Episode 793 Blood Alliance (9)
The saint’s words that she hopes to be saved by covering ideals with faith are equivalent to advising one to abandon the ideals of the Transcendent.In other words, it not only undermines the significance of the Transcendent’s existence but also disregards it.
Even though her raw nerve had been touched in this way, the saint’s expression was incredibly gentle.
There is no hostility, noris there any malice.
The saint purely wanted to spread the faith of light to beings beyond humanity, so she never harbored any intention of provocation in the first place.
Is this the reason why saints are shunned?
Not only is he the most powerful figure second only to the Pope in the Ruas Theocracy, which commands world religions, but he has also attained a remarkably high level among all transcendent beings… …and he even possesses the miracle to physically resurrect the dead—to think that such a being is merely a fanatic obsessed with faith?
Whether viewed as an individual or as a group, he is an extremely demanding transcendent being.This is because his mindset is firm.
Valid logic holds no sway against truly fanatical belief. Yet, the balance of power is too skewed to engage in a debate and fight back.
How many forces would be able to face the Saintess and the Ruas Theocracy head-on?
There probably isn’t one on a ‘macro’ level.
Since in most human groups, there is inevitably bound to be someone who believes in the Luas of Light, whether deeply or shallowly.
The same goes for Black Hour, the Bohemian Magic Tower, and Eon.
The mind has no fixed form, and since faith is the mind, those who have found even the slightest comfort by believing in Luas are impossible to control absolutely.That is, unless there is an alternative, just as Verden replaced Ishur.
Just then, the Master readily broke the heavy silence.
“May we leisurely chat here? Even if the third servant has been dealt with, the Saint shouldn’t be away for too long.”“I can invest as much time as I want if it means spreading the faith to you all. However… unfortunately, and celebratory as it may be, it is true that I am not in such a relaxed position right now. I must look after the ‘Saint’ who was born not long ago.”“…The Holy Sword has chosen a master.”
Verden and Adrian reacted to the news that a new transcendent being had appeared.
The master asked.
“Where are you from?”“I am a young farmer from the frontier of the Kingdom of Ronia. I summoned the Holy Sword immediately after my village was wiped out by the Blood-Crying Plague and the King of Ronia’s quarantine order. At least my mother and younger sister survived, so I am better off compared to the saints of old.”
The holy sword fills the void of tragedy.
Since the birth of the Luas religion, every saint has awakened only after losing something precious. According to the Book of Light, this is the settlement of the karma assigned to them.
Life is a process of washing away dirt.
Humans are determined beyond death whether they will be saved or not, buta saint can certainly go to the side of the goddess Luas after death because they have wiped away all the filth known as karma at once during their lifetime.
Instead, one must endure cruel pain… Compared to the ‘eternal salvation’ that will come later, life is nothing more than a fleeting moment.
“He is a chosen saint after a very long time. As a fellow saint, it is only natural to guide him in the right direction.”
The saint, suddenly recalling the time she was chosen by the Holy Lance and Holy Armor, shone with an intense gaze filled with extreme faith.
“In any case, I suppose the Kingdom of Ronia has become a target of Eon because of this incident. After all, they disregarded the dignity of a sentient being and burned them alive.”“That will need to be investigated closely.”
Verden added emphasis to his tone.
“However, whatever the outcome, that is Aeon’s business.”“You call that the Third Commandment of the Divine, don’t you? Personally, I think it is excellent. Upholding dignity is certainly the right thing to do. It is also explicitly stated in the Doctrine of Light. However… it seems necessary to keep this fact in mind.”
The moment the Saintess was about to approach, Adrian stood in her way. The light sword [Silendar], with its hand resting on the hilt, guarded the holy spear [Grenter].As the sword containing dragon bone and the divine weapon drew closer, they silenced the island.
As if she had no intention of causing conflict from the start, the saint stopped walking nonchalantly.Then she spoke in a low voice.
“We are beings who execute proxy judgment based on the law. We do not enact the law. That is the right of the God we worship.”
The saint narrowed her eyes and stared at the nape of [Einber]’s neck.
“Creating sentient creatures, too.”“You are faithful. Befitting a transcendent being of the realm of faith.”“That is the meaning of my existence. I hope you take my advice to heart. Then, let us conclude today’s unexpected meeting here.”
The saint stepped back a few steps.
I will see you again where the world gathers, prospective believers.
Whoosh!
She manifested wings of light with vast divine power and leaped high into the sky.The presence, shrouded between clouds that looked as if rain were about to fall, soon vanished in an instant, following the trajectory of a flashing light.
The saint has left.
Unlike the Lord of the Lefragium Magic Tower, who was as silent as silence, his presence was dazzlingly intense, so a sense of emptiness hung over the island.
Adrian spat.
“Crazy bitch.”“Pfft.”
I naturally turned my head at the sound of a small burst of laughter, only to see Bendie covering only the corners of his mouth while maintaining his characteristic cold gaze.
“I’m sorry. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a Transcendent speak so rudely. Even if it’s just gossip, to say it’s directed at the Saintess.”
Adrian furrowed his brow.
“You’re laughing at a strange place.”“It’s more intriguing than funny. I heard that both of you have personal connections with the outside world, so I understand why that was possible.”
Bendie lowered his hand.
“However, it is best to avoid arguing with the Saintess if possible. It is inherently impossible to persuade a fanatic with words. Especially if the word ‘blasphemy’ comes up from her, be prepared for combat.”“……Is that based on your own experience?”“Something similar.”
As Bendie released his grip, the longsword became transparent and soon vanished. It appeared to possess a special storage mechanism, much like a subspace.
“Now that the Plague of Bloodcry has subsided, I will take my leave and return to the Temple. I do not know how short this renewed stability will be, though.”“Before that, there is something I would like to ask.”“I am listening.”
Verden parted his lips.
“Is he favorable toward us because of Enette?”
Enette, who was once called Fierce Brave, was a disciple of the Master, but was excommunicated from the Temple after her convictions crumbled.During this process, she was also subjected to a ban that prevented her from using her skills.
Enette was captured in the Bohemirn Magic Tower and became Unofficial Test Subject No. 70, disappearing for a time; however, after being rescued, she appeared on Eon’s side and officially resumed her activities.This was a decision made while Verden was traveling through the Silent Desert.
anyway.
Since Temple must possess intelligence befitting a transcendent force, they would have long ago located the whereabouts of Enet, who was guarding Kalia.
Bendie paused for a moment.
“……Enette was an outstanding disciple. Her swordsmanship was exceptional, but what shone brightest was her spirit, which seemed unyielding. That was the conviction Enette established through me. Until she encountered the fanatical old man in Gargant.”
The old fanatic whose level was unfathomable.
The reason Verden went out of his way to find that person was that he felt an extremely unfamiliar sense of crisis while sharing Enette’s memories of that time.
Such a being exists in Gargant, near the ownerless land? And on top of that, without even Ignacia, the Transcendent of Gargant, knowing?
Even if he couldn’t eliminate the variables, identifying them was the prerequisite. And Verden encountered the fanatical old man in a place that was not reality, and managed to narrowly avoid a fatal injury.
I haven’t seen him again since the World Tree sprang up back then. Not yet, anyway.
Furthermore, he had never mentioned the fanatical old man to Alpha and Beta, let alone Adrian and Isabella.This was because it might lead to a situation where he broke a taboo.
“Since parts of Gargant are outside the dimensional realm, I secretly made inquiries myself, but in the end, I could not find even a shadow of that old man. All that remained was Enet, whose spirit had been broken and who was beyond recovery.”
As a transcendent being who values belief, Bendie can empower the will of his disciples by allowing them to determine their personal beliefs.
However, the moment one loses faith for any reason, that power transforms into a restriction that prohibits the art, and one is immediately excommunicated from the Temple.Just as Ennet was.
“Upon hearing the news that she had vanished from the world not long after being expelled from the Temple, I thought Enette would never be able to wield a sword again. But to think she would appear on Eon’s side, confidently gripping and swinging a sword—I never expected that.”“Is it lingering affection for your disciple?”“It is not lingering affection, but rather an expectation I hold as a master who once taught her the sword and the right mindset. It is about whether she can break the curse on her own by rebuilding her shattered beliefs…”
Bendie raised the corners of her mouth ever so slightly.To expect something is to hope for it.Although she appeared young on the outside as a transcendent being of the martial arts world, she was the Grand Master of the Temple who had nurtured promising disciples for nearly a century.
“And even without Enet, I viewed Eon’s activities positively.”“In what respect?”“In terms of his unwavering convictions and the direction of the Divine Third Commandment. Because I judged that the ideals Eon pursues at this moment are far removed from causing harm to the world and leaving behind sin. That is my answer.”
Suddenly, Bendie checked the time.
Our conversation has lasted a little longer than I expected. I’ll be going now.
She turned her back and left without hesitation, promising to meet again someday.
Let’s see each other at the World Conference.
Finally, the master also left.
I never imagined I would come face-to-face with the most renowned beings among the transcendents of the martial arts and faith realms like this.
It was truly an unexpected encounter.
Slowly.
Robe stirred slightly, and Alpha and Beta stuck the frame out.
[Fanatic Saint. Kind Master. Exit.]
[I have confirmed the death of Manyeon’s Landerk. All that remains is the Blood Alliance.]
They declared the situation over.
Now, only Verden and his party remained on the island on the boundary line separating the upper and central parts of the Eastern Continent.
“I heard from Isabella that you are doing quite a good job as the interim leader of Eon. If trouble arises again next time, I can leave with peace of mind.”
Adrian cleared his throat.
“As the number of things to consider increased, I found myself hesitating in a way that was out of character. Therefore, if there is any matter to be handled outside, please send me. Please do not get involved yourself, My Lord.”“I will think about it.”“So, how was your trip to the desert? You seem to have changed quite a bit.”
Although the information regarding the glory of the corpse was conveyed clearly via the communication device, the rest of the content was only conveyed in a highly condensed manner, so there was still quite a lot of material left to unravel.If used as a topic of conversation over drinks later, it would be more than enough to overflow.
“I gained a lot. It was a bit of a struggle, though.”“Congratulations.”“Now that the most bothersome element is gone, we’ll head back. The matter with the Blood Alliance’s top executives must have been settled by now.”
Even if the Glory of the Dead is behind it, the dissolution of the Blood Alliance is a foregone conclusion given that bigwigs of the underworld have gathered together to oppose Eon.
Freedom by force.
It is time to show what it truly is.
“The Blood Alliance will be dealt with within two days.”“Yes, my lord.”
[Annihilation confirmed.]
[I have confirmed it, Your Majesty Verden.]
* * *
Federation of Ternetia
Junia of Eon and Zakran, a Black Mage belonging to the Blood Alliance, cast spells in the middle of an abandoned village and collided head-on in succession.Several surrounding buildings vanished completely from the wide-ranging elemental explosions.
Mado
As Zakran waved his staff, the curse materialized and spread out. It looked as if the ‘chains’ for punishment were coming to life and moving like living creatures.
───!
Junia glided forward, performing acrobatics with
Shhh, crash!
The re-emerged chains of the curse intertwined, blocking the front. Through the tiny gap, the young gazes of the two enemies crossed.
“I heard you drove Andranov’s Melconi Bloud into close combat. This combat technique is strikingly similar to that of the War Mage of the Arnark Empire.”“I suppose my official achievements have been somewhat lacking. To think that capturing the Elder of the Volcanic Island’s Magic Tower in the Unclaimed Lands is still my most famous accomplishment.”
Yunia’s blue eyes shone.
It might be different now, though.
Whoosh!
Yunia took just one step back and spun her staff. After momentarily blurring Zakran’s vision, she kicked left and right in succession.Then, clenching her teeth, she swung her staff, imbued with elemental magic, with great force.
Zakran scoffed inwardly.
He’s only focused on his specialty, firepower.
A chain of curses that caused the skin to rot upon contact fell from above and struck the paths that had been predicted in advance.
No matter how great the power, it is meaningless if it does not ultimately reach its target. Furthermore, magical warfare is not fought with brute force, but with the mind.
One by one, I will blockade all means and brand you with the mark of a curse.
The experience in magical warfare that Zakran has accumulated is as vast as the depth of the life he has lived. For the young Junia, it was a gap that could never be narrowed.
Whoosh!
Just then, an ice explosion occurred, engulfing the view in a white mist. He is truly young. To think that such a low-level trick was all he could come up with.
Zakran calculated the magic in his mind without any hesitation. *Kaang!* He accurately countered and deflected the [Ultima] flying in from the side.
“……?”
However, only the staff was there, and the sorcerer holding the staff was nowhere to be seen.
I can sense a presence.
Right next to it.
Whoosh───!
Yunia’s kick grazed over Zakran’s head as he hurriedly bowed.
“A mage throwing away a staff…?!”
Zakran immediately concentrated his magic power and struck the chain of curses upward from below, but she spun faster and her legs swarmed him.
Bang!
Zakran staggered after being struck in the head along with his left forearm. Meanwhile, Junia surged forward, retrieving the staff with
Sentence of the Black Law
A sharp chain wedge hung before my eyes.
Saaaak!
At the same time, Junia rotated, lowering her center of gravity to the extreme. Zakran’s unique magic grazed past.Immediately afterwards, [Ultima], bearing its full weight, traced a clean curved trajectory.
That movement was clearly similar to Verden’s.
Double Casting:
Kwaaaaaaaang!
Zakran of the Black Mage was struck in the abdomen and sent flying, smashing the building with his body.The first point went to Junia.
“I learned this from my senior, and it really worked?”
Yunia bared her fangs.
Genius becomes stronger through genius.
