< 138. Dispatch Mission Report: Desert Acrobatics >
*
Zephis picked up his pen for the fifth time to write a report to be sent to the Inquisition Office and the Papacy, but let out a deep sigh and put it down again.
His main task was to organize and submit reports from the field, and he prided himself on being quite competent at his job so far. However, he had no idea how to summarize this report, which was filled with numerous attachments and fantastical stories.
-Tap.
Zephis rested his hand on his forehead and glared at the report sent by Fernandez. If his gaze could pierce through something, this report would have already been shredded.
“Sigh…”
After another deep sigh, Zephis simply added a postscript to Fernandez’s report. There was nothing more to add or remove. He didn’t even have the courage to try.
He wrote a single sentence as a postscript at the end of the report and sealed the envelope with wax.
The rest of the judgment would be up to Beorn… It was a vague expectation, almost like shirking responsibility.
-Swish.
He took out his rosary, wrapped it around his hand, and clasped his hands together on the desk. Oh God, forgive me for having to pass on this responsibility. I dare not judge this situation.
Their God remained silent.
*
[Attention, Urgent Order No. 221, Access to this document is restricted to Sub-Archbishops or higher.]
[Dispatch Mission Report: Desert Acrobatics]
Operation Area: Western Great Wilderness, City of Mosat.
Operation Summary: Approval of the Leviathan Empire’s Iron Side confidential dispatch mission request (Attachment 1). Tracking traces of the Necropolis near the ruins of Mosat City.
Operation Progress:
1) Contacted Shaksisi, the Sultan’s envoy, during the search mission in Mosat City.
2) Discovered the sealed site of the Necropolis buried beneath Mosat City.
3) The seal of the Necropolis was destroyed due to unauthorized bombardment by Iron Side. Casualties were limited to the sealed site, with field agent Albert and Shaksisi Sadia Amal neutralizing the threat.
4) The aftermath of the seal’s destruction released wraiths of the Necropolis into the Great Wilderness (Attachment 2: Signal Fire Incident in Mosat City).
5) Coordinated with Shaksisi to assess the destruction of the remaining Necropolis seals (Attachment 3: Signal Fire Incident of the Three Dynasties).
6) Three factions of wraith warlords emerged in the Great Wilderness (Attachment 4: Territorial Reversal in the Great Wilderness at the time of the incident).
7) Field investigation concluded that the influence of the Great Demon had diminished (Attachment 5: Individual Report / Fernandez).
8) Initiated preliminary investigations for the subjugation of the Great Demon. Coordinated with nearby Beastman Nobility.
*
-Snap.
The sound of Beorn’s pen breaking. Beorn paused for a moment, then threw the pen into the trash bin. Inside the bin, a pile of pens met the same fate.
The report was completely disassembled, with attachments scattered across the desk. Beorn picked up one of the attached maps and drew a line on it.
“Mosat City.”
The incident clearly began with the investigation of the ruins buried beneath the oasis commercial city. But suddenly, Iron Side started bombing? This was one of the pieces of information they had gathered beforehand. It must be true.
In the midst of it all, Fernandez, who survived, coordinated with the local Shaksisi to stop the bombing. A remarkably clever judgment for a field agent. It was possible.
But then, suddenly, the influence of the Great Demon is mentioned? Beorn opened the report containing Fernandez’s ‘personal judgment basis’ and pushed up his monocle.
*
The Three Dynasties’ official stance to neighboring nations was to recognize their own independence and sovereignty, claiming ownership of the Great Wilderness.
The three factions of wraith sovereigns, each divided into separate groups, either allied with completely different forces or began wars with allied forces of other dynasties.
Based on this, the field agent judged that the wraith sovereigns possessed independent self-awareness and a desire for self-realization.
When considering the three factions of wraith sovereigns as secular dynasties in the Material World, the following hypothesis is necessary to make this possible:
(1) The wraith sovereigns are minions of the Great Demon.
[1] This was confirmed in a cooperative document from Iron Side (Attachment 6: Wraith Sovereign of the Dane Kingdom).
(2) The influence of the Great Demon projected onto each wraith sovereign has diminished.
[1] The wraith sovereigns did not act in coordination with each other or for a specific purpose for the Great Demon.
To prove this hypothesis, the field agent contacted a high-ranking entity of one wraith faction. Through information exchange with this entity, the hypothesis was proven true.
*
After reading that far, Beorn took off his glasses and pressed his temples.
“As soon as the area he was dispatched to was bombed, he deduced the opponent and coordinated with their enemy to stop the bombing…”
A remarkably intelligent and clever judgment, but one that was within the realm of possibility. Beorn glared at the map with tired eyes.
“Immediately after the bombing, wraith nations rose to power…”
This was the result, separate from the field agent’s judgment. Beorn tapped the desk and put down the report.
“As soon as the wraith nations rose to power and claimed independence, he judged that the Great Demon behind them had weakened. He contacted the high-ranking officials of those nations… and proved his judgment to be true.”
Is this a judgment a human can make? Someone caught in the chaos of a shifting wasteland’s power struggles?
In a crisis where even an ordinary person would struggle to survive, a highly trained elite agent would aim to survive… but this ‘saint’ aimed to resolve the situation.
“He plans to kill the Great Demon and calm the situation?”
Generally, you can’t see the storm from within the storm. Chess pieces can’t see the chessboard. A soldier in the midst of battle can’t grasp the overall situation. That’s common sense.
But this ‘saint’ did it. In the midst of the turbulent wasteland. Not just surviving, but making resolving the situation his primary goal!
At such a young age, it should have been impossible…
Done? No, it’s not possible regardless of age. Impossible for ordinary people? No, this is something impossible for humans. At least, for those within the bounds of common sense.
“This brother… doesn’t consider life as life.”
Beorn realized it as if struck by lightning. All the data in this report, the basis for Fernandez’s judgment, and all the actions taken based on it—none of them considered his own life.
That’s right. Beorn finally understood. Saints have the Stigma of Immortality. Their way of thinking is entirely different from that of ordinary people. Since they don’t die, they don’t consider life as life.
Impossible for humans? No matter how much someone might treat life as trivial, at the core, there’s a common sense shared by mortals. But this ‘Saint’ lacked that.
“An immortal’s… way of thinking. Brother.”
Beorn turned his eyes to the map and took a deep breath. Over there, the brother who is now returning to the Church. He was acting with the mindset of an immortal.
And…
*
12) Defeated Tutankhamun Gartep, the Wraith Sovereign of the northern Great Wilderness’s Wraith Collective.
13) Used the relic of the Wraith Sovereign to secure a passage to the Necropolis.
14) Executed the Great Demon Extermination Operation.
15) Defeated Mumto, the Great Demon of the Necropolis, losing the Stigma of the field agent in the process.
16) Confirmed the destruction of the Necropolis. (Attachment 8: Shaksisi’s Field Observation Report)
17) Contacted the Federation of Nobles and returned to the Eastern Alliance.
Operation Task Force Team.
1) Diemonica, Fernandez Sernerd – Returned
2) Torchman, Kirhas Hearttaker – Returned
3) Torchman, Abel – Returned
We shall burn demons, heretics, and witches.
Operation Leader: Diemonica Fernandez Sernerd.
Reviewer: Diemonica Zephis Siradast.
*
Beorn stared intently at a sentence included in the last paragraph of the report. It was Zephis’s handwriting.
[Review Attachment] Request to convene the Canonization Advisory Council.
Beorn suppressed the whirlwind of emotions in his head and clutched his forehead. The Saint has lost the Stigma.
The Stigma is a symbol and proof of a Saint, bestowed by God. Losing it could be considered close to heresy, a blasphemy against the divine.
But if it was consumed in the process of defeating the Great Demon…? If all of this was part of God’s plan? If the very act of bestowing the Stigma upon this Saint was part of God’s plan to exterminate the Great Demon?
A Saint is not defined by the possession of the Stigma. Sainthood is more of an honorary title, conferred based on the achievements throughout the Saint’s life.
Therefore, the Canonization Advisory Council Zephis requested… meant that Fernandez should be recognized as a true ‘Saint.’
Regardless of the presence of the Stigma, his achievements were beyond those of a mortal.
“He killed… the Great Demon.”
In this era, no, in the entire history of civilized society. This is an achievement that has never occurred before.
In the distant ancient times, during the fierce struggles of the Celestial War, the Great Demon was never slain.
The evil in civilized society spreads like mold, and in every shadow, demons howl. Beorn knew this and believed it was only getting worse day by day.
Thus, the Inquisition Officers. The torches and bastions guarding the forefront of human civilization. What they must choose is simple.
To turn this era, heading toward the worst outcome of apocalypse and corruption, into a lesser evil.
Even if the cost is their own lives, willingly. The remaining ashes will prove that they once shone brightly.
However, Beorn thought this far and looked at the map. The continent’s map, marked with numerous symbols.
Records of agents who went missing on the road, whose fates are unknown, and the heresy incidents that occurred this year.
“If the last sight we see is not the apocalypse.”
Lord, give us an answer. Was this Your plan?
“If the only choice we can make is not our lesser evil.”
If there exists a best outcome. If finally, the last demon breathes its last, and the order and justice of civilized society can fully arrive… If such a future exists.
“The death of the Great Demon would be the most fitting beginning.”
Beorn began drafting a letter to the Papacy. A formal proposal requesting the convening of the Canonization Advisory Council.
*
Fernandez was trying his best to maintain a blank expression as he looked at the panting Ludwig. The sensation of holding the sword felt too different.
‘Why does my body feel so light…?’
The divine body of Diemonica usually matched or slightly fell short of the peak swordsmen.
The consecrated body of Diemonica could be mass-produced if the materials were suitable, but it didn’t enhance swordsmanship talent or technique.
Peak swordsmen are imbued with magic, and their physical abilities are enhanced. Ludwig was one such swordsman.
Ludwig was both careless and determined to do his best. However, the output of the body was extraordinary.
-Clang!
Ludwig’s sword strike was almost readable. It took only two moves to catch and deflect the strike, using the blade’s back.
-Swish.
Just before the blade reached Ludwig’s throat, he hastily stepped back and swung his sword as if shaking it off. He created distance and stared at Fernandez with a bewildered expression.
“Knight of the Round Table, Albert… If I may ask, how old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
“…Damn. You’re a monster.”
Ludwig chuckled and sheathed his longsword. The surrounding knights erupted in admiration. It was a fierce battle, but an overwhelming victory.
“My apologies. I retract the insults I directed at you and sincerely apologize. My words were reckless.”
“Impressive. For someone of your rank as a Knight Commander to be so humble?”
“What good would arrogance do in this state?”
Ludwig laughed heartily and shrugged. The mission given to him by the Royal Palace was to defeat the Knight of the Round Table, and since that failed, there was no need to play the role of an ‘arrogant foreign noble.’
It was an ill-fitting role from the start. Ludwig chuckled.
“If you were five years younger, the outcome might have been different.”
“You’re humble. Truly befitting someone called the symbol of chivalry. But no. If I were five years younger, I would have been five years more immature. You are a superior knight to me.”
Ludwig looked deeply at Fernandez and then turned to leave the training ground. Abel, holding a dry towel, approached and wiped his forehead.
“Your swordsmanship has improved greatly. It’s hard to believe it’s only been a month.”
“I was lucky.”
“Luck… Well, let’s hear about what’s happened while we rest. If you haven’t eaten yet, shall we dine together?”
“Gladly.”
Fernandez took the towel from Abel and wiped around his neck. Abel looked at him and smiled softly.
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