# War
War doesn't begin simply because a leader shouts "Alright, let's attack!" (Such nations have already perished.)
In war, the most important elements are naturally finances, resources, and manpower—in descending order of importance. The issue comes down to money, food, and weapons. Of course, people aren't considered part of the problem.
Thus, preparing for war inevitably becomes a long-term plan. This is because nations aren't institutions that accumulate wealth while constantly preparing for war. (Such nations have already perished.)
"Summer...? Did you say summer?"
"Yes, Your Holiness. At minimum, that's how long it will take to complete preparations..."
"No matter how ignorant I may be about warfare, isn't this the agricultural off-season!"
The Pope's outcry was precise. Generally, various church sacraments are performed during farmers' least busy periods, so church officials tend to be well-informed about agricultural off-seasons.
And unless fighting against demon-kind, wars should take place during agricultural off-seasons. This is logical given that most troops consist of serfs and conscripts. One cannot dry up a nation just to wage a single war.
"Your Holiness, Albinia's messenger states that under no circumstances will they permit the stationing or passage of troops within their territory..."
"Are they saying they'll handle the entire northeastern region of Equitania alone?!"
"Yes, they say they'll reject any military support except for funding..."
"This... this...!!"
The Pope clutched his head and staggered. This cannot continue. Time... there's absolutely not enough time.
Who knows when the Demon King will arrive? Tomorrow? A week from now? A month perhaps?
Droan and Tilles must fall before the Demon King arrives. And before those two nations—or at least Droan—collapse, negotiations with Krasilov Kingdom must be completed.
To forgive the sin of harboring the Saintess, to cede the fallen territories of Droan and Tilles, to allow the establishment of the world's only "Empire." In exchange, mobilize troops and manpower to capture the Demon King.
All these conditions have one purpose: "quick end to the war." To prevent a "Second Great War" that could begin at any moment, with variables that could emerge from anywhere...
And one more thing.
To lay down this burden. Even now, voices inaudible to others continue to echo endlessly.
Before that sweet whisper finally breaks his last thread of patience. While he can still maintain his sanity. Because without holy power, he must overcome with willpower alone.
So it's a race against time. Only a quick end to the war...
"Your Holiness! A response from Lorencia!"
"...Yes, what do they say?"
"They've dispatched an assassination squad against the witch's false prophet! Thirteen knights! With active cooperation from some local priests, they've confirmed entry into the Pritzenkaya region!"
"Good... that's good...!!"
They said he was a young man barely past twenty. A devout theology student. With holy power gone, thirteen knights dispatched with priestly support should have no trouble killing one young man.
With more time, he would have attempted persuasion. Especially if the claims of knowing the future were true, if it were truly the Lord's blessing. But it's too late now. Having clearly sided with the Saintess, he must now be ruthless.
A young man who has heard the Lord's will supporting the Saintess is potentially a fatal threat. Even attempting to persuade him could provide evidence of the Saintess's innocence. Patricia, that child was so clever she would never miss this fact.
Right and wrong no longer matter. At this point, only a quick end to the war matters. What might be the world's final war—
-Yes. Right and wrong don't matter. Hehehe.
'Silence.'
-Your contradiction amuses me, old priest. What were you doing while invoking the Lord's name? Ah, yes. Planning to kill young children in the darkness!
'I am a sinner. I am a sinner. I am a sinner.'
-Ah, praying again? Who's listening? Is your Lord hearing your prayers? Don't worry. At least a "god" is listening to your prayers. "I" am listening to your prayers.
The attending priest felt an inexplicable chill as he watched the Pope suddenly bow his head and begin praying.
Fragments of brightly shining holy power were visible on his body. Clearly visible to the naked eye. But... somehow cold and eerie, so the priest couldn't view it with mere reverence.
The Lord has punished us, so it's natural that the Lord's power feels so frightening. The priest tried to think this way as he quietly left.
"They're going to try to assassinate Yu-jin?"
"Yes, brother."
The Saintess was sitting in the palace's lavish reception room, drinking tea and recovering from travel fatigue. Ivan, listening to her story from across the table, soon shook his head.
"It's useless."
"Pardon? I've dealt with the priests to the extent I can... but not all priests in Pritzenkaya follow my will. Especially now that I've been excommunicated."
"Isn't Yu-jin in Pritzenkaya?"
"Yes. That's right?"
"Krasilov has an almost perfect counterintelligence network within its territory. Especially in Pritzenkaya."
Since last year, there have been countless raids, a half-coup occurred, and they've suffered invasions from other countries and races.
Pritzenkaya is the region where Elizabeta Kirillovna Krasilov, who directly managed the counterintelligence headquarters, invested in security to the point of paranoia. Even elven spies cannot operate freely in Pritzenkaya.
Though their foreign intelligence may be incompetent, Krasilov's domestic counterintelligence is the strongest on the continent, even including demon-kind.
"But brother. While I understand this... priests can in some ways be better spies than counterintelligence agents."
"I know."
As recalled before, no one suspects priests. There may be those who try to use them, but at least no one "used to" suspect them.
In a world where divine power exists, how dare anyone doubt or reject priests who follow God?
Moreover, since the days when educational facilities were scarce, the church was a repository of knowledge. This means society's main literate class was filled with church personnel. In civilized societies where this tradition remains, priests hold inviolable authority.
Respected regardless of borders, able to directly hear the most intimate information regardless of title or rank. In certain situations, priests can be better spies than elves.
"Not all priests in Pritzenkaya will follow the Pope."
"Yes, I suppose so. If they hear I've been excommunicated, they might be confused, but not all will immediately side with the Pope. It would be difficult to shed the stigma and suspicion of being an excommunicated person's associate."
"So the number of assassins that the minority of priests you couldn't control can bring in is limited."
Though impossible to calculate precisely, it won't exceed twenty. Any more would certainly catch the counterintelligence headquarters' attention.
Even if all twenty were knight-level forces...
"There's no need to worry."
Before leaving, he told Yu-jin and Yu-ri to always stay together. Rather than preparing for assassination specifically, it was meant to handle any potential situation.
And that meant that in his absence, those two could handle any situation occurring within "Pritzenkaya."
As long as Enrique is there, assassination attempts will necessarily be small-scale, surprise single strikes. And in such an environment...
"Yu-jin and Yu-ri will never be defeated."
Just a year ago at the entrance ceremony, when the Hero Party kids were all just rookies.
Even then, Yu-jin "detected" and cut down a stone that "Ivan" had thrown with "full force."
This means he had already mastered line-of-fire detection by that time, and had the skill to precisely cut a flying pebble in half rather than simply avoiding it.
"Aaaaaahhh!!"
Yu-jin immediately rolled across the floor, barely avoiding the sword's path. He couldn't focus with the blade flashing before his eyes.
"This is why I said I wanted to be a priest!!"
Realistically, how could a civilized person who lived 20 years in the 21st century cross swords with human butchers who slice people up with cold weapons?
Yu-jin fled, almost wailing. It's a natural result considering he entered the theology department to avoid fighting, and always had to use mental spells for courage when he absolutely had to fight.
"Yu-jin!! Don't run away!! I'm seriously going to die here!!"
"Aaaah—!!"
Yu-ri, who had parried an incoming blade and stepped back, grabbed the back of Yu-jin's neck as he fled. At the very least, they needed to stand back-to-back for any kind of fight to happen.
There were already more than ten visible enemies. Each was superhuman, so one careless moment could cost them their heads.
Combat between superhumans can produce results independent of power differences. It's because of fights taking place at the extreme limits of neural response. No matter how strong someone is, human skin isn't stronger than a blade.
Get cut and you're injured; get stabbed in a vital spot and you die. Within this simple logic, Yu-ri had to fight while protecting a lump of dead weight.
"Please! Snap! Out of it!!"
"Someone! A mage!! Quickly!!"
"There isn't one!"
Clang!! After deflecting the blade, she retreated and leaned against the wall. The knights approaching them had fierce eyes.
Such a violent raid in Pritzenkaya. It was unexpected and difficult to counter. Their only armaments were a sword and a bucket-like helmet... Helmet?
"What's that?"
"Huff— hoo!"
"Yu-jin?"
"Hit my head!!"
"Huh...?"
Yu-jin shouted with bloodshot eyes flashing beneath the helmet's visor.
"Quickly! Hit hard! Hard enough to make me lose my mind! But not enough to make me pass out!"
"What... does this... mean...?"
"No time! Hurry!!"
Yu-ri sighed and clenched her fist. Well, it wouldn't be the first time this guy said something nonsensical.
If this could strengthen their resolve, it would be worth it.
Yu-ri struck the bucket-like helmet with a bang. Yu-jin's body trembled.
"Hoo... hoo..."
His breathing calmed. She could see his eyes open through the visor's gap. At least he hadn't fainted.
-Shing.
The sound of a blade being drawn from its scabbard was chilling. Yu-ri looked at Yu-jin with suspicious eyes.
"Yu-jin...?"
"There is only one God, and the Lord is great."
"Did it... work...?"
A perfect upper stance, as if drawn in a picture. A blade that seemed capable of cutting just by approaching. Violent madness.
Seeing this, Yu-ri finally sighed.
Right, this guy. His transmigrated novel was "The Northern Duke's Delinquent Sword Genius."