Game Difficulty
Is Insane
On the day it was confirmed that the Demon King’s 8th Legion, led by Penelope, had withdrawn.
Ovenyu, which had been frozen in bleak silence, instantly turned into a festival ground.
The meat and alcohol that had been carefully stored away in the warehouses were released without restriction, and commanders, knights, and even conscripted soldiers all shared in the joy of victory.
“…I did it, you know. When I glared at those demon bastards with this eye wide open, they pissed themselves right on the spot…!”
“Kahahahaha! You’ve still got a long way to go! While you were doing that, I smashed ten demons on the spot with a broken sword, huh?!”
“What a mouth you’ve got. All talk. Me, on the other hand…”
As the conscripted soldiers grew drunk, they began to exaggerate nonexistent stories, creating their own heroic tales.
“Seven… eight… nine!”
“Genten wins!”
“Wooooaaah!!”
“Wait! Ferguson says he has ten!”
The Gray Wolf Knights gathered together, tearing off their shirts, comparing the number of scars on their bodies while shouting in excitement.
After every battle, it was one of their traditions to praise the one with the most wounds as having the greatest merit.
Amid the heated atmosphere, the banquet continued from noon until late evening.
Even then, laughter and cheers never left Ovenyu Fortress.
“Whew…”
Leaving the commanders’ meeting room, which was thick with the haze of alcohol, Glen stepped out onto the balcony.
Having drunk freely, a pleasant buzz spread through his body, lifting his mood for no reason.
“Must be good wine. It really goes down well.”
The problem was that they had opened the trump-card wine Jaber had been saving to drink before he died.
Because of that, what was supposed to be just a sip to wet his throat turned into two glasses, then a whole bottle.
Whooo—
A cool evening breeze blew across the balcony, rustling his hair.
Below, drunken soldiers were shouting at the top of their lungs.
At the same time, the soldiers on the ramparts showed no sign of envy, standing straight as they kept watch toward the west, where the Demonic Lands lay.
It was a measure Jaber had put in place in case of a surprise raid by demon skirmishers.
‘That’s just like Sir Jaber.’
Letting out a small chuckle, Glen enjoyed the cool night air.
Then—
“So you were here.”
“Bishop Judith.”
With that familiar gentle voice, Judith approached.
“Come to think of it, I never thanked you properly. Thank you.”
Glen bowed his head.
If Judith and Katrin had not been there during the battle with Penelope, this place would likely have become a sea of fire instead of a banquet hall.
Moreover, even if it had been Glen’s suggestion, helping while hiding their identities as Inquisitors was no small thing.
Though it was Glen who had summoned and persuaded the two Inquisitors, gratitude still had to be expressed clearly.
“It’s nothing. Helping the Saint is only natural.”
Surprisingly, Judith’s red eyes looked far calmer than usual.
He continued in a composed voice.
“And thanks to helping the Saint and coming here, I was able to witness with my own eyes the series of miracles you performed. So rather, I should be the one thanking you.”
Judith closed his eyes quietly.
It seemed he was recalling the miraculous events Glen had shown earlier.
“That aside… what do you plan to do now, Saint?”
“My plan?”
Glen lifted his gaze.
If Judith was asking, it was probably about the title of Saint.
‘It’s true that it’s on my mind.’
At Ovenyu Fortress, Glen had already become a Saint in all but name.
Before long, his name and achievements would spread through rumors and reach Istirenne, the capital of the Papal States.
When that happened, countless nobles and priests who did not want to acknowledge a third Saint would turn their scrutiny on him.
“Hmmm…”
Glen tapped the balcony railing rhythmically with his index finger.
After briefly weighing the pros and cons, a faint smile formed on his lips.
‘Actually… this might be good?’
As mentioned before, declaring himself the third Saint would bring severe backlash.
‘But if I endure that backlash and am recognized as a true Saint?’
If that happened, Glen would gain the greatest authority and status in the theocratic Papal States.
If he could control all the nobles of the Papal States in the name of the Saint, the holy war against the demons would practically be over.
Reaching even that point would mean there would be little to worry about until the middle of the scenario.
‘It’s worth trying.’
Of course, he would have to endure resistance from countless nobles and high-ranking priests, but Glen already had a foundation: the Warsworth territory and high-ranking Inquisitors of the Inquisition.
So the plan of being recognized as a Saint was not an empty dream.
“…I have no plan.”
Glen answered plainly.
Judith tilted his head, looking puzzled.
“I simply move as God guides me. If my existence spreads throughout the Papal States, that too must be God’s providence.”
“Ah… as expected!”
Judith’s red eyes instantly swirled with fanatic devotion.
He grabbed Glen’s hand tightly, his face flushed with excitement.
“I will help you! I will spread the Saint’s existence across the world, and strike down those who deny you with God’s hammer!”
“Haha… I look forward to it.”
With a bitter smile, Glen quietly pulled his hand back and clasped it behind him.
After that, he broke into a cold sweat trying to calm the overly excited Judith.
‘I knew this is how it would end.’
Still, there was no better line than this to firmly secure Judith Rossfelt—a powerful force with immense authority—as an ally.
The banquet in Ovenyu lasted until late dawn, but Glen returned to his room midway through.
‘That was enough fun.’
He had no desire to end up like Jaber, who was turning into a mess in the commanders’ meeting room.
Recalling Jaber’s hearty laughter as he shoved wine bottles into the mouths of commanders, Glen shook his head.
Drinking should be moderate.
Glen disliked drinking to the point it affected the next day.
Of course, since he had postponed the greatest crisis—the demon assault—one day might have been fine.
‘But now is when it really begins.’
With the assault of Penelope’s legion, the world of Gray Eden would truly start to move.
Across the world—including the Papal States and the Demonic Lands—dozens… no, hundreds of events would occur.
Artifacts and rare opportunities sleeping across the world would change their forms and locations as time passed.
Glen’s current achievement level was roughly 7-star.
But even that could only be maintained for about seven minutes.
