The High Priest’s Grand Delusions

“Great Goddess, why do you grieve so?”

After half a night of bumping along in the carriage, the leader of the Heavenly King Faction, a white-robed elder who called himself the High Priest, ordered everyone to stop and make camp.

Noticing Mizuki Aoi sitting by the bonfire, her face ashen and lost in thought, the High Priest quickly inquired.

Although they had only known each other for a few hours, Mizuki Aoi had already realized that this man was behind all the Sakura Nation’s escalating madness over the years. Naturally, she wouldn’t show him any pleasantries.

“Are you reluctant to leave this life behind?”

The High Priest was overjoyed, more excited than anyone else in the group. “There’s no need to worry. In the future, you will live a life hundreds of times better than this.”

“What a boast.”

A handsome young man, also seated by the bonfire, scoffed. As he had an equal partnership with the High Priest, he showed no fear towards the elder, even harboring disdain for the Heavenly King Faction’s provocative actions.

Mizuki Aoi inwardly agreed with his words.

However, the white-robed elder merely let out a sneer.

“This merely shows your ignorance. Though I can understand it; to you Empire folk, the capital of the Vermillion Bird Kingdom must seem like an incredible paradise.”

“After all, your Empire is so backward and unenlightened.”

Mizuki Aoi had expected Rayne to fly into a rage.

To her surprise, he merely nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, our imperial capital truly has nothing that can compare to Vermillion Bird City, save for its population.”

“But you are from the Sakura Nation, aren’t you? What right do you have to call us dilapidated?”

“Ignorant! Foolish!”

The High Priest grew angry, not because others mocked the Sakura Nation for being backward, but because Rayne claimed he had no right to speak. “Boy, who do you think I am? Surely you don’t believe my status is merely that of a petty leader of the Heavenly King Faction?”

‘Isn’t that so?’ Rayne couldn’t help but chuckle. “Oh, or perhaps, an incompetent leader who must resort to kidnapping and threats just to retrieve their own country’s king.”

“Don’t you dare call me incompetent, you descendants of criminals!”

Stung once more, the High Priest exploded in fury, and his subordinates quickly surrounded them.

“Old man, are you certain you want to lay hands on me?”

Rayne calmly took a bite of his roasted bread.

****

The High Priest pondered for a moment.

In the end, he waved his hand, dismissing his subordinates.

It wasn’t fear of the Empire itself, for Rayne was but one man. However, he was a high-tier Battle Lord, one of the Empire’s rare “elites.” Against the Sakura Nation’s Battle Lords, while he might not annihilate them all, he could inflict heavy casualties.

Such a confrontation would also expose their whereabouts to the Vermillion Bird Kingdom.

Considering his grand ambitions, the High Priest decided to endure it for now.

Once he calmed down, he had to admit that Rayne had a point. He then turned to face Mizuki Aoi.

“Princess Mizuki, you need not worry. I haven’t deceived you. In the future, you will surely not regret today’s decision.”

Mizuki Aoi remained unmoved by his words.

However, she noticed Rayne giving her a meaningful look from behind.

‘[Was that a setup to extract information?]’

Mizuki Aoi hesitated for a moment. Still, she decided to go along with him, for she held no interest in what the High Priest had to say.

Yet, if she could understand the High Priest and the logic behind his insane actions, she might better know how to respond in the future.

‘Especially… if someone were to pursue them, in the worst-case scenario, she could threaten him with what he valued most.’

‘Yes, even if that most valuable thing was herself.’

“Your Excellency, High Priest, even with what you’ve said, I still don’t understand.”

“Is there truly any place in this world more prosperous than Vermillion Bird City?”

“Yes! Of course there is, and many of them!”

The High Priest declared proudly, but before he could elaborate, he noticed Rayne smirking and shaking his head again.

He finally lost his patience.

Or rather, he had endured for far too long. Today, he had achieved a rare and significant success, the culmination of decades of waiting, and he refused to hold back any longer.

“Hmph, don’t assume I’m speaking nonsense. I’m not afraid to tell you that this continent you bumpkins inhabit is merely a tiny fraction of the entire human world. It’s not even a tenth of it!”

“What? So you’re telling me fairy tales about ‘there’s a heaven beyond heaven’ to humor a child?”

“Surely you’re not trying to tell me there are other continents beyond the Stormy Seas, and prosperous, vast empires past the Everfrost Mountains, are you?”

Rayne adopted a playful expression, as if listening to a child recount their grandest dreams.

“All of it is true!”

The High Priest struggled to sneer back. “You simply have no idea how magnificent and prosperous the Divine Dragon Continent is!”

“The farmers there use golden hoes, right? I understand.”

“That’s the extent of your knowledge. I dare not tell you that the inhabitants of this continent are actually descendants of criminals exiled from the Divine Dragon Continent!”

“And aren’t you as well?”

“I am not! Don’t you dare confuse my ancestors with those ignorant fools who have forgotten the greatness of their homeland!”

“Haha, I know exactly what your situation is like now.”

“You’re just like those criminals exiled to a desolate backwater, yet still putting on aristocratic airs and harboring ambitions as high as the heavens.”

“You!”

Stung to his core, the High Priest was momentarily speechless with rage.

“Putting everything else aside, you’re at least eighty years old now, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know how long you’ve been stuck here, but you’re practically at death’s door and still can’t return. What good is the Divine Dragon Continent’s prosperity to you?”

“Who says I can’t go back? I can return right now!”

“How?”

“Of course… Boy, are you trying to trick information out of me?”

After all, the High Priest was over eighty years old. Even though he was accustomed to arrogance due to his contempt for the people of this continent, he still maintained a minimum level of vigilance.

“Do I even need to?”

Rayne glanced at Mizuki Aoi. “She’s your capital for securing a pardon and returning to your country, isn’t she?”

“And our Imperial Emperor desires the advanced technology of the Divine Dragon Continent. Am I wrong?”

“Even if you know, it’s useless. I won’t tell you Mizuki Aoi’s true value.”

“Furthermore, don’t even think about bypassing me to trade Princess Mizuki for anything. If you don’t want to incur your Emperor’s wrath, then just focus on completing your mission properly!”

“Hmph, you needn’t concern yourself with my mission.”

Rayne fell silent for a moment.

This was the limit of the information he could extract given his current identity.

To delve deeper, he would need to rely on—

“Is the Divine Dragon Continent truly that wonderful?”

“The Empire’s population is also larger than the Kingdom’s, but no matter how I look at it…”

Mizuki Aoi frowned slightly, still appearing unconvinced by the High Priest’s grand promises.

“The Divine Dragon Continent naturally boasts more than just a large population.”

“Its prosperity and flourishing state absolutely far surpass this Kingdom!”

“You haven’t returned to the Divine Dragon Continent in decades, so how can you be certain it’s definitely better there?”

Seeing Mizuki Aoi’s willingness to cooperate, Rayne continued. “Even if everything you say is true, aren’t you worried about the Vermillion Bird Kingdom’s Saintess pursuing us?”

“Haha, that mere low-tier Battle Lord might dominate this continent of Europa, but dare they challenge the Divine Dragon Continent?”

“Do they truly think the Sacred Temple is to be trifled with?”

“What is the Sacred Temple?” Rayne asked.

“You are not worthy to know. However, I can tell you this: the reason the magic on this continent is so imbalanced… is precisely the work of the Sacred Temple!”