Episode 1061 Subject (1)
The international newspaper that Ignacia had deliberately spread was delivered to cities across the entire continent by morning. It would probably reach the smaller towns tomorrow or the day after.
The Ruas Church also had a deep interest in newspapers because they facilitated social control in times of chaos like the present.
Pope Romanus read the newspaper thoroughly to the end and rubbed the golden cross hanging around his neck.
“Did the devil worshipper really have to be executed? Hmm, why on earth would there be an article like this….”
Gargant’s international newspaper is closely connected to various forces.The Holy Nation ranks among the top three.Nevertheless, the fact that they published an article that was ‘quite’ uncomfortable for them means they were under pressure that could not be ignored.
There is only one culprit who meets the conditions.
I really don’t understand your intentions, Ignacia.
The content of the last page of the newspaper criticized the unconditional summary execution of devil worshippers and argued that punishment should be differentiated based on the intent or coercion of the pact with the devil.
It was extremely ordinary.
Because it was a topic that had been discussed dozens of times in history.
The Church’s policy that all devil worshippers must be executed originated in the First Great Crusade, so it is a point of contention that has continued for as long as six or seven centuries.
Nevertheless, the religion of Luas never once modified this rule.And it never will.For the cruelty of the devil is of an uncompromising nature.
The problem, however, is… why is the ruler of Gargant, an outsider, suddenly bringing up the ethics of devil worshippers?He didn’t even attend the emergency summit; what kind of sinister plot is he hatching?
A low voice came from the side.
“Hedonist.”
The international newspaper held by Saint Ersetia was crumpled with a loud thud!
“I would love to go in person, but…… it would likely only cause more unnecessary confusion. It would be best to send an unofficial letter instructing them to refrain from writing articles about demons as much as possible.”“……!!!”
She makes a rational judgment instead of rushing out to the Central Continent immediately? The Saintess has changed. Did she grow up after being defeated by the Divine in an argument?
“Why are you looking at me like that… Pope, surely you didn’t think I would lose my sense of judgment and go to Gargant to cause a ruckus, did you?”“Probably not.”“With war with the Old King imminent, I have no intention of causing a major conflict with the Alliance’s Transcendent. I know how to distinguish between time and place, too.”“What? Ah.”
Saint Leonhardt, who was catching his breath after a light sparring match with Ersetia, covered his mouth in realization.She glared at him out of the corner of her eye for a moment before honestly correcting him.
“……I know how to distinguish between right and wrong. As long as it does not insult the Radiance. In any case, I do not know if Gyeoe published an article like this at this point, but the execution of devil worshippers is a dead issue, so there is no need to overreact. Especially since Gyeoe is the one in charge. There is no reason to play along with her crossing the line.”
Demons are a monstrous species that the Luas religion regards as more dangerous and abhorrent than the undead that hate the living.Although he had a momentary seizure when the story of a demon worshipper unexpectedly appeared in an international newspaper, the subject matter was not serious enough to warrant expressing diplomatic outrage.
This is because a firm answer to this issue was already reached a long time ago.The current newcomers are also carrying on that determination.
“The Saint is right. No matter how much the Ruas Theocracy preaches, it will be difficult for society to truly understand the danger of the demon species. Just as it has been in the past… unless they confront the demons directly.”
The vivid records of the First Great Crusade are preserved in the sanctuary of Abenko. Everything about how cunning, vicious, malicious, and intelligent the devil is.
That is why, even when Verden put the society of coexistence between heteromorphs on the agenda at the World Conference, the Devil alone opposed it desperately. He had to oppose it!
The devil is an incurable disease, a contagious epidemic of malice that spreads endlessly unless the sick are eliminated… for the long history of the Religion of Light has reached such a conclusion.
For devil worshippers afflicted with the cancer of the devil, only death is salvation.
“Nevertheless, since the devil has been mentioned, it would not be natural to dismiss it entirely, so I will instruct the International Newspaper to publish just a brief rebuttal.”“I leave it to you, Pope.”
Ersetia transformed the Holy Lance into light.
“Your family has arrived, Saint. I will take a 30-minute rest, so please go ahead.”“Ah, yes! Excuse me for a moment.”
Leonhardt, glancing nervously, reverse-summoned the Holy Sword and left the training ground. At the entrance, his mother and younger sister, Celia, smiled brightly.Their presence slowly faded into the distance.Even from such a small glimpse, one could catch a glimpse of the family’s harmony.
The Saint and the Pope spoke only after Leonhardt’s figure had disappeared from their sight.
“……Right now, the priority is for Eon to figure out the true intentions rather than dealing with schemes from outside the system.”“Yes, it was certainly an unexpected request.”
Eon handled the duties that the Ruas religion ought to have ought to have performed on their behalf. Thanks to him, many lives were saved. Furthermore, there was the assassination of the King of Ronia and the unsavory clash at the emergency summit.Even if he had a mouth, he would have been speechless.It was only right that most of their demands should have been granted.
However, in exchange for repaying that debt… … he demanded a ‘Saint.’ To be precise, he wanted the Saint to act as a member of the Alliance of Transcendents.
why?
Come to think of it, there were quite a few reasons that could be reasonably attached.
“Since the Saint is also the Head of the Order of the Holy Law… he might be keeping the Order in check. The very fanatical nature of the Inquisitors is a source of instability.”“…….”“I respect the Pope’s decision. However, if it were me, I would have deliberated a little more, even if I had decided to re-establish the Order of the Holy Law.”
The re-establishment of the Holy Order took place while Ersetia was unconscious.
Ersetia’s fanaticism is the best, but that of the Inquisitors is slightly different. For they are those who embrace darkness in order to worship the Goddess’s light.If they, who always operate in small numbers, were to form a legion, control might spiral out of control. This is because darkness deepens the more it overlaps.
“The Divine Being said so at the World Council. That there is a world we do not know. Saint, I suspect that the Ancient King may have come from that unprecedented world. Furthermore, I believe that this might be why the Divine Being is stepping to the front lines.”
Isn’t it said that you only see as much as you know?
Verden, who likely had the first necromancer as his background, may have taken the lead himself because he perceived a greater danger.
“……He is rude and coercive, but he is noble in his own way. The transcendent being named Verden.”
Ersetia needlessly pressed her fingertips against the corners of her mouth that Verden had grabbed.
“The world is vast, Pope. For darkness exists precisely because the Goddess’s light does not reach it.”“It is our mission to illuminate even such darkness.”
Romanus smiled.
“Please raise the Saint’s abilities to the maximum before dispatching him to the Alliance of Transcendents.”“Of course.”“I entrust him with all-out support for the continent.”“That’s obvious.”
Saint Ersetia, acting directly under Verden, is in charge of the continental bombardment at the sanctuary of Abenka. It was a task that only she, the owner of the Holy Lance, could perform.
“I entrust the front lines to you, Pope.”“Haha, of course.”
Pope Romanus will personally lead the charge into the battlefield as the commander of the Second Legion of the Southern Eastern Continent.To the land of rampant corruption where the King of Ronia was murdered by a saint.
* * *
Dalehin.
The city where Verden first gained dominance after crossing over to the Central Continent, before Arrein, which currently serves as the capital of the ownerless land.
and.
Paradise of intelligent beings (planned) to be piloted as a heterogeneous habitat zone at a recent world conference.
Dalehin is managed by Dumal, a vampire who was promoted from acting to lord. This sleep-free mutant possessed excellent city management skills, and his loyalty to Verden was also top-notch.
[As Your Majesty commanded, we are inviting heteromorphic beings living outside Eon’s territory to design and test a new administration.]
Dumal politely introduced, with one arm, beings of high intelligence who were therefore permitted to coexist with human society on a limited basis.Among them were monsters whom Dumal knew personally, even though they were not permitted to coexist with society. He had not invited them suddenly; rather, it was the result of selecting variant species that seemed acceptable based on the citizens’ reactions.
Vampire Duke, Lescarte.A distant relative of Dumal.
A Thousand Voices, Mnemosy.Doppelganger.
The Formless Shepherd, Nyah-Ka.An astral race born on the midpoint between substance and non-substance.
Black Shell Group, Ogrun. Aquadrupedal, humanoid insect and a beetle.
These were the leaders of the heteromorphic beings who had come to find Arrein, intelligent beings gathered by mobilizing all of Dumal’s personal connections… After finishing their introductions, the heteromorphic monsters bowed respectfully and settled into the chairs.
Sitting directly opposite them was Verden, who had gained fame throughout the continent.
This is… … the Great Lord of the Masterless Land!
Duke Rescart was engulfed in the feeling that cold sweat was pouring down like rain, even though he was a vampire and therefore did not sweat.
“Rumors, rumors… it’s more than that. So much so that what I heard from Dumal is of no help at all.”
The teacup resting on my thigh trembled slightly out of habit. Although I had lived for quite a long time, this was the first time I had felt my whole body become so heavy.Suppressing my physical reaction as much as possible, I opened my mouth as the representative, just as we had planned beforehand.
[First, we express our deepest gratitude for the undeserved generosity and opportunities you have bestowed upon aberrant beings like us. We, your vampire family and the entire aberrant group under your leadership, pledge on our lives that we will spare no effort in the complete establishment of the aberrant residential district.]
“Since you’re a vampire, are you saying you’ll bet your blood?”
Verden sent his teacup toward Dumal.
“I don’t have much time, so I’ll get straight to the point. You know war is scheduled, right?”
Ogrun bent his upper body forward, placing both hands on his knees. It was the gesture of a strict old knight, even though he was of the insectoid race.
[I have heard from Dumal. I, along with the Insect-type variants, have not yet been granted permission for social coexistence. However, if Your Majesty personally grants us permission, we wish to stand proudly on the front lines and prove our worth.]
[Although insectoid variants possess intelligence, most lack emotions and are not socially accepted; however, Ogrun is different. Outside of society, he taught emotions to intelligent insects to form a force, and his individual strength is also excellent… … .]
“It is impossible. This war is not a place for your proof. Unless you are trusted by others, you will only cause discord.”
Verden interrupted Dumal. It was such sound reasoning that no one could retort. After all, with traitors around, how could anyone trust Lee Hyeong-jong and leave their backs to him on the battlefield?
Guard the ownerless land that will become your home, and prepare for the ‘next’.
[If you say next… …?]
“What use is it to look only at the distant when one cannot even fathom what is close?”
[Ah, indeed, that is so.]
Duke Rescart understood the meaning and immediately nodded. It was advice to stop obsessing over elevating their racial status through military achievements and instead truly win over the citizens of Dalehin to their side first.
And… … the next will signify a new world ‘after the war’.
“You have likely already heard from Dumal, but there are several more heteromorphic individuals introduced by Bank President Magnus. Try to forge an alliance with them. Report to Liam if an emergency arises.”
[I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.]
“I don’t need to see you off. Take care, Pine.”“Hehehe. I’ll always pray for Lord Verden!”
Verden rose from his seat, stroked Pine’s head, and walked away.Pine, a girl who had been saved from the atrocities of Lord Dalehin’s soldiers in the past, was enjoying a new life as the head maid of Dalehin at the age of 17.
[Great Overlord. I have one… one question.]
Verden paused for a moment at the words of the doppelganger Mnemosi. As he cast his gaze over his shoulder, Nya-ka, whose body was translucent, continued the conversation instead.
[If we perish while fulfilling our historical duty, will our legacy be passed down to our compatriots?]
Intelligent beings are not content with merely ensuring the survival of the collective. They aspire to fundamental prosperity. They hope for an improvement in their circumstances. They wish to leave their mark on the future so that they will not be forgotten.
For that reason, they could not let go of the anxiety that everything they had built might become meaningless the moment they, as special variants, disappeared.
At this, Verden affirmed.
You too will be respected as intelligent beings.
Although it was nothing more than a single word, no one doubted him.
[I will act by faith.]
That was the speaker’s weight.
* * *
After a brief encounter with the heteromorphic creatures of Dalehin, Verden headed alone to a secluded corridor. There was yet another reason for his visit to Dalehin.
Squeak.
I opened the locked door from the outside.
In the cozy darkness, a figure squirmed, and soon its three-dimensionality became prominent.
[… … !!]
Shadow Demon.
It was the guy Verden found in Tuhar.
Kataman, one of the three leaders of the apostates opposing the desert faith.A figure who believed in an extinct ancient god and secretly took a bizarre statue that grants wishes amidst the chaos, only to be found dead after the war ended.
The circumstances and evidence that the Shadow Demon killed Kataman were self-evident. Althoughthe full details are unknown.
I heard he was behaving well.
I had temporarily entrusted it to the first Necromancer to block the unpredictable danger of the demon and the slightest possibility of being discovered by the Ruas Theocracy… but now that is no longer necessary.
Follow me.
[… … !!!!]
Because Verden is the god of demons.
The Shadow Demon crawled toward him, weeping profusely with its eyeballs floating alone in the shadows. Now that he could definitely handle the creature, he intended to take it to the Great Hall of Black Hour.
It was at that moment that the shadow demon slipped under Verden’s feet.
[Ka, Ta… … Man… … .]
“……!”
Perhaps due to Verden’s influence, the Shadow Demon, whose presence had grown slightly, muttered in a voice that sounded as if it would break at any moment.
[Ka, Ta, Man?]
The Shadow Demon called out the name of Kataman, whom he had killed. What on earth had Kataman wished upon that bizarre statue?
* * *
The Phases of Eon and the Three Sages of the Society have gathered in one place once again.
“It’s been a while since the three of us have gathered like this.”“That’s fine with me, but the two of you aren’t in a position to stay in the Grand Hall.”“We can’t leave the position of Tower Master vacant. Especially in a situation like this.”
While Melad is fulfilling his duties at the Great Hall, Osgar is staying at the Diamun Magic Tower and Medrant at the Ostea Magic Tower. Astheir power has grown, it has become rare for the three of them to gather together, as they did during their time in the Society.
Osgar stretched loudly, unbefitting of his age.
“Still, the Diamun Magic Tower is practically finished. Since Gareth has joined the Alliance of Transcendents, Vantarun has nothing left to say. It should have been over long ago, but it took much longer than scheduled.”“It can’t be helped, with a Transcendent backing him.”“Right, war is inevitable if things go wrong. Well, Adrian did eventually defeat Mauler, though!”
The three sages have experience fighting a transcendent being with their lives on the line.
Melad and Osgar participated in the battle to subdue Sandir Faen, while Medrant faced Draven Lemark alone.
And yet, I survived.It was an achievement I could boast about until the day I died.
Medrant crossed his arms.
“Considering the value of the Magic Tower, that’s practically a steal.”“Of course that’s true. I just wish it weren’t for this damn war.”
Osgar grinned, lamenting that one really does live long enough to see everything. As he stroked his beard, the expression on his face was that of a wizard.
“Anyway, I’m looking forward to it.”
The reason these busy sages gathered in the Grand Hall like this was due to a summons from above.
“I wonder if we, too, can become stronger.”
Verden declared the transmission of great magic.
