The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

52 – 52. Disciples of the Disaster Deity (1)

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Jéblinne, who had stayed in the Hohenberg Duchy for a while, felt perplexed upon hearing the news of the cancellation of the trains heading to the Imperial Capital.

What to do now…

The old maid would devour Edanant in no time.

The delay in the journey was due to inspecting the White Night Hall stored in the fairies’ paradise.

Furrowing his brow, Jéblinne rented a carriage from the Duchy. Using a carriage would undoubtedly delay the schedule significantly, but now was not the time to complain. He lamented the haste while recalling the Platinum Princess who had left without a word a few days ago.

“Milady!”

As he was about to depart in the carriage,

A Holy Knight clad in full armor came running frantically.

What could have happened?

The knight’s complexion was ashen, showing signs of great distress.

“Urgent news from the Glorious Kingdom…! Mines dedicated to the Disaster Deity have appeared!”

“The Disaster Deity?”

A dreadful suspicion arose.

Mines of the Disaster Deity.

Just hearing about it brought forth a chilling sensation.

The Glorious Kingdom is a faction venerating the Earthmother, who is in the lineage of the Creator. Naturally, for the Glorious Kingdom, followers of the Disaster Deity must be eradicated as heretics. The continuous suppression of mines and members of the Society by the Empire and the Glorious Kingdom was to prevent the rise of the Disaster Deity.

“Alfred Marquis has fallen victim to the Disaster Deity’s mine. Even the punitive forces dispatched to defeat the mine have been wiped out.”

“This is indeed a matter not to be taken lightly.”

The sword of the Earthmother fell before the followers of the Disaster Deity.

Truly a shameful outcome.

The High Priests, upon learning of the results, would surely be in a frenzy reorganizing the punitive forces. It was a disaster for the Glorious Kingdom’s reputation. Perhaps they might even order the return of the First Saintess dispatched to the Empire.

“However… there are no casualties reported.”

“These vile tricks of the Society members trying to tarnish the Glorious Kingdom’s honor.”

“Perhaps it’s an unusual mine that has never killed anyone before.”

“What? Well, could there be such a mine?”

The Paladin Alphred was defeated, and even the elite of the Shining Kingdom suffered a terrible loss, yet strangely, not a single person died. They were merely wounded and rendered unable to fight.

Why could that be?

Surely the aristocrats would view the Shining Kingdom as a crucial ally.

Could it be that the followers of the disaster god are following a non-violence doctrine?

Up to now, the aristocrats have ruthlessly killed anyone associated with the Shining Kingdom. They even committed atrocities, slaughtering civilians unrelated to the Shining Kingdom. That’s why the Empire and the Shining Kingdom have labeled the mages as cruel monsters.

“Disaster god… Of all times, why is a mage of the disaster god appearing now?”

While the Empire’s rebels continue to cause disasters one after another, a mage worshipping the disaster god has emerged in the Shining Kingdom, creating a volatile situation.

Is it really a coincidence?

A heavy sense of foreboding began to press on like a twisted knot.

***

Isabel sent an invitation.

It was a request to attend a banquet.

There was no reason to refuse, so I accepted the invitation. Of course, it was a decision made knowing Isabel’s intentions.

As expected, Ludmilla was also present at the banquet.

Hmm.

How can things not go as expected?

Could she be so overtly pushing for this meeting?

I took my seat with a stiff posture, as if I were attending a formal meeting. Ludmilla seemed equally tense, as if she had the same thoughts.

“Ahem! So, you were the guest, I see.”

“It’s Princess Isabel’s invitation.”

It was evident to anyone that this was a setup disguised as a banquet. Therefore, it was inevitable for the once close friends to feel awkward around each other.

What should I say?

My lips felt inexplicably dry.

On the other hand, Lou, who confidently entered the banquet, was eating butter cookies delicately, dissipating the awkward atmosphere.

“Oh, a cute daughter between the two of you already…”

“No, no!”

Isabel clapped her hands in delight.

Lou, who blushed, exclaimed in an agitated voice.

“…”

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Ugh, just the thought is dreadful.”

“Heeey!”

I wondered how things would have been if the troublemaker fairy were a daughter.

It was grim.

Just imagining it made my head ache.

I let out a heavy sigh and raised my head. Lou, in surprise, showed a startled reaction.

“I invited the scandal’s protagonists to the banquet because I have many stories I want to hear. As a princess, I want to encourage my younger sister to share healthy love. I secretly wish things would take a more decisive turn.”

“Oh, sister!”

Isabel, with a gentle demeanor, was quite passionate when it came to love. Like a successful princess in love and marriage, she showed an enthusiastic attitude.

I never expected this side of her.

Indeed, she was the eldest daughter of the emperor, boasting a dignified temperament.

The peculiar atmosphere of the banquet continued.

Since conveying her feelings of missing Ludmilla, Isabel had shown a friendly response. Continuing the conversation, she subtly hinted at supporting me and Ludmilla.

“Are the pastries to your liking, dear fairy?”

“The cream cake with lots of fruits is so delicious! It’s so good that I want to tell the stuffy nobles outside now!”

“hahahaha, your praise is truly an honor. I made the pastries myself.”

“Really?! Your skills are amazing!”

Lou’s eyes sparkled as she spoke, and Isabel smiled knowingly. She took out a handkerchief and wiped the cream off Lou’s mouth.

They looked like a mother and daughter.

In Isabel’s gaze towards Lou, there was a maternal affection. At the same time, a deep sadness was palpable.

“Will you also be attending the reception?”

“Yes, of course.”

When Isabel’s smile, tinged with sadness, emerged,

Lou, sounding desperate, asked as if trying to divert attention.

There must be a secret she wants to hide.

I didn’t want to pry into any traumas or hidden secrets, so I simply complied with her intentions.

“Your Highness.”

A maid approached Isabel.

She bowed her head and delivered the news.

“Her Highness Elizabeth has just arrived.”

“Liza?”

Isabel, who had heard the news, along with Ludmilla, displayed surprised expressions. Of course, I was the same.

How did she arrive so quickly?

Surely all train services should have been cut off.

Unless an extreme method of using short-distance teleportation magic multiple times, how could one arrive from the outskirts to the capital in an instant? It was logically impossible.

Unless the fairies used their magic…

“Isabel, my sister!”

The princess with flowing beautiful golden hair revealed herself as she took graceful steps forward.

And various fairies followed in a procession, assisting with the wedding.

From Noble mtl dot com

She borrowed the power of the Elves.

The fairies of Elysium possess mysteries that turn impossibilities into possibilities.

She greeted Elizabeth with a smile in her eyes.

—

The Apostle of Calamity tested the abilities of the wise and infiltrated the Imperial Space Leap after devastating the Conquest Army of the Prosperous Kingdom.

And another apostle lurked in the shadows, manipulating puppets filled with vengeance.

It was to bring down the Empire.

And to avenge the slain siblings of the Empire’s messengers.

The Apostles of Calamity who had returned to the mortal realm finally prepared for revenge. With the new divine powers and abilities bestowed upon them in the realm of chaos, they could easily drench the Empire and the Prosperous Kingdom in blood.

“Tomorrow, a banquet will be held at the Imperial Palace! We will strike down Barbados then!”

Some nobles attending the banquet pledged their support.

Rebels hiding near the capital were awaiting orders.

Moreover, preparations to summon the Empire’s Red Dragon had just been completed.

Perfect.

The chances of failure were slim.

The puppets, consumed by revenge against the Valtaria Royal Family, moved like gears, as if guided by a strategist possessing clairvoyance.

“Strategist, we shall raise chaos tomorrow!”

“As you command. Never forgive the mad emperor who mercilessly slaughtered even his own kin.”

The old man, referred to as the “Strategist” by the rebels’ leader, chuckled.

His face was full of wrinkles.

But his gaze was sharp as a hawk’s.

The old man who ordered the puppets to call him the “Strategist” was an apostle serving the Calamity God. The Calamity God’s apostles who had successfully infiltrated the capital had instilled the puppets with a thirst for revenge against the Valtaria Royal Family.

“Revenge is the greatest driving force for humans. It will burn like an eternal flame.”

The loss of precious blood to the Valtaria Empire was equally devastating for the old man.

Lost.

Not a single one spared.

He had to wail without even recovering the bodies.

Although he returned from the realm of chaos with the determination to drive out the Empire and the Prosperous Kingdom and revive faith, he was too late. Three whole years had passed.

He understood the minds of the nobles involved in the rebellion better than anyone else. Thus, the old man sought to use the nobles as puppets to achieve the ascent of evil.

“Something has been off since earlier. The invocation of calamity has not been smooth. It’s like something is interfering.”

The calamity’s invocation, which had been smoothly activated like waves, repeatedly stopped as if hitting something and then resumed.

It was a phenomenon he had experienced before.

Whenever an apostle bestowed with the calamity’s invocation was nearby, it mainly occurred.

Therefore, the old man felt even more uneasy.

“Arielle couldn’t have crossed over to the Empire already… What on earth is it? Could it be that another apostle of calamity is in the capital?”

It was impossible.

Except for Arielle, the other apostles were in the Prosperous Kingdom.

There couldn’t be a new apostle in the capital. The apostles of calamity who led factions for the rise of evil had all perished in the racial war.

Hence, the old man completely ruled out the possibility of a new apostle’s existence.