Forsaken Priest of the Hero's Party-Chapter 89: The Refugees

The Emperor’s frown deepened in displeasure as he observed the people kneeling in the great hall.

Empire ministers and Temple faction leaders hurried inside. They couldn’t hide their confusion.

That unsettling frown put everyone on edge. They all knew that the elites of the Cidatel Republic normally steered clear of the Emperor, but now, here they were, kneeling before him.

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Both the Emperor and his ministers were visibly puzzled by the situation. Why had so many come to bow before foreign nobles within the empire’s walls?

“Where is Duke Andolf? Didn’t he come?”

Scanning the hall, the Emperor searched for a familiar face. The Duke, leader of the Cidatel Republic, was the only one who could speak to him on equal terms.

“Your Majesty. The Duke has stayed behind in the Republic. He claims he will meet his end there. We tried to dissuade him, but he remained obstinately resolute.”

An elderly man rose and bowed as he spoke. The Emperor recognized him immediately–Jayden Motabil, one of the Republic’s high elders. The Emperor’s eyes sharpened at the sight of him.

This was the very man who had once declared that money should never overshadow true power. Yet now, he knelt in submission.

Without command, everyone instinctively sank to their knees.

But what did he mean by “meeting his end”?

What was going on? The nobles were shocked. Though the Cidatel Republic was small, it wielded formidable financial and military power.

It may lack many superhumans or transcendents, but its navy was among the strongest in the land.

The fall of such a country? The three Archbishops exchanged anxious glances. Could demons be involved?

“Is this Harmael’s attack?”

“But for the Republic to fall so effortlessly...?”

“Perhaps we’ve overestimated the Republic’s might.”

Grand Duke Valder stood up to speak.

“Councilor Motabil, may I ask you a question?”

“Please, Your Grace.”

“Why are you acting like this? Why is the Republic facing its end? Shouldn’t the Aldehir Church be backing the Republic against demons? Are you saying Harmael attacked your land?”

“The Calderan Mountains are on the verge of eruption.”

At these words, every eye turned to the map displayed on the wall.

The immense scale of the Calderan Mountains left them in shock. Priests of the Aldehir Church made the map, which was very accurate.

Even at just 80% accuracy, the implications were dire.

This wasn’t just a big problem; it was a disaster. Everyone understood why, despite its strength, the Cidatel Republic teetered on the edge of ruin.

“Could this rumbling and shaking be...?”

“Yes, Your Grace. The epicenter is probably right where you suspect. Right now, they issue just a warning, but ash covers the whole Republic, making it hard to see anything.

Gilead Ranbolt, head of the Merchant Union, spoke with grave seriousness. They could even feel the vibrations from the mountains here. But one could only imagine the devastation near the epicenter.

Earthquakes had destroyed cities, and the mountains looked like they were on fire.

No one could stop the destruction of the Republic. Lava flowed unchecked while ash smothered every surface. But this was just the beginning of the eruption, and that was the scariest part.

All the devastation up to now stemmed from the Phoenix’s uncontrolled power seeping through. Once the Calderan supervolcano fully erupted, the Republic’s fate would be sealed. No one would be safe.

It was hard to imagine how far the damage would spread.

Everyone was shocked to hear that the Phoenix, a firebird, caused a massive volcanic eruption.

The three Archbishops exchanged hesitant, speechless glances. Gilead’s eyes pleaded silently for a solution.

“Your Graces, there’s still one option. If we can kill the Phoenix before the eruption begins, we can delay it.”

Councilors were desperate. The councilors were desperate. They offered anything–money, privileges, women–to get help. Yet when their eyes met those of the Emperor and Archbishops, they fell silent.

Archbishop Armata whispered, “Hallonen, can your goddess stop this?”

Archbishop Hallonen stayed silent. Could Nemi, the Earth Goddess, really stop the eruption? Even if she could, the effort required would be immense.

And even if we managed to delay the eruption, would it ultimately matter? If the pressure were held back, it would only grow stronger until it erupted later.

Could Nemi’s power contain such overwhelming force? And if she could, would the sacrifice be worth it? The required power far exceeded what Nemi’s followers could muster.

It was like trying to hold down the lid of a boiling pot—it would take too much energy.

Yet the true threat remained the Phoenix. If they could be defeated, the Republic might survive. But there was a huge risk: the eruption could happen anytime.

A timely defeat of the Phoenix might delay the eruption. But failure would mean facing the full fury of the eruption immediately. The power of nature was far beyond human strength. Even the mightiest Masters could perish, swallowed by the volcanic onslaught.

This is a risky move. A move not worth taking.

The Phoenix would prove a formidable foe, even if the elite forces, including the three Holy Maidens and the Holy Knights, were dispatched. It was the King of Monsters, more potent than most other monsters.

“I understand there are three Masters within the Republic. Where are they at this moment?” The Emperor cleared his throat, snapping everyone out of their thoughts.

The councilors before finally confessing the truth: the Republic’s final strategy had failed, and the Phoenix had slain the three Masters who dared oppose it.

“The Hammer Warrior Dudlen, the Frost Lord Eorin, and the Farmer Paradin. They all died fighting the Phoenix.”

Everyone grew even more scared. If the Phoenix could vanquish three Masters, what hope remained for them? No one dared even contemplate confronting it.

It was a problem far away, in another country.

How could the Empire possibly intervene in the Calderan volcano’s eruption? They grasped the gravity of the situation, yet wondered: should they deploy a vast army, or risk the Emperor’s secret forces, Rayman and Geher?

It would be great if they could be sure to stop the Phoenix and delay the eruption, but life isn’t that certain. The danger, however, was overwhelming.

Even if Rayman and Geher were willing, the Emperor was loath to risk sending them into such peril. It would be a disaster if they got caught in the eruption or trapped somewhere. It wasn’t worth the risk.

“I understand how you feel, but the living must go on living.”

Even Ariche, the Archbishop of the Elysia Church, said a few comforting words. Yet he stopped short of proposing the deployment of Holy Knights through the gate.

The Church-State, too, deemed the endeavor unworthy of their effort. Councilor Motabil sighed, all too aware of the chilly reception from the assembly. He had expected this.

People know each other well. Who would risk hunting a monster merely on a request? Anyone who believed in such generosity was doomed to disappointment. Humans are selfish, and these people knew that.

The proposal wasn’t asking for help. It was a high request to negotiate down. With no help from monster hunting, they aimed to reduce it.

“It appears we must abandon the Republic,” the old man, whose feigned tears had masked his true resolve, said gravely.

“But even if the country falls, shouldn’t the people survive? The Aldehir Church is mobilizing airships for evacuation, yet their resources remain woefully inadequate. Can we send the people to the Empire through the transfer gate?”

“Your Majesty, have mercy, when the volcano erupts, how many lives will be lost?”

Had it been only a few thousand souls, perhaps it could be overlooked.

But it was at least a hundred thousand, maybe more. Who could just let them die? Would it be the virtuous Archbishops or even the Emperor himself?

No one spoke, and the silence grew. Ardein, standing aside, bit her lip, understanding the Emperor’s words.

Even with an army of millions at her back, what chance would they have against the Phoenix and a volcanic eruption?

Everything my father said was right.

The Emperor’s guess about why the God of Hope gave the sapling of the Gye lineage was starting to feel more accurate. Grimudo’s assault had decimated the Cidatel Republic. Could the Empire be next?

Was it the God of Hope’s plan to stop Grimudo before it was too late? The very thought sent shivers down her spine. Everyone acknowledged Grimudo’s formidable power. Yet few truly comprehended the magnitude of his threat.

Grimudo had long kept to the shadows, and many had underestimated him as merely an aloof presence. To many, he was like the strongest person that no one noticed.

But now, his power was impossible to ignore. His attack on the Republic showed how terrifying he indeed was.

The Temple, the Emperor’s own faction, and all others fell silent.

While they fought for the Empire, Grimudo destroyed the Republic with a single strike.

It was, without a doubt, a scene of sheer terror.

Everyone grasped the reason behind Grimudo’s title as the Demon King. Who but a true Demon King could wreak such havoc?

Now, everyone was thinking about what Grimudo would do next. Why bicker over trivialities when an enemy loomed capable of obliterating the kingdom?

“The three Grand Archbishops. Would you mind having a word with me?”

“Of course. We’ve been hoping for this as well.”

Rising, the Emperor led the way, with the three Grand Archbishops close behind. Everyone understood that now was not the time for discord. As the Emperor departed the hall, he instructed Finance Minister Valens to handle the remaining matters.

“Discuss the remaining issues with the Finance Minister.”

The Emperor no longer had the luxury of fretting over the Republic. His greater concern was that Grimudo might soon set his sights on the Empire. He rubbed his aching head and thought, This is a real crisis. Why did this have to happen now?

In truth, it wasn’t such a big deal. A bird had left its nest, chosen a favored perch, and even bathed in lava. The problem was that this bird was the phoenix, and that caused a disaster.

Fear born of ignorance might have been tolerable, but true terror comes when one comprehends the unfolding horror yet remains utterly powerless to stop it.