Mage Legend

"Before discussing this matter in detail, I think we'd better find a quiet place." Lynch looked at the gazes surrounding them and patted Macken Knight's arm. He said, "Maybe we can talk while eating; I really don't want to end up searching for fish and shrimp to satisfy my hunger once we're on land."

This suggestion was readily approved by everyone, as a mage's idea is hardly ever rejected. To begin with, little angel Soka already had complete trust in her brother Lynch, and Zilvra wouldn't openly oppose any opinions in front of a mage—in private, perhaps. The four people, along with a tiger, quickly found a quiet merchant tavern, where ship owners and trade groups negotiate deals. There was no need to worry about the noisy outside environment or any brawls from sailors fueled by alcohol.

"Listen to me, Lynch." Macken Knight got straight to the point: "Although the Holy Patry is currently a bit embarrassed due to the attack from the Beastmen, it is still considered the strongest nation in Anriel. Do you agree with this?"

Lynch nodded, taking a sip of the offered red wine, and said, "Yes, in terms of military strength, probably only the united southern lords can match the Holy Patry. This time, if it weren't for the fact that the northern Beastmen outnumbered you threefold, the Holy Patry wouldn't have ended up in such a pitiful state."

"It's all because I lost Moon Harbor City." Macken's face clouded over as he recalled the sad past.

"Let's not dwell on the past for now, first tell us what this has to do with the changes in doctrine you want to discuss." Lynch exchanged a glance with Zilvra, thinking of the Dark Elf Family of the Underworld. Lynch said, "Zilvra, have you heard about the changes in doctrine?"

"No, I haven't." Zilvra immediately replied, "Such a thing is almost impossible unless those priests want to lose their ability in divine arts."

"In our Holy Patry, this has never happened since the establishment of the nation," Macken continued following Zilvra's words: "From the beginning, the Holy Patry's military strength was quite formidable. However, in over a thousand years, it has never expanded an inch of territory nor engaged in wars with any neighboring country. The only place filled with war clouds is the northern frontline against the Beastmen."

"But with the Beastmen's strong reproductive capabilities, they surely keep you busy." Lynch chuckled bitterly, "Even the Mage Association hasn't got the power to eradicate those lice-like creatures."

"That's not the main point," Macken shook his head. "The past doctrine advocated for the protection of a kind world and the maintenance of just laws. Once the national borders were determined, the Light God's temple would absolutely respect this agreement and not infringe upon it. So, even though the Holy Patry had very poor relations with the merchant nation Yim, no war ever occurred. We believed that even if he did not believe in Pate Bright God, as long as he was still kind, he was a friend."

"So it means that if you launch an expansion war, you'll be punished by the God. Could you even lose the entire priest system?" Lynch was surprised, "Turns out Pate is quite a decent God."

"The great Light God is very good; you'd know if you learned more," the knight continued, "But now, according to the priests in the temple, 'Because the evil of the Beastmen has already tarnished the glory of the Light God, all knights and priests should do their utmost to eradicate them.' Therefore, the doctrine has changed, making combating evil the primary task."

After hearing Macken Knight's words, Lynch immediately furrowed his brows, pondering the profound meaning of these few words. "Protection of the good" and "combating evil" seemed no different on the surface, but within a country of formidable military might, subtle changes could occur. What decision would the Holy Patry's temple make after witnessing "evil" elsewhere?

But it wasn't long before Lynch's furrowed brow eased. He drank the light wine in front of him in one gulp, then said with a smile, "Macken Knight, I think you're overthinking. Even though the new doctrine has a tendency for outward expansion, please consider the geographical location of the Holy Patry. To the north, it's Beastmen territory. Northern barbarians and gigantic beasts survive in the frozen wasteland. If the development is in that direction, to eradicate the evil Beastmen, I'd be glad to applaud it at any time. To the east and west of the Holy Patry is the great sea; until the Paladins' mounts learn to swim, they can do little. As for the south, it's indeed the only direction they can develop."