I'll Smash Everything with Passive Skills-Chapter 94: 0. The Holy Kingdom, The Pope (2)

Everyone's expectations were spot on.

The next day, the Holy Kingdom, leading tens of thousands of troops, had toppled the city of Hessen, which lay at the foot of the Academy, and had finally arrived at the plains in front of the academy city.

"So this is how it turned out."

The commander of the gathered imperial army, Crown Prince Friedrich, muttered with a dark expression.

They were young. The fact that the academy they studied at was their target was quite chilling.

Crown Prince Friedrich looked around. Quite a number of students were standing in the plains, clutching their trembling arms in tension.

"Damn them."

His voice was heavy. Though it was a short statement, the various meanings it contained were heard by everyone around him.

The battlefield.

It would be an abnormal war, one where armies clashed, magic flew, and miracles were unleashed by priests.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

Anticipating this, Crown Prince Friedrich gathered the students who expressed their willingness to participate in the war around him. It was a way to minimize the damage to the young ones, even if just a little.

"Veris. What do you think?"

"I have no particular thoughts. The important thing is that they are the enemy, and they are beings we must defeat."

"Indeed, that is a very important truth."

Friedrich turned his head and took in the sight of those in white far off in the plains.

White flags. Could those dressed in priestly robes or holy knight armor be called children of God?

"The misfortune is that the famous Archmage has allied with their forces."

The Crown Prince had also heard about the commotion that occurred in a square of the academy last night.

A speech. It was quite a thunderbolt for the Crown Prince, who was preparing for one.

Fortunately, the Archmage, who had been persuaded—though not in a straightforward manner—had decided to withdraw from this war.

Of course, his sins would have to be accounted for later... but from the perspective of the Empire and the Academy, it was only natural to express relief.

"Do you know the Pope's intentions, Your Highness the Crown Prince?"

"I've heard a bit. The Demon Cult. Their lackey is the Pope of that Holy Kingdom."

"They pursue ideals. They are the type that will stop at nothing to achieve them."

Crown Prince Friedrich nodded with a grim expression at Veris's rather calm words.

After all, the famous Pope couldn't possibly be in his right mind. Surely, the Pope had something he wanted to achieve through this war.

Of course... Friedrich had no idea what that was.

The time had come.

As the sun hung in the middle of the sky, Crown Prince Friedrich gestured to his aide sitting behind him.

A swift command was issued. Soon, a small shout echoed from the imperial army's camp.

And then.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The sound of drums that made the heart race. The thunderous noise announcing the beginning of war began to resonate across the plains.

"Listen!"

Swish!

Crown Prince Friedrich, drawing forth the golden sword of the royal family, shouted with mana infused in his voice.

"Who stands before us? The Holy Kingdom, those damned invaders. They come with empty demands, claiming to correct the false faith of the Empire and the Academy!"

Countless people had gathered, more than could be counted. Yet, his voice, filled with firm and resolute will, spread widely across the plains.

"I, Friedrich, swear. I will use my sword to protect the lives of the Empire and its people!"

"Uwaaaah!"

"Long live the Vera Empire! Long live His Highness the Crown Prince!"

A roar that could be described as thunderous erupted.

Friedrich, who usually had a serious demeanor, was now a true soldier, no longer just a member of the royal family.

"All troops, advance!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Pooow!

Friedrich's shout. Once again, the sound of drums began to resonate from behind the camp.

Simultaneously, the sound of horns blared, making one's palms sweat involuntarily.

Thud thud thud thud!

This was a war unlike any ordinary one, a war against the Holy Kingdom.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the Holy Kingdom's camp. A holy knight, clad in shining silver armor.

"Is this a preemptive strike?"

Friedrich spoke without hiding his dismay.

The moment they crossed the borders of the Empire, the enemies should have been forced into attrition.

So he had expected them to charge straight at the imperial army, yet they attempted such a preemptive strike.

"Sir Veris."

"Yes."

"Can I ask a favor?"

At this moment, a single holy knight was charging in without hesitation. Seeing him, Friedrich casually inquired.

"Of course."

Veris nodded nonchalantly. Regardless of what the Holy Kingdom's intentions were, he couldn't just stand by.

The more Veris remained still, the more the imperial army, including the Academy, would be forced to bleed. That was a fact that even the usually relaxed Veris had to take seriously.

Whoosh!

Veris leaped off the ground. It seemed like a light action at first glance. However, most people were left with blank expressions.

"Who is that?"

"I heard he's the representative student of the Academy."

"Fool! How can someone with ties to the military not know the Academy's Sword Master?"

The lower-ranking officers were engaged in their own conversations. Leaving behind the tense front line, Veris focused on the approaching holy knight.

A single holy knight was getting closer. Perhaps confident in his strength, he was gripping a massive greatsword.

Heh.

Veris smiled inappropriately for the situation.

The reason was that he had no idea what the Holy Kingdom's will was. They must have had some information about Veris, yet they sent such a low-level holy knight.

A duel.

Veris drew the black sword from his waist.

And swung it.

Swish!

"What...?"

"Insane. What is that?"

The shock did not come from the Holy Kingdom's camp.

The body of the holy knight charging from hundreds of paces ahead of Veris was cleaved in two and fell.

The sound came from the imperial army, stunned by the miraculous sight.

"Next."

Veris drew up his mana and infused it into his voice.

Veris possessed mana that far exceeded the bounds of common sense. His voice shook the plains.

After uttering those words, Veris took leisurely steps forward.

The direction was toward the Holy Kingdom's camp. Knowing that those visible were quite far away due to the vastness of the southern plains of the Academy.

But Veris did not stop. He continued his leisurely pace as if taking a stroll.

"Haha."

Focusing his power, Veris scanned the Holy Kingdom's camp.

Perhaps because the display he had just shown was overwhelmingly powerful, a considerable amount of confusion swept through the Holy Kingdom's forces.

It was likely something they had never seen before. The ability to slice an enemy from hundreds of paces away.

"If you don't come, I will go."

Veris's voice was low. Yet, °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° due to the mana contained within, it became a massive wave that surged across the plains.

*

"Sir Veris...."

Cecilia looked ahead, her trembling hands clasped together.

The Holy Kingdom. She could hardly imagine they would initiate a war of invasion.

All the priests studying at the Academy received piercing glares. There was no need to mention the reasons.

It was war. Moreover, a war that was almost an invasion, with a flimsy justification at best.

Naturally, Cecilia felt a sense of intimidation. Without Veris, she might have truly been imprisoned somewhere in the Academy under the pretext of being a hostage.

"Calm down."

Arwen, standing beside her, spoke with a serious face. By now, Arwen's small palm was covering Cecilia's hand.

Cecilia's closest friend was also showing considerable tension.

"Brother will not be defeated."

"Even Gunther."

"Well, that's common sense."

It was an inappropriate jest for the situation. However, even Gunther couldn't hide the slight tension that had appeared on his face, which felt quite different from usual.

Cecilia slowly nodded her head.

Gunther, Beatrice standing beside him. Princess Maria. Along with them, many students from the Academy were surrounding her with awkward smiles.

"I..."

Cecilia felt tears welling up without her realizing it.

She felt guilty. The lives of everyone present were in danger, and the fact that her homeland, the Holy Kingdom, was committing such a horrific act felt like it was all her fault.

If only she had done better. If only she had persuaded the Pope's faith instead of coming to the Academy with the naive thought of seeing Sir Veris.

Drip.

It was already too late. Surprisingly, it was the Grand Duchess Evangeline who wiped away Cecilia's tears.

"You're still young, Saintess."

"...Professor."

It was an awkward title. But perhaps Evangeline liked it, as she responded with a smile.

"Yes. This battlefield is one where the Grand Duchess also participates. And with so many who believe in you, how can you just be sad?"

For Evangelin, who lacked empathy, it was quite a comforting statement. And it became a significant source of strength for Cecilia, more than she had expected.

"That's right. If I remain this pathetic, I will be a burden to everyone."

Cecilia, who bravely wiped her eyes, said. She lifted her head and cherished the sight of each person around her.

Everyone... was looking at her with warm gazes.

"Thank you. I won't just sit down here."

"Indeed. Just like the usual Saintess."

Evangeline burst into laughter. That laughter, surprisingly, spread like an infectious disease, reaching all the Academy students who had been trembling in fear at that moment.

*

Swoosh!

"..."

A priest who appeared to hold a rather high rank suddenly emerged from the enemy camp.

Veris, who had shown the miraculous ability to strike from hundreds of paces away with his sword energy.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Did the Pope think further bloodshed was meaningless?

Soon, a great drum sound began to resonate from the Holy Kingdom's camp.

That was the signal. An army of thousands, composed of numerous priests, holy knights, and soldiers, began to move toward the plains where Veris stood.

"Bastards."

Veris smiled. The time had come to show true power.

"You've come in numbers."

How many strategies had Veris casually laid out for this moment?

He couldn't even remember. But one thing was certain: Veris was currently drawing mana at the maximum output of his life.

"Turn to ash."

─── Whoooooooom!!

The sword from the ruins of the Age of Magic began to tremble.

"Before overwhelming power."

─ Biiiiiiiiii!!

What those standing on the plains felt was a ringing in their ears.

A noise that surpassed the limits of audible sound. It was undoubtedly the effect of the immense mana emitted by Veris.