I’m Going to Destroy this Country

Buzz, buzz.

The banquet hall of the Papacy buzzed with excitement.

In the spacious hall, there were not only priests but also nobles and knights. However, as if they had an agreement, they all looked at one place.

It was the Blue team.

Of course, gaining attention from numerous people was a good thing. For the Saint candidates, it was a path to becoming the Pope, and for ordinary priests, it was a path associated with success.

Yes, it was a good thing, but…

“Have you heard? About the mission assigned to the Blue team this time?”

“Huh… Isn’t it enough that they sent apprentices to the Magic Empire, but also to rescue a captured paladin?”

“Wow… How will the apprentices handle that? It seems like the Gold is really determined to kill the Blue.”

“If they’re apprentices, they’ll be easily beheaded by the magicians…”

Damn!

Although the glances seemed sympathetic, they were all looks of condolence! Moreover, why did no one believe that they would succeed in the mission?!

Well, if it were just the unpleasant glances, they could endure it.

“Ah, what should we do? The paladins aren’t coming to us at all!”

Yes, that was the problem.

The mission of the Gold Pentagon was to go outside the country to a dangerous area. As such, they needed an escort.

‘Even if you leave Hella, they’re all territories swarming with demons.’

Demons only, right?

The priests of the Papacy were quite famous even on the continent. No, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that there was no one who didn’t know them.

Just becoming a 6th-rank priest would be treated as an honored guest in the country. And those ranked 7th or higher? They were treated as important dignitaries in the kingdom.

Well, it was natural. Hella was the headquarters of the five major faiths rooted in the continent and the main source of priests.

Even the apprentices of the Pentagon were famous enough for people from far away to know their names.

Was that all?

‘More than half of the priests are noble-born, everyone knows that.’

…What does that mean?

Damn!

It meant that thieves were waiting to attack, looking for ransom! They were targets for kidnapping!

Thanks to that, it became a tradition for the apprentices to undertake joint missions with the paladins.

Well, they could hire mercenaries or soldiers, but such secular acts wouldn’t be tolerated in the sacred Pentagon.

‘So, we need to bring the best paladins with us as much as possible!’

But good knights, my foot!

“Damn! No one is coming!! They’re not coming!”

It was almost as if no one wanted to come near the Blue team.

Is this what a usual Pentagon is like?

It was a Pentagon consisting of those who would become the next Pope.

As such, everyone from active paladins to superior paladins bring their juniors. The interest was hotter than ever, as famous paladins appeared more than usual…

“Damn. They’re blatantly avoiding us.”

“…Even the apprentices aren’t coming to us.”

“I went to greet a known paladin earlier, but they were avoiding me.”

And one person was getting angry at the situation.

“What the hell, these ridiculous guys. Why isn’t anyone coming to our team?”

In response to Isaac’s complaint, the Blue team could only helplessly bow their heads.

Will they come?

Will they come, ha!

The Blue team couldn’t catch Isaac by the neck, so they just held onto his mouth.

“The rumors have already spread… Practically, we got a mission to die.”

In the end, paladins were also those who sought success.

The better the priests who helped them gave positive evaluations, the better the paladins would receive promotions.

As much as they wanted to choose the best team, who would want to draw a losing ticket?!

Then, Isaac made a more incomprehensible expression.

“Why aren’t they coming when cooperating on a difficult test gives a bonus? Why aren’t they coming?”

The Blue team thumped their chests as if their throats were blocked.

Difficulty? Are you discussing difficulty now?!

There should be some degree of difficulty! Are you planning to go to the Magic Empire where there are murderers?!

“Huh, these spineless ones.”

Spineless? Damn, your bravado is just way too much!

But whether he knew that or not.

“Why have you guys been making something since earlier? Is it a noble class session? Trying to earn some pocket money?”

“We’re writing a will! Damn it!”

“Because of you! All because of you!”

The Blue team was almost in tears as they made relics in the traditional Hella way. People around them were mocking them, telling them to go and die.

Congrats on going to hell for placing the wrong leader.

“…Damn. I have a baby born not too long ago.”

Leader Isaac patted the shoulders of his teammates as if surprised.

“…Brother! I thought you were going blind, but you got married! Congratulations!”

“Whoa, wow! A little brother!”

The team members looked up at the ceiling as if they had lost their minds.

“Why don’t you say anything at your home…?”

“It’s a mess. The Blue asked if I was sane.”

Most of the team members were from noble families.

So, of course, there were complaints. The problem was that most of them were noble families serving the Gold family, so they couldn’t voice their opinions loudly.

“Anyway, His Excellency asked if we want to have a talk…”

“Oh…? I envy you. Even if you’re young, since you’re the Blue’s successor, you must have a lot on your mind. They even packed lunch for you…”

At that, all the team members fell silent, looking at Isaac.

Thoughts… huh.

“…Does that look like someone with thoughts?”

Isaac narrowed his eyes with a smirk.

“A mine, a mine, hahaha!”

…Does that idiot think we’re going on a picnic now…?

“Of course, he’s too young to know…! Do you even know what kind of place that is?”

Magic Empire.

Adjacent to the land of demons. While Hella nurtured priests, the Magic Empire was a place where they nurtured magicians.

And priests who went there almost never came back alive. Although there was a ceasefire under an agreement after hundreds of years of war, it was still a place where you could consider hell on earth.

Just the location alone made it such a place, and what? There were even demons who turned the Gold Pentagon upside down 14 years ago?

“Do you even know what massacre happened 14 years ago?”

“Well, it’s demons, right? It wouldn’t be helpful for training, would it?”

Training… what?!

“…It’s not a demon for training! It’s a high-ranking demon!”

However, Isaac squinted.

Even the high-level demons were all below him.

“Oh, damn! Don’t you know that your genius uncle didn’t win a king back then?”

Genius uncle? Lilai?

“Yeah! Like us, he went on a mission because of the Gold Pentagon, and at that time, his team was completely killed! It was a guy who hunted young priests for fun! And your uncle has been looking for him for a solid 14 years.”

If it’s the one Lilai is looking for, wouldn’t it be 7th rank or higher?

Well, even if they didn’t know what kind of demon it was, it’s actually a good opportunity. Isaac can test the magic he couldn’t use in the Holy Empire to his heart’s content.

It was a chance to see how far he could go against fake gods with our current abilities.

And if it’s a guy who only hunts young priests, it gave him a rough idea of what kind of demon it was.

It seemed like the reason the Pope purposely assigned the Blue team to this mission was also clear.

Shame?

Even if they give up, it will be the Blue’s great shame, but if they fail, it won’t end there.

‘It will lead to the issue of the Blue’s existence.’

The problem was that they entrusted that mission to the Skeleton King himself, and there’s no way that guy will fail.

If they succeed, it could have a tremendous ripple effect. No one would be able to ignore the Blue.

“It’s okay. Just trust me and follow me.”

The team members touched their foreheads.