The Holy Church Begins with Bestowal of Blessings

Chapter 346 : Dragon-Eagles and Griffins

Corleon nodded slightly and said, “It looks like you’re having a good time chatting.”Marl lowered his head slightly and said, “We’re just talking about some unpleasant matters within the Diocese.”

Corleon smiled and said, “It’s only the beginning of the New Testament Era. The lost people still need guidance from the priests of the Church. Once Olivia comes of age, you may have less to worry about. Perhaps by then, you’ll be like Claudy, handling things like officiating prayer ceremonies and weddings.”

Olivia’s identity was no secret among the bishops of the Church. They all knew the vacant throne of the Kingdom of Lundex awaited her coming of age.

Standing beside Corleon, Olivia showed a hint of discontent but didn’t dare to speak much. She didn’t want to be lectured again by Corleon on how a girl should behave—especially when Corleon could see right through her. Even if she pretended to be obedient, she would be seen through instantly.

Claudy gave a somewhat awkward smile. The other three bishops were discussing matters of state, while he couldn’t even get a word in. Sitting alongside them, Claudy felt he didn’t quite belong.

Corleon looked at Claudy and said, “Don’t feel troubled by this. You are a bishop of the Church. And the Church, ultimately, is a place to spread the Lord’s teachings. What you’re doing is what a servant of the Lord ought to do. They only interfere in political matters because the circumstances leave them no choice.”

Claudy lowered his head and said, “I confess my jealousy to you.”

Corleon said, “I forgive you.”

Then Corleon turned to Marl and said, “The Lord loves all mankind. Therefore, faith should exist for the betterment of the lives of the people. The Song of the Northland is not merely a record of the North—it is also their written apology. They are telling the Lord that they have not abandoned their faith. They are using the New Testament Era; they only need to find the Lord’s teachings bestowed upon the North.”

Marl asked, “Is there a version of the Lord’s teachings more certain than that of your Church of the Sanctuary?”

Corleon replied, “You must remember, one holds fast to faith so that life becomes better—not to have faith merely for the sake of faith itself.”

Marl lowered his head and said, “I heed your teachings.”

Corleon sighed internally. Faith was obsessive. Clearly, even bishops cultivated by the Church could not avoid falling into religious fanaticism, believing that there could only be one true faith and that all others were heresies.

This also related to Marl’s personal experiences, which made him so extreme.

Take Jeven and Jeremiah, for instance. Both came from gentry or noble families, so their interpretation of faith was gentler.

The practice of faith, like personal growth, was shaped by life experiences. The differences between Greenwood and the Northland in geography and culture also led to divergence in beliefs.

Corleon did not press the matter further. In the minds of the wise, faith was ultimately belief in what one deemed true. “The Lord,” “the King,” or “the Pope” were merely representations. Marl was not just a man struggling to survive—he had his own thoughts. Even now, some books written by Marl were kept in the Adrian Cathedral.

Corleon turned to Jeven and said, “In a while, the pioneer from the Northland will arrive in Greenwood. When the time comes, you must guide him southward through Greenwood, toward the Demis River. There, he will find what he seeks.”

Jeven bowed slightly and said, “Your will be done.”

After speaking with Jeven, Corleon raised his voice slightly and said, “Then, let the bishop council of this year begin.”

The bishop council within the Church of the Sanctuary was held annually on the fifteenth day after the New Year.

As for the matters discussed—well, they were enough to make high-ranking nobles tremble.

For example...

Jeven began, “The regional planning for the outskirts of Rod is complete. Fifty-seven villages of five hundred people, eight towns of three thousand people, and two cities of twenty thousand people have basically been built. The former town of Frye has been renamed Frye City. Nearly eight thousand people have moved there, and a special district has been arranged for the children of the George Knights who once lived there.”

“As for the original gentry of Rod’s outskirts, over the past three years, they’ve voluntarily relocated to the Wallace Territory. Now, there are hardly any gentry left—only administrative officials and priests remain. Thus, Rod’s outskirts have effectively become Church territory. Every person there is a devout believer of the Church. Nothing can prevent them from hearing the Lord’s teachings.”

“Of course, including infants, the Rod Diocese currently has only 53,641 people, still below the planned figure. However, based on projections, within the next twenty to thirty years, the population should reach around 120,000.”

“According to calculations, this is also the upper limit of population a faith-purified region can sustain. Any more would cause administrative collapse. This situation is only possible because of Greenwood’s abundant resources.”

“Now that the purification of faith is complete in the Rod Diocese, I would like to begin large-scale recruitment of the Church’s armed forces this year.”

Each cathedral was allowed to summon a force of twenty knights and one hundred warriors.

But clearly, what Jeven spoke of was not the standard church armed force previously approved by Agamemnon.

Jeven added, “Based on calculations, the Rod Diocese can currently assemble a force of about one thousand. Once the population reaches saturation at 120,000, it should be possible to form a Church army of over 8,000.”

Corleon replied, “You are permitted to recruit Church forces, and the numbers are up to you. However, all sixteen-year-olds in Rod Diocese may choose to join. At eighteen, they must undergo selection—only those who reach Tier Three may remain. Only then can they be considered combat-ready members of the Church forces.”

“At twenty-four, they must reach Tier Four and accumulate enough merit to remain. Those who do not must return to their families.”

“As for the warriors’ equipment and curriculum, I will personally prepare them.”

Corleon concluded, “You must remember—they must possess devout faith in the Lord. Only with such faith can they survive as warriors who will one day stand against the forces of evil.”

Jeven responded, “I heed your teachings.”

Next was Marl. He said, “The Adrian Diocese ceased its expansion last year. In truth, the diocese has reached the limit of what Adrian Cathedral can manage. So no further expansion took place.”

“However, Adrian Academy of Magic accomplished something interesting.” At this point, even Marl couldn’t help but smile.

“They worked with Crulud to create a batch of dragon-eagles and griffins. Though they are magical beasts, they are nothing compared to a beast of Crulud’s level. They can barely be classified as Tier Three magical beasts. Even so, they have an important advantage—they all have wings. They can carry knights into the sky and possess some spellcasting ability.”

This revelation made Jeven and Jeremiah glance sideways. They hadn’t expected Marl to achieve such a feat without saying a word earlier.

Knights soaring through the sky—that was a terrifyingly powerful thought.

“Only seven dragon-eagles and twelve griffins survived last year. After that, Crulud and the mages could no longer beastify captured wild beasts,” Marl said with some regret, though his gaze drifted to Corleon.

Crulud was a Tier Six magical beast. It was powerful and indeed capable of creating life. But the lives it created were unstable and lacked the ability to reproduce like natural beings.

During the experiment, Corleon had bestowed a blessing upon them—a grace that allowed them to avoid all errors. After many correct choices, the mature dragon-eagles and griffins were born. Now, with the blessings gone, further beastification was no longer possible.

Seeing Corleon silent, Marl continued, “Richard is already letting the Oath Knights try to ride the dragon-eagles and griffins. But they are Tier Three beasts, originally bred from swift eagles and lions. Even Tier Four knights struggle to tame them.”

Jeven couldn’t help but suggest, “Odysseus and the others could give it a try. They don’t have much to do in Rod Diocese right now.”

Marl glanced at Jeven and said, “Then you’ll have to talk to Richard. Though the dragon-eagles and griffins are technically under Adrian Diocese, they are, in essence, Richard and Crulud’s private property. Even the mages are simply under Richard’s employ.”

“Honestly, given how Richard cherishes them even more than Crulud, I imagine it’ll be difficult for you to even see them,” Marl added.

Jeven looked very disappointed.

It was a chance to fly freely in the sky. Even as a bishop, he could only use Divine Word to float briefly. But riding a dragon-eagle or griffin—that would allow parades in the sky.

Jeremiah said nothing. He also wanted one, but just thinking about Richard’s relationship with Gregor, he felt asking Gregor to bow to Richard would be harder than killing him.

Marl continued, “But since the dragon-eagles and griffins are Crulud’s bloodline, they can be tamed with time. The knights have forged dragon spears and bows. Those with sufficient magic are learning practical spells from the academy mages, preparing to ride the beasts into battle.”

“At their current breeding rate, by next year, you might see fully formed dragon-eagle and griffin knight units in the Adrian Diocese.”

Jeven asked, “And what about the Adrian Cathedral?”

Marl cast Jeven a sidelong glance and said, “Only when the cathedral has ten dragon-eagle knights and ten griffin knights will the remaining knights be counted as part of Richard’s Oath Knights.”