“Hmm, Galdcup is working really hard.”
As always, seeing the way my actions influence the world is quite a satisfying sight.
And why wouldn’t it be?
Every time I publish a single paper, the whole nation stirs, and the entire continent goes into an uproar.
How could any scholar resist that?
Back on Earth, no matter how great your research was, the best you could hope for was praise from academia and publication in a journal.
But here?
The world reacts to every word I write.
And the funny thing is — it’s not even my own original research.
I’ve just borrowed the works of great figures from the past.
“Miss Kalia. We still haven’t confirmed which side the lords across the regions are supporting, right?”
“Yes. Considering how serious this matter is, no one would dare voice their opinions carelessly.”
The 115 Theses had widespread effects not only in the Kingdom of Allein but also among all the participating nations.
It’s safe to assume that the ongoing war effort would face severe disruptions.
And why wouldn’t it?
This issue was directly tied to religious belief.
This world exists somewhere between the late medieval and early modern periods — a fantasy-era setting.
You can cooperate with people who hold different political views… but those with different religious beliefs?
You wouldn’t even associate with them.
Because that’s heresy.
Yes, it’s a full-on heresy war.
What I argued in my writing was nothing more than criticism of the church’s corruption and doubts about the effectiveness of indulgences.
But even differences in opinion on this matter could lead to a split in denominations.
And in this world, having a different denomination?
That’s enough to label you as an evil heretic who must be purged.
‘It’s a situation where you can’t tell who’s a potential rebel.’
So far, no one’s been bold enough to openly declare their support, but by now, the leaders of each nation are probably thinking the same thing:Who’s my enemy?
Is there anyone I can trust right now?
When it comes to support for or against the war, at least those positions are clear.
It’s easy to monitor or block actions by using public justifications.
But when it’s a matter of belief?
If someone hides their true convictions, you may never find out.
Sooner or later, the leaders will likely reach this conclusion:Rather than living in constant fear, let’s force everyone to take a stance and separate friend from foe.
“Still, I can more or less predict which side the leaders of each nation will support.”
“Is that so? Then could you share your thoughts with us?”
“If you wish.”
At my request, Kalia pointed to the location of the Holy See on the map.
“As expected, the Holy Pope and the Church’s headquarters will undoubtedly dismiss Mr. Ismael’s theses as nothing more than blasphemous nonsense.”
“They’re already doing exactly that.”
“Therefore, I believe the Helvetia Republic will take an opposing stance. The Church has always been their greatest enemy, constantly hindering their efforts toward national unification.”
The Holy See and the territories under its control are located in the central part of the Helvetia Peninsula.
For the Helvetia Republic, which occupies the northern and central regions of the peninsula, the Holy See stands as an obstacle that must be removed in their pursuit of unification.
Moreover, ever since the war began, the Church has maintained a hostile attitude toward the Republic — urging them to abandon their “vain ambitions” and surrender for the sake of peace.
The Holy Pope even went so far as to release an official condemnation statement.
Until now, the Republic had likely held back because attacking a religious leader would severely damage their reputation…But now?
A perfect justification has presented itself.
With the excuse of “purifying the corrupt Church,” they just might decide to invade.
“The Allein Kingdom, being our ally, will likely take the same stance.”
“Because the anti-war faction is aligned with the Church?”
“Yes. If the monarch has to make a choice, they’ll naturally favor opinions that support them.”
Similarly, the Allein Kingdom had strong reasons to support the theses as a means of strengthening royal authority.
One of the key arguments the anti-royalist and anti-war factions had long used to criticize the crown was: ‘Why involve the kingdom in a war even the Holy See opposes, bringing disaster upon ourselves?’
Even if the kingdom didn’t immediately voice full support for the theses, they would likely use them as a political tool.
Once the war situation stabilized and they had the capacity for internal restructuring, they might use the theses as an excuse to purge opposition.
Or they could wield it when war funds ran low — using it as justification to plunder the Church’s wealth.
The Church had accumulated vast riches over centuries, and seizing that treasure would provide more than enough resources to recruit and train an army.
In this world, because the existence of the goddess was an established fact, the Church’s authority had remained strong — and the idea of anyone looting it was almost unheard of.
The political fallout would be immense… but the potential rewards were undeniable.
“On the other hand, the Kram Empire and the Navre Kingdom will undoubtedly side with the Church. Especially considering that the King of Allein himself once went on a holy pilgrimage during his time as crown prince.”
“And there’s no reason for them to antagonize the Holy See, an ally.”
However, the nations currently at war with the Allein Kingdom and the Helvetia Republic found themselves in a different position.
If anything, they would use the rebuttal document as a tool to unite their people and strengthen their justification for war.
“Anyone who believes this nonsense is a heretic!”
“We’re at war, and those who spread such dangerous ideas are traitors!”
It was the perfect excuse — an opportunity to seize power and wealth by branding dissenters as heretics or rebels.
Of course, a ruler’s personal beliefs or their nation’s internal political situation could still influence their approach.
But at the end of the day, what I had outlined so far was still just speculation.
That said, it was an undeniable fact that the choices I predicted offered the greatest advantage to each respective nation.
Even if the exact methods differed, I was fairly certain the overall alignment of support would follow this broad pattern.
“Let me know if you come across any additional information. I’ve got a lot of preparations to make.”
“Preparations? Haven’t you already finished publishing your work?”
“Well, if I’m going to take on a teaching position, I should at least plan what I’ll be teaching, right?”
With information gathering left in Kalia’s capable hands, I once again buried myself in organizing my research.
If I was going to fulfill the responsibilities I’d taken on, I needed to be thoroughly prepared.
*****
Sure enough, Kalia and Ismael’s expectations were more or less spot on.
“Cross the border! Let’s rip open the bellies of those pigs who dare spout the will of God!”
“If we seize the Holy See’s territory, we can also ally with the southern Haikal Kingdom! Together with our brethren, we’ll drive out those accursed foreign powers!”
The Helvetia Republic wasted no time officially recognizing the 115 Theses the moment it spread across the nation.
Rather than banning a document already known to the entire populace, they judged it far more beneficial to acknowledge it.
In any other country, this would have caused massive unrest, but the Republic’s unique characteristics made such an outcome unlikely.
After all, this was a nation already intoxicated with the powerful drug of nationalism — a force far stronger than religion here.
Criticism from the Holy See?
Fear of the church’s authority?
Such things were nothing compared to their rage against those who dared hinder the unification of their people.
Besides, it wasn’t as if they were defying or abandoning the goddess herself.
They were merely criticizing and resisting the pigs who falsely claimed to speak in her name — and for that, there was no reason to hesitate.
“Can we mobilize an additional division?”
“It’s difficult. But if it’s on the scale of a regiment, we might just manage.”
“Then bring the recruits from the training camps if you have to — we need as many troops as possible to push through in one go. That’s our best chance of success.”
The Helvetia Republic even redirected part of their reserve forces southward to launch an offensive against the Holy See’s territory.
Knowing that the Holy See had little in the way of military power, they seized the opportunity to attempt a conquest.
And their gamble paid off — at least to some extent.
They quickly occupied several key regions and strategic points.
Though they still had a long way to go before they could claim the entire territory, their progress was undeniable.
“Damn it… Do I really have to accept this?”
“It’s beyond our control, Your Majesty. We must suppress the anti-war factions.”
“I know that! That’s exactly why I’m hesitating to make this announcement. It’s just… it infuriates me to do this, even if I must.”
Meanwhile, in the Allein Kingdom, the king’s reluctance kept the factions supporting the 115 Theses from openly gaining too much momentum.
The king, after all, prided himself on being a devout believer — and taking a stance that ran contrary to his religious convictions was not a decision he could make lightly.
However, the king knew that if he wanted to win the war and maintain his grip on power, this was a necessary step.
It wouldn’t take long before his kingdom followed a milder version of Helvetia’s path.
“What is this heretical nonsense?! Gather every last copy and burn them! Anyone showing even the slightest interest in these ideas must be thoroughly investigated!”
“Y-Your Majesty… these proclamations have already spread across the entire nation…”
“Then cooperate with the Holy Church and crack down on it! How can we fight a war if our own people are in turmoil?!”
The Kram Empire and Navre Kingdom, on the other hand, maintained a stance of strict suppression and severe punishment.
For them, the 115 Theses offered no benefit — only dangerous, destabilizing ideas.
Cracking down on it also served their interest in strengthening ties with the Holy See.
With public opinion heavily controlled due to wartime conditions, their measures were swiftly enforced.
Within a few months, the Theses would likely fade from the public’s memory, and domestic order would be firmly maintained — so long as nothing unexpected happened from outside.
“B-Breaking news!! The Artium Empire has publicly denounced the Holy See!”
“What?! Those heretics?! Why now?!”
“They claim they can’t stand by and watch as those seeking true faith are persecuted…”
Yeah — as long as nothing happened.
Unfortunately, this continent is full of people who just can’t stand to see others prosper.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.