Chapter 163 : Two Years Later (1)
Two Years Later (1)
Two years ago, strange events had occurred across the continent.
At the center of these incidents was the Holy Nation.
The Holy Nation, possessing military strength rivaling that of the Imperial Court, originally existed to keep the Imperial Court in check.
However, for some reason, the Holy Nation promised to come under the Imperial Court's control.
Naturally, the citizens of the Holy Nation protested, but the Pope could not listen to their opinions.
He maintained a silent stance, as if he had some secret reason that must not be revealed.
In the end, rebellions broke out all over the Holy Nation.
[How can it make sense for those who have been recognized for their holiness to serve under the likes of the Imperial Court?]
[The current Pope is rotten!]
[We must overthrow the Pope, who is tainted by wickedness.]
The White Knights, the main military force of the Holy Nation, grew dissatisfied with the Pope's judgment and raised their swords in opposition.
Because they always viewed themselves as righteous, the thought of serving under someone else was unacceptable.
Finally, resistance groups to rebel against the Pope sprang up across the Holy Nation.
Numerous citizens also rallied behind their rebellion.
Serving under the Imperial Court meant becoming indebted to them and having to comply with unreasonable requests.
In fact, a considerable force from the Holy Nation was being assigned to the 7th Legion, which was known as hell within the Imperial Court.
[Do you plan to have us all killed?]
[What kind of deal did you make with the Emperor of the Imperial Court?]
[Reveal the truth immediately!]
As public pressure intensified, the Pope only grew older.
His hair turned white with stress, and his heart trembled at the citizens' verbal abuse.
In the end, unable to maintain his composure, the Pope arranged a meeting with representatives of the resistance.
The reason for meeting them was simple.
He could no longer endure it.
Therefore, he shared all the details of the deal he had made with the Emperor of the Imperial Court.
"What? The World Tree is gone?"
"And those two who were legendary Heroes are now siding with the Imperial Court?"
"Is this some kind of joke?"
Naturally, the representatives of the resistance were dumbfounded.
They wondered if the Pope was simply making things up in a final act of desperation.
When they began to draw their swords in the hall, the Pope had no choice but to present them with evidence.
The elves' village, a place no one could access.
The Pope took them there himself.
The representatives' hearts pounded at the thought of seeing the World Tree with their own eyes.
But as the Pope had said, the World Tree was gone.
Moreover, the village was nearly ruined, and the elves living there were in a strange state.
The elves seemed crazed, as if possessed by something.
Mysterious soldiers were herding and driving these elves around.
It seemed more appropriate to call it an "elf ranch" than an "elfs' village".
When someone asked what was going on, the Emperor answered.
"Did I not tell you? This is the reality of the Holy Nation."
The great World Tree was lying in utter ruin, and the elves were being treated worse than livestock.
"Recently, we made yet another deal with the Imperial Court. That is, to hand over these elves."
The Pope continued his explanation.
"Instead of knights like you White Knights, I have been allowed to transfer these elves into the 7th Legion of the Imperial Court.
But there's no need to worry. After all, they cannot die anyway."
"Cannot die...?"
Once the Pope spoke about the potion made using the great devil's power, the representatives were left speechless.
While they were immersed in their shock, the Pope continued.
"They are being punished because they have sinned. It's simply a matter of cause and effect—retribution."
The elves had kidnapped innocent people, extorting vast sums for so-called development funds.
They even worked them to death to produce sacred stones.
This was merely the price they had to pay.
"Undying immortal soldiers. Isn't it fitting for them to spend eternity in the 7th Legion?"
The bodies of the elves were branded with the stigma of the spell.
After hearing all of this, the representatives were enraged, unable to accept it.
"You piece of trash! You call yourself a leader?"
"You're just selling your own people as tools of war!"
"How could you commit such sacrilegious acts?"
As they raged with sincere anger, the Pope also spoke with a resentful expression.
"Then do you see that?"
What the Pope pointed to was the fallen World Tree.
"Do you know why it collapsed?"
When the representatives showed curiosity, the Pope explained.
He recounted all that the Imperial Court's special task force had done here and the process by which the World Tree had fallen.
Although the Pope himself had only heard the story, there was not a single lie in it.
"A new World Tree... has been born?"
"Then, where is that World Tree...?"
The birth of a new World Tree.
When the Pope told them the new location, the representatives were left speechless once more.
"As you all know, the holy aura you wield originates from the World Tree. Yet, now that World Tree stands with the Imperial Court."
He even told them that the two legendary Heroes had sided with the enemy, leaving the representatives' minds reeling with confusion.
"If there's anything else you wish to ask, go ahead."
The Pope asked, but they gave no reply.
They were too shocked by the unacceptable truth, practically fainting where they stood.
"Did you believe holy aura could only be used by righteous people? Surely you don't still believe that, do you?"
Everything, from start to finish, had been a lie.
Even their devoted faith, and the holy aura they thought was proof of virtue.
What had all their efforts meant until now?
What about the times they'd tormented vagrants for fun, thinking themselves righteous?
"So you all had better be careful."
In that instant, swords were placed at the necks of the resistance representatives.
Although they were former White Knights, they were so distraught that they failed to react to the surprise attack.
"If you do anything foolish, you'll end up just like them."
The Pope pointed at the elves being dragged off to the 7th Legion.
It meant that even citizens who committed rebellion or crimes could be taken away just the same.
Usually, the Imperial Court only targeted its own citizens, but now they could do the same with the Holy Nation as well.
"Above all, you haven't forgotten how we managed to hold military power to rival the Imperial Court, have you?"
It was all thanks to holy magic power from the World Tree.
While not the most aggressive, the healing ability was unparalleled, making it possible to heal the wounded anytime.
But the source of that holy magic power, the World Tree, was now in the Imperial Court.
That meant the Imperial Court could control holy magic power as they pleased.
"So, keep yourselves in line."
They no longer had any claim to righteousness.
****
In the yard of an orphanage in a certain village, children were running around playing.
They looked like nothing more than adorable children, but each had something unusual about them.
Blonde hair and pointed ears.
Every single child was an elf—not human.
This orphanage cared for children who had no parents.
Most of the children living there belonged to the race known as elves.
In other words, aside from these children, there were virtually no elves left alive.
It was heartbreaking to be separated from one's parents, but there was one unbelievable truth:
the person who caused their separation was none other than the orphanage director—indeed, the very owner of the village.
"Kids! Behave yourselves!"
Of course, the adult currently supervising the children was also one of those responsible.
"Hahaha! It's Elder sister Silia!"
"Let's run!"
As Silia appeared, the elf children laughed and ran away.
"Why you little...!"
Silia was sweating trying to manage the unruly children, who dashed away as though playing tag.
"Pant... Pant... Got you!"
At last, Silia managed to catch one of the darting children.
"Hehehe~ I got you riled up!~"
Poof!—
But the child suddenly teased Silia and then disappeared with a pop.
"Huh?"
It wasn't that the child had vanished.
He had already swapped himself with a fake earlier.
Just as Silia realized this, a voice echoed.
[Hooh. Already making use of a spirit's power, are we?]
[This kid is turning out to be more promising than expected.]
The two Heroes, whose souls were imbued within the Bloodline twin blades hanging at her waist, were impressed.
[Quite the talent for a mere child.]
[It was a good decision to let this one live.]
"Is this really the time to praise them? What if they sneak out of the orphanage again and cause trouble in the village?"
With Silia scolding them, the two let out a sigh.
[Fine. It can't be helped.]
[This time, we'll give you a hand.]
This was a child who could use the clone technique.
It was the first time the child had used such a special skill.
Thus, Silia had no choice but to rely on the strength of the two who had once been called Heroes.
[Found them.]
Mirianne quickly detected the whereabouts of the elf child.
The child could use both clones and even invisibility.
Silia would have taken a long time to find him by herself.
"Latis, you brat! You're caught red-handed!"
Once Silia had pinpointed the location, she immediately grabbed the child.
"Hehehehe! Elder Sister, how did you know I was hiding here?"
"No matter where you hide, you're always in my palm. The royal family is visiting the village tonight, after all. I can't let you mess up my reputation with your antics."
Today was a special day for the village.
Besides the royal family, numerous nobles were scheduled to come for a banquet with the lord.
"Of course I know that."
Naturally, word had already spread among the kids.
"Then you did all this knowing?"
"Yes."
"You brats...!"
Silia was about to lose her temper, but quickly gave out.
"Ugh... Forget it."
She no longer had the energy to stay mad.
She too had to attend that event, and couldn't afford to wear herself out here.
"I heard elder sister is participating in the event, too."
"Of course. I dedicated myself to reviving this village for the past two years."
Silia was also one of the village's representatives.
In that respect, the orphanage she ran was anything but ordinary.
"But elder sister, you've really aged compared to two years ago. When I first met you, you looked so young."
"That's because you kids have been giving me gray hair!"
"And you got this old just from that?"
"Of course! So behave yourselves today."
Just as Silia was about to take the child, latis, back to the orphanage—
"Heheh."
"Why are you laughing?"
"Did you know, elder sister?"
Latis said, with a grin of triumph on his face.
"By the way, I'm just a decoy."
"What?"
At his words, Silia instinctively began to sweat coldly.
These brats had gone and stirred up more trouble.
"You little...!"
Shocked, Silia felt as if her soul was leaving her body.
How had her life come to this after being perfectly fine just two years ago?
She had no idea how much her back had hunched, but this was not the time for complaints.
Using her fingers as a whistle, a spirit bird alighted on her shoulder.
"A few kids ran away. If you have some free time, can you give me a hand?"
She whispered into the bird's ear, sending a communication.
****
Meanwhile, thanks to Latis's scheme, several children managed to slip out of the orphanage.
The kids cheered as they reached the village market near the orphanage.
"At last—freedom!"
"Is this really the kind of place Elder sister Silia wouldn't let us go to?"
"That witch hag! Wrinkled old monster!"
They said things that would have triggered a huge explosion if Silia had heard them, but the children sprinted through the marketplace, laughing.
"By the way, who's coming to the festival?"
"Nobles, right! Aren't you curious what they look like?"
"I want to see the royal family!"
"Hey, did you hear the rumor? The Princess is friends with our village's knight big sis!"
Their curiosity grew louder.
"Who's knight big sis?"
"You know, the one with red eyes and black hair."
"Oh! That scary looking elder sister?"
"She's another demon hag! Super violent! Can't control her anger!"
If the nunas in question overheard that, there would likely be a bloodbath, but the kids just laughed as they ran.
Then, one of the children collided into a man.
"Who are you kids?"
"Sorry."
The child who had fallen dusted off his clothes and apologized.
But as he tried to walk off—
"How dare an elf like you bump into someone and just leave?"
The man grabbed the child and yelled in anger.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Who are you...?"
"I'm Garoma Pades, eldest son of the Pades family. I was summoned here because of this event and have to come to such a backwater village."
The man called Garoma drew his sword at the child.
"Why should someone with an advanced-rank knight's rank like me just let this little brat go? I can't let it pass."
The child trembled in fear, threatened by the sword.
And the other kids' earlier energy vanished, replaced by terror.
"Consider yourself lucky—I'll give you special training."
Garoma smiled and tried to hit the child's head with the flat of his sword.
Just then—a sharp cracking sound rang out.
"Kh!"
Suddenly, Garoma dropped his sword.
"Who are you!"
Garoma barked at the young man who had kicked away his hand.
"Elder Sister. I found the kids, but things might get a little messy."
Louis, talking with the spirit bird on his shoulder, observed the situation.
"I might have to break an arm or a leg—do you mind?"