Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Tree and Iron
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"!"
Judah raised his left arm to shield his eyes from the dazzling light pouring through the gaping circular hole in the ceiling. The light was radiant but not blinding. It was merely warm and comforting. Yet, reflexively, Judah covered it with his left hand, clicking his tongue and chewing his lips.
He remembered seeing this brilliant, beautiful light before.
The year of the coming-of-age ceremony... It wasn't that long ago. Just last year.
It was the exact same light that had appeared when Holy King Gabriel descended in person at Yophiel's Temple in Serenia Castle, selecting Cain as the wielder of [Gabriel's Sword]. Judah felt a curse bubbling up.
'Ah, damn it.'
Of course, he didn't dare say it aloud. He swallowed the profanity that had risen to the back of his throat. In that fleeting moment, a whirlwind of thoughts cluttered his mind. Before coming to the temple, he had wondered, 'No way she'd actually show herself, right?' She had to know he'd killed Cain, but he hadn't truly believed she'd reveal herself here in this temple.
He figured the Holy King, representative of all angels, wouldn't have the leisure to casually descend to the middle realm. But now, staring at the flashing light before him, it seemed that wasn't entirely the case. She must be furious about Cain's death.
'Well, killing the one meant to be her apostle—no wonder the Holy King is pissed...'
Should he bolt from the temple right now and flee anywhere? Sure, he was the Spirit Sword owner and had a fragment, but against the Holy King, his stats and level were negligible. He couldn't even beat Via earlier—there was no way he could take on the Holy King. Yet, he recalled how Via had just been repelled at the temple entrance. Even the Sword Saint couldn't enter, so someone weaker like him had no tricks up his sleeve.
'I'm screwed. For real.'
As that thought crossed his mind, a skill flashed through his head.
[Descent of the Sixth Monarch, Bel-Terza]
It was a one-time skill bestowed with goodwill by Bel-Terza, who had briefly descended via the magic circle created by Viscount Jinmu in Calypso. Using it might let him escape Gabriel. Though it could spark a war between the demon realm and the heavenly realm right away.
But wasting it here to dodge a momentary crisis felt too regrettable. Bel-Terza's descent could be used in countless ways. She was one of the demon realm's monarchs, after all. No living being could stand against her. Only a Holy King with equal power or another monarch could withstand the authority of death.
No matter how he thought about it, using it here was a bad idea. Judah let out a deep sigh, lowered the hand shielding the light, and boldly faced it. The radiant glow, which had persisted for quite a while, gradually weakened. A white feather drifted down from within the light, gently rippling the lake's surface as it landed.
Looking up into the light, he saw a green-haired woman with six wings unfurled and her body wrapped in pristine white cloth emerge. The dimming light now haloed behind her like a backlight. It wasn't just Judah feeling as if he faced a god—Arhil beside him suddenly dropped to her knees, clasped her hands in prayer, and then lost consciousness in that pose.
"...!"
Seeing her head slump forward, Judah reached out to check if she was still alive.
-Don't worry. She's just asleep.
Gabriel withdrew his extended hand slowly. Until now, her eyes had been closed; only now did she slowly lift her eyelids to gaze at Judah. Meeting those blue eyes brimming with affection made Judah flinch involuntarily.
-Our second meeting?
Her voice, soft and resonant, left Judah momentarily entranced. Gabriel's voice had the power to stir the heart like rain soaking through clothes.
'Is that how I feel?'
It might be a placebo effect, unconsciously believing her voice held something special. In any case, Judah hesitated before answering her question.
"Yes... that's right."
-You're tense... Judah Arshel.
Just before she spoke his name, her lips parted as if to say something. Unable to read her intended words from her lip movements, Judah didn't think much of it.
'Tense?'
Of course.
He'd killed Cain, her future apostle—she might do anything in anger, so tension was natural. But her voice didn't sound particularly angry. And above all, their first meeting hadn't been pleasant.
The faint lily scent at the tip of his nose brought back memories of their first encounter.
When she had descended at Yophiel's Temple in Serenia Castle, Judah had felt tears welling up at the sight of her.
Her descent, wings lightly fluttering amid the halo, embodied an angel perfectly.
So beautiful, so reverent. Her sacred movements made Judah stare as if time had frozen. It wasn't love at first sight or infatuation.
His memory was strangely hazy—he couldn't recall what she'd said—but clearly, she had tried to kill him then. He still wasn't sure if it was Cyan, but someone had saved him; otherwise, he'd have faced his first death... no, second death at the hands of the Holy King. Almost forgetting in the haze of her misty voice, Judah curled his lips in a bitter smirk against the Holy King.
"Wouldn't you be?"
-...I suppose so.
Her voice carried a hint of bitterness. Judah was bewildered by Gabriel's reaction. It contrasted sharply with their first meeting. The past was what he remembered, but the Gabriel before him now seemed genuine.
This was only their second meeting, but when he'd first seen her at Yophiel's Temple, her gaze hadn't been this tender. Her eyes drooped as if she'd lost all hope in life, her gaze dying. It was so sorrowful it tugged at the viewer. It made her attempt to kill him seem unreal. Confusing.
'She definitely tried to kill me...'
She had. Definitely. But now she was completely different. Her appearance was the same, but her voice, eyes, and expression brimmed with vitality. In the dark temple, she shone uniquely, amplifying the feeling.
"......"
-......
Silence hung between them. Gabriel's gaze, warm yet burdensome, bore down wordlessly. It felt like time had stopped. If only she'd rage about why he killed Cain, his heart wouldn't feel so unsettled.
'Cain.'
Even in death, he clung to his ankle tenaciously. Frustrated, Judah spoke first.
"Did you reveal yourself the moment I entered the temple because you had something to say? It felt like you were waiting."
-......
"As expected, because I killed Cain? If so, do you plan to kill me like our first meeting?"
Gabriel's eyes widened in surprise, her face contorting in deep hurt.
Judah panicked at her expression. Had he said something hurtful? If anyone should look wounded, it was him.
-Ah...!
Gabriel's mouth gaped like a goldfish's, but no words came. She seemed desperate to speak yet voiceless. Her hands opened and clenched repeatedly. Then she pressed her left chest, over her heart, as if enduring pain.
Gabriel fluttered her wings and descended gracefully, approaching Judah. The lily scent intensified. He stepped back, wary, raising his bastad sword—but her utterly defenseless form quelled even that impulse. Above all.
'Tears?'
She was crying. He couldn't fathom why. Gabriel set her bare feet on the temple's dusty floor. She was slightly taller. As she reached out toward him, she hesitated.
"I'm sorry about that time. I was momentarily confused and committed an unforgivable act."
"......"
"And don't worry about killing Cain—I have no intention of holding you accountable. His death there was regrettable, but due to his lack of ability. Judah Arshel, you were simply superior."
Cold. No, she seemed relieved that Judah, not Cain, had won.
Judah's mind went blank. Not because of any trick from Gabriel. Her eyes, her tone—everything was so affectionate.
Sorrow and joy, guilt and delight mingled. Crying yet smiling, she stared at Judah for a long moment before stepping back.
He wanted to ask why that expression, why that gaze. But foolishly, he felt he shouldn't, so he said nothing. Gabriel shifted her gaze to Arhil, asleep in prayer beside them.
"You came here because of this priestess."
"...Yes."
"Her body's being warped by evil demonic power?"
Even the Holy King didn't know everything—Gabriel tilted her head. Should he explain fully? He summarized briefly.
"Asmodeus, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, chose her as an apostle. Against her will."
"The Seven Deadly Sins... I see. That explains the familiar demonic energy. So, you want me to purify the demonic power in this priestess's body? Of course. That's why you came to my temple. For holy water."
Judah nodded.
"May I ask you to?"
"Certainly. It's no trouble."
Gabriel smiled reassuringly and placed her hand on Arhil's head. A light far more brilliant than any holy magic or blessing Arhil could cast burst from her hand, enveloping Arhil's body. At that moment, a tearing scream echoed from within her.
───────!
The horrific sound reverberated through the temple. Arhil's eyes twitched in pain, her face twisting. As Gabriel's holy power sought entry, black energy rose like heat haze, resisting. Watching, Gabriel sneered—something she hadn't shown Judah.
"Resistance is futile. Asmodeus, do you think that meager demonic power lodged in a human body can defeat me?"
───────!
The holy power purified the black energy, seeping into Arhil's body. Soon after, a pair of white wings sprouted from her back. Feathers of pure holy power fluttered from the lush wings, drifting down.
White wings, symbol of angels.
The drifting feathers were beautiful. Like cherry blossoms, he instinctively reached out—but they dissolved into the air. Once the wings vanished, messages scrolled before Judah's eyes.
[The demonic power of Asmodeus in ally Arhil's body is purified.]
[Mutation into <Demon> is canceled.]
[Job [Saintess of Lust] changes to [Saintess of Purity].]
[Trait [Apostle Aptitude] changes to [Gabriel's Apostle].]
[Trait [Saintess of Lust] changes to [Saintess of Purity].]