Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The Legend of the Holy Emperor
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A clear sky in the desert meant a grueling day ahead. Even so, Jade felt no fear at all. For the first time since their journey began, she was actually seeing a glimmer of hope.
The story of how he became King of Koon took place before the Rom Empire was founded and after the Rotin Empire fell.
After the empire's collapse, the capital Rotin quickly fell into ruin. Wealthy merchants and nobles had already fled to other cities or countries, leaving behind only powerless nobles and poor citizens who couldn't leave even if they wanted to.
That was when the army of the conqueror Batilan marched in.
Batilan had originally been just a tribal chieftain leading the nomads of the Kuman Plains, but in just a few years, he unified the surrounding barbarians and even founded an empire on the Kuman Plains.
The Kuman army's advance was like a tidal wave—no fortress, no matter how well-defended, could hold them back. People believed Batilan had made a pact with demons and wielded evil sorcery.
Countless western kingdoms fell under the rule of the Kuman Empire, and the northern kingdoms surrendered without a fight, forced to pay tribute.
Even during the Rotin Empire's days, the barbarians had been a major headache, but Batilan's army was on another level entirely. Not even all the western kingdoms' armies combined could stand against them. With Rotin fallen and no army left to defend the city, people thought the end of the world had come.
That was when Leobis, Rotin's First Bishop, stepped out alone beyond the city gates.
A miracle occurred. Countless citizens of Rotin witnessed Archangel Gatriele standing to Leobis's right and Saint Macdaloa to his left, walking alongside him.
Leobis rebuked Batilan, and Gatriele's flaming sword turned the sky red. Terrified, Batilan turned his army around and left Rotin.
The people praised Leobis as Rotin's true king and begged him to take the throne.
Leobis refused, saying the only thing he followed was God's word, not human power. The people then called him the Holy Emperor, meaning Emperor of the Caitlic Church.
Naturally, all previous First Bishops of Rotin retroactively received the title of Holy Emperor as well.
Not long after, Batilan died of illness. People believed it was due to Gatriele's holy power.
The Kuman Empire rapidly declined within a decade of Batilan's death.
After that, the Rom Empire was founded, and the great Rom conqueror general Skifer completely destroyed the Kuman Empire, leaving only traces of it on the modern Kuman Plains.
The Koon tribespeople still wandered the fringes of Rom territory, living wild, impoverished lives, deaf to God's voice.
"So, what do you think?"
Saf asked.
"What do I think about what?"
Ruby shot back.
"I just gave you a chance to prove you're an angel. I still can't believe it."
Ruby was walking about five steps ahead of Saf and Jade. She was still shackled at the wrists and ankles, dragging the chains annoyingly behind her, but keeping a slow pace to accommodate the other two.
"What I asked Jade was about our route ahead, and Jade insisted we go through the Kuman Plains to the Dark Forest. When I asked why go the long way around, she said it was because of pursuers, and right in the middle of that, why drag in the story of Koon's emperor to make me prove I'm an angel, you flower-headed fool!"
Saf emphasized once more.
"Doesn't hearing this story make you want to speak of God's greatness and the holiness of Holy Emperor Leobis?"
"I don't know about holiness, but I can spot the stupid errors in it."
"Stupid? Errors?"
Saf asked in a combative stance. Her expression and tone hadn't changed, but her tightly clenched fists gave it away.
Ruby stopped walking for a moment, turned around, and crossed her arms. Saf naturally approached to stand in front of her and stopped as well.
"You said this was 500 years ago, right?" Ruby leaned in close to Saf's face and continued leisurely.
"Then maybe I even met that Batilan or Metilan or whatever. But who cares? Back then, I was too busy playing hide-and-seek with the angels to pay attention to every little thing that didn't involve me."
Just as borders on a map don't make the terrain suddenly change when you reach them, the desert wasn't all sand and wasteland, and crossing it didn't make the sand vanish abruptly. Little by little, grass and trees appeared more frequently, and the red-tinged earth receded.
At last, they were beginning to leave the Red Desert behind.
"But considering the strategies, wars, culture, and nomadic fighting styles I knew from that era, your so-called 'Miracle of Rotin' is most likely one of two things."
"Tell me."
"Leobis was probably a smart guy, right? So he'd have imposed superstitious thinking on Batilan. 'If you retreat now, we'll pay you, but if you refuse this deal and attack Rotin, our god will curse you...' Something like that. If Batilan was superstitious, even a foreign god might've scared him a bit. And if he could get money without invading the city, he might've just retreated."
"That..."
Saf tried to counter immediately, but Ruby held up a hand to stop her and finished.
"Second possibility. If Batilan wasn't superstitious, he wouldn't have retreated. There's no reason to pull back from a city with no army to defend it, Holy Emperor or not. So from Leobis's perspective, there was only one way to make such enemies retreat."
Jade knew what strategy Ruby was getting at but let her continue.
"He tells them to leave the gates open and loot the city. Just don't kill anyone. From Batilan's side, that's an acceptable deal."
"Good lord, how could such a deal even work? The first one is somewhat believable, but the second is idiotic!"
Saf emphasized it as if getting revenge for being called idiotic earlier.
Ruby didn't mind the insult at all and explained.
"The Koons probably just wanted food and gold anyway, not murder. Leobis saves the city and people, Batilan gets what he wants without fighting—both sides win."
"The Koons are barbarians. If they'd opened the gates, they would've broken the promise, burned Rotin down, enslaved the people, and killed anyone who resisted!"
"Burning the city means no more looting spots. Better to raid every few years without effort and take what you want. Nomads would've loved city booze, pottery, fabrics, and such. Kidnapping people would've ruined it too—the city would empty out or people would flee."
"Then what about the eyewitness accounts of the angel and saint appearing next to Leobis? Tens of thousands saw it!"
"It was 'recorded' as eyewitness accounts!" Ruby continued with a sneer.
"Gatriele was the angel I feared most. The one being I could almost never beat in a fight."
Jade chuckled inwardly.
'Not "can't win," but "hard to win"? Still propping up her pride even then.'
Ruby continued indifferently.
"Gatriele had no interest in human affairs. Even if she did, she wouldn't take Rotin's side against the Koon army. To her, both sides were just humans."
"No way? The Koons don't believe in Caitlic. Gatriele, protector of Caitlic, wouldn't treat heretics equally."
Saf spoke like a teacher instructing a student.
"I've never heard Gatriele called Caitlic's protector."
Ruby said it, then tilted her head.
"Now that I think about it, maybe I just never heard it, but it could be true."
Saf raised her voice as if she'd been waiting.
"See? You're the one who's wrong."
"I'll admit that. She was captain of the vineyard guard too, so protector of Caitlic could be another title."
Ruby said.
Jade wanted to laugh, but Saf was so serious she couldn't.
Saf wasn't showing it on her face, but she was excited enough to snort through her nose.
"Ruby, you once said the scriptures were just people scribbling down whatever angels rambled on about, right?"
"I didn't say it exactly like that, but yeah, that was the gist."
"I can't agree with that. The scriptures have many stories, but the most widely read one was written when Gatriele conveyed God's word to Saint Macdaloa. The other scriptures all name the angels who spoke and the saints who recorded them. It wasn't random scribbling!"
"Angel stories do pique my interest. Got that scripture on you? Let's read it."
Ruby suddenly stuck out her hand.
Saf shuddered as if she'd committed a grave sin.
"I... lost it."
When Saf recounted the events of their journey here, she'd felt guilty about so many things already. Now the lost scripture would add to it.
Unable to stand it, Jade stepped in.
"Scriptures are everywhere. We can probably buy one in the next village."
"Hmm, then we'll have to postpone our debate."
Ruby turned away regretfully and resumed walking.
Jade asked.
"Ruby, you read books?"
"What's so weird about that?"
"You just don't strike me as the book-reading type."
"I've read hundreds, thousands of books in the Roxandria Library. One more is nothing." Ruby scratched her chin, trying to recall.
"Hmm, come to think of it, I remember reading scrolls there about 'The Word' and 'Creation of the World'?"
"Those are probably the old scriptures. Stories of angels from before Macdaloa and the other saints wrote the current ones."
"Then reading it now might jog my memory of the old ones. Maybe even remind me where I left my weapon."
"If it's the weapon made of Umparuton, it's probably still in the Red Desert where you last fought. Too heavy for anyone to lift, buried deep in sand for 500 years."
"That's what I figured. Such a shame. It was a really good weapon."
Ruby trudged ahead again.
Jade spoke to Saf, who was walking with slumped shoulders.
"Saf, a book is just a book. Losing the scripture doesn't mean your faith is lacking."
"I know. But my heart doesn't feel that way."
Ruby walked on with her hands behind her back like an old man, her pace leisurely, and asked.
"Back to the original question. Why are we going to the Dark Forest?"
Ruby asked.
"It was Father Danel's instructions."
Jade answered, then glanced at Saf, who nodded in agreement.
Saf knew almost everything Jade knew about Danel. It was like a teacher who'd taught the same subject to two separate students.
If it had been anyone else, she might've felt jealous, but it was Saf, so it was fine. If Jade forgot or got something wrong, Saf could correct it.
"Alright. Then explain the route that Danel guy told you before dying, in more detail."
Ruby spoke like a superior awaiting a mission report.
Jade said.
"We haven't confirmed Father Danel is dead yet."
"Didn't tons of people see his house burn down?"
Ruby turned to Saf, who reluctantly nodded.
"And Yol confessed to killing him. Even in a soul state where he couldn't lie. Remember? You asked."
Ruby added for confirmation, but Jade still shook her head.
"I won't believe it until I see it myself."
"Ha. Ha. Ha. You've got this girl here who blindly believes 500-year-old eyewitness accounts she didn't even see herself."
Ruby mocked with forced laughter.
Saf clenched her fists.
"Father, if I punch Ruby, it'll just hurt my hand, right?"
"Better to punch a rock."
"What if I throw a stone?"
"It won't hurt her anyway, and with her personality, she'll catch it and throw it back. Better to endure."
"I wish I could use that light magic book too. I'd choke her with the neck shackle!"
"Glad to see your spirits lifting, Saf."
Jade patted Saf's shoulder, then turned back to Ruby.
"According to Father Danel, beyond the Dark Forest is elf territory, and going east from there leads to several ports. He said those are faster for reaching the Eastern Continent."
"If it's about speed, that's true. Elf ships are incomparably faster and safer than human ones."
Ruby agreed and continued.
"But the shortest land route might offset that speed, so going over the Dark Forest isn't necessarily quicker. Just so you know, elves don't like humans much. Not exactly safe for you two."
Saf whispered to Jade.
"Elves really exist? Father Danel always said so, but I still can't believe it."
Ruby asked, puzzled.
"I've met elves here, so why ask the one who hasn't?"
"You haven't finished answering my question yet. So no new ones."
"Huh? I forgot what your question even was."
Ruby drawled in a tone that didn't sound mocking at all, then continued.
"With me along, assassins or pursuers aren't a problem anymore. In fact, nothing will be from here on. Just head straight in the right direction! No need for detours. If a mountain's in the way, I'll punch through it!"
Ruby pointed due east.
"How convenient. Let me think."
Jade closed her eyes briefly and pictured a map in her head.
"The shortest path to the Mediterranean from here is straight east to the Luna Principality, but their ports won't have ships good enough to cross it."
"They don't have shipbuilding tech?"
Ruby asked.
"Not exactly, but sort of. Under Rom Empire and Rotican directives, trade ships to the Eastern Continent can only depart from Pisa Port. So other countries have no reason to develop deep-sea shipbuilding."
Jade opened her eyes and shook her head.
"Now that we're here, crossing the Red Desert south back to Pisa Port or continuing north through the Dark Forest is the same distance. And we have one more objective..."
Jade hesitated to say "Hellgate," but Ruby had no such qualms.
"That Krauks guy said another Hellgate is in the Dark Forest? Why should 'we' be responsible for that?"
"From your perspective, no need. But from mine, once I hear it, I feel responsible to at least check."
"Don't play word games. If you're involved, I get dragged in too! Then it becomes 'our' responsibility!"
"Does it?"
Jade laughed hollowly.
Saf said.
"I don't think Father Danel predicted the Hellgate and sent us to the Dark Forest for that. He wouldn't have calculated we'd be chased by assassins to Pisa Port either. He mentioned that route long before this all happened. There must be another reason we don't know."
Ruby said admiringly.
"That Danel old man must be really trusted."
"Of course! He's..."
Saf paused slightly before continuing.
"...like a father to us. He wouldn't have us take a pointless hardship route."
"I don't think it's pointless either. If we take a human port, a freak storm could strand us for months, but elf ships don't sink in storms, and dwarves have subs that sail underwater, so we'd save way more time."
Jade thought she'd misheard.
"Ships that sail underwater? Sounds like a boastful sailor scamming someone."
"Boasting is when someone with little experience inflates it. I'm an adventurer who's wandered the world for centuries. I've got so much experience it's hard to summarize, no need to inflate!"
Ruby narrowed her eyes and pointed north.
"Hmm, looks like a village finally."
"If my calculations are right, that's Akilia. Supposed to be a decent-sized city. I hope they have an inn with beds."
Jade said earnestly.
"Akilia? The map in the abbot's room said something else. Fairbank or whatever?"
Ruby asked.
"Never heard that name. You must've misread."
"Maybe? Whatever, village names don't matter."
Saf interjected.
"They've got a cathedral there, right?"
Before Jade could answer, Saf challenged Ruby.
"I'll borrow a scripture there, Ruby. Read it. Then we can pick up our talk!"
Ruby grinned as if amused.
"Isn't it over? You're more tenacious than you look."
"Of course. Maybe Father Jade accidentally left the holy angel at the Bifel temple and mistakenly brought you instead, since you were there!"
"If reading scripture could prove if I'm an angel or not, why would I have gone through all that adventure trouble?"
Ruby said indifferently.
"No. I think I could tell."
Saf persisted doggedly as they walked.
"Tie your clothes properly. Your chest keeps showing when you walk."
Ruby teased, and Saf hurriedly retied her knots.
Ruby giggled.
"Kidding. It doesn't."
"See? You're no angel!"
"Can't tease if I'm an angel?"
"A holy angel with that name wouldn't tease like this!"
"Fine, fine. Those super holy, flower-pure angels probably don't tease. Too busy dropping fireballs on heretics and burning them black."
Ruby sneered exaggeratedly.
"Stop! That's blasphemy."
"This is blasphemy? You'd faint from the insults I hurled at angels 500 years ago."
Ruby giggled, while Saf clenched her fists and kicked at the dirt irritably as she walked.
*What a surprise.*
Jade pondered.
*Ruby's letting Saf openly question her identity like that. Even playing along like it's a joke.*
Jade took it as a good sign.