Episode 955 Divine Power – 4
It has been a long time since Rendivar disappeared from sight.
With the receding night sky on my head, I passed through several layers of forest. Then, a deep forest devoid of light, like Libereas, unfolded before me.
The monster-like demon slowed down and started walking slowly.
[We have completely escaped the traitor’s territory… We are safe now… The child’s body has also nearly regenerated, so they can walk.]
“Ah.”“Is that so?”
Verden nodded.
The half-demon who had been held in Verden’s arms bowed respectfully, hurriedly dismounted from the monster, and joined the ranks of the surrounding demons.He showed signs of regret, but fell silent under Hadras’s gaze.
[I confirmed that the Savior was in Rendivar, but… I never imagined you would save that child captured by the nobles… Thank you.]
“I owe a debt to the devil. To be precise, to Noxias.”
With the assistance of Cayman Vermont, a Devil Contractor and the first member of Black Hour, I was able to reach the Archdemon’s Sanctuary.After passing through there, I was able to safely infiltrate the Black Hour Grand Hall.
The being who granted permission to use this special space called Libereas was Noxias, who created Libereas hundreds of years ago.
[… … ! Have you… … met Lord Noxias? Is Lord Noxias… … safe… … ?]
Hadras reacted angrily as if he knew absolutely nothing about this. Even though he would be a close confidant if he were the commander of the Archdemon’s Legion.In other words, it meant that he had not been in contact with Noxias until recently.
“I am safe. I recently encountered him indirectly in Rivereas through one of his subordinates.”
[Livereas… … ?]
“Seeing as you don’t know about the Archdemon’s Refuge, it looks like you’ve been trapped in the Rift of Worlds all this time. How long have you been here?”
Hadras rested his hand on his chin.
[I have been here ever since the resistance forces were defeated in the Battle of Destiny.]
Since the time of the Fate War?It wasn’t just a few hundred or thousands of years ago.
[Half had no choice… … and half voluntarily… … crossed over to the rift between worlds… … to protect the demons of this place.]
Hadras looked around.
[If the human-like beings of Rendibhar are the oppressors… … the demons are the oppressed… … they are a kind of guard… … blocking the demons from moving as far as possible from the rifts of the world into reality… … . With their souls fixed at a single point, they gain life repeatedly even after death… … performing only their assigned roles… … they are no different from puppets.]
So that’s why you said it has no substance?
[Lack of freedom and will… … they are a background… assimilated into the cracks of the world.]
Verden touched his lips.
“You said that the rift of the world is a passageway where forbidden souls flow in.”
He asked.
“In that case, it is interpreted that the devil originates from the soul. Is detailed information restricted due to taboos as well?”
Perhaps because I had encountered taboos so often, I instinctively felt where the line was drawn. Verden stood right at the boundary of the taboo.
[The devil… … to put it simply, is a byproduct of fate… … .]
“by-product?”
[A being born by chance and by repulsion while ‘you’ created the Wheel of Fortune… … Therefore, the Devil essentially… … rejects fate… … . Because it is entangled with the principle of the birth of fate in this way… … even the Devil’s principle cannot be spoken of.]
The secrets of fate are riddled with taboos.The devil’s secrets naturally became subordinate to them.
[If one carelessly violates the taboo of information… … unbearable consequences follow… … so it is necessary to clearly maintain the boundaries… … . Indeed, Savior… … seems to be well-versed in taboos… … .]
I’ve simply encountered it often. In the end, I’ve never once reached the truth. More than that, there are many things I personally want to ask you.
[Please ask… … .]
It is time for a Q&A.
“Is the first king of the human world managing this place the one who annihilated the demons?”
The ancient stone tablet shown by Acetro Oldin contained an incomplete implication that the first king of the human world had betrayed them and should be executed.Next to the remains of the tablet’s owner—the first demon and dragonman discovered in the Silent Desert—a dying wish to avenge the first king of the human world, who had succumbed to fate, remained intact.
The first king of the human world.
In the mural of Molgarn, a humble king kneels toward the sky and offers his crown.
Verden speculated that the guy was an apostle with the same fate as Ishur and the old king.
[That is correct… … The first king of the Human World, who was the cornerstone of the resistance forces… … was swayed by ‘you’ and killed the Demons and their King… … He even handed over his own people and kingdom… … Rendibbar… … That place was the capital of humanity, directly ruled by that traitor, before the Age of Destiny began… … .]
I had said that the appearance of the citizens and the style of the city were far behind the modern era; was the setting the period between the Great Divergence and the Battle of Destiny?It was as if Verden had personally walked through a historical site close to the primeval age.
[The traitor is the sword of ‘you’, known as the Apostle of Destiny… … ‘The Second Apostle’.]
* * *
In the island’s labyrinth, I encountered the first Apostle made of light. I do not know which Apostle the Old King is, but the number must naturally be two or fewer.
Hadras naturally did not know about the Apostles born after the Battle of Destiny, and stated that the only one he knew clearly was the second Apostle.However, he mentioned that information about the first Apostle was restricted because it was surrounded by taboos.
I cannot compare them because I do not clearly know the power of the Apostles.For now, Ishuru would be at the very bottom, though.
Even if the order does not imply strength, as long as he is the second apostle, his level will be unrivaled.
‘for a moment.’
Verden thought of a mysterious strongman.
Could that fanatic be the first king of the human world?
The fanatical old man whom I encountered in Gargant’s illusion with the help of Ignacia, and who engaged in a fleeting battle after a brief conversation.
Are you human?
───Human.
A low laugh spread through my memory.
───I am human, indeed. I am human more than anyone else. Only humans can receive the favor of the light. I am human.
Human.Human world.The dignity of a king.
It roughly matches.
I don’t know about the other things, but that strength was real.
If that guy’s weapon had been a proper sword, and if the World Tree hadn’t directly intervened in the battle because it had confirmed a certain taboo violation…he, who hadn’t realized a single concept of magic, might have died.
A level truly befitting an apostle.
This is important information.
Verden’s eyes gleamed. However, this was not yet enough to satisfy him. There was still more he wanted to know than the identity of the fanatic old man.
It was then.
[Savior… … May I also ask you for an answer personally?]
To me? Of course.
[How… … did you come into this rift in the world, Savior? For what purpose… … did you come to this land of lies?]
Hadras asks about the purpose of coming here.
“I am…….”
You can reveal it, oryou can hide it.
I can feel not only Hadras but every demon following them listening intently. Tears well up in the demons’ eyes.Hope.The demons craved something from Verden, and they also hoped for it.
I am searching for my faith.
[faith.]
“After listening to the advice, I tried to become one with my inner self and perceive everything connected to me in order to attain divinity. Before I knew it, I found myself here dressed like this.”
Verden answered truthfully.
That is all.
[… … .]
This time, I will ask.
Verden looked at the back of Hadras, who was riding the monster demon with him.
“Why does the devil shed tears when he sees me?”
[… … .]
“Why do you call me a savior?”
Pitch-black tears streamed down Hadras’s gaunt skin. The monstrous demon stopped. Hadras slowly rose from the middle of the darkness.
[All demons… … were born as a reaction against the creation of destiny… … and as enemies of ‘you’… … had no choice but to choose resistance… … . But… … Oldarc, too… … did not see us as ourselves… … because, after all, we are beings created by ‘you’.]
The demons hiding in the darkness revealed their eyes one by one. The monstrous demon lowered its body significantly. Hadras descended to the ground, and the tentacles created by the demons served as stairs.
[We are abandoned beings… … whom no one wants… … But… … Lord Noxias always… … spoke these words… … even on the day of his defeat in the Battle of Destiny.]
“…….”
[You left us hope that someday… … we would have a place to lean on… … later… … a being who cares for us would appear… … someone who understands us would come looking for us…]
“…….”
[The shock of the wheel of fate collapsing… … was felt even in the rift of the world.]
Hadras slowly raised his arm.
[To the Savior who destroyed fate… we feel hope… not merely because you shattered this destiny… but because we felt the hope that can truly understand us, who have become twisted.]
[Kiii… …]
[Did you say that you are seeking faith…?]
Hadras bent his upper body and desperately reached out his right hand.
[O Savior… … Please, let me know your name… … .]
Verden has not revealed his name yet.
Verden descended the stairs created by the demons, under the gaze of countless demons. And with the last step before him, he took Hadras’s hand.
“Verden.”
Only then did the demons dwelling in the rift of the world clearly recognize him.Not as a being presumed to be a savior, but as Verden, and as the object of faith for the demons who merely wandered with nowhere to go.
[Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] “Verden.” [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.] [Verden.]──
Vast faith finds a way.From that faith, the heart is conveyed.
… … Thump.
This is… … .
Verden wiped his face with his fingertips, feeling something flowing from his right eye. He had shed tears as he faced the demons.
A believer embraces faith to compensate for their 부족한 heart.God sympathizes with the earnestness of such a believer.
Compassion.
A true god is one who pities the believers they care for. Having understood the sorrow of the demons, Verden finally realized what compassion is.
The blue light flickers.
Divine power began to rise from Verden’s tears.
* * *
39 steps.
* * *
Anonium Bank Headquarters.
He immediately cut off communication with Isabella.
Having lost his last hope, Adrian returned to the Golden Vigo and pondered.
United the continent’s most prominent forces into a single coalition. With Adrian’s power… was that truly possible?No matter how much I thought about it, the only outcome I could clearly see was the acceleration of international division.
I’m in big trouble.
He was prepared to willingly shoulder any heavy burden, but this was a matter beyond the resolve Adrian had anticipated.
What would happen if the former king returned while the continent was in chaos, and the Lord saw the world turned into a mess?
Adrian, I’m disappointed in you.
My heart sank.
Adrian was engulfed in tension even greater than when he had faced the Transcendents. It would have been better to die than to betray his master’s expectations like that.
Your face is completely stiff. I thought you were a statue.
Yunia tilted her head, adorned with all sorts of magic items.
Gharun laughed heartily.
“Did you think filling Verden’s void would be easy? I have no interest in worldly affairs, but I am curious to see how you will overcome this predicament.”“I don’t think conversation will work. Are you going to settle this with the sword? Are you going to subjugate all the disobedient Transcendents by yourself?”
[I think even the ancient kings would find that impossible.]
Everyone concluded that Adrian’s individual abilities were insufficient. It wasn’t simply a matter of a lack of skill; it was because he was a transcendent being not specialized in this area.Capturing the hearts of others is a problem that is difficult to solve with a sword alone.
Bank President Anonium, who was captivated by the brilliance of the Golden Vigo, also thought the same inwardly.
“…….”
Adrian focused on his thoughts without even having time to react to the surrounding noise. He thought like his liege. He calculated what his liege would have done first in a situation like this.Instead of trying to follow his intellect, he sought a way out based on his liege’s course of action.
The United Nations is beyond my capabilities. Also, it is too large in scale to handle all at once.
How did the Lord take revenge on the Bohemian Magic Tower when he had no power base? Adrian knows the details, having walked that path with him from the middle.
Okay, let’s start by taking the first step.
Adrian suddenly stood up from his seat as if he had made a decision.
