The Trellynian Kingdom.

The presence of religion spread rapidly throughout the kingdom and beyond. This was partly because the Trellynian Kingdom was an ancient, historic kingdom, but more importantly, it was because they had established a religion.

"Religion, huh..."

In this world, religion holds great significance. It's not merely something people created out of belief; it is based on actual, existing gods. Thus, founding a religion was of immense importance.

Especially so in the case of nations that worship one of the two gods who created the world.

The Holy Empire, Ieros.

Ieros had been closely watching the Trellynian Kingdom. It was the largest kingdom that had yet to adopt a state religion and was deeply entangled in the recent chaos of war.

"Saintess, should we not investigate this matter?"

A knight clad in white armor knelt.

The saintess, Beliar Ieros, nodded her head.

"Indeed, it is a name I have never heard before."

Whether the Trellynian Kingdom adopted a religion was not a significant concern for the Holy Empire of Ieros. The Holy Empire actually encouraged kingdoms to adopt religions, even if they did not worship the same goddess they did.

As long as it was a recognized religion.

Ieros was indifferent as long as the religion did not involve the 'Demon God.'

They only believed in the goddess and did not impose their beliefs on other nations, as it would not lead to proper proselytization.

Thus, they did not care whether other kingdoms had religions or not.

As long as the god was real.

This world was home to many gods. Some gods had such low influence that they could not fully exert their divine status, but they were still recognized as gods.

Be it the god of insects, the god of wind, or the god of fire.

None of it mattered.

As long as the god was real.

But now...

"Jörmungandr..."

It was a name she had never heard before. Moreover, it did not have a special designation like other gods.

For instance, the god of insects, Asnakekish, was still called the 'god of insects' despite having a name.

It was the most straightforward way to describe that god. Hence, most gods were worshipped by their designations rather than their names.

Yet now, a new god was being worshipped. In Trellynian Kingdom, which had never had a state religion before.

Furthermore, they claimed to worship a god with no known designation, a god she had never heard of.

This required investigation.

The Holy Empire of Ieros only recognized existing gods.

It was not a god they had invented on their own.

"Shall we send an envoy?"

"No, I will go myself."

Saintess Beliar shook her head.

She had been feeling rather bored anyway.

The Trellynian Kingdom.

It was originally a kingdom that did not accept any religion.

Not for any particular reason.

They were simply too close to the battlefields against the demonic realm to afford adopting a religion.

But recently, the Trellynian Kingdom had been fervently creating a new religion. They worshipped Jörmungandr, an infinitely large entity and the great god who protected their kingdom.

Resveligo stood at the highest point of the kingdom, silently watching the scene of Jörmungandr being revered as the new god.

Would the citizens truly believe this?

That they had offered Princess Eliserde as a sacrifice because they believed Jörmungandr was a dragon?

They probably wouldn't know.

He had thought the truth would eventually spread, but the fact that they had offered the princess as a sacrifice was kept top secret at the time.

"Heh..."

Resveligo put his hands behind his back and let out a dry laugh.

He had thought the kingdom would fall.

A massive dragon had suddenly appeared in the mountains behind them.

When the hero of survival fervently declared that they had to offer a sacrifice to the goddess, he thought it was a sign of the kingdom's downfall.

So they offered sacrifices.

Despite the poor circumstances due to the war, they sent pigs, cows, and chickens.

When that did not seem to satisfy, following the myth, he even offered his own daughter as a sacrifice to the dragon.

But it was not so.

The dragon...

"Ha, ha ha. It's a fine day!"

Resveligo looked to his side.

There stood a man with a remarkable mustache, the cause of all the trouble.

The hero of survival, Hans, was smiling.

At first glance, it was a bright smile, but the king noticed that Hans was sweating profusely.

"Indeed. One could bury a person without anyone noticing."

"......"

Hans quietly closed his mouth.

He swiftly withdrew his smile and glanced at the king.

'Why did I make such a mistake!'

Hans wanted to go back and slap his past self.

How could he have mistaken it for a dragon?

Sure, it was a mistake anyone could make.

But why did he fervently insist that they needed to offer sacrifices with a solemn vow?

Because of him, the king had to offer his daughter to what he thought was a dragon. Although they received help from Jörmungandr, whom they mistook for a dragon, Hans felt like he was tap dancing on a hot iron plate.

Regardless of the outcome.

He couldn't fathom the king's pain of having to offer his daughter as a sacrifice due to his mistake.

He couldn't see the king's expression.

Shaded by the sun, Hans couldn't tell what he was thinking.

Hans tried hard to suppress the urge to plead for his life, his lips twitching.

As he continued to gauge the king's reaction, the king burst into laughter and patted Hans on the back.

"Ha ha, my friend. Do you see me as such a cruel king who would bury you for one mistake?"

"Ha, ha ha ha. Of course not!"

"Though I did have to offer my daughter as a sacrifice..."

"......"

"But it's fine. I am not weak enough to hold a grudge over something that has passed."

The king stopped his jest and shook his head.

To be so frightened over a mere joke.

He wondered if the title 'hero of survival' was overrated.

Though anyone who saw his serious expression, especially considering he was a king, would probably think the same as Hans.

The king turned his gaze from Hans to his daughter, Eliserde.

"No, no! Lord Jörmungandr has smoother curves!"

His daughter, who was more passionate about supporting the religion than anyone. Seeing Eliserde bustling about in the sunlight, advising on the creation of statues, he felt tears well up and turned away.

He had thought he would never see her again.

From the moment he offered his daughter to the dragon, the king couldn't forgive himself.

He resented his position that required sacrificing his daughter for the kingdom's safety.

Yet, in the end, everything turned out perfectly.

Not only did his daughter survive the sacrifice, but she also seemed to be thriving, her skin glowing radiantly.

For some reason, her eyes, which had once looked lifeless, were now full of vitality, spreading cheer to everyone around her.

Moreover, the troublesome neighboring kingdom had been dealt with, and they were now under the protection of an overwhelmingly powerful being.

It had started with uncertainty.

But seeing the results, he realized it couldn't have turned out better.

It was like discovering that what he thought was a hellish mine was actually a gold mine full of gems.

It felt like crushing all the troubles that had piled up at once.

All of this was thanks to Jörmungandr.

The reason his daughter was alive, the kingdom's regained peace, and the elimination of the troublesome neighboring kingdom.

All thanks to the being they had mistaken for a dragon.

'It feels foolish to have thought it was a dragon.'

Now he knew how silly that notion was.

Jörmungandr was an overwhelming presence that could put dragons to shame.

The king still couldn't forget that scene.

The sky splitting, the infinitely large being filling the horizon, and eliminating the kingdom's enemies in an instant.

As he smiled, watching the lively kingdom, the door burst open.

A servant rushed in.

The king, about to say something, felt a sense of déjà vu seeing the servant's urgent expression.

Sure enough.

"Your Majesty!"

"What is it?"

"The Holy Empire! The Holy Empire Ieros has sent an envoy!"

"What?"

Why?

There was no need to wonder.

The reason the Holy Empire Ieros sent an envoy was obvious.

The newly emerged god.

They were questioning whether Jörmungandr was truly a god.

Even so, an envoy was...

"The saintess has come with them!"

"Prepare for the guests immediately! Run! Can't you see your feet!"

A moment of peace in the kingdom.

It was shattered instantly.