David Abra Akedan.
The man known as David IX.
The face of this middle-aged king of the Kanan Kingdom—who had ruled the land for the past thirty years—held an incredibly complex mix of emotions at that moment.
One of the knights he trusted most, the hero said to have repelled the massive undead army this time...
Eva Gillion.
But at this very instant,
words were spilling from the lips of the heroine who had led the victory, as she attended the royal council—words the king had never anticipated.
"So... you're saying... that the Baal Church is behind all this?"
"Yes. I've brought their insignia here, the church's ring. I obtained it from the ones who ambushed me at the very last moment."
The Baal Church's symbol, stained with blood.
Shadows of heavy concern began to fall over the faces of King David and the nobles.
The Baal Church, which numerous nations across the central continent—including the Empire—followed.
However, the northern Kanan Kingdom and a few other frontier states had rejected the church's ongoing tyranny and corruption, changing their state religion in response.
Naturally, from the church's perspective, they must have been grinding their teeth at these 'heretics' like the Kanan Kingdom, and it was predicted they would attempt retaliation someday.
Just like now.
"Hmm... even so, for them to come out so blatantly..."
"This is dire. They've been too preoccupied with the war against the demonkin until now, but doesn't this mean they're finally moving to subjugate us in earnest?"
"It's possible... the worst-case scenario we've feared—a full-scale war—might actually happen."
Though weakened by internal corruption and the war with the demonkin, the Baal Church still boasted the greatest power on the continent.
If they declared a holy war and rallied armies from allied nations across the continent, a small kingdom like Kanan had no chance of withstanding them.
Of course, war wouldn't erupt so easily, but in this ambiguous situation where denial wasn't possible either, the atmosphere in the throne room quickly grew chaotic with anxiety and worry.
At that moment.
"Everyone, calm down!"
In the air thick with unease and fear,
Eva raised her voice with such resolute force that it blew it all away.
"This situation is certainly not to be taken lightly. Though it began with them targeting me and the knights this time, who knows if they won't declare outright war next. But! Through this ordeal, I witnessed it with my own eyes! Hope! Clear proof that God has not abandoned this nation, which strives to walk the path of justice!"
"Pro... proof?"
"Lady Eva, what do you mean? Explain yourself."
Eva was a holy knight who followed God, but she never spouted baseless fantasies.
So the first words of hope and salvation from her lips seized the attention of the king and everyone else.
"Many of you here probably believe I defeated the undead army. That thanks to me, the knight order returned safely—all but one—and the nearby cities were spared attack. But that is far from the truth."
"What?"
"What do you mean...? You didn't stop them?"
The king and nobles expressed their bewilderment.
Gazing at them, Eva spoke in a voice laced with reverence.
"My knights and I fought with everything we had to stop the undead, but we were ultimately defeated. My comrades fell one by one, and I thought it was all over for me too. But... at that moment, I beheld Him descending from the heavens. The great being who turned thousands of undead to ash in an instant with His mere presence... The noble servant of God who introduced Himself as the Absolute God's proxy!"
"Wha... what?"
"God's... servant?"
Eva spoke of things straight out of myths or legends.
If an ordinary person said such things in normal circumstances, they'd be dismissed as a madwoman.
However,
this was the throne room, no place for jokes, and Eva—who spoke them—was as serious and straightforward as they come, without a trace of frivolity.
Above all, everyone present knew full well of the undead army's sudden uprising and inexplicable annihilation.
They couldn't help but believe the account from the one at the center of it.
"Seraphim, descending with six radiant wings amid brilliant light... He bore a form beyond human comprehension. Though, as the scriptures say, there was no beauty to behold (Isaiah 53:2), His supreme authority, mercy, and justice in smiting evil matched exactly the divine image we had awaited. He is the being we have longed for, yearned for with tears, thirsted for across endless ages..."
Her fervent praise for this Seraphim continued for nearly thirty minutes.
Watching her so uncharacteristically excited,
and finding her words oddly compelling and memorable amid it all,
the king and nobles could only listen in stunned silence.
And then.
"Even now, I vividly remember. The sight of His noble form personally shielding this maiden... it was as if... Mm..."
After unleashing her passionate speech,
Eva finally realized her excitement and paused to compose herself.
She then gazed at the dazed nobles and king, continuing with renewed determination.
"In any case, given everything so far, it's clear God has chosen us over the pope. That means if we show more devotion here... if we serve not some false god like the Baal deity of that church, but the true God, Seraphim! Surely He will deliver us from that hideous beast of evil!"
"Hmm..."
"Indeed... there's merit to... what she's saying..."
Having weathered her storm of words, King David nodded tentatively.
Gods, by nature, bestowed power and grace upon their followers.
This had been true in ancient times, varying only in degree, and held just as much now.
Records of a divine servant descending in person were from ancient eras, true.
Yet traces of direct divine intervention persisted vividly in the modern age.
The holy magic and blessings wielded by holy knights like Eva here.
Even the possession spells where races like orcs took in lesser gods into their bodies fell into this category.
The form of grace might differ depending on whether the god was malevolent or benevolent... but at least from Eva's account, it seemed safe to cautiously assume this being was no evil god.
'Yes... it's Eva herself saying this, not someone else. If she truly swept away the undead horde and slaughtered even the church's assassins, then He must possess tremendous power...'
Besides, the Kanan Kingdom had been religiously unstable ever since clashing with the Baal Church.
They had interpreted the scriptures to form their own doctrines, but compared to the Baal Church's millennium-deep roots, their efforts fell woefully short.
If a clear entity they could believe in and follow appeared—one who could directly guide them—it would surely alleviate this unease.
"Lady Eva, can we truly trust what you've told us so far?"
The king posed one final confirming question.
To this, Eva replied with utter sincerity, without a shred of doubt.
Even now, she felt His vivid presence lingering in her body.
In her very eyes.
"I stake my life on it. I swear this is the truth."
Her response carried clear, unwavering conviction.
With that, King David turned to his assembled vassals and declared his decision.
"Very well. Then I shall believe you as well. We will prepare to receive that god... Lord Seraphim."
Thus, worship of the new god, Seraphim, was decided on the spot.
Those present naturally fell into new deliberations.
What was most essential to serve a god?
Sacrifices, of course.
This was common knowledge across the continent, shared by humans, elves, dwarves, orcs—every race.
Mortals expressed their faith by offering beasts or valuables to the divine,
and in exchange, received power and miracles from their gods.
The more valuable the sacrifice, the greater the devotion shown—only natural.
The more offerings, the better.
A proverb from the distant East that aligned perfectly with this wisdom. (*No, it doesn't.)
And now, Eva, King David, and the Kanan Kingdom's leadership pondered deeply.
Having fully abandoned the Baal God,
they needed to decide what to offer their newly chosen deity.
Seraphim.
What sacrifice would suit such a great being?
This was their first 'greeting,' doubling as a formal plea for aid amid national crisis.
The finest must be prepared, naturally.
"How about gold and jewels? Offering half the national treasury should convey our sincerity."
"Wouldn't a hundred head of cattle and pigs be better? That's what we offered the Baal God often."
"Hmm..."
Amid the flurry of opinions, King David couldn't decide easily.
At that moment.
"Father, may I share my thoughts?"
"Oh... of course. Speak if you have a good idea."
All eyes turned to the sudden voice.
The one who had remained silent, observing intently until now.
A beautiful woman with blue hair and blue eyes,
wearing a small tiara on her head.
Princess Solomon of the Kanan Kingdom.
The king's eldest daughter, renowned far and wide for her exceptional intellect, spoke with a serious expression the moment permission was granted.
"The other ministers' suggestions have merit, of course. Livestock and treasures have long been fine offerings to the gods. But they are merely good—not the best. The ultimate sacrifice must hold value beyond all else."
"Hmm..."
"So, what do you consider the ultimate sacrifice, Princess?"
The king asked, laced with unease.
To this, Solomon continued in a meaningful tone.
"Surely Your Majesty knows. No need to look far—the Baal Church itself holds one as the highest offering. For our first tribute to a god, it must be at least that much, no?"
"N-No way..."
Faces around the room hardened coldly.
And then,
a faint smile crept across Princess Solomon's lips as she gazed at them.
"A human."
"!"