Taking advantage of the chaos.
Number 10 and Number 9 cooperated to fulfill Number 1's request, rescuing Clem, who had almost died at the hands of his "comrades." In the underground of the ruins, the young knight met the master he served, the one formerly known as the Golden Princess, now an Archbishop candidate of the Cult of the Twilight Goddess, the being he considered his light.
"Princess, you actually..."
Clem still couldn't believe it. He even suspected that the Princess Lakyus before him was fake, but he couldn't deceive himself like that. The figure before him was undoubtedly the master he chose to serve. Even if he didn't want to believe it, the truth was so dramatic.
"Oh, good~ Clem, you're safe and sound. I was so, so worried that something would happen to you. I told you not to participate in this battle, so why wouldn't you listen?"
"Then, you really are..."
Lakyus showed an alluring smile. It was hard to imagine that the princess, once so noble and pure, would show such an expression. Clem felt something in his heart shattering, and his mood was incredibly sorrowful.
"Ah, yes, I am indeed a Bishop of the Goddess Cult. This battle plan was also designed by me."
"Why would you do such a thing!"
Clem shouted, "Where did the former Princess Lakyus go? The princess who wanted to improve the country's environment and make her people live better..."
"Such a person never existed from the start."
"Eh...?"
"I-I-I mean, the perfect princess you imagined, Clem, never existed from the beginning. That was just a role I played to make you happy. That's all. I didn't act because I wanted to improve the country or help commoners, because I never had such feelings to begin with. It was only because in your eyes, Clem, I should be that kind of person, that I acted that way."
Princess Lakyus saw Clem's collapsing expression, feeling both sad and pleased. She wanted to go forward and comfortingly stroke Clem's head, but she couldn't help but show a seemingly mocking smile on her face.
"From the beginning, I knew my proposals wouldn't pass. Even if I banned slave trading, it wouldn't stop nobles and dark merchants from continuing such practices. If it weren't for your expectations, Clem, I wouldn't have done any of these things."
"Because of me?"
Clem felt both cruel and, tragically, happy. Although he had always suppressed this feeling in his heart, his admiration for the princess undoubtedly included an inappropriate love.
He had only suppressed this feeling because he knew he wasn't worthy. But now was not the time to think about such things; Princess Lakyus's current actions were definitely wrong, and he had to stop all of it!
Clem said seriously, "If I ask you to stop this immediately..."
"Don't say any more."
Lakyus coldly interrupted Clem.
She looked down at the knight.
"Clem, your thoughts are highly inappropriate. Don't forget your life belongs to me; you are merely my dog, and I am your master. Perhaps I will try to make you happy, but you have no right to make any demands of me. Rather, shouldn't you be on my side now? Or are you planning to betray me here and raise your sharp sword against me, your master?"
"…"
Only now did Clem truly realize that he had never understood Her Royal Highness. No, the memory of their first meeting resurfaced; the princess then had the same eyes as she did now. But because the princess later acted like a normal person, even more cheerful than a normal person, he had automatically ignored the princess from that time.
It turned out that he was the one who was abnormal from the start; he was the one dreaming.
"Clem, fight for me. It was for this purpose that I had them bring you here. If you lack strength, then I will give you strength. Right now, I can do such a thing for you; I can make you a knight stronger than the Warrior Chief."
Clem looked at the princess's face.
He wanted to agree, but his rationality wouldn't allow him to fall. This was absolutely wrong. Although he couldn't be an enemy of the princess, he also wouldn't help her do evil. He could no longer continue to fight.
Lakyus saw Clem's disheartened expression, sighed, walked behind him, embraced him, and whispered in his ear, "Even if I were to be killed, would you still be unwilling to fight for me?"
Clem snapped back to reality, clenching his fists.
Too cunning.
To him, Princess Lakyus was his entire world; protecting Princess Lakyus was the meaning of his existence. Even if he knew that continuing down this path was definitely wrong, if
he had to choose between justice and Princess Lakyus, for him, there was no choice at all.
Because his answer had never changed.
Clem said with tears in his eyes:
"...Please give me strength."
Princess Lakyus revealed a devilish smile and gently held Clem's hand.
Gospel Revelation.
Unlike forced conversion through brainwashing.
This was the correct procedure for conversion now.
Number 1's brainwashing was not perfect; otherwise, the Re-Estize Kingdom army would have already been annihilated. After all, truly resolute believers would stop at nothing for victory. If self-destruction yielded the highest benefit, they would not hesitate to self-destruct. However, newly brainwashed believers still clung to life and would not actively choose self-destruction. While they would slowly transform into true believers over time, it was clear that they were merely pawns used to create chaos.
And the true Gospel Revelation.
It could only be completed when one had made a choice with self-awareness. The higher the degree of awareness and faith, the stronger the Blessing one could obtain.
Clem had now made his resolve. In the choice between justice and the princess, he chose the princess. For her sake, he could stand against everyone. This resolve met the conditions for the Revelation.
While Clem was receiving the Gospel Revelation, Lakyus went to the center of the ritual, where the three Archbishops were directing the battle. Due to Number 10's ability, the enemy's decapitation strike was constantly delayed.
They couldn't find the center of the formation.
Nor could they find their location.
"How is the ritual progressing now?"
"It has entered the third stage."
Enshule seemed very pleased.
Indeed, Number 1 was the most suitable candidate to become an Archbishop, having brought the ritual to the third stage so quickly. It was not far from the ultimate sixth stage.
Lakyus nodded: "That means we are only one stage away from summoning a complete Archangel of Judgment. However, for now, let's summon the Angel Legion. Those Undead are too troublesome."
Although those Undead could also be sacrifices, as summoned creatures, they contributed less than a commoner. Yet, their combat power was very strong. If the Undead army were to break through, even with Number 10's ability, their location might still be discovered by those few individuals.
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