The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic - Chapter 400

399: 399 399: 399 Outside the tent, Vic grumbled with clear disgust.

“I don’t understand what’s wrong with these people.

How can they just choose someone like her?” He clicked his tongue and turned to Handle.

“She’s a complete bitch, isn’t she?” Handle gave a slow nod.

“Yeah.

She doesn’t look like a Saintess candidate at all.” “More like a villainess who just wanted people to worship her despite lacking virtue..”Linda snickered.

“I can’t believe someone like her was made fit for Saintess Candidate.” “Saintess candidate?” Freya scoffed, crossing her arms.

“She doesn’t even deserve to be a priest.” Linda nodded in agreement, her face cold.

Herion clenched his fist.

“You’re just talking about her, but what about the others?

Every one of them looked the same.

They stared at us like we were trash.” Sol frowned and muttered, “Maybe run into a group of fakers?” “It’s certainly possible right..” Everyone looked at him with confusion.

Linda hesitated before asking, “No one would actually dare to impersonate the Church… right?” A heavy silence fell.

The behavior they had seen from the Church group was too strange, too arrogant.

Something felt wrong.

“Maybe this group is just rotten,” Herion finally said.

“One bad apple from the whole bunch.” Vic turned toward Kael, his tone more serious.

“My Lord, what do you think?” Everyone looked at Kael, who had been listening quietly the whole time.

He gave a bitter smile.

His eyes looked tired, but calm.

What could he even say?

He couldn’t just tell them the truth ..that most of those people were indeed rotten to the core.

Only a few among them were decent, and even they had shadows in their hearts.

This also made him wonder just why he looked at them as if they were salvation.However if you think carefully,all children were taught to worship them early.

It was clearly brainwashing kids.

“You’ve already said everything that needs to be said,” Kael replied.

“Why drag me into it now?” Vic frowned slightly.

“I just want to know what we’ll do next.

Are we supposed to fight beside them?” Kael didn’t answer right away.

He looked out into the distance where the campfires flickered under the night sky.

The smoke rose slowly, mixing with the wind.

The smell of blood from the earlier battle still lingered faintly in the air.

He took a slow breath before speaking.

“From what I remember, our forces were fighting on the Western front while Roosevelt’s side took on the East.

If both sides have met here, it means one thing.” He paused, his voice lowering.

“Humans have managed to push forward and close the gap on the minor axis.” The group fell silent again.

The sound of the wind brushing against the tent filled the space.

Handle rubbed the back of his neck.

“So, this place is like a midpoint between the two sides.” Kael gave a small nod.

“Yes.

It also means the battlefield is expanding.

The moment we start moving again, the real war begins.” Freya looked uneasy.

“Do we really have to fight beside them?” Kael’s eyes hardened.

“If the command says so, we don’t have a choice.

But we’ll have to be careful.

We won’t rely on anyone except ourselves.They might not backstab us but they certainly won’t help.” “Don’t fight carelessly thinking that we have healers now.” Vic kicked a small stone near his foot.

“I still can’t stand them.

Acting all holy while looking down on everyone else.” Herion sighed heavily.

“That’s how it always is.

Those people think they’re chosen by the gods.

They forget what it means to be human.” Kael stayed silent for a while.

The fire’s light flickered across his face, showing the faint lines of exhaustion beneath his calm expression.

“We rest tonight,” he said at last.

“Tomorrow, we’ll see what kind of people we’re really dealing with.” The others nodded slowly, still uneasy.

Outside, the night grew darker.

The distant cries of beasts echoed through the valley, mixing with the quiet crackle of the campfire.

No one spoke after that.

The silence felt heavy, almost suffocating, as if the air itself carried the weight of the battles yet to come.

Kael sat apart from the others.

His frown became deeper and deeper.The more he thought the more things didn’t make sense.

Why does this feel wrong, he thought.

The Church’s behavior matched what he remembered.

That woman Michelle stirred a cold memory.

Back when he had been on the demon side, he had killed many like her.

He had killed eight of ten candidates because of how cruel they were.

However the question was?

But why would the Church let people like this show themselves in this virtual realm?

Why let them act so rude and hateful when all of this was crafted by mages?

Thousands of people are watching outside.Such behaviour would clearly defame the Church.Instead of this,the Church should have shown them benevolent to attract praises of the masses.

The Church would not damage its own name for nothing.

So there had to be something else behind this.

Kael rubbed his chin.

Maybe an outside force was at work.

If so, who was pulling the strings?

Was this a ploy against the Church?

Also where were the four heroes.

Was that planned too?

He shook his head.

Maybe he was overthinking.

But after what had happened to him before, overthinking felt safer than being surprised.

He would tell Martina to watch those fools.

If needed, he would put them in their place himself.

….

A sudden noise broke the train of thought.

A loud scream came from a nearby tent.

Things were thrown on the ground and crashed.

Something heavy hit the ground.

The sound echoed hard across the camp.

“What is this?” someone called.

“This is blatant disrespect,” a woman howled.

She was wild with anger.

She threw more things into the air.

They smashed.

“You dare disrespect me and my God,” she shouted.

“Heretics.

Heretics!

You should be imprisoned and tortured for this.” Her voice shook.

She stamped her foot and swore loudly.

People nearby fell silent.

A cold, gruff voice answered from outside the tent.

“Saintess,” the voice said.

The woman stopped mid-throw.

Slowly she turned.

Her face smoothed when she saw Richard entering the tent.

She bowed her head a little.

“Uncle,” she said.

The anger drained a bit.

Richard looked at the mess and sighed.

He paced slowly among the broken things.

“Michelle,” he said.

“Did I not tell you to hold your anger?” “It is not me who messed up,” Michelle spat.

“They are the ones who insult us.

They do not respect the Goddess.

They dare to treat us like trash.” Richard put a hand on her shoulder.

He spoke quietly and measured.

“My dear Michelle,” he said, “Calm down.

I feel the same as you.

Their behavior is bad.

I want to kill them too.

I would cut them into pieces if I could.” Michelle’s eyes lit at that.

She leaned forward.

“Then why do you not act?” she demanded.

Richard sighed again.

He looked at her with pity and caution.

“Because I lack the authority to act as I wish,” he said.

His voice was soft but firm.

“Authority is needed to strike without consequences.” Michelle frowned.

Authority.

The word hung in the air.

“After you become Saintess,” Richard said slowly, “then you can do what you want.” Michelle blinked.

The idea took root fast.

Becoming a Saintess meant power.

It meant the right to punish.

Her fists tightened.

A thin smile curved at her lips.

“Saintess,” she muttered.

“Yes.

Then I can make them pay.” Richard leaned closer and spoke low.

His words fed the fire in her eyes.

“You must be careful and patient,” he told her.

“Do not rush.

Use every chance to grow your following.

Gather respect.

Make the right people notice you.

When the chance comes, you will stand and claim the title.

Then no one will dare challenge you.” Michelle listened like a hungry wolf.

She nodded, eager and fierce.

Her anger softened into a kind of cold resolve.

Richard straightened.

He tapped Michelle’s head lightly, like a teacher might do.

“Calm yourself,” he said.

“You will get your chance.

But you must win it cleverly, not by breaking everything in a fit.” He turned to leave.

As he stepped out of the tent, he clicked his tongue and muttered under his breath.

“If not for the power in her, her behavior would be unforgivable,” he said.

“Too hasty,and too eager to win.

Still, she might be useful.

I will keep an eye on her.” “In the meanwhile,I should look for other candidates to support..

Relying on her won’t be alone.” He walked away with a small smile that did not reach his eyes.

He looked older than his years.

He looked like a man who could play long games.

Inside the tent, Michelle sat back down.

Her hands trembled with excitement and anger.

She held her head high as she repeated the goal Saintess to herself like a promise.