Chapter 369: The Event(2)
Chapter 369: The Event(2)
I'll post the emoticon announcement soon! Please wait just a moment!
*
At this point, one might ask: how exactly does someone become a demon worshipper?
Since the Demon War, people have fallen into demon worship through various paths.
As mentioned repeatedly, demon worshippers have their hands in every corner of the underworld, and most are involved in illegal activities.
Because of this, nine out of ten people deeply embedded in the criminal world are demon worshippers, but frankly, they aren't that dangerous.
They are merely underlings or ordinary(?) criminals. They are associated with the cult, but not directly connected to its core.
Even if they leave traces behind, people rarely suspect demon worshippers. They simply assume it's the work of a large-scale criminal organization.
The truly dangerous ones are those who have been 'brainwashed' since childhood. While criminals act out for various reasons, including greed, those who are brainwashed are proactive.
History has proven just how powerful brainwashing can be. When a group, rather than an individual, is brainwashed, it can lead to the worst kind of wars.
Demon worshippers utilize this brainwashing intensively. They have accumulated so much expertise that most victims fall for it even when they know better.
Furthermore, unlike Earth, this world has significantly less exchange of 'information.' In other words, the lack of information and environmental factors make it easy for people to fall into specific ideologies.
Now, a question might arise. Since gods actually exist and divine power is so formidable, how can anyone fall for demon worship?
Isn't it strange that no one even noticed a sign of it from the end of the Demon War until now, no matter how deep the brainwashing went?
However, if you dig deep into history, it becomes understandable. After the Demon War, every civilization except Albenheim regressed to the point of a total reset.
Moreover, the birth of a new race called 'Demons' and the subsequent incidents that followed left no room to worry about anything else.
Of course, demon worshippers haven't been entirely unscathed. When the Holy Nation of Savior was swept up in fanaticism and committed atrocities, the demon worshippers also suffered heavy losses.
It was a case of a blind dog stumbling upon a bone, but unfortunately, this incident made the demon worshippers even more cautious.
They began pretending to be ordinary people to avoid detection by the 'Inquisitors' like Kate, only revealing their true colors once the Inquisitors were gone.
There are only two people in the Luminous Order capable of declaring a 'Sanctuary': the Pope and the Grand Inquisitor, Kate.
Until the outbreak of the Race War, humans were busy fighting among themselves, and the elves were suffering through their own internal turmoil.
The Beastkin, who hadn't even established a civilization, weren't even worth mentioning, and the Demons were treated as no different from actual devils.
Even the Dwarves, who could be considered the most stable, didn't pay much attention to demon worshippers. They were too busy supplying weapons for the humans' civil wars.
Finally, with the outbreak of the Race War, all the conditions were met for demon worshippers to run rampant without any interference.
As a result, entire villages with little outside contact fell into demon worship, and even nobles and priests were corrupted.
In this way, the demon worshippers' reach gradually extended across the world, becoming dangerous enough to attempt a demon summoning, even if it ultimately failed.
Although their existence has been brought to light thanks to the Xenon Biography, it will take a long time to pull them out by the roots.
"Mom."
"Is our Lora awake?"
"Yeah."
Inside a house in an ordinary village, a cute young girl woke up and greeted a woman.
With plain brown hair and brown eyes, her colors weren't particularly striking, but her features suggested she would grow into a beauty. She was a child in her early teens.
The woman, who seemed to have passed down those very features, gave her lovely daughter a bright smile.
"Breakfast will be ready soon, so go wait at the table."
"Okay."
The obedient girl, Lora, scurried over to the dining table.
Upon reaching the table, she saw a man with a sturdy build.
The man, presumably Lora's father, was currently reading a newspaper, so his face was hidden.
"Daddy. Daddy."
"Hmm? Oh! Is my daughter awake?"
But as soon as his lovely daughter greeted him, he immediately stopped reading and gave her a warm smile.
His square jaw, roughly trimmed beard, and short-cropped hair were quite impressionable.
They say daughters usually take after their fathers, but fortunately, the girl resembled her mother more.
Lora didn't sit in her seat; instead, she walked up to her father and silently spread her arms.
"Huggie."
"Oh, my. Of course."
A wide, foolish grin spread across the man's face at his daughter's morning affection. There was no need to explain how happy he was.
As Lora was held in the man's broad embrace and he showered his lovely daughter with affection, Lora's eyes fell on the half-folded newspaper the man hadn't quite put away. She read the news printed on it aloud.
"Xenon's declaration of war... All-out war against demon worshippers disguised as an event?"
"…!"
Snap!
As soon as his daughter read the headline aloud, the man's face went pale, and he immediately threw the paper aside.
He was so flustered that he didn't even think to fold it, simply tossing it onto the floor.
Lora, unable to understand his strange behavior, looked at him with a puzzled expression.
It was suspicious behavior by any standard, but there was no way a young, innocent girl would notice.
"Daddy."
"Y-yes?"
"What does 'event' mean?"
Instead, she asked about the word she was seeing for the first time. The man lowered his gaze slightly to look at Lora.
Her brown eyes were filled with vibrant curiosity. He swallowed hard and spoke cautiously.
"…'Event' is used in many different ways. Festivals and celebrations are events, and even when something completely unexpected happens, it can be called an event. Usually, it's used when something positive happens to you."
On the surface, it seemed like a normal piece of parenting.
"I see. Then is the sacrifice to the Father of All Things also an event?"
"Of course. But 'event' is a broad term, so it's not used that often."
If only the 'Father of All Things' hadn't been mentioned by the girl. The panic on the man's face had vanished, replaced entirely by joy.
Whether it was because he had successfully navigated a dangerous moment or because a word he loved had been mentioned was unclear.
Lora nodded at his explanation. If her father said so, then it must be true.
"Breakfast is ready. Lora, go back to your seat."
"Okay~"
At the woman's call that the meal was ready, Lora returned to her seat.
The couple sat facing each other, and Lora sat beside her mother.
On the table were simple but delicious-looking dishes. The woman's culinary skills were evident.
Eager to eat, Lora reached out, but the woman stopped her.
"Lora. You have to pray before you eat, right?"
"Can't I just eat?"
"No. Everything we have, including this food, is thanks to the Father of All Things. We must offer our gratitude to him."
"Hmph."
At the woman's firm explanation, Lora grumbled for a moment before neatly folding her hands. The sight of her small hands clasped together was incredibly cute.
The woman also smiled at her daughter's cuteness before reverently clasping her own hands and closing her eyes. The man across from her did the same.
Then, as if on cue, they began to pray in solemn voices.
"I pray to the Father of All Things. For our daily bread today…"
"I pray to the Father of All Things. For our daily bread today…"
"I pray to the Father of All Things. For our daily bread today…"
The family recited the prayer at a steady, rhythmic pace.
To an outsider, they would look like a devoutly religious family, but the fact that they were praying to the 'Father of All Things' revealed their true nature.
They were the ones the world called demon worshippers—the group that had caused immense suffering to the world since the Demon War.
They were praying with a solemn posture, as if truly praying to a 'God.'
"May we find the truth in this false world."
"May we find the truth in this false world."
"May we find the truth in this false world."
The deeply reverent prayer came to an end. As soon as it was over, the three of them opened their eyes and unclasped their hands.
As they opened their eyes, a slight change occurred. First, their eyes lost focus, and an unidentifiable black energy began to flicker within them.
Lora was no different. For some reason, she felt a sense of lethargy.
It felt like she was sinking into a sticky swamp, struggling to stay afloat. It would have been easier to just let go, but the feeling was so unpleasant that she resisted.
"Whew…"
"Haa…"
The couple's heavy breathing reached Lora's ears. Feeling her senses snap back, she squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them, looking around.
The black energy from a moment ago had vanished without a trace, leaving only an ordinary couple.
"I hope this gives strength to the Father of All Things."
"Me too. I must contribute, even if my power is meager. Our Lora will do the same, right?"
"Y-yeah."
At the man's question, Lora gave a reluctant affirmative. Her brown eyes held a 'fear' of unknown origin.
The man nodded, seemingly satisfied even with her forced answer.
All that remained was a cozy meal. The man picked up his utensils first, and the seemingly harmonious family dinner began.
Lora also shook off the lingering unpleasantness and began to eat her mother's delicious cooking.
"Honey. How are things lately?"
"It's a mess. That guy…"
The man started to curse but glanced at Lora. She was preoccupied with her food, but swearing wasn't good.
"…That human has really started to screw us over. You've seen the newspaper, haven't you?"
"Of course. It's frustrating for us when someone who doesn't know the truth holds such power."
"We should have dealt with him sooner. We were too complacent because it was just a book."
As the couple talked, Lora eavesdropped on their conversation.
She couldn't quite grasp the subject, but their serious tones suggested it was a grave situation.
However, through the 'intuition' she had developed over the years, she realized it was a matter she shouldn't dare interfere with. Right now, the food was more important.
"Lora."
"Mm?"
As she was eating hungrily, the woman called her name softly. Lora flinched and looked at her.
The woman gently wiped some sauce from the corner of Lora's mouth with her finger and spoke in an advisory tone.
"Our Lora must never read such wicked books. What matters most are always the words of the Father of All Things. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Good girl."
Lora beamed as the woman gently stroked her head. It was the smile of a girl who had clearly grown up surrounded by love.
And so, the cozy breakfast ended, and just as the woman was clearing the dishes from the table...
"Lora."
"Yes, Daddy?"
"Don't forget you have your education today."
The man, who was reading the newspaper he hadn't finished, spoke in a casual voice. But Lora's reaction was anything but casual.
As soon as she heard the word 'education,' her face turned pale instantly. Her already fair skin turned a sickly blue.
Her palms began to sweat, and cold perspiration trickled down her forehead. She spoke in a trembling voice.
"E-education?"
"Yes. We agreed you'd have it today, didn't we?"
"B-but… you said if I memorized all the prayers, I wouldn't have to…"
Slide—
At his daughter's resistance, the man lowered the newspaper, revealing his eyes. Lora gasped as soon as she saw them.
He had been a kind father until just before the meal, but not anymore. Only the 'educator' remained.
Under his terrifying gaze, Lora lowered her eyes. The man placed the newspaper on the table and spoke heavily.
"Lora."
"…"
"Are you perhaps disobeying the words of the Father of All Things?"
"N-no."
"Then why?"
At the repeated questions, Lora answered in a tiny voice.
"…I don't want to."
"What?"
"It hurts… I don't like it…"
As she spoke, Lora gently gripped one of her arms. It was the reaction of someone touching a painful area.
Seeing this, the man chuckled as if it didn't matter and spoke.
"That's what education is. You grow by overcoming such pain. It's a hurdle you must cross to find the truth."
"…"
"The other children are receiving their education too, aren't they? It's not just you. Our entire village exists for the Father of All Things."
"Is that… how it is?"
"Yes. That's how it is. I was the same when I was young. So was your mother."
At the man's explanation, Lora gripped her aching arm and looked away. Her mother nodded in agreement with the man's words.
She hated the pain. But her mother and father said this was normal.
The villagers were no different. Everyone worshipped the Father of All Things, and no one ever raised an objection.
The moment someone did, terrible pain followed. Hadn't she herself been severely whipped once for objecting?
Then it must be right. The more she resisted, the greater the pain that would follow.
Lora nodded with a dejected face.
"…Okay."
"Good. I believe our daughter will grow into a magnificent Ascendant. That's what the Lord said when he received the 'Revelation,' wasn't it?"
"Yes…"
"Then go to the basement first. I'll be there soon…"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Before the man could finish his sentence, a loud noise pierced their ears. The sound of someone pounding violently on the door.
Everyone in the house turned their gaze toward the door.
"Who is it at this hour?"
"Maybe it's Mr. Jake coming for some hangover soup after drinking last night?"
"Ha. That bastard. Does he think this is a restaurant?"
As if it were a common occurrence, the man stood up casually. Lora watched his back for a moment before starting to move.
She headed toward the basement, which had been built for a special purpose. It wasn't unusual for a house to have a basement.
Every house in the village had one. Lora thought this was only natural.
"Who is it?"
"Ah. Excuse me. Is there…"
She heard voices from behind, but Lora simply moved like a machine. She was now heading down the stairs.
It grew darker as she descended, and a pitch-black darkness where she couldn't see an inch ahead settled in, but it didn't hinder her at all.
She was used to it. She was so familiar with it that she could walk it with her eyes closed.
'This is right…'
She told herself as she reached the bottom of the stairs. There was a heavy iron door, like one used to hold 'prisoners,' with a small window to peek inside.
Creeeeeak—
Lora pushed the door open slowly. The unpleasant sound of ungreased hinges grated on her ears.
As the thick iron door opened, what came into view were various 'education' materials, including 'play equipment.'
Coiled whips hung on the walls, and there were even skewers that looked like they belonged in a torture chamber.
They were by no means suitable for play or education; on the contrary, they were closer to torture devices. But Lora didn't realize this at all.
Because her parents and the villagers had taught her so. That all of these were stepping stones for 'growth.'
Rustle—
Before the man arrived, Lora began to slowly take off her clothes. She threw off her top first.
To receive the education, exposing her upper body was enough.
Soon, Lora's upper body was completely bare, revealing a torso that had just entered its growth phase.
Along with the scars and marks left by 'education.' Not only were there blue bruises on her arms, but the state of her back was horrific.
Perhaps because they hadn't been treated properly, scars from what looked like whip lashes remained, and there were even vivid burn marks.
Burn marks that looked like they were made by branding with heated skewers. They were truly the marks of 'torture.'
Thud— Thud— Thud—
'He's coming…'
The sound of footsteps from beyond the open iron door reached her ears. Lora trembled at the thought of the education to come.
But, consumed by fear, she didn't notice. That there wasn't just one set of footsteps, but two or more.
Furthermore, her father usually came empty-handed, but now there was the light of a torch.
"These people are truly insane. This entire village has been taken over by demon worshippers?"
"It's highly likely. I heard they were cursing the Xenon Biography as a wicked book."
"Good grief. But what is this place… Huh?"
But something was wrong. This wasn't her father's voice.
Puzzled, Lora opened her closed eyes and turned around. And she couldn't help but blink.
People she had never seen before were staring at her with shocked expressions, holding torches.
They definitely weren't villagers. No villager had ever worn equipment like that.
Confused, she spoke quietly.
"Who… are you?"
"Why is there a kid… What the, those scars?"
"There's a whip here too? No, fuck. These are torture tools. There's even a skewer."
"Wow… these crazy bastards. Someone call a priest, quickly. This is serious."
The strangers were all saying things she couldn't understand. Where was her father, and why were these people in the basement?
While she was still trying to grasp the situation, the man holding the torch slowly approached her.
"Little girl. Are you okay? Can you stand up?"
"…Who are you, Mister?"
"Mister…"
The man muttered, seemingly shocked by being called 'Mister.' But he soon snapped out of it and answered.
"Let's get out of here first. Okay?"
"B-but… Daddy is coming for my education…"
"…Education?"
The man frowned at the word 'education.' From Lora's perspective, his face looked menacing, so she couldn't help but cower.
He then scanned the basement filled with torture tools and asked in a voice of disbelief.
"…Don't tell me 'education' means using those things?"
"Yes…"
"Since when have you been receiving it?"
"Since I was seven…"
"And how old are you now?"
"Twelve…"
"Crazy bastards. Get up, now."
"B-but Daddy…"
Thoroughly brainwashed, Lora refused to get up until the end. Deep confusion was etched into her brown eyes.
The man looked at Lora with pity and covered her battered body with his cloak to hide it.
He then gently stroked her head and gave a clever answer.
"Just think of it as skipping class."