Chapter 450: The Kingdom of Gerios(1)
Chapter 450: The Kingdom of Gerios(1)
"That is, of course..."
Deimos trailed off, his brow furrowing at King Morgan’s question. Initially, he had assumed it was a given that the gods had created all races, excluding the Elves and the Demons.
The Goddess of Nature had given birth to the twin deities, Luminous and Mora, and the world was created under their authority. Within that world, various life forms were born, eventually leading to the emergence of sentient beings: Humans, Beastkin, and Dwarves.
Elves were famously known as angels who had torn off their own wings to descend to the earth, and the origin of the Demon race had only just been revealed moments ago.
However, now that it was clear that the origin of the Devils was humanity, King Morgan’s question sparked a massive doubt in Deimos's mind.
If the origin of Devils was human, then what were the origins of the other races? Furthermore, why was it that only humans could transform into Devils or Demons?
Were the origins of Beastkin and Dwarves also human? He had always thought they were too distinct, their unique characteristics placing them far apart from humanity.
Yet, when he thought of 'mixed blood,' that logic faltered. If their origins were entirely different, conception would have been impossible in the first place.
The problem branched out even further. While humans could sow their seed in other races or conceive by accepting theirs, the same was not true for the other races amongst themselves.
In other words, while half-bloods between humans and other races existed, there were no mixed-bloods between two different non-human races. If such beings existed, they would have appeared in the world by now.
There were even cases of humans bearing offspring after being violated by Orcs or Goblins, but no such records existed for the other races.
Even during the Race War, there were records of Beastkin, under human coercion, receiving the potent seeds of Elves. Yet, no matter how hard they tried, no child was ever born.
There were other rare records of different races attempting to mate, but none had ever resulted in offspring.
‘...But why?’
As he chewed over the facts one by one, the anomalies began to pile up. There were records of humans existing since the beginning of time, but the history of Beastkin and Dwarves was murky.
Just as humans evolved into Devils, were Beastkin and Dwarves truly human in origin as well?
If so, then who—
[The world is wider than we know, and the sea is wider still than this world, follower of Luminous.]
"..."
[The sea gave us much. Food, trade, treasures, power, and finally, the ability to read the stars and the truth itself. But when I felt the sea’s wrath, I realized I had to distance myself from it. My kingdom was loved by the sea, but ironically, that love was so excessive it returned as a curse.]
King Morgan gestured with exaggerated, poetic motions, drawing the attention of Deimos and the expedition members.
Deimos, who had been lost in deep thought, looked up at the sound of the King's voice. King Morgan still sat regally upon his throne.
[Our kingdom learned too much of the truth, inciting anxiety in the gods. In the end, we were abandoned until every citizen of Gerios became a Devil. There were outsiders who became Demons in the process, but the gods simply waited. They waited until most of the truth sank into the lightless depths of the abyss.]
"...That’s impossible. Why would Lord Luminous simply watch his creations fall?"
Deimos countered quietly, his words bordering on a defense against slander. However, a sliver of anxiety began to crawl through his heart.
As he questioned things he had once taken for granted, his faith in the gods was being gnawed away bit by bit.
At the same time, he denied it fiercely. The gods do not lie to their beloved creations; they grant power to the righteous and divine punishment to the wicked.
Even for those who sin, if there is a valid reason and sincere repentance, the gods are those who embrace the sinner even while punishing the sin.
It was hard to believe that such beings would have abandoned the Kingdom of Gerios during the Demon War.
At this, King Morgan snorted as if the notion was absurd, then spoke again in his rhythmic, verse-like tone.
[Then why did the gods only reveal themselves after our kingdom had already crumbled? Why did they show themselves so late, only after the creatures of this land had fallen helpless? Why did they grant the Seed of the World Tree only after the sea had swept almost everything away?]
"..."
[It remains true that the gods you believe in love their creations. But they are far too human.]
There was a description that always followed Luminous and Mora like a tag: that they were "too human," and therefore as warm as parents.
Luminous was mature and steady, while Mora was as mischievous as a tomboy. Their creations saw this as a charm and trusted them implicitly.
Even the Goddess of Nature occasionally caused natural disasters, but given her divine status, most believed such events were unavoidable necessities.
[The rising sea covered my palace and most of the truth. However, the remaining truths should still exist in various places.]
"..."
[My descendant likely cleared the path ahead of time, so look closely. I suspect you will find it quite entertaining. Heh heh heh.]
King Morgan leaned back with a crooked posture and let out an ominous chuckle. He looked truly wicked, as if he were already anticipating their reaction.
The expedition members all turned to look at Deimos. Every decision now rested on his shoulders.
Part of Deimos wanted to find that truth—the truth mentioned in the oracle. But before that, there was a question he had to ask.
"...Lord Luminous."
[Hmm?]
"Is it certain... that Lord Luminous loves us?"
It was a question a believer—especially one who had reached the rank of Cardinal—should never utter. To dare doubt God; he would have had no defense if he were dragged to an interrogation room this instant.
But the more he listened to King Morgan, and the more he questioned the "obvious," the deeper his suspicion grew.
Was it possible that the gods, including Luminous, didn't actually love their creations? Were they merely using them?
If that were the case, then who were they worshipping, and on whom were they supposed to rely? Everything was in chaos.
King Morgan, perhaps sensing Deimos’s turmoil, gave a short laugh and spoke.
[You need not worry about that. What parent does not love their child? They simply embrace them at times and strike them with a rod at others. The gods' love for their creations is an undeniable truth.]
"...That is a relief."
[Whether you reveal the truth you find to the world or bury it, I do not care. I have no interest in the current world anyway. Ah, but may I ask one favor instead?]
At the mention of a favor, Deimos raised his head to look at King Morgan. The King leaned forward, his expression sparked with interest.
[That descendant I mentioned earlier. Isaac Ducard Maishal. I would like you to bring him here. I wish to have a conversation with him.]
"...It might take a long time. He is a very busy man."
[Time has no meaning to me. I have held this seat for three thousand years; what is another hundred? It is enough if I meet him before he dies.]
Deimos nodded. If that was the case, it was fine.
Explaining the entire situation would likely take time, but the travel itself was easy, so it wasn't a problem.
[One more thing. I am curious about that book my descendant supposedly wrote. I wonder what kind of book it is to have shaken the world so.]
"That won't take long at all."
[Good. Then you may go. You need not worry about poking around my palace; I do not mind.]
King Morgan waved his hand dismissively, signaling their dismissal. It meant he had nothing more to say.
Deimos felt a flicker of doubt at the King's indifference toward his palace being ransacked, but he immediately turned to leave.
The more he listened to the King, the more questions arose; it was better to simply find the truth for himself.
He didn't know exactly where that truth was, but according to the oracle, it would be in a place as deep and dark as the abyss—in other words, somewhere underground.
The truth King Morgan had mentioned was relatively less important compared to the oracle. The most vital secret was bound to be in the basement.
And once he found that truth, he would likely have to cast it into the sea. Deimos took a long, deep breath.
"...Let’s start by finding the library."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
Deimos and the expedition members walked out of the Audience Chamber with heavy steps. King Morgan watched them go in silence.
Once they had vanished from his sight, he turned his head to the side. If the expedition had been to his right, he now looked to his left.
[You may reveal yourself now. It would be best to show yourself before I have to command it.]
King Morgan spoke into the empty air with a stern voice. To an outsider, he would have looked like a madman, but...
Sshhh—
Surprisingly, someone emerged like a shadow from the very spot he was staring at. King Morgan watched the scene unfold calmly.
She had bronze skin like a desert dweller and ears that were partially clipped. Her silver hair shimmered in the light, and her golden eyes glowed like those of a bird of prey.
Finally, her revealing attire and the physique it displayed were enough to draw the gaze of any man.
It was Siris, the Dark Elf who had followed the expedition under the orders of Queen Arwen of Albenheim.
She was glaring at King Morgan with sharp, piercing eyes. She had heard everything the King had said.
[Judging by your abilities, you are certainly a servant of Mora. I hear you are called Dark Elves now, rather than just Elves?]
"You..."
Her mouth, hidden behind a mask, opened as if she had much to ask, but then closed again.
King Morgan, seemingly understanding her heart, shrugged and leaned back against his throne.
[Mora has a cute yet benevolent side, true to her personality. Originally... Ah, I can't speak of this either.]
King Morgan frowned again, looking irritated. Just like before, it seemed the gods had placed a restriction on him.
No matter. King Morgan stared intently at Siris with his usual crooked posture. Siris met his gaze without a word.
After they had stared at each other for a long while, King Morgan spoke in a low voice.
[Have you ever wondered why only your people have bronze skin? There is a very interesting anecdote regarding that.]
"...Not particularly."
She said that, but hearing it directly made her curious. Dark Elves possessed bronze skin, unlike other Elves.
Perhaps because of this skin, most Dark Elves worshipped Mora, which resulted in religious conflicts and their eventual expulsion from Albenheim.
That was the extent of the historical truth she knew. However, even the Dark Elves themselves did not know why they had this skin color.
Among humans, the Southern People had similar skin to Dark Elves, but they lived in desert regions. It was natural for their skin to be dark.
On the other hand, Dark Elves were a race originally born and raised in Albenheim. After hearing King Morgan’s words, she couldn't help but wonder.
[You say that, but you seem curious nonetheless.]
"..."
Despite her lack of emotional expression, King Morgan had read Siris’s inner thoughts instantly. Siris narrowed her eyes and watched him.
What kind of man was he to insult the gods so casually and possess knowledge of so many truths?
She didn't think he was lying. King Morgan had simply cast doubt on things that were considered "obvious."
Hadn't philosophers done the same since ancient times? That philosophy had developed and given birth to science and countless other fields of study.
King Morgan was no different. The only problem was that his questions were directly linked to the gods.
Each of those doubts was enough to cause a massive upheaval in the world.
[Before that, you know that the origin of Elves is angels, yes? And that they fell to the earth after incurring the gods' displeasure.]
"...I know they tore off their own wings and descended. To pay for the sins of their fallen comrades."
[Oh? How do you know that? That should have been one of the truths swept away when the sea swallowed the world.]
This seemed unexpected, as King Morgan’s eyes widened in surprise. The emotion of shock was clearly etched on his face.
As soon as Siris saw that reaction, she naturally thought of Isaac. She debated whether to tell him or not, but decided to speak.
He would find out anyway once the expedition brought Xenon's Saga, so it wasn't a big deal. Besides, she was curious about King Morgan’s reaction.
She shared the facts as she knew them. King Morgan stroked his chin, looking intrigued.
[I am becoming more and more interested in that descendant. To think he even knew of the existence of Devil worshippers—it's too much to be a coincidence. Is he truly a prophet?]
"..."
[Well, it doesn't matter now. Anyway, as you said, Elves are beings who tore off their wings and descended to earth. However, some Elves fell into the desert instead of Albenheim. They wandered aimlessly through that desert before finally reaching Albenheim, and as a result, their skin turned dark.]
It was a surprisingly mundane origin. Siris, who had tensed her body in anticipation, let out a breath and relaxed.
To think their skin had simply turned dark because they fell in a desert. For some reason, her ancestors felt a bit foolish.
[Is it not amusing? History reveals itself the deeper you dig into origins. Language is especially interesting. You can roughly tell what a person meant by a certain word back then, or how they were treated.]
"..."
[You should explore my palace as well and find some interesting history. Perhaps you might learn more about the Mora you serve.]
Sshhh—
Siris hid herself again, seemingly having heard enough. Without making a sound, she walked out of the Audience Chamber.
By now, the expedition would be searching here and there. She planned to look in even more secretive places than they would.
Once Siris had also left, King Morgan was left alone in the Audience Chamber. He sat on his throne and made a casual gesture.
Rumble— Thud!
As soon as he gestured, the heavy doors of the Audience Chamber closed with a resounding boom. Once the doors were shut, King Morgan slowly stood up.
He stepped down from the dais one step at a time and spoke toward the empty space in front of him.
[My, what a distinguished guest has come to such a humble place.]
Unlike before, his tone was somewhat sarcastic and entirely unwelcoming. Even his expression was far from friendly.
To a third party, it would have looked like he was talking to himself in an isolated chamber, with not even Siris present.
However, if one looked closely, an anomaly could be found. It was a brilliant 'light' descending from the open ceiling.
That light was focused intensely on a single spot. It was as if someone were about to 'descend.'
[It must have been nice when my descendant personally crushed those Devil worshippers. But the truth is always in dark places. Like the lightless depths of that vast sea.]
Flash!
In an instant, a powerful radiance burst from the point where the light was concentrated. Had anyone faced it directly, they would have been blinded, if not scorched.
But King Morgan was a spirit, so it didn't affect him. He wore a subtle smile as he gazed into the light that was blinding to behold.
[Are you displeased? I suppose you would be. I saw with my own eyes the truths you tried to hide while I roamed the seas, and my descendant has made it so that others will find those truths.]
There was no answer. There was only King Morgan, speaking before the radiance.
Yet he did not stop, continuing in his mocking voice.
[If you are gods, you should have acted like gods and let us find things on our own. Were your pasts so shameful? Why don't you say something, God of Light... no.]
The final words that left his mouth were:
[God of War.]
It was another name for Luminous.