During an era of war, panic, and disease, the Church gained the support of countless commoners through cunning persuasion and developed formidable military strength.
In just a few decades, the Church's influence spread across the entire Southern Continent.
At the same time, the balance of power shifted between the Northern and Southern Holy Roman Empires. The Southern Empire was defeated and had no choice but to seek the Church's intervention.
With the Church's help, the two empires managed to maintain a balance of separation and confrontation.
Meanwhile, the Church seized the opportunity to infiltrate the upper nobility of the Southern Holy Roman Empire, achieving an unprecedented level of power and influence.
These vastly different circumstances led to stark contrasts between the two empires.
Southern Holy Roman Empire 🗽
- Rigid Class Structure: Nobles and commoners were strictly divided.
- Ancient Bloodlines: Most nobles descended from ancient imperial families, with lineages tracing back to the empire's founding.
- Conservative Values: There was an emphasis on bloodline, status, and male dominance. Women were treated as breeding tools and were barred from inheriting titles.
- Witch Hunts: Under the influence of the Church, witches were blamed for plagues and disasters and were often burned at the stake.
- Social Hierarchy: Knights and serfs dominated the lower classes. Non-human races were despised.
- Church Dominance: Even the emperor needed the Church's approval to be crowned.
Northern Holy Roman Empire 🗿
-Progressive and open: Meritocracy over bloodline. New nobles rose through merit.
- Diverse Society: Knights were just one part of the middle class. Merchants, witches, and others could also become nobles.
- Coexistence: Peace with other races and gender equality.
- Weak Church Influence: The Church held little power here, making the North its sworn enemy.
The two empires remained locked in perpetual conflict.
---
Ryan found himself in the territory of a southern earl. His next goal was to cross into the neighboring kingdom to find Little Red Riding Hood's aunt, a countess and the king's consort.
Good news: The two kingdoms bordered each other, barely 10 kilometers apart. On Duskstrider, he could arrive in under an hour.
Bad news: A massive mountain stood in their way. Detouring around it would add dozens of kilometers, and the rugged terrain made navigation difficult.
"Hopefully, we'll arrive before nightfall."
Ryan urged Darknight forward, navigating unfamiliar paths and asking for directions along the way. By dusk, he had only reached the border. The towering mountain loomed ahead, offering only two options: a two-hour detour or a risky climb straight over.
Exhausted, Ryan decided to rest first. He found a secluded spot and opened a portal back to the real world.
—
Back in Real World 🌎
Stepping through the rift, Ryan sighed. The past half-day had been eventful but rewarding.
"Dawn already?"
He stripped off his medieval garb, showered, and put on his school uniform. He spritzed on some cologne to mask his natural scent, just enough to dull its effect on the women around him. The last thing he needed was another "nightmare" encounter with an overeager admirer.
As he left home, he spotted his new neighbor, Vanessa, waving off her husband.
"Morning!" she called.
"Good morning, Vanessa," Ryan replied, dropping the formal "Mrs." with a smirk.
Vanessa's eyes flickered with amusement as she recalled yesterday's incident.
"Where's the lady from yesterday?" she asked, glancing at Ryan's house.
"Left early," Ryan said casually. "Seemed like she was targeting your family, actually."
Vanessa blinked. "Us? Why?"
Ryan shrugged. How do I explain that it was a vengeful spirit?
He said goodbye and drove off, leaving Vanessa puzzled until a bloodcurdling scream echoed through her home later that day.
She rushed out with a gun but found no intruder, only a burnt talisman on her bedroom door reduced to ashes.
"Did a ghost just...?"
Her hands trembled as she dug out the remaining charms Ryan had given her. Frantic, she called her husband, but there was no answer.
----