ALL NOVEL
Chapter 74: The Enemy of the World
The golden rays of the morning sun shone through the clouds and illuminated the world.
But the world embraced by the sun’s warmth was marred by blood, flames, and silent weeping. A cruel slaughter was underway.
There was no compassion, no sympathy, and no mercy.
Youths were hacked down by the roadside. Women were hung in the forests. Babies were smashed on the stairs.
And the ones carrying out these violent acts were stern knights dressed in red and white robes.
“Captain Cassivia!” A knight galloped up to a cold-faced female knight dressed in thick armor. “We have caught all the heretics. What should we do next?”
“You useless thing! You have been in the Order for some time now, and you still need me to tell you what to do? All heretics are to be purged!”
“Ah? A-all…” The young knight was rendered speechless. “S-shouldn’t we give them a chance to turn over a new leaf?”
Despite having accompanied the knight captain in purging heretics for months, he still thought that the knight captain was going too far.
He mustered his courage to face the knight captain’s cold gaze and replied, “Many of them lived their lives listening to their village chief’s nonsense, never having the chance to bask in the glory of our Lord. Why don’t we bring some priests here to correct their mistaken faith…”
His voice grew softer and softer.
Cassivia glared down at him and roared, “Trash, do you need me to say it a second time? All heretics are to be purged!”
“Understood.”
Knowing that he might just become the first knight to be dragged away and purged if he pushed his case on, the young knight quickly backed down.
“Captain Cassivia, are we going to do it today as well…” another knight beside Cassivia asked.
“Write another letter to curse that heretic,” Cassivia replied, “Maggots who taint our Lord’s glory do not deserve to exist! A day shall come where we purge all those vermin!”
“…”
The knight pursed his lips, but he decided against saying anything. He, too, thought that the captain was being too excessive, especially since the Eastern Orthodoxy, unlike the heretics, were at least an offshoot of their religion.
Yet, Cassivia still saw them as heretics.
It was fortunate they were far away, and they were unlikely to go to the Balkans unless there was a major war.
Looking at it from this perspective…
Forget it. If our captain wants to curse them, so be it. It’s not anything much anyway.
Just then, a messenger bearing the imperial flag suddenly arrived on a horse.
“Captain Cassivia, His Majesty has summoned you.”
…
Not long later…
“As I expected!” Cassivia’s eyes gleamed in excitement. “Even the Pope has had enough of those heretics! Prepare for the Holy War! We shall form an army of Crusaders, march to the Eastern Romain Empire, and purge every single one of those heretics!”
The other knights were also riled up to hear that news. They waited expectantly for further orders, but Cassivia’s order for them to assemble never arrived.
…
Meanwhile, by the Danube River…
“You’re looking for our Caesar?” Sophia frowned at the envoy from the Holy Romain Empire. “Why are you looking for him? Our Caesar is busy sieging a city.”
The Holy Romain Empire’s envoy replied with a polite smile, “I understand, Princess Sophia. We can wait.”
Are they here to offer their gifts? But they have already sent their gifts not long ago, though it is lacking compared to the other cities and nations.
The Holy Romain Empire is a powerful country, after all. It won’t bend over backward for us, unlike those smaller nations.
Sophia sensed that something was amiss about the Holy Romain Empire’s envoy.
Shu Yichao had already turned his attention away from Italy and was no longer threatening any of the empire’s cities. There was no reason for the Holy Romain Empire to send an envoy over.
Just then, Shu Yichao entered the tent.
“Revered Caesar,” the envoy earnestly bowed with a courteous smile, “our empress is filled with admiration for you. These are a small token of her feelings.”
The envoy’s servant first passed Sophia a list of gifts before respectfully presenting a wooden chest to Shu Yichao with both hands. The envoy stepped forward to open the chest.
In the chest were fresh roses placed on a delicate velvet base, with a letter with flowery borders lying in the center.
Is this a love letter?! The Holy Romain Empire’s empress is professing her love to our Caesar?!
I mean, I know our Caesar is a young general with great accomplishments under his name, not to mention he is a rare beauty too, so it isn’t surprising for Empress Frederina to be infatuated with him, but I can’t help but feel that something is amiss…
Sophia pursed her lips.
【Mmmmmm!】
System 12345 let out a yawn.
【Morning, my host. Eh, what’s that?!】
The sight of the ornate letter on the functioning quarter of its screen left System 12345 panicked. It anxiously typed out a message for Shu Yichao through the information window.
【My host, you mustn’t touch that letter! There’s poison on the letter!】
【That’s a letter from the Holy Romain Empire’s Empress Frederina! As beautiful as she is, her heart is venomous through and through. It’s not without reason people call her Blood Rosalia!】
【There are rumors that she bathes in the fresh blood of young ladies mixed with roses to maintain her beauty. She also has countless young noblemen kneeling at her skirt, and over a hundred of them have died fighting for her…】
【All this might sound weirdly familiar to you. Yes, it does bear some resemblance to a legend from your world, but that’s not the main point!】
【The main point is that Frederina is a poison user. She is a mini boss in the game’s plotline! She definitely bears malevolent intent for writing a letter to you!】
【My host, you absolutely mustn’t touch that letter!】
System 12345 was flustered.
【AHHHH!!! My host, why aren’t you reading my messages at all?!】
【Eh, wait a moment… Have I previously given my host some treatment serums?】
System 12345 suddenly remembered something.
“Hm?”
Unlike what the envoy was hoped and System 12345 was worried about, Shu Yichao didn’t reach out to grab the letter that was overflowing with affection. Instead, his eyes were on his minimap.
Just a second ago, the envoy’s white dot turned red.
“Are you here to declare war?” Shu Yichao asked. “What an incredible observation of etiquette. I’d expect no less from the Holy Roman Empire.”
Up to this point, most countries had gone ahead to attack them without giving any heads up. This might be the first time a country had first officially declared war on them before making a move.
“Declare war?!” Sophia exclaimed in her native tongue.
“…” The envoy’s face stiffened up.
Why did Princess Sophia suddenly shout that? Did they notice something amiss with the letter? Damn it! What went wrong?
Cold sweat trickled down the envoy’s forehead.