The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 311
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 311
Mina’s demons turned pale and hazy. Soon they disappeared without a trace, and Purson, who had fallen at Father’s feet, also muttered “Damn it” and vanished like vapor.
It was proof that people’s faith had weakened.
All the powerful strength Mina had displayed until now was thanks to Neriad.
Because she was Neriad’s Child of Fate, she had been able to borrow his power.
A god’s power grows strong through human faith.
The current situation was being broadcast throughout the nation via the Demon Realm, and people began to doubt Neriad.
Neriad, having lost their faith, grew weak, and ultimately Mina’s power was also greatly diminished. To the point where she couldn’t even maintain her demons!
Thick, deep blue veins bulged on Mina’s skin. It was a sign of mana deficiency.
Mina looked up at the broadcasting magical device in the sky with an expression of disbelief.
“How… why…”
It was when Mina was muttering.
Cardinal Ridalante clicked his tongue and blew the small wooden flute hanging around his neck.
Shrill─!
Along with the unpleasant sound, the dull sound of wingbeats could be heard from afar.
“Huh…?”
Someone in the interrogation room looked up at the sky with wide eyes.
What looked like dust seemed to be rushing in from the distance, and soon a tearing roar could be heard.
‘Monsters? No, they’re the shrine’s sacred beasts…!’
It wasn’t dust. Countless sacred beasts from the shrine were flying toward the Imperial Palace.
The first to arrive had bumpy, thick hide like a reptile.
A strangely-shaped ‘sacred beast’ that resembled both a dragon and a bird shrieked “Kieek─!!”
The wingbeats of the sacred beasts became cutting winds that struck sharply against our skin. It felt like we might be blown away at any moment.
As I blocked my head with one arm and tensed my legs, I heard a voice from behind me.
“Leblaine.”
“Youngest.”
It was Adrian and Johan.
They ran in front of me and blocked the wind.
In that gap, Ridalante shouted to the priests.
“The Young Lady!”
The priests hurriedly supported Mina.
Isaac gritted his teeth.
“Think you can escape? Second Brother!”
Henri, the most skilled in magic among the three brothers, quickly extended his hand toward the air.
Chains of magical power that spread out like a net bound the priests, but Cardinal Ridalante and Blasio joined forces to block Henri.
It looked like a second battle between the shrine and us was about to break out.
When Isaac readjusted his grip on his sword hilt, I shouted.
“Let her go!”
“…What?”
“Let her go, Isaac.”
The people here didn’t have enough strength left to fight off the holy beasts.
Just dealing with Purson’s demon beasts was already overwhelming.
I too had exhausted much of my divine power by manifesting both Pur and Bune simultaneously.
There was a high chance we’d lose Mina anyway, and if we struggled desperately to catch that child, we might lose someone else.
I held onto Isaac’s wrist while watching Mina being supported by the priest.
Our gazes clashed sharply in mid-air.
Soon the priest tore open a teleportation formation, and everyone from the shrine side vanished from the interrogation room.
As Ridalante who had the flute disappeared, the holy beasts also scattered in all directions.
Silence fell over the interrogation room.
People wore hollow expressions in the middle of the Imperial Palace that had become a battlefield.
The faces of those whose beliefs had been completely denied showed only emptiness.
Isaac frowned.
“We let her slip away when we almost had her. If not this chance, we might not be able to catch her again.”
“We can catch her.”
“What?”
“That’s what I’ve been preparing for these 13 years.”
“….”
I glared at the temple spire visible beyond the Imperial Palace and continued.
“We accomplished all our goals today. I revealed to the whole world that I’m of Dubbled blood, and exposed the shrine’s corruption to weaken Neriad’s power.”
I spoke as if repeating it to myself, comforting myself.
Because truthfully, I was also very disappointed.
If only we could have captured Mina, the shrine’s greatest weapon and greatest weakness, victory in this war would have been ours.
‘Calm down. I need to calm down.’
If we had overreached out of greed trying to catch Mina, we would have suffered losses too.
This was a strategic move to win without losing anything.
Greedy as I am, I had vowed not to lose anything in this war.
‘I will achieve perfect victory without losing anyone.’
I looked at the broadcasting magic tool and spoke.
“As you have seen, this is the true face of the shrine you have trusted until now.”
The nobles in the interrogation room let out hollow laughs. The common people watching through the magic mirrors would have similar expressions.
“War has begun, and there is no god in this world who will save you.”
“….”
A noble lady famous for her piety clutched her forehead and staggered.
I spoke toward the magic mirror in a firm tone.
“We must protect ourselves.”
The sound of fierce wind blowing from the west could be heard. Like a trumpet announcing the start of war.
* * *
The nobles of the Central Tower who held voting rights in the state council were summoned to the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor, who burst through the door with quick steps, slammed the table as soon as he took his seat.
Bang─!!
At the dull friction sound, the nobles flinched and bowed their heads.
“How wonderful you all look. You must be tremendously pleased that the shrine you so lovingly supported has dared to reduce the Imperial Palace to this state.”
Count Brieuc, who had been pro-shrine, coughed awkwardly.
“Everyone here has been deceived by the shrine. How can you blame the victims, Your Majesty?”
Several others agreed with him.
“Strengthen your faith.”
“Faith…”
“July, 27 years ago!”
He shouted loudly.
The Emperor looked around at the frozen nobles and continued speaking.
“The Former Emperor ordered an investigation of the shrine, but an unprecedented demonstration including great nobles occurred in front of the Imperial Palace, claiming it was religious persecution.”
“…”
“17 years ago, January. When Dubbled exposed the shrine’s corruption, I can see before my eyes those who cried it was a political scheme.”
“…”
“13 years ago, September. In the Empress Dowager’s fainting incident involving 21 priests from the Central Temple, I ordered an investigation of the shrine. Who blocked it?”
“…”
“11 years ago, 8 years ago, and continuously from last year until this year, agendas worthy of regulating the shrine have come up. Where have those who cried out that the state religion was sacred gone, leaving only victims here!”
The expressions of the pro-shrine nobles turned pale.
The Emperor looked around with bloodshot eyes.
“What is the shrine’s status?”
Count Brieuc with his pale face hesitated.
“The Papal Court, Central Temple, and small shrines throughout the nation have all locked their doors and are refusing investigation.”
“The Pope?”
“…”
When he answered with silence instead, the Emperor grabbed his forehead.
That’s when it happened.
An administrator came running in frantically.
“Your Majesty!”
The administrator with a deathly pale expression prostrated himself and shouted.
“The shrine’s sacred beasts are causing chaos throughout various regions of the Empire. Damage has started from the Imperial Capital outskirts, and flocks of flying sacred beasts are heading toward the Western Region.”
“What!”
“The Central Knights have begun extermination operations, but blades and magic have no effect whatsoever. It’s the same pattern as the Kuhelm battle that occurred at Odis Academy.”
The Emperor, who had half-risen from his seat, collapsed back into his chair and let out a bitter laugh.
“Magnificent. Truly magnificent. The shrine’s reach extended even to Odis Academy where the Empire’s princes are enrolled.”
“…”
“So the solution is.”
“…I heard that it was Lady Dubbled who eliminated the sacred trees in the battle between Odis and Kuhelm. Dispatching her would─”
“In the end, is Lady Dubbled the only one we can trust?”
“…”
“Lady Dubbled is truly remarkable. To think she’s the only person who can defeat the great army’s sacred trees that even my forces cannot face.”
“…”
The Emperor let out an angry roar.
“She’s the Empire’s only shield and sword! Should I kneel before her and beg? Please save us!”
The nobles were left speechless by the Emperor’s outburst.
At that moment, a guard shouted.
“Leblaine Lisette Dubbled requests entry.”
“…Let her in.”
The door opened, and Leblaine entered with Theodore and Johan.
She knelt before the Emperor and spoke.
“I apologize. I heard Your Majesty’s words from outside the door without permission.”
“You can hardly help what sound leaks out the door, Young Lady.”
Leblaine bowed her head deeply and said.
“As Your Majesty’s subject, how could I not be the Empire’s sword and shield? Please use me.”
“…Use?”
“Yes. Use me as a weapon and please, I beg you, reward me, Your Majesty.”
The nobles murmured among themselves.
“Reward?”
“A reward, you say?”
The Emperor asked her.
“What reward do you desire, Young Lady?”
Leblaine, with her head bowed, swallowed dryly. She raised her head, looked around at the surrounding nobles, and spoke.
“Please grant Dubbled’s independence.”
“…!”
The Emperor stiffened, and the nobles stirred greatly.
“This is unacceptable, Your Majesty!”
“She’s trying to threaten Your Majesty using her power as a weapon!”
“Lady Dubbled, please exercise restraint.”
Leblaine spoke in a firm tone.
“There have been countless incidents until now. Not a single person was there for Dubbled. When my mother passed away, when I became an orphan and was used like a tool as the Child of Fate, not one person in this Empire helped me.”
“Lady Dubbled!”
“Your Majesty, I am…”
She gripped her father’s hand tightly and said.
“When Dubbled suffered because of the shrine, no one helped us.”
“…”
“Your Majesty, I no longer wish to be a subject of the Empire.”
Duke Marche, Duke Amitie, and all the other nobles were frozen stiff.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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