Episode 1102 Securing the Front Yard (1)
The gazes of Balion and Kirue were those of murderers, immeasurable by human standards.
Jose faced the approaching Balion, knowing that words once spoken could not be taken back. Snap! An immense pressure tightened around his breath.
“Ugh… ugh…!”“You called me a coward?”
The moment Balion grabbed his neck, Jose’s feet left the ground.
“What kind of god on earth do you have to worship to be able to spout such nonsense in that situation? You, the Old Humans, whose very life and death depend on my mood.”
Balion’s forearm split open, and a biological blade extended out at an angle. It was Gluttony’s claw.Its sharpness, which was indistinguishable from the highest quality metal, stopped at a distance where it was just about to touch Jose’s eyes.
“I accommodated Kirue because she liked it, but it seems she has forgotten her own position. Fine. If you want to see the sight of transplanters being created from the Old Humans you seek to protect so much, I will have you witness it myself.”
The threat to conduct human experiments on Renard, Faye, and Haenello, who were trapped in Gluttony’s laboratory, made the chilly air even colder.
Valion loosened his grip to give him a little breathing room, wanting to hear an excuse.
Jose took a deep breath.
“You cry out for perfect humanity, yet… your actions are nothing but those of a petty coward…!”“What?”“Willing not shed your own blood, merely coveting the blood of others….”
The intense gaze of the heretic had a character completely opposite to theirs.
“small fry!”
Jose, having fallen to the floor, instinctively rubbed his throat and coughed incessantly. His lungs swarmed to breathe air.Just then, a chilling gaze and a menacing voice reached him from above.
“You, of all people, dare speak of bloodshed to me?”“You, too, have shed a lot of blood in your own way… *cough*…! But, is this the conclusion you reached… *cough, cough*…! in that war over this continent? To do nothing and merely reap benefits from the sacrifices of others?”“If it weren’t for me, you bastards would have been killed by the Transcendental puppets.”“I know. Of course I know.”
Jose sat slumped over, only raising his gaze.
“If you hadn’t killed that old man in the Federation of Ternetia, I would have died. I am grateful for that. However, if we consider only the result, why would the process exist?”
The difference in rank is like heaven and earth.
Jose’s body trembled like an aspen tree, yet he never lowered his head. For it is the nature of the human heart to dare to glare even while knowing the heavens are high.
“Your intention was purely out of curiosity, not to save me, and I concluded that you intended to kidnap me for the sake of your own amusement. While your influence on my survival is profound, I cannot bow to your intentions.”
Jose took a deep breath and continued speaking.
“You are the most cruel being I have ever encountered, yet I understand that you hold a conviction.”“Understand? You, of all people, regarding me?”“It is a conviction I cannot accept, but surely you hold such an ideal because you are sick and tired of the humanity of today. However, your current actions seem no different from those whom you Gluttony call the ‘old humanity.’”
Balion growled low, displaying intense murderous intent. With the insight of a transcendent being, it was a simple matter to see through Jose’s intentions.
“I could rip that mouth open at any moment.”“What do you consider to be the Old Humanity?”
Jose put his hand on his knee.
“Is the World Alliance the only Old Humanity? If so, what is that ancient nation called the Xerion Empire? Is the Glory of the Dead, which brought about their return, not the Old Humanity? Is the ancient empire desired by such a Glory of the Dead not a product of the Old Humanity?”
The gap in perspective is gradually narrowing.
“Do as you have always done. The annihilation of the Old Humanity. Are you troubled by the thought that antagonizing the Xerion Empire might be the way to help the Old Humanity?”“Shut up.”“The result may indeed be so. However… the intention is different. If you merely wish for the mutual destruction of both sides, it would be right to observe… but since what you, Gluttony, pursue is the birth of a New Humanity, what will that unborn human learn from your attitude?”
Jose finally stood up. Although he still looked up at Balion because of his larger physique, he was no longer in a submissive position.
“I can assure you that it is at least not an attitude of pursuing perfection. After all, they say a child is a mirror of their parents.”
Balion lived for over four centuries, and Kire lived a life much longer than that of an ordinary human. However, they had never truly had children. Therefore, they had never experienced the life of parents.
Jose was a helpless and much younger, diminutive man compared to them, but as a husband, head of the household, and parent, he was actually their senior.
If you want an ideal child, you must first become an ideal person yourself.
Crack, roar───!
A front kick exploded.
Jose, having been sent flying while bumping into the hallway several times, finally crashed into the wall. One arm was twisted. His ribs were shattered, and his internal organs were ruptured.A faint breath escaped from him as he had lost consciousness instantly.
Balion glared at Jose like that, then suddenly pressed his temple.Crunch.Deep enough to fit a finger joint.
“……You manifest miracles in a completely different way from the Ruas Theocracy. And unconsciously at that.”
The strange sense of stability vanished immediately after indirectly stimulating the brain. I withdrew my hand. The flowing blood returned to its place, and the wound on my temple filled in.
“Kir, lock her up in Artificial Laboratory No. 666, leaving her barely alive. So that she can realize for herself just how weak the mental realm of the Old Humanity is.”
Tendons bulged in Balion’s neck.
“I’m going to see if you can still run your mouth like this even in a situation that goes beyond the extreme.”“Understood. I’ll take that action.”
Kir pulled his head back slightly late and slowly took care of the unconscious Jose.
Balion left the two behind. As he walked down the hallway of Gluttony’s stronghold, the Control Room of Gluttony, he soon found himself alone.
A sense of unpleasantness and unease that could not be resolved by violence was still lingering.
“……How dare you.”
Although he had clearly escaped the influence of the mysterious miracle manifested by Jose, the knot of resentment within Valion Freya did not disappear.
* * *
Excluding the 15,000 personnel sent to Novar Fortress, the total strength of the 1st and 2nd Corps of the Southern Eastern Continent was 135,000.Of these, 7,142 were killed and 20,318 were wounded.
Considering that the opponent was an undead army, the scale of casualties is quite low.After all, whether one has physical strength or mental fortitude is not a matter that can be divided solely into advantage and disadvantage in war.
Had it not been for the divine power of the Ruas religion, the legion’s casualties would likely have more than doubled, and it would have taken a considerable amount of time to recover from their injuries.
Paaaaat.
A warm glow rises from the tents of the wounded lined up in a row at the new temporary base.
The Pope had installed a miracle of light to strengthen the clergy throughout the entire infirmary and was conducting treatment at the far end of the tent where only severely wounded soldiers were gathered.In this regard, his divine power is on a different level not only from the Cardinals of the Three Orders but also from saints and holy men.
“oh.”
Yunia suddenly sat up in the tent reserved for high-ranking officials.
“Minor injuries just heal on their own? My mental state seems to be stabilizing little by little too… Ack.”
Yunia shook her head for no reason and let out a short scream.
Cain said.
“Just lie down.”“Confirmed.”
At Cain’s urging, Junia collapsed. She had unleashed a very powerful spell just as her sworn brother had planned, and the headache would not go away.It was a relatively light price to pay.On top of breaking through the magic hierarchy, there was the artifact’s recoil… but thanks to her high magic resistance, the burden had certainly been considerably reduced compared to before.
Junia looked at the twin Cain on the opposite bed.
“You’ve gotten a bit rougher?”“Rough?”“Do you want me to show you the mirror?”
Cain, reflected in the small mirror, was covered in wounds. He looked as if he had fought his way through the battlefield barehanded. Sitting with the magic sword [Cretima] as a staff, his usual taciturnity added to his appearance, making him look truly grim and solemn.
Cain looked into himself inside it.
“…Well, it’s war, so I can’t help looking like this.”“That’s true, but. More importantly, how do you like the necklace and sword he gave you? No reaction?”
Senior Verden said that Eloris, an apostle of an ancient religion resurrected by taking the remnants of an evil god as his body, gifted his necklace and sword only to Cain.
[Starlight of Dawn] and [Sword of Dawn].
In particular, the necklace was said to be a divine artifact, comparable to the Four Great Divine Artifacts in modern times, so I was still wondering why they specifically singled out Cain to give it to him.
Cain shook his head.
“Not at all.”“Really? Hmm, since you said it’s not dangerous, I suppose it should be fine…”
While the twins were deep in thought about the true nature of the gift given by the apostle of the ancient god, the entrance to the tent opened and the presence of three people was felt.
“Sage!”“Are you… alright?”“Hahaha! Of course I’m fine!”
The Sage of Power of the Society—Osgar Falgan, now the Third Aspect of Eon—wrapped the shoulders of the twins who had approached him.Although there appeared to be no fatal injuries, he was wrapped in bandages from head to toe. For reference, his left arm had been replaced with a high-functioning golem body after being lost in a previous battle with Sandir Faen.
“I have faced many powerful opponents, but the Bone Dragon was quite formidable. If dragon bones are like that, I can only imagine what a living dragon would be like… We eventually joined forces to subdue it, though. I heard it was a disaster for you guys, too.”“It was difficult.”“A disaster? It was an easy victory, a total knockout.”
Even though it had been only a few days since their last reunion, the three of them seemed to have met dramatically. Their bond was stronger than blood, to the extent that it appeared that way.
“He attained mastery at a young age, but his experience is just as impressive. He knows how to perform to the best of his ability. After all, he is a disciple of the previous Warlord and considers Verden his senior. Haha, there are plenty of talented people in Eon.”
A voice was heard from behind O’sgar. It was a transcendent being who happened to visit the infirmary with O’sgar by chance, as their paths crossed.
“Well done.”“Ah…….”
Yurion patted Cain and Junia’s heads hard and passed through the tent, while Bendie next to him greeted him with a light nod.
The treatment tents were arranged consecutively by zone to facilitate movement and prevent confusion.For instance, passing through a tent passageway led directly to another officer’s tent.
There were national-level forces that perished in battle, such as the Elder of the Magic Tower on the volcanic island, but those who faced the commanders alongside Yurion survived.
Although Tower Master Beltroa lost half of his right hand to the 8th Commander, he received a miracle of Archbishop-level power and had his missing body restored.Considering the wartime situation, the Ruas Theocracy partially relaxed the upper limit on miracles permitted to the public.
The indomitable Iniktor and Commander Roan were less injured than him, but they still had to stay in the hospital bed.
At the end, Vice Commander Leona was stabbed in the chest by a bone dagger wielded by the 8th Commander. Since it penetrated even her armor, she could have died instantly, but…fortunately, as Yurion had realized through the Pledge of Solidarity, her life was not in danger.
There was only one reason.
Thanks to her large physique for a woman, capable of wielding a heavy lance and a great shield, and her exceptionally large chest, the blades of her bones did not reach deep into her internal organs.
“I will tell Her Majesty the Queen, Your Majesty.”“But it’s true. I survived because my breasts were big…”“Yurion, stop with that trashy tone.”
Leaving behind the cold expression of Leona, who was just being healed by potions and miracles and sharpening her weapons, the two transcendents continued onward.
Ignoring Bendie’s contemptuous gaze, Yurion asked.
“How is Ignacia’s disciple? Since he hasn’t been a disciple for long, I thought it would be difficult to utilize him strategically in actual combat. Above all, I don’t think that hedonist would be able to perform the role of a master well.”“His resolve is surprisingly firm. He is as inexperienced as a mage who hasn’t been formally trained in magic for long, but his talent is high.”“To the extent that he isn’t swept away on the battlefield. Is his mental fortitude truly exceptional? There must be a specific reason why he took him as a disciple… Hmm.”
Yurion clutched the spot that suddenly throbbed. Miracles of light do not work on the Transcendent, and the backlash of the oath cannot be dealt with by potions.
“How about moving to the rear?”“The recovery speed is similar whether we are in the rear or here. After all, we can unleash our full power on the battlefield… So, what about Callia de Esperensa?”“You would be better off treating her as a seasoned knight rather than a noble lady.”“She seems to fight quite well. Verden is a ruthless fellow, too. One lover in the Demon Realm, and another here…”“It must be because he respects them.”
Bendie narrowed his eyes.
It would also mean that they have staked everything on this war.
While chatting, I arrived at the tent where the Pope was presiding over the healing. He happened to be resting his mind and body after completing a series of miracles.Divine power is overflowing but not infinite, and mental power, too, must be cooled down if it has overheated.
Pope Romanus welcomed them.
“You have arrived. It is a relief that both of you are safe.”“Well, the help from the Ruas religion was invaluable.”
Yurion leaned against the pillar with his arms crossed.
“Thanks to your earlier-than-expected return, we were able to preserve more than 80% of the corps’ strength. Had the casualties increased by just 10%, it would have disrupted our plans.”
Usually, if casualties exceed 30%, it is considered that there is a problem continuing the battle; if they exceed 50%, it is considered annihilation; and if they exceed 70% or 80%, it is considered total destruction.
Currently, the sustainment power of all Allied Corps comes from the Ruas Theocracy.
“You said you heard a divine revelation from the Saint, immediately purified Brefield, and crossed over to this dimension? I never imagined the Goddess would be watching the battlefield.”
A transcendent being is a non-believer, or one who does not need a god. Regrettably, Yurion and Vendy did not take the coincidental help of a god at face value.
“Is it a divine revelation?”“…….”
At Julion’s question, Romanus walked away with the Bible clutched to his chest.Then, he answered in a low voice.
“In Brefield, there stood a massive altar. It was a horrific altar and sacrifice composed of organic matter… evidence that fallen beings had thoroughly disregarded the ethics and doctrines defined by the Goddess’s Light. This was greater than the massacres perpetrated by the Xerion Empire eight centuries ago.”
Romanus raised his head.
“I have never seen such a sight before, and I will never forget it. Given this, would the Goddess Luas dare to forgive it?”
Each of the four great sacred objects has a phrase that describes it.
Omen Code
The Bible representing the light.
I received a revelation to save this land.
Romanus wore a smile that was truly befitting of the Pope of Light… a smile imbued with the nobility of a believer and the wretchedness toward the reality in which the fallen exist.
Is that so?
I didn’t ask Yurion and Bendy any more questions.
It was an equivalent exchange.
Because they also had something to hide.
* * *
The body of the 6th Commander was moved from the new temporary base to the most secret location. While Ruas was engrossed in treatment, the autopsy was conducted.
Saaaa… … .
Haldirn, the next successor of the Darkwarton Magic Tower, withdrew black magic.
“The corpse was constructed of various organic materials. This means that the Empire’s Sixth Commander did not originate from his own corpse.”
The first secret clue is that the 6th Commander resembles a companion of the first adventurer who died about 400 years ago.The second secret clue is that the 8th Commander is the Master’s first Grand Disciple named Luerin.
Haldirn reached a tentative conclusion.
It seems that the souls of those who died in the past are being reflected in some of the Undead Legion. Even those who, according to the Doctrine of Light, are believed to have gone to Luas’s side.
This fact must absolutely not reach the ears of the Ruas Theocracy. If faith is shaken, chaos will follow. If this were a world religion, the impact would be overwhelming.
“It is a top-secret matter.”“Hmm.”
Haldirn spoke to Aldevan, who was assisting with the eye examination beside him. Aldevan is the twelfth Aspect of Eon and a black magician who pioneered the path of magic.
Deliver this to the Alliance Leader urgently.
* * *
As time passed, countless pieces of information from across the continent were transmitted to Verden. Thanks to the active use of communication devices, a sea of information swept through the Alliance’s communication network.
As he processed them one by one, Verden prepared for his next move. In fact, as soon as he heard the news about the Four Dragons, he had already tentatively put his plan into action.
It was a point several weeks after successfully completing the greatest opening magic.
Verden.
Back to the battlefield.
