One hundred and eighty-four years have passed since the seven immortals were raised to the pinnacle of sainthood and the new nation of “Sunrise Holy Church” was born.
At the time of the founding of the nation, he stood at the center of the people’s side, incited them, and was the driving force behind the founding of the nation, celebrating the saints. Tiga, a man who continued to be a central figure in the people’s side, was trusted by the saints and continued to contribute to the management of the nation.
He had been an ancestor of Fox’s for six generations now.
Every time Fox heard the stories of his ancestors, he felt proud of his great ancestors, but at the same time, he couldn’t shake the feeling that in this world, the early bird gets the worm.
In a way, he may have understood human society correctly.
The reason why Tiga was the most appreciated was probably because he was the first to speak up.
Other achievements that have been passed down are just episodes to decorate this one point beautifully.
The chairs are placed on a triangular podium, with the number of seats increasing as you go down from the top seven.
As the number of people increases, the number of stages will continue to increase. Sometimes the number of seats on an existing stage will increase.
Tiga was lucky enough to sit on the third level.
“Phew~.”
He sighs, rubbing the wrinkles between his eyes.
His thoughts seemed to be going in the wrong direction.
How long has it been……
What made him think that way about his proud ancestors?
The reason why he began to wish to sit on the first step of the dais.
When he was born. When he was a child, his father told him stories about his ancestors. After reaching the age of maturity. Upon getting the job, he had now. Since he came to this city…..
If that chair is available: ……
A knock at the door brought his thoughts back to reality.
He is the “nobleman” who supports Lady Lindia and runs the Foothandle.
The “Marquis” is on the third step of the dais.
You must not let them know what little ambition you have in your heart. You are not allowed to even think about such things.
“Get in”
Make a careful facial expression before allowing them to enter.
It was the captain of the survey team who walked in with a salute of “Ha!
“Bate”
“Ha, Mr. Fox, may I have a moment of your time?”
“Keep it short.”
He let out a breath of relief when he saw the person who had come in.
This man, Bate, is not loyal to his country, but to Fox.
It’s a good find, Fox thought.
An abandoned and starving child. It’s not an uncommon story.
Livestock farming is still in its infancy due to the inability to tame the mutated beasts. Even the Holy City is still inadequate. Around here, the only way to get meat is to hunt it, risking one’s life.
Vegetables have become rather easy to grow thanks to the mutation, but wild beasts are attacking them.
In this world, food was too expensive.
There are people who will starve themselves to death if they don’t leave their families.
Picking up Bate was not a whim.
A beastly visage. When he attacked Fox because he was starving and couldn’t find anything to eat, and Fox’s guards put him down, he saw the eyes burning with hatred for the world that would not fade, and he got an intuition.
This guy is useful.
Feed it, nurture it, train it, and sure enough. The debt of gratitude that saved him turned his hatred of the world into faith in Fox.
Luckily, Bate had a talent.
He is now the best martial artist in this Foothandle territory. He is also very good at covert action.
How many of his enemies has this man disposed of?
“Fox-sama, actually.”
That’s why the report from Bate is so reliable. There is no way Bate would lie to Fox.
But still, Beate’s report was something to be doubted.
A black iron and stone barrier enclosing a mountain, a tower visible at the top of the mountain.
“Is it true?……. That story.”
“Ha”
“I see. Then I’ll go first to Lady Lindia…… No, wait.”
Fox was about to leave his seat to report to Lindia when a flash of inspiration struck him like a revelation.
This is an opportunity.
At this moment, Fox is the first to know this information.
This is the only moment when you can bring the flow to yourself.
The teachings shown by the Holy Land of Sunrise.
“The only way for humanity to achieve peace and fertility is to level this land with humanity.”
Fox thought that this teaching was based on the fact that they were the only humans. At least in the case of encounters with other humans, there were no teachings from the saints, not even for those on expeditions.
However, if Bate is telling the truth, it is more natural to believe that there is another human being or “eighth person”.
So let’s say there’s a human or an eighth. If you want to settle this place, there are two paths you can take with the outsiders. Take them in, or make enemies.
Fox does not want the former. He has no intention of adding any more seats to his own lineup.
So he chooses the latter. He has to choose.
And an enemy is one who harms an ally.
Saints are immortal. Everyone is aware of that.
But Fox had seen it before. For some reason, he saw that Lindia had a small scar.
There is no doubt that saints are immortal. But immortality is not the same as death.
You can hurt them. Then you can behead them.
Even if you are immortal, if you cut off her head and bury her head in the ground, it is the same as death.
Let the enemy kill Lindia. Then that seat will be free. But how?.
We just have to pretend that the enemy killed him.
“Bate.”
“Ha!”
“What I’m about to tell you must remain confidential.”
“Ha!”
“The truth is….. This is a secret order I received from the Central Government of the Holy City. I still can’t believe it….. But there’s a suspicion that Lady Lindia has betrayed us.”
“…..How”
I have supported Lady Lindia, and at the same time, I have watched her all this time.
“…..”
“The reason why Lady Lindia chose this place… I don’t want to believe it, but I have to say it’s suspicious.”
“Is…. That so?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure yet. Therefore, I have a favor to ask of you. This report will go to Lady Lindia. If she wishes to go there and join hands with the ones there, then…..”
“….. Lady Lindia, oh”
Bate can’t doubt what Fox is saying.”
He’s been raised that way, and he’s gotten his hands dirty as often as he’s been told to.
“This is something that only you can do. This is also a matter of our nation’s existence. No one can know of the betrayal of a saint. When the time comes, dispose of all those present. And make it look like the hands of the enemy.”
“Ha!”
“Get around well. There is a limit to the number of soldiers you can deal with. Set the scene.”
“Ha!”
“And we can’t let the….. enemy know what’s going on in our country. If we fail…… you understand, don’t you?”
“Ha!”
That’s it. In any case, let’s put another person in the way then.
He is an annoying man who is fascinated by saints and bites Fox despite his lower position.
It was him. He’s the one who’s likely to go along with Lady Lindia, no matter what it takes, just to be with her. Even without thinking about the effect of the statement that his position creates. It would be more convenient for him to be there this time.
◇◆◇◆◇
“What a mess….. I’ll let the Holy City know about Lady Lindia. And it’s a shame we have lost so many people.”
He smiled inwardly at the reports from the soldiers who had escaped, and a somber expression appeared on his face.
(I’ve done it…… but, it’s still there.)
“We can’t leave it like this. We must hastily assemble our forces and avenge Lady Lindia.”
He will then take control of the city of iron and stone and bring the people who live there under his control.
(I will be at the top of the land, not under someone else, and I will make a triumphant return to the Holy City. Then the saints will not ignore me.)
Are there steps to climb, or will the saint’s blessing make him immortal and fill the vacant seat on his depression?
◇◆◇◆◇
“Don’t let the magic of the enemy slow you down! You will be the proud knights of the Foothandle!”
Three months have passed since then.
(The reports from my subordinates are not good.)
(The enemy apparently has considerable defensive capabilities. However, there was no turning back now.)
If he were to report this to the Holy City, Fox would be branded as incompetent. That would have the opposite effect.
(Damn you, Bate! You left me with the nastiest job of all!)
While he was holding his head in his hands, cursing his former subordinate, the butler rushed into Fox’s room in a panic.
“What’s the matter! ?”
“Fox-sama, outside! Outside!”
The butler, twitching with incomprehensible fear, leads him to look outside. There was a…
“Dragon…”
The huge shadow lingering in the sky reminded Fox of the folklore of the Holy Land.
It is said to have once destroyed the world, and is held up in the Holy City as an existence of great awe.
Then a soldier came running in as if he were rolling in.
“Fox-sama! It’s from that place! From within that wall of iron and stone, it has come!”
“What…. the hell is ……?
(I…..What the hell have I made an enemy of?)
◇◆◇◆◇
Eventually, Fox ran off on his own.
He threw away his ambitions and ran away for the time being, taking what He could get.
Therefore, he did not pack enough food to feed the guards he had brought with him.
On the way, he ordered his soldiers to separate and cut them off.
He left everything behind and drove his wagon to the Central Region just to survive.
That is why it was not enough.
The number of guards.
Beyond the forest, the walls of the city are already visible.
Food, safety, and anything else that was lacking could be replenished in the city.
“A, ah……”
But now, in Fox’s vision, there is a beast that seems even bigger than the city.
The wagon was attacked by a bear mutant and the soldiers were wiped out.
Trembling with fear, buckling, and falling on his buttocks, Fox had no way to enter the city anymore.
“No, stop it, no,no,noooOO! ! “
The bear’s powerful arms cut off the head of the screaming Fox.