Chapter 163: The Second Grand War of Saints and Demons (5)

「 Day 60 of the march. The knights and wizards have gathered under the banner of the Hor Church. This unprecedented army has finally entered the borders of the Typhon Kingdom. 」

「 And it was none other than corpses that stood in our way. The Saint of the North charged alongside the knights, while the King and wizards of the Laplace Kingdom provided support. 」

A wrinkled hand guided the pen.

Black ink left its mark on the yellowed paper.

「 Day 68 of the march. We reached the fortress that has become a cradle for the dead. Beyond the overflowing swarm of corpses, a woman with crow wings on her back appeared. The Saint of the North faced her alone… 」

*Click.*

The pen nib, which had been moving without hesitation until now, suddenly lost its way.

“…… Hmm.”

Marquess Trantis, who had joined the army in his capacity as a scribe, furrowed his brow as if he had encountered the greatest riddle of his life.

‘Is it really okay to record this?’

After a long period of contemplation, he gripped the pen once more.

「 The scribe clearly witnessed the woman calling the Saint of the North ‘Father.’ Due to the roar of the battlefield, the voice was not heard clearly, but upon close inspection through lip-reading, the woman referred to the Saint of the North as ‘Father’ several times. 」

「 I heard from the Saint of the North later that the woman is one of the Demon King’s Legion Commanders, similar to the Plague Giant that appeared in our country. 」

Record it first.

Verify the certainty of the information later.

This was, after all, only a first record.

After recording everything in detail, he planned to filter out only the information necessary for the compilation of the scriptures and reorganize it once more.

However, the Marquess could not shake off his doubts about the phrase he had written.

“Why would a being like a Legion Commander call Saint Richard…”

Did the word ‘Father’ hold a different meaning between them?

No. That couldn’t be it.

The eyes, expression, and even the aura of that Legion Commander.

Every single one of those things made it seem like she was truly looking at a person of love and hatred.

Then, a plausible hypothesis suddenly occurred to the Marquess.

“Hmm… Why are you asking about Kalgos all of a sudden? Ah! Is it because of the records?”

On a night when the campfire crackled and burned, the Marquess sought out Lord Ord, who was warming himself by the heat.

“That is correct. When you fought that monster, did it and Saint Richard share any dialogue? If you remember anything, please tell me.”

“Why not ask the person himself?”

“His expression was not good when he was explaining the Legion Commander named Arahel. I might make a mistake by prying.”

At his words, Lord Ord nodded reflexively.

“I suppose so. Whenever that person looks upset, it always involves those dark bastards. Hmm… But I don’t know if I should be the one to say this.”

“If it’s just a matter of me investigating the Saint’s background, I’ll stop. I am a scribe, not a thug.”

“Wait.”

Lord Ord caught the Marquess as he was about to give up and leave. He gestured for him to sit, patting the spot next to him.

“I can guess what the Marquess is curious about. It is not the Saint’s secret. It has simply become an unspoken rule among us not to speak of it. Since we don’t ask, the Saint doesn’t bother to bring it up either.”

“What on earth was said during the battle with that monster Kalgos?”

*Gulp—*

The Lord, who had been drinking water, wiped his mouth.

“That monster called the Saint ‘Father.’ It kept calling that name throughout the battle. Just like that Legion Commander who faced the Saint the other day.”

It wasn’t just that.

Having started, the Lord opened his mouth while poking at the campfire.

“The Saint died once during the battle with Kalgos.”

“What did you just say?”

“He was crushed to death by that thing. And then he was resurrected.”

The Marquess’s eyes trembled.

The Lord’s voice was very calm, but his eyes were tightly furrowed as if he were remembering that time.

The Marquess could tell that the Lord was not lying.

“There is more. You probably know that the green-haired girl who follows the Saint also calls him ‘Dad.’ If so, why do you think the Elves gathered at Riot Castle when it was in danger, and why a partial World Tree sprouted there?”

*Whoosh—*

The campfire, having swallowed a pile of leaves, flared up even larger.

The fire was filled with a familiar light.

“We already know. We’ve rolled through the mud together, so unless we’re fools, there is no way we wouldn’t know. We’re just pretending not to know even though we do, and pretending not to hear even though we have. So, I hope the Marquess will also pretend not to know. At least until he reveals it himself.”

The moment his suspicion became a certainty, Marquess Trantis pulled out his journal.

Then, he tore out the very last page.

「 The scribe clearly witnessed the woman calling the Saint of the North ‘Father’…… 」

*Fwoosh—*

The flames, eating the paper, billowed greatly.

***

“This good thing! Why! Only now!”

Richard shouted with a sense of grievance.

That shout soon became a storm, shredding the corpses like sheets of paper.

「 Day 80 of the march. When the sun was at its highest, the army reached a major city. Tens of thousands of corpses rushed at us, but when the Saint roared, a storm swept through, leaving no enemy who dared to face him. Furthermore, the holy flames of the Inquisitor joined the storm, purifying the major city much faster than expected. 」

*Boom. Boom. Boom.*

The drums of the march sounded countless times.

The army advanced across the devastated city.

「 Day 112 of the march. The army, where knights and wizards were gathered as one, was powerful. Even if millions of people of the Typhon Kingdom became undead to block the way, their steps never stopped. Even the darkness scattered everywhere could not hide the warmth of the light. 」

Countless victory reports were written densely on the yellowed paper.

By the time twenty more victory records were added, they were finally able to reach their destination.

Beyond the neatly paved road, the capital of the Typhon Kingdom began to appear.

“I’ve visited the capital of Typhon a few times before. But back then, it wasn’t such a hideous city.”

Alisa clicked her tongue.

The high and thick walls surrounding the capital were like cliffs made of bones.

The royal castle rising high beyond them also had an eerie appearance, as if it were built by piecing bones together.

“What a wicked energy this is…!”

Alan muttered, grinding his teeth.

The bones surrounding the capital were white, but the black energy they spewed out was foul enough to cause nausea.

“It is the power of Mamon. It is only natural that it is wicked.”

Richard scattered light toward the stiffened troops.

Only after scattering a significant amount of light did their breathing stabilize.

“Adele, Mar. It’s time for you two to use your strength.”

[Revelation]

In front of the bone-covered capital, a castle made of trees rose up.

It was even larger than any other castle, brimming with overflowing green light.

“All wizards, fortify the castle!”

At the King’s command, wizards took their places atop the wooden castle.

Sparkling magic arrays adorned various parts of the fortress.

“As expected! You are utilizing the nature of the undead, who unconditionally rush at the living. The siege will be much easier this way.”

“It was Richard’s idea. He said he saw the full effect of it when they fought in the Baren Kingdom.”

At Alisa’s answer, Pyran and several wizards’ eyes shone.

A fight that forces a siege in the middle of enemy territory.

It was a concept they had never even thought of.

“Sister. Look at that.”

While the wizards were breaking a sweat fortifying the fortress, Alan pointed his finger at the capital.

The sunlight, occasionally breaking through the clouds, shone upon the dark barrier surrounding the capital.

Upon seeing it, Alisa’s eyes deepened.

“…… It is our family’s barrier. This confirms they are inside. Hah, a Legion Commander and Markus.”

“It’s simple enough to just burn them all down.”

“Brother, in the time I haven’t seen you, you’ve become a complete pyromaniac. The word ‘burn’ is stuck to your lips.”

“What else can I do when there are so many things that need to be burned?”

Alisa forced the corners of her mouth up.

However, only a dry smile was formed.

“The ones you want to burn were once our family. At least do not forget that.”

“They are people who not only became heretics but also gave up being human. Do not think of them as family anymore. Hesitation will become a fatal poison.”

Alan’s voice was as cold as the winter air.

As if he had already discarded all hesitation.

But Alisa shook her head silently.

“You are still clumsy in this regard.”

Whenever Alan spoke, there was a faint smell of blood.

Countless wounds were etched into the flesh inside his mouth.

Alisa could see them all.

She, who had been showing a somewhat bittersweet look, turned her gaze.

“Brother.”

“Yes.”

“Richard said that peace will not come even after this war. Instead, a bigger fight, a real danger, is waiting.”

“Even so, peace will come before long.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“Because Lord Churu desires peace. His existence is proof that eternal peace will soon arrive.”

Heat suddenly rose in Alan’s expression, which had been cold.

Hor is omnipotent.

He is a merciful God who desires peace.

Alisa swallowed a sigh at the sudden praise for the God.

She could not agree with those words.

“God is not omnipotent.”

“How can you say that while receiving His grace?”

Alan’s voice was tinged with anger.

He must know, too.

Surely, in a corner of his heart, he must harbor doubts.

Alisa had also become a believer of Hor, but she could not agree that Hor was omnipotent.

If he were omnipotent, Markus would not have become the seed of disaster.

If he truly were omnipotent and desired peace, the kingdoms they stood upon would not be overflowing with the dead.

Alisa followed the back of Richard, who was standing alone up ahead.

Yes.

If He were truly omnipotent, that back would not be so weighed down by responsibility.

“Sister. Are you perhaps… not serving Hor…?”

“I do serve Him. I just cannot agree with the idea of omnipotence.”

“Then what is the reason you serve Him even while doubting His power?”

Alan asked impatiently.

The reason for serving.

What other reason could there be?

“God is not a being who acts in our stead.”

Alisa answered.

Even then, her eyes did not move from Richard’s back.

“I just think of Him as a being who pushes through the arduous path with us. Wouldn’t that be enough reason to serve Him?”

“…… You speak just like the believers of the Northern Continent.”

“Of course. Doesn’t that old man Trantis preach the Doctrine of Hope every night? For some reason, that resonates more with me.”

One day before the start of the war.

The two remaining members of the Marx family comforted their aching hearts while exchanging stories.

And Richard caught his breath alone.

Even when most of the troops fell asleep while resting, he glared at the capital.

“Kalgos. Don’t go easy on them just because they’re your brothers. I’ll make you swallow every bit of their demonic energy. I’ll pour it all into your mouth.”

He spoke in a warning tone while gripping the sword hilt.

‘If you do that, you won’t be able to handle me.’

‘Heh! Are you confident?’

The voice of the arrogant giant.

Richard looked down at the bad bond with indifferent eyes.

“How long do you think I’ll stay as an intermediate Divine Status? Two Legion Commanders. There is no better opponent to aim for a promotion .”