Episode 147 Moonlight Party ①
A soldier from the Kingdom of Armand brought back the stone, but naturally a military magician investigated it. And he had come to the exact same conclusion as Shu.
"This is an amazing stone. I really want to know how to make it."
“That much?”
General Early, who was directly informed by the magician who investigated, groaned. As a general, I cannot overlook such a stone. He must obtain the technology at any cost.
"I'm offering a joint attack with the Holy Knights. We must obtain the Moonlight Society's technology at any cost."
"Yes. This is revolutionary."
Early was serious.
With this power, the Kingdom of Armando will be able to obtain tremendous power. I was also able to declare that this fact must be reported to the king immediately.
(Arranging the front troops and the secret troops who will steal the technology. Don't get busy with various things.)
Whether it's negotiating with the church or moving the troops behind the scenes, there are many things that Early, who is only a general, cannot do. However, the church intends to immediately send holy knights to the old city area and annihilate the Moonlight Society.
(gets busy)
I stood up and ran towards the king.
“Um, what about me?”
He even forgot to tell the magician who came to report to him to stand down.
◆◆◆
When King Dorophans learned about the stone, he was delighted.
And I decided that I had to outwit the church no matter what.
"General Kartacus, great report!"
"Thank you, but we haven't gotten the stone yet. We can't say we've got it until we get all of the technology."
"That's right. Let's talk to the church right away. I heard that the Holy Knights are preparing an assault strategy. We will build a siege network with the military."
“Then you secretly dispatch a detachment and acquire the stone technology.”
"That's right."
The Armand Kingdom's military has almost the same role as the police. Of course, if a war breaks out, they will go to the battlefield, but basically their job is to provide security and arrest criminals. Originally, the Gekkokai, which is responsible for kidnapping, is also someone the military should capture. However, out of consideration for the church, I am refraining from doing many things. In other words, it is in a state of debt. As long as they cooperate with the siege, there's no reason.
And we will also bring in the forces that have been secretly prepared as part of the military's dark side.
Because they specialize in behind-the-scenes work, it is easy to deceive the holy knights.
"I'm going to send a messenger to the cathedral right now... no, if I hurry too quickly, I'll get suspicious. Let's send it first thing tomorrow morning. I've been busy. I can't sleep tonight."
"Ha! Even if it's in a small way, I'll try to help."
"Also, torture those you captured. Squeeze out as much information as possible."
“I have already made arrangements.”
"Hmm. Let's get started."
A stone that activates magic almost automatically is extremely useful.
The kingdom also decided to immediately intervene in the Gekkokai.
◆◆◆
The royal family of Armand Kingdom is given the status of Grand Duke. Once he reaches adulthood, he is supposed to manage the territory, and the current king's older brother Balgate is no exception.
In addition to managing the territory, Grand Duke Balgate Armania was also responsible for the maintenance of the underground sewer system in the royal capital.
"...Finally? It took a long time."
He muttered in the office of his mansion.
It was dark outside, and I was reading two types of documents by the light of a candle illuminating my hand. One side is a rendering of the completed underground sewer system that runs underground in Melgate. The other is an incomprehensible diagram with a magic circle written on it. Even a magician with advanced knowledge would want to turn a blind eye to the complexity of this magic circle.
“But, Dorophans… you seem to be trying to get in my way. I expected you to join forces with the demon religion, but your response was faster than I expected. I thought that a little more discord would be more effective, but oh well. ”
Valgate takes out a large magic tool from his desk and channels magical power into it. Then he pressed some buttons. After a while, a noise-like sound occurs.
Then, a voice came from the magic tool.
"What's the matter, Balgate?"
It's hard to hear the voice, but it seems like the speaker is an old man rather than noise. Moreover, his attitude toward Grand Duke Balgate makes one think of someone in a higher rank.
However, Balgate just answered as if it was natural.
"Actually, it looks like Dolphance and the Holy Knights will attack you. Please be prepared."
``I guess so. Our comrades have been captured. The one I gave them was an unfinished product, but I wouldn't want the information to leak out... I have no choice but to destroy it.''
"Is that possible?"
“Who do you think I am? And it will be completed soon. I can't back out here.''
“However, if we engage in a large-scale battle, even the things we have worked so hard to prepare will break...”
“I won’t let that happen. In magic, there is a way to kill the enemy without destroying it.''
“Please.”
Valgate responds to the person on the other end of the phone with a calm demeanor. If his subordinates saw it, they would rip his eyes out. It is unusual for Balgate, a former member of the royal family and ambitious, to behave in this way.
"Everything will be ready in three days. It's almost time."
"ah. We will conquer this country and destroy the demon religion.''
After a suspicious laugh, communication was cut off.
◆◆◆
The old city area is a slum where a dark society has been built. It's still better if it's closer to the new city, but in the center, even the military can't figure it out. One of the reasons is that when the current king inherited the city planning from his predecessor, accurate maps of the old city were lost due to the mess.
And the residents of the old city are all poor people.
Although middle-class and above citizens moved to the new urban area, the poor still remained in the old urban area. With the military no longer providing security, the crime rate skyrocketed and the slums of today were formed.
In other words, the residents of the old city are vulnerable.
"Demonism is no good. It won't help us. The god El Magia is a lie. There is no god."
A speech was being made in the old city that would have sent an inquisitor immediately if the members of the church heard it. And it's not hidden indoors, but openly in a dilapidated old square.
"We abhor anything like the power of God. We cannot tolerate a world in which only those who are chosen to use magic equipment have power, and only those with money are given preferential treatment by the church. They exploit us and limit our power. We can never trust them!"
Many people listen to his speech.
There are so many poor people that it fills the square. And I listened intently to his words.
"It's magic."
He held up a stone.
It is a pale, translucent stone.
"The truth is the same for everyone. The power given to everyone. That is magic."
The conditions under which the magical equipment resides are unknown. It is said that it is basically random, but it still resides only in those who possess a certain amount of magical power. Demonism views magical equipment as blessings from God and forces people to use their power for the benefit of the church or state.
And those who cannot use magic equipment are treated coldly by the church.
It used to be a teaching that valued compassion, respect, and wisdom, but in today's world where capitalism has permeated, it has become a mere name. This rarely happens on the Holy Grineer mainland, but in countries far away, it is common for priests serving in cathedrals to commit fraud.
In severe cases, when a village with little donations is attacked by monsters, they abandon the holy knights without dispatching them.
Because the organization had become too large, corruption was noticeable.
The poor people here are also suffering from the corruption. There is no support for the poor from the church, and if you go to a church, you are told not to wear dirty clothes and are kicked out. There is no way that such a demon religion would have any faith, and the object of their faith shifts to power.
"The Moonlight Society has finally found a way to erase the power of the gods they trust. And we have developed a stone that becomes the catalyst for all kinds of magic. This is the magic stone!"
A roar of excitement, applause, and determined eyes.
The gathered crowd looked at the pale stone, the magic stone, with envy.
"Look"
The man activates magic.
Just by wishing to make it rain, a magic circle was built inside the magic stone, supplementing the activation magic power and instantly activating it. The sky is filled with dark clouds and raindrops are falling.
"It's a miracle!"
"rain……"
"What the..."
Surprised and hopeful.
That magic stone is the true power that can save us.
"Believe in us. We... humans are the rulers of the world. Definitely not God! We, the Moonlight Society, will overthrow the church!"
“Ooooooooooooooo! ”
They harbor distrust, resentment, and jealousy towards the demon religion.
And it is human nature to seek the easy-to-understand miracles of magic, rather than something uncertain like God. What you can see is better than what you can't see. He prefers the sweet words of equality to the idea of a chosen people.
Above all, magic stones are extremely attractive.
"Unfortunately, the Holy Knights and the military are attacking this city. It's not enough for them to just exploit us, they're trying to take away even this miraculous power. Will this be allowed?"
“Are you allowed?”
“I will never forgive you!”
"Don't forgive the tyrannical church!"
"That's right. We must not tolerate their tyranny. Now, let's stand up. We will defeat the church with the power of magic. We will show it. The Moonlight Society will accomplish it!"
Big cheers. Big applause.
The crowd strongly agreed with the man and was infected with the idea that the church should be overthrown. They are uneducated and do not realize that what men are doing is brainwashing and incitement. Because of their lack of knowledge, they are misled by strong and sweet words. They didn't even know they were being used.
The man who was giving the speech smiled.
Then, he flips his cloak and reveals the Gekkokai emblem. A shining crescent moon sign.
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