◈ Chapter 21 - 5-Existence of Godhead
*
"...Help...Please..."
All the candidates and instructors who came to Homeland for the ceremony turned their heads in the direction of the sound.
Coincidentally, it was the direction we came from the small boat to Homeland.
There was a woman there wearing a white dress.
She was sobbing, covering her face with her long black hair.
Even through her fog, I could see her as clearly as I could.
There was no one here who was trying to understand the situation by asking stupid questions like, 'Are there any people from Lighthouse Village who were lost in Homeland?'
That being was clearly a devil.
The only question that arises is why the five sword experts were not caught in the simultaneous search.
'The highest level of devils can think, and can deceive people with human words.'
The words I had heard during the demonology class quickly passed through my mind.
As they said, if that devil was top level, there was no chance of winning with this power.
The instructors seemed to have the same thought as they swallowed dry saliva and stood in formation with their sword blades raised.
"Help me... Help me..."
The devil muttered.
Before the mumbling could even end, the instructors rushed towards the demon.
Three lower level Sword Experts and one intermediate level.
If the devil was defenseless, this was his chance to increase his chances of survival with what little power he had.
The instructors' attack was quick.
The formation created in that moment was flawless.
The judgment of the situation to not give the enemy any opportunity was also excellent.
"Why are you trying to kill me?"
-Pow!
The head of the instructor who had swung the sword most swiftly fell to the floor.
Even though he was protecting his body with self-defense equipment, as soon as he hit the ground, the first instructor lost his life as his brain and blood splattered.
The second instructor kicked off the ice and turned his body around.
The blade flashed and drew a circle along his arm.
The neat aurors rushed towards the demon.
His sword was blocked by the devil's hand.
The second instructor died as his throat was pierced by the sword.
The third instructor who was targeting his back.
Even after seeing the previous two dead, they did not stop their attack.
That determination and strong will were worthy of being a role model for others.
No matter how strong the devil's body is, it will not be able to block the aura-clad sword.
He might have thought so.
When the sword in his back broke, he closed his eyes tightly, as if he expected his life to end in vain.
Soon, his skin was crushed by the devil's back kick.
The fourth instructor was quick to notice.
He realized during the offensive that his own attacks weren't even working.
He shouted at his candidates.
Run away.
That was his last will.
"You have received my grace?"
The devil's hand stretched out towards the fourth instructor.
Then the fourth instructor's body stiffened.
At first it was snow.
Spitting blood from his ears, nose, and mouth one after another, the fourth instructor died from the seeds of negativity bursting from his dantian.
All of this took only 30 seconds.
"That's strange, huh? I clearly told you to help me, but why? Why are you trying to kill me?"
As he pulled out his sword and threw it away, the devil muttered as if he did not understand.
Beyond her thick fog, she was eerily clear.
A white clown mask was visible between the long, parted bangs.
Wearing a white dress that reaches down to her calves and long sleeves that go down to her hands.
The calves visible from underneath the dress looked like a dried out blue corpse.
The red blood that splattered on the devil's body froze before it even soaked into his clothes and dripped down his face.
I couldn't move a single step and could only watch the situation.
There were four instructors who said they only select people with a reputation for excellence in the Humanity Lighthouse Corps, but none of them were able to inflict even a single wound.
Even if there were a bunch of candidates, the results did not change.
"Umm, is it because I didn't introduce myself? If so, I'm sorry. Human etiquette is difficult to learn, no matter how hard you learn it."
The devil gently lifted the hem of her dress and greeted her.
"Nice to meet you, cute piglets of the Lighthouse of Humanity. I am Qarha. What about Alana, the Great Demon of the Plague?"
I couldn't understand the pronunciation of the name properly as it seemed to be an ancient language.
It was a pronunciation I had never heard in my life.
If I had to use it as a tuning fork, it was closer to a kwaruk kach.
However, there was no one here who did not know what being it referred to.
Right below Demon King Moloch.
The six great devils who drove humanity to hell.
Plague, beast, cold ice, darkness, creation, betrayal.
Among them, Qarha, the great evil of plague.
The mythical being that I dared to mention only when scaring disobedient children appeared before my eyes.
I wasn't the one who dared to do anything.
The tip of my sword trembled like an aspen tree, unable to find the zero point.
"Don't worry. I don't really plan on killing all of you. Hmm, maybe? Haha, I'm so fickle. I don't know what to do either."
The Great Devil Quarha was happy as he placed the instructor's body he was carrying on the floor.
"At first, I was just trying to get some help, but what? I felt the energy of an old enemy. Do you know it's Jin? I was wondering if you guys would know, so I was going to ask you? But I can't feel it now? Was I mistaken?"
Quarha seemed to turn his head here and there, looking for Jin among his candidates.
Was it because of some gay guy that Jin hid her body somewhere?
I suppressed my racing heart and tried to stay calm.
"But, even if you didn't follow the rules, isn't it too dangerous to swing a sword first? I barely asked for help... But it's okay! I'm generous! Even though you tried to kill me, I'll still forgive your friends and bring them back to life."
As Qwarha clapped, the corpse instructors wriggled.
As she said, the instructors came back to life.
As the lowest devil verb.
-Krrr.
They were roaring like animals with their blue eyes flashing, but there was no sign of them alive.
The way they moved and bent their joints at will felt like a dance mocking the dead.
They were deprived of even rest as they shed blood and brain fluid that had not dried yet.
The Great Demon of Plague, Madman Quarha, as his name suggests, was well versed in disease and black magic.
She leads the rotten body, revives dead humans, and commands the vanguard of the demon front.
She spread a plague on humanity with the germs she planted on the corpse.
Her pus and phlegm are her holy water offered to her.
Boils and fevers are the fervent prayers of fanatics.
Wherever she passed, her painful moans rang out like a hymn.
"Huh? You don't look happy? I guess you're not that close to these guys? I guess I've become closer to them? Right, my friend?"
-Craaaaa.
The body howled like a dog barking at its owner's call.
As she got closer, step by step, an unbearable chill came over her body.
It felt like her hands and feet were freezing.
The more she breathed in, the more her lungs ached from the cold air.
Should she run away now?
Or should I lower her posture and beg for her life?
But she didn't see any way to survive.
I was extremely helpless in the face of slowly approaching death.
"Great One. I don't know what you're looking for, but it's not here."
It was Philbu's son, Barton Wigner, who spoke out for the living legend in silence.
His voice was shaky and his eyes were filled with fear, but his actions were filled with more courage than anyone else.
"Look, we're just lowly humans here. It's not even the slightest bit of entertainment for you. So, great being, why don't you show mercy and pretend not to know us?"
The mask's eyes lingered on Barton for a long time.
Quarha asked in a slow tone.
"Well? Why should I pretend I didn't see you guys?"
"Isn't a friend's friend a friend? Since you referred to our instructors as friends, shouldn't we be friends too? Would a great being kill his own friend?"
Barton's conclusion brought about a moment of silence.
Faced with the cold and bitter wind, I tried to feel the turn of events with my senses.
"Heh, heh! You have a brilliant tongue that belies your humble talent! I like it very much! Yes, my friend. What is your name?"
"Barton Wigner."
"Okay! Barton Wigner, my friend. I will grant your wish."
As if Barton's pun had worked, Quarha slowly made his way.
There was no need to doubt whether he really meant to let me go.
If she wants to kill us, she can do it at any time.
I had to move quickly before she changed her mind.
"But, my friend. Is it okay for you to leave so coldly before parting ways?"
Quarha showed her hands hidden under her long sleeves.
Pus was flowing from boils all over his blue forearm.
It was so dangerous that even if it just brushed against it, a person would die on the spot.
"Okay! We're leaving on a long journey, so why don't we shake hands goodbye before we go? If one of you shakes my hand, I'll let you go alive."
Joining hands with the Great Demon of Plague was tantamount to death for an ordinary human being.
Quarha forced a choice.
Who will sacrifice for everyone?
Don't try to get out of a situation by playing with words, but show determination.
It seemed like she was saying that.
The candidates watched before their eyes as the dead instructors were not treated with respect and were turned into corpses.
Who could easily give up their life in front of the great devil of mythology who despises even death?
In that respect, Barton was a man born with the heart of a hero.
Barton thought about Quarha's words for a moment and then tried to step forward.
If Ember hadn't stopped her from behind, she would have walked right up to Quarha.
"What are you doing..."
"You idiot! Are you really going to roll around in this remote area?! There must be another way! Stay still!"
Amber, who was very angry, grabbed Barton's neck and wouldn't let go.
Although he did not agree with Amber's insistence that there was another way, he did not want to drive the person who had created the slightest opportunity to death.
"Yes, Ember is right. Barton, you saved us all. So now you get out."
"What do you mean? Then let's all search together?! I'm the one who created a situation where someone had to sacrifice themselves with my foolish words! I have to finish it!"
Barton shouted as if he couldn't understand what I said.
As he said, someone eventually had to come forward.
And that role was mine.
"I'm leaving."
◈ Chapter 22 - 5-Existence of Godhead
"...What? Are you crazy?"
The candidates, led by Barton, tried to stop him.
"Please, there is another way..."
"Are we all going to join forces and attack?! Do you want to be like the instructors?! Come to your senses!"
I stopped them from stopping.
I didn't mean to go out on a passenger plane.
This was because there was one number that came to mind as soon as I heard the word handshake.
"The reason the Lighthouse of Humanity serves the De Jevec family is because the De Jevec family was always at the forefront on the battlefield."
The more chaotic it was, the more calm those in power had to be.
Only then can those who follow have faith.
I spoke slowly on purpose to put the candidates at ease.
"Now I will prove why I am the eldest son of the De Jeevitz family. There is no time to talk much. I have a way. Watch carefully to see who will lead you in the future."
There were no more candidates to complain.
I was just embarrassed because I felt like I was begging for my life with a small child in front of me.
I approached Qwarha.
The closer she got to her, the more she realized that no matter how much mana she used to protect her body, she was bitterly cold.
"Kid, I didn't know you would come out?"
In order to intimidate me, Quarha revealed her hidden magical power.
I dare to guess that her strength was greater than that of the Sword Master.
Even though my main skill was black magic, I, a sword expert, was not at a level where I could do anything on my own, even up close.
Indeed, it was a monster worthy of the great evil Moloch's favor for over a thousand years.
I continued speaking as I forcibly pushed away the magic that was threatening to crush her entire body.
"Bjorn de Jeevitz. Greetings from the marquis who protects the northern part of the Esteria continent, the eldest son of the northern royal family, and the de Jeviets family who leads the Eternal Light Human Lighthouse."
I greeted her with the manners of her old kingdom, but Quarha looked at me with her amused eyes.
"Kingdom of Atronia, Kingdom of Cortan, Duchy of Bern, Knights of the Golden Horseshoe, Knights of Dragonia, Hogul Mercenaries... The day your ancestors abandoned their hometown and ran away to do nothing but boat, they stood by us for the homeland of your Rodal people. "It's the name of those who were brave. But now what? Marquis? Northern royal family? What kind of light? At best, what do deserters and babblers protect and fight against?"
Apparently, she expected Barton to stand in front of her.
Since I've poured cold water on entertainment, I won't look good.
But I guess it was good.
"Fleeing from strength is not servility. Brave people risked their lives to stop you, and our ancestors planned for the future, so I am able to face you like this."
You couldn't exterminate humanity because you weren't enough. What kind of bullshit is this?
Even in moments of crisis, I woke up by spinning Kwarha around.
It was my instinct imprinted in my genes.
Of course, there was no way the demon Kwarha could understand the political rhetoric of highly developed humans.
"So, if you test humanity's valor again, please know that there are people like me all over the continent of Esteria who are willing to sacrifice their lives to stop you."
I held out my hand to Qwarha.
She had no doubts.
To her, this situation was just a whim she used to relieve her own boredom, and I was no different from a parrot who could snap her neck at any time.
Talk hard.
Please make me more happy.
But the end is fixed.
You must be thinking that way.
"Hmm, yes, child. I hope you can endure my grace with that bravery."
Quarha tried to hold my hand.
Even if the long, animal-like nails just brushed against me, I got goosebumps.
Like a frozen body, the skin was as pale as ice and the affected areas were clearly visible here and there, seething with pus.
No matter how you think about it, coming face-to-face with Qwarha, the great evil of plague, was quite reckless and dangerous.
But Kwarha did not know.
Even the king of the plains, the lion, sometimes dies from a minor wound.
[Now!]
'I know!'
The moment Qwarha grabbed my hand, Jin from his hiding place shouted.
I momentarily concentrated my mind and raised Hwajeong's mana.
Jin's flame, which is said to burn even God, spread through his fingertips and onto Quarha.
"W-What is this...Kaaaaa!!"
If the dragon Draigonak symbolizes truth and the World Tree symbolizes harmony, then Jin symbolizes circulation.
Creation and extinction.
The proposition of the world given to Jin was absolute.
The small ember that caught his hand quickly spread to Quarha's entire body and burned brightly.
"Everyone! Run for the boat!"
At the same time, I shouted at the candidates.
Hwajeong's flame was clearly powerful enough to burn down the opponent's soul.
But I haven't been able to summon that much strength yet.
Although the Great Demon Kwarha was caught off guard and hit by the fireworks without filtering, there was no way he could have died from such a blow.
It just bought me some time.
"Aaaaah!! Jin! You were hiding there!! You cockroach-like bastard!!"
Qwarha exploded with mana, as if trying to drive away the flames burning his body.
The thick fog evaporated around Quarha.
I lost my balance due to the swirling wind pressure, as if I had been hit by a nuclear bomb.
Hehe! The floor!"
The ice on the floor, unable to withstand the impact, cracked.
As the ice that was holding on shattered, the waves crashed.
The good news is that despite her Quarha's rampage, the flame of her fire continues to burn her persistently.
I raced towards the ship, stepping on the shaking pieces of ice amidst the screams that tore through the sky.
-Cra la la la!
Realizing the owner's emergency, Dongsache rushed towards his fellow students.
However, the instructors, who had lost their sword skills and had become the lowest level demons, were no match for Amber.
Just like cutting off her head, her sword smoothly cut off the heads of the corpses.
There was nothing to worry about over there.
The problem was that I had to deal with Qwarha's rampage alone.
"Jin!! You bastard! I will definitely kill you!!"
While I was running until I was completely out of breath, I felt a huge flow of mana behind me.
[Be careful! At this scale, it's at least 8 circles of magic!]
Jin's warning gave me goosebumps.
What? How many circles?
When you say 8th circle, aren't you saying it wrong?!
No matter how great the evil is, the wizard can gather and shoot that huge amount of mana in an instant without any attack or defense?!
With magic on that scale, there was no point in saying 'be careful'.
Even in the spicy smoke coming from his own burning flesh, Qwarha's eyes were following me fiercely.
The turbid red blood that formed a lump on her hand seemed as if it would annihilate everything around her forever just by touching it.
"Die, [Blood Explosion..."
At that moment, Qwarha's left leg burned to ashes due to the flame of fire, and her balance collapsed.
The trajectory of her red blood was twisted around the axis on which she fell, deflecting from me, her original target, and flooding the sea.
"Oh my god..."
Even though the magic was suddenly ejected during casting, its power was incredible.
The red blood that soaked the ice penetrated into the sea and quickly became thick like pus.
I hurriedly protected myself with magical power from the rotten insides.
If it had been a little later, his lungs would have frozen and he would have died instantly.
"Björn! We're almost there! Run for the ship!"
Ember, who was already on the boat, shouted from afar.
I sprinted towards it with all my might.
"Jin! I will definitely...! I will kill you!!"
A piercing scream broke out beyond the audible frequency.
Immediately, the magic power fluctuated as if to launch an additional attack.
But sooner than that, the flame of Hwajeong overtook her body.
"Kaaaaah!!!"
[It's a big hit right now, but it'll bounce back soon! Run quickly!]
As Hwajeong said, terrible screams continued to be heard from behind, but there were no additional attacks.
It appeared that large-scale magic had been used while it was burning, causing major internal injuries.
I slid across the ice and threw myself onto the boat.
"Let's go, hurry!"
As soon as I got on the boat, the candidates rowed hurriedly.
[You can rest assured as long as you reach the enemy line! Because I can't chase you down there!]
Beyond Jin's excited voice, Quarha's screams of pain became increasingly distant.
"Amber, have you seen my charisma?! Are you sick of it?! Even though I'm like this, I still have no charisma?!"
"Is now the time to make jokes like that?!"
My body felt excessively heavy, probably due to the reaction of using anger, which was the opposite of the anger I had spit out.
No, it wasn't because of a reaction to using Hwajeong.
I hurriedly looked at the hand I was holding with Quarha.
The skin was gradually turning purple and dying.
"Damn it! Bjorn! What on earth is that magic? You saved us all!"
"Huh...Huh...Huh..."
My body felt strange.
Can't you breathe?
No matter how much I stretched my diaphragm, my lungs did not move.
I felt my alveoli hardening.
That magic from earlier!
I took a breath for a split second.
I never thought it would take my life at that moment.
By the time I realized it, everything was already irreversible.
Ah, this is dying.
Fuck, don't be rude.
I couldn't do anything in the face of fast-approaching death.
The hospitality of Barton, Amber, and the candidates gradually faded.
My body was hot and my eyes were closed.
"Bjorn? Bjorn?!"
As I finally heard Amber's cries as she sensed something strange, I lost consciousness.
◈ Chapter 23 - 5-the Existence of Godhead
*
The flames were stagnant like water.
The red flames were not lava, but formed a lake like liquid.
Even though I was harboring anger, I felt the heat.
The pupils were white and seemed to be deliciously cooked.
I clutched my face and looked at my surroundings, my vision blurred by the heat.
A quiet flame in the red sky, like a setting sunset.
When I moved my feet, waves were created, like ripples in a quiet lake.
"This is my new station, 『Flame Palace』. As the owner of this place, I will welcome guests who have been visiting for a long time."
A woman appeared beyond the heat-fluttering field of vision.
Who is she, sitting with her white legs elegantly crossed on the iron throne that shines scarlet in the heat?
Her boiled brain couldn't make sense.
"Ugh!"
I couldn't bear to look at him, looking down at him with his chin resting like a tiger ruling the mountain, for fear of getting familiar with his eyes.
My body was being cooked deliciously, spitting out broth like meat in an oven.
"The Divine Area is a unique area that only the divine beings can have. It is a space of imagination and a place where the essence of God resides. If you do not kill a God here, he can be revived as many times as you want."
The woman slowly came down from the throne.
The closer she got, the hotter it felt like the sun was getting closer to her.
-Chieeeeek
The bones exposed beneath the burned skin boiled, releasing marrow.
"Khaaaaa!!"
"Do you understand what it means to encounter a divine being?"
The closer she got, the more intense her heat became, and I crawled with all my might to the other side of her.
"...Huh...Huh..."
"This is your punishment for not heeding my advice. I am fortunate that it ended like this even though I disobeyed God's words."
With each step she took, the flames burned brighter.
Her consciousness was blown as she felt even the remaining moisture on her tongue boiling away.
My lost thoughts returned when I felt her hand slowly approaching me on my back.
As soon as she touched my body, the hellish flames that had been burning through her disappeared in an instant.
It wasn't hot anymore.
Her bones were removed and her charred body was restored to its original state.
Only then did I realize who the woman who approached me was.
"...Jin?"
A woman who was somewhat lacking in being called a lady, but not quite a girl, was looking down at me with a face full of dissatisfaction.
Befitting the name of Jin of Flame, his blazing sun-colored hair and scarlet pupils shimmered.
Geometric red lines carved into her pure white skin covered her body like a tattoo.
I stared at her for a long time, her dazed expression on her face.
Trying my best not to stupidly ask, 'Were you a girl?'
That's because it's such an obvious cliché.
Even a retail store has dignity that must be maintained.
So what should I say?
After much thought, I opened my mouth.
"Your breasts are great."
"You crazy bastard!"
-Puck!
Jin's drop kick landed in my face.
I was only able to stop after rolling several times.
"Is the first word you say to your lifesaver a sexual harassment?! Do you know how much trouble I went through to cleanse your body from Qarja's plague just a moment ago?!"
Oh, burning my body wasn't a punishment for ignoring Ji's words, it was a purification process.
That's why it was so painful.
I'll have to say thank you separately later.
You seem very angry now.
"It's a shame that Qwarha got so angry that he used an attack magic that didn't work. If he had used Necromancer magic, which is his specialty, he would have been annihilated!"
Jin huffed and continued speaking.
"I was lucky. That was amazing too! If Qwarha had been a little more rational in that situation, he would have summoned a lich or a bone dragon rather than trying to kill it himself. I, who couldn't do anything because I didn't have a body, was so nervous watching the situation. Do you know?"
Jin's angry shouts continued for a while.
It was a shame that the treatment worked because Hwajeong and her body were so well integrated, but when I heard that she was actually able to go to the goal, I could understand Jin's anger.
"I was able to fix the lung somehow, but I came close to cutting off the arm! If you had died or been injured... It would have been my fault. The reason Quarha approached the Human Lighthouse was because he was hunting me down."
Oh, I see.
Jin's anger was directed at himself rather than at me.
Because of her own fault, she had driven me to the brink of death, and in the midst of that, she was so helpless that she couldn't do anything on her own.
Only then did I see the reason for her slumped shoulders.
How does it feel to have to run away after facing an enemy that originally meant nothing to her?
I couldn't even imagine.
"Kwarha, you bastard! The Shard of Moloch, who didn't even dare to look at me, said to me, "What? A cockroach? I will definitely burn you to death!"
... I guess it was my mistake to say that it was limp.
"Well, anyway! I survived like this, so that's it, right?"
I offered consolation with a shy face.
Jin still had an unpleasant look on her face, but she was no longer angry.
"You would be the only person in the world who would take such a risk on Qarha, the Great Demon of Plague."
"My body is fine, right?"
"Yes, you were properly healed. Do you know that's all? Thanks to the fact that you withstood Quarha's poison, most poisons won't even work on you in the future."
I had to wonder whether I should be happy or not when I heard Jin say that he had overcome the danger of death and reached a state of invincibility against all poisons.
Think of it as a valuable passive skill acquired at the cost of your life.
"It's not all good news. The demon king Moloch must have noticed that my seal was broken due to this encounter with Kwarha. In addition, because you were fluttering around so needlessly, your personal information was also passed on. The demons will be moving to kill you. "
"That's some troubling news."
I'm constantly rolling it around in case someone thinks it's a notorious orthodox fantasy novel.
Not only the enemies of the North, but now even the demons are seeking my life.
It seems that a little more time is needed to turn this novel into a mass market.
"But didn't you say that demons can't be active beyond the enemy line? How can they target me?"
Of course, there are lower-level demons hiding in cold places throughout the continent of Esteria.
However, they were hiding in a deep dungeon, and their connection with Moloch was lost, making them weaker than they were and lacking in intelligence.
"There is a great devil who can neutralize enemy ships if he is alone. Also, in this era, there must be stupid people who worship the devil, right? We will use them."
There were some guys that immediately came to mind when Jin said it.
Satanism.
It was said that humanity's old traitors would appear to block my path.
"It's just a matter of whether it's too late or too early, they'll definitely try to kill you."
"I need to get stronger quickly."
"And find my body too."
Jin added an afterword as if to remind us not to forget.
Her determination to repay this incident was evident.
"Yes. When we first met, we set a condition of four years, but we need to move faster than that. So let's renew the contract."
"What? How are you going to fix it?"
"I will finish the work in the North as best as I can, and I will go straight to get your body."
For Jin, the conditions were much better than before.
Jin muttered with a young face at her emotion, 'Now you're finally listening to me.'
"There is a condition instead."
"What?"
"When you get your body back, let me rub your tits."
"Just give it a go!"
Flames hot enough to annihilate even the soul of a god engulfed my face.
When I came to my senses again, three days had passed since I met Kwarha.
*
The initiation ceremony into the Human Lighthouse was always performed using the corpse of the first demon encountered in Homeland.
It was part of his determination to never run away again and take back Homeland from the devil.
Therefore, regardless of whether the first devil you encountered was the lowest or the highest rank, the moment you encountered it, you had to make a life-or-death decision and bring the corpse to Paretta Island.
Although there were times when instructors and candidates were lost due to encounters with high-ranking devils, the tradition of the final test of the Human Lighthouse was always maintained.
But this time things were different.
It was Quarha, the great evil of plague.
Even the knights of the Lighthouse of Humanity, who are somewhat familiar with the devil, have only heard about it in the Bible.
If we were to think of Earth, we would have encountered beings like Baal and Abaddon.
Naturally, the Human Lighthouse on Paretta Island was overturned.
Reactions were varied, ranging from doubts that they had misread the lich to questions about whether it made sense for them to come back alive after facing such a great evil.
However, such doubts were put to rest when looking at the supply and demand of instructors on board the ship.
In the meantime, let's at least applaud Amber's meticulousness in taking care of supplies.
Anyway, who else is there other than Quarha, the Great Demon of the Plague, who not only killed four instructors who were sword experts in that short period of time, but could also turn them into verbs in an instant?
In addition, I, the eldest son of the De Jeviets family, gave a statement myself, and the consistent testimony of the candidates further increased trust.
Therefore, no one dared to flutter about, saying, 'We must follow the rites of joining the solemn lighthouse corps of humanity.'
If someone had done that, I would have stepped in first and broken that bastard's head.
However, due to an unexpected situation and discussions on how to handle this matter, the Human Lighthouse Ceremony could not be held on Paretta Island, and even after the candidates returned to the lighthouse village, it was delayed for a week.
In addition to the sadness of losing their instructors, the candidates who came back alive and well after facing the great evil Qwarha became legends as soon as they returned to Lighthouse Village.
Before the ceremony began, the candidates were bombarded with persistent questions from senior knights.
Barton Wigner's wit in the story stimulated the heroism of the senior knights.
The story of beguiling a gigantic enemy with the gift of words has been a consistently popular subject throughout all times and times, so it was no wonder that the status of Barton Wigner, who was a candidate for a stoic, rose sharply.
My story of risking my life to save the candidates became an example to the entire Lighthouse of Humanity.
The 15-year-old eldest son of the De Jeevitz family willingly sacrificed his life for the Lighthouse of Humanity.
It was a cliché catchy idea, but there was no material better to arouse the loyalty of humanity's lighthouse group.
After a long, drawn-out commotion, the final rites of the legendary entrance exam began.
"Today, the members of the Lighthouse Corps of Humanity have gathered here to keep a long-standing promise."
Placing the instructors' supplies on the pyre, lighthouse leader Ragnar ignited the arrowheads.
◈ Chapter 24 - 5-Existence of Godhead
Originally, this was the job of an outpost on Paretta Island, but as it was a special situation, the lighthouse commander stepped forward himself.
"That promise began on the day when Homeland was taken away from the devil, in a small ship crossing the continent of Esteria. There, mankind trembled in shame and dreamed of the day when they would slaughter all the devils and return to their homeland. But today, the player ( "The only people who remember the oath of the ship are the Lighthouse Corps of Humanity."
As time passed by, Homeland was buried in the past, with nothing more than a name.
The Rodal people who came down to the continent of Esteria drove out the Aryans for about 500 years and developed civilization again.
The outpost lit firewood piles with torches.
The supply and demand of instructors slowly engulfed in flames, spitting out smoke as thick as ash.
"On that ship, our ancestors could not bury the bodies of their beloved family, brothers, and comrades, but instead moved them to a piece of boat and set it on fire. This was to prevent them from turning into corpses. Some of those who were there in sorrow that day abandoned their lives and became vengeful demons. "They hunted down the devil's body and burned it in a boat, as if offering it to a comrade in arms. Looking forward to the day when they would return to their homeland. They are the founders of the Lighthouse of Humanity."
A small boat anchored in the harbor slowly headed toward the sea.
Ragnar continued speaking while pulling the bowstring.
"Today, the candidates remember their oath and become members of the Lighthouse of Humanity. Not all of you will protect the Lighthouse, but there is only one home to which we will return. We will return to Homeland. .Death to the devil! And...Rest to our dead comrades."
A fiery arrow flew toward the boat on the tightly pulled bowstring.
The instructors' bodies, which had been placed on dry firewood, disappeared in the flames.
"Gentlemen, congratulations on becoming a Knight of the Lighthouse of Humanity."
The knights standing behind came one after another carrying the Human Lighthouse Clock.
Among them, there were two clocks with particularly different patterns.
The lighthouse mark, the symbol of the Human Lighthouse Corps, was decorated to make it look extra bright.
It was for the chief and deputy chief.
"Barton Wigner."
Ragnar called Barton Wigner.
When he was called, he fell to his knees and looked up at Ragnar.
"Despite facing the eternal enemy of mankind, Kwarha, the great evil of plague, you showed courage and wisdom to save the candidates from death. On a small scale, you saved your comrades in a moment of crisis, and on a large scale, you upheld the belief of the Lighthouse of Humanity that you would not abandon your comrades. "So your merit is high. Therefore, I, Ragnar, the lighthouse leader of the Human Lighthouse Corps, give you the honor of being the second rider."
"Thank you."
"Also, as the representative of Emperor Drich von Oxburg of the Oxburg Empire and Canniel de Jeevitz, Commander of the Lighthouse of Humanity, I hereby grant you, this time the second rider, the Spirit of Barbas of Homeland and the Damas Sword."
Damas Sword.
The sword, with its wavy blade, was a famous sword that was said to never rust or lose teeth.
The sword, which was expensive enough to easily buy a decent house, was given to a new knight.
It was a bribe too expensive to buy loyalty.
You really spend money like water.
Canniel de Jevec, my goddamn father.
"Next..."
Ragnar cleared his throat.
It was time to call the chief.
All of his classmates, including the drivers, looked at me.
Unfortunately, what they expected did not happen.
"...Ember Cutter."
At the unexpected call, Amber froze for a moment and then suddenly bent her knees.
"Your desire and determination to look far and not rest on your laurels despite overwhelming scores have become an example for the Lighthouse Corps of Humanity. I give you the honor of being the top rider this year. Please do not forget that determination and work hard in the future."
"This is..."
"In the name of the Emperor of Oxburg and the Commander of the Lighthouse of Humanity, I grant you the Territory of Hamdor in Homeland and the Heart of the Basilisk."
Ragnar personally put the Human Lighthouse Clock on Ember.
Looking closely, there were 14 candidates, but there were only 13 clocks in total.
Then, as if they sensed something strange, there was a buzz around them.
"Hankia..., Bleed..., Antas..., Eugene..."
The names of the candidates were called out from Ragnar's mouth one after another.
However, my name was not mentioned until the last moment.
After all the candidates except me had donned their cloaks, Ragnar approached me.
"Björn de Jevietz."
With his head held high, I waited for Ragnar's next words.
"You are not permitted to join the Human Lighthouse because of your abuse of power."
With a bewildered look on my face, I stared blankly at Ragnar as he continued speaking.
What do you mean, abuse of power?
I have never done anything that goes against my status as a candidate.
Rather, I was even more careful to prevent situations where I was caught.
"...Please reveal the charges."
"You used your power as the eldest son of Canniel de Jeevitz, commander of the Human Lighthouse Corps, to gain an unfair advantage in the entrance exam. Isn't that right?"
"There is no such fact."
"During the first entrance exam, when everyone was going through the hazing ceremony, you used your position to intimidate the instructors and prevented them from taking the proper entrance exam. Do you deny this charge?"
"I deny it."
It is true that the instructors did not touch me during the hazing ceremony.
However, he never intimidated the instructors with his position.
The candidates and instructors who participated in the induction ceremony are witnesses.
It was a complete fabrication.
"Because you are the eldest son of the De Jeevitz family, you memorized all the sword techniques of the Lighthouse of Humanity even before taking the second entrance exam, and you abused this to get a good score. Do you deny it?"
"I deny it."
It's unfair because I learned it first.
It may seem like that at first glance, but if so, all those who became sword users and applied to join the Lighthouse Corps were also disqualified.
If that were true, Amber Cutter should have been kicked out right away, not as the chief, but along with me.
The murmur around grew louder.
Everyone here knew that Ragnar's words were absurd.
However, no one could come forward and protest.
This was because, no matter how much he was the lighthouse commander, Ragnar could not have arbitrarily refused the eldest son of the De Jeevitz family to join.
There must be someone giving him orders behind the scenes.
As the lighthouse leader, there was only one person in the lighthouse group who was willing to use force to keep his command.
King of the North, Marquis who protects humanity from demons, and commander of the Human Lighthouse.
Canniel de Jevietz.
Everyone gathered here was thinking of just one person.
In the midst of that confusion, I looked at Ragnar and smiled.
Ah, that was an amazing performance, Lighthouse Commander.
Look at the immersed audience.
As expected, the position of lighthouse commander was not chosen by lottery.
Kanniel wrote a letter ordering Ragnar to assist me with my entrance examination, that is, to make the entrance examination itself a thing that never happened.
But Canniel probably knows.
The fact that Ragnar cannot stop my gaze, nor can he erase the fact that I gazed while many people were watching.
In that case, there is only one action Ragnar can take.
Making excuses to fail a test.
The day I personally met with Ragnar, I told Ragnar to follow Kahniel's orders.
Instead, I placed one condition on him.
They are telling me to drop me when all the exams are over and the knighthood ceremony is in progress.
Ragnar faithfully followed my conditions.
Ragnar tilted his head as if he had difficulty understanding my conditions at the time.
That's because he had nothing to lose.
And that was actually the case.
Jin asked.
What do you gain by doing that?
I answered.
It's unfair.
"From the beginning, I was expecting Kanniel to do something."
There is no way that Kanniel will be sent to the entrance exam without any hesitation.
The moment I join as a senior, it's like announcing that the rumors about my talent are somewhat true.
Rumors such as being a swordsman genius or having incredible talent at such a young age may be treated as nonsense because they come from within the family, but the youngest leader of the Human Lighthouse is a different story.
Even if it is an order of knights owned by the De Jevietz family.
From that moment on, doubts about my qualifications were directed straight to the lighthouse of humanity.
So, I expected from a long time ago that Kanniel had done something wrong with the entrance exam.
He probably prevented me from becoming a senior.
Even if De Jeviez's eldest son, a sword expert, was relegated to second place, it would be enough to pour cold water on rumors about his talent.
[But did Kanniel come out more despicable than you thought?]
It's just as Jin said.
I never thought they would prevent me from passing the entrance exam itself.
If I become a knight of the Lighthouse of Humanity, I will be confined to the countryside, and if that happens, I will automatically take a step back from the competition for succession.
That was definitely a good thing for Canniel, who was pushing Aidan as his successor.
Nevertheless, he blocked my joining the Human Lighthouse Corps.
Since it would be a pain to build up influence outside of Stemwind, is he planning to keep him by his side and kill him for sure?
Unless you say it with your own mouth, you will never know the true feelings underneath.
Anyway, when I read Ragnar's letter due to his change of heart, I decided to give Kanniel a shot.
That's why I deliberately revealed that I was rejected at the most dramatic moment.
The refusal to join, which was originally just a matter of ridicule, raises questions.
In short, it is a battle of political engineering.
'In that respect, the appearance of Qwarha is a bit of a surprise.'
In some ways, it was fortunate that I met Quarha, the great evil of plague.
Even so, my weak counterattack became huge with the appearance of the Great Devil.
Björn de Jeevitz, who casually gave up his own life to save the lives of his worthless candidates.
It was a timeless event that will remain in history, a textbook of chivalry, and a beautiful story that nobles should emulate.
These days, when the entire continent of Esteria is in turmoil with ashes and demons, a story like this was perfect to get excited about.
But the Lighthouse of Humanity rejected me like that?
People will become overly immersed in it as if it happened to them.
The rumors will get out of control.
"This incident will make the people of the North realize that the De Jevitz family is currently fighting over the succession, and that Canniel is pushing Aidan, who is supported by Haenrel, as the successor."
Until now, because Nana Aidan was young, the battle for the successor to the De Jeevitz family had not been revealed to the public, but this incident will make everyone aware of it.
Khanniel may have chosen the Haenrel family to unite the North in preparation for the future great war against demons, but I will use that to bring division to the North.
[But everyone knew implicitly that there would be a fight over the successor. Does anything change just because it appears on the outside?]
"It's a matter of timing. Currently, in Stemwind, the capital of the North, Canniel de Jeevitz is holding a meeting to prepare for a demonic invasion. All the northern local nobles are gathered in one place."
The last meeting in the "Biography of Esteria" that decided the fate of the North.
According to Helga, these talks are not progressing properly at the moment.
"They gathered all the nobles in the North because it was an emergency because the devil was about to come down, and they did not allow the children who fought against Quarha to join the Human Lighthouse Corps due to the succession struggle... What do the people, as well as the powerful people in the North, think? "
[... They will doubt the true intention of the meeting.]
"Is the devil really invading? Isn't he just trying to weaken the power of the local nobles? Suspicion begets suspicion, the talks will not progress, and no proper results will be achieved. Then, the leader of the talks, Canniel de Reserve, Tsu's authority will be thrown to the ground."
Canniel de Jeevitz may have been planning to end the succession battle in Aidan's favor as quietly as possible, but I had no intention of silently following that shameless act.
As long as the other person is shaking hands, it is natural to bite them persistently.
Rumors do not end as simple stories; people become angry at the injustice done to me, and that anger becomes a strong support for me.
Among the divided northern nobles, those who do not like the talks will take advantage of the support of the people and use me as a shield.
They will be on my side for a while.
As the child of a mother who was part of the royal family, I had no power base, so that support was a necessary cornerstone for my survival.
Feel free to use it.
However, the price will never be light.
At the induction ceremony, Ragnar went according to my plan.
My job is simply to act properly like an actor in a well-written play.
Now, this is the climax of the chapter.
It's unfair, but you shouldn't be shallowly angry.
"The charges presented by the lighthouse commander are a ploy for the sake of results; they are just false accusations based on words. There is no truth in the added dishonor, so I deny everything."
"It may be impossible in nature, but considering the name of the de Jeeves family, I will personally submit a petition to Commander Canniel de Jeevitz. Would you like to do so?"
Cleverly, Lighthouse Captain Ragnar made it clear where his pretensions came from.
From this moment on, speculation will become a fait accompli, and people's anger about this incident will be poured out on only one person.
"This cannot be possible! I cannot accept this result! Please reconsider! If this happens, I too can receive the position of chief..."
"Stop. Don't say any more."
I stopped Amber, who was the only one complaining of unfairness.
She stepped in at the right time, but if it goes any further, it could look like an ugly family fight.
It wasn't what I was hoping for.
All I had to do now was to disappear from the lighthouse village like a loser, brooding over my unfairness as if I could not tarnish my family's honor, and by extension, my family's honor.
"Thank you for the offer, but you probably don't know that we can't do it."
"In that case, Bjern de Jerviets, from this hour onwards, his candidacy is revoked and he is expelled from Lighthouse Village."
"Bjorn de Jeevitz, as a candidate for the Human Lighthouse Corps, I accept the Lightmaster's final orders."
Here, Ragnar's authority is resolutely respected.
This was because if I poured out my anger on Ragnar, the criticism that should have been focused on Canniel could be diverted to him.
After finishing what he had to say, Ragnar left as if running away.
At the induction ceremony, which should have been a festival, only a cold wind blew.
The candidates who became knights of the Lighthouse of Humanity were dazed, trying to figure out what was going on.
But they will never know.
A tiny gap can bring about a hugely distorted future.
A huge wind of blood blowing in the north.
Now, Viern, a candidate for the Lighthouse of Humanity, is no more.
There is only Bjorn de Jeevitz, the eldest son of the de Jeevitz family and first in line of succession in the northern territory of the Oxburg Empire.
I will return to Stemwind and wreak havoc in the North.
And it will survive the coming storm like hell.