A day later. Supported by his crutch, Bishop Darco arrived at Norland National Theater and sat down on an audience seat.
His seat was in the middle of the audience seating area. Sitting here, he could clearly see the stage.
The inviter seemed to have deliberately arranged that seat for him.
“Bishop Darco, you’re finally here,” Vulture was already seated. The bishop arrived a bit later than him.
Vulture handed the invitation letter to Darco two nights ago. Originally, the bishop was hesitant. He didn’t feel the need to accept a demon’s invitation.
“Vulture... please consider this place a battlefield.”
After Bishop Darco took his seat, he began examining their surroundings.
So far, he did not catch sight of the demon in this thousand capacity theater. The majority of the audiences were humans.
Judging from the attire of the people present, they were not ordinary commoners. Instead, they seemed to be renowned nobles or mages from all around Norland.
“Are the citizens of Norland already able to accept the existence of that demon so cheerfully?” Bishop Darco couldn’t help his crutch-holding hand from trembling slightly.
“I feel that they’re here for the Flower of Farucci. Or perhaps, they’re here for that actress called Belle.”
Vulture took out the letter serving as the admission ticket. The letter not only invited them to participate in the World’s Singers as audience members, it also listed some of the honored guests that were invited to participate in the program.
“That Belle you spoke of is also a demon.”
Bishop Darco corrected Vulture with a matter-of-fact tone.
At this moment, he began to spread his perception outward... To Bishop Darco’s shock, many of the people present contained magic power with Holy Light attribute.
These mages that utilized the power of the Holy Light should be believers of the God of Holy Light...
“He’s here,” Vulture called to Bishop Darco’s attention, interrupting his perception.
Bishop Darco turned his gaze toward the direction indicated by Vulture. He saw a young man walking out from backstage, a black-haired black-eyed young man.
“Chaos Demon...” Bishop Darco had a complicated expression on his face as he stared at the demon walking to the center of the stage.
If this was the Nation of the Holy Church, if any demon dared to appear on the street, they would immediately be met with the templar’s sharp blades and retribution of the Holy Light.
But, at this moment, it was as if the humans did not possess any hatred for the demons to begin with. Not only did the audiences not show any disgust with him, they instead applauded the Chaos Demon that emerged onto the stage.
“There’s... Banshees too, Day Banshees,” Vulture quietly informed Bishop Darco of the other terrifying existences in the theater.
Undead...
“Day Banshees?”
Bishop Darco narrowed his eyes and gathered his magic power into his eyes. Soon, he discovered the glimmering souls floating in midair.
Those were... all undead. Even though their bodies were composed of Holy Light, they were still evil undead creatures!
Exactly what was going on here?!
Bishop Darco felt a sense of terror spreading all over his body.
A demon was openly showing itself before all these humans. Undeads were flying past the humans. Yet, not a single person screamed in horror. Bishop Darco realized the citizens of Norland were being gradually transformed.
Furthermore, the main culprit behind all this was the Chaos Demon standing on the stage.
The Chaos Demon made a gesture of courtesy used by the human nobles toward the audience.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the World’s Singers. I am the organizer, Joshua.”
Joshua raised his head. A Day Banshee aimed her ‘video camera’ onto Joshua.
With the arrival of the Duke of Bones, Joshua now had fifteen Day Banshees working for him. The fifteen specter videographer ladies were floating all around the theater. With them, it was guaranteed that all the marvelous actions happening in the theater would be captured instantly and broadcasted onto the ‘televisions.’
“I know everyone is here to witness the singing of the participants of the World’s Singers. Or perhaps, you might be here to see Miss Gallolie and Miss Belle in the flesh. But, before we begin, I have an announcement to make.”
Joshua’s gaze swept across the entire audience seating area. Norland National Theater’s main theater was large enough to contain two thousand people.
Today, the theater was completely packed. All the people gathered were quietly listening to Joshua’s voice. No... there were more than two thousand people...
Joshua snapped his fingers and a projection appeared behind Joshua. All the people seated in the audience seats could be seen on the projection.
“I believe everyone here already knew about this. All of you sitting here today are not the only audience of the World’s Singers. Arcanotech devices known as ‘televisions’ have been installed into various taverns, academies, alchemic ateliers and other places throughout Norland.”
Joshua placed his hands behind his back. The projection behind him transformed to his smiling face.
“As such, the two thousand people here are not the only ones witnessing the birth of the ‘singers.’ Tens or hundreds of thousands of people all over Norland are also watching this program.”
After saying those words, Joshua looked toward Bishop Darco and the templar legion commander seated in the audience seats.
“The rules for the birth of the singers are very simple. All the audiences could log into the Mage Forum. Through the ‘World’s Singers’ sub-forum, you are able to give your valuable vote toward the participant you believed to be the best singer.”
Joshua had a warm smile on his face the entire time. But, his final sentence was enough to cause people to tremble.
Silently holding his crutch, Bishop Darco couldn’t contain his hand from shivering after hearing the Chaos Demon’s proclamation. Vulture felt that if this bishop wasn’t so old, his crutch would’ve been crushed to bits by his grip.
“Bishop Darco, how many believers are able to hear Lady Saintess’s singing during the Holy Light Festival?” asked Vulture all of a sudden.
“At most five thousand belivers...” Bishop Darco was taking deep breaths nonstop. It seemed like he was trying to calm his mind.
He did not suspect the words spoken by that Chaos Demon to be false... After all, he had seen the so-called ‘television’ in a shop near the chapel.
Just by standing next to that ‘television’ a group of people were able to see the Frost Elf playing a strange instrument and singing an unknown song.
Bishop Darco has always thought that arcanotech device was something that could only be found in that shop. But, it would appear that it has been placed all over Norland. Worse yet, the person in control of them was a Chaos Demon!
That Chaos Demon was able to utilize ‘television’ to willfully spread his propaganda throughout Norland.
But, the terrifying evangelizing nature of ‘television’ was not the reason why Bishop Darco was feeling such terror. Instead... it was due to the final sentence spoken by that Chaos Demon. That sentence was clearly a declaration of war to him.
No, it could even be said to be a declaration of war toward the entire Nation of the Holy Church!
The battle was not a battle to the death using swords, magic and blood. Instead, he was openly questioning the influence of the Nation of the Holy Church.
“The battle has begun... Vulture,” slowly, Bishop Darco said, “A battle over believers...”
“Is the vanguard in this battle Lady Saintess?” Vulture was also able to see through the provocation from that Chaos Demon.
Unwittingly, this World’s Singers competition has transformed into a battle between the demons and the Nation of the Holy Church.
“Lady Saintess will prove that demon’s decision to be a mistake.”
Bishop Darco did not believe that they would lose this ‘battle.’ After all, from the audition, he was certain that those amateurs cannot match their saintess.
Better yet... this World’s Singers would be the opportunity to expand the Saintess’s followers to Norland!