In the [Hero’s Apocalypse], the Holy Empire of Divinia was divided into four major powers—all of which kept the empire’s balance in check while also inevitably serving as deterrence against the foreign hostile forces.
The Royal Power—divided into two central entities: the Imperial Princess’ faction and the Crown Prince’s faction; both factions were being closely watched by the Holy Emperor for the sake of the empire’s future filled with uncertainty.
The Nobility Faction—also divided into two distinct groups within the same circle; the Divinian Faction and the Imperialist Faction. It corresponded to those who sternly supported the Imperial Princess in becoming an empress, and those who wanted the Crown Prince to become the next emperor.
The Seven Hero Bloodlines—the stronghold of the holy empire that continued to uphold its divine status throughout the continent, also considered as the closest families and blood of the Goddess of Light.
Only a select few within the Hero Bloodline could be blessed with the opportunity to ’directly’ speak to the Goddess without consequences.
Apart from that, it would only be the True Hero that could ’directly’ step foot in the kingdom of light and see the Goddess of Light’s true symbolic figure without obliterating their own existence.
In addition, as the bloodline of the Founding Hero was vast in its own right, they were the ones who founded the Church of Luminary around two thousand years ago.
Thus its Saintess, its Pope of Luminosity, and every high-ranking official of the congregation was likely a member of the family belonging to the Hero Bloodline.
Lastly, the fourth major power that kept the holy empire in its unwavering scales was the so-called [Arcanum Council], which consisted of nine (9) famous Magic Towers erected throughout the holy empire, including the Magic Tower of Infinitum that Maya Hel Infinitum belonged to.
Every magic tower that founded the council had its own respective Tower Master, with each one said to be at the level of an archmage or at the brink of breaking through it... or possibly reaching the realm beyond what was known.
With these being said, as one of the troublesome characters in the original story that played a part or two, Count Othenwald had a considerable connection with one of the nine renowned Magic Towers, specifically to its Tower Master.
’That’s why Count Othenwald could abandon and let go of his infantrymen without worries. He could just request a mage or two in that magic tower with each caliber that would be worth hundreds, if not thousands, of these pathetic soldiers acting bandits.’
Looking at the surviving soldiers of Othenwald in critical condition, all rounded up similar to what the villagers had experienced some time ago, I spoke coldly as my gaze fixated on the center of attention, prompting me to assume that this person was the captain of these hounds, "Look at that. You look like you’re dying."
The man’s foot was severed by Beatrice, who seemed to truly have a knack for assassination among other combat specializations.
Glaring at me as he bled closer to death, the pillager’s captain mustered some strength to speak, "W-who are you...?!"
I had no intention of satisfying his last curiosity.
Instead, I crouched to match his gaze and expressed my sincere gratitude, "Thank you... for your involuntary contributions."
My gaze then landed past them, seeing the disorganized arrangements of horses numbering exactly fifty. Thankfully, the [Warbody Program] included basic lessons in horse riding.
Since we had no time to spare with these former fodders of Othenwald County, I turned away.
However, before I gestured for my sister to finish it, I heard one of the surviving soldiers cry, "P-please spare me-!"
There was no sense of camaraderie.
No sense of comradeship and honor that would choose to die along with their companions.
And in my perspective, that was a commendable resolve.
—Not that I would tolerate a sense of betrayal among my people.
Setting my gaze on the source of the voice, it seemed the wounded soldier’s plea had warranted my attention; that’s what the other soldiers had thought.
Because of it, the other soldiers, and even their so-called captain opened his mouth to plead, throwing away any pride for a slim chance of survival.
"Y-you can use us! J-just don’t kill us, please!"
"W-we have families back home..."
We have families back home...
Such words resonated in me, prompting me to let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
Everyone had a home. Every person has a family.
No one in this world was without someone they could call a family.
The only difference was that life was fairly unfair to everybody.
Hearing the pillagers’ captain saying those words, I slowly approached him for the second time, casually crouched in front of him, tapped his shoulder twice, and whispered to his ears with a distant tone,
"Cease your worries. I will take care of them in your absence."
One of the Seven Commandments in the recovering society of Eshu County was:
[Do not murder your own kin. Only will it be allowed against any outsidethreat and in times of war.]
Knowing that there was no point in begging for their lives, the unnamed captain screamed just after I raised my body to retreat.
But seeing my incomprehensible gaze, he couldn’t tell whether my expression signified a good sign... or the worst thing that would befall his family.
Sadly, he would never know.
"Kaya, it’s up to you."
I entrusted my sister to end the matters here—both physically and spiritually.
As someone with a Talent: [Necromancy], this situation was an opportunity for her to legally practice it.
Added to that, having an affinity with [Death], as vague as it could be, allowed Kaya to feel the lingering resentment and cries of those who died unfairly at the hands of the oppressors.
Even with the weeks of being voluntarily (?) trained under the wing of the new lord, her mental state seemed to tremble the moment she set foot in this land.
While being guarded by Azrabel, Beatrice, and the double agent Yena, along with several hardened soldiers, I turned away to approach the horses nearby.
I didn’t need to oversee everything.
I also repeatedly told them to be capable of making rational decisions even in my absence.
That way, they would not solely depend on my word.
Without looking back, I began to hear the agonizing screams of the wounded enemies as their limbs and insides were being thrown in all sides without an ounce of mercy.
In one of the burning bonfires that exuded lofty flames, Kaya saw a small hand—without its everything, to whom it’s supposed to be for.
An innocent child’s hand was mercilessly cut off by these madmen.
The corpses of the villagers were not completely burned to the point of no trace after they arrived, causing her to witness a gruesome scene she had never seen even during the territorial war against the Count of Othenwald.
Clenching her fists and biting her lip, Kaya used her [Necromancy] to call forth the numerous souls of the dead.
Since her talent was still low tier, she could only choose to summon the five specific parents of the deceased children her instincts were telling her to.
The resentment was palpable that she could not help but feel extremely nauseated. However, as she ignored the disgusting feeling, her will became the will of the dead.
The manifestation of five specters of the dead, all fluidly dyed black and dark green that seemed to represent death itself, began to tear apart the helpless soldiers.
Some had their hearts ripped.
Some had their guts spilled.
Some had their skulls crushed.
A sight common in war.
"I’m sorry..." Kaya mumbled apologetically.
She did not feel sorry for the soldiers that became bandits. But to the lonely dead, who finished their revenge even if it seemed there was no point in it.
The five specters looked at her with unreadable expressions.
She could not make out their true faces since she only summoned them based on the degree of lingering wrath.
What should she do next?
"It seems they do not want to let go yet, Young Miss." Beatrice tapped her shoulder.
It was then that Kaya realized that these pillagers only turned this way because of one person—Count Othenwald.
Perhaps these souls had already realized it too.
That’s why this merely became a starting point of their revenge.
Taking a deep breath, Kaya slightly bowed, momentarily flustering the specters.
She then said with a newfound resolve, "Let... Let me help you find true peace."
With her sincerity, the five specters dissipated to nothingness.
But Kaya sensed something assimilated within her soul as she clutched and looked at her chest with a serene expression.
"Let’s give respect to the dead."