The aftereffects of the divine punishment were completely healed two days later.
Finally, I was able to use Faith and Divine Power freely again.
I immediately used Divine Sight to observe Plague Castle.
“As expected…”
Sig was right.
Plague Castle, just as he reported, had taken on a grotesque form reminiscent of the Plague Giant.
It writhed constantly, transforming into bizarre shapes, but more than that, the miasma that filled the surroundings was so thick and suffocating.
There was nothing more to confirm.
After that, the commanders relayed the current situation to the forces at Riot Castle.
Tension was evident on every visible man’s face.
“How is the situation in Baren?”
While watching the knights busy at their tasks, the Lord of Ord Castle approached and asked.
He naturally assumed that I would know the news from Baren.
Of course, he was right, so I answered honestly.
“As expected. The Capital has also begun to move.”
“His Majesty the King must have made the best choice.”
When was it?
He once spoke to me about what decision the King of Barentis Kingdom would make.
And that prediction had been completely accurate.
“I hope the Prot Kingdom will understand His Majesty’s profound intent.”
Once trust is broken, it’s not easily repaired, especially for the side that has been betrayed.
Nevertheless, the King reached out once more.
If his hand was stained with filth last time, now he offered a hand of light.
I recalled the Capital organizing an envoy and spoke my mind.
“Everything will work out. Hor’s Envoy from Baren is watching over this place.”
At my words, the Lord nodded solemnly and hurried away.
Prepare for the final battle, write the reports—there were countless tasks to do.
The head of Barten House always lived with documents in hand; indeed, the higher the position, the greater the burden.
As I was inwardly admiring the Lord’s diligence, it happened.
“At last, we can see the end. This plague war, too.”
This time, Aaron approached.
Beside him were Moritz and Gide as well.
“Do you have something to say?”
For some reason, the way they looked at me was so intense that I stepped back slightly as I asked.
“Saint.”
Aaron stepped forward, his face resolute.
“If we make the most outstanding contribution in this battle, will Hor grant us the rank of Intermediate Saint Knight?”
The light in their eyes burned especially bright.
After hearing the details, it turned out that among themselves, a friendly but fierce competition had sprung up.
“You guys… Is it right for Saint Knights to be concerned about ranks?”
I shot back teasingly, and Moritz immediately bristled.
“It’s not some petty or vulgar talk!”
“Then what is it?”
“To achieve merit is a knight’s virtue, isn’t it? For us, it’s only natural.”
So confident was his reply,
I found myself seeing this fellow in a new light.
As if to confirm Moritz’s words, Gide looked at me with interest.
Their attitudes made me chuckle.
“…Is that so? If you distinguish yourself in battle against Kalgos, you might just become Intermediate Saint Knights.”
Honestly, I was no different from them.
Legion Commander Kal Gos.
Just thinking of slaying that fiend and achieving ascension for the divine seat made my whole body burn with anticipation.
This time, Gide spoke up.
“Master, the morale of the soldiers is no different from that of Young Master Moritz.”
At Gide’s words, I glanced around.
I saw the faces of the soldiers preparing equipment for battle.
Though they could not hide their tension, it seemed they were not overcome by fear.
Apparently, it was not only us whose fighting spirit was burning.
“Some are even glad. They say the end is finally in sight.”
Perhaps affection had grown over time, for Gide smiled with pride at the soldiers’ bravery.
“I was worried about them, but it turned out well.”
The ten thousand-strong force had only fought a single battle.
Even if that was against the Third Generation Plague, facing Kalgos and not losing their nerve was truly remarkable.
“They must have finally accepted that the blessing of the gods is with them. After all, they witnessed that lightning with their own eyes.”
“Yeah, that really was something. Not even the head of the Marks Family could pull off a miracle like that.”
Aaron and Moritz traded remarks.
In the midst of this, Moritz’s comment reminded me of a problem I’d momentarily forgotten.
“Marks, huh…”
“In the recent council meeting, I said the Magic Alliance should join the battle.”
At that, the commanders and castle knights raised an uproar of opposition.
The men of Baren, famed as the Shield of the Northern Continent, absolutely refused to join hands with the southern mages, their contempt clear.
The Magic Alliance might be a different matter, but the knights of the north held a deep-seated hatred for the mages from the Southern Continent.
***
I let out a sigh as I returned to my room.
Harmony between the Northern Continent and Southern Continent truly is a long and arduous path.
Only now did I truly realize it.
And to make things worse, an unexpected variable had arisen.
“Alan… Alan… You crazy bastard.”
A young boy’s figure came to mind.
It was the Execution by Fire of the mad Saint, which I had witnessed with Divine Sight after my recovery.
“I was underestimating you.”
Yes. I had truly underestimated Alan’s nature.
I thought if he was properly guided, he’d become obedient, but that guy was a double-edged sword.
Sharper than I had ever imagined.
They say late enlightenment is frightening, and Alan’s Faith, awakened belatedly in Hor, had twisted into something almost fanatical.
“…It can’t be helped.”
***
Sizzle—
Brilliant flames blazed.
Pyromancy that devoured the plague monsters, and upon them, the corpses of mages were piled.
Even the renowned mage, lord of Rollang, was reduced to a charred corpse.
Silence filled the hall.
Members of the Magic Alliance could only stare in bewilderment at the young boy.
No one could stop him.
Even though he had suddenly attacked his own comrades, for some reason, none dared to block his way.
If they did, it seemed even they would be consumed by that visible madness.
“Hoo, hoo hoo… You filthy traitors, I’ll purify your souls with this Light of Purification.”
Fwoosh—!
At Alan’s gesture, the Pyromancy grew even larger.
Traitor.
Alan Marks kept repeating that word.
Even the elite mages of the Marks Family wore faces of utter incomprehension.
The Alan they knew was the very symbol of nobility.
A young master with all the dignity and ability to stand above others, befitting the word perfection.
But now, for some reason,
There was a madness in his once-cold eyes that could not be described.
As if a maelstrom of darkness was raging in their depths.
But knowing him as they had, they sensed there was no falsehood in his words.
A lieutenant who had been watching muttered uncertainly.
“Does that mean they were traitors…?”
“That’s right. They are traitors.”
Alan replied instantly.
“To deny with their whole being the light they ought to have served is both proof of their betrayal and a great sin.”
A voice full of conviction.
From the staff in his hand, a holy light poured forth once more.
“Don’t you believe my words?”
The faces of those who saw the light turned pale.
Some who had lost their house head, or their comrades, could not utter a word.
It wasn’t only because of the light.
They feared the madman of the light.
If anyone tried to object, they felt they would be burned at the stake.
The mages, ever valuing their own lives, could only keep silent and ignore the problem for now.
In this way, the sudden Execution by Fire was handled under the direction of Alan’s lieutenant.
Now, several days later,
Alan, who had raged so violently, had locked himself away, not leaving his room.
“Hor, have you seen it?”
He brought his hands together and prayed.
“I have purified the traitors who would not embrace your light with fire.”
Alan’s lips curled into a wide grin, drunk on the radiant divine light.
Surely, I’ll be praised.
Surely, you’ll recognize that I am more capable than those northern mongrels.
Raw, undisguised desires for praise appeared on his face.
“I alone recognized your greatness. The peace I have long desired… For that, your light is essential.”
Alan recalled his grand dream.
Until now, peace in this world was kept by sword and magic, but just as easily broken by them.
What was peace for one person brought misery to another.
So, what must be done to achieve perfect, flawless peace?
Alan Marks had found the answer at the age of ten.
‘A world where swords and magic are no longer needed! You must wish for such a world as well, mustn’t you!’
But now, the world still needed sword and magic.
Monsters and foreign races rampaged everywhere, and even the vile miasma had risen.
In these chaotic times, sword and magic were more desperately needed than ever; Alan called this the Era of Chaos.
“When I became your Saint, I finally attained enlightenment.”
Alan’s ambition was to kill every monster and foreign race, to root out every seed of discord.
But that ambition had recently begun to change.
“Hor, you saved me from the pit of darkness. You shared your brilliant light with me.”
Light of Salvation.
The divine light that dawned in the Era of Chaos.
The longed-for Light of Peace.
Swish—
Alan raised his hand high.
“I will make this world a blank slate. Please, watch over the lambs at the very peak of the world I create.”
Hor,
That is the gift I offer to you.
As the Southern Saint murmured in ecstasy,
A brilliant radiance burst forth from the staff tossed aside in the corner of the room.
“Ah, ah! O Hor!”
Alan’s face was flushed bright red.
His pupils dilated with rapture, opening wide.
Surely, he thought, you have come to hear my wish and answer it.
Perhaps you will even reward me.
He believed it without doubt.
『O Saint of the South…』
How could the voice of the great god resound with such awe and reverence?
“Yes! Speak! Alan is listening!”
Alan knelt low, bowing his head deeply.
『I have seen in you』
『The figure of a judge who punishes evil.』
『The figure of an Apostle who carries out divine punishment.』
A gentle radiance wrapped around Alan.
『My eyes have not been mistaken』
『You lack nothing to become the hero who will cut through the Era of Chaos』