Chapter 174
The Incencus Church had existed since before the Empire was founded. In other words, the Incencus Church predated the Empire itself.
What's more, back then, there were far more people than now who dealt in mysteries—heroes, saints, and the like.
Among them, the only clear proof that one could be called the Incarnation of Incensus was a single thing: as befits the title "God of Fire", it was the act of "performing fire-related miracles."
Of course, sufficiently capable mages or some shamans could also produce fire, but...
The flames imbued with the power of the divine were different. If there was divinity contained in these flames, Ungrim would surely recognize it.
Erich also took into account that Ungrim was a man who had lived since far earlier ages than now. He figured that a human from an era much closer to mystery than today would not fail to sense the god's power within Erich's flames.
—Fwoooosh!
When light and flame bloomed from Erich's hand, Ungrim, who had been about to rush in, stopped and stared quietly at Erich.
The surging light and fire condensed to form the shape of a sword, radiating brilliant golden light.
[That is...]
[Ungrim, you once said their Goddess was a false deity, didn't you? That makes sense. In your era, there was only one god you revered.]
Ungrim's face twisted oddly.
Inside him surged both his hatred of the Watch and the reverence he could not help but feel for the god he had learned to worship.
Erich then tempered the sword of light further with a divine ritual and took it in his hand.
In that instant, the mysterious power emanating from the blade was far beyond the likes of simple magic.
Erich knew that a divine ritual inherently inspired awe.
It was akin to the instinctive fear and loathing living humans felt toward the dead.
When power imbued with a divine ritual was wielded, primal awe was inevitable.
No matter how much Ungrim tried to break free of those bonds, suppressing that instinct would not be easy.
Erich swung the sword at Ungrim.
—Swish!
Ungrim did not dodge the sword's trajectory.
In fact, it could not even be called a close-range attack, and there was no visible sword energy, so "could not dodge" would be more accurate.
—Kwaaaang!
The tremendous heat, which did not strike Ungrim but passed beside him, exploded against the iceberg behind him.
As the iceberg clashed with the heat, the steam that erupted created an even greater explosion, shaking the earth and sky.
Erich looked at Ungrim slowly. There was a sense of confusion on Ungrim's face.
Just as when Erich had first faced the Lord of the Dead, Ungrim too seemed overwhelmed by an intense sense of impotence.
He could neither evade nor defend. No matter how sturdy Ungrim's body was, surviving such an attack was impossible.
[Are you trying to subjugate me with force?]
[Hardly. I don't expect you to humbly kneel just because you're shown something like this—you're not some crazed zealot, after all.]
Erich let a faint smirk play at his lips.
However great the disparity in power, Ungrim was not about to bow his head to Erich.
What Erich wanted to show him was something else entirely.
It was, simply, that Erich was the Incarnation of Incensus.
Just before, Ungrim had scoffed at and rejected Erich's "guarantee".
As if to say, "And who do you think you are?"
But if he was the Incarnation of Incensus?
In Ungrim's understanding, that meant someone who had risen to the very highest distinction in the Empire.
That was the case even now—but in the past, overflowing with mystery, the position of one imbued with Incensus's divinity would have been even loftier.
In short, what Erich wanted to show Ungrim was that his will would become the Empire's will.
In other words, Erich would abolish the irrational discrimination these barbarians had endured and grant them the recognition they deserved as descendants of heroes.
Erich believed that someone as intelligent as Ungrim would understand without needing everything spelled out.
Then Erich spoke, as if urging Ungrim on.
[Think about it more deeply.]
[So you're saying you're someone who can be held accountable for your words.]
Ungrim also grinned slightly.
[But Kaladia, who made us a similar promise, wielded the same power as you.]
[And was she not killed by the Lord of the Dead?]
[Do you think you won't die? You'd challenge that monstrous being?]
[I'm not like Kaladia. I don't like sacrifices—and this time, I plan to put an end to it.]
[That's the most preposterous thing I've heard in a long time. Defeat him?]
[Then you were planning to lose?]
Ungrim's face hardened.
In the end, he too must have planned to face the dead in a final battle after dealing with the Watch.
Barbarians and the Watch—it didn't matter who won that fight.
The survivor would inevitably have to face the dead afterward.
Both Erich and Ungrim already knew this to be true.
However, there was something Erich was curious about when it came to Ungrim.
'... Ungrim knows full well how powerful the Lord of the Dead is. He's lived through that era himself.'
From a rational perspective, it would have made sense to first take on the dead.
They grew stronger over time, could not be reasoned with, and had a clear intent to bring about the destruction of all mankind.
Yet Ungrim chose to strike the Watch first instead.
He must have calculated that dealing with the dead afterward would still suffice.
But how had he arrived at such a decision? Ungrim was no fool.
No matter how unfairly the descendants of his comrades were treated, it was impossible that he did not realize this great war would end with everyone falling to the Lord of the Dead.
That's why, for Erich, this was the greatest reason he had saved Ungrim. He was intensely curious about Ungrim's designs.
Ungrim glanced around. The surrounding barbarians were filled with awe at Erich's power.
Yet, rather than fear, trust could be seen in their eyes.
Even when faced with someone with such overwhelming strength, they hoped he would somehow help them.
In all this, just what was Ungrim thinking? After a moment of silence, he spoke.
[How can I be sure you won't break your promise?]
[Just asking you to trust me won't convince you, of course—not on those words alone. Before we fight the dead, I promise to fulfill my end of the bargain first.]
[Fulfill your end?]
Erich explained to Ungrim.
Already, on the other side of the Great Wall to the east, forces from throughout the Empire had gathered.
It wasn't just the Watch—every power from across the Empire was present.
So the place where these groups were gathering was, in effect, a council convened by all the lords of the Empire.
Erich said he planned to publicly reveal that the barbarians were a race created by the Watch.
And that they were in fact the descendants of the heroes mobilized in the wars against the dead.
In other words, Erich had no intention of breaking his promise, and instead would fulfill it even before fighting the dead.
Yet Ungrim shook his head at this.
[That alone is not enough. These people deserve to live on the lands that are rightfully theirs. The northern lords will never allow us inside the Great Wall.]
[Don't worry. Being the Incarnation of Incensus is more useful than you think. I'll take care of that somehow.]
['Somehow'? Are you asking me to have faith in nothing but those words?]
[What I mean is, I can provide the 'legitimacy' you need to pass beyond the Great Wall and enter the Empire.]
As he said this, Erich grinned broadly. Ungrim fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
In truth, in a society where every lord was vying for influence, legitimacy was most important.
Even if that land wasn't his now, as long as he had legitimate grounds, he could always challenge others for territory.
And Erich was saying he would bestow that legitimacy upon them. Even if the northern lords objected, what could they possibly do?
From now, the Watch would not obstruct the barbarians, and the north alone could not stop their migration.
Even if they tried, the other forces of the Empire would not assist them.
Above all, when wars had legitimacy, it was an unwritten rule that one should not interfere needlessly. Erich pointed that out.
Ungrim nodded.
[... I understand.]
Erich and Ungrim approached and grasped each other's hands.
Noticing how soaked Erich's hand was with blood, Ungrim whispered quietly.
[... That power. It would be best to make sure you can use it properly before meeting the Lord of the Dead.]
[I'll keep that in mind.]
Erich smiled faintly.
Many around them still did not fully understand how this agreement had been reached.
Nevertheless, when Ungrim declared the war was over, a thunderous cheer arose.
Erich quietly made his way over toward his companions. Frederick trailed up to him and spoke.
"Uh, did it go well?"
"If it hadn't, one of us would be dead by now. And you'd already be rolling on the ground."
"This damn—what a thing to say, even now...."
After passing the triangle-eyed Frederick, Mikhail came up and spoke.
"... I don't like the idea of siding with these barbarians."
"You know they had their own circumstances, don't you?"
"If it hadn't come out that they were descendants of the Watch, I'd have slaughtered them on the spot."
Mikhail gave a grim smile and asked again.
"So what was it that they wanted?"
"Hm, to set things right, I'd say."
"Set things right?"
Erich fell silent in thought. There really wasn't much the barbarians desired.
They hadn't demanded all the descendants of those responsible for their plight be wiped out—just to be properly acknowledged.
They had asked for land, yes, but that was a right they deserved. Erich then spoke.
"Sir Mikhail, please prepare a meeting of all the lords of the Empire and all the forces of the Watch."
"... What are you planning to do?"
"I intend, just as they said, to 'set things right'."
Mikhail cocked his head in confusion. But for Erich, what had to be done was clear.
He had to convene a council to guarantee the rights of Ungrim and his warriors.
His head ached a little, but it was still his duty.
And once that council was over, Erich intended to ask Ungrim what he truly wanted to know.
How, after finishing off the Watch, he intended to face the Lord of the Dead.