Chapter 251

Words : 2464 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 251 The king created a new cure. He was accused of worshipping demons. At first, facts and nonsense spread separately. The king used the power of a demon to create a remedy. However, not long after, the two stories merged, creating rumors that elicited only hollow laughter from those involved. “Your Majesty. At the moment, it’s just a rumor among a few patients in this area, but if you let the priests continue as they are, it will soon spread as if it’s a confirmed fact.” Even without the worried advice of his subordinates, the issue with the priesthood had to be resolved. The priests’ protests (?) had been going on for three days, and because of this, there was a return to a sluggish pace in the treatment of the plague that had just found hope. Eventually, Logan decided to have a talk with their representative. “Bishop Ilia. Let’s talk.” However, the conversation with Ilia was not easy from the start. “I will listen here. Speak, Your Majesty.” “...Is that okay? It will be about the blasphemy of the holy, as you mentioned. A sensitive matter....” It was just an excuse to prevent other priests from interfering with the conversation, but it couldn’t be rejected. As expected, Ilia raised an eyebrow and then nodded with a serious face, allowing Logan to meet with her privately in his tent. “Why do you serve God?” Ilia’s face crumpled at that question. “...Your Majesty. Are you now openly committing blasphemy?” “Ah, no. I’m just curious about why you became a priest.” Faced with that complex question, Ilia quietly shook her head. “...It seems off-topic for the discussion we were supposed to have, doesn’t it?” “Hmm, was it rude of me? Well, fine. Let’s get to the point. Actually, I am disappointed in you, Bishop.” Ilia’s elegant brows furrowed again. “The Saint of the Slums. The only bishop whose name the people of the capital know. A bishop who cares for and loves her people. I believed such a bishop would understand what I am trying to do.” “There’s no priest who would understand breaching the temple’s taboo, Your Majesty.” “Bishop Ilia. Which do you hold more important: breaking the taboo of the temple or following the words of God?” Was the meaning of his words too obvious? Ilia’s face further hardened. “...There’s a flaw in your words, Your Majesty. The taboos exist to follow the words of God.” “But don’t you think the temple is defining the scope of the taboo too broadly?” “As I said! The taboo is created to fully follow the commands of the divine!” “Even if it prevents the following of God’s words to uphold a hollow taboo?!” “That’s sophistry...!” “It’s not sophistry; it’s reality! Bishop! Aren’t you doing just that right now!” “Your Majesty. You are going too far!” “Turning a blind eye to God’s word to save the people, you only obsess over the taboo while people are dying before our eyes!!” Ilia flinched at the sudden outburst. “Do you have the right to call it sophistry, Ilia? Are you truly a priest who follows the words of God?” Logan saw Ilia’s expression waver, although she did not back down easily. “If Your Majesty would only lift the taboo, then I and the priesthood would faithfully resume our activities in accordance with God’s words.” “And that would save the dying people?” “We will do our best...!” “Can you truly save them by doing your best? Bishop Ilia! If you and the temple can give me that assurance, then I am willing to give it up immediately!” rÄΝŐbĘȘ Logan’s shout rattled Ilia again. “So, please swear with your conscience and faith. Doing your best is not enough. Can you suppress the plague with that!? If you say that you can stake everything on it, I will willingly withdraw.” Bloodshot eyes pierced into Ilia’s blue irises like a drill. ‘If anyone is different, it’ll be this woman. The Saint of the Slums. A bishop unlike any other.’ As Logan expected, Ilia could not answer easily and her face became cloudier. After much contemplation, she finally spoke. “...I will stake my bishopric and request additional support from the temple. If the support is not satisfactory, then... I will reconsider.” The answer was not entirely pleasing, but at least it was a step in the right direction. “...Let us hope for the temple’s support.” With Logan’s sarcastic response, the treatment using deer blood was temporarily halted. “Bishop Ilia convinced His Majesty!” “Indeed!” “We must follow the word of the Lord.” The priests, elated, resumed their healing efforts. After three days, “How could this happen...!” Holding the same temple message as before, Ilia’s hands trembled. ‘I conveyed my intentions so desperately.’ The temple refused to support even the transmission infrastructure due to lack of budget, leaving her without a way to protest to the archbishop. If she sent another message, another week would slip by. Moreover, it was doubtful whether another request for support would be heeded. Above all, it was certain the king would not wait. But, if the priests’ healing was stopped again, how would they deal with the suffering people? “O God... what should your humble servant do?” Tears flowed from her tightly closed eyes as involuntary prayers spilled from the kneeling woman’s lips. “All-encompassing Lord...” Under the unusually bright moonlight, reciting the prayer that had protected her heart for over twenty years, Ilia wrestled with endless doubts. – People needing salvation are dying before our eyes while you obsess over the taboo!! – Are you truly a priest who follows the words of God? The king’s still vivid shouts in her ears. The faces of people who died during the protest against the king. – We cannot stand by this! It’s blasphemy, Bishop! The faces of priests talking about the taboo. Endlessly tormenting her. After an uncertain amount of time had passed, The tears dried, and faint traces of blood streaked from the corners of her reddened eyes. ‘[When our Lord came to the world, the silent sea encompassed everything, spewing all life into the world, transforming it. All life must return to the sea, returning to our Lord, for it is the natural order. Inclusion and change are one, and all are the will of our Lord.]’ The first verse of the scripture of Amunda, the god of the sea and change, suddenly enlightened her. ‘The taboo, in the end, needs to change if necessary. All things prioritize the will of the god who wishes to cherish the people.’ The bishop she was, using human-made taboos as an excuse to neglect the people. “Truly, my sin is great...” Despite the tears of blood, Ilia’s lips reflected a serene smile, and behind her spread a halo as bright as the moonlight above. The next day, Ilia sought out Logan. “Greetings, Your Majesty.” While she greeted, the tent where the king resided was already covered with deer blood. It appeared that upon receiving the temple’s decision, the king had immediately resumed deer blood treatment. The desperate expressions of the people who had to swallow the stinking blood bore into her eyes. ‘It’s all my fault...’ Misinterpreting Ilia’s hardened expression negatively, Logan opened his mouth with an even harder look. “I’ve heard the temple’s decision. Whatever you say, I will resume the treatment with deer blood. In fact, I’ve already restarted it. There are already over a hundred deer in the village; feeding them is becoming an issue. I won’t ask you to respond. Just don’t interfere with allegations of devil worship or anything like that.” “...How much?” “Eh?” “How effective is the deer blood? The blood of the deer?” While pouring divine power into a young girl drinking deer blood inside the tent, Ilia avoided Logan’s gaze as she asked. However, even that gesture was enough to communicate her intent. Logan’s stern face softened with a slight smile. “One bowl has a similar effect to a low-ranking priest’s holy treatment. After several doses, it can be as effective as your treatment.” “...I will support it.” With a faint smile, Logan finished explaining and finally received the answer he hoped for. “I will persuade the priests myself.” “Very well. I leave it to you, Bishop Ilia.” Of course, the priests did not easily accept the resumption of deer blood treatment. “It can’t be allowed!” “Blasphemy...!” Predictable objections erupted here and there, but this time the circumstances were different. “We’ve been interpreting the taboo of the temple too broadly. Animal blood, not human blood, does not fall under the taboo. I will guarantee this staking my bishop status!” Ilia, who had been at the forefront of opposing deer blood treatment, was now convincing the priests. “What...?” “Bishop...?” “Do you not see the groaning people? Our foremost concern should be caring for them according to God’s words!” When she spoke, Ilia had a bright smile, as if she had shed all her inner conflict. At that moment, a mystical halo began to shine behind her. It was such a sight that even the priests who had been chanting about temple taboos widened their eyes in amazement. “Oh, Lord...!” “We will heed the word.” The halo, a sign of maximized divine power in a high-ranking priest, naturally manifested, indicating that the priest’s words were in complete harmony with God’s will. Of course, ‘I’m not sure what happened, but the sacred power she wields has noticeably increased for a moment. It seems like the excess is leaking out because it’s not accustomed to the body....’ With the cause of the halo being obvious to someone like Logan, it was merely something to ponder. However, taking a good turn as it was, Logan had no intention of prattling about the cause. But despite such miraculous events, there was someone who opposed Ilia’s will. “...Bishop, you must keep your promise to take responsibility.” Priest Fabian spoke up, despite being surprised at the halo, insisting on having the last word. Additionally, Ilia’s knight, Timo, with a worried face, whispered to her. “Bishop. The temple might take issue with this. Especially now, when the kingdom is already under scrutiny by the main order over ‘that matter,’ a heresy trial could....” “I will take responsibility, so don’t worry.” “Bishop!” Seeing Ilia’s resolute face, Timo bit his lip, but her decision remained unchanged. “Clergymen, be faithful to your original duty to save the people!!” With her unyielding attitude, not only Timo but also Fabian eventually had to step back. However, ‘That man...’ Logan viewed the greedy, corpulent priest Fabian with narrowed eyes. It was obvious that the man would cause problems sooner or later. ‘That’s not for me to meddle with.’ Now was not the time to stir up trouble because of such a man. “Proceed with both the priests’ healing and the deer blood treatment! Resume relief operations for everyone!” With Logan’s declaration, vitality began to return to the village. “Is it really okay to drink this?” “Isn’t the priest saying it’s fine?” “Greg from the house next door is already better.” “Right? Then...” Even patients who preferred death and heaven to treatment began to drink deer blood, one by one. Of course, there were still some (??) who stubbornly resisted. “I’d rather die and go to heaven..., kuk!? Argh?” “Don’t flail around. You might bite your tongue. Here! For people like this, just shove it into their mouths!” When Logan took the lead and poured deer blood into the mouth of a weeping patient, other knights began forcibly feeding those who refused treatment. The sight of the village back in action was bizarre. CRACK. “There, the deer blood is spilling. Don’t let it overflow, carefully contain it!” Knights splitting the necks of dragged-in deer and soldiers collecting dripping blood. And the people who drank that blood, stretching back in a chilling scene. “O God!” Amidst the roaring of the priests invoking God and performing holy treatments, one odd sight stood out. An act of healing genuinely at odds. Yet, that controversial dual-treatment approach would soon begin to show definite results. “New recoveries far outnumber new infections!” “Fallen soldiers and doctors have all regained their strength!” The increasingly positive atmosphere and the declining number of sick made Logan smile. Moreover. “If we find just a little more precise formula, we can create a medicine using deer blood as the main ingredient. If successful, even if the same epidemic occurs again, early suppression will be possible!” With Gilbert’s hopeful report, Logan could breathe a sigh of relief. – His Majesty the King and the relief team are suppressing the epidemic. With the treatment progressing successfully, the nobles and citizens who were previously anxious about the spreading plague began to put their worries aside. Furthermore. “The king himself...?” “I thought he was just a tyrant...” “Meh, it must be made up.” “But it’s true he stayed in the village with the plague, isn’t it?” The king’s reputation began to change subtly as rumors about him spread throughout the kingdom. * * * In one corner of the royal direct jurisdiction, over 10,000 people watched the giant stone gate with tense eyes. “Really?” “Can it truly be done?” Echoing the moment years ago in MacLaine territory, workers swallowed dryly as they watched the gate. GRRRUMBLE. As the huge stone door rose with a loud noise, water began to flow into the dry channels of the barren wasteland. “It’s water!” “Really...!?” “Is this happening?!” “Everyone has worked hard. By command of His Majesty the King, the families of those workers who participated in the cultivation work will be given priority to the land tenancy rights!” As everyone stared in disbelief, the declaration with magical amplification echoed thunderously. “Long live His Majesty the King!” “Long live Logan MacLaine!” “Waaaah!” A grand cheer erupted soon after. Though it was just a corner of the royal territories that rejoiced, the news delighted Logan abundantly. “We’ve overcome the major obstacles. Now...” A clenched fist. In Logan’s red eyes that gazed into the future, the flame of ambition burned fiercer. With the relief operations effectively managing the plague, it was not feasible to deploy the already troubled priests from other areas.

Chapter 251

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