The Law of the Universe is best left undisturbed.At least, for those who live under its rule, that is the case.
Attempting to twist the Law without fully understanding it, in pursuit of a desired outcome,may achieve short-term goals but will inevitably bring about far more dangerous consequences.
On the day the Ancient God twisted the Law to annihilate the Vampires, the impossible became possible, and what could not exist came into being.The Three Goddesses clearly saw the end it would bring. No trace of selfish desire remained. Only despair lingered.
“Do not fear,” whispered the Angel. The Three Divine Gods resented the Angel.They wished they had never seen it. They wished they had never known. Now, the Death God no longer mattered. Even the thought of stopping it vanished.
“The Gods are always merciful,” they said.
The hand vanished. The form vanished.Yet, the Three Goddesses could not speak. Even after the Angel departed, an eerie silence remained.
Everything they had debated was, in truth, child’s play,and everything they coveted was nothing but a house destined to burn.
In the past, the Angel told the Apostle that the next cycle would be the last.Now, they saw why it had to be the last. Beyond it, there was no hope. Humans, upon seeing such things, would pray even to the Gods.
But the Three Goddesses were the Gods themselves.They had no one to pray to, no one to beg, no way to find solace. They could only accept that all endings had already been decided beyond the Sun.
“…Very well. The Temple will fully cooperate with the Empire.”
After a brief moment of distraction, Archbishop Halonen nodded in response. Yet, a flicker of fear lingered in his eyes. What exactly he had seen remained a mystery.
Despair. Boundless despair shadowed his gaze. Archbishop Arice was no different. The two simply nodded at whatever the Emperor said. What could they have seen?
That fear clearly came from a higher place. I couldn’t know what the Three Goddesses had seen, so I was left only with confusion.
“Saint. In principle, our Empire should fully support your journey to the Arctic. However, the current reality holds me back. As the Emperor, I cannot abandon my people to aid your journey. If I did, I would have no words for my subjects.”
“I do not expect it. Your Majesty must prioritize your people.”
Next, I will face Grimudo. I believe support will be meaningless.In truth, I even wish to leave behind those already by my side. I do not know what I will see in the Arctic, but I know the Lord will be with me.
“Um… do I really have to go all the way to the Arctic? I’ll get off at the Eastern Plains on the way.”
Lady Kisea muttered with an awkward expression. It didn’t matter.However, something bothered me. I advised her:
“The Eastern Plains are just below the Kalkanmir Mountain Range, right?”“Yes?”“Then, after we part, stay as far away from there as possible. I don’t know where you should go, but I have a feeling it won’t be safe near that area.”
The Angel directly mentioning the Kalkanmir Mountain Range is no small matter. It would be best not to set foot near that range for a while.
“If you’re going to face the Demon King, these two old men won’t be of much help.”
Master Geher spoke with a troubled expression. The old man beside him also nodded. In both their eyes, I could see a deep-seated fear.
“We will never shake off this fear. We lack the courage to raise our swords against the Demon King again. Geher and I are too afraid to go to the Arctic.”“I, too, wish to follow you and repay the grace of the eye, but…”
The one called Xerox hesitated, then bowed his head.
“I have already devoted myself to the nation and His Majesty. In this time of great crisis, I cannot turn my back on the country to aid my benefactor.”
There’s no need to feel troubled. Even if you had wished to follow, I would have dissuaded you.
But then, someone unexpected stepped forward. The Princess boldly stepped before the Emperor and knelt on one knee.
“Your Majesty. I wish to follow the Saint.”“Ardein. If that is your wish, so be it. But are you truly prepared?”
The Emperor was neither surprised nor flustered as he calmly observed the Princess.
“In this time of national crisis, following the Saint to the Arctic, even for the sake of repaying a debt, may block your path. I won’t hide it. I know you desire my throne. But Ardein, to ascend to the throne, you must earn it.”“I understand.”“Then, you must also know what it means to abandon the chance to earn merit and head to the Arctic. Ardein. I do not think you surpass these two Masters. When facing Grimudo, you may be of no help at all. Do you understand?”“Truly, there is no need.”
I also tried to dissuade her. Roka nodded in agreement.
Lady Kisea subtly approached me and supported me.
“Your Highness. You should ascend to the throne, not follow us. If you ascend, remember that I was on your side.”
The Temple isn’t in a position to offer rewards, and the Emperor doesn’t seem inclined to grant any, so it seems she’s decided to side with the Princess now. The Emperor cleared his throat.
“I’m still alive and sitting here, and you dare say such things in front of me?”“Ah?!”
Though it could have been taken as treason, the Emperor let it slide. He seemed to have figured out what kind of person Kisea was and didn’t reprimand her.
“Your Majesty. I have made my decision. I will go to the Arctic.”
No one’s words could shake the Princess’s resolve. The Emperor quietly nodded. He didn’t try to persuade her further.
“You no longer desire this position. Very well. Rise. In the past, I would have pressured you greatly. With my life nearing its end, I truly saw no other candidate to inherit the throne.”
“But the Angel has breathed life into me. So it’s settled. I will live a little longer and select a suitable child from your siblings. Ardein. One last question. Do you have any regrets? Or rather, will you have any regrets?”
Without hesitation, she answered that she had no regrets. The Emperor finally accepted the Princess’s decision. The Dragon’s Sword she carried hummed with power.
[By the way, didn’t that child Yanid damage the Protection Magic Array here?]“Yes. The great race has noticed.”
As the Emperor spoke, the dragon within the Dragon’s Sword eagerly responded.
[I might be able to fix it. But I can’t do it alone. I’ll need someone to supply magical power and the help of several mages. And time.]“If you would do that,”
The Emperor’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.
“I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”[So, Ardein. Before you leave, let’s work together on this.]“Huh? Oh, yes.”
The Emperor called for people, and the Princess and the dragon left. Since she said she would go with me, there was no reason to refuse her company. It’s not like we’re definitely going to fight that Demon King.
“Your Majesty. I also have a request.”
Since Her Highness will be busy with her task, I still have some time.
“I would like to speak with Ambassador Rowena of Elvenheim. Could you arrange a meeting?”
Since entering the hall earlier, I had been looking for her but couldn’t find her. Given her status, she should have been here, but her absence suggested she hadn’t attended the assembly.
“That won’t be a problem. I’ll arrange it for you shortly.”“Um, Your Majesty. I also have a request…”
Lady Kisea’s eyes sparkled as she asked.
“Does my merit really not even warrant a baronetcy? Or at least a knighthood…”“I grant the title of Baronet to the Empire’s mercenary, Queen Kisea.”
Not wanting to engage further, the Emperor swiftly granted the title. Knowing that no one would care about such matters due to the Death God, the Emperor was unfazed.
“However, this concludes the rewards. Lands and wealth must be earned through new achievements.”
Though no tangible rewards were given, Lady Kisea seemed satisfied.
After all, from what I’ve seen, she’s already made a lot of money. She probably doesn’t feel any loss.
“Yanid, please! You’re nominally my Saintess! Please listen to me!”
The girl sitting atop the spire, briefly glancing below, ignored Oberta and spread her wings.
“That’s… dangerous. What you’re trying to meet is also dangerous.”
Just moments ago, the colors of the world vanished. This wasn’t some low-level illusion.In fact, at that level, even if it were an illusion, it would be indistinguishable from reality, making further debate meaningless. At the center of it all was a blazing fire.
If the Angel is light, then human eyes are mirrors. Depending on the angle of the light, different fragments of truth are revealed.What Yanid saw was a radiant sphere brighter than the Sun. What Oberta saw was a blazing wheel of fate. Though they saw the same thing, their perceptions differed.
Even as Oberta muttered that she had never seen anything so terrifying, Yanid didn’t even listen. Instead, she thought Oberta was a coward.The Angel was the most sacred being Yanid had ever seen, yet it caused her no harm. It didn’t torment her.
So, she wasn’t afraid.
“What are you trying to do? Are you going to be that priest’s guardian angel? It’s best not to get involved with such things. Especially…”
That priest is heading to the Arctic. And the Arctic is his domain.The Evil God didn’t want to face that again. She didn’t want to relive the most horrifying memory of her life.
“Especially that guy in the Arctic. He’s truly dangerous. You can’t handle him just by being a little cheeky.”
What difference does it make if it’s Yanid? Even if the plan succeeded and she took over Yanid’s body, Oberta knew her place. It was utterly hopeless.Even if she had truly succeeded, she had no intention of going to the Arctic to avenge the past. That would be courting death.
Neither approaching nor distancing herself.The girl simply kept the priest in her sight, maintaining a certain distance. Left alone, she seemed ready to follow him all the way to the Arctic. Despite Oberta’s earnest persuasion, it had no effect.
“You crazy girl! Then spit out the Divine Power I gave you! If my Saintess dies again, I’m truly finished!”
In times of crisis, one’s true nature is revealed. When people have power and influence, they act as if they’re great beings.But once they lose their foundation, their true selves emerge. Even Gods are no different. The girl snorted at the increasingly evident nature of the Evil God.
It was none of her concern. Of course, she didn’t return the Divine Power she had received.Though it was given freely, taking it back wasn’t so easy. The Evil God’s sorrow was her joy.
