Side Story – Hatred [6]
[22]
Speira Prizzran.
The central figure of the Sacred Country and the mastermind behind the fractures in the continent’s unification centered on the Empire. Even disregarding such political issues, it was unlikely that Speira held any positive feelings toward the current empire. She undoubtedly harbored strong hatred or similar emotions.
Ultimately, both politically and emotionally, the current empire and the Sacred Country led by Speira were incompatible in the long term.
“…”
Johanna’s personal feelings toward Speira were quite complex. Sometimes hatred, sometimes guilt consumed Johanna’s heart. However, separate from that, Johanna clearly understood that she had no choice but to part ways with Speira.
Even if Luna hadn’t given additional instructions before coming here, Johanna would have likely pondered whether she could kill Speira at this moment.
Johanna’s individual strength was clearly superior to Speira’s. Her skills, honed through relentless battles without regard for her own life, were at their peak, and her equipment was top-tier.
Of course, Speira wasn’t an easy opponent. She possessed exceptional swordsmanship, wielded the Sacred Sword, one of the strongest relics, and seemed capable of using divine power. However, against Johanna, it was difficult for Speira to effectively utilize the power of the Sacred Sword and divine force.
In a one-on-one battle, Johanna would undoubtedly overpower Speira.
“…”
If Johanna were to eliminate Speira, she would also need to consider excluding the clerics of the investigation team. Though she could accept that much, Johanna found it hard to make a quick decision.
First, she couldn’t grasp how Speira had arrived here. Had she been pursued from behind? Or had she entered through another route? There was no way to tell where she had suddenly appeared from.
Thus, it was difficult to judge whether Speira had come alone, if she had means to communicate with the outside, or if there were other variables.
If Speira were eliminated here and the information leaked out, it would cause headaches. And if Johanna attacked first and failed to eliminate Speira, the aftermath would be hard to handle.
As Johanna remained still, unable to move first, just staring silently at Speira, Speira smiled faintly.
“Why so many thoughts?”
“…Why did you come here?”
“Hmm?”
“…Did you come alone?”
“Curious?”
Silence fell again.
A tense atmosphere, like walking on thin ice, froze the air.
The members of the investigation team swallowed nervously, their tension palpable.
At that moment, Johanna took a step back and warned Speira.
“We’ll recover the artifact. Don’t be greedy.”
In response to Johanna’s warning, Speira simply smiled faintly.
Johanna couldn’t understand the basis of Speira’s confidence. She suspected there might be a traitor within the investigation team collaborating with Speira, but it was difficult to investigate and conclude such matters immediately.
Keeping the possibility of a traitor in mind, Johanna turned her gaze away from Speira.
Thus, though they didn’t openly shake hands, an implicit alliance was formed.
With Speira temporarily joining the empire’s investigation team, the demons could no longer play tricks. It was impossible for amateur tactics to work when two of the strongest humans alive were together.
After Speira’s temporary joining, the investigation team progressed smoothly while exploring the underground areas.
While diligently performing their duties, the team members occasionally glanced at Speira. The divine and beautiful glow surrounding her in the dark underground was enough to capture people’s attention.
As they moved forward, Speira, a few steps away from Johanna, spoke up.
“You’ve changed.”
“So have you.”
Compared to Johanna who was bristling with tension, Speira still looked relaxed.
Speira casually spun the Sacred Sword in her hand and asked Johanna:
“I have something I’m curious about. I wanted to ask you when we met.”
“…”
“Why are you fighting so desperately? Is your new Emperor that precious?”
This was Speira’s genuine curiosity.
At least Johanna wasn’t fighting desperately for her survival or prosperity. Considering her track record, that much was certain. So why did she continue to fight so desperately?
“Who are you sacrificing for? Did Ray leave any last request before he died?”
“…”
After briefly stopping, Johanna replied curtly:
“…Ray will return. I will wait.”
“?”
Looking at Johanna with a puzzled expression, Speira wondered if Johanna truly believed what she said.
And then, Speira realized that Johanna genuinely hadn’t let go of Ray and was still waiting for him.
“Hm… Disappointing.”
Speira genuinely showed her disappointment.
Johanna was still trapped in the past, clinging to futile hope and staying in place.
When something collapses, it cannot be restored to its original state. What has collapsed cannot be reversed, and what is distorted will only become more twisted until it reveals its foundation. That was the way of the world.
Some chose to distort themselves first, while others stubbornly resisted until they eventually collapsed.
But Johanna was neither. She merely confined herself in the past.
“…”
Upon receiving Speira’s gaze, Johanna opened her mouth as if to reply but closed it again.
The darkness embedded in the air grew more distinct.
As the investigation team moved deeper into the underground, they finally reached the ‘altar’ built by the followers of the Dark God.
Despite the earthquake, the altar, being the center of this underground facility, remained relatively intact.
Traces of the religious ceremonies that took place here thousands of years ago faintly lingered in this space.
“…”
The meeting with the distant past gave the investigation team members a slight sense of excitement.
Even though it was left by the followers of the Dark God, seeing a facility used thousands of years ago relatively well-preserved was certainly a mysterious experience.
“…”
Of course, while feeling excited, the team members heightened their tension to the limit.
Being deep inside the underground facility and knowing the demons had already entered, it wouldn’t be strange if dangerous traps were lurking everywhere.
However… the interior was quiet.
The mages and clerics, who had prioritized advancing thus far, used exploration magic and divine barriers to check for any underhanded tricks but found nothing significant.
“Where is the artifact…?”
Perhaps the ‘artifact’ had already been plundered by the demons.
If the demons had secured the artifact and fled without wasting time setting traps, the situation would make sense.
If the demons had indeed secured the artifact, immediate pursuit would be necessary.
However, contrary to the investigation team’s worries,
The culprit behind this incident — ‘the artifact’ — was safely remaining on the altar.
“That’s…!”
A single skull, maintaining its form despite the passage of thousands of years, sat cross-legged in the darkest corner of the altar.
Around the neck of the skull hung an old necklace.
The sapphire-like gemstone in the center of the necklace shone beautifully, as if refined over the long darkness.
However, the ominous aura emanating from the necklace was anything but beautiful.
This necklace was the artifact of the Dark God that caused the erosion incident.
“…”
“…”
“…”
As soon as the existence of the necklace was confirmed, the team members stopped moving and looked to Johanna and Speira for cues.
It wouldn’t be strange if a conflict broke out right now over the ownership of the artifact.
In fact, the team members were more concerned about a potential clash with Speira than with the demon traps.
Perhaps… the demons had left the artifact untouched to incite a clash between Speira and Johanna, watching the situation unfold.
If Johanna and Speira clashed head-on here, there was a risk that they might end up achieving nothing and both becoming crippled.
As everyone was sweating nervously and checking each other’s moves,
Johanna snapped her fingers at the team members.
“What are you doing? Quickly go and secure it.”
“…”
The team members hesitated before slowly approaching the artifact.
The clerics retrieved small box-shaped relics prepared beforehand from their luggage.
These relics, prepared by the clerics to contain the artifact of the Dark God, were among the highest-ranked existing relics and could neutralize the evil emitted by the artifact for a short period.
Once the artifact was placed in the relic and transported to the location designated by the Emperor, formal sealing procedures would commence.
The clerics conducted a final check to ensure the relic was functioning properly, while Delun and Jusephin guarded against any suspicious movements among the team members.
Meanwhile, Johanna openly kept watch on Speira.
Showing a menacing demeanor as if ready to swing her sword at any false move, Johanna faced Speira, who asked in a calm voice:
“Do you know what this place used to house?”
“…”
Johanna remained silent. It was unlikely she would know the name of the god worshipped here more than a thousand years ago.
Nodding at Johanna’s silence, Speira continued:
“The continent called the Dark God worshipped here ‘Void’ or the Demon of Laziness.”
Johanna slightly furrowed her brows.
Apparently, the Sacred Country retained some information about this altar.
Given that the Vatican archives contained numerous documents recording events from thousands of years ago, it wasn’t surprising.
However, as Speira’s story continued, Johanna’s expression grew increasingly stern.
“Because it was the Demon of Laziness, only a few received the blessing of the Dark God worshipped here.”
“…”
“Those who received the blessing were said to have great power in ‘severing’ or ‘nullifying’ things… Doesn’t that sound familiar?”
“…”
As Johanna grew increasingly hostile, Speira smiled faintly once more.
“Didn’t you ask me earlier why I came here? They say the final piece needed to bear ‘this power’ in human form is here.”
Johanna swung her sword.
ZZZZING!!!!!
With a deafening sound, Johanna was thrown back.
Startled by the sudden noise, the team members trying to secure the artifact turned their eyes toward Speira.
The necklace hanging around the skull’s neck untangled itself and shot out like a beam of light.
“?!”
Sensing the anomaly, Delun stretched out his hand too late.
Swish
The necklace that shot out like a beam of light gently landed on Speira’s neck in the next moment like a soft feather.
Tapping the softly glowing necklace, Speira shook her head at Johanna.
“Johanna, remember this. Something that’s already twisted… cannot be restored. That goes for both you and me.”
ZZZZT!!
The sacred glow surrounding the Sacred Sword merges with the darkness. Just as it happened 600 years ago, light and darkness unite under the guidance of the transcendent ones.
