Chapter 683: To Save the Human Kingdom

Although the former Church of Light was honored as the state religion of the Kingdom of Velys, it had always upheld a tolerant and understanding creed.

The Church of Light never compelled people to believe in the all-knowing, all-powerful Lord described in its scriptures. Nor did it expect them to spend their days and nights in church praying, reciting sacred texts, and singing hymns, or to contribute money from their already modest incomes to help fund the construction of more churches.

Thus, even with many believers, it still fell far short of becoming a matter of the entire nation.

This situation lasted until two or three years ago.

After the Pope of Light, Hebrew, gained enlightenment from a dream, he set about revising the new holy scripture.

He denounced all nonbelievers as heretics who had insulted the gods, accusing them of defiling the Mother of All Things. Citing these accusations as grounds for a holy war, he proclaimed war against the Valeria Empire, a nation that had long ago renounced organized religion.

The Church of Light’s swift and dramatic shift from moderation to extremism left many people bewildered. Not only were the ordinary masses, who had long been influenced by the church, confused, but even some clergy, holy knights, and nobles who followed the Church of Light felt that something was fundamentally wrong, though they could not quite put it into words.

Popes of every generation had revised the scriptures and reinterpreted certain articles to better fit the times and the kingdom, but none had ever made such sweeping moves.

Monica Angelis was among the first to realize the Church of Light had gone astray.

This Saintess who served the Creator never believed faith should be spread through coercion or oppression.

It ought to be inclusive and pure, not a narrow tool of restraint and control, like the sun hanging high in the sky: while it spreads warmth and light, it also leaves room for dusk and the long night.

It does not deny other existences, for that cold and darkness were also born of Its creation. Everything cycles, over and over, never leaning entirely to one side.

"Back when the holy war was launched against the Valeria Empire, quite a few believers within the Church of Light had already doubted the legitimacy of doing so."

The Saintess of Light knelt with both knees on the ground in a posture of prayer.

Her expression was devout. Her hands shifted from clasped to layered over her chest, and as she spoke, her pale fullness and the silk ceremonial ribbon rose and fell faintly.

"From its founding, the Church of Light’s guiding principle has always been not to meddle in secular politics. The Church Knights were established only for self-defense, and to help believers in remote regions stay free of monster-beast harassment."

"To swing the blessed sword in one’s hand at human compatriots of the same origin has already betrayed the Church Knights’ original ideals and goals."

After all, the Pope of Light stood at the very pinnacle of the Church of Light, holding both the highest authority and the greatest influence.

Even if many doubted his decisions, challenging his rule or bringing about change was far easier said than done.

What was more, now within the Kingdom of Velys, no one did not believe in the Church of Light.

Under Hebrew’s high-intensity brainwashing through the scriptures, some fanatics were even so ignorant that even certain clergy found their thinking hard to comprehend.

As her words fell, Monica lifted her gaze and continued.

"Once the two nations went to war, I tried to proactively approach bishops, knights, and believers who held reservations about the Pope of Light’s decision."

"At first, the vast majority were willing to trust the Pope of Light’s judgment, to trust the new scripture’s interpretation of faith and the Lord. They followed their superiors’ teachings to the point of blind obedience, firmly believing we were walking a road of boundless radiance and glory."

"...Until the blood-soaked war tore away the so-called cloak of spreading righteousness and revealing the cruel beneath truth."

For a doctrine of holy light that exists only in the present Pope of Lights mouth, one that had never existed in thousands of years, how many Church knights had their bones buried in frozen soil, sleeping forever beneath the snowfields?

And in the end, what had they gained?

A set of holy white armor stained red with blood, a knight’s sword filled with shadow beneath high walls, and the wails and sighs of family and friends.

The warmth and light around their souls were gone. Until the end of life, all the knights could feel was the heavy stench of rust and the ceaseless chorus of wailing.

Watching Monica within the halo, Astrid spoke softly.

"In a sense, this Pope of Light did the same thing as the King of Velys."

The starting points might differ, but the result was the same. Whether it was the Valeria Empire or the Kingdom of Velys, both suffered enormous wounds in this war.

"You’re right, Princess Astrid."

Her knees, kneeling on the ceremonial carpet, bent slightly. Thin pure-white over-the-knee stockings showed a faint flesh tone under the light. Monica blinked a few times, her pupils carrying a trace of brightness as she looked at the Imperial Regent within the illusion.

"Therefore, based on the same appeal for peace, I reached a certain degree of consensus with those bishops who similarly doubted the current canon."

"They do not believe blades and spears are a vessel for conveying faith. Tolerance and understanding are."

"In corners the Pope of Light has no time to notice, brand-new, or rather, old ideas once discarded by the Church of Light, are being revived anew."

Lyra sat to the side, listening quietly, and finally understood what Monica was reporting to Astrid.

This Saintess of Light had already planted enough eyes and ears within the Church of Light. Once the timing was right, they could act from within and without reshaping the sun and moon together.

Hearing this, Astrid nodded slightly and followed up along Monica’s line of thought.

"Then among this batch of Church Knights stationed outside Coldwind City, how many have been influenced by the new ideas you mentioned, Miss Monica?"

"About twenty to thirty percent."

Monica tilted her face up. Her long, upturned lashes trembled faintly. The light on the inner walls of the City of Holy Light shone along the woman’s long, delicate legs, also setting off the pure-white silk at her rounded heels.

"As a Saintess, there are things I’m not suited to personally appear for. But after so many years in the Church of Light, I’ve cultivated some confidants to develop contacts at the grounds."

Matters of faith were no trifling thing. On the surface, Monica Angelis could not express any dissatisfaction towards the pope. The task of gathering useful people among the masses could only be handed to others.

"Before, some reports submitted by colleagues also reached me, some said certain people harbored disloyalty to the Lord and hoped the bishops would punish them severely. In the end, I handled them privately."

As the second-most important figure in the section, Monica naturally would not allow such petty reports to reach Hebrew. Even if it was discovered, she had the excuse of sharing the Pope of Light’s burdens to avoid suspicion.

"And that Knight-Commander Kales?" Astrid asked.

Monica fell silent for a moment, then replied.

"He’s a wavering neutral. I can vaguely feel his dissatisfaction with the Church of Light’s current decisions."

"Especially that order to abandon the patients suffering under the plague and transfer from the relief zones to the front lines. Kales didn’t show anything on the surface, but in his heart... he likely doesn’t feel good about it."

Kales had personally witnessed the extensive border war. That single magic-energy cannon blast that shook the heavens had vaporized the better part of his life’s work, so much so that even after entering the armistice period, he still often dreamed of comrades melted away by scorching firelight.

It was only later, after entering the plague zone for disaster relief, personally providing what help he could to those patients, that he gained a slice of psychological consolation. Otherwise, he might still have been unable to step out from the shadow that war had cast upon him.

Now, Kales was nearly unable to tell what was right and what was wrong.

"...A neutral." Astrid repeated Monica’s words softly, then spoke.

"Knight-Commander Kales is the chief commander of this blockade operation, and he doesn’t look favorably upon the war’s prospects."

Even the army’s chief commander had fallen into unavoidable mental attrition, let alone the Light Knights who, like him, had been transferred to the front.

Monica nodded after hearing this, her tone is gentle.

"Princess Astrid... do you want me to work on him ideologically?"

As a colleague, Monica understood Kales fairly well. He had been on the list she was meant to win over.

"How confident are you that you can persuade him?" Astrid asked.

Monica answered in a low voice, "More than fifty percent."

The seat of the Saintess of Light required not only body and mind to be pure and faith to be untainted, but also a keen, crystalline heart.

"What exactly does Princess Astrid need me to do?"

"Test Kales’s thoughts first, then decide."

If possible, they might not need to fight to the death the way they dealt with Duke Grant.

Monica had come along with the army anyway, and wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon. Both sides can connect and exchange intelligence at any time.

"I understand." Monica dipped her head slightly and continued to report the situation to Astrid.

Another half hour passed. After hearing the specific information Monica revealed about the new Church of Light, Astrid more or less had a grasp of things.

The force this Saintess of Light had pulled together had, within the Church of Light, taken shape, but it still wasn’t at the level of standing toe-to-toe with Hebrew.

At least, not yet.

"Iris Kroyd is currently working hard to share the king’s burdens, going alone to the northern fiefs to lobby the nobles, trying to salvage the Velys royal family."

"She still can’t let go of her ancestors’ glory?"

In my view, no. At least from the news we’ve gotten so far, the young princess is simply relying on her father’s decree to actively recruit soldiers."

No one knew whether those soldiers would later be used to defend the royal family, or for some other purpose.

"When did Miss Monica last see her?"

"Half a year ago. At that time, she was growing increasingly disappointed in the royal family that raised her."

Monica could tell Iris was unwilling to sink into the same mire as other royals, and she did not approve of her father’s governing philosophy, pushing contradictions outward could not fundamentally solve the problem.

What the Kingdom of Velys faced was severe land annexation and an intensification, imbalanced relationship of interests between nobles and tenant farmers.

"Now, the emerging conflict not only led to domestic loss of control, but also handed over to the Valeria Empire the banner of righteousness. No matter what, it was too late."

Let’s hope Iris doesn’t disappoint my expectations," Astrid said softly.

The King of Velys was already on the list for judgment, no matter what, he couldn’t escape. If Iris understood the situation and was willing to accept the terms of war, Astrid could also support a moderate dove leader in taking power.

Fully annexing the Kingdom of Velys was not realistic for the current Valeria Empire, setting aside cultural and historical differences, the Church of Light and the kingdom’s own noble class were both major troubles.

And there was the most important point: knowing Brineis needed more death as nourishment, Astrid did not want to inflame more contradictions and create too much slaughter.

"Let’s end it here for today. We’ll be in touch again later, Miss Monica."

After speaking, Astrid looked at the brown-haired Saintess within the phantom, her tone warmer by a few degrees.

"Also, Miss Monica, please do your best to ensure your own safety. Be more careful in everything you do."

The risks of espionage were no lower than those of the frontal battlefield. Especially with Monica’s high position and weight within the Church of Light, it would be easy to set off a chain reaction, if she were exposed, it wouldn’t be just her who fell, and the plan of peaceful evolution would be strangled in the cradle.

For practical reasons, Astrid did not want such a potential ally to be discovered too soon by Hebrew and pulled out like a nail.

Hearing Astrid’s words, Monica’s expression froze slightly. A flicker of doubt crossed her pupils, quickly turning into flustered surprise. Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest.

Princess Astrid... was she... concerned for her?

Having long since determined that Astrid Calliste was the Lord’s attender walking upon the earth, her words and actions all the Lord’s will, Monica felt a spontaneous loyalty surge in her chest, nearly spilling over.

"..."

"Thank you for the reminder, Princess Astrid. I will be mindful."

Her hands layered over her chest loosened. Her pale lotus-like arms lifted the sleeve ribbons of the Saintess’s robe on both sides.

Monica didn’t care that most of her heavy breasts was bared within Astrid’s view. With both knees on the ground, she spoke devoutly:

"As one chosen to serve the Lord without blemish, everything of Monica Angelis shall be offered to the Lord, including body and soul. Before that, I will do my utmost to ensure I suffer no harm or humiliation."

Always ensure she can serve Him in absolutely perfect form, this was the most important duty of the Saintess of Light.

..................

The illustration light and shadow altogether. The office returned to silence. The formerly glittering Sword of Light stopped resonating, lying quietly atop the desk.

Astrid silently pondered the intelligence Monica had just provided. Beneath the desk, her two black-stockinged legs pressed together unconsciously crossed, and she didn’t even notice the satin toe of her shoe brushing against Lyra’s calf.

The room fell into silence. A quarter of an hour later, Astrid lifted her eyes to Lyra before her. The pink-haired girl sat upright with dignified posture, hands on her thighs, as if also replaying everything that had just happened.

"Lyra..."

"Hm?"

"I have an idea."

The night-sky-colored shoe tip that had been raised slightly slid through the gaps in the armor, whether intentionally or not, scraping against the white stockings Lyra wore on her legs to prevent chafing. Astrid’s tone was serious.

"How about you become an idol of the Kingdom of Velys too."