Night of the Soulless Heathens – 344



#344. Northern Qi’s Ascension to the Throne 4

In the north most of the winter wheat died before the fall harvest. People hurriedly harvested the grain but the unripe heads were full of chaff.

The wheat harvested in this way could be fed to livestock but it was not suitable for human consumption.

For farmers who had been holding out until the spring barley ripened through the fall harvest disaster had already begun.

The lords with a conscience and insight reduced taxes but where this was not the case peasant revolts broke out.

Most of the nobles were powerful magicians and knights descendants of the Yaegasu clan so the peasants’ rebellion was suppressed with blood.

However as those who prayed to the witches those who prayed to the messengers of Kurt and those who relied on the messengers of the Nether appeared countless nobles also died.

Social rebellions began to break out in various places.

The king’s church was busy trying to suppress these heretical rebellions.

Naturally the issue of the Northern Qi and the Rescue Knights artificially reincarnating people into Celestials was buried.

No something much more serious was happening.

*********

In Dion of Karasar the heart of the royal church the bishops and inquisitors responded to the patriarch’s summons and attended a meeting.

Those who were near Dion of Karasar attended in person while those who were too far away to attend the meeting in person used magic mirrors to attend.

This meeting which was summoned and voted upon directly by the Patriarch was a rare event in the history of the royal church and so everyone was paying close attention.

At that meeting the Patriarch proposed one agenda item.

It was a proposal to elevate the Northern Qi Cohen Lionaire to the position of King of Kings.

At that moment the knights were shocked.

Those who can attend this meeting are only Paladins of the Inquisitor level.

Originally the structure of the church was such that the Knights Templar who were young men who could wield a sword without difficulty were one step removed from the center of decision-making.

Even so the meeting began with a story that the Inquisitors had never heard before?

Surprisingly the clergy had already reached a consensus and unanimously accepted the Patriarch’s proposal.

“We believe that the Northern Emperor Cohen Lioner is the one who can resolve this crisis. By declaring him as the King of Kings we can overcome this crisis.”

The Patriarch was pleased to see that all the bishops had voted in favor. Of course the Paladins and the Inquisitors had not yet voted but if all the bishops had agreed it was as good as passed.

At that moment the heretic inquisitor Jecht who could not hide his contempt even through the magic mirror raised his hand.

“Wait a minute? What’s going on all of a sudden? King of Kings… Are you talking about the Emperor?”

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The presence of Emperor Yaeslat was a huge trauma to the royal church.

They believed that the eight kings on the eight thrones and the many people distributing the divine power was the best thing for the world.

So the existence of Emperor Yaeslat was to be a villain who threatened the safety of Hybris with his own greed and he had been persecuting the followers of the Emperor as heretics.

But the Patriarch was now trying to make the Northern Emperor Cohen Lionaire into the very same being as the Emperor.

No it is worse than the Emperor. The Emperor at least wanted to leave the King’s Church as the King’s Church.

But what about Cohen Lioner?

I will merge the Knights Templar and the King’s Church.

“He is not an emperor but a king of kings.”

“What kind of wordplay is that? We are going to recognize Cohen Lioner who grew up in the Rescue Knights as the King of Kings just because we are having a hard time. How is this any different from the Emperor’s followers we have been killing all this time?

Zect pointed out exactly that point.

“More than anything the current Northern Emperor Cohen Lione is using the heretical trick of Celestial Reincarnation. He grinds up the statue of an angel releases its blood and uses it to reincarnate humans…”

As Jecht was revealing the corruption of the Northern Emperor Cohen he suddenly saw the Patriarch’s gaze wavering.

The Patriarch was about the same age as Jecht but unlike Jecht who looked like a healthy young man he was very old. Of course it would be impossible for a normal person to live to be the same age as Jecht.

He has already lived for over two centuries as a human which is a long life.

The patriarch looked at Jecht with wavering eyes.

What envy jealousy and resentment are in those eyes!

The Patriarch looked at Jecht who was of the same age as him and had maintained his youthful appearance despite having inherited a blood of a god thicker than his own and said:

“The Northern Emperor foresaw and prepared for all of this. How much food is stored in each region?”

“Usually…..”

It is common for fall harvests to survive until the following spring.

In areas with high productivity they sold the excess produce to make a profit or collect taxes. Cities stockpiled their own food but even then it was only enough to last about three months enough to withstand a siege.

“The Northern King Cohen Lionaire has stockpiled seven years’ worth of food. He anticipated Fimbulbert and has been preparing for it.”

“Ohhhh…..”

Those words impressed not only the clergy but even the heretic inquisitors like Jecht.

‘It may seem reckless to say he’s the king of kings or something…’

‘You mean you prepared for this disaster in advance and stored up seven years’ worth of food? It turns out that the Northern Emperor Cohen is a real person.’

With Fimbulbert approaching food prices were skyrocketing and this was becoming a serious problem for the knights of the King’s Church.

As grain prices skyrocketed the largest grain merchant on the continent of Hybris the Knights of Salvation stopped trading locked the doors to their relief centers and withdrew from each region.

The priests who had to manage their parishes in fear of starving to death were truly driven mad.

But when they heard that Cohen had stored up seven years’ worth of grain everyone’s spirits were relieved.

Let us proclaim Cohen as King of Kings and join his side to receive food grants.

Then I thought that the strange title of King of Kings wasn’t bad. Isn’t it better to do something than starve to death?

On the other hand Zect was disappointed in them.

“There is one thing that is being overlooked. Did the Northern Qi Cohen ask for the title of King of Kings? Did the Northern Qi Cohen promise to share the food he had personally stockpiled in exchange for that title?”

“…Isn’t it a well-known fact that he intends to be more than just the king of Assander? So if we proclaim him as the king of kings he won’t turn his back on us.”

It was ridiculous optimism.

‘But these people who were so persistent when it came to political strife are now talking like this? Have they already received something from the Northern Qi?’

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Zect couldn’t stand the clergy’s stupid remarks and almost swore. He was usually polite even to those below him but when he met such stupid people swearing just came out of his mouth.

“King of Kings… Do you know what his title Northern Emperor means? Do you think that he who is already called Northern Emperor will be so touched by the strange title of King of Kings that he will give you seven years’ worth of food reserves?”

It is unlikely that the King’s Church will be impressed by the fact that Cohen who was already called the Northern Emperor has now been given the strange title of King of Kings.

“And even if he had stored seven years’ worth of food wouldn’t that be seven years’ worth of food for Assander? How could eight kingdoms survive on that alone? Above all if he wants to unite the King’s Church and the Knights Templar to become a great king on his own I don’t think he would necessarily share food with us now. If Fimbulbert is true he would receive food standing up now but a year later he would kneel and receive it and a year later he would prostrate himself and receive it.”

Unless the title of Northern Emperor is just a delusional person spouting off you probably know this much.

If they have surplus food reserves they will keep that fact hidden and use it as a means to subdue people when necessary.

There is no reason to give first now.

“Rather excommunicate him and recommend me as king of Assander. In that case I will take four years’ worth of food from Assander’s storehouse and give it to the king’s church. What do you think?”

“…….”

“Is that a radical statement? But Cohen Lioner is doing something that deserves to be excommunicated. He is reincarnating humans. That is a sufficient reason for excommunication.”

Zect said so and waited for the response of the inquisitors like himself.

*********

The high-ranking knights of the King’s Church shared one perception.

They perceived themselves as unfortunate beings who had been pushed out of the hierarchy.

The world has been peaceful and stable so they have never had a chance to prove that they are worthy of the throne.

Except for those known as greats like Golden King Manja Zadek or Northern Emperor Cohen Lione they were just lucky enough to be born to good parents and were the eldest children so they easily eliminated their competitors and took their place.

When the time of tribulation approaches those who have trained in the King’s Church will be able to prove their worth and take the throne from the incompetent kings.

As a knight who was supposed to assist the king’s rule it was an impious thought but the inquisitors of the king’s church were pure-blooded royals with a high right to the throne so they had this perception even if they didn’t show it openly.

So if Jecht were to claim the throne so confidently like he is now everyone would have to respond…

“….”

There is no response.

“Jeong-geun Jeokt. Do you have any clear evidence to excommunicate the Northern Emperor?”

“The evidence is…..”

If Azadin had handed over the scroll imbued with the magic of the Northern Qi there would have been evidence.

But there is no such evidence.

“If the opponent is a thief we can just catch him and investigate him. However the opponent is the king of Assander. He is someone we cannot investigate without evidence.”

“Isn’t it a well-known fact that many Celestials and Ceramites are made from the blood of angels? If only the Church had the will to do so….”

“I know that you have been using various sorcery and hiding many forces to gain suspicious power. I have not excommunicated you for that so I cannot excommunicate the Northern Qi.”

The Patriarch has been openly exploiting Jecht’s weaknesses.

Seeing the silence of the bishops and other inquisitors surrounding him Jecht knew that they had marked him as a threat for a long time.

“It looks like the bishops have already been recruited by the Northern Emperor. Did he promise you a past life? That you will be reborn as a Celestial?”

“….”

The bishops were silent and the inquisitors began to stir.

That reaction was the answer.

The Northern Emperor had promised the bishops reincarnation as angels. Otherwise he would not have even told them that he had seven years’ worth of food in reserve.

If you tell them you are stockpiling food without really trusting them they will pester you to share it with them.

“Your Majesty bring the evidence and let me handle the matter. Right now we can’t excommunicate him or hold an inquisition without any evidence.”

“I don’t know when I ever needed evidence during an Inquisition. Okay then. I’ll take my leave now. I don’t think I can stand the farce of being given the ridiculous title of King of Kings or something.”

Jecht’s appearance disappeared from the magic mirror first.

“Well then… let’s decide when and how to announce it.”

The bishops continued to preside over their meeting not caring that Sect had left first.

How could the King’s Church declare its unconditional support to the Northern Cohen Lione without diminishing the dignity of the Church? That was the central issue of the meeting.

The King’s Church which had been executing the followers of the Emperor is now preparing to crown a new Emperor.