“A religious system, what’s this now?”
A setting not found in the original work.
Of course, even if it were possible, the idea wouldn’t have crossed my mind to begin with.
“Well, since the protagonist is a saint.”
Why would she abandon her established position as the saint of the Nephisa religion within the human empire to start a new religion? Naturally, there’s no reason.
Would she be insane enough to give up a role that won her the favor of most of the empire’s citizens and take on the risk of being branded a heretic?
However, my situation was a bit different.
‘The more tools I can use, the better.’
A vampire bound by a contract.
A countess who adores Luciana.
A gargoyle that has come to treat me as a brother after receiving a favor.
Nobles I’ve subdued.
Sure, these people would help Luciana and me.
But they weren’t blind followers.
Each had their own beliefs and desires, and they might refuse my ‘requests’ sometimes.
“Oh, oh, calamity incarnate, please command us!”
“Give us your teachings!”
In that sense, they were perfect pawns.
Whatever ‘command’ it might be.
They would follow under the banner of faith.
A ‘religious system’ was essential to manage them.
To check the performance of the rewards I gained from this endeavor, I manipulated the semi-transparent status window.
[Religious System Details]
[Religion Name: Disaster Cult Kerzo]
[Deity: The Calamity of Many Faces]
[Priest: Frost Mane]
‘Is this some kind of comedy?’
I couldn’t help but let out a snicker.
The Calamity of Many Faces.
Another identity of mine, newly added due to my dual fame this time.
‘Could I conquer the world with an alt character?’
Before being dragged into this game.
A comedian moderately famous, sweeping SNS as an alt character while singing ‘Chili Pepper Powder.’
Frost Mane, well, what can I say. It’s tiring to repeat,
But.
Despite the flashy terms like calamity,
[Current Phase: Primitive Religious Group]
[Accumulate fame and faith to advance to the next phase.]
A pseudo-religious cult where the god is the priest.
That was the current reality of Kerzo.
As if to emphasize its humble state, the religious phase was also unimpressive.
‘What’s with a primitive religion, a primitive religion.’
Even though this was my first encounter with the system, I could guess.
It was the lowest level.
[Believer Management]
[4 Officers and 172 Members]
[Fortune Teller]
[Sword Demon]
[Tamer] – [Distrust]
[Puppeteer] – [Distrust]
[…]
Moreover, the status of the members was a mess.
‘If more than half are in a state of distrust, can this even be called a religion?’
Despite having capable officers, this was why they were reduced to minor roles in episodes.
[Sword Demon]
[Action leader of Kerzo, armed with faith towards the calamity, strikes at enemies without hesitation.]
[Despises, even hates nobles, believing they cause him to be treated unfairly.]
[…]
Fortunately, one good thing was being able to check detailed information about the followers.
‘I’ll have to go over this later.’
Based on this information, there might be a chance to reduce the number of dissenters.
Other than that…
[Faith Skill]
[This feature is locked.]
[Unlocks when religious promotion is achieved.]
It turned out to be a feature as elusive as a pie in the sky.
“Sigh.”
“Calamity, is there anything that troubles you?”
How she interpreted the sigh of disappointment, I do not know.
The fortune teller’s sharp gaze scanned those who were disloyal.
In truth, she was the leader of Kerzo before me.
Her eyes, twisted and even more grotesquely contorted, full of wrinkles, made Puppeteer and Tamer flinch.
It seemed she was misunderstanding again.
“Have I not already said? Do not blame them. It’s not a displeasure caused by the trivial defiance of a lesser being.”
“I am sorry.”
The fortune teller, earnestly bowing her head and kneeling.
Turning away from her, I sighed lightly again.
‘Tsk. Pointlessly raising expectations.’
A flashy but dysfunctional system, with all features locked.
Clergy management, religious skills.
For now, they were of no use.
In the end, only by gathering fame and faith would their true value be revealed.
“Stop this meaningless conflict. Now is the time to unite under my command.”
And the solution was already determined.
Fame?
Infamy is also a form of fame.
Faith?
Just produce one overwhelming result, and it will naturally follow.
“There are more pressing issues than such a punishment.”
“Oh, command us.”
“It’s about your plan, the raid on the Academy. It’s not bad but it’s lacking.”
At my sharp and biting evaluation, every Kerzo officer present inhaled sharply.
“We, we will correct it!”
The trembling fortune teller bowed her head.
Ah, this is it.
Absolute power vested by divine authority.
The sight of the Kerzo officers fussing over my words was both amusing and satisfying.
“Ha ha, I didn’t mean to scold. Rather, considering the timing, you’ve concocted a rather interesting plan gathering nonexistent forces. Whose strategy was it?”
The gaze of three officers turned towards a small wooden puppet.
Indeed, the brain of Kerzo.
She had been behind various acts of terrorism in the original work, so it was expected.
“What, eh? With this level of force, that’s the best you could do.”
Her tone still held some defiance.
Was it because I had criticized her plan, or was there a slight hostility present?
Of course, she couldn’t openly oppose me.
‘What’s she going to do, tremble as a puppet?’
Maybe it was because of the overwhelming fight earlier.
It seemed I had indeed instilled a sense of fear in her about me.
I picked up the puppeteer’s wooden puppet.
“The plan is excellent, but it needs refinement.”
“…Yes?”
“Think clearly about the objective. We are the ones who will lead the world to ruin. Shouldn’t we spread chaos in the world, like plotting the real assassination of the crown prince?”
The infamous reputation needed for the growth of the religion.
It absolutely shouldn’t end as a mere happening that gets suppressed.
“But, that would inevitably involve sacrifices.”
“Stop the weak talk. Can you still call yourself a follower of the Disaster Religion?”
Snap!
I rebuked the foolish believer who still hadn’t learned.
“This opportunity must be used to make everyone aware. Nephisa? Do not be deceived by a false god, and serve the great change that will create the new world to come!”
Like a madman.
With my hands stretched towards the sky, the believers responded in kind.
“I will do my best to satisfy the eye of the calamity!”
Starting with the agreement of the head, Fortune teller, Sword Demon, Tamer, and Puppeteer who had heard me, no opposing opinions arose.
Well, it’s the will of the god.
If you are a believer, you must rightfully respond.
-You’re so excited. If this continues, it will climb to the top of your head.
-…Ahem. That wouldn’t happen, of course. I’m just saying this in front of them.
It was Bathory who left such a blunt comment to me, too engrossed in the role and atmosphere.
“The plan will be communicated later, through my device as a medium.”
The day of action is, of course, the upcoming coming-of-age ceremony of the crown prince.
I’ll have to be prepared by then.
‘I never liked the crown prince from the beginning.’
In the original work, and even in the memories I saw through Luciana.
It was time to show the naïve prince what spice really tasted like.
***
“Crown prince…”
“If only I could speak to him even once.”
“If only I could win his favor…”
In the classroom of political science.
A young man, receiving the attentive gazes of many noble students, swept back his blue hair.
Garon Manhett.
Belonging to the most noble lineage in the empire, he silently read a book in his seat.
Or, to be precise, he was pretending to read.
“So, his coming-of-age ceremony is coming up soon?”
“Time flies… What would be a good gift?”
“If you want to catch the crown prince’s eye, it has to be something quite expensive.”
The topic among those nearby was all about his own coming-of-age ceremony.
Garon nodded in satisfaction.
‘Well, these nobles are fickle in their topics of conversation, but rarely do I find today’s to my liking.’
Having experienced social gatherings from a young age, Garon was not unaware of the tendencies of the nobles.
To them, chatter was a window for sharing information.
Understanding the inner thoughts of others and determining whether they are friends or foes was the foundation of politics.
Naturally, it was common to explore each other’s opinions based on the current topic of interest.
However, that was…
‘If it involves that woman, then it’s a different story.’
Until a few days ago, it was all about how Luciana Speda had reached the level of an aura expert.
How she had saved her endangered servant through a trial.
He was sick of hearing that name continuously filling the classroom, irritation reaching the top of his head.
Yet now, with his coming-of-age ceremony not far off.
Such conversations had completely disappeared as if they were never had.
Having grasped the gist of the conversation, there was nothing more to listen to.
Just as he was about to immerse himself in a book related to political science.
“Your Highness, the crown prince. May I have a moment of your time?”
As beautiful as jade rolling on a silver platter.
Yet, to him, it was an utterly uncomfortable voice that stood before his desk.
“…What is it, Lady Speda.”
“I would like to discuss something related to the upcoming coming-of-age ceremony.”
Her voice was inorganic, devoid of any emotion.
And her expression was impassive, reminiscent of a golem crafted by the dwarves of the south.
“His Majesty the Emperor suggests that it would be beneficial for us to show a united front to everyone…”
“Let’s stop there.”
Cutting off the words of his fiancée, he gestured from the inside out.
Luciana, as a noble lady, knew well that it meant to leave.
“However, Your Highness, this is a matter of great importance between families…”
“I’m sorry, but this is the academy.”
Of course, it is a place of lowered social distinctions.
A place relatively free from the connections of the outside world.
Not receiving the proper treatment as a crown prince wasn’t a big issue, because he had dreamed of such an environment.
Not bound by the position of crown prince, but true companions with whom he could share friendship.
Externally, they might squabble, but in times when unity was needed, they would stand back-to-back as comrades-in-arms.
And, true love.
“I do not wish to use the occasion of celebrating my coming of age to publicly declare our engagement.”
“Your Highness…”
“I trust you understand. I will not repeat myself, so please leave.”
The woman, typically as impassive as stone, bit her lip rarely.
‘So she makes such a face when things don’t go her way.’
But Garon was not deceived.
He knew well that the emotions she expressed were mostly related to her prestigious family.
Falsehood.
His relationship with her had always been punctuated by falsehoods.
“…Understood. I will excuse myself.”
Luciana quickly left the classroom.
Garon watched her go,noticing her hand resting on the sword at her waist.
Still, as they had been engaged for many years, he knew she often managed her surging emotions through training.
And that, the anger at this moment was likely caused by him.
‘Well, I can’t deny that actions borne from ugly sentiments are reprehensible.’
Among his peers, he was overwhelmingly talented in both swordsmanship and aura.
What warrior could not feel jealous of him?
Choosing political science over the swordsmanship department, even when he heard about Luciana’s achievements and exploits through newspapers or noble conversations.
Mockingly belittling himself with jokes if he was really of the same level.
All of it gnawed at his heart.
“Look at that. The crown prince, as expected…”
“Indeed. Lady Speda of the Duke’s family is too presumptuous…”
Once more, the nobles’ conjectures flowed past his ears.
And the prince, acknowledging this not as misconception but fact, felt no need to correct them angrily.
But Garon Manhett did not know.
“How dare, how dare you be so cold to Luciana?”
“Ha, this kid… Even at the academy, there are duties to be upheld.”
“Wow! That’s blasphemy! It’s a good thing I’m the only one here.”
“Lady Elizabeth, be honest. Are you satisfied with ‘this kid’?”
“…No! Bastard! Worthless scoundrel! Weaker than my fiancée!”
Rumors among nobles travel faster than a running horse.
He could not have imagined that he had firmly earned the hatred of Luciana’s fervent fan club (consisting of two members).
Cliche Novel 
The two members are good at hating him.
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