Chapter 113
Chapter 113
Chapter 113
Celestial (3)
Originally, even before departure, Rudian had been thinking like this:
'To bring out 100% of the party's potential, it would be right to continuously face enemies slightly stronger than our current level while climbing the stairs step by step.'
This was already a sufficiently life-threatening endeavor, but Rudian was confident that he could induce growth while controlling the party's safety by being able to pick and choose the enemies they faced.
However, problems arose when the Celestials appeared and began directly targeting the Apophis Cult.
Though they were assigned the role of villains in the story's development, they were fundamentally reasonable people who could do anything for their goals—they were generally the type you could communicate with.
'Originally, before the start of the source material, they didn't try to strike other organizations so blatantly like this...'
The real problem was that as the Celestials began their activities, the possibility of other organizations that were opposing them in the shadows also beginning to stir had greatly increased.
Most of them were individuals whose inclinations leaned heavily toward evil.
If they were to appear at this current point in time, much earlier than in the original work, the continental power balance that Rudian had envisioned would be completely thrown into disarray.
'In the worst case, we'll be eliminated before we can properly grow.'
Even by Chapter 3, the power of ordinary nations becomes virtually meaningless.
The organizations that emerge at that time, even if small in scale, each possess power on the scale of entire nations.
When such organizations come pouring out in droves, naturally the power of nations wouldn't be able to properly take effect.
'Before that happens, I need to make them steel their resolve. If they don't make up their minds properly, they'll die in an instant.'
At least Elvin, who grew up with Maria, would be accustomed to the appearance of extraordinary powers, but Gray and Luciella were no different from frogs in a well.
'Since we've already encountered the Celestials... it would be better to advance the plan instead.'
***
In Southwood Castle, administrative officials from the Imperial court dispatched from Nevan were in the midst of cleaning up the aftermath under the escort of the Red Falcon.
Having no further reason to remain at the castle, Rudian returned to the mercenary guild branch and summoned all his companions, saying he had something to discuss.
"Everyone's gathered."
All five party members had assembled in the conference room prepared inside the branch.
They tensed slightly at Rudian's appearance as he greeted the party with a heavy expression.
Elvin was the first to take a seat and spoke.
"It seems like you have something to say."
"Yes, it's going to be... Quite a heavy discussion."
"Is it because Yev eats more than we imagined?"
"......"
Rudian was momentarily speechless at the unexpected remark.
In fact, long before they had all gathered, Yev's rebound had been exploding at the seat next to him, with a pile of something stacked up.
MUNCH! MUNCH! MUNCH!
The identity of those things were all desserts that the mercenary guild mercenaries had procured by running around with their feet on fire.
Rudian, who had been trying to start the conversation with some gravity, briefly sent Yev outside and let out a sigh after seeing her not stop putting solids into her mouth.
"Well, this wasn't what I was going to talk about, but it does seem like it'll become a problem soon."
"The rebound is more than imaginable. Does she have a universe in her stomach?"
"That might be the case."
It was scary because the possibility really wasn't zero.
"Enough small talk. Tell us why you called us, brother."
Ever since hearing about the Celestials, Gray's mood seemed somehow uncomfortable.
Probably because he knew what kind of words would come out soon.
Rudian organized his complicated thoughts and looked directly at the three companions present.
"Then I'll speak directly to the point."
Rudian's and the others' gazes met.
"Everyone, please end the journey here and return to the capital."
"...!"
The party's expressions all contorted at once.
They had expected him to make some kind of major announcement, but this was a completely unexpected notice.
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
Luciella was the first to react to those words.
Her eyes already held a subtle anger.
"It's because the situation has become more dangerous than I thought."
"Is it because of that monster who appeared in the Countess office?"
"Yes, that's right."
Luciella crossed her arms and fell silent.
From her perspective, Rudian's words didn't make sense.
That monster was certainly strong.
Strong enough that she wouldn't dare resist in a one-on-one fight.
But she didn't think they couldn't handle it even if they banded together.
'If he knew that and still said this...'
While she was thinking about the reason, Rudian's words continued.
"Gray was essentially dragged along by my stubbornness, and Senior Elvin is in a similar situation. Lady Luciella gave the reason of wanting to see a bigger world, but..."
"......"
Rudian paused for a moment and then sighed.
"With such a light-hearted mindset, you'll die within a month."
Heavy silence filled the room.
The bewildered expressions were brief.
The party's faces changed to reproach directed at Rudian.
Actually, these words were correct, but they were also words that Rudian, as the person who had brought them along, should not have uttered.
They remained silent for quite a while.
Some were choosing their words, and there were gazes demanding additional explanations.
"First of all."
The one who broke this uncomfortable silence first was Luciella.
"Even if that's true for me, it was Rudian who brought Gray and Sir Elvin."
"Yes, that's correct."
"Although I feel like punching you right now for spouting such irresponsible words..."
"......"
For a moment, the scene of her magnificently sending the 3rd Prince flying passed through Rudian's mind.
Several teeth must have flown out and his nose was crushed, so it must have hurt tremendously...
Luciella crossed her arms and said she would wait and see for now.
"There must be a hidden reason behind that statement, so I'll put aside those feelings for now."
Instead, silent pressure came across demanding a proper explanation.
"Yes."
Rudian nodded.
"I'll tell you everything."
***
Rudian began with an explanation of the Celestials, the organization to which the monster that appeared in Heidi's office belonged.
They were actually not simple magical scholars but had built territory close to an empire, and he told them all the settings from about how they waged war against the gods and were defeated.
"W-wait! Gods, you mean the gods I know?"
"If you're referring to the seven great deities—Berus, Haniel, Ruura, Garganta, Nos, Satera, and Medaiel—then yes, that's correct."
Although countless divine beings exist in the Celestial Pantheon, these seven are the great deities officially recognized in .
They were essentially called creator gods by the humans of the middle realm and were absolute gods in the sacred and inviolable domain.
"Does that... Make sense?"
Even in a world where supernatural abilities had reached their extreme, the realm of gods was a separate matter.
The party's expressions, tinged with absurdity, were proof of that.
"It makes sense. You all know that Demon Kings aren't beings that only appear in fairy tales, right?"
Rudian continued his explanation.
Having refined their magical systems for well over a thousand years and finally reaching their peak, the Celestials knocked on the gates of heaven to acquire true immortality—divine status.
However, the gods of that time did not permit mere creations to reach their level, and the conflict eventually escalated to war.
"The ancient magical school Celestial is known to have committed a taboo that humans should not commit and received divine punishment, and that taboo was precisely humans coveting the realm of gods. All gods became hostile to the Celestials, and through the combined attack of all temples on the continent that received their divine oracles and angels dispatched from heaven, the Celestials were destroyed."
"I don't know about other gods, but... It's hard to understand that Haniel of mercy and Ruura of love would do such a thing."
"Gods loving humans is no different from humans finding pets cute. If that pet defies them saying it will match them, they'll naturally have to push back."
"Mmm...!"
At this unexpected truth, Elvin and Gray's expressions became seriously grave.
But in the midst of it all, only Luciella spoke up coolly.
"Let's say that's all true for now. So the Celestials that were destroyed were actually maintaining their lineage and have now appeared before us like this. But you haven't explained the correlation to you distancing yourself from us yet."
"Yes, I'll continue."
After briefly choosing his words, Rudian continued his explanation.
"The Celestials' purpose probably hasn't changed. But according to my prediction, the time when they should have had to become active should have been delayed by at least 10 more years. Yet they've now begun activities blatant enough to catch our attention."
"What's the reason?"
"Probably... Because of me."
"......"
No one asked why it was because of Rudian.
Even without asking for reasons, there was no one who didn't know how enormous the things Rudian had accomplished so far were.
"The problem is that with the Celestials beginning their activities, the possibility has increased that other secret societies hiding underground will also be stimulated and emerge above the surface."
The power of those secret societies, while perhaps inferior compared to the Celestials, were definitely not ones who could be ignored.
"Most of them have one purpose. It would be good if they could cooperate to achieve that purpose, but unfortunately, cooperation is impossible. War will eventually break out, and the damage caused by it will far transcend the results of the war that the Morian Empire is currently waging with other countries."
Disbelief arose in the party's expressions.
No matter how enormous the power an organization possessed, how could it compare to war between nations?
That was the common sense they originally held and also the fixed notion that Rudian had to destroy.
"I tried to suppress the movements of those existing beneath the surface while simultaneously helping you all grow, but since the Celestials popped out this quickly before I could even attempt it... No one knows how the situation will change."
CRACK!
"So you'll handle the dangerous work while we just stay holed up at home?"
"According to my calculations, there's a high probability you'll all die unnatural deaths before you can properly grow. In that case... Rather than danger, seeking safety would be..."
"Grit your teeth tight."
"...!"
Before Rudian could answer, Luciella's fist came rushing straight toward his forehead.
CRACK!
Rudian's body, having taken the hit directly to his forehead, not only broke through the wall but was flung outside.
"What, what's that?"
"Is it an intruder!"
The mercenaries who were nominally guarding the general manager's meeting were startled as the general manager himself was flung out like a kicked soccer ball and drew their swords.
When the dust settled, Luciella, with vein marks on her forehead, approached Rudian while cracking her knuckles.
"I understand the intention of speaking strongly to make us steel our resolve, but even so, it's quite irritating."
"Ugh...!"
She was certainly quick-witted.
Creating an atmosphere of 'let's at least hear the story' and all that.
But if she noticed, she could have hit a bit more gently.
'It hurts...'
—They have something called pride too, so wouldn't a punch naturally fly if you spoke like that?
'You're right.'
Gray and Elvin approached behind her and each uttered a word.
"That was the most unbearable bullshit you've ever said, brother."
"Considering the Princess's personality, she held back a lot."
Elvin and Gray had been listening with the thought of seeing how long Rudian would keep spouting nonsense.
"Still, the content itself was an interesting story. There's still more we need to hear."
"Is… that so?"
Luciella dusted off her hands and turned her head.
"Come in. We need to finish the story we were listening to."
"Ah, before that, let's deal with the uninvited guest first before continuing the story."
"Uninvited guest?"
CRACK!
Rudian, who had been getting up while gathering himself, suddenly swung Diablo and cut down a small fly that had been hiding its presence in the corner.
"That's...?"
Rudian's swordsmanship in cutting down a tiny fly in one strike was shocking, but questions arose in the party's eyes about why he did such a thing.
"It's a familiar. The magic thread was hidden so secretly that I was late to notice."
"...!"
"Since the stealth was discovered, they used another method. What a persistent bastard."
If even Adi was late to detect it, one could imagine how secretly the work had been done.
Rudian crushed the fly that had been cut in two with his foot and fiercely barked.
"Come out right now. I'm not planning to let this slide this time."
"Oh no...!"
As soon as those words ended, one section of the wall of the room where the party had been meeting grotesquely distorted, and a familiar someone wearing a robe began to appear.
He was the monster belonging to the Celestials who had disappeared during the day.