The Church Court chose to initiate the Holy War at this time, naturally with corresponding considerations.

Firstly, the undead war in Iberia has ended and coupled with the recapture of Sicily, the Church Court can withdraw its navy from the Western Sea Domain and instead direct it to the Aegean Sea area to restrain the navy of Constantinople from setting sail.

Secondly, it concerns the stance of the Divine Luo Empire and Olympia City. As everyone knows, the Divine Luo and the Church Court are traditionally at odds, both vying for dominance over the continent. As for the core of the Orthodox, the extraordinary city of Olympia is naturally much more guarded against the Church Court, and the two sides have never even signed any public agreements.

However, the Divine Luo Emperor's daughter is a close friend of a daughter from the Lixini Family, and they get along well with the City Lord of Olympia's granddaughter. Miraculously, the three parties have gradually turned from enemies to friends in recent years—of course, mainly due to the rampant nature of Eastern and Western pagans, but without this connection, reconciliation within the Christian Camp would surely have faced many obstacles.

Thirdly, and as the fuse for this Holy War, lies in the public declaration by the Seljuk Empire's Emperor Suleiman to convert the Saint Sophia Cathedral into the Dome Temple.

This act is akin to defecating on the heads of all Christian believers, causing anger to burn from Asia Minor to Ireland, from Afeilica to Scandinavia, prompting all Christians to demand that the pagans pay a bloody price.

With internal and external troubles resolved and the international environment greatly beneficial, if Innocent did not seize this opportunity, he would be unfit to be Pope. Therefore, it is said that even the Anjou Dynasty and the West Frank Kingdom, who had been engaged in prolonged battles, were forced by the demands of their followers to set aside territorial disputes in coastal areas and begin recruiting Crusader Knights.

Soon, the envoy from Olympia City stationed in Lusitania, on the orders of City Lord Apilius, found the returning The Azure Longsword Mercenary Corps:

"Your Majesty Theodora, the City Lord requests you to proceed to Olympia City as soon as possible..."

He took out a secret message from the City Lord and handed it to Thira.

Thira took the secret message, confirmed the integrity of the wax seal and stamp, and then carefully read it before passing it to Aske.

Aske took a quick glance at the content of the letter and asked Thira:

"Do you want to restore the country?"

The envoy below turned pale, puzzled as to why this guy dared to speak to Her Majesty Theodora in such a casual tone, and then Thira's next consultative reply left him even more dumbfounded:

"If possible."

"Hmm." Aske pondered momentarily, "Then let's go."

Hmm, Thira felt something was off; the squad leader agreed too quickly, didn't he always insist everyone should speed up their upgrades?

She looked questioningly at Medea, who met her gaze with a meaningful look.

"So how do we get back?" Thira asked, "Ship? Plane? Car?"

"We'll teleport back when Miel becomes a Demigod," Aske calmly replied.

Strangely, during their half-year overseas, everyone had completed the specialization of remaining skills, advancing to Lv.18... However, the first to comprehend the final skill and advance to Lv.19 was not Ellie, who had always been ahead in levels, but Miel.

In other words, as soon as they pick a day for Miel to make her breakthrough towards the Demigod threshold, the team will have a Demigod with space-type Law abilities.

Just like when Red-haired Otto took everyone to the Abyss Gate in the Northeastern Icefield, merely a few skills to seal coordinates allowed for instant travel over thousands of kilometers... As for Miel, who specializes in Black Hole Law, her abilities in this aspect would only be stronger than Otto's.

Regarding Miel's Demigod breakthrough, Miel asked the Elf Queen Maya for some high-purity Wizard Stones to supplement her Spirituality.

Though the first four team members' breakthroughs to Demigod seemed like child's play, this doesn't mean Miel's path to becoming a Demigod will be utterly effortless; necessary preparations still have to be made.

During this preparation time, Medea often went to find Aske late at night. Even though she was expelled each time, she would shamelessly visit again after a few days.

Although Miss Enchanting Demon thought her actions were hidden and unseen by anyone, Ellie still noticed Medea's unusual behavior while occasionally practicing the diffusion of Will Fog (she had a habit of night training) and couldn't help but feel puzzled.

So, she privately approached Aske to ask about what Medea sought him for nightly.

Upon hearing this, Aske was silent, not knowing what to say. Seeing his silence, Ellie guessed some truth and remained mute.

Uh-oh! A certain ominous feeling suddenly arose in his heart, sensing that in the very next moment Ellie might draw a Will-condensed woodcutter to slice him into seven or eight pieces.

"After helping Thira reclaim Constantinople, we should all become Demigods." Aske thought quickly and suddenly changed the subject, saying, "Then we'll go fight the Bronze Dragon."

"And then... you plan to leave, right?" Ellie asked sorrowfully.

"Yes." Aske nodded.

As expected, Ellie's attention was immediately drawn away. If in the end Aske chose to be with Medea, Ellie figured she would only be able to wish them well. But at least if she could occasionally see the squad leader for the rest of her life, it seemed kind of nice (referring to finding joy amidst sorrow).

However, if Aske were to leave forever, it would be almost like death to people in this world... No, even worse than death, as the dead can still be summoned by an Undead Wizard, but leaving this world is essentially akin to being erased.

"Aske." At last, the Knight Girl mustered the courage to ask, "Could you..."

"Not leave, is that it?" Aske smiled wryly.

This question... you are not the first to ask, and probably won't be the last either.

"No." Ellie's heart ached like a piercing pain, but she could only mutter with feigned aplomb, "Didn't I say before? If you wish to return to your homeland, I support you..."

She bowed her head, letting her golden bangs cover her eyes, squeezing her eyelids shut tightly—fearing that tears might fall.

"Oh, I remember now." Aske recalled that night on the balcony of Weisbach Palace when Ellie said she would support his decision to go home.

Come to think of it, in the team, only Nora and Ellie had expressed acceptance of his choice to return?

But with Nora, it was probably some kind of necessity-compromise, inseparable from her gentle nature. And that Ellie... bold and loyal, once she's determined right from wrong she won't let go, and yet she supports his leaving, something Aske never anticipated.

As for whether Ellie liked him, well, that was clearly conveyed by that deep-sea kiss on their way to the Iberian Peninsula.

If currently the relationship between Aske and Medea were already rotting and corrupting fast, his feelings for Ellie remained pure pity and guilt.

Sigh.

"If possible, could you do me a favor?" Aske spoke up.

"What favor?" Ellie quietly wiped her eyes and lifted her head.

"Well, when we're battling the Bronze Dragon, or after it..." Aske whispered, "If someone in the team acts out of character, showing signs of betrayal..."

"Please stop her for me."

Ellie was slightly startled by his words, then instantly recalled the "betrayal" prophecy uttered by the future Miel during the Spiritual Tree's mutation, and exclaimed swiftly:

"Aske, do you mean..."

"I'm just saying if." Aske looked out the window with some wistfulness, gazing at the endless sea of trees at the edge of Lusitania.

"Just in case, you know."

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