited a facility related to 『Hero’s Sword』 in the capital’s noble district. As I sat on a sofa, ten beauties clad in flimsy attires, which allowed me to see their skin through the fabric, were lined up in front of me.

This mansion used to belong to the Marquis Nobalsa family which had been investigated for heresy by 『Hero’s Sword』 several years ago. I left the annoying governmental affairs to Prime Minister Zazan who had come back from Tiana, and stayed at this mansion for two months straight since the new year began. Refusing all contact from the outside, I indulged in pompous parties while surrounding myself with beauties and gourmet food.

“Also, allow me to present this here to Your Highness. Please continue regarding our 『Hero’s Sword』  kindly.”

Bleach Oxner placed gold bars in a wooden box in front of me.

“Take this to my vault which Zazan is managing.”

“Yes, as you command, Your Highness. I shall take it there as usual.”

The money offered to me by 『Hero’s Sword』  over the last two months has grown into a very sizable amount. Once my sick father dies and I become king, I plan to dispose of this swindler, so I’m going to squeeze him dry for as much as possible.

“Also, the preparations for the second 『Holy War』 are steadily proceeding. This is also thanks to Your Highness putting in a good worth for us.”

I had ordered arms and armor to be routed from Marquis Flourish, whom I appointed to reorganize the royal army in Tiana, to Bleach’s 『Hero’s Sword』 through back channels. I have received reports that the armament of the mountain folk has risen quite a bit.

“We’re sending them the equipment used by our regular soldiers. Bring the mountain folk together as initially planned, and hurry with the preparations to launch an attack at the back of Elancia!”

“Yes, Your Highness! We are currently proceeding with the plan at full force, so please don’t worry. We will eradicate that country, which believes in an evil god, as soon as possible!”

“Yeah, that we will.”

We will have the mountain folk rise in revolt thanks to Bleach, and exhaust the imperial army by using the mountain folk to wage a mountain war. Using that opportunity, Marquis Flourish will invade three territories with the royal army. Once that happens, it will be my victory. And once I have this achievement under my belt, my standing will improve, thus choking all life out of that annoying Goran.

As I gulped down the high-grade wine poured for me by a beauty, my cheeks slackened in light of this bright future.

“Your Highness! Are you in there, Your Highness!?”

As I reveled in the lingering memory of that wonderful future, I could hear someone loudly entering the mansion and yelling for me.

That voice belongs to Zazan, doesn’t it…? I should have told him to not come here unless it’s of utmost importance. Did that useless idiot come here to hear my opinion once again?

I’d love to tell him that he should decide for himself a bit, seeing how he’s the prime minister. He was attached to me as guardian by Father, but if he’s too incompetent, I won’t have any choice but to assign him to some do-nothing job after my enthronement.

I threw my wine cup at Zazan who had stormed into the room while being out of breath.

“Idiot! Don’t make such a fuss! Come to your senses.”

“P-Please forgive me.”

Zazan apologetically lowered his head while wiping away the sweat dripping off his forehead with a handkerchief.

“So, what is it? I should have told you to only come here if there’s an important matter.”

“Yes, Your Highness! You have been summoned by His Majesty the King! I got a message telling you to immediately come to his bedroom.”

I’ve been summoned by Father who has been staying in his sickbed all the time!? Does he finally feel like yielding his crown to me!?

Father’s health has deteriorated quite a bit and I’ve been told by the doctors that the prospects of him recovering are low. Because of that, Father is probably planning to designate me as his successor and transfer his crown to me before he dies.

“You imbecile! Why didn’t you say so earlier!? With this I’ll finally become king!”

“Your Highness, congratulations on becoming the king!”

Bleach immediately congratulated me.

“I-I don’t know about that, but since you have been summoned by the king, we have to prepare right away!”

Zazan isn’t overly tactful. I mean, there’s no other reason why Father would call me over.

“Humph! I will prepare right away. Wait here!”

“Yes, I shall wait here!”

Accompanied by the beauties, I retreated to the room I’ve been using as a bedroom, quickly finished changing my clothes, and went out to visit my father’s bedroom.

■

Once I triumphantly waltzed into my father’s bedroom in the palace, I found someone there who shouldn’t be present.

“Goran! You bastard! You shouldn’t be allowed to enter Father’s bedroom, so why are you here!? Get out right away!”

Goran completely ignored my demand and remained standing on the spot without any signs of moving.

“Remove Goran from this room at once!” I ordered the nearby servants to remove Goran, but no one followed my order.

“Orgus, don’t make such a racket. I permitted Goran to be present here,” said Father with a weak voice while lying on the bed.

Father allowed Goran to enter the room… Why? Father should hate Goran who was born by a concubine he had to take against his will. Goran remained standing next to father’s bed as if ignoring me, being silent.

“Father, why did you permit Goran to attend this meeting? Didn’t you hate him for being an illegitimate child as well!?”

Father grabbed my hand so firmly that you wouldn’t expect him to be sick.

“Listen, Orgus. Last time I should have told you to carry out what you promised to do.”

“Yes, I know.”

“So, why did you leave all the governmental affairs to Zazan?”

Father looked up to me with blame in his eyes.

Father is angry? Over something like me having entrusted the governmental duties to someone else? He always told me that a king ought to leave the work to people he believes are capable of doing it.

Being now exposed to his rage-filled stare, I suddenly started to feel very uncomfortable.

“Zazan has been serving the kingdom as prime minister for a long time. He excels in governmental affairs, so I left this to him.”

“You fool. You’re in the middle of fighting over the throne with your young brother, yet you indulge in pleasure without even trying to lead your side. It’s the height of naivety to believe that you’ll be able to win like that!”

Father put even more strength into his grip.

“However, despite him having the legal right to succeed the crown, Goran is an illegitimate child and the second in line.”

So far Goran had kept up an expressionless face, but now his lips twisted in a scornful smile.

“What’s so funny about this, Goran!?”

“Elder brother, you’re just too ridiculous, so I find it very challenging to hold back my laughter. It looks like you don’t understand the current situation within Alexa.”

The royal army is in the middle of being reorganized for a new invasion, but besides that, the situation in Alexa shouldn’t have changed much.

“Nothing in particular is happening! Don’t be sleep-talking, Goran!”

Without ceasing to grin, Goran retrieved a letter from his pocket and spread it on top of Father’s bed. It seemed to be some sort of ordinance, but nothing in a form the Kingdom would use…

While letting my eyes fly across the letter’s text, cold sweat started to seep out all over my body.

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