Episode 668:
A dark secret room where not a single ray of light leaks.
A man sitting in front of an old desk looked at the black flames burning on the wall and then turned his back.
“The movements of Raon Sieghardt and the Storm Troopers were strange.”
He looked down at his desk and stroked his chin.
“You’re rolling your eyes like you’re looking for something.”
“Well, maybe it’s because of me. “When I first saw him, I unintentionally released demonic energy…” The
black-haired young man who was kneeling let out a low groan.
“But it was a really minute amount. Even priests and holy relics couldn’t react, so how…”
He trembled as if he didn’t understand.
“Sometimes people with special senses are born.”
The man narrowed his mouth.
“Then, was Raon Sieghardt’s participation in the crusade to find you? “Things are going well.”
“Well, if they really felt demonic energy, wouldn’t it be better to send them back now?”
“No, it is better to keep it closer. “If you can’t find it outright, it means you’re not sure.”
He laughed, saying that you should keep your enemies closer than your colleagues.
“Raon Sieghart attaches great importance to chivalry, to the point where he was once nicknamed the Sulwha Swordsman. People like that can’t swing their swords carelessly. “I’ll probably be so caught up in looking for you that I won’t see anything.”
The man waved his finger lightly, saying he could see the actions of Raon and Gwangpungdae.
“I will take care of the above, so you can focus on what you need to do.”
“Oh, I understand.”
The black-haired young man lowered his head and dispersed into a shadow like scum.
Cracking.
The man turned his back again and looked at the black painting burning on the wall.
The black flame grew darker and began to climb up the words engraved on the wall.
“God is always nearby…”
He lowered the corners of his mouth and shed black tears.
“wherever?”
* * *
“The priest who bloomed was a true person.”
Burren rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.
“You just volunteer all day. “It feels like seeing a boy who has just become a priest, not a high-ranking priest.”
He shook his head, saying he had no idea such a person existed.
“I heard Kinnear is a paladin in a different sense?”
Marta frowned, looking annoyed.
“What does that mean?”
Burren tilted his head.
“That bastard doesn’t pray or practice, he just goes around seducing women! “He kicked it right in front of me, and when he pointed it at me, I almost hit him with a sword!”
She gritted her teeth, saying she was such a bully.
“Ugh, I thought I was going to die trying to stop you at that time.”
Dorian lowered his shoulders and sighed.
“Runan. “What about Lord Daniev?”
Raon nodded and called Runan.
“ah.”
Runaan, who had been dozing off while leaning against the wall, looked up in a daze.
“Follow the king, chase the king, stick only to the king. Swing the sword during break time. And…”
“And?”
“I have no words.”
Runaan put a finger on her lips, saying it was her first time seeing someone so silent.
“What about the saint?”
Raon called out to Rimmer, who was leaning against the wall and picking his ears.
“I can’t even see the hair. “Where are you hiding and ripping off kids?”
Rimmer said he was frustrated and touched his temple.
“Sir. “You went to the gambling house instead of working, right?”
“It’s obvious.”
“Ugh…”
Buren, Marta, and Dorian shook their heads.
“Really! “Even if it’s me, the time and place are different, right?”
“Since when?”
Runaan answered as plainly as if hitting a bone.
“Ugh…”
Rimmer clutched his chest and chewed his lips as if he had nothing to say.
“I can’t really see it anyway. “I even went into the convent and searched it!”
“Perverted bastard.”
Martha ground her teeth in disgust.
“Ugh, damn it anyway. It’s still so bad….”
Rimmer lowered his shoulders as if he was tired.
“Balt and Yuson, who I followed, did not show any unusual behavior.”
Mark Goeten also bowed his head, saying he had found nothing from the high priest.
“How were you?”
Burren gestured toward Raon and Hoppen.
“So are we.”
Raon made eye contact with Hoppen and briefly clicked his tongue.
Using the identity of Hofen, the prince and leader of the 5th Holy Knights, he met all the people in the throne room and high-ranking officials, but found nothing unusual.
Perhaps because he experienced it once, there was no response even when Ras got angry.
“Are you really that bitch?”
Martha narrowed her eyes as if she was suspicious that the saint was not visible.
“It is not uncommon for the saint to disappear for not just a day or two, but for months. Rather, it is strange that it continues to be visible.”
Hoppen shook his head, saying that he was that kind of person.
“In the end, it’s all in vain.”
Burren stroked his hair and frowned.
“Is there really someone who uses magical energy?”
Marta rolled her eyes.
“okay. Are you sure.”
If I had thought about it alone, I wouldn’t have been able to answer that question properly, but since Lars confirmed it, I calmly nodded.
“Phew….”
Raon sighed, looking at the yellow moonlight passing by the window.
‘I couldn’t find it in the end.’
The Gwangpungdae and I moved in and searched everyone in the throne room, but the person who had made a contract with the demons did not show up.
They dug a trap to reveal demonic energy, but seeing that they didn’t even know it was a trap made me think that no one had really made a contract with demons.
‘But…’
I couldn’t meet the saint.
As Rimmer said, the saint disappeared from that day on and disappeared.
I didn’t think she was a saint because she behaved in such a childish way that it seemed cheap, but I felt like she should also be put under suspicion.
Especially since she was the only one who openly told me not to participate in the crusade.
“What should I do now? “The day after tomorrow is a holy day.”
Buren chewed his lip as if he didn’t know what to do.
“The search operation is cancelled.”
Raon clapped his hands lightly, attracting everyone’s attention.
‘It’s a waste of time like this.’
Given the current situation, there is a good chance that the enemy knows we are looking for them.
Considering that he was hiding his identity in this land filled with divine power, it was impossible for even the Holy Assembly to find him.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“We need to change our methods. Even if someone calls a demon, you have to be prepared to fight. “To protect something bigger, even if it means sacrificing a little.”
I am not a hero. It is much better to prepare properly than to waste time on things that are not certain.
“Dorian. “Is there holy water?”
“of course. “It’s a necessity.”
Dorian smiled brightly, saying that holy water was a necessity in the Holy Kingdom.
“We also have a lot of holy water. If you use that…”
“No. “I can’t use that.”
I shook my head resolutely. As far as high-ranking officials were concerned, the holy water and holy relics in this country had to be considered already contaminated.
“From now on…”
Raon told Gwangpungdae and Hoppen what preparations they should make.
The plan was complicated because we didn’t know the other person, but like talented people, everyone understood it right away and nodded.
“It’s not even our land, so it’s really annoying.”
Riemer looked at Hoffen and pointed his finger.
“If this job goes well, you will definitely be rewarded? know?”
“of course. Do not worry.”
Hoppen smiled and said he would take us to the full course.
“I’m looking forward to it!”
Rimmer grinned and went out the window. There is a door, but I don’t understand why I always go to that place.
“You don’t have to give anything. “I’m going to lose everything here anyway.”
Burren left the room after saying there was no need to give him a single gold coin.
“that’s right. “Just ignore it.”
“Kuu…”
Marta snorted as she carried the sleeping Runan on her back.
“then.”
Mark Goeten bowed his head politely and left.
“I’ll go too.”
Hoppen smiled awkwardly and followed Mark Goeten. His steps seemed heavier than anyone else’s.
‘hey.’
Raon closed the door and motioned to Lars, who had his back to the ceiling.
-why.
Lars flicked his tail and lifted his eyelids.
‘You still don’t want to talk?’
-How many times are you asking? The contract between humans and demons was made through mutual agreement. The one who set that condition was the main king and other miscellaneous people, so how could he break it!
The guy hit his hand hard, telling him not to say something that didn’t make sense.
‘For someone to say something like that, you seem a bit anxious.’
-Well, what makes you look anxious?
Lars shook his head as if saying no.
-No matter what, the king will not move until the contract is made! never!
‘Is that so?’
That meant that they could help after the contract was made. It was fortunate.
‘King Baurn, Priest Pirn, Knight Commander Daniev, Paladin Kinnear, Saint Olga and the priests…’
Raon sighed briefly and thought back on the events that had happened so far in his head.
‘hmm? Wait a minute…’
When I thought back to the time 5 days ago when Hoppen explained the high-ranking officials, a suspicious person came to mind.
Considering what I had heard from Hoppen and the recent situation, his behavior was definitely strange. I can’t say for sure, but it was enough to raise my guard.
thud! thud! thud!
As I was slowly trying to reflect on my thoughts, someone knocked on the door. It wasn’t a knock, it sounded like a kick.
Raon opened the door with a frown. Saint Olga, with her purple hair tucked behind her left ear, was standing cross-legged.
Now I see that she also has a strange tattoo behind her ear.
“Saint?”
I couldn’t understand why someone I hadn’t seen until now suddenly came to me.
“Damn the saint. “Take some time.”
I’m not asking you to give me some time, I’m asking you to give it to me.
What’s even funnier is that after saying that, the saint went out without even looking back.
‘You have an amazing personality.’
Raon shook his head and followed behind the saint. She stopped and leaned back against the zelkova tree in front of the lodging.
“Why did you call me?”
He nodded, hiding his searching eyes.
“Why are you speaking informally?”
The saintess tilted her head.
“Because you do it.”
“You have a dirty personality.”
“Are you the only one who will do it?”
“Hehehe.”
The saintess smiled as if she was in a good mood. As expected, he was an unusual person.
“Do you smoke?”
“no.”
When I shook my head, the saint took out a piece of tobacco from her bosom and put it in her mouth.
“You guys seem to be doing strange things.”
The saint lit a candle and shook her head.
“Don’t do anything useless and go back to Sieghart.”
“What strange thing?”
“Sending an ugly elf to find me.”
She sneered as she spoke of Rimmer.
“I see a lot of faces. You wouldn’t know. “Such a cowardly bastard is a no-no.”
The saint shook her head and said something that would cause Rimmer to have a fit if he heard it.
“How much do you know?”
“What do you know?”
She actually asked back.
“What are you looking for, following people around?”
“….”
Raon put his fingertips together, looking at the saintess’ sunken eyes.
“Oh, kill me?”
The saint put her hand on her neck and smiled.
“There’s no need to glare like that. “It’s just a feeling.”
A long stream of gray smoke billowed out from her red lips.
– Hehe! Kehehe!
Lars, who was floating in the air, chuckled and frowned.
-Kill that bitch! This is secondhand smoke!
‘Just stay still.’
Raon pushed Lars away and looked at the saint.
“persimmon?”
“I’ve had good instincts since I was born. “I read both crisis and opportunity.”
The saintess lightly licked her lips.
“That feeling speaks. “You guys should stop doing unnecessary things and leave.”
“Does that mean there is a crisis coming to Spern?”
“Maybe so, maybe not.”
She waved her hand.
“If you don’t have a good feeling, why don’t you bring it up?”
“I tried it a few times, but whenever something dangerous came out of my mouth, it became an even bigger crisis. Too bad, a lot of people died.”
The saint chewed the end of the beginning of the year, saying that her life was like a dog.
“Then why did you do that to me….”
“I observed you just as you observed me. “Strangely enough, you felt fine.”
She took a long lick of the remaining tobacco and laughed.
“look. Even though I’m talking to you right now, I don’t feel creepy at all. “It might really be a signal to save you.”
The saint shook her head after extinguishing the burned-out candle.
“It is a revelation to save just one person. A very unlucky god, right? “I want to blow the thrush away.”
She put the tobacco tip in her right pocket and gritted her teeth.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the saintess insulting God.
‘What on earth is this woman?’
Even though he hadn’t reached transcendence, he was speaking as if he was reading heaven’s message. Even if there were no details, it was amazing.
-It’s a thousand pains.
‘Thousand pains?’
-This is a case where the upper chamber is open from birth and the line is connected to the sky. Open wider than the pineapple girl. However, since it is not my intention, I will not know the details like that woman said.
‘Ah…’
After listening to Lars’ words, I began to understand the saint’s words.
“This is your final warning. “If you don’t want to be fooled, don’t give a damn and go home.”
“If this place is dangerous, wouldn’t me and the Gwangpungdae be helpful?”
“Did you know when that crisis would come? For life?”
The saint snorted, saying that the time was unknown.
“And the King of Pappi said so. “Even though we are weaker than you, we have the courage to fight to the end.”
She balled her small hands into fists.
“If we hear those words, we have no choice but to fight until the end with our own strength, not with the strength of others.”
The saint’s eyes were calm. Contrary to his frustration, he seemed to respect King Baurn.
“If you understand, go to Sieghart before the crusade opens.”
The saint waved her hand as if shooing away flies and then turned her back.
“Hmm…”
Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at the back of the saint.
‘What do we do?’
If you reveal the truth to the saint, it may be of great help to your plan. But now, my mind is confused because this situation itself could have been her intention.
While she was chewing her lip and thinking, Lars clapped his hands while looking at the saint’s arms and thighs.
-Ah, that was it!
‘what?’
-I thought that girl’s tattoos were very strange, but I can understand when I look at those ears. It wasn’t all tattoos.
Lars nodded, looking at the square tattoo on the saintess’s ear.
‘It’s not a tattoo?’
-That’s right. That strangely shaped mole is not a tattoo, but a repulsion of divine power.
‘What is the backlash of divine power?’
-If you use divine power more than necessary, your skin will melt like that. Demons also experience the same phenomenon.
The girl shook her shoulders, saying that she was clearly a madwoman who couldn’t feel pain.
Raon clenched his fists after hearing Lars’ words.
‘Then…’
* * *
The day of the Holy Meeting dawned.
Is it because God blesses me? Is it because it blesses God? There was not a single cloud in the sky.
As soon as the dawn fog cleared, the Holy Kingdom Super locked its gates and surrounded the entire kingdom with a wall of divine power.
As the sun rose over the white walls, all the kingdom’s citizens came out of their homes.
They knelt on the street, holding glasses filled with water or holy water in their hands.
Raon stood at the top of the spire and looked down on the entire kingdom.
The sight of countless believers preparing to pray under the sky of divine power shaped like a soap bubble was a spectacle in itself.
“Thank you for staying. “Gwangpungdaeju.”
The priest came to the side and bowed his head.
“no. I think it will be a good experience for me too.”
Raon smiled slightly and waved his hand.
“It certainly looks spectacular.”
Paladin Kinnear rubbed his hands with his back turned.
“I see it every year, but the minister is damn good.”
Saint Olga pouted her lips. She glared fiercely at me, as if she didn’t like it.
As Raon made eye contact with the saint, heavy footsteps were heard from behind.
When I turned around, I saw King Baurn, Knight Commander Daniev, and high-ranking priests coming up.
“See you, His Majesty the King.”
Raon bowed his head to King Baurn.
“I am honored that Great Lord Gwangpung remained.”
King Baurn smiled as he greeted me.
“Are the other prosecutors not coming?”
He tilted his head as he looked at Raon alone.
“They said they would stay downstairs because it was uncomfortable here.”
“Well, I guess that’s because there are a lot of old people. “If you are bored, you can always come down.”
Baurn smiled calmly and walked forward.
“The sun is coming up, so we should get started right away.”
The King stood at the tip of the spire with calm steps. He put down the holy water he had brought with him, sitting in a dangerous place where he could fall if he took even one step further.
The priest went up next to him and poured holy water into the king’s cup.
Jjiiiiiiing!
As the bell rang throughout the kingdom, the king lifted the cup filled with holy water into the air and poured it into his mouth.
The people below followed the king and moistened their lips with water and holy water.
King Baurn smiled as if he was pleased with the sight, then knelt down and put his hands together.
“God is always nearby. Even if He is not watching….”
As he began to memorize verses from the Bible, the people below also began to recite them along with him.
Gooooooo!
The light that started from the highest king continued to the priests, knights, and citizens, and the wall of divine power that enveloped the entire kingdom became thicker and gave off a more magnificent glow.
This land was filled with sanctity and holiness, as if a god would appear.
Raon turned his eyes, feeling a divine power that made his fingers feel stinging.
‘This much divine power is spreading and there is no movement…’
The divine power was moving to the extent that it could affect even ordinary people, but no one felt pain.
The person who made the contract with the demons was a person with more patience than I expected.
Raon calmed down and looked at everyone here.
But no one moved until the sun rose in the east and reached the center of the sky.
Jiiiiiiing!
Only after the grand bell ringing, signaling noon, did everyone open their eyes.
The King drank the second holy water and recited the Bible again. The people also drank the water and holy water they brought and continued to pray.
Nothing special happened after that.
Jiiiiiiing!
As the sun began to set, the third bell rang.
All the people of Spern wet their lips with holy water and water, as they did at lunch.
Raon frowned as he looked at the sunset sky.
‘what?’
Isn’t it today?
Although there was not much time left until the prayers of the Crusade ended, there was not even a small cloud, let alone a cloud.
I had been tensed the whole time, but now my concentration was on the verge of loosing.
‘Did you notice that I was looking for you and postpone your schedule? ‘I don’t think so, do you?’
I was worrying over a situation I didn’t understand, but the surroundings were quiet.
King Baurn, who was supposed to be reciting a prayer, was smiling faintly with his mouth closed.
“Isn’t it a truly beautiful sight to see?”
King Baurn nodded calmly as he looked at his people with their hands clasped together.
“Gwangpungdaeju. Do you know the story that God only gives trials that humans can handle?”
He looked back at Raon with soft eyes.
“…I know.”
Raon nodded. That story was common not only here in Spern, but in most religions.
“I believed in those words more than anyone else. “I thought that trials, both big and small, were experiences that filled my body and soul.”
The King laughed, rubbing his chest.
‘I am?’
When King Baurn referred to himself, he always expressed himself as “I” or “I am.” It was my first time calling myself a country.
“But it didn’t work. I prayed so much that God would not take me into this temptation, but God did not listen. “It’s either because I’m too weak to overcome the ordeal…”
The King raised his head. A black energy shimmered over his blue eyes.
“I guess it’s because God is an asshole.”
As that chilling voice flowed down the spire, pitch-black darkness rose above the wall of divine power that enveloped the kingdom.
