Game Opportunities Become Reality Episode 186
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Game Opportunities Become Reality Episode 186
44. Center of the Incident (2)
If the compass is pointing toward the Elysian Coalition, it means demon worshippers are definitely hiding there.
The church has already completed functional verification of the Holy Relic, and it has even been deployed in the field to locate hidden Black Mages and their bases.
The Holy Land was greatly taken aback, saying they never expected demon worshippers to have taken root all over the world like this.
In other words, the likelihood that the compass is malfunctioning at this point is low.
Currently, the church is using its own airships to search the entire world excluding the Dragonlands.
But they said this is the first time the compass has reacted as violently as it did to the Elysian Coalition.
'It's true that you can't imagine the Elysian Coalition being connected to the demon race, so it would be the perfect place to hide.'
But are they simply hiding there?
The Elysian Coalition is actively obstructing the Holy Land's investigation.
They've always been a nation that despises foreign interference, so it's plausible they wouldn't welcome the Holy Land's investigation but now that it's been confirmed demon worshippers are in the Elysian Coalition, their actions can only be seen as suspicious.
"Do you know exactly which point the demon race's energy is emanating from?"
To my question, she shook her head.
"The airship's entry itself is blocked, so the investigation is difficult."
"Even if you can't enter the Elysian Coalition directly, couldn't you fly the airship around the country's borders and just check which direction the compass points to get a rough location?"
"We already tried that. But here are the results."
With that, the Saintess used her terminal to project a map into the air.
The map showed the Prota continent of the Elysian Coalition, which looks similar to Australia.
As the Saintess manipulated her terminal, red lines began appearing across the continent one by one.
Those lines are where the compass indicated black mana.
It looks like the airship circled the outer edge of the Elysian Coalition clockwise, checking each point as it went.
If you draw lines following the directions the compass pointed, the points where those lines intersect indicate where the demon worshippers are.
"Huh?"
But I soon realized why the Saintess had been so hesitant.
Because the lines the compass indicated on the map were drawn all over the place with no discernible pattern.
That means one of two things.
"Either the demon worshippers are constantly changing their bases..."
"Or they're scattered throughout the Elysian Coalition."
I could now understand why the Saintess had come all the way here in person to request support.
I let out a low hum with a serious expression.
And in the end, I accepted her request.
"Understood. I will do my best to help."
"Thank you. I will not forget Your Highness the King's choice for the peace of Rondel."
In truth, this is a choice for my own sake.
I had intended to use the church's power to handle the group destroying the Hollywood System, and if that wasn't going to be easy, isn't it only natural to lend my strength?
The reason I hadn't stepped forward directly until now is simple.
It's to avoid revealing to the demon worshippers that I'm behind the Hollywood System.
In that sense, moving at the Holy Land's request makes for a perfect cover.
After all, I now have a Justification to involve myself directly in this incident.
'Actually, this turned out well. I'll use the title of the Holy Land's ally to my advantage and find out how those bastards are locating the Hollywood System's management terminal.'
* * *
"Y-You're joking, right?"
I concentrated Blue Moon intelligence agents into the Elysian Coalition.
And I relayed the news I received from the Holy Land to Maryang, a key member of the Elysian Coalition.
This was to test whether she knew anything.
But her reaction was one of bewilderment, horror, and disbelief and at that reaction, I felt a small sense of relief.
At the very least, it meant she and her race had no connection to the demon worshippers, whether during her time in the Coalition or otherwise.
"What is the Elysian Coalition's perception of demon worshippers?"
"Of course we despise them! Those bastards are no more and no less than a plague! When the Crimson Demon King descended 1,200 years ago, our Coalition suffered tremendous damage too!"
The last time a Demon King-class demon descended upon Rondel was over 1,200 years ago.
By Earthling standards, that's an incredibly long time, but in the Elysian Coalition, where many races live for centuries, it's only the story of three or four generations ago.
That's why, after the Holy Land, they might be the faction in Rondel who best understand the threat of the demon race.
"Then why is the Coalition obstructing the Holy Land's investigation?"
"Th-That is..."
At my question, Maryang couldn't answer easily.
Then, after hesitating, she let out a sigh and spoke.
"It's probably because of the merfolk and the fairy race."
Normally, when people think of fairies, they think of elves, but in Rondel, elves and fairies are clearly different races.
When one says "fairy" in Rondel, one should think of the so-called pixies small people with insect-like wings.
However, unlike the fairies known on Earth, Rondel's fairy race aren't palm-sized; they're fairly large, standing 50 to 100 centimeters tall.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Because those two races, which represent the love of the sea and the land, are the main cause of weakening the church's influence in the Coalition."
Come to think of it, the Saintess had said something similar.
In the Elysian Coalition, there are many beings who place more meaning on the world the Creator made and that we currently live in, rather than on the Creator itself.
It seems the merfolk and fairy race are the representatives of that way of thinking.
"But they're just two races. And I know the main pillars of the Elysian Coalition are the Elves and Dwarves surely such a decision couldn't be made unless those two races tacitly approved it?"
I understand that the Elves' Elvenheim and the Dwarves' Ironcastle are the largest pillars of the Elysian Coalition in terms of economic and population share.
But at my question, Maryang shook her head.
"In the Elysian Coalition, every race has an equal voice regardless of their power. The king of each race sits at one table, and matters of the Coalition are decided by majority vote."
I had heard roughly about the Elysian Coalition's political system.
But the more I heard, the harder it was to understand.
"Does it really operate that fairly? I'd think the bigger nations would naturally have complaints."
"We're different from humans. We prioritize the good of the whole over the individual."
Fine, how wonderful.
"Under majority rule, when two or more factions speak with one voice, it becomes a force that can't be ignored. Due to the merfolk and fairy race's constant demands, leaders began appearing one by one who conceded to them."
"So they're insisting on restricting the church's activities?"
"That's probably it. The church isn't the goddess herself it's just an organization that believes in her, and arguments have been made that there's no need to be pushed around by them."
"For an organization that merely believes in the goddess, it seems like the goddess's will is reflected in it quite a lot."
"That's a difference of interpretation. The church's will isn't necessarily the goddess's will."
That may be true...
But in a world where gods actually exist, I can't help but think that's a rather dangerous ideology.
"But things can't go on like this. Lady Maryang, as the Supreme Elder of the beastkin, you must understand that too, right?"
"Honestly, I'm baffled as well. Everyone must know the church wouldn't lie about demon worshippers..."
Through the Myriad Mirror, I could see that her way of thinking wasn't any different from mine.
In that case, this is simple.
"May I ask for your help, Lady Maryang?"
No matter how deeply Blue Moon has infiltrated the Elysian Coalition, the support of a Supreme Elder, second only to each race's king, can't be ignored.
So I requested her support, and Maryang nodded seriously.
"Alright. I can't ignore the rot that has seeped into my nation."
With this, I had my pieces in place.
All that remained was word from Blue Moon.
* * *
Elisia is a coalition created by the other races joining forces to jointly respond to the rapidly expanding human race.
'Elf, Dwarf, Hobbit, Dragonkin, Beastkin, Birdkin, Merfolk, Fairy.'
These eight races belong to the Coalition, and the scale of each member nation varies from the Dragonkin, whose population doesn't even reach 50,000, to the Elves, who number over 20 million.
The official population of the Elysian Coalition is 70 million.
Considering that there are several Kingdoms with populations over 300 million, this is an extremely small population for the world's second-greatest power.
But since all eight of these races live longer than humans and have higher innate ability, their numbers were small, but the quality of their Swordsmen, Mages, and Spirit Masters was vastly superior.
In fact, the number of transcendent beings at the level of Aura Master, 7th-circle Archmage, or Supreme Spirit Master or above was comparable to that of all human nations combined.
Add to that the Dwarves' outstanding craftsmanship, and it was only natural that the nation advanced not only in military power but also in technology.
Because of the Elves' nature of never lying and always keeping their promises, they became known as the most trustworthy trading partners, and today they have a tight grip on global distribution and finance.
"So this is paradise on earth?"
A park at the entrance to the Primeval Forest, a symbolic place even within the Elysian Coalition itself.
'Celine Viola,' who sat on a bench in that park watching the various races pass their time leisurely, described the scene before her as paradise on earth.
The Elysian Coalition is also the world's top tourist destination.
That was why no one among the other races paid any mind to her, a human, sitting on a park bench.
"Wealthy, strong, long-lived, and handsome to boot isn't that just too unfair?"
Complaint after complaint spilled from Celine's lips.
But the other races, who couldn't hear her muttering, simply went about their own time.
"I want to blow it all away."
Celine Viola is a Black Knight one of the representative demon worshipers, alongside Black Mages.
She wore a baggy robe that didn't match her seductive face, and inside it were various shortswords.
But as she sank into the bench and crossed her legs, her pale white calves peeked out through the long slit in the robe.
The reason a Black Knight, who ought to lurk in the shadows, was so openly showing herself was that she was here to meet someone.
A moment later, a neatly dressed man in a suit approached Celine slowly and took the seat beside her.
"Did we really have to meet in such a conspicuous place?"
The man in the suit voiced his complaint.
But she replied with a look of annoyance.
"Say what you need to say and get lost."
At that, the man cleared his throat uncomfortably, then spoke as if he had no choice.
"Around 7:20 this evening, a Sepia church airship will pass through a point 20 km offshore beyond Rainbow Hill."
"The scout ship you mentioned before?"
"Correct. That airship is certainly carrying the artifact that's tracking us. Lead the unit, ambush that airship, and seize the artifact on board."
"Heavy task."
"If it weren't a task this heavy, there'd be no reason for you to step in."
He handed Celine a device.
Celine put on the bracelet-shaped device, and on it she could see a map containing the church airship's predicted route.
"This mission must not fail under any circumstances. Keep in mind that the future of our faction depends on it."
"Got it."
With that final piece of advice, the man rose from his seat, and the woman closed the map floating above the device, once again taking in the peaceful moment of the other races.
But just then.
"Ah, right."
The man, who had begun to walk away, turned back and added one more thing.
"There are signs that Saintess Sylvester and Grand Duke Lawrence met in the duchy. Perhaps he's been entrusted with the stalled search within the Coalition."
"That idol?"
"I don't know about anything else, but his ability is certain. Besides, he's always been close with the Holy Land."
"So what?"
"Just that you might end up like that fellow who got burned to death in the Kingdom of Roberto for walking around so openly."
At the man's warning, Celine let out a snicker.
"Do I look that sloppy? There's no way I'd lose to a mere 7th Circle."
"That idol's wife is a Grandmaster."
"Unless it's a Saintess or a Holy Son, I don't lose."
"You never listen to advice, do you."
Overwhelming confidence.
But the man knew well that this confidence wasn't just empty bravado.
And so Celine was left alone again.
"Grand Duke Lawrence, huh? He's got a face I'd go for."
With those final words to herself, she rose from her seat.