Chapter 613

Illeion Bulton was waiting for teleportation at the warp spot. The Pope knew that the demon worshipers were increasing in number, and Illeion Bulton could sense the trend even though he didn't know the details. However, the important thing was not that. The power of the Holy Order of the Yellow Road had already been strengthened by the demon worshipers, and it was clear that Rowen was the key figure. However, only the power of the Holy Order of the Yellow Road had been lost. The bond that had been forged through countless battles and hardships could not be easily betrayed. Therefore, compared to the Holy Order of the Alliance, the power of the Holy Order of the Yellow Road was just a handful. The commander of the Holy Order had great authority and power, even if his actual rank was lower than that of the Pope. What Rowen had put in his hands was only that much. The commander of the Holy Order could easily stage a coup if he wanted to, and that was still the case. If a large-scale Holy Order unit returned to the Alliance base, Illeion Bulton would have enough troops to crush the unclean forces of the Yellow Road. Illeion Bulton was the one who had committed the crazy act of trying to capture the enemy leader in enemy territory. The elite Holy Order warriors who carried out the order were Illeion Bulton's people, but even they were all killed by Rowen. He had underestimated Rowen's combat power. It was clear that he had hidden his true strength. Illeion Bulton selected the recoverable personnel among the remaining people, chose those who had not been absorbed by Rowen, and planned to return to the Alliance base. The power of the Holy Order of the Yellow Road was already beyond the control of the Pope and the commander of the Holy Order. He didn't know what to do, but he had to go back to the Alliance base and think about it. Since he had returned to a place that was not his hometown, he had to organize his thoughts in a situation where his safety was secured. "What's going to happen from now on...?" "I don't know." The fact that the Pope had handed over the entire order to the demon king was infuriating, and the Pope was not even one of those who had the decision-making power over the order. And he was telling Rowen's people to track him down. The Yellow Road was dangerous. He had to leave. That's why Illeion Bulton was waiting for the mass teleportation magic to take him back to the Alliance at the warp spot. "If we go back, we'll go straight to the base. There's no guarantee that Rowen's tricks haven't reached there. We'll verify it first, and then figure out how to handle this..." He had messed up everything. He wanted to bite his tongue. For now, he would go back. Once he went back, then what? If he made a wrong move, there could be a civil war. This place was no different from enemy territory. The Holy Order of the Alliance's knights and priests follow the Grand Commander more than the Pope. Although there are those who support the demon worshipers, they sincerely follow Illeion Bulton, who they have fought alongside. Therefore, they can only fully support Illeion Bulton.

Illeion Bulton is now a commander who has abandoned his army and jumped into enemy territory. If he returns to the main base with his army, he will have control of the situation.

He did not intend to surpass the authority of the Pope. However, if the authority of the Pope became worthless, it would be a problem to just sit still. The fact that the Holy Order of the Yellow Road has completely lost its function as a religious order is a problem. If someone other than the leader controls the Holy Order, it cannot exist in that way.

The Pope and Illeion Bulton were both incompetent. However, Illeion Bulton knows that he is not powerless, even though he understands his own incompetence. A huge number of knights and priests still follow him.

After returning, he must somehow deal with the already ruined Holy Order. He will be able to decide on the next move.

"If we return, we will gather at the headquarters immediately."

"Yes, Commander."

Illeion Bulton felt anxious and uneasy because his return could be a signal for a huge civil war. He had too much at stake.

How long had he waited?

-Flash!

With a flash of light, mass teleportation was cast.

Illeion Bulton opened his eyes, which he had closed, along with his vision.

"...Oh no."

And as soon as Illeion Bulton saw the sight in front of him, he realized everything.

He should have moved directly to the warp spot of the Alliance's base since he had moved from the warp spot. But now, Illeion Bulton had arrived in an unknown forest. And there was not a single person with him.

But he was not alone. There were two people in front of him. The Demon King was sitting on a tree stump.

"We decided to call it 'Intercept'... Well, now that you've experienced its function, you understand, right?"

And next to the Demon King was a girl with braided hair.

"...Nice to meet you for the first time."

The daughter of the Duke of Saint Tu'an. Harry de Saint Tu'an, who was called the greatest genius in magical history, was guarding the Demon King.

"In the first place... I couldn't even go back."

If Illeion Bulton returns, a civil war will break out.

He knew this better than anyone else, and it was inevitable that this would happen when Illeion Bulton disappeared and tried to return to the base.

"I never intended to kill any of you."

The Demon King speaks quietly.

"I mean, what's the point of changing the Popes or the Holy Order commanders? It just gives me a headache."

"I like things the way they are. I like them more than you do."

"Of course, I don't want the Gate incident to continue, but as long as things keep rolling and there's no fighting between us, that's all that matters. I never had any intention of killing or changing anything."

"But if you don't change anything, something even worse might happen."

"And you're plotting something like that and didn't even tell me?"

"I know it's difficult for us to have a true alliance or a superior-subordinate relationship. But the Popes were trying to kill all of these heretics."

"They were going to use them. But since they're attached to the liver, they'll break the liver and detach it."

Illeion Bulton opened his eyes at the Demon King's words.

"Well, you wouldn't have known. It must have been the Popes' idea. You were too busy killing monsters to think about that."

"I won't make any excuses. It's not really a mistake."

Illeion Bulton was also overwhelmed by the war.

He was too far away from the situation in the Empire, what the Popes were thinking, and how the factions within the Holy Order were operating.

Even before the Allied Forces went to war, he was wandering the battlefield rather than being at the headquarters of the Holy Order.

He was too focused on the war, too far away from practical matters.

That was Illeion Bulton's downfall.

He worked too hard.

He worked too hard to fulfill his duties and beliefs as a powerful Holy Knight who fought directly.

He didn't pay attention to politics. "So, the Popes have decided to change everything. Of course, if they tell us not to do anything stupid like putting a knife to our throats, we'll nod and agree. But those damn heretics have already made me look bad by telling me about their plan to massacre them. It's better to listen to me and have someone who understands my heart there."

"No way...."

Illeion Bulton stares at the Demon King with his mouth open.

"I met Rowen too late. If it was before Rowen went crazy, I don't know, but if we leave it like this, either all the heretics will die or the Empire will be destroyed."

The Demon King had to make a decision.

"The Great Divine Sect will be unified, and a new religious system combining the Demon Sect and the Warrior Sect will be established to protect all heretics. No, they are no longer heretics. They will be incorporated into the Great Divine Sect."

Unified Sacred Sect.

"And my sister, who I know well, will be the leader there."

Arrows and bombs shot by others explode here and there, eventually converging into one big explosion.

In the end, it was a huge integration and the beginning of division.

Instead of preventing the immediate chaos, it will become the core of division later on.

"Are you going to plant the flag of Dark Land in the middle of the Empire...."

The quick-witted ones realize that the Demon King's forces have entered the Empire.

"Yes."

The Demon King had tried to use the Great Divine Sect, but the situation had become uncontrollable. Therefore, if he did not make even greater improvements, he would not be able to withstand the situation. Things that would have been postponed if he had not tried to kill Rowen were rapidly accelerated by Illeion Bulton's decision.

"I didn't really agree with torture and such. That's why I left you alone. But Rowen, that crazy guy, was right."

"...."

"You have to put new wine in new wineskins."

If you leave a group in control, the existing relationships will remain. Then it is practically the same as not taking control. You can hide things from the top and you can collude as much as you want.

"It was impossible to just lend our name half-heartedly."

If you're going to do it, do it decisively and accurately.

And cruelly.

You have to make sure there are no loose ends.

Even in a time of no confusion, he realized that it was foolish not to drive out the existing vested interests when trying to take control of a group at a time when the whole world was shaking with torture. He thought he had taken over the sect and the order by incorporating the Popes and the Grand Master of the Holy Order.

But the reality was that it was not taken over at all.

The existing Popes were not people who fit into the reformed religious system, as they had always harbored thoughts of eventually removing the heretics. And inevitably, new ideas cannot be injected into their old heads. If they cooperate, it will be pretending to cooperate. "The Popes who mistakenly believed they had real power were removed. And this time, it was Illeion Bulton. He has real power, symbolism, and many followers. He is practically the core of the Great Divine Sect's military power. If Illeion Bulton had returned safely to the Allied Forces' base, there could have been a civil war in the Empire depending on his choice. 'The Popes were wicked, but you did your best and just shook hands with them, didn't you?' In reality, Illeion Bulton did not sell the sect to the Demon King. It was the Popes' choice. The decision to punish Roen was also an action taken because it was best not to cause confusion at this point. 'But since you pushed Roen, you can't go with me.' However, once the punishment began, Illeion Bulton's existing power remained unchanged. It's not about retreating because of a mistake, but making them retreat because they have to. Punishment is originally like that. And now that he has joined forces with Roen, Illeion Bulton has become an existence that cannot be left alone by the Holy Knights. 'So, unlike the Popes, I want to give you a choice.' Illeion Bulton looked at the Demon King with a stern expression. 'A choice...?' 'Yes, just two. First, die by my hand right here. The Demon King folded one finger. 'Second, retire quietly.' Retirement. It was a word that was unimaginable even more than death."