Chapter 370.2
“The Holy City is a blessed sanctuary, a fortress of the divine. Our primary mission is to protect this sacred ground. Now, go forth, announce the divine trust publicly, and rally the faithful. While equality prevailed until now, to wage war, a hierarchy is necessary. Priests, such as yourself, will play a paramount role at the forefront. I shall confer the esteemed position of bishop upon those priests who have devoted themselves to the divine with unwavering hearts.”
A fleeting desire flickered in the eyes of the priest, who had initially tensed at the mention of the Holy War. Priests, perennially in a position inferior to knights, lacked a distinct hierarchy and were merely referred to as priests. Despite concealing it, they often harbored internal lamentations about their modest status.
“From this moment onward, no one shall be permitted to leave the Holy City until the conclusion of the Holy War, and entry shall be equally restricted. A formidable barrier, sanctioned by the divine, shall shield this Holy City.”
The expansive reach of the barrier encompassed the entirety of the Holy City. When activated, the enchantment rendered it impervious, even to a king attempting to breach it. Sang-je stumbled upon the knowledge of this barrier magic in the ancient tribe’s archive, sparking a relentless pursuit to comprehend its intricacies. His exhaustive research into various levels of magic, coupled with dedicated time and resources, culminated in the recent activation of this potent magical shield.
The completion of the enchantment coincided with the births of Jin and Flora, a time when Sang-je anticipated that everything would unfold smoothly through the influence of the two Anikas. Consequently, he sealed the enchantment, believing it unnecessary at that juncture.
While the barrier enchantment wasn’t overly complex, it demanded exceptionally potent mediums and vessels, which could be substituted with human lives. Sang-je had refrained from attempting it earlier, fearing the commotion it would create, asserting that the enchantment was not absolutely essential.
However, circumstances had now changed. Sang-je was prepared to sacrifice not just a few hundred but half of the residents of the Holy Capital to secure the safety of both the Holy Capital and Anikas. His strategy was to seal off the Holy Capital and exercise patience, as time was a crucial ally. Human lives spanned at most a few decades, and within a shorter timeframe, they would inevitably forget.
***
Dark King Pered made his arrival, and as per prior instructions, the soldiers silently swung open the city gates the moment Pered revealed his identity. Puzzled by the seemingly lax security in the capital, Pered couldn’t help but contemplate, Even if they knew I was coming, isn’t the security of the capital too lax for some reason?