Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 420 (Part 1):

When a single group, endowed with authority and prestige, accuses another of equal or greater standing, people might merely nod and think, ‘There must be some issue between them.’

However, if a second group emerges to support the first, followed by a third, each brandishing different evidence to back the claim, the situation changes entirely.

Even those who clung to neutrality would then shift their stance, casting suspicious glances at the targeted party.

The human powers, steeped in greed, were slandering and insulting the sacred proxies of Lumen, who bore divine duties.

Such was the Temple of Lumen’s stance, bordering on doctrine. Yet, when they presented evidence to bolster their claims, denying the truth outright became untenable.

The Temple had believed they could handle the Empire and the Grand Duchy of Renosa, but they hadn’t anticipated the Kingdom of Basor joining the fray, plunging them into disarray.

Unlike the flamboyant and refined Empire or the stately Renosa, Basor was known as a rugged, barbaric land of warriors.

Far removed from calculated schemes, they declared their intent to join the conflict, citing the ‘honor of the Sword Saint.’

That declaration drove the decisive wedge.

Of course, from Basor’s perspective, Renosa was beneath notice, and the Empire was merely a nation of frail, pretentious nobles.

The fact that these three nations, each subtly dismissive of the others, had joined forces was astonishing in itself.

However, from the Temple’s viewpoint, they had allied against a common foe, each aiming their arrows at the same target.

To make matters worse, the Kingdom of Veneta subtly raised its hand, suggesting issues with the Temple. Following their lead, other nations joined the tide, publicly denouncing the Temple’s atrocities.

Naturally, the weight of public opinion tipped heavily to one side.

In such a climate, the fact that Helmut bore the Seed of Darkness seemed to fade into insignificance, buried under the uproar.

The Temple was the villain, grasping at straws to meddle in Renosa’s internal affairs.

The Seed of Darkness? Who could say if it even existed or posed any real threat?

For most, this was a chance to settle old scores with the Temple. They cared little about who would become Renosa’s heir.

After all, Renosa was a minor power. Even if a slightly dangerous successor ascended to the Grand Duke’s throne, it wouldn’t shake the world.

The Temple, so accustomed to wielding unchecked power, had failed to recognize the resentment it had sown. Yet, countless blades were now sharpened against it.

Temples existed in every nation, and their priests, even when committing crimes, often escaped justice through the Temple’s privilege of immunity.

Protests and accusations would pile up, but the Temple would dismiss them with its authority, claiming to investigate internally and mete out discipline.

Murder, rape, arson, theft—no matter the heinous crime, a priest faced only token punishment.

Rarely were priests imprisoned or excommunicated.

It wasn’t that the Temple lacked upright, devout individuals—there were many. But even they bent inward, shielding their own.

They were all kin of Lumen, and for the greater cause, they could overlook minor transgressions.

Moreover, attempts to undermine Lumen’s authority were rampant, and accusations against priests might be slanderous ploys.

Even if a priest had truly sinned, they had dedicated their lives to the Temple.

As humans, they might stray, but atonement through prayer and penance was deemed sufficient.

The Temple fundamentally believed itself above humanity.

Lumen, who had saved the world from the Demon King, had granted them authority, power, and glory to rule over mankind.

Yet, that foundation, slowly cracking, was now on the verge of collapse.

Arrows were aimed at them from all sides, as if in a siege.

This couldn’t continue. Something had to be done.

That sense of crisis drove the Temple to an extreme decision.

“No matter how fierce the waves crash, we cannot retreat before a holy war. Destroying those who wield the power of darkness is our mission and the very purpose of the Temple’s existence. Whatever the mortals of this world say, we bear a noble purpose and must uphold Lumen’s will to protect this world.”

At a roundtable conference where all High Priests were summoned, High Priest Levina spoke in a resolute tone.

The other High Priests nodded grimly, their faces set.

“Lumen has given us no answer, so this must be a trial to uphold our faith on our own.”

“Well said.”

“I agree.”

“If the Temple has erred, it is our duty to rectify those mistakes. But that cannot be an excuse to tolerate the power of darkness in this world.”

High Priest Agato rose from his seat. With eyes burning with steadfast conviction, he placed his hand on the table.

“Then our resolve is unanimous.”

Those gathered were the closest to Lumen, the great god’s proxies.

His voice carried the weight of their decision.

“The Temple shall, as the army of god, uphold Lumen’s authority.”

That decision soon reached Renosa.

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Otaku_Tensei

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