◈ Chapter 126 - 17-Give Me the Liver and Gallbladder.
*
Condensed water dripped down the mossy bricks.
Water flowed along the drainage channel, making a cool sound like a valley.
A damp basement.
The air is sticky with accumulated moisture and wastewater with no place to escape.
The turquoise wall, which showed traces of time, reflected pale light and was shiny.
An underground space that is hundreds of years old.
A woman was walking in a place whose existence was forgotten along with the collapsed kingdom.
Chillingly cold breath.
When she walked, the surroundings froze like the middle of winter.
Even the flowing sewage could not withstand the cold and became covered in thin ice.
Her robes, dragged along the ground, did not get wet even on the ditch.
Even time seemed to pass slowly near her, as if her body was shrinking.
Long black hair as dark as pitch black. The woman walked.
As I walked along the small side road next to the drainage ditch that the Aryan people had built in the past for maintenance, a huge space suddenly appeared.
In that space that looked like a temple, the woman let out her white breath.
"Homun. I guess it wasn't worth the risk of being detected by going to the capital?"
The woman spoke to the old man who was sitting cross-legged in her temple-like space.
As her vocal cords rang, pure white dew formed around her, as if there were fog.
Homun, the Great Demon of Darkness who had his eyes closed in disgust, responded to her criticism with a sad look on his face.
"I doused it with Qwarha's poison, but there was no reaction. It made me question whether it was human flesh."
The dagger definitely pierced Björn's forearm.
The poison on that dagger was the body fluid of Quarha, the most poisonous of all poisons.
An ordinary person would have stopped breathing just by inhaling the poison's vapor.
The poison on the dagger must have entered his body, but Bjorn slaughtered Ambu without a care in the world.
He knew that he had signed a contract with Jin, but this event exceeded his expectations.
Even if it leaves behind some traces, I tried to add strength to this situation and kill Bjorn, who was the biggest obstacle, but it was fruitless.
"If I was going to risk detection anyway, wouldn't I have used force to kill him?"
As the woman he faced continued to criticize him, Homun relaxed her cross-legged position and slowly stood up from her seat.
"That's why I'm in charge of the capital. Have you forgotten why we're going through all this trouble underground? Isn't it to harm the empire and at the same time cause infighting among humans? But if I step forward and use my power, it will give them an excuse to rally. "
If he wanted to use his power to kill him, he would have killed him long ago.
However, the reason Homun chose to take advantage of this situation and kill himself by poison is because he was in a position to take advantage of the internal strife in the empire.
When the Great Demon steps forward and kills the eldest son of the De Jeevitz family, the Empire strengthens its guard against the Demon, and their bond only strengthens.
In order to carry out the upcoming invasion easily, such methods must be avoided.
So I used a somewhat inconspicuous method.
I never dreamed that I wouldn't die even if I got hit by Quarha's poison.
"Damn, I should have killed that guy this time..."
Just taking Jin with him was inconvenient, but Bjern was continuously thwarting his grand plan from the north.
Homun's plan to cause internal strife through rebellion was soon used in reverse and became the seed of a revolution that would unite the empire.
To Homun, Björn was more dangerous than the Emperor or Duke von Lorraine.
He should have definitely taken his breath away this time.
However, since one assassination had already failed, he could not promise another time.
Now that the alert magic has been detected, Asili will strengthen her defenses even more thoroughly, and there is no way in the future Bjern will allow attacks as defenseless as this time.
"Surely living underground won't get any longer? Going back and forth to Homeland is exhausting both physically and mentally."
"Odeisa. The hardest one is me. I want you to know how much stamina it takes to teleport across a continent with a divine being."
Odeisa.
The great devil of Han Bing, who freezes even time and space.
She, the first prophet made by Moloch, looked at her Homun with a weary look in her eyes.
"Really? Then you can take care of sealing that shell yourself. I don't mind you being a bastard working in the dark, but I can't stand the disgusting smell of sewage in the underground waterway."
A huge sphere of ice was located in the direction Odeisa was pointing.
The ball of ice was constantly dripping water, bubbling as if something was boiling inside.
Inside the transparent space, a girl was sleeping as if sealed.
In the past, it was Jin's body that was torn apart by Antenor, the Great Demon of Betrayal, who was a saint.
Orange hair that shines like the sun and ancient red tattoos covering the whole body.
Burning endlessly as if it would devour the world, Jin's body continued to melt the sphere of ice.
As if to return to the soul again.
At that moment, Odeisa's hand touched.
As pale as her corpse touched her hand, her ice seal became even tighter.
Homun, who was watching her, said to her.
"This is all for Lord Moloch. Why don't you stop complaining? Still, I hope you know that it has been much shorter than originally planned. I can't drag it on any longer, even because of the saint."
250 years.
For a short period of time, Geomseong reigned as a saint.
Homun avoided friction with him as much as possible.
Even a prophet would have to risk his life to fight one-on-one with him, who had overcome the limitations of the human species.
Moreover, a full-on fight with him, who had even the power of the Holy Sword on his back, was tantamount to suicide.
So Homun waited.
May his lifespan end or, at the very least, become senile.
His wait bore fruit, and it was only after Landeros lost his power as a saint that the Homun was able to settle down underground in the capital.
But at that moment, a new saint appeared faster than expected.
Thanks to Björn's protection, it is still not possible to properly understand who the new saint is.
I couldn't waste time like this.
"But it's not all bad news. It seems like the embers of rebellion will burn the empire's capital even faster."
Is this something you are aiming for, or is it something that just happened to happen that way?
Björn was pushing the situation of the empire into chaos.
And that was what Homun wanted more than anyone else.
It was good that the signs of rebellion were transformed into a revolution that would unite the empire, but it would ultimately kill the empire.
As Homun spread his arms, the thick darkness that had taken over his underground space retreated.
There were oak barrels crowded together in a place where the darkness had disappeared.
Each one was a bomb filled with oil and gunpowder.
"The bomb has also been prepared. The moment it touches the fire spewing out of Jin's body, the entire capital will be blown up. When the revolution is ripe, it will be detonated and the work in the capital will be completed."
The capital is consumed by fire amid waves of angry crowds, screams and riots.
Then the empire will surely be split in half to determine who is responsible.
To find out who started the fire.
Since the capital has been blown away, it will lead to a catastrophe from which neither side can retreat.
And when that moment comes, no one will suspect that the devil was involved.
The devil's invasion will go more smoothly because there will be no suspicion even after destroying the empire's potential.
Odeisa watched Homun with a distrustful face, full of confidence that he would win.
His plan was sound, and there was no setback.
However, too many variables have arisen recently.
Jin's seal was released, and a new saint was born.
Antenor's plan to devour the North also went awry right before his goal.
Now even things in the capital were becoming a mess.
It all happened when a kid showed up.
And from what I've experienced so far, that kid was never going to let things go like this.
It was clear that something was being done.
'Could it be that they are controlling the timing of our movement by hastening the rebellion?'
A terrifying thought flashed through Odeisa's mind.
However, she quickly dismissed it as an excessive delusion.
This is because it was not something that a single individual could do.
'No matter how smart that kid is, he won't know where we are or what we're preparing.'
This is something I have been slowly preparing for for a long time.
He planted non-contracted demon cultists in Octantium and took control of the center.
To avoid Asili's border magic, traces were reduced as much as possible.
As if that wasn't enough, work was carried out in forgotten underground waterways so as not to be noticed.
No matter how much it was Bjorn, smelling it when there was no basis for guessing was an impossible task.
Unless you can at least look into the future.
'Well, it doesn't matter if I get discovered. 'I just have to kill it myself.'
Odeisa was more comfortable that way.
Although she did not intervene in the affairs of the capital because it was in charge of the Homun, she was a prophet in charge of combat from the beginning.
She was confident that she would rather use her body.
A chill that seemed to freeze the world lingered around her body.
"They say the Estates General will be held soon. It's a meeting that gathers the people of the empire by class. The believers say that when it's over, there will be four months."
"Either way, we'll figure it out once it's over. Alright, let's end this boring underground life."
At Homun's words, Odeissa nodded her head and went back the way she had originally come.
Looking at her back, Homun turned her head towards her ice sphere.
With her eyes closed, Jin's body burned endlessly within the ice sphere, as if she was in a deep sleep.
◈ Chapter 127 - 18-Eve Festival
*
Newsboys, some called newsboys, raised their voices in the streets.
They handed out newspapers to workers who were heading to work with their tired bodies.
The Gazette, which initially provided free imperial news, soon became a state-invested enterprise.
Although it was cheaper than Central Newspaper, it was now sold for a fee, and it was even renamed 'Times Newspaper' to distance itself from the imperial institution.
After being seriously hurt and losing trust, producing trash-level articles could have damaged the image of the empire.
Even so, people kept calling it a government office.
Thanks to the emperor's skill, the official not only regained the lost trust, but also stood tall as the undisputed second place.
After the De Jeviets Foundation's newspaper business became a huge success, many businessmen ventured into the newspaper business, but the market was still dominated by Central Newspapers and Gazette.
This is because novels in the Central Newspaper and gossip about noble families in the Official Gazette became selling points and quickly captured the attention of the people of the empire.
And today, what was on the front page of the Gazette was a piece about Duke von Lorraine, the head of the aristocratic faction, and Bjorn de Jeevitz.
[Duke von Lorraine and Princess Della. Tragic history of the duke family.]
[Bjorn de Jeevitz disowns the von Lorraine family!]
[Sudden engagement announcement. Who is the fiancé of the firstborn of the De Jeevitz family?]
The official gazette details the story of Princess Della, who was cursed by Mana and exiled to her villa, the treacherous actions of Duke von Lorraine, and the disowning of Bjorn de Jevietz to avenge her mother. There was.
Duke von Lorraine, who is popular among the people of the Empire, and Bjorn de Jeevitz, who is currently a hot topic.
And the ugly past of the noble family intertwined therein.
It was a topic that any citizen of the empire could not help but focus their attention on.
"Huh, no matter how cursed by Mana it is, does it make sense to treat your own child so poorly? Duke von Lorraine, I haven't seen you like that, but you really are a heartless person, aren't you?"
"This man. There was a prophecy that he would destroy the empire. Didn't he say that he was born with a disability? And look at Björn's actions! The prophecy was right!"
"No, what kind of nonsense are you talking about to the savior of the North? Bjorn has avenged his mother. And if it wasn't for Bjorn, the North would have fallen into the hands of the Demon Cult!"
"Did you see it? How can you believe that Count Haenrel is a demon cultist? My friend is from Abamis, but I heard that Count Haenrel was kind to him? He lamented that he was a victim of a power struggle! Besides, what Bjern has done so far is Look at what they're doing! They're bringing troops to the capital and causing chaos, and they're hiding the new saint and using him like a puppet! Since that bastard came down, the empire has become so evil that we can't survive!"
"The Sword Master testified that Count Haenrel turned into a demon, and there are plenty of people who say they saw it on the Plains of Leuktra. Are you now claiming that all of that is a lie? Do you want to be taken to the Inquisitor?!"
Those who read the Gazette enjoyed the family history of noble families from their own perspectives.
It was a fun read. A person who is satisfied, a person who uses the originally hated nobility as a means of justifying it, a person who defends no matter how ugly the behavior...
And of course, there were also people who read the political situation in it.
"Wasn't Bjorn moving with the aristocratic faction? So I thought he was inciting his people by running a newspaper business?"
"Actually, it's strange when you think about it. You're a supporter of the noble faction, but there's no way you'd just take the North and offer it to the emperor, right?"
"You fools. Don't you understand if you read Ember Cutter's book? Bjern is making a choice for the empire. This is an expression of his will to build a force different from that of His Majesty and Duke von Lorraine! At times like this, no!"
Astute nobles noticed that a new power structure had emerged.
A different form of power hierarchy than before, with wizards and imperial citizens at their backs.
What this means is that the power of the aristocratic faction, which originally supported them, has been weakened, and those who are loyal to the empire itself among the imperial faction are likely to switch ships.
Those who were quick on their feet knocked on the door of the De Jeevitz Foundation to at least get some face time.
The gossip that was covered as a scoop in the official gazette also took off in unexpected directions.
The main customers of the gazette were, perhaps naturally, women from noble families.
This is because the scandals of other people in the same class were the most delicious food for them.
However, this incident came to them differently.
"Bi, Master Viern is getting engaged?! Who is she?! The third daughter of the Sorang family?! What kind of bitch is she? Ha, I should have seduced Viern during the masquerade ball somehow!"
"Aaaaah! I don't know if it's the magic tower, what kind of country boy kidnapped Björn?! I can't forgive him!"
"There's still a chance! During this party, I will definitely charm Vierne and go on a love run! Hey! I have to go get a new dress right now! Get ready!"
Bjorn was the subject of all sorts of rumors, and now there was no one in the capital who did not know his name.
Among the many rumors, the biggest one was his outstanding appearance.
Among the married women of noble families, many of them were desperately trying to kill Björn.
He was upset by the rumor that he was dating a magic tower owner, but now that a country boy whom he didn't know was taking the seat next to him, their clothes were no longer in good condition.
Bjorn didn't know it, but all the married women from noble families were preparing in full bloom to win him over at the upcoming grand party.
Meanwhile, Central Newspaper did not respond in any way to the scandal published in the Official Gazette.
It would be a lie to say that there is no impact on the De Jeviets Foundation.
This is because the shadow of Björn's name was as strong as its light.
In addition, the stigma of being a corrupt Lord of Stemwind grew even stronger, so there was a need to deal with it in some way.
But the president of Central Newspapers, Barton Wigner, shook his head.
"It wouldn't look good if we joined in here. Rather, it would be like adding firewood to the fire pit, so it would be better to turn our attention elsewhere."
It's only been a few months since the newspaper was properly run.
Although it was only a short time, Barton had become a seasoned reporter.
The next day, an article he wrote appeared on the front page of the Central newspaper.
[The issue of payment of salaries to the Lighthouse Corps of Humanity has been resolved dramatically! Back to the arms of the empire?]
[Lighthouse of Humanity and Northern Autonomy. [Unification of the empire, which still has many tasks to complete]
[Early self-congratulation. A grand party is held in the glass palace.]
[A royal festival where alcohol and meat never run out even during wartime. Who is it for?]
Citing the issue of paying the salaries of the Human Lighthouse Corps, which can now be completed by simply stamping each other's seals, the Central Newspaper reported that the command of the Human Lighthouse Corps has returned to the emperor.
In addition, he pointed out the various interests that the empire had transferred to the De Jeviets Foundation in the process, and pointed out the palace parties that took place during wartime.
In effect, it's an act of stabbing yourself in the foot with an ax.
But there was also something to be gained from him.
"Tsk, tsk, the empire's manpower is being replaced by an uncertain war with the Kingdom of Junta, and the nobles are having a party... I wonder what will happen to the country..."
"If we spend this much money on the North, can the Empire's finances survive? I heard that the wages that should be paid to the mercenaries are overdue by several months? What if the war comes to a halt because we are blinded by the North, which is not urgent? If we continue like this, won't we be in really big trouble? "
"Your Majesty must have an idea. Why do you idiots like us talk about everything you know? Just do your work!"
"Oh, have you ever seen such an old-fashioned person? We have to actively take action and monitor the empire in order for it to function properly! And if something goes wrong, we will ultimately bear the brunt of the damage, so shouldn't we at least raise our voices to prevent that from happening?"
In the past, the parties held in the Glass Palace had nothing to do with the people of the empire.
This is because they were rulers, aristocrats, and from birth they were different from the humble lower class.
The country is theirs.
The people of the empire were no different from livestock raised under their rule.
It was impossible to dare criticize their actions.
But times have changed.
The Central Newspaper appeared, and new ideas took root in the minds of the people of the empire.
The authority that had made the emperor sacred was stripped away, and the number of people questioning the leadership of nobles increased.
Now the emperor and nobles were simply usurpers who freely used the power handed over to them by the people of the empire.
Every move of the Glass Palace was subject to evaluation by the people of the empire.
The country originally belongs to the people.
The country's finances must be used for the benefit of the people, and all military forces must be managed by groups, not individual individuals.
No matter how hard the Knights of the Holy Cross and the imperial army tried to suppress it, subversive ideas were eating away at the capital.
The lower class no longer had to put their heads down on the ground every time the ruling class passed by.
The nobles must have felt an eerie feeling as the eyes of the people of the empire grew rebellious day by day.
◈ Chapter 128 - 18-Eve Festival
"If that's the case, isn't it just swarming with bugs? I'm afraid of idiots who will be sorted out in just a few dozen articles."
Why are the emperor and nobles the ruling class?
This is because they command knights and rule over wizards.
Mana monopoly.
What justifies their rule in this world is not complex philosophies, sacred religions, or dry gold coins.
In the end, it comes down to how many people who know how to manipulate mana have been recruited.
It's being moderately accepted now, but what if the people of the empire truly gather together and plan a revolution?
The knights' swords covered with aura will slaughter them all.
No matter how large the people of the empire were, to the ruling class they were just ants that could be stepped on.
The emperor faction noble clicked his tongue after hearing the foolish thoughts of the same faction noble who was sitting across from him and drinking tea.
"Really? Even though they are the people of the empire, what are you going to do with the wizards? The reason the spirit of the people of the empire soared in the first place is because the wizards were on their side. Are you going to wipe them out too?"
But recently, cracks were appearing in that mana monopoly.
Unlike knights, wizards were a difficult race to deal with.
"Isn't it enough to increase the rights and interests of wizards? If you give them enough food, they will calm down. Isn't this something that has been done many times before? How will it be any different this time?"
"During the war with the Kingdom of Junta? Wizards are a race that is not suited for war in the first place. Do you know how many years it has been since they were taken without a proper justification and showered with arrows in the rugged mountains? If they loosened their grip just a little, they would immediately be killed. "They will throw a fireball at their commander's head."
"..."
Magic is something close to knowledge that can be acquired only through learning and mastering.
Highly accomplished wizards were highly intellectual.
The reason they were treated as commoners, unlike knights, despite their temperament and big brains, and monopolized their teachings in the magic tower, and forcibly incorporated them into the magic brigade and governed them strictly by military law, was to restrain them from having any other thoughts.
However, as the unjustified war continued, it was no longer possible to suppress it.
The explosive popularity of Ember Cutter's book in the Magic Tower was proof of this.
Wizards who had secured justification for their actions through ideology were now raising their voices on the battlefield.
And of course, wiping out the magicians, the backbone of the empire, was no different from committing suicide.
"Also, haven't you heard that story? It's not just wizards who are the problem. There's a rumor going around that the Empire's treasury is empty because of an article in the Central Newspaper. The merchants will reduce the principal of the money they've lent, so they're telling them to pay it back right away. They say there is. If they sit still, their money will be taken away, so even if they have to take the loss, they are willing to take at least the minimum. If this continues, an unprecedented situation may occur where the empire goes bankrupt."
This was the reason why the ruling class could not do anything even though the people of the empire raised their eyes differently than before.
While dealing with matters in the north, a huge hole suddenly appeared in the empire's coffers.
In this situation, if the imperial citizens, including merchants, were pushed in, it would be impossible to secure material resources to continue the war.
On one or two occasions, merchants' property was confiscated and punishment was given.
If this was repeated, it was obvious that fearful merchants would hide their assets and money would not be distributed in the market.
To make matters worse, merchants who read the Central newspaper flock in and demand that the Empire repay its debt.
It will be filled over time, but that was only possible if we endured it now.
Send the Human Lighthouse Corps to the front lines, win the war against the Kingdom of Junta, and take the spoils.
Or go bankrupt before that.
The political situation was heading towards an extreme situation day by day.
"Hah, that's clueless. So we should just let them talk about whatever they want?!"
"Well, I can only hope that Your Majesty has some tricks up her sleeve."
There is only one chance left for the Empire.
Estates General.
If the wizards and merchants there cannot be controlled, the empire will be engulfed in the flames of revolution.
On the other hand, if the Estates General succeeds in taking control of them, the North will return to the arms of the Empire, and the Kingdom of Junta will collapse like a sand castle due to the sudden reinforcements.
When that time comes, the empire will be twice as strong as it is now, and no one will dare to surpass the emperor's authority.
Under the absolute imperial authority, the empire will become one and enjoy peace and prosperity.
The imperial faction nobles hoped that they would be able to withstand this momentary strong wave.
If they can endure it, the whole world will be theirs.
But there was one thing they didn't know.
The bondage of history is that it ultimately flows towards the absolute majority.
And it is not just the angry people who are riding the wave of the times.
"The time has come. Moloch, the First God, will save you! Cultists, believe in the salvation that will come in the blizzard! Our god will set foot on this continent again!"
"For the first god erased!"
The basement of Octantium.
When Homun, the great devil of darkness, shouted, those wrapped in pitch-black robes shouted.
Their spirits slowly disappeared into the darkness.
The gamble on the fate of the empire began in earnest.
*
For the past six months, the saint's training has been carried out in complete secrecy.
When the sun went down and there was quiet time, Mion began training in the backyard of the villa.
At this time, everyone in the backyard has been bitten, but to prepare for any unexpected situation, the entire body is wrapped in a pitch-black robe.
During the day, Mion might have been tired from disguising herself as a maid and doing chores, but Mion didn't show any signs of it and concentrated on her training.
"Whoop! Whoop!"
There were also people who contributed to the practice.
Ember Cutter and Barton Wigner.
She, an operational staff member of the Human Lighthouse Corps, sat down and stood up repeatedly while holding a rock the size of a house.
Barton, who had already reached her limit, looked at her and saw her breathing heavily.
'I knew something would be different because it was a swordsman's training, but I didn't expect it to be this ignorant...'
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't expecting a more sophisticated and scientific method.
Who is Geomsung?
He was a person who had reached the end of what a person with a sword could achieve, to the point where he was nicknamed the Paladin of the End.
I thought he would teach me more sophisticated mental and sword techniques.
Isn't training with the world's strongest person an opportunity in itself?
Even though this is a low-power worldview, I thought it would help me grow a few levels through profound realizations contained in just a few words.
Those expectations were completely shattered as soon as his practice began.
"Mana resides in the body. Some say that magic makes the body stronger, but the opposite is true. A strong body that can withstand mana holds more mana. Rather than training your body to withstand mana, train your body. "It's about condensing mana. So training your body is the most important thing."
A story close to the truth.
However, his training was closer to ignorance than to correct theory.
Go, lose, run.
With a stone the size of a house, the weight of which would make a human being startled.
"Huh...! Huh...! H-I can't breathe...!"
"What..., Some water... Please!"
Even though I was covered in dirt and my hair was wet with sweat and stuck to my face, my training never ended.
Amber, who was known for her beauty, crawled around like a beggar, Barton vomited and fainted with foam at the mouth, and Mion burst into some kind of emotion, whether crying or laughing.
There was no such thing as father-in-law.
When the mana in the Danjeon was empty, Landeros spoke.
"That's enough of the warm-up. Now draw your sword and swing it at me! Prepare to kill me. You can't kill me anyway."
After that, a sword fight that was like a real battle followed.
Of course, from a third party's perspective, it seemed close to a one-sided assault.
After completing the 'basic exercises', they swung their swords, unable to kill even a passing traveler with their legs shaking.
There is no knight in the world who would die from being hit by a sword like that, but the opponent was a sword saint.
"The level of the Lighthouse Corps of Humanity is truly miserable. Even the Knights of the Holy Cross are stronger than you!"
"I heard that your entrance exam was so difficult, but to this degree, you were the chief or second-in-command! You are not even knights! You are the kind of people who will do nothing but mop at the headquarters of the Knights of the Holy Cross!"
"How on earth have you trained so well that you can't even endure this? Becoming a Knight of the Holy Cross is like eating a meal! It seems I ordered too much from the fishermen!"
The faces of Ember and Barton, knights of the Lighthouse of Humanity, turned red as they scratched their hearts, mentioning the Knights of the Holy Cross at the end of each sentence.
As if they had finally figured out why the relationship between the Lighthouse of Humanity and the Knights of the Holy Cross was so bad, they swung their swords repeatedly with the intention of putting the blade on the Sword Saint's body at least once.
As time passed and she had time to use the sword even after completing the basic exercises, Ember provoked the swordsman.
"Huh..., Huh! Hmm! Our training methods were different, but we have now adapted to it. The Knights of the Holy Cross are no big deal. Well, what do religious people know? They know how to act ignorantly."
"Really? Then try blocking my ignorant sword."
Unfortunately, Geomseong was not a teacher who was very pleased with his student's growth.
On the contrary, as he grew up, he had a personality that pushed him even more harshly.
The sword of mana floated around him.
Intangible sword.
It was a patented technology that few people in human history had ever used.
Ember exclaimed, exclaiming.
"Ah, but that's too much! How can we stop that?!"
"Are you saying you won't be able to block the sword of the Knight of the Holy Cross who only knows how to act ignorantly? That's different from what you said before?"
The cunning Barton took advantage of the gap and spoke.
"...I didn't say anything, so will you look at it?"
"Isn't it the pride of the Lighthouse Corps of Humanity to not abandon their comrades?"
"Sword Saint, is it okay since I'm not part of the Human Lighthouse?"
"Saint. This practice is originally for you, so you cannot do that."
Unable to withstand the unexpected increase in difficulty, even Saint Mion glared at Ember with a resentful gaze.
But no matter how much I resented it, it was already spilled water.
The intangible sword cut through the air and rushed towards the Knights of the Human Lighthouse.
◈ Chapter 129 - 18-Eve Eve
Physical training that pushes you to the limit and training that is reminiscent of actual combat.
It was a truly ignorant method.
However, the result was much more successful than expected.
"What, mana...Was there this much?"
Although it was a short period of less than a year, Ember became an intermediate sword expert.
It's not just intermediate level, it's reached the level where advanced level is just around the corner.
Even if he was a genius who became a sword user through the mind techniques he learned over his shoulder, the speed was too fast.
Even though I was the youngest person to become a Sword Expert, I was not at this level of speed.
"Oh! If I train a little more, I think I'll be able to completely control the Sword Aura!"
The achievement wasn't just achieved by Amber.
Even Barton, who had ordinary talent for a knight, became an advanced sword user.
Only then did I realize that the training of the Sword Saint was not just ignorant.
It's easy to push people to the limit.
However, it is difficult to continuously push yourself to the limit and simultaneously achieve growth.
Geomseong's guidance was done in the exquisite line of minimizing risk and maximizing performance.
'Looking back, they were luxurious teachers.'
Teachings from Canniel de Jeevitz to the Sword Saint Landeros.
Any knight with this kind of teacher line will achieve achievement.
However, it cannot be denied that the speed was too fast.
"The reputation of being a swordsman genius is truly meaningless."
"Don't be too disappointed. It's not that I'm great. If everyone could grow up like these people, the Knights of the Holy Cross would be full of sword masters."
As I confessed my feelings of emptiness, Geomseong explained the reason for their rapid growth.
Of course, Amber Cutter's talent was great, and Barton's effort was an excellent example.
But essentially, the two have crossed the line of fire countless times.
His life was saved several times while facing opponents he could not defeat.
Sometimes it was luck or help from someone else, but the experience implicitly broke their limitations.
The results are revealed through training with the Sword Master.
Maybe what the two needed was not a swordsman, but an opportunity.
Knights who only train in greenhouses will never understand.
Of course, there were side effects.
The Lighthouse Corps of Humanity, which is devoted to searching for demonic cultists in the capital, and the Knights of the Holy Cross, who protect the capital of the empire according to the orders of the emperor.
The conflict between the two was expected.
At times like that, the Human Lighthouse Team, which had no reason to fight, spat out phlegm and left.
However, due to training, Ember, who was devoted to evil by the Knights of the Holy Cross, began to run rampant.
"Listen carefully! Anyone who comes back without a tail to the religious bastards under the name of the Lighthouse of Humanity will make a mess of it! Let them know clearly what a true knight is!"
They say he gets slapped in the face and gets angry at others, and that's exactly what happened.
The command's protection fell to the Knights of the Lighthouse of Humanity, who already did not like the Knights of the Holy Cross.
As a result, we started to growl whenever we saw each other on the street.
"I said there was a fishy smell coming from somewhere and there were fishermen walking around?"
"The magic tower's apprentice wizards and foot-snapping knights say we are a group of fishermen.Haha!"
No swords were drawn, but fights broke out several times a week.
It wasn't an uproar at first, but the fight between the two knights has now melted away like a familiar scene in Octantium.
Few people knew that it was the work of Ember, whose teeth were ground through the harsh training of a sword saint.
One day, Geomseong asked me while I was observing the training from afar.
"Aren't you going to join the training? It's hard for me to even say this, but there are people who come across the continent to get a lesson in swordsmanship from me."
"Am I crazy? Why would I volunteer to be scolded by someone who is grinding his teeth to fix my messy hair?"
"Isn't it because the dantian is distorted?"
Although it was a failure in the political aspect, the Sword Saint's Eye was more accurate than anyone else when it came to mana.
When I was under his gaze, I felt like I was naked in front of the doctor.
"Your dantian cannot be recovered. No matter what method is used, it cannot be recovered. As time passes, you will no longer be able to be called a knight."
"I know that I have suffered from erectile dysfunction. But even if you are a sword saint, isn't it rude to rub salt in someone else's wounds?"
"Yes. But at the same time, I don't think your journey will end here. The Lord must have something in store for you. Don't worry too much."
Geomseong offered some words of comfort, but it was better than not doing anything at all.
No matter what the Lord's arrangement is, my journey will end in the capital.
So, for me, Amber and Barton's growth was a joy.
The people who will be in charge of the empire in the future must be strong to prevent the devil's invasion.
And the one who had to stand at the forefront was Mion, the saint.
Originally, this training was also for Mion.
He was also the person that Geomsung cared about the most.
-Paaaaa!
A white light emitted and an ax popped out of Mion's hand.
Beyond the small hatchet level, a huge double-edged ax appeared in his hand.
The holy sword was aimed at the opponent, emitting a violent force that felt as if it could split the world in two.
An unwavering aura was neatly placed on the ax blade.
"Congratulations on becoming a Sword Expert, Saint."
I've been training properly for about a year.
Mion became a sword expert in an absurdly short period of time to learn the art of mind.
I was well aware of Mion's talent, but his growth rate was faster than that of Amber and Barton.
In fact, the person concerned seemed impatient, as if it was still not enough.
"You are doing well, saint. There are limitations when fighting demons just by relying on the holy sword. Even if it is the grace of the main god, the holy sword is ultimately a weapon. The owner is you who holds the handle. You must not be swayed by the tool."
Even though the ugly ax was aimed at him, Geomsung stared at Mion with a relaxed expression.
A sword full of teeth was pointed at the new saint who would lead this generation.
"I know. But is there really no problem if I continue my training in the form of an axe?"
All people who become superhuman by storing mana in their danteon wield a sword.
In this world, the capabilities of superhumans have developed around the sword, to the extent that the symbolic measure of their strength is the aura surrounding the sword.
The textbooks accumulated by famous knights also contain basic sword handling techniques.
Therefore, using a weapon other than a sword was the same as giving up much of its foundation.
However, the holy sword in Mion's hand was in the shape of an axe.
This was not only because his previous occupation was a woodcutter.
In fact, Mion wanted to hold the sword more than anyone else, but no matter how hard he tried, the holy sword only appeared in Mion's hand in the form of an axe.
This is something that never happened in the original.
Perhaps because he was inexperienced in handling the holy sword, no matter how hard he tried, Mion's wish did not come true.
In the end, it had no choice but to adapt to the situation and develop into the giant double-edged ax it is today.
"A weapon that is comfortable for the owner is the most perfect weapon. There is absolutely no need to be obsessed with the form of a sword. When I help the saint with his training, do I use a sword to deal with him?"
"Fighting with a sword...Ah!"
As if realizing something from Landeros' words, Mion let out a short exclamation.
Ever since he adapted to basic movements, Landeros may have drawn his sword, but he had never once swung it at Mion.
He only dealt with Mion using a deteriorated technique of the intangible sword.
A lump of aura that can only be used by those who have reached the level above Sword Master.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't black.
Rather, it was close to an extreme embodiment of the concept of 'cutting'.
When Mion first encountered the intangible sword, he wondered what was the difference between it and the sword.
Sword fighting is ultimately an intangible attack that flies towards the opponent.
Although there is a difference in power, isn't the same true for intangible swords?
However, after about half a year of training with Landeros, Mion was finally able to understand that distant state.
Black energy has no form.
Once the sword is fired, that's the end of what the knight can do.
You can't stop in the middle, and you can't change the trajectory drawn by the sword.
However, the intangible sword ironically has a form.
If the user wishes, the trajectory can be as diverse as possible, and the sword can also be used in that state.
In fact, it was as if hundreds of invisible swords were floating around the Sword Castle.
This was not at a level that could be rubbed with just a sword.
"If you were not obsessed with the sword, you might still be able to imitate this technique."
Mion was surprised by Landeros' words.
Now that he has become a sword expert, Mion, who has continued to train as a swordsman, has vaguely realized what the state of an intangible sword is like.
He said it was nonsense to imitate such a technique.
"Huh? How dare I... Do something that even a sword master can't do..."
"Why? Is it because I don't have enough mana? Or is it because I'm still immature at handling mana?"
"Isn't the intangible sword that the Sword Saint uses a skill that can only be used if you are at least a sword master?"
"Who cares? This is just a trick. Anyone who knows how to use mana can use it. I'll show you."
At that moment, the total amount of mana surrounding her swordsman suddenly dropped.
Even though the output was lowered to the level of a low-level sword expert, the intangible sword still maintained its shape.
When I saw that something that should not have been visible was clearly visible, it seemed that the shape was deliberately revealed for teaching purposes.
"Sword user and master, those are just illusions arbitrarily categorized based on sword auror. I can't say it's far from the scale of strength, but it's not absolute. If you obsess about it, you end up only defining your own limitations. You don't have enough mana. "It's only weak, but sword users can also use sword skills, right?"
Forms, stages, techniques.
When her formally organized concept was momentarily broken, Mion briefly shuddered as if she realized something.
She may not know it, but Mion may have broken the wall that was blocking her with the words she just said.
"Also, Saint. It is important to use your own strengths. I advised you not to be swayed by the Holy Sword and its power, but I never told you not to use it."
"Ah..."
Moloch, Jinn, World Tree, Draigonac.
The Holy Sword is the power of the main god that fell between the four gods.
It is said that those who hold the holy sword gain the same power as them.
◈ Chapter 130 - 18-Eve Eve
Moloch stops, Jin moves, the World Tree lives, and Draigonak makes sense.
So what on earth is a saint?
Unfortunately, this was all that was written in the setting book.
I didn't know exactly what kind of power it contained.
This is because in the story, the moment Mion faced a crisis, the depiction of him emitting pure white light and wiping out the devil like a deus ex machina was the end.
However, there were a few guesses.
First.
The Holy Sword condenses mana from the atmosphere and continuously supplies it to the user.
In other words, it compensates for the knight's weakness, which is his mana capacity limit.
At first glance, it is similar to the properties of Hwajeong.
But there is a fundamental difference.
Hwajeong is the source of mana.
The extremely concentrated Hwajeong mana wears down the body the more it is used, so it requires a strong body that can withstand it.
On the other hand, there is no risk with the Holy Sword like Hwajeong.
Even though the quality of mana was superior to the fire spirit, the holy sword was better in terms of utility.
Second.
The meaning of the holy sword supplying mana to its owner was the same as that of the owner becoming stronger just by breathing.
Even if you do not practice the mind method separately, the mana provided by the holy sword increases your dantian better than any other method.
And that too, 24 hours a day.
So, no matter how lazy a saint he was, he basically achieved sword mastery.
However, Geomseong added briefly, as if the power of the Holy Sword did not end here.
"It is meaningless to discuss the power of the holy sword. As the saint becomes stronger, those powers will be released one by one. However, it is necessary to think about the reason why the Lord bestowed power in the form of a tool without will. What is important is the saint. "It's a special power you possess."
"Special powers?"
"Yes. The saint hunted down the demon cultist without anyone teaching him, right? Also, the saint must have encountered Antenor and witnessed his special ability."
At Sword Saint's words, Mion nodded her head as if she remembered something.
As for that special ability, I also have memories.
An absurd technique that erased Sword Master Runea's aura without a trace.
That would be the original power of a saint.
"This is just my guess, but it seems that the Holy Sword selects people with transcendent talent regarding mana to become its masters. People with the ability to control and erase mana at will."
An incredibly extraordinary ability that makes no sense according to common sense.
Antenor referred to the saint as the power to 'erase foreign substances in the world.'
The Holy Sword is meant to be attached to a human who can eliminate mana and purify this world.
So does this mean that along with the power of God, mana is also a power that should not originally exist in this world?
'Wait, something's strange?'
It is the main deity who created the four gods and created Hwajeong, a furnace of mana, in this world.
But why did you give power to someone who erases it?
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't find an answer.
However, I knew implicitly that the answer to this question was related to something Jin was hiding.
When my thoughts reached that point, I stopped looking for answers to the questions that came to mind.
Anyway, the important thing now is that the saint has the power to erase mana.
What maximized this was the light emitted from the holy sword.
""Light"!"
A white light exploded from Mion's giant axe, as if it would engulf the world.
The technique he named Light erased all mana in the area where the light reached.
It is a technique that demonstrates the saint's abilities to the extreme.
Anyone who deals with mana would have felt out of breath, as if all oxygen had disappeared.
She had to enjoy the feeling of suffocation until Zamana came rushing in to fill her vacuum.
I can't control it now and have erased all the mana around me, but what if I only use this skill on enemies?
The knight's aura is instantly taken away, and the magician's magic is completely blown away.
There was literally no disaster.
"Heo, heo... This is not a technique that can be used many times..."
"If you get used to it, you will be better than you are now. Rather than using the holy sword to erase mana, it would be better to focus on training to eliminate the opponent's mana using the saint's natural talent."
The saint's training continued.
In general, Mion pushed Landeros, and Landeros accepted it.
Then, occasionally, an intangible sword pierced Mion's weak spot.
A practice that lasted for months without stopping.
The results were also remarkable.
Mion succeeded in erasing one of the Sword Saint's intangible swords rushing towards him.
"I erased the Sword Saint's intangible sword! I did it!"
Without borrowing the power of the holy sword, he erased the magic power of the sword saint.
In other words, it means that Mion has now completely become a saint.
In the original work, Mion had to learn about the holy sword and the saint through countless rolls.
In the world of the fate line that I played, Mion grew much faster than him under the guidance of the Sword Saint.
It was a secret that only I knew that Asili's mouth watered as she watched Mion jumping up and down with a childlike smile.
"Even if it's His Majesty's command, you stay away from Mion, you crazy shotacon."
"Whose fault is it that things happened like this? You massacred the female servants, so I gave up my job at the Magic Tower and ended up in a surveillance role?"
There were three people in charge of guarding the saint from the empire.
They were the sword saint Landeros, the vice-captain of the Knights of the Holy Cross, Runea, and the magic tower lord Asili.
However, since Runea and Asili were busy, they were mainly in charge of free swordsmanship.
But the situation changed suddenly.
In the capital, Ambu, the shadow of the empire, was massacred.
Since we covered our eyes and said nothing, we all know who the culprit is.
So, before gathering evidence and stamping out the evidence, we attached Asili and began to monitor him more thoroughly.
You probably don't know it, but the number of shadow men residing in the villa has probably increased by twofold.
"But it looks like you haven't lost trust yet? I see they're using you as a lookout."
"Because I'm amazingly good at tightrope walking. If anything, your engagement announcement was good news for me. I was acting like a jealous woman, so people overlooked it."
Even though it looked like this, it was a lizard with a lot of jjambap that had been rolling in the deepest part of human power for a thousand years.
No matter how deep-rooted she is in politics, if she acts with sincerity, she will have no choice but to get over it.
I'm so glad you're on our side.
"And I'm not a shotacon. I'm just an artist who likes beautiful things, and I've never attacked a child, right?"
"Pseudo-sex is also sex, you disgusting paraphilic criminal bitch."
Correct.
I wish this bitch wasn't on our side.
"What can I do when the beauty I pursue is the freshness that comes from a young age? It's not my fault that I've never met a man who maintains that freshness even as an adult, right?!"
"...Who said they wanted to know about your sexual orientation?"
I covered my ears as Asili suddenly revealed her sexual preferences.
If I sexually harass people, will people around me feel this way?
I feel somewhat sorry.
At the same time, a terrifying thought ran through my head.
In the story, Mion maintained her childlike appearance even as an adult.
In other words, she suits this bitch's tastes perfectly.
It should never be as cold as lukewarm temperature!
I will never let this dirty witch bitch pollute the pure and clean Mion.
Coming back, the conversation between me and the Sword Saint continued as we watched the Saint grow up.
"Do you really like the Lord's arrangement? I think you said something similar last time."
I sneered at the Sword Saint who was worried about the safety of my Danjeon.
Sword Saint, I don't know about you, but the Lord's arrangements are truly cruel.
As it was, you fell in love with me who became the Great Devil.
Mion wandered down her street, and the emperor had to pay the full price for his arrogance.
It's not the Lord who stops that, it's me.
"You have lived a harsh life. I think it is natural for you to hate the Lord."
I don't hate you, I hate you.
Because the bastard who put me as an extra in this edition is definitely that bastard.
Just hearing the name made my teeth chatter.
"There was a time when I also blamed the Lord. But..., Yes. Why don't you listen to this old man's old story?"
Geomseong joked that when you get older, you talk about useless things, and then continued talking.
"Once upon a time, there was a knight. He was so strong that he had no rivals, except for the divine beings. His strength spread far and wide across the continent, and many strong men who could not overcome his passion for victory drew their swords at him, but it was the knight who always won. It was."
The knight he was talking about was definitely himself.
Because there is no other person that strong in this world.
His eyes stared into the distance, as if reading the blurry letters of the past.
"Those who fought against him must have felt something. Whether it was the hope of advancing further or an absolute wall. But the knight could not feel anything during the countless sparring."
I couldn't understand his strength, but I could roughly understand what he must have felt at that time.
A knight is ultimately a fighter.
It was a being that could not resist its primal instinct to fight.
However, he was too strong to inspire fighting spirit, and that was why he was lonely.
"He was a saint, but he was also a knight. He longed for a rival, but soon everyone who came before him disappeared."
The knight was so strong that even the Sword Master, who was said to be the superhuman among superhumans, was referred to as 'one-man and all-human', and even the great devils preparing for the invasion curled up their tails and acted secretly.
At that time, people called him this.
'Paradise of the Terminus'.
The word 'absolutely strong'.
At the same time, it was a name that no one could surpass him.
"It was okay at first. If he could protect humanity without fighting, wouldn't that be the image of a true saint? But as he got older, his heart became filled with anxiety. Even if he is the strongest, if he can't fight, then what's the use of it? "He didn't want to hand him over to a new saint and die of old age. Driven by a fighting spirit that he couldn't control no matter how much he suppressed, and driven to the limit of his lifespan, he ultimately made a choice. He decided to invade Homeland and personally kill Moloch."
My mouth dropped open at his words.