Chapter 149

Chapter 149
## Chapter 149

Hero Party (3)

Anyone watching the duel could instantly perceive the transformation in Heinrich.

It was undeniable.

A heavy, suffocating aura began to radiate from his every gesture, from the blade’s path that seemed to slice through reality itself to his deliberate footfalls and even his shallow respirations.

“…The Saint has crossed a threshold.”

“Ah! Sir Tuskin? When did you arrive…?”

“Be quiet.”

Even Paladin Tuskin, the very emblem of the Church’s martial might, was struck with admiration.

Tuskin, the commander of the Silver Wing Holy Knight Order, had quietly drawn near to observe the practice match after hearing rumors of the Saint’s training routine. He was now deep in contemplation as his gaze locked onto the dueling grounds.

It was he who had escorted Heinrich from the Talia Temple to this sanctuary, recognizing his latent gifts when he was nothing more than a simple holy warrior.

Now that the young warrior had ascended to the rank of holy knight in record time, achieved monumental feats, drawn the sacred blade, and even risen to the status of a Saint and Savior, how could he remain detached?

‘And that Dragonborn combatant confronting the Saint… He is extraordinary. Even I would find it challenging if we engaged in earnest.’

A Paladin of the Main God Church was far more than a mere knight who had attained mastery.

They were required to possess holy power equivalent to a bishop and bear no fewer than five divine blessings alongside their martial prowess to claim that revered title.

Consequently, their martial capabilities defied standard evaluation, and they were particularly unmatched in defensive arts.

‘He possesses a physical framework and raw instincts that outmatch even savage beasts, yet he retains the disciplined martial system of a true warrior. Indubitably… one must possess such caliber to stand as a companion to the Saint.’

Tuskin gave a slow, approving nod as he watched Harley from the perimeter of the training ground.

Right at that instant, the colossal battleaxe, radiating a dark crimson light, collided once more with the dazzling brilliance of the sacred blade.

Boom—!

The pair recoiled simultaneously as if by prearranged agreement, concluding the clash with a thunderous shockwave that rattled the protective enchantment.

“Ha ha ha! Truly fitting for the Savior! Never have I encountered a combatant of such strength!”

Harley, whose physical state was completely disheveled, let out a booming laugh as he reverted his altered form back to its human shape.

His skin was drenched in blood from the strain of the brutal engagement, yet not a single scar remained due to his “Super Regeneration”.

Chomp, chomp!

However, he was suddenly seized by a ravenous appetite because the bout had drained an immense amount of his vitality.

He retrieved dragon meat from the dimensional storage device fastened to his hip and began devouring it ravenously.

“Phew—”

Heinrich exhaled softly and straightened his vestments, which were ripped in multiple spots, as he observed Harley consuming several slabs of flesh right there.

Though he held the title of hero, he could not emerge completely unscathed after clashing with Harley.

Yet, owing to the potent protections and divine energy shielding his frame, there were no visible injuries aside from his ruined attire.

Even those tears had occurred primarily during the opening and middle acts of the duel, before he unlocked the “Path of Martial Arts”.

‘I lost myself in the moment for a bit.’

Still, it was a gratifying outcome, as he had gained an unpredicted benefit.

Heinrich’s “Martial Bones” had been triggered by this clash, widening his understanding of combat and triggering the advancement of the ability.

It was an unexpected harmony born from the collision of his characteristically methodical style and Harley’s raw, instinctual approach.

His thoughts felt incredibly sharp, and a delightful wave of satisfaction washed over him, likely a result of the sudden wisdom gained from that unplanned cooperation.

“Salutations, Saint! I was aware of your might, but even that was merely a stepping stone in your progression. Truly, you represent the salvation of this realm!”

“That Dragonborn combatant is equally spectacular… At such a level, we have no choice but to accept him as an ally of the Saint.”

“Warrior, do you follow a specific regimen for your physical conditioning? We practice a unique methodology within our holy order, perhaps we could share techniques?”

“An excellent proposition! It benefits us all if the Saint’s ally gains strength. We can contribute in this manner even if we cannot ride into battle ourselves!”

The physically imposing knights who had been tracking the duel converged upon them as they exited the arena, their voices overlapping in excitement.

They showed immense warmth, not just toward Heinrich, with whom they had developed camaraderie through shared exercises, but also toward Harley, who had validated his prowess moments ago. Their mutual passion was training.

Hearing their chatter, an abrupt realization struck Heinrich.

‘Allies… a fellowship to overthrow the Demon King, the Immortal King… ’

It brought a wave of cognitive dissonance regarding the unfolding events.

The current climate was far more pressuring and critical than he had mapped out at the start.

If his true objective were to confront the Demon King who sought the annihilation of the world as a prophesied savior, this would be the correct path.

He would have moved with greater aggression, dictating terms to the sovereign nations and disregarding individual sentiments rather than showing the deference he currently displayed.

‘The intelligence apparatus is also covertly prompting further measures, presenting various rosters.’

However, his objective from the very beginning was not the destruction of the Immortal King, but rather the construction of a legendary epic.

In a traditional chronicle, the journey of the central figure enduring diverse tribulations and assembling allies one by one was a critical segment of the progression.

‘Indeed, akin to Harley’s Great Adventure.’

Harley, who had endured a life of hardship and served as a test subject for the malicious dark sorcerer Hans in Act 4, managed to break free.

Following his escape, he encountered the merchant Hubert, the Elf Harris, and the Dwarf Howard, forging deep bonds.

Ultimately, in Act 7, he unlocked his dormant Dragonborn ancestry.

‘And the climax of Act 7 is unfolding now. Taking his place as the savior’s ally.’

That was the structural path he had initially mapped out for ‘Home Theater’.

Yet, a succession of unforeseen crises had disrupted the timeline, resulting in the current state of affairs.

‘The narrative has veered too far off course to fix… Oath of Heaven’s Defiance is creating far too much chaos.’

Granted, it was entirely reasonable for the inhabitants of this realm to desire immediate mobilization for conflict, but even Hans had broken his stride and was acting erratically due to the sudden shifts in fortune.

He could no longer uphold his initial strategy of mitigating casualties under these conditions.

Skepticism was already brewing among several factions, and the further this chronicle advanced, the more the logical consistency of the Immortal King would fracture.

‘When this strategy was first conceived, I assumed it would suffice to merely eliminate the villains… But the shadow cast by the Immortal King was far too immense.’

Every single action triggered a crisis of apocalyptic proportions, making it incredibly difficult to guide circumstances according to his preferences.

With Oath of Heaven’s Defiance compounding the issue with their maneuvers, an actual conflict was looming on the horizon.

‘Should that transpire, ‘forfeiting the few for the sake of the many’ will become a certainty, regardless of my actions. Such is the reality of warfare. It lies beyond my power to regulate.’

Was there truly no alternative route available?

Was he forced to either turn a blind eye and permit the doom of others for his personal ambitions, or merely settle for this outcome and abandon the endeavor?

‘Absolutely not! I simply must prevent the outbreak of war!’

When all was said and done, he was the mastermind behind the threat, meaning he possessed the authority to halt it instantly without navigating any labyrinthine bureaucracy.

The solitary hurdle was executing the retreat in a plausible manner…

While Heinrich remained trapped in his thoughts, his brow furrowed,

“Saint? Do you have a moment to spare?”

A critical assembly had been convened, summoning all high-ranking officials of the Roselia Cathedral under the guidance of the Saintess.

—

A modest chamber designated for strategy located deep within the interior of the Roselia Cathedral.

The physical dimensions of the room were unpretentious, yet the individuals assembled within were figures of immense authority.

The Saint, the Saintess, a pair of Cardinals, the Heresy Inquisitor General, the Paladins, the Archbishops…

Virtually the entire leadership structure of the Roselia Cathedral had convened in a solitary location to deliberate on their upcoming strategy.

“Alas, this presents a severe dilemma. We are already struggling to unify the kingdoms of the continent, and now Immortal King Hans has initiated his advance.”

“A northern woodland situated a short distance from the Rohan Duchy… This is surely an intentional provocation, is it not? He is proclaiming that he will witness the ruin of the domain he shattered from a front-row seat…”

“Countless lives perished during the calamity in Rohan. And the toll of the deceased will only mount. Every single casualty will feed the power of the Immortal King.”

The focus of this urgent gathering centered on the sinister energy of mortality that had been identified within the Northern Mountains just a short while ago.

The Immortal King’s capacity for stealth was notoriously formidable, yet it remained nearly impossible to fully obscure an energy signature of such massive magnitude.

Predictably, it had been perceived by those blessed with sensory gifts, including the Saintess, prompting an immediate investigation that culminated in this emergency session.

“This surpasses all previous threats in severity! It exists on an entirely different scale!”

Saintess Liesta stood abruptly from her position, her voice ringing with intensity.

Her sensory capabilities were unparalleled within the order, ensuring that the assembled officials listened to her assessment with profound gravity.

“This is not merely the residual energy of Immortal King Hans; it includes the collective signature of tens of thousands of the unliving. He has deployed the entirety of the legions he has been amassing. Simply put…!”

“…It is an overt act of war.”

“Good heavens— Under these circumstances…? No, precisely because of these circumstances. And within the territory of the Rohan Duchy…”

‘What?’

The countenances of the Church leadership turned grim.

They had just been notified that the evacuation endeavors for the displaced citizens were encountering massive resistance due to the relentless hordes of monsters.

The defensive perimeters had disintegrated entirely, plunging the province into utter anarchy.

The inhabitants of the conquered nation, who had huddled within the capital to mount a final stand, alongside those attempting to survive by forming desperate alliances…

Now, the unliving legion had manifested in their immediate vicinity while they were entirely unequipped to manage the current disaster.

Naturally, they lacked the capacity to mount a proper defense in their current straits.

“Furthermore, mobilizing military units is proving exceedingly difficult because the entire land mass is destabilized by the monster incursions…”

Cardinal Pion let out a weary breath at the bleak reality confronting them.

For the preservation of the greater realm, the logical choice was to forsake the duchy and construct a fresh defensive line along the boundaries of the Empire, yet how could they turning their backs on the hundreds of thousands of souls trapped within the duchy?

“…The Immortal King is undoubtedly mocking us, observing the choices we are forced to weigh.”

They had arrived at a juncture where every path available to them led to disaster.

The sheer malice of his nature left everyone filled with dread.

‘Is this cycle repeating itself?… No, my perspective was too narrow. This outcome was always inevitable.’

Save for a single individual.

Heinrich, the Saint of the Main God Church, kept his expression solemn while his mind operated at breakneck speed.

‘Good grief, how am I supposed to resolve this mess… ’

Assessing the present landscape, his maneuvers, which were designed to bring about a positive resolution, appeared to have triggered the exact opposite effect.

He had just resolved to chart a different path, only for a fresh catastrophe to be dropped directly into his lap.

“…What is the status of the Empire’s military forces?”

“The initial vanguard, which completed its mobilization at the northern frontier, has just crossed into the Rohan Duchy. Presently, three separate divisions comprising 10,000 soldiers each are marching toward the capital along distinct paths. Supplementary forces are likewise streaming in continuously.”

“Should the Empire become aware of this development…”

“…They will instantly abort all deployments and recall their legions.”

A heavy silence blanketed the room.

If the Empire, the sole entity capable of deploying a massive military force, refused to advance and shepherd the survivors, any stand made by the Church would be utterly futile.

Yet, withholding this newly acquired intelligence from the Empire was not a viable option.

If the unliving host truly commenced a southward march, the devastation would breach the Rohan Duchy and destabilize the Empire itself.

‘No, the leadership of the Empire is not foolish; they will uncover this intelligence shortly. They are likely conducting an identical debate at this very moment… Yes, there is only a single path forward.’

The tide of monsters descending from the frozen north would dwindle because Hans had established a base there, but that would mean nothing if the evacuation efforts ground to a halt.

Heinrich locked in his resolve, shut his eyes, and entered a state of devotion.

His internal devotion spiked instantly as he focused his colossal willpower, causing the spiritual conduit linking him to the Main God to expand dramatically.

The resulting surge was incomparable to his previous feats, as he had leveraged ‘Mental Strength Enhancement’—an acquisition that required an astronomical 640,000 Karma points—following a string of notable milestones and trials.

And as a natural consequence…

Hummmm—

His divine energy, vastly multiplied, surged outward from his physical frame, and his presence, which had resembled a translucent flame, began to radiate a dense, brilliant luminosity.

“What?!”

“…Saint?”

The eyes of every official present were instantly drawn to the sacred fire that filled the strategy room within moments.

The energy, rippling with what felt like tangible substance, was profoundly untainted and overwhelmingly dominant, striking a chord of pure reverence in their hearts.

With every gaze locked firmly upon his figure,

Heinrich arose from his place, his demeanor radiating piety.

Inwardly, he offered a plea to the Main God to grant him the favor to act as a righteous deceiver.

“May I request your attention for a brief moment?… The Main God has revealed the path we must tread.”

The celestial glow that shone magnificently around his form served as the visible confirmation of that divine endorsement.

In all likelihood.