Chapter 81
Chapter 81
Chapter 81.
As the sun fully drove away the dawn, Aiden gazed at the sky with a complicated expression. 'Too soon.' He could somewhat understand the capriciousness of the divine throne being granted freely, and it could even be seen as a benefit.
After all, one of his goals had been the divine throne. Though obtained through an incomplete method contrary to his plans, considering his growth and future developments, the likelihood of things unfolding smoothly had increased significantly.
Moreover, it had been the decisive factor in preventing Yuriel's corruption. He could have accepted it gladly and moved on.
But now was different. It was still time to hide.
Aiden was far from prepared to be worshipped as a god by the inhabitants of this world.
The countless status windows now appearing represented the number of believers who acknowledged Aiden as a deity. But compared to the entirety of the Valanchess faith? It was but a tiny fraction.
Unless everyone was convinced, it was meaningless. It might even incite greater discord.
The monotheistic doctrine of the Valanchess Church. Aiden had unwittingly denied its very foundation.
The abbots of monasteries, the bishops of dioceses, the inquisitors of the Heresy Tribunal, the professors of the Imperial Theological College, the imperial scribes—and so on.
Those who taught others or recorded history must have slammed their scriptures shut in shock by now.
Would they dare spread this truth to their students or followers? They likely couldn't decide. Some might even suspect the scriptures they were reading were demonic texts planted by the Cult of the Archfiend.
Aiden felt a crushing dizziness.
Negative hypotheses invaded his mind in real time.
The worst-case scenario would be if The Book of Phaedna was declared forbidden.
The outcome was obvious. Aiden would become the primary target for elimination, and in that case, survival would be impossible.
Few safe havens came to mind. For now, "Zeras." Never had his presence felt so vast and precious. Since his mentor acknowledged Aiden, the chances of him acting shrewdly in some way were high.
At the very least, Zeras would prevent The Book of Phaedna from being sealed. Of course, that was merely Aiden's hope.
Whatever the case, one thing was certain—the aftershocks would shake the continent. There would undoubtedly be those who denied the Valanchess Church or sought to break away from the current denomination.
Suppressing the backlash as much as possible was the top priority. The only immediate solution was the imperial family's recognition. There was no better method. Aiden firmly believed that.
Though it overlapped with his original plans, the approach had to be adjusted. Aiden decided it would be better to meet in secret.
Saya approached Aiden and cautiously spoke.
"Aiden, are you okay...?"
Her lover's deeply troubled expression made her forget her own sulking heart. Because Aiden rarely showed emotion, Saya grew even more worried.
Aiden looked at her and said,
"Saya, continue with the task I asked of you. And I'm sorry, but could you take care of Siron for a while?"
If Siron, now empowered by demonic energy, were to run amok, few in this world could control her.
Saya could.
Aiden expected some resistance, but she nodded easily.
"I'll keep her with me. But what about you? Don't go to the Empire."
Saya roughly understood the situation. It seemed far too dangerous, and she wanted to stop Aiden by any means.
Aiden shook his head.
"I must go. The moment I hide, it might become truly irreversible."
Saya's face darkened.
"Together... I guess that's not possible, is it?"
Bringing a gumiho along would complicate things in many ways. For a moment, Saya was seized by the impulse to tear off her own tails and ears.
Just as her hand twitched, Aiden gently stroked her hair.
"Wait just a little longer. Let's meet in the Forest of Giants."
Saya stared at the ground and murmured softly.
"...If you die, I'll exterminate humanity."
In a world without Aiden, their promises would cease to exist.
Aiden replied calmly,
"That won't happen. Don't worry too much."
"Be careful. Please."
Aiden lightly kissed Saya's forehead, then turned away.
"Your Holiness, please come with me."
It was preparation for potential combat. With Yuriel by his side, the current Aiden was nearly invincible. Few in this world—at least on this continent—could withstand their combined might.
Even if overwhelmed by numbers, survival was all but assured.
Yuriel nodded quickly.
"Are we heading to the Church?"
"No. To the Imperial Capital."
After a brief moment of thought, Yuriel grasped Aiden's intent. But she was puzzled.
"You cannot request an audience with His Majesty."
The emperor had been bedridden for over five years now.
"I will meet Her Highness the Princess. And she must ascend the throne."
Had the Crown Prince been chosen as the next emperor, Aiden would have headed to the northern front. The worst choice. The empire under his rule would face a bleak future. Moreover, Aiden's leash was reserved for the princess. He had to reach the capital, no matter what.
Yuriel looked slightly bewildered. A female emperor when the Crown Prince's position was secure? It defied common sense.
Aiden spoke impassively,
"You said you've been longtime friends with Her Highness. You, more than anyone, know her qualifications."
"That's true, but..."
"I'll explain the rest on the way. For now, climb on."
Aiden crouched down, turning his back to Yuriel.
Saya shot him a frosty glare but immediately looked away and roughly grabbed Siron. She, too, understood the necessity of the saintess.
Yuriel carefully climbed onto Aiden's back.
As he straightened, Aiden said,
"Then, Saya, take good care of Siron. Keep her with Yupe at all times."
Moments later, Aiden dashed down the mountainside. He planned to steal a horse and head for the imperial capital.
The Holy Empire, Grand Library of the Papal See.
A place where the faint scent of parchment and the sound of turning pages always created a serene atmosphere.
But today, it was as noisy as a marketplace.
Countless priests had swarmed in like locusts. Silence was the least of their concerns now.
The Book of Phaedna had denied the one true god.
"Activate the original! Hurry!"
"Where is The Book of Ruzbel?!"
"The Genesis of Vaindel—it's all been erased!"
In the current era, only three scriptures were in circulation:
The Book of Phaedna, The Book of Ruzbel, and Vaindel's Genesis.
This library housed the original copies of those texts.
When the celestial scribes recorded divine revelations, the originals were inscribed, and printed editions spread from there.
Thus, if the circulated editions contained false records, the originals should not.
In such a case, all scriptures would have to be recalled and burned—they must be demonic texts planted by the Cult of the Archfiend.
Someone swallowed hard and spoke.
"...It's recorded."
At the center of the library stood a massive crystal orb. Upon activation, pristine white text appeared on its surface:
『 Saint·Vacheksar declared, "The divine name is Valenstal," and the flock shall revere the suffering and hypocritical divinity. — Year 380 of Vacheksar. New Testament, Gospel of Vacheksar, Verse 1. 』
The same passage as the printed editions.
Every priest froze rigid. The scripture had unequivocally denied monotheism.
Another priest pointed to The Book of Ruzbel:
【 The Sun illuminates from the east, gazing upon the world. This is blasphemy. Correct it with hypocrisy. 】
"...The east signifies the Demon Realm. Saint Ruzbel rebukes us for making the Sun behold that accursed land daily."
In short, it meant to reclaim the holy land alongside Aiden.
Vaindel's Genesis had completely vanished. The crystal orb lay faded, displaying no text.
Some collapsed to their knees, groaning.
At that moment, deep beneath the Grand Library, the clergy of the Sacred Council sat around a round table.
This was where countless forbidden scriptures were sealed—a place none but the sacred race or highest-ranking priests dared enter.
No one spoke. All were meditating upon the divine.
The silence stretched on. Occasionally, footsteps echoed faintly in the distance, treading upon the stillness.
The source of the sound stood before an altar far from the round table.
The pacing man was Zeras.
His narrow eyes bore into the altar.
Giant tomes, faded crystal spheres, stone tablets the size of houses, scraps of paper, wooden blocks engraved with incantations—and more.
Scriptures of all kinds were neatly arranged upon the massive altar shaped like the sun.
These were all history. The current year, 380 of Vacheksar. Records from before that existed, of course—the Valanchess faith spanned well over a millennium.
The era's name had a reason. The calendar was reset the moment Vacheksar descended.
One tenet of faith: the inhabitants of this world believed only the lands trodden by the sun held time.
In other words, Vacheksar had descended upon the holy land 380 years ago, participated in the Human-Demon War, been defeated, and was driven to the continent alongside humanity—that shameful history lay buried here in its entirety.
The sacred race and highest-ranking clergy knew these records were not false.
But for the sake of the Church and divine authority, they had no choice but to conceal them. They wished to discard them entirely, but that was impossible.
Hiding them underground was the best they could do.
Zeras was lost in thought.
Even as Genesis and monotheism were denied, shaking the faith's foundation, his devotion remained unshaken.
Because Zeras' faith was fixed solely upon the sun. The artificial doctrines tailored to human convenience and tastes had never mattered to him.
Even if there was no one true god, even if the heavens and earth were not created, if the sun commanded belief, he would believe. And if it reversed its decree now, he would accept it just as swiftly.
That was Zeras' faith—his roots. He was but a weak human saved by the sun.
If the divine will was clear, he did not judge.
At least, that should have been the case.
Had the filth of politics tainted him?
The sun was clearly commanding the release of those forbidden texts. It was testing this era, demanding the correction of their distorted faith.
Yet Zeras hesitated.
Like the vermin seated at the round table, he feared the impending backlash.
Could the religion survive? It would inevitably splinter into countless sects.
Zeras swallowed hard and knelt.
Facing the altar, he drew the holy sigil.
"Saint·Vacheksar, Saint·Valenstal, if this is truly Your will, let this blasphemous and foolish flock act. Grant this faithless one but a single lesson."
At that moment, a majestic voice pierced his eardrums.
『 Suffer. 』
His eyes snapped open. He felt a chilling heat.
His gaze slowly moved to his fingertips. A noble, undulating flame. A pale fire burned with icy intensity.
Zeras' facial muscles stiffened.
The ember slowly rose. It drifted toward the altar and finally settled upon the forbidden texts.
Whoosh. Blue flames spread in silence.
The pale fire burned away the sun's shame. It illuminated Aiden's path.
The authority Aiden had bestowed upon his mentor anew. Vacheksar was satisfied with the outcome.
Because even the sun did not wish its humiliation by the Archfiend to be revealed.
Zeras slowly rose and walked toward the round table.