“What kind of trouble? Like the Marsh Drake back in the Seira Marshes or laying siege on the Tigermen’s stronghold?” Edward asked nonchalantly.
As a Player, the only things he could think of that needs the help of others was certain troublesome locations or Bosses.
“No, it’s even more troublesome.”
Marni shook his head, refuting Edward’s guess. “The emperor of Valla had sent special envoys to Lancaster and the Silver Eagle Duchy… he might have sent some to other places as well, but those two are the ones we can be sure of for now.”
“And what does that have to do with me?” Edward asked, perplex.
“Valla’s emperor is not sending people just to ask after the good health of the lords of Lancaster and Tunaya, you know.”
Marni was aware that despite Edward’s ability in command, he remained the son of a village’s head and lack refinement in politics, which was why he didn’t try to put on airs and revealed his own theory. “Do you remember the war back in winter?”
“Are you talking about the Judgement War which kept displacing Lovinia’s refugees and shoving them around?”
Edward had naturally heard about it, since most Players now were left homeless and poor during that time.
“That’s right. That was a war ignited because of difference in political views between the gods, which also left the emperor of Valla absolutely humiliated since his prided military force couldn’t defeat the armies of the Grand Duchy of Rominos.” Marni nodded. “The fact is that before the war, the current emperor was already hostile against the duchies that split away in the early days of the empire, and the war against the Grand Duchy of Rominos was only the powder keg.”
“…Powder keg?” Edward frowned, knowing that things weren’t that simple.
Still, Marni didn’t ask Edward opinion and merely informed him forthrightly. “Rominos had suffered much losses and was therefore keeping to themselves to recover. On the other hand, the empire has the advantage of population even if their military suffered losses as well, which is why they don’t feel much pressure in source for troops compared to Rominos.
Marni paused for a moment before continuing. “One might even say that the imperial military managed to grow many generals and veteran soldiers thanks to the war against Rominos. And if I’m right, those envoys are sent to scout out how things are in various locations. Their blades hone, the imperial military is now raring to go-they are butchering a turkey to warn the monkeys, and force the dukes trade some of their authority in exchange for peace.”
“…Your quest description is too long. Just tell us what you want us to do, Marni.”
Edward’s brain hurt from listening, just as he wasn’t bothered to arrange whatever was being said and simply stuck to the style of the average Player. “So are we going to shoot the emperor in the head or the balls?”
“Oi. That means war!” Marni quickly stopped him—if Edward and the others really ran off to assassinate Valla’s emperor without any justification, the Church of Games would be targeted and attacked by every other human and church. “I only have a theory what we should be doing anyway. The actual solution could only be done after the lieges were finished with their negotiations…”
“Troublesome.” Edward couldn’t help sighing.
“Sir Marni… you’re not dead?”
Even as Edward considered whether he should involve himself with Marni’s ‘troublesome’ matters, Gerald finally recovered from being a broken record.
“Sadly, I did die when you saw me get killed.” Marni grinned. “Although I’ve come back to life now.”
There was disbelief in Gerald’s face.
Perhaps because the Players had gotten used to being resurrected, there was no defining idea on how unbelievable that ability was in truth.
On the other hand, Marni who often dealt with the traders and nobles of Lancaster and was closer to the average person in mentality definitely knew how shocking his revival was to Gerald.
In other churches, ‘resurrection’ was entirely a divine miracle, the pinnacle of a god’s grace.
After all, the other gods were not like Xi Wei, who possessed the Authority of the God of Games, could rely on his Earthling knowledge in his past life and exploit loopholes from certain perspectives. Having them resurrect their believers was equal to stealing from the Prince of Darkness, one of the Seven Divine Fathers.
True, the Prince of Darkness wasn’t as enigmatic as Magic Violet or as powerful as Kratos the God of War. In fact, his believers were basically nonexistent compared to Lyante, the God of Light.
Even so, as the one mysterious primordial god whose actual Authority was undefined who had also slain the previous God of Death personally a thousand years ago, hence claiming his divinity and divine kingdom (the underworld), no god dared to test his wrath.
And that was the same even for his fellow Greater Gods of the Seven Divine Fathers.
Here, one should remember that Gerald was a city watch knight who was born into a noble family and had a bright future ahead. He would have been unmatched in a third or fourth-rate church (such as the Temple of Justice which belongs to Aslan the Great Lion), and receive the favor of the church’s hierarchy or even the patron deity himself.
Even so, his family was attached to the Brilliant White Church by tradition, which belongs to the God of Light.
As the greatest religion of present, the members of the Brilliant White Church were numerous even amongst royals. Even counts wouldn’t have a high standing there, let alone a measly knight.
Therefore, even if the Brilliant White Church held a rare biannual resurrection miracle, Gerald was never going to have the honor.That was why he was so astonished upon learning that the Church of Games grants resurrection too—freely and quickly at that.
“I could recommend you to join the Church of Games if you’re interested,” Marni promptly mildly persuaded Gerald, sensing that the young knight was stirring. “You have a long road ahead, and now the system within the Brilliant White Church is unbelievably swollen, taxing the peasants and selling yearly indulgences just to grease themselves now. Bloated systems like that would only mean that their reaction towards all things would decline, not to mention that the various denominations in the Holy City had slipped so much in competence that even the various branches across the continent are about to become shelters for the wicked.”
“But…” Gerald, who was still extremely shocked by Marni’s rebirth was immediately wrong-footed in thoughts thanks to Marni, even though his instincts felt that something wasn’t right.
“Hey, no buts!” Marni struck the iron when it’s hot when he saw his chance. “Didn’t you lose your bet with me before anyway? You definitely could use that as an excuse to denounce your faith and join us!”
“The Church of Games… May I ask what is your doctrine like?” Gerald asked.
Marni did a double take, but also felt that repeating the Eight Honors and Eight Shames[1]—I mean, the eight commandments here was a little wrong.
Still, he answered after thinking about it for a moment. “To put it simply… We are bringing smiles to the world with games!”
[1] The Eight Honors and Eight Shames are the PRC’s official moral guidelines.