Merchant Noble is out (4/4 chapters for today)
Destruction of Horimas Order
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Having successfully issued the edict for the elimination of heretics to Louis and welcomed the royal Marie as a Saintess, the church’s influence rapidly grew. For the church, it could be said that the only thing lacking was political power, which they had now seized. High Priest Zenon was at the height of his powers.
“People of future generations will praise me. They will call me the man who created the golden age of the church. It is only a matter of time before the Laplace Kingdom changes its name to the Holy Laplace Kingdom. Such is the strength of the church now.” (Zenon)
“We can only admire the extraordinary skills of the High Priest.” (??)
A considerable number of nuns and monks were deeply devoted to Zenon, who had swiftly increased the church’s power.
“Now, it’s not a complicated matter. If there are 100 people in the kingdom, 95 of them are believers. Originally, the funds and personnel we, the church, had under our influence should have been abundant. Until now, we have misused them. If we use the right money and people in the right way and to the right scale, it will naturally lead to this.” (Zenon)
Zenon had bribed many nobles for the series of executions this time. Moreover, to certain factions, like Casablanca, who disliked the church’s political involvement, he threatened them with excommunication, a forbidden tactic. He successfully used the ‘carrot and stick’ approach to conduct political maneuvering. He had obtained power. Now, he just had to use this power wisely.
Without a moment’s rest, Zenon set his next plan into motion. With the edict for the elimination of heretics, he had gained military authority to eliminate them. Now, he just needed to use it effectively.
“Mother, are you aware of the three heretical factions that infest this kingdom?” (Zenon)
“The Sheeb Order, the Natural Faith, and the recently formed Horimas Order, which has seen an explosive increase in followers.” (Mother)
“That’s right. Now, which of these should we destroy first?” (Zenon)
“The Sheeb Order always hides and lives in the shadows, so it will be difficult to deal with them. It’s like exterminating pests that have disappeared from sight.” (Mother)
Calling them pests, huh?
Zenon smiled wryly at the sharp-tongued Mother.
The Mother was a fanatic. She was a person much like the High Priest Cyan. However, she was merely following Zenon, believing that the church could spread its teachings better by taking over politics, rather than following Cyan.
“The Natural Faith is a native religion and has quite a few believers throughout the kingdom. Since the edict for the elimination of heretics has been issued, let’s leave the extermination to each noble.” (Mother)
Then, Mother grimaced and continued with a stronger tone.
“Most unforgivable is the Horimas Order. They are rapidly increasing in the slums of this royal capital, and if we don’t take action soon, it will become a troublesome matter. Furthermore! It is said that they audaciously claim, ‘We are the true believers!’. How dare they call themselves believers when the Sheeb Order and the Natural Faith are defiant as heretics? God must be furious with those who dare to take on the title of believers. They must be destroyed at once!” (Mother)
As the name suggests, the Horimas Order was a rapidly spreading new religion centered around the royal capital of Horimas. Its biggest characteristic was that they claim to be the ‘true believers’. It was said that not only the poor, who wished to cling to religion, but also many intellectuals questioning the state of society and the power of the church had joined.
Of course, those who called themselves ‘true believers’ saw the church as their greatest enemy and were the biggest obstacle for the church.
“Understood. Prepare the Holy Knights. We will annihilate the Horimas Order soon.” (Zenon)
“As expected of the High Priest. As you command.” (Mother)
Mother left the church, delighted by Zenon’s words.
A few days later, Zenon began a grand speech before the Holy Knights, gathered by his command, numbering around several thousand.
“Everyone! Our kingdom is currently facing an unprecedented crisis. Due to political blunders, chaos has arisen, and our sacred land, the safety of our people, and our future have been tarnished by the heretics who have taken advantage of it. Until now, we have been able only to watch in silence. But now that the edict for the elimination of heretics has been issued, we can finally fight back! Holy Knights! At last, at last, at last! The time has come for us to rise! Take up your weapons! Protect the kingdom, the lives of the people, our future!!!” (Zenon)
“Ohhhhhh!” (Holy Knights)
Even the Holy Knights, who did not understand why they had been gathered, came to understand through Zenon’s speech. The long-awaited time to annihilate the heretics had arrived. The Holy Knights roared with joy.
Zenon pointed to the slum area in the southern part of the royal capital, which spread southward from the church. It was where people displaced by Leo’s great fire had set up huts to live in. Moreover, the new religion was spreading there like a disease.
“The first heretics we must defeat are the Horimas Order, which infests the southern slums of the royal capital. Let your holy swords drink the blood of the heretics. God is watching the efforts of each and every one of us from heaven.” (Zenon)
“Ohhhhhh!” (Holy Knights)
“All troops, advance!!!” (Zenon)
With Zenon’s words, the Holy Knights rushed out of the church grounds, heading for the southern slums.
They were typically people who guarded churches across the kingdom or lived in local churches, developing the area. However, now they had transformed into beasts seeking the blood of heretics, as if hypnotized by God.
Even the Holy Knights gathered in the royal capital had not understood what they would do until Zenon’s speech. Much less did the followers of the Horimas Order in the slums think the church would attack. They believed the edict for the elimination of heretics was merely a threat.
The militarily inexperienced followers had no means to resist. Thus, the person said to represent the Horimas Order was killed, and the organization fell in a single day.
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