Published: July 5, 2025
"Your Majesty, we have just received a message from the French Fleet. It seems the scheduled departure will not be tomorrow after all."
"Really?"
"The Pope himself wishes to explain this matter directly to you, and he has asked if he may come in an hour."
"Ah, of course. Please respond that we will be waiting."
Abel answered immediately.
"Something must have gone wrong."
"It seems so."
Abel nodded in confirmation of Ryo's observation.
Originally, they were supposed to set sail tomorrow morning.
"Speaking of which, when we last docked at Von, the departure schedule was also postponed."
"At that time, we were intercepting those who worshipped vampires."
"Could it be happening again this time…"
"No, it was the Vira Church followers back then. Those guys were wiped out, right?"
"We can't be sure. There might be remnants like the assassination cult."
"The possibility isn't zero, but…"
Abel shrugged.
While it wasn't impossible, he thought it was unlikely.
Then, an idea struck Ryo.
"Could it be the Curry Religion…"
"That could be plausible!"
"That taste and aroma can ensnare a person's mind… it's not an exaggeration to call it a kind of religion."
"Without a doubt."
Both Ryo and Abel felt an inexplicable excitement.
"For the Curry believers from the Central Nations, it’s a joy to see allies increase even in the dark continent."
"Indeed. Sharing the same beliefs fosters a sense of closeness."
Yes, the two are Curry followers.
They are convinced that the number of Curry followers will grow in the dark continent.
Zack Cooler, the squad captain who stood close by as their escort, supposedly shook his head slightly at such a conversation.
After a while, the visit from the Pope of the Western Church was announced to those Curry followers.
"Lord Graham, I heard earlier that the departure will be delayed?"
"Yes, Your Majesty Abel. A somewhat troublesome situation has arisen."
Graham said this and proceeded to explain the reasons for the delayed departure.
He spoke of the proposal from the Western Nations Federation, the reasons behind it, the subjects involved, and Nyu's legends.
These stories were surprising to both Abel and Ryo.
"The head of state who had gone missing remains asleep?"
"The 'People of the Sky'… the floating continent, is it? I’d like to see it."
Abel was interested in the political aspect, while Ryo was intrigued by the legends.
Of course, there were other matters as well…
"You mentioned that even with the Pope and the cardinal participating in the exorcism, it would likely fail?"
"Yes, it would be difficult. The other side says they don’t mind, but the situation on the northern coast of the continent is becoming increasingly dire."
"The situation on the northern coast? Could it be related to movements in the Eastern Provinces?"
"Yes… though we had halted it for a while, Marquis Shionka has been defeated…"
"That's right."
Abel nodded in recollection of Graham's explanation.
It was Graham who negotiated to stop the advance of the Eastern Provinces.
Abel was the one who requested that.
"How far are the Eastern Provinces willing to go?"
"Probably planning to swallow the entire Western Nations."
"All of it…"
"It’s believed that the diplomatic erosion of the nations forming the Western Nations Federation has already begun."
"There’s no charismatic head of state left. It wouldn't be difficult to undermine them."
Abel frowned and nodded.
While staying in France, Abel had read a brief report about the missing head of state, Ramun Fess.
"It was because of a person like him that the Western Nations could be united. Now that he’s gone… the collapse of the Federation is just a matter of time."
"You're correct. As Fundebie Kingdom, we would prefer to avoid interference as it concerns another country, but… there are multiple Western Church entities within the Western Nations Federation, and I have heard that clergy are also feeling anxious."
"I see. If anything, the Eastern Provinces have fewer followers of the Western Church, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. However, that doesn't mean they would irrationally persecute the followers of the Western Church…"