Chapter 72
Chapter 72 - Preparation (4)
True freedom comes from strict discipline and control. At least, that's what Erik thought regarding the Possessors.
'Democracy or communism…….'
The way people lived on Earth held no meaning in this world.
'That's why stronger control is necessary.'
There were hundreds of countries on Earth. How could it be easy to unite people who lived with different cultures in their respective nations? Gathering such Possessors in one place was purely Erik's task.
'To gather GP and activate the auction house…….'
Park Chang-ho, Nishida Ryo, Kang Pung-ho. As proven by these three people, he was destined to become the center of gravity for the Possessors. He could prevent them from being rejected by Divine Power and make them harmonize with the people of this world.
However, the Emperor's gaze was still fixed right beside him.
Click!
The Royal Guard, gripping the sword handle tightly, was still glaring at him. This was clearly a threat. Because it was a Royal Guard who had clashed blades with him in the great war—.
'He still thinks I'm beneath him.'
Erik asked with a subtle smile.
"Why are you angry?"
"Impersonating the Emperor's orders is a grave crime worthy of summary execution."
Erik was the Director of the Possessor Management Bureau.
However, outside the Labyrinth, a Royal Guard always followed him. The Royal Guard obeyed his orders faithfully, but—
'In reality, he's just a well-behaved stalker.'
That too was ultimately because the true master ordered it.
"How does announcing what will happen equate to me impersonating the Emperor's orders?"
"-How could you possibly predict what the Emperor will do!"
The Royal Guard shouted loudly.
However, the sword remained undrawn in its scabbard.
'Not even a scratch at this level.'
The Possessors had to be under Erik's management. Without anyone's interference. No matter how much he had become a god. Even if everyone acknowledged this fact.
'There's a risk of exposure.'
Erik was someone with many people to protect. There might come a day when a Possessor who knew him would appear.
Though he had revealed his power to the outside world, for safety's sake, he had to hide what needed hiding. It was natural to conceal even a single claw.
"Why are you just gripping the handle if you can't draw it?"
Erik provoked the Royal Guard with characteristic derision. His goal was to make him draw the sword.
"There is the Emperor's order to serve the Director—."
The Royal Guard tried to exercise patience, but—
"Park Chang-ho, the Emperor will build a city for Possessors, I hear. Probably tomorrow. Post this in the Community too."
At Erik's following words, the Royal Guard's reason was shattered.
'This insolent wretch, fabricating orders from the supreme Emperor.'
He could no longer endure this. The imperial order to serve Erik was weighty, but…… Tolerating insults to his master was not honorable for a knight.
"We cherish you. So if there comes a time when honor takes precedence over orders, follow your heart."
The moment he received his commission as a Royal Guard.
"It is my knights who execute honor by following conviction."
The words he had heard from the Emperor came back to him.
'My honor exists solely for the Emperor. My conviction is for the Emperor's greatness.'
It was a shallow and light provocation. But it was effective.
Seeing Erik blatantly fabricating imperial orders, the Royal Guard's reason finally snapped.
"You!"
With a shout, the sword at the Royal Guard's waist was drawn. The angry blade flew toward Erik like lightning.
Clang!
Erik likewise drew his sword in counterattack.
"Ugh. You, you bastard!"
The Sacred Relic of the Religious Order, the Sword of Creation.
The treasure of the imperial family, the Moonlight Sword. The advantage in weapons clearly belonged to Erik.
However, the moment their blades met, the Royal Guard instinctively realized it.
'Such overwhelming power!'
That this power difference didn't come from weapons.
Boom!
The office wall shattered, and the Royal Guard bounced to the center of the Detention Camp.
"How did you reach such a state in such a short time!"
The Royal Guard, rising from the rubble, couldn't hide his shock. His fingertips tingled from where their swords met.
'They say that a Saint grows stronger just by breathing…….'
What happened was simple. Blade met blade.
They exchanged a single stroke containing both simplicity and complexity—the depth of the sword.
'Not just strength.'
Drawing the blade line sharply. A simple but profound duel of swordsmanship, focusing power at the single point where the blades met.
'-Technique as well.'
Ssht!
Through the shattered walls, dust scattered, and a massive Paladin appeared. Erik, who had brought down the Royal Guard using only his body and swordsmanship, his usual Divine Power nowhere to be seen.
"Release your Aura."
He spoke looking down at the Royal Guard with a bloodstained smile. At that sneering face, the Royal Guard unleashed his power.
"Kuoohhh!!!"
A brilliant blue light rippled from the Royal Guard's sword.
Zzzing!
Their blades clashed again, and the sound of splitting air spread throughout the Detention Camp.
A bluish Aura danced fluidly along the silver blade. A massive Golden Holiness advanced, tearing through the silver.
"Ugh."
The Royal Guard was pushed back helplessly. Endlessly backward.
'This crazy bastard.'
Park Chang-ho, who was right beside him, clamped his temples and curled into a ball. From his position, there was nothing he could do—it was literally a natural disaster unfolding before his eyes.
His whole body tingled. Blood flowed from his ears just from the shock waves.
The weight pressing down on Park Chang-ho was excruciating pain.
'What am I supposed to do about the aftermath…….'
Even amid this, his worries came first. Just when he thought he'd finally get treated as a proper person, why did he have to. But—.
'Am I……laughing?'
Erik's mouth was twisted into a huge satisfied smile.
Moreover, at the screen that appeared before his eyes, Park Chang-ho squeezed his eyes shut.
The Community window that Erik had instructed to be kept open was broadcasting this scene in real-time.
[The Possessor Management Director is beating the Royal Guard to death.]
[Photo of the Royal Guard being slammed to the ground]
The Royal Guard had no name. They were the Emperor's blade, sometimes a shield, limbs that moved at his will—nothing more.
Beings who had sacrificed everything for the Emperor, and strong enough to speak of it. That was what a Royal Guard was.
"Ugh, what, what is this!"
That Royal Guard was being beaten with a sword by a fifteen-year-old Paladin. His full armor dented and crumpled badly.
"Heal."
After that, Erik completely restored him with Divine Power. A Royal Guard in tattered armor, yet unharmed. Truly a humiliating sight.
"Tell the Emperor. Whenever he calls, I will run to his side."
As Erik drove that Royal Guard out of the Possessor Management Bureau's doors, he murmured this.
Right after the Royal Guard was expelled.
Thud!
The massive iron doors of the Detention Camp closed. A cold silence settled down.
'Crazy.'
'Beat a Royal Guard?'
'What on earth is he thinking.'
The Possessors' minds were in chaos.
He gathered them and acted like he'd make them do various things, but now it felt like he was going to discard them?
'Did the Religious Order and the Empire split?'
It was enough to make them think that. It was natural to be frightened when your life hung by a thread.
'Or maybe……he's just crazy?'
Meanwhile, Erik's lips carried a refreshing smile. He was purely happy. The being he had crossed swords with and felt was stronger than him now felt far weaker.
'I defeated the Royal Guard.'
Erik's steps toward the Director's Office were light.
Because he had gained much from this fight.
'I've truly become a god's body.'
He properly confirmed the performance of his body, which had grown stronger from taking physical form.
His raw strength overwhelmed the Royal Guard, and with just a fraction of Divine Power, he suppressed the Aura of a strong warrior who had transcended.
'All Stats ×10 and Divine Power Amplification ×10—that's about the level of this option.'
Exactly ten times stronger. Moreover, if he used a proper 4th Tier Divine Power and added [Skills] on top of that, he could display unimaginable power.
"Crossing blades is learning itself."
His master's teachings came to mind after a long time.
'Learning has no good or evil, they say.'
As his enhanced abilities awakened, the shortcomings also became clear. The Royal Guard was a renowned strong warrior of the Empire, after all.
'The sword is still lacking.'
Erik had primarily learned Astia-style Heavy Swordsmanship.
The swordsmanship that hadn't been very efficient when he was small as a child was now very useful.
Heavy Swordsmanship. Literally, using a heavy sword.
Originally, one needed to wield a very large sword, but Erik's main weapon, the Sword of Creation, had a small and slender appearance.
"Hmm."
The solution was simple. If he used the [Enhancement Ticket], he could change the sword's exterior.
Of course, it would only be possible after completing [2nd Tier] enhancement.
As he was thinking this.
"……What, what is this."
He discovered Park Chang-ho trembling in the corner. Looking like
'What were you trying to do?'
"Creating a city for Possessors requires necessary measures."
Erik spoke calmly. Crossing swords with the Royal Guard wasn't simply to measure combat power. The Royal Guard was a messenger delivering a kind of demand—that he shouldn't interfere with Erik's work.
'The Emperor will understand my meaning.'
The Empire's Emperor was bold and liked everything simple. Moreover, he had a somewhat perverted side to him—he enjoyed discerning the hidden meaning within that simplicity.
'It's like a characteristic of the imperial family.'
Like the Princess who was crazy about magic. Or the Third Prince who went mad over reckless acts and had his body stolen by a Possessor.
Besides, there was the Second Prince who made the battlefield his home and the First Prince who bet his life on conquering the Labyrinth.
'There's precedent too.'
Wasn't it the same when he brought the Almanism Church's Sacred Relic?
Surely this time too, the Emperor would understand his intentions well.
'Since he owes me, there's a high possibility the Emperor will withdraw from the Possessor matter.'
That was Erik's intention, but Park Chang-ho couldn't understand it at all.
'……That way of thinking.'
It was just scary.
***
"-Your Majesty!"
While the court session was still in recess, a Royal Guard burst into the Great Hall. The Emperor cherished them and had arranged for them to come directly to the Great Hall if something important happened.
"Fon, what is the matter?"
Only the Emperor knew the Royal Guard's name, and he was unique in this.
"Sir, Sir Erik the Director is in rebellion!"
'Hmm.'
The Emperor's head tilted. Erik, of all people, was rebelling?
'It's true, but only from his perspective.'
The Emperor examined his knight with serious eyes. Then, deep interest arose.
'Crumpled armor with an unharmed Royal Guard—.'
Could there be some meaning to this?
With that thought, the Emperor asked the Royal Guard what had happened.
"-Drawing my sword first was clearly my mistake."
The Royal Guard finished his explanation and lowered his head. The Emperor stroked his chin. Summarizing the report.
'He fabricated imperial orders at the Possessor Management Bureau and spread them, then beat the Royal Guard.'
That would be about it. The meaning was clear.
'Presumptuous.'
But one, I am stronger than the Royal Guard. Two, I want you to stop interfering in Possessor matters. Three, I have no intention of harming the Empire, but I'm fully capable if I wanted to.
'No, he has the qualifications for that.'
Meanwhile, at the Possessor Management Bureau. About thirty minutes had passed since Erik sent the Royal Guard away.
The Possessor Management Bureau was in District 1 of the Imperial Capital, so it wouldn't take long to reach the Continental Palace where the Emperor was.
"Wouldn't it be better if I, who understand Possessors well, manage them?"
During those thirty minutes, Erik had explained various thoughts to Park Chang-ho.
That he would control and manage them, understanding their ecosystem well. That he would create a utopia for Possessors. That they would be happy that way.
'Crazy, crazy bastard.'
Park Chang-ho's face had gone pale. This wasn't like creating an animal ecosystem or anything……
For Park Chang-ho, who didn't know Erik was a Possessor himself, these were terrifying words.
'Thinking about it, he beats everyone who doesn't suit his fancy—.'
He beat Jang Du-sik. He beat Park Chang-ho and Nishida Ryo and Kang Pung-ho.
He beat and killed a Calamity-class Black Mage. And now he beat the Royal Guard.
'At this point, it seems like he destroys everything that doesn't suit him…….'
At that thought.
"-I plan to create a city where you can live normally."
Erik's declaration filled with ambition was heard.
"The Emperor will surely grant me full authority."
At those words, Park Chang-ho felt like he really would faint. He just beat the Royal Guard and drove him out, and now he says this? A feeling that far exceeded the stress his brain could comprehend.
"-Stabilization."
But every time, Erik removed the stress with Divine Power.
'Ahhh……. This Divine Power.'
It felt like he was going to go crazy even more.
That was when it happened.
Beep!
The Crystal Orb placed in the center of the Director's Office scattered noise. It was the sound of the direct video communication device connected to the Emperor.
'Eek, the Emperor!'
Park Chang-ho wanted to hide his body in panic, but Erik waved his hand with a swoosh and answered the Crystal Orb's call.
Click!
The Emperor, stroking back his rough silver hair along with a massive throne, appeared.
"Your Majesty."
Erik gazed at the Crystal Orb and bowed respectfully.
A brief silence.
-You've become tremendously strong.
And the conversation began.
-Divine favor? That speed doesn't make sense at all.
-Do you know? I have never believed in the existence of gods my entire life. And that remains true now.
What followed was less of a conversation and more the Emperor speaking to himself—one-sided communication.
-The potential of humanity is infinite. Humanity today cuts down mountains and splits the earth.
These were deeds only possible for the most supreme warriors, but.
-The dragon species that once ruled the sky are now prey, and vampires that saw humans as food now hide in deep darkness to avoid them.
Certainly a position reached by human strength.
-God, god. Think about it.
-The people settle in the Empire, live, and die.
-Yet their lifetimes brought prosperity to the Empire. And they left descendants.
The Emperor of the Empire. What he said to a fifteen-year-old Saint was very heavy indeed.
-The Emperor was built by stacking the faith and lives of the Empire's subjects.
A rigid tone, a profound voice etched into the mind.
-So perhaps gods are also humans who have become infinitely stronger? Just as the Emperor grew with his people, they grew with their believers.
The conversation was clearly approaching its end.
-Living as an Emperor, one comes to think this way.
It was something said to himself, but it was clearly transmitted to Erik as well.
-So, what do you think?
Clear crimson eyes were fixed on Erik.
'The Emperor of the Empire denies gods.'
Park Chang-ho, left alone between them, felt his breath catch.
Though Park Chang-ho was non-religious on Earth, he had keenly felt the weight that the name "god" carried in this world.
So he understood well.
'He won't yield even to the Emperor.'
Erik was a man whose methods were excessive, yet whose cause was just. Therefore, he wouldn't yield to an Emperor who denied his beliefs.
As Park Chang-ho had that thought.
Thump!
Erik, who had lowered his posture greatly, straightened up and gazed at the Emperor.
Though the Crystal Orb stood between them, it felt like they were looking each other in the eye at close range.
Between golden eyes and crimson eyes, tense pressure circulated.
And then Erik opened his mouth.
"I also think the same way."
Those words were quite shocking. The Son of God, the Saint, had denied the existence of God.
-Hahahaha!!!
The Emperor burst into loud laughter.