Just as Dian and Linus arrived at the Imperial Castle with Rormane, the Emperor was in the underground command center, raging at his assembled generals.
"Bring the commander of the 3rd Legion here and behead him immediately! Now!!"
The Emperor slammed his fist on the map table, spittle flying from his mouth.
His fury stemmed from the 2nd Princess, commander of the 3rd Legion, disobeying orders—or more precisely, not moving her troops according to the Imperial Castle's operational commands.
To be even more accurate and objective, as the field commander, she had exercised appropriate judgment and deployed her forces flexibly in response to the castle's unreasonable orders.
The Emperor, nearly losing his mind, accused the 2nd Princess of betrayal, claiming she was turning her legion around to stage a coup.
Despite the Emperor's rage, none of the generals around the table issued orders to arrest the 2nd Princess.
They all knew the Emperor wasn't in his right mind. Ever since the Demon King's main forces had advanced to the doorstep of the capital, Kalvasar, the Emperor had completely lost his senses to fear.
He had always been a greedy, suspicious old man with hopelessly incompetent war leadership skills. Despite countless intelligence reports about suspicious demon activities long before the war broke out, he had taken no action.
Now he was hindering effective military operations while treating all capable generals as potential internal enemies, looking for any excuse to persecute them.
Chief among his targets was the 2nd Princess, born of a concubine. Unlike himself, she was brave and competent—qualities the Emperor hated, despised, and feared. He constantly tried to frame her for treason.
If not for the achievements of the 3rd Legion under the 2nd Princess and the commoner-born generals who followed her, the Empire and the Human Alliance would have collapsed long ago.
"You fools! Why is no one moving? I said bring the 3rd Legion commander here at once!"
As the Emperor grew more furious at the generals' lack of response, the command center door opened, and Dian, Linus, and Rormane entered.
"Your Majesty, the members of the Demon King Assassination Task Force you requested—"
"Perfect timing! I have a new mission for you! Go and arrest the 3rd Legion commander immediately!"
"Pardon...?"
As Linus looked bewildered, one of the generals quietly shook his head.
"Your Majesty, perhaps we should hear their report first," another general interjected.
"The formation of the Demon King Assassination Task Force is a matter of greater importance than the punishment of the 3rd Legion commander. It's a crucial undertaking that will determine the fate of the continent."
The Emperor, somewhat calmed, sat down with a slightly softened attitude.
"Report."
"We've recruited the third member for the task force. This is Rormane, an Acolyte Priest from the Order."
At the mention of "Acolyte Priest," the generals murmured among themselves, exchanging glances.
"An Acolyte Priest? What's the meaning of this? She can't even properly use holy power!"
Rormane's shoulders hunched under the generals' scrutiny.
"You fool! Do you think this war is some kind of joke?" the Emperor shouted, his anger flaring again.
"An Acolyte Priest for the critical mission of assassinating the Demon King! And a young girl at that! This is preposterous!"
"Your Majesty, please hear us out. This priest is an Oracle Priest."
"Oracle Priest?"
Some generals brightened, half-rising from their chairs.
"Has there been a new oracle? The Goddess hasn't abandoned us after all!"
"Not a new oracle. The oracle commanding the creation of the Demon King Assassination Task Force—Rormane here is the one who actually received it."
"What?!"
The generals were shocked by this thunderbolt announcement, and the Emperor grew even more enraged.
"What nonsense is this? Are you saying two priests received the oracle simultaneously?"
"No, that's not it. The existing Oracle Priest is a fraud. He was this Acolyte's Presiding Priest who stole the revelation when he heard she had received divine guidance in a dream, claiming it as his own."
At Linus's signal, Dian left the command center and returned dragging in a man.
Both his eyes were bruised dark blue, and his front teeth were completely knocked out. His head was caked with dried blood, and he was filthy with dirt and blood all over.
He was a middle-aged male priest—Rormane's former Presiding Priest who had stolen the oracle.
"Speak up, you bastard."
When Dian struck the back of his head, the priest immediately threw himself to the floor and cried out.
"It's true! I deceived everyone! It wasn't me—this child is the real Oracle Priest!"
A cold silence fell over the command center at this absurd situation.
Breaking the silence, Linus calmly explained everything step by step.
"Isn't that right, Priestess Rormane?"
"Y-yes... I... I received the oracle..."
When Rormane confirmed this, the generals closed their mouths firmly and turned their gaze to the Emperor.
The Emperor stammered, pointing his finger at Rormane.
"This child... is the original Oracle Priest...?"
"Yes. Therefore, Your Majesty, please grant permission for Priestess Rormane to join the Demon King Assassination Task Force."
"That's impossible!"
The Emperor shouted decisively.
"How can we know she truly received an oracle based on one testimony? And besides!"
The Emperor pointed at Rormane.
"Even if she is an Oracle Priest, she's just a young Acolyte! What power could she possibly have? If you really need a priest, I'll assign an experienced bishop-level priest from the Order!"
At the Emperor's outburst, Rormane became extremely intimidated and lowered her head.
Only now did Rormane regret leaving the temple, swayed by these people's words.
Yes, that's right. So what if I'm an Oracle Priest? I'm nothing but an Acolyte.
Even if I saw it in my dream, how many high-ranking officials would actually believe me...
Do I have to return to Gauni Village like this...
Overwhelmed by deep frustration and despair, Rormane bit her lip to hold back tears that threatened to spill.
"What nonsense is this!"
Dian, who had been quiet until now, strode forward.
"Dian! What are you doing!"
"Shut up!"
Shaking off Linus's hand, Dian pointed his finger at the Emperor.
"If we don't include the priest who received the oracle to create the Demon King Assassination Task Force, then who exactly should we include?!"
"Even so, she's just a young Acolyte!"
"Was that bishop-level priest you mentioned a bishop from the beginning? This child was chosen by the Goddess! Her potential is limitless!"
Dian slammed his fist on the table, breaking its corner.
"This madman?! How dare he!"
As the table broke, several generals moved to intervene.
But they couldn't.
Because Dian's left hand had slid onto his sword hilt.
To draw a sword, one must use the right hand. Placing the left hand on the hilt has no practical meaning.
But seeing this, the generals swallowed dryly and exchanged anxious glances.
"Let's be reasonable."
When Dian spoke, the generals flinched.
"This child will fight alongside us, not Your Majesty. So please defer to our judgment completely."
The Emperor didn't answer.
Not because he didn't want to, but because his mouth had frozen.
Lately, the Emperor had been constantly changing his sleeping quarters to guard against assassination attempts by the Demon King's forces.
But while focusing on external threats, he had overlooked the internal danger.
These men.
How many demons had they killed and how many legion commanders had they assassinated?
These men could easily slip past the Imperial Guard and magical barriers to slit his throat without making a sound!
It was obvious he shouldn't create conflict with them right now...
"Very well."
The Emperor swallowed hard and displayed a servile smile, showing his palms.
"If you insist so strongly, I have no choice."
"A wise decision."
As the Emperor backed down, Dian placed his hand on Rormane's shoulder.
"It's settled now. You'll be with us from now on."
"Yes..."
Looking up at Dian, Rormane finally burst into tears she had been holding back.
This person... fought the Emperor for me...
That was probably when it began—Rormane's affection and eventual obsession with Dian.
And so Rormane became the third member of the Demon King Assassination Task Force.
Without time to catch her breath, Rormane embarked on the journey to find the fourth member.
The fourth target was Celine, a hunter from the northern nomadic tribes.
Linus expressed considerable concern about this. Long ago, the first Emperor had formed alliances with various powers to expand the Empire's territory, only to betray them later.
The northern nomadic tribes were among those betrayed by the first Emperor and driven to the barren north.
Their hatred for the Empire was deeply ingrained, passed down through generations.
So when the group first entered nomadic territory, they were greeted by a rain of arrows.
If Rormane hadn't awakened and deployed a holy barrier at that moment, they would all have died like porcupines.
This was the first barrier she had ever created in her life.
"Well done, Rormane! You truly are an Oracle Priest! I knew you could do it!"
Dian was overjoyed, so much so that he lifted Rormane and spun her around.
"I'm getting dizzy..."
Despite her protest, Rormane was secretly pleased.
Throughout their journey north, Dian had worked tirelessly to help Rormane manifest her holy power.
He deliberately pitted her against monsters in one-on-one fights and sought advice from every priest they encountered along the way.
Linus cautioned against pushing her too hard, given her youth and inexperience, but Dian was adamant.
Until then, she had never succeeded and worried she might disappoint Dian and be sent back to Gauni Village.
But now she had finally succeeded, and her savior Dian was so pleased—how could Rormane not feel happy?
After successfully recruiting Celine, their next target was Kaiden, a reclusive mage.
He was a mad magician obsessed with extreme and destructive attack magic. While rumors about him abounded, no one truly knew him.
This was because not a single person who had approached his secret dwelling had ever returned.
Going to meet such a dangerous person...? Would my holy barrier withstand his magic...?
Though terrified, Rormane didn't back down.
"I believe in you again, Rormane. Protect us with your powerful holy power!"
She was determined to live up to Dian's trust in her.
I'll definitely protect you...!