Chapter 84
Chapter 84: Scorched Earth (1)
"Why still......"
For several days after the Great Cataclysm ended, most of the survivors had escaped.
The number of those who survived varied greatly by tier, and ironically, the higher tiers with greater difficulty had more survivors returning.
This was because multiple nations and factions had cooperated.
However, the highest tier was different.
"General, when exactly will the conquest party from the highest tier return?"
"We need only guard this place. The question is meaningless."
The Imperial Guards surrounding the Labyrinth Plaza remained stuck for several days, unable to come or go.
'What in the world is happening that there's no news?'
The highest tier of the Labyrinth is a separate space. Thus, it was difficult to obtain information from survivors of other tiers.
Kiiiiiii!
The Labyrinth's door, half-open, blew desolate wind incessantly.
The Imperial Guard General clenched his fists.
'That Erik fellow even caused a holy war.'
The Imperial Palace was engulfed in successive national crisis councils regarding military expansion and war preparations, while his own feet remained bound to the Labyrinth.
Though he spoke boldly on the surface, internally he was going mad with frustration.
'How much longer must I guard this place?'
The General gazed at the Labyrinth and slowly closed his eyes.
Though conquest seemed assured, the Labyrinth was a place where any danger could lurk.
Thus, he could not leave his post.
Waaaaaaa!!!
Yet hearing that roar, his head throbbed.
"General, the Astia Religious Order is passing through the Imperial Capital......"
The military both attacks and defends, but in normal times exists to protect the nation.
Thus, the General's subordinates were deeply concerned.
This was the first time in Imperial history that a religious order's army had passed through the capital.
'And the citizens are even cheering.'
As the General expanded his senses, the situation in the capital became clearly perceptible.
One group in the center of the religious order's procession stood out distinctly.
'The Empire's Saint and the Order's Saint.'
There were two individuals worthy of the Imperial people's praise.
The General examined their surroundings.
'The limping swordsman's body is healed, and the one with the club next to him is the imperial princess's lover?'
The individuals were extraordinary.
Setting aside their fierce appearance, the atmosphere they exuded and the power felt was somehow different.
As the General remained lost in concern.
"Moreover, have you seen this?"
His aide brought another troubling matter.
The aide approaching the General unfolded the front page of today's Imperial Daily.
[Possessor Voluntary Surrender Period]
[For those Possessors who surrender between the first of July and the first of August, the Imperial Palace guarantees the right to live in a special district.
His Majesty, the Benevolent Emperor, has designated the western district of the fifth region of the capital as 'Earthtown.'
He has declared that this place will be developed as a city for Possessors, providing them with a place to live.
Following the great will of His Majesty, Possessors from other nations shall likewise be guaranteed survival rights, and after the voluntary surrender period, large-scale purification activities will take place throughout the Empire.
Upholding this solemn will of the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Daily hereby announces the Possessor voluntary surrender period.]
The General's eyes narrowed.
'His Majesty granted that land to Erik.'
He was once his younger brother, and now the Emperor he serves.
He is a sage king and a wise ruler, a strong man with noble aspirations.
'He's not about to repeat the mistakes of the Almanism Church again, is he?'
However, his path was not flawless.
The process of stabilizing the vast Empire was tumultuous.
Thus, unavoidably, unfortunate incidents occurred such as utilizing religion or retreating from war.
From the position of the General who had stood by his side, his concern was immense.
'As long as humans are human, repeating the same mistakes is unavoidable, is it not?'
His worry deepened.
The Emperor had once married the Almanism Church to fill past weaknesses.
Now, was he drawing in the Astia Religious Order to hasten continental conquest?
'The Holy Spear....'
And to an order that commits the madness of Holy Spear Throwing at that.
"Do not doubt His Majesty's will."
The General spoke thus, contrary to his true feelings.
Seeing the General appear calm, his aide posed a question he had been curious about.
"But, what exactly is that spear that caused such an uproar above?"
The passage of the Holy War Knights appeared to be easily permitted, but the Imperial leadership had engaged in brief but intense debate.
The Holy Spear was a weapon that contradicted the Empire's aim of continental unification.
'A power of destruction that leaves nothing of the world.'
At his aide's question, the General recalled old memories.
It was long before the Black Mage's Rebellion or the Lucifer Incident.
"How old are you?"
"Forty-three!"
"Young. Before you were born, there was another nation in the Empire's southeast. Below the current Elf Autonomous Territory."
"That, that barren wasteland with the hole, you mean?"
"Yes. That was originally a kingdom."
There was no further explanation.
Yet the aide understood the General's meaning.
That place is called the Void.
***
"Brother, why are the Imperial lackeys staring at us like that?"
"Because they resent it."
Feeling the General's presence, Jang Du-sik complained, and Erik calmly explained the reason.
"Seriously, the way they're trying to intimidate us is hilarious."
"Don't be too concerned about it. These are all activities His Majesty has permitted anyway."
"But, boss, you suspected that Riferoze was on the highest tier....... The fact that the General is still there means no survivors have returned from the highest tier, right?"
Erik had also heard the news from the Labyrinth.
The three Possessors he brought were for that reason.
The conquest party of the highest tier has not returned?
The reason was obvious.
"Perhaps my teacher went to find the first Possessor. Whether she can bring them back, I cannot say."
The first Possessor.
They are a user from the early days of the game who doesn't even know how to conquer the Labyrinth.
"Boss, but how are they still alive?"
"I'm dying of curiosity myself."
The existence is suspected to be the first Possessor.
The reason they became known was thanks to the Labyrinth's conquest parties.
Imperial soldiers and adventurers roaming the upper tiers spoke the name "Slayer" like an urban legend.
The Imperial Palace dispatched an investigative team, and as a result, the existence of Slayer Luke was proven to be real.
At that time, the Supreme Commander of the Labyrinth Army and half of his direct subordinates died, I hear?
"Hey, brother. Can we really bring along a crazy bastard who suddenly stabs people in the stomach?"
As Jang Du-sik asked with a worried expression, Erik exerted brilliant Holy Power.
Kuung!
A golden pillar shot up in the middle of the procession crossing the Imperial Capital.
Waaaaaaa!!!
A thunderous roar erupted.
The golden pillar brilliantly illuminated Erik and Ruelle beside him.
"Everyone!!!"
Ruelle placed one hand on her waist and waved, and a deafening cheer resounded that shook the heavens.
Erik nodded in satisfaction and looked at Janson.
"My teacher's Holy Power is more sublime and purer than mine now. And you know her personality, don't you?"
Riferoze Astia.
Erik's theory was that no matter how powerful or crazy a Possessor might be, they would come to their senses if beaten enough to die.
"It's the first time I've seen a crazy Possessor who reformed."
To the point where Jang Du-sik nodded in agreement.
"True....... Your teacher even taught Holy Power to me, a Possessor."
Janson also assented, and the conversation concluded for now.
'If they're the Warrior class, what did they change jobs to?'
Erik fell into contemplation amidst the praise of countless Imperial citizens.
[Warrior], [Archer], [Knight], [Mage], [Black Mage], [Necromancer], [Paladin].
Possessors who possessed themselves at 5-15 year intervals by class.
Erik called them the first Possessors of the world.
'Or perhaps they could be reincarnates.'
There were two common points.
First, they were born in children's bodies.
Second, they were the first to unlock the corresponding class.
'Janson is 45 years in, and Elf Yuren is 50 years in.'
Continental Online had a structure where you had to max out the previous class before you could choose the next job.
The first Warrior class probably possessed themselves before even properly playing the game.
'The Archer is Elf Yuren, the Knight is Janson, the Mage is someone my teacher knows, the Black Mage is dead. And the last Paladin is me.'
Of the seven Possessors, five had been identified. Finding the remaining two was the task his teacher had set for herself.
Lost in such thoughts.
"But, can someone really live in the Labyrinth?"
Janson asked, scratching his face.
The place where he once had a scar.
"...... I don't know. From what I've experienced so far, Possessors didn't seem to have any particular advantage in the Labyrinth."
How did the first Possessor, with no knowledge of the game, survive?
It was a reasonable question.
However, Erik couldn't give a clear answer either.
'Could it be that they never left after first entering?'
The Labyrinth's time ratio inflicts great dissonance on humans.
Those who spent a long time in the Labyrinth at the level of the highest tier conquest party cannot conquer the highest tier again.
Their minds cannot endure and break.
If it's not the highest tier, there's no problem.
'Of course....'
Strictly speaking, you can conquer the highest tier further.
But then you cannot leave the Labyrinth.
"Possessors might be able to, like the clergy."
"I can't say they can't. But it's not proven either, is it?"
"True, comparing them to the clergy is a bit much."
There exist those who disregard the Labyrinth's characteristics and can freely enter and exit.
Riferoze Astia, and strong clergy like the Pope or the head of the Almanism Church.
Or Saints and Saintesses.
Of course, Erik of the [Paladin] class can also do this.
'That's why Holy Power is called broken.'
Anyway.
Having such a conversation, they soon arrived at the Teleportation Management Office.
Erik nodded upon seeing the massive magic circle.
'Over a thousand members of the religious order will move through the magic circle.'
Only someone like Erik or the Pope can use teleportation anytime; the Miracle of Teleportation is no easy matter.
Of course, magic is the same.
Just as the imperial princess marveled at the magic circle in the magical tool shop.
Transcending space was not something achievable by human power alone.
Especially since it wasn't just moving people.
"Boss, can the Holy Spear be moved through the magic circle?"
"That magic circle is similar to a gate. Since it works by crossing a threshold, it's possible."
Watching the two talk, Jang Du-sik scratched his head vigorously.
'What kind of nonsense is that?' he muttered, but Erik lightly ignored it.
Uuuung! Uung!
The massive magic circle, having completed its startup preparations, poured out blue waves, and the Holy War Knights observing it all strengthened their resolve.
"Holy Saint Erik."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Erik, who had been in the center of the procession, now stood evenly beside the Pope.
As Erik bowed his head, the Holy War Knights lined up beyond his lowered back became visible.
'Normally, we would have to walk the Holy War path directly.'
Holy War Knights of the religious order in the Empire's capital...
It was an awkward sight.
Just as the Empire officially allowed the religious order's army into the capital for the first time, so too was the religious order borrowing the Empire's power for a holy war first.
"It is urgent work, so it was unavoidable....... but it's not bad."
Whether thanks to Ruelle's gratitude or Erik's, a powerful cheer erupted throughout the capital.
The citizens genuinely welcomed the Astia Religious Order.
【Following the path, one shall achieve their purpose.】
The Divine One also rejoiced and sent revelation directly to the Pope.
'This is the revelation that you are on the right path.'
With the Divine One's will having descended, the Pope was certain.
However, none of this could come for free.
For moving through the Empire's capital, a price would be demanded.
"Holy Saint Erik, what has the Empire demanded of the religious order?"
"His Majesty has requested a path through the Eastern Great Forest."
The Eastern Great Forest is a forest heavily influenced by the Demon Realm, that drives those who enter mad.
It was land half-purified by the Almanism Church and Imperial Army together, but after the Great Cataclysm, it is said to have returned to its original state.
"A path for the army to traverse, you say?"
At the Pope's question, Erik nodded slightly.
The Pope's eyes narrowed.
'Father's revelation.'
Following the path to achieve one's purpose might also relate to the Empire.
The Pope made his decision.
"I shall personally pave that path and guarantee friendship with the Empire."
***
Kuung!
Beyond the teleportation magic circle, an impossibly tall magic tower became visible.
The 'Raffin Magic Tower,' which now belonged to Erik.
Beyond the magic tower, golden crops of the expansive Great Granary sprawled in the wind.
At the end of the crops, a slightly withered World Tree sent cool breezes toward Erik.
Erik slightly turned his head to the other side, ignoring the World Tree's greeting.
A tremor was felt where the tree shook, but Erik indifferently turned his gaze toward the Eastern Great Forest.
'That was said to be the World Tree's homeland, wasn't it?'
At the horizon's end, lines of blackened trees spewing ominous black smoke stretched out.
Once the seat of the World Tree, called the Great Earth Mother, but now a forest fouled and corrupted by the Demon Realm.
That is the Eastern Great Forest.
'The World Tree.'
Erik gazed at the [Faith Management] window.
He thought planting the flower would take considerable time, but he had gained overwhelming amounts of GP while passing through Ruelle and the capital.
[You have acquired Faith.]
[Possessed GP: 805,779]
'That's insane speed.'
Ruelle's popularity was off the charts, as it was said.
Just one procession.
And all she did was wave her hand.
As a result, in less than an hour, she obtained an absurd amount of GP.
'To think Ruelle waving her hand once yields more than bloody rescue operations in the Labyrinth.'
There was a sense of emptiness, but......
Looking at his status window thus, Ruelle poked his side with a coo-.
"E, Erik?"
Her cyan eyes trembled.
"Why am I..."
Thinking they would return to the church after passing through the capital, Ruelle had crossed the teleportation magic circle regardless.
Erik had naturally escorted her.
As she came to her senses, the Holy War Knights around her were drawing long spears and preparing for Holy Spear Throwing.
'Isn't this war preparations?'
Why am I next to that?
All manner of worries shook her mind.
As Ruelle stood startled, Erik whispered to her ear.
"Here is the safest place."
His low voice tickled her ear.
Ruelle nodded with a sense of relief.
"It looks good."
Just then, Holy War Knight Commander Julius approached.
In his hand were several Holy Spears.
He seemed intent on throwing dozens alone.
"Holy Saint Erik, shouldn't you also take hold of a Holy Spear?"
As Julius asked thus, Erik smiled wickedly.
He said.
"I plan to use a different spear."
Erik's eyes turned toward his status window.
[Holy Spear Lu-Solace's Wedge: 200,000,000 Gold]
A sacred relic of another religious order.
However, now that he had become a god, it seemed he would be able to use it.