Chapter 78
Chapter 78: Demon Realm (1)
"Your Holiness, the monster wave has stopped."
Holy War Knight Commander Julius wiped the bridge of his nose with the back of his hand as he spoke.
A black chunk of flesh that had been stuck to his nose fell to the floor with a soft thud.
Sniff!
After that, Julius plugged one nostril and blew air through it.
Dark bloodstained fluid sprayed to the floor like nasal mucus.
It was a sight befitting some lowly street rabble.
Normally, the Pope would have made some comment about maintaining dignity.
"A total of twenty-three brothers have departed to father's embrace."
But not this time.
Due to the overflow of the demon realm, the Paladins of the religious order had fought without rest for even a moment.
It had been continuous since the Great Cataclysm Patch.
And there was still no sign of it ending.
The presence of the next wave could be felt approaching.
Still, they had a brief moment to catch their breath, and in this short reprieve, the Pope began to pray.
"Father, Astia our Lord. Please look kindly upon the brothers who have gone before us."
"Embrace the brothers."
As the Pope prayed, Julius prayed in response.
After that, numerous tributes followed.
All the Paladins and the choir sang in unison, gazing upward at the sky.
"Welcome the souls of our brothers!"
The entire world became filled with voices calling out to God.
Keeeeing!
Then a massive cross rose above the Pope.
Six wings sprouted from behind the cross, and white souls were embraced and soared high into the heavens.
"Our Father shall care for the brothers."
With a brief funeral oration, the funeral service came to an end.
True to the austere Astia Religious Order, the funeral was spartan and simple.
"Julius, prepare for the next wave."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
After the time of mourning, only fierce combat resumed.
'Monsters rising from the abyss of the demon realm.'
The aura he felt was not ordinary.
It was the presence of large-type monsters flowing from the upper layers of the Labyrinth.
Normally, these creatures would settle in the abyss of the demon realm and not move, but this time was different.
"All regular priests and apprentice Paladins are to return to the Papal Palace."
It was an enemy too overwhelming for inexperienced believers to face.
After sending away the young priests and knights, a conversation began between the Pope and Julius.
"Your Holiness, is this not the first time such a thing has happened?"
"Since ancient times, whenever the Labyrinth changed, the demon realm would overflow. However, I have never seen such a thing in the papal records."
He fully understood that the overflow of the demon realm occurred due to the Great Cataclysm Patch.
It had been foreseen long ago.
But the current situation was different from what he expected.
"The monsters aren't even targeting the Papal Palace's coordinates..."
Julius wiped the bridge of his nose again.
The feeling was deeply unsettling.
It felt wrong.
"It's as if someone were controlling them."
The Pope shared a similar thought.
Monsters are beings with only instincts for destruction and slaughter remaining.
Those that came from the Labyrinth were Demon Realm monsters, different from the small monsters spread across the continent.
And such Demon Realm monsters had the habit of rushing toward places with a strong human presence.
A ten-million-strong empire, or three kingdoms where millions lived.
"Why, then, are they rushing toward the Papal Palace where only thirty thousand believers reside?"
"Could it be that someone is directing them only to the Papal Palace...?"
Julius trailed off.
Monsters were pouring onto the Papal Palace atop a sheer cliff.
Already, the area below the cliff was filled with the corpses of monsters, piling up to half the height of the cliff.
"What could their purpose be."
The Pope stroked his chin and gazed into the heart of the demon realm.
Though there was only pitch-black darkness, the Pope's eyes seemed to be clearly perceiving something.
A long cross shape was already blooming in the Pope's pupils.
At this, Julius asked in surprise.
"Your Holiness, surely... A revelation—?"
"There's a strange eye hovering above the demon realm."
The Pope's eyes narrowed further.
"It seems those creatures have taken up residence in this demon realm."
The Black Mage Group, who had been hiding for years, revealed themselves.
"They say it's darkest under the lamppost, and yet they were right under our noses."
The Pope's eyes sank deeply.
***
"Janson, where's Mark?"
Erik, director of the Imperial Daily News and childhood friend of Mark Russell from the orphanage, scanned the room searching for him.
The empty room was scattered with manuscript papers from [Imperial Daily News].
It was clearly the scene of a hasty escape.
"Boss, Mark has already fled."
"Instructions?"
Erik looked around the chaotic room and asked Janson.
"Boss, I delivered everything you said. However, before the Imperial Palace conference even ended, Mark questioned whether it was okay to put the Possessor voluntary reporting period on the front page."
"And?"
"He said he'll do it anyway."
Erik nodded in satisfaction.
The idea was to handle things in advance while the Imperial Palace conference dragged on.
'I need to gather people to build a city.'
Given the favorable [Community] opinion, Possessors would flock here like crazy for a while.
"But if over 500,000 Possessors come pouring in, who's going to bring them?"
"I'll have Erica do it."
"That... will the Royal Guard knights alone be sufficient?"
"We'll use the Ducal House's power. And His Majesty will lend a hand as well."
Watching Erik dump the work on Erica, Janson clicked his tongue.
"...I see."
Limp!
After finishing his words, Janson approached in front of Erik.
His limping gait was distinctly emphasized.
"Um, boss. I heard you received a hundred million..."
Erik stared at Janson with an impassive expression.
So what?
That was the look on his face.
"...Boss?"
Janson's scar twitched.
His disfigured face was beaded with sweat.
That was when.
"Erik!"
Slap!
Ruelle pushed him back with a back smash.
"Are you going to keep joking around?"
"Kuh."
Erik burst into laughter and looked at Janson.
"Janson, the moment you've been waiting for has finally come."
"Oh!!! Me, me too!"
Rarely did Janson smile and raise his voice with excitement.
He was brimming with enthusiasm.
'He's becoming more and more like Jang Du-sik.'
Erik was slightly concerned about his subordinates' 'Du-sik-ification,' but he soon remembered his purpose and opened the divine edifice.
Screeeeeng!!!
With a resonant sound, space split open, revealing a space filled with golden light.
At the same time, Janson's body crumpled to the ground with a thud.
"Erik, why did Janson suddenly?"
"You'll understand when you go see."
Erik lowered his waist and extended his hand to Ruelle.
"Um, okay."
This was Ruelle's second visit to the divine edifice, but unlike the first time, she felt oddly embarrassed.
'Janson is going to see me like this?'
She was confident in front of tens of thousands of Imperial citizens, but somehow the escort within the divine edifice felt burdensome.
Strangely, her feet wouldn't move.
Sensing her hesitation, Erik gently placed his other hand on Ruelle's back as he moved forward.
'Suddenly—?'
Holding one hand while supporting her back, Ruelle was startled by Erik's gesture.
Wasn't this what nobles did at places like balls?
'A noble escort...'
Ruelle felt Erik's closer escort as she stepped into the space of the divine edifice.
A golden bridge laid across clouds of sanctity glimmered, welcoming the two.
Walking on the clouds felt light and airy.
'Aah—.'
Ruelle was feeling sentimental.
The breathtaking scenery, the exhilarating experience.
"For now, it's only Janson, but someday this entire space will be filled with people coming to witness Ruelle's prayers."
And a heartfluttering statement.
Erik's gentle voice moved Ruelle's heart.
'...This feeling.'
Thump!
Her heart rang out.
It was the first time this had happened in a long time.
Where did this feeling originate from?
"Priestess, we've arrived."
Before Ruelle could find an answer, a stubby divine edifice appeared before her.
"B-boss, this is!"
Standing in the center of the divine edifice was Janson with eyes wide open.
"Erik, when did Janson get here?"
Ruelle was curious too.
Erik explained the functions of the divine edifice to the two clearly.
"—So what you're saying is, Possessors can only cross over in their soul form, but the residents of the world can cross over in their physical bodies?"
"That's correct."
Unlike the curious Ruelle, Janson's face was one of shock.
His scar was all contorted.
"B-boss, that is—..."
Forty-five years after possession.
A figure Janson had forgotten while living his life appeared between the clouds.
"Aah. Guillaume!"
A portrait photograph and a woman weeping before it.
"My sister... for me..."
Janson faced the past he had forgotten.
"Janson, come to the divine edifice once you've calmed down."
Erik gave Janson time and entered the interior of the divine edifice with Ruelle.
Ruelle used her power of individuality to erase the aura of herself and Erik.
"Erik, is that what the Earth looks like?"
"Yes... Though I didn't know Janson was such a small fish."
"Small fish?! That's not. Ahem."
Janson's physique was similar to Jang Du-sik's, though with more defined musculature.
However, the Earth's Janson in the memorial photograph was a slender young man with delicate features.
In fact, since Janson, like Erik, was a reincarnated being, his past appearance didn't matter.
Yet one question remained in Erik's mind.
"But he possessed thirty years before me, so why is a memorial photograph showing up?"
"Hmm... Perhaps it shows each person's death?"
Ruelle didn't have the answer, but she could make her own inference.
And Erik thought her words were quite reasonable.
"A divine edifice that shows the death of one's body before possession..."
It was a somewhat bitter tone.
At that, Ruelle stood in front of Erik.
"It's a divine edifice that helps you accept a new life."
Her tone was refreshing.
At her words, Erik's mood improved considerably.
Not long after, the sound of a limping gait was heard.
"Boss!"
Janson didn't need much time to compose himself.
He had already lived forty-five years in this world.
'Besides, Janson has lived longer here than he did on Earth.'
Erik was satisfied with Janson's demeanor as well.
He understood better since he was in a similar situation.
However, the problem lay elsewhere.
'It's good that he hasn't fallen into despair, but...'
The subtly urging gaze felt burdensome.
The eyes saying: Hurry and make me a believer.
"Boss?"
Erik deliberately avoided Janson's gaze.
It wasn't that he intended to tease him.
[Janson – 1,000,000,000]
Ten billion?
The cost was beyond imagination.
'Perhaps...'
Doesn't the amount vary depending on the usefulness of the Possessor?
Suddenly, such a thought crossed his mind.
It made sense that the second-rate Nishida Ryo costs 200 million because of the knowledge he possessed, so it was understandable why Janson would cost one billion.
Still, an amount as expensive as 4th Tier Divine Power felt burdensome.
As Erik fell into contemplation.
Limp!
Janson approached Erik with an exaggerated gait.
However, he stopped urging him with words.
'He's not trying to tease me.'
That expression wasn't intended as mockery. Ruelle was also looking at Erik with surprise.
'Then the boss's expression is real?'
Based on long experience, Janson discerned Erik's state.
That face was the one Erik usually made when worrying about money, and the fact that he wore it even after receiving a hundred million meant.
'How much am I exactly...?'
It clearly meant he was unreasonably expensive.
"Sigh."
After a brief moment of contemplation, Erik looked at Janson.
And when he opened his mouth again.
"Janson, you cost one billion."
Not only Janson but Ruelle's mouth fell open.
Janson chose silence.
"W-what? Erik. One billion?"
Ruelle asked again.
'I'd have to perform ten more dedication prayers to earn that much.'
For Ruelle, who had earned one hundred million Gold through this prayer offering, the amount was even harder to accept.
Though Ruelle and Janson couldn't accept it, Erik, the one actually spending the money, accepted it most quickly.
"What else can I do? Still, he's the most trustworthy one."
Erik maintained his composure and continued strangely.
Soon, he took action.
[A believer has been appointed.]
[As proof of faith, the 'Restraint – Soul that Rejects Divine Power' is nullified.]
Before Erik's eyes appeared a believer slot filled with [4/4].
"B-boss—!"
[You have become a believer of the Nameless God.]
A message appeared before Janson's eyes.
"F-finally!!!"
Tears of joy overflowed from Janson's eyes.
The years of effort to be recognized by Divine Power flashed through his mind.
Now that sorrow was resolved.
***
['Nameless God' has been promoted to 'Boss'.]
Right after leaving the divine edifice, Erik was blessed with good fortune as well.
"B-boss!! My wound! My leg!"
Janson, as if he had gone mad, was running around the entire church, praising himself.
'Faith?'
To build faith by accumulating sublime faith.
Most religious sayings spread throughout this world are true.
[Boss]
In fact, through the promoted 'divine name,' Erik himself had confirmed it directly.
Erik nodded in satisfaction as he gazed at his golden status window.
'Yeah, it's better than that stupid god name.'
Suddenly, the nonsense Nishida Ryo had spouted came to mind.
Since the first divine name he heard was so ridiculous, he thought, 'Boss isn't quite cool, actually?' He had such thoughts.
Well, in fact, Erik wasn't the type to place great significance on names.
'A name is just a name.'
As his believers increased and he accomplished feats, his titles would become increasingly impressive.
In any case, in these turbulent times, there are things more important than names.
"Priestess, do you remember the promise I made?"
"Could it be...?"
Ruelle's teal eyes wavered.
Anticipation was evident.
"A date at the Imperial Palace?"
Ruelle asked excitedly, placing her hands on her slender waist.
Looking at her green eyes, Erik nodded.
"Yes, that's correct."
Jang Du-sik was somewhere in the Imperial Palace, being dragged around by the Imperial Princess.
'To explore the demon realm, I'll need to take Janson and Du-sik with me.'
While exploring the demon realm, Erik intended to ask Ruelle to stay under the protection of the Papal Palace, which was in a conflict zone.
To do so, he needed to stop by the Imperial Palace to pick up Jang Du-sik.
And to take a look around while he was at it.
"Hmm, the Imperial Palace! I'll change my clothes and be right back!"
Ruelle swayed her hips and quickly dashed toward her room with pitter-patter steps.
Her retreating figure was alluringly seductive.
'Change her clothes?'
Erik gripped his temples tightly.
'I'm already disoriented by her wearing a see-through priestess outfit to the Imperial Palace...'
Could she possibly be planning to wear that outfit?
His head spun.