Chapter 209

Chapter 209
## Chapter 209

For Worse (1)

The Roselia Cathedral, situated right at the center of the holy land, served as the primary seat for the Main God Church, the grandest spiritual institution spanning Auterica. The sheer magnitude of its architecture was utterly unmatched by any regional sanctuary across the lands.

This immense scale was a practical necessity, given that it housed an array of prominent figures, including the supreme Pope and the revered Saintess, while managing political, administrative, and intelligence operations that influenced the entire continent.

Furthermore, it functioned as the central command for the majority of the holy knight orders and the relentless Heresy Inquisitors, even those routinely stationed in distant territories.

Tucked away on one edge of these sprawling, sacred grounds stood a collection of residential quarters reserved exclusively for high-ranking foreign dignitaries…

“Whew— I am absolutely spent.”

Inside one of those structures, specifically designated for the Azeria Empire’s delegation,

Princess Riley had just returned from her grueling assembly and let out a heavy sigh as she sank deeply into the office couch.

Her muscles throbbed with fatigue from a debate that had commenced around midday and dragged on into the dead of night, an unavoidable consequence of the critical and unforeseen matters added to the docket.

“…Princess Riley? I must ask you to show proper decorum. Remember, we are not within the walls of our imperial palace.”

“What? Oh, come now, it is perfectly fine. No one else is around. Do let us unbend a little, I am truly exhausted, Sister Seah.”

Though Isea creased her brow at such a lack of formality, Riley simply remained stretched out across the cushions.

The Church had wisely assigned independent quarters to each visiting party, allowing them a measure of true respite away from the scrutiny of rival political factions.

Additionally, they had sent away their domestic staff the moment they stepped through the threshold of the building.

With only trusted companions remaining in her presence, there was little reason for the princess to maintain her rigid posture.

“…Even so, displaying such carelessness right in front of Heron is hardly proper…”

“Eh? Who, me? Ah, Master. Why worry about that? The two of us have already witnessed each other in far more desperate and unrefined states back when we were trapped within the Immortal Fortress. A little lounging is nothing!”

Hesperon, who had trailed them into the room, offered his thoughts without delay upon hearing his name uttered.

He had seemed rather distracted for some time, yet he was clearly paying enough attention to catch their words.

“Oh—? And what sort of history does that imply?”

Naturally, Isea narrowed her gaze, her curiosity piqued by his overly familiar tone.

“No… wait a moment, Heron! What do you mean by ‘our worst’? Matters were hardly that dreadful, were they? Any discomfort was merely the result of the brutal conditions we faced!… N-not to mention the sheer peril of our predicament!”

Riley bolted upright from her reclined position, crimson tinting her cheeks as she offered an embarrassed defense, but…

The lighthearted bickering dissolved almost as quickly as it had begun.

While they used the banter as a brief mental escape, the looming shadow of their actual circumstances was far too heavy to ignore for long.

“A massive offensive launched by the Immortal Army… What is your assessment of this, sister?”

“…To be perfectly frank, we are already teetering on the edge. Savage beasts are causing havoc across the territories, the White Giants are making unannounced appearances, and the Immortal Army keeps striking at regular intervals. If these assaults intensify as predicted…”

They had managed to hold the line reasonably well up to this point, even with the terrifying reality that the Immortal King had actively manifested.

The loss of life was certainly grim, but the surrounding nations, save for the ruined Rohan Duchy, had not yet suffered a blow devastating enough to break their societal foundations.

Yet, validating the warnings of Saint Heinrich, a coordinated escalation of hostilities would make it nearly impossible for the majority of these realms to preserve their current way of life.

Total collapse, mirroring the fate of the Rohan Duchy, was a very real threat for the weaker states.

‘Setting aside, of course, the Talia Kingdom, where the entire governing body has already been overthrown.’

Hesperon, observing the two women with a blank expression, gave a faint, silent nod.

While normally perceived as somewhat slow on the uptake, his distraction on this day was particularly severe.

It was the direct result of a chaotic, multi-faceted argument raging entirely within his own mind.

-Hannibal Strauss: Our arrangements are nearly finalized. Identify the optimal window to strike. I will brook no delays or counterproposals.

The entity driving this internal discord was none other than the source of the world’s current misery,

The Immortal King, Hannibal Strauss.

-Heinz the Second: I register my objections, but if a strike is mandatory, delaying until the conclusion of the grand gathering is the wisest path. An premature move will destabilize our broader agenda.

-Heinrich: Absolutely not, we must rein him in immediately. Hans is executing his moves far too recklessly. We possess ample time; there is zero justification for this urgency!

-Harley: My stomach is hollow, let us feast! Demand an extra ten portions of roasted flesh for our late-night meal!

-Hubert: Tch, his mind is made up, is it not? In that case, we ought to capitalize on the chaos to wipe out that troublesome merchant alliance. It represents the highest utility.

-Harris: Ah… this entire endeavor is exhausting… Can we not simply abandon the whole enterprise…?

-Howard: Ugh, that obstinate fool! Is he genuinely going to push forward? If so, ensure the violence remains far away from Tarak! I am at a precarious juncture. A project I have nurtured for an immense duration is right on the verge of fruition!

-Hugo: Ugh, this is madness. Hans, I beg of you, reconsider!

…Predictably, each distinct aspect of his consciousness asserted its own flavor of eccentricity and defiance.

A few of the manifestations were already proposing middle grounds, signaling that they had given up on halting the momentum altogether.

It was an entirely authentic reflection of Han Seong-hyeon—deeply transactional, fractured, and intensely self-absorbed.

‘Were my true, singular consciousness fully awake, such internal debate would be unnecessary; we would operate with perfect unison… Managing this in pieces is quite tedious.’

The sensation was akin to stumbling blindly down a path because he was forced to command his limbs while his central mind slumbered.

The destination remained shared among them, yet their individual paces and centers of gravity clashed, creating a persistent psychic migraine.

-Hesperon: Is a total cancellation entirely out of the question…? Sigh, fine. Let us simply proceed with restraint.

Allowing his own timid stance to join the mental fray, he pulled his awareness back to the physical room and the women before him.

Though his internal council continued to wage its war, it consumed mere fractions of a second in real-world time, leaving the external conversation uninterrupted.

“The Saint claims he possesses the foresight to anticipate the trajectories of the Immortal King. Our path forward requires greater exertion. We must review our military readiness with utmost speed…”

“…Riley, are you entirely certain it is wise for me to depart? What if a sudden crisis unfolds during my absence?”

“I shall be perfectly secure. In truth, my anxieties rest with you, Sister Seah. My duties keep me confined within the heavily fortified imperial palace; what manner of harm could possibly reach me there?”

The process governing the succession to the throne was reaching its ultimate phase.

Her political adversaries were systematically withdrawing from the field, and the unaligned faction, marshaled by Marquis Lawrence—the preeminent master of the imperial palace’s magic tower—had firmly aligned with her cause.

Her personal safety was an absolute certainty, so long as she remained within the palace walls.

“Furthermore, Heron shall be by my side, ensuring ample protection. He mentions his inability to utilize teleportation due to his prior ordeal, but… he remains a formidable talent who managed to slip through the clutches of the Immortal King.”

“Eh? Ahahaha… You are setting the expectations rather high for me.”

Hesperon offered a strained laugh as Riley directed her gaze toward him.

Isea let out a weary breath, tilting her head in mild exasperation at his demeanor.

“Sigh— there is still an immense amount of discipline I must instill in Heron. Imagine experiencing a mere handful of days with the expeditionary forces and assuming the world lacks danger…”

They had barely survived the crisis of the White Giant, and now they stood on the precipice of a second wave from the Immortal Army.

It was painfully clear that this cycle of dread would persist indefinitely until they found a method to permanently vanquish the Immortal King.

“…Matters cannot possibly deteriorate further than this, right?”

Isea let out a soft, self-deprecating chuckle.

It was an idle comment, a passing anxiety voiced without true intent, yet its prophetic accuracy was absolute.

The phenomenon of the jinx existed precisely because of moments like this.

Three days slipped away.

The concluding session of the second Continental Summit arrived.

—

The ancient World Tree stretched its colossal limbs toward the heavens.

This titanic flora, the absolute focal point of the Elven domain’s devotion, possessed such immense height that its silhouette was recognizable from every corner of the Enamel Continent.

Naturally, it commanded deep reverence from neighboring societies.

The various demi-human and beast communities of the Enamel Continent maintained a peaceful respect for each other’s spiritual practices and engaged in consistent diplomacy, fostering an environment of mutual trust.

In stark contrast to the Ion Continent, where humankind held dominant sway, this territory served as a sanctuary for non-human species, allowing diverse heritages to establish independent borders and flourishing civilizations.

Yet, this hospitality did not extend to every bloodline without exception—.

Among the most deeply rejected lineages were the vampires.

They were a people universally shunned by nearly every sentient race, not merely humans, due to their predatory requirement of sustaining themselves on the lifeforce and blood of others.

Consequently, a vast majority of the vampire population made the conscious decision to remain within the borders of the Ion Continent during the historic Great Migration.

Human populations represented far more viable nourishment compared to the resilient non-human tribes, forcing the vampires to exist in the shadows, acting as parasites on the fringes of human civilization.

And matching the vampires in their isolation from general society were…

The Lycanthropes, recognized in common lore as the werewolves.

“Hehehe~! The curtains are rising. My precious broods! Heh!”

Under the brilliant luminescence of the full moon,

A shrill, erratic voice sliced through the silence of a mountain ridge that stood close enough to offer a clear, imposing view of the World Tree, and in that identical moment,

Growl—

Grrr! Woof—!

Eerie, crimson embers of spiritual fire ignited across the dark landscape, accompanied by the spine-chilling cries of predators utterly ruled by their wildest impulses.

“Shall we commence our grand, farcical performance then? Hehehehehe—!”

The speaker’s pitch, initially grating and high, underwent a steady transformation, dropping into a deep, guttural rumble that mirrored the growl of a primordial beast.

To an untrained observer, they appeared identical to standard beastmen, yet their underlying physiology was entirely distinct.

Lycanthropes represented a bloodline whose intrinsic power multiplied by consuming the vital organs of their victims, naturally generating a corrupted form of magical energy… making them little different from true monsters.

Their unrelenting savagery, which viewed both wild beasts and civilized peoples as mere sources of hearts to harvest, ensured they found no safe harbor anywhere in the world.

Had Hans not intercepted the ‘Complete Evolution Project’ managed by the Heaven’s Turn Society back on Earth, Harley might very well have shared this exact, debased existence.

“Hahaha—! Advance, let us tear out the lifeforce of those soft creatures coddled by a long peace!”

A multitude of dark forms surged forward, responding to the manic commands of the beast guiding their pack,

Melting through the shadows of the Enamel Continent’s mountainous terrain as night cloaked their movements.

—

Across the eastern expanses of the Ion Continent, within the borders of the Zepia Republic.

“Are the final arrangements… complete…?”

“Indeed, My Lord. The operation will commence the moment you give the word.”

The raspy, weathered voice of an ancient patriarch and the smooth, enticing tones of a woman echoed within a subterranean cavern swallowed by absolute darkness.

“By what means… did you ensure… such swift execution…?”

“Your divine presence made it achievable, My Lord. Without your guidance, such a feat would have eluded us entirely…”

The faint outline of the woman’s form shifted as she bowed deeply toward the diminutive shadow of the elder resting in the gloom.

“You grasp… the current state of affairs… correct…?”

“Yes, Ufersh and Brokoslack have unified their banners and are actively subjugating the lesser houses. I did not anticipate such aggressive consolidation from them, but they will soon reap the consequences of their arrogance.”

The woman provided her report with absolute certainty in response to the elder’s measured inquiry.

Their confidence was well-earned, given the immense, near-limitless epochs of planning they had dedicated to this singular objective.

Their master had gone so far as to forge a temporary pact with those wretched insects operating under the banner of the Heaven’s Turn Society.

“I cannot fathom the delusion driving him to execute such a reckless gamble, believing he can forcefully bind those disparate lineages together and claim total dominion. The Hybrid of the Vampire Clan Alliance, that dim-witted creature truly fancies himself the supreme ruler of all vampires.”

Amusement laced with pure contempt dripped from her words as she disparaged their rival.

The compact patriarch cast his gaze downward upon her position, then allowed his voice to drift through the chamber once more.

“In that case… unleash the offensive without delay…”

“As you decree.”

As those final instructions were uttered,

An ancient force that had remained dormant within the continent’s eastern territories for generations, the Obaifo Clan, awakened and entered the fray.

Yet, these were far from the only hidden gears turning across the lands.

“Pick up the pace, you worthless simpletons!”

“Ugh! Y-yes, High Chieftain!”

“Curse it all, had that wretched Revolutionary iconoclast not disrupted our timeline, this task would have concluded long ago!”

Simultaneously, within the Tribal Federation dominant across the southern reaches of the mainland,

“Are our plans fully set for execution?”

“Yes, every directive you issued has been fulfilled to the letter. However, Duke, are you entirely certain it is prudent to set this in motion…?”

“Hehe, this is an indispensable sacrifice for the longevity of our Empire. We are required to manufacture a diversion until His Highness the Crown Prince manages his return. Surely you do not believe an individual of that degraded lineage is fit to occupy the imperial throne?”

“T-that is completely unthinkable!”

Even within Jeron, the proud capital city of the Azeria Empire.

The various currents of sedition and malice, which had lain quiet within the shadows of Auterica, burst forth into a coordinated, destructive bloom all at once.