Chapter 453: The Kingdom of Gerios(4)
Chapter 453: The Kingdom of Gerios(4)
The record desperately left behind by Milek Malto, the last scribe of the Kingdom of Gerios, sent shockwaves through everyone present.
The world had ended once before. And it was because of a war between the gods.
It even detailed how the last mortals to survive the destruction had settled in this land.
It was a feast of truths, none of which were easy to believe. Were these truly the facts, or were they lies designed to incite chaos?
However, considering the scribe had not put down his pen until the moment of his death, the probability of it being the truth was high. There was no reason to leave behind a lie with one's dying breath.
It was just that the content was so preposterous it bordered on sacrilege.
"..."
While the archaeologists stood stunned into a state of mental paralysis, Deimos closed his eyes tightly, lost in thought.
The world destroyed by a war of the gods, and the surviving mortals settling in this land.
As a devout believer in Luminous, this was a record he simply could not bring himself to believe. If those words were true, it meant that Hirt, Luminous, and Mora had waged war against one another.
That was impossible. Hirt was the mother of the twin siblings, and Luminous and Mora did not hate each other; rather, they boasted a deep, brotherly bond.
Perhaps their relationship had been poor in the distant, ancient past, but the record used the word 'war,' not 'battle.'
What was a war? Was it not a violent conflict where groups clashed against groups for their own respective reasons?
Even if Luminous and Mora had fought as if to kill one another, that would be a mere battle, not a war. There were far too few participants for it to be designated a war.
At best, the most likely possibility would be a religious war—a clash between the followers of Luminous and the followers of Mora.
However, unlike Luminous, Mora’s personality was one that avoided conflict as much as possible. Even while the demons and dark elves were being persecuted, she merely hid them from threats and never urged them to fight.
Deimos carefully opened his eyes, which had been hidden beneath his thick brows, and looked forward. Benphis and Delphine were looking at him warily, clearly just as shocked as he was.
"...Continue reading."
"Is... is that alright?"
"It sounds like preposterous nonsense, but there must be a reason why those words were written."
It was so nonsensical that he couldn't believe it right now. Therefore, he needed to read more.
At Deimos's soft request, Benphis and Delphine looked at each other before turning their gaze back to the scroll.
In truth, they wanted to read more as well. It was just that Deimos was staring at them from behind.
"The Kingdom of Gerios explored the world using their ability to read the sky and the stars. Among their journeys, they believed that if they headed toward the western edge, they would reach Albenheim, the nation established by the elves. However, the land we stepped upon was entirely unexpected. It was the ancient land of the beastkin, their true home."
"As we explored that place, we were able to examine various drawings. Drawings from before the invention of characters. Those drawings depicted a myth of 'creation' that was entirely unknown to us. That myth taught us only one thing: that this world was created not by 'Nature,' but by the 'Sea.'"
It felt as if the myths and faith they had firmly believed in until now were being shaken to their core. It was a fact known even to children that the one who created this world was Hirt, the Goddess of Nature.
But to say that Nature did not create the world, and that the 'Sea' did instead, was absolutely unbelievable.
The sea had always been regarded as a demonic zone created by devils, an environment one must never approach.
Amidst the surging waves of denial, Deimos felt an ominous foreboding blooming within him. He felt the urge to snatch that scroll right now and hurl it into the ocean, but...
He was curious. Why on earth had the gods tried to bury these truths? What kind of record remained that drove them to such lengths?
While Deimos was mired in distress, the archaeologists continued reading the record with expressions mixed with excitement and various other emotions.
"The Sea created Nature, and within that Nature, Light and Darkness were born. Beneath Light and Darkness, Day and Night came to be, and beneath them, countless lives blossomed. The gods, each possessing their own Divine Authority, were no exception. They ruled the newly created world through the powers they each held. Humans, beastkin, dwarves—these first generations of mankind each established civilizations and developed under the protection of the gods."
"However, an unexpected situation occurred. 'External Gods' visited this newly born world, feeling curious about it. Fortunately, they did not invade directly, but they spread something far more serious: they spread their 'culture.'"
"...External Gods?"
Deimos furrowed his brow at the sudden mention of 'External Gods.' He was already confused enough; this felt like it was only adding to the chaos.
The archaeologists were equally puzzled, but they decided to finish reading the record first. Research could be done slowly later.
"That culture had the greatest influence on none other than the creator god and father, the Sea. He came to desire a world where gods did not rule, much like the worlds governed by the External Gods. Believing that for humanity to develop on its own, the birdcage had to be broken, he commanded all the gods: 'Rule the world no longer.'"
"Naturally, many gods rebelled. Among them, the God of Light and War, and the Goddess of Darkness and Peace, rebelled fiercely. The twin siblings of the Sea and Nature, the gods with the greatest authority, stood at the forefront."
"The God of Light and War expressed the opinion that we must create a world of our own, and the Goddess of Darkness and Peace agreed. They argued that if humanity were left unattended instead of being kept within the birdcage, the damage would ultimately be suffered by none other than 'Nature' and the 'Sea.'"
A world where gods did not rule. To Deimos, at least, such a world must never exist, nor could it.
The world had developed to this extent because the gods existed; what if they were gone? Humanity would have only developed to the level of monkeys.
Because the gods existed, humanity could unite as one and achieve civilization. He could conclude that the culture mentioned was a corrupted one.
"However, the Father of the Sea was adamant. The gods, by their very existence, were nothing more than obstacles to humanity. He raised his voice, saying that only when we disappear can humanity achieve true development, and that this is the role of the gods. For a parent to sacrifice their own body for their child—could this truly be a wrong thing?"
"To this, the God of Light and the Goddess of Darkness protested. 'That is something we can regulate. In the worlds of the External Gods, even when humanity commits terrible sins, they only end up running in circles. To give a sharp warning when a child does wrong—could this truly be a wrong thing?'"
Conflicting positions and attitudes. The culture shown by the External Gods had created a massive rift.
And the end of that rift was... only one thing.
"The Father of the Sea was enraged. A parent should naturally know how to sacrifice for their child. At least in his eyes, the God of Light and the Goddess of Darkness were nothing more than greedy beings trying to protect their own comfort. Tyrants who wished to stand above others and enjoy authority. That was the conclusion the Father reached. All while being completely unaware that he himself had become such a tyrant."
"Just as there were many gods who rebelled against the Father, there were also many who took his side. In the midst of these opposing 'ideologies,' those who claimed victory were... the God of Light and the Goddess of Darkness. However, it could not be called a victory for anyone, and the Mother of Nature fell into profound sorrow."
Because they were so human, the war of the gods ironically took on a pattern similar to human warfare.
A culture scattered in passing gave birth to another ideology, and that ideology became radicalized, eventually blinding them all.
"Humanity could not withstand their war. The sea levels rose and covered the entire world, day and night disappeared, and Nature, fallen into sorrow, refused to embrace them."
"At the same time, they were persistent. The Mother reached her arms high even from within the sea to somehow save her children, and the Father moved a ship with his bare body for the sake of the children. The place we finally reached amidst that long, long destruction is this very land."
"The Sea did not forget that wrath. And the wrath of the Sea began to stir to overwhelm the entire world. Worship, and stand in awe. Do not incur the wrath of the Sea, and turn away from the Sea no longer. The true name of the Sea is..."
Delphine, who had been reading with a tense heart, had no choice but to stop mid-sentence. Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed the 'name' was about to appear, but it cut off.
Naturally, Deimos, who had been listening intently, expressed his doubt. Feeling the tension snap, he spoke quietly.
"Why have you stopped reading?"
"That is... it's cut off."
"What?"
"Of all things, the part that was scorched by fire..."
Indeed. The part that had coincidentally been left partially burned had erased the name.
Deimos felt momentarily dizzy upon hearing those words, but he actually thought it was for the best. These truths must not be revealed any further.
To ensure that...
"Anyway, is that the end?"
"Yes, yes. This is the end."
"Then give it to me at once."
According to the oracle, there was nothing left to do but cast this truth into its rightful place: the sea. Deimos spoke as he quietly held out his hand.
At that action, Benphis and Delphine looked at his hand and then at each other. In that moment, all sorts of thoughts raced through their minds.
Their hearts as scholars were screaming that they must not hand this over. They instinctively knew that if they gave this truth to Deimos, it would disappear forever.
But at the same time, they were afraid. They weren't afraid of the Savior; they were most afraid of the 'wrath of the gods.'
Those who learn truths they are not meant to know often meet a grim end. This was a kind of universal truth that circulated in the shadows.
"...Will we be alright?"
Benphis asked Deimos in a trembling voice. Knowing the dark side of the gods was, in itself, grounds for judgment.
It wouldn't be strange if divine punishment fell upon their heads this very moment. The desire to live was a sentiment that applied to everyone.
"If you go to the temple and make a blood pact to never speak of this, you will be fine."
Fortunately, Deimos was famous even within the Holy Kingdom for his gentle temperament.
If he had been radical, he would have called the paladins guarding the outside and killed them without hesitation. The phrase 'silencing the witnesses' didn't exist for nothing.
The archaeologists, seemingly aware of that, handed over the scroll with trembling hands. As soon as Deimos received the scroll, he checked the writing.
Since it was written in the Ancient Language, deciphering it was impossible for him, but the mere existence of this record was a problem.
If this fact were to leak to the outside...
'Lord Luminous, who cannot tell a lie, would have no choice but to admit it.'
If that happened, unprecedented events would break out one after another, shaking the very foundations of divinity. That had to be prevented at all costs.
Even if the gods had committed errors, it was also an unchanging truth that they had been a great help to humanity.
It was much better not to know. Deimos made the sign of the cross while holding the neatly folded scroll.
"Do not doubt."
Now all that remained was to throw this scroll into the sea. Then the oracle would be complete.
As soon as that thought occurred to him, Deimos turned around and headed through the long corridor toward the surface.
The paladins, who had heard nothing while standing guard outside, followed slowly behind him. Along with them were the archaeologists, who were now stiff with tension.
And finally...
"..."
The dark elf who had heard all those truths together, Siris, followed them cautiously without making even a sound.
*
Even after finding one book, Elena continued to investigate the surroundings diligently. A civilization founded earlier than Albenheim—it was simply unbelievable.
Of course, there would be some discrepancy between the way the Kingdom of Gerios counted dates and the present. However, a question had popped up, and she needed evidence to prove it.
But even finding a single piece of evidence was a grueling task. The rising sea levels had swept away most of the ruins, and the royal palace was being investigated by Deimos's group.
In the end, since nothing substantial came up except for the one book she had found initially, she had no choice but to give up.
"If I had known it would be like this, I would have stayed behind too."
"But isn't that one book valuable enough on its own...? Besides, we were able to learn that the Kingdom of Gerios held shipbuilders in high regard."
Elena and Cindy, sitting in the shade for a rest, chatted with each other. They were currently drinking tea kept cold by magic.
Elena gulped down the tea to quench her thirst and spoke irritably.
"That's what's more annoying. If they held shipbuilders in high regard, their shipbuilding capabilities must have been excellent, but there's not a single shred of evidence for it. I wish there was at least one blueprint."
"Wouldn't it be in the royal palace...? There should at least be blueprints related to warships..."
"Are you teasing me right now? And do you think there was a navy in that era?"
"Well..."
"See? There's more than one or two things I'm curious about. I'm dying to know right now."
This could be called the subtle charm of archaeology and history. The deeper you dig, the more questions pop up.
Why that person did what they did, what meaning the ruins held, and finally, who they were intended for, and so on.
There was a mountain of things to research, but because related artifacts were scarce, it was difficult even for someone like Elena to grasp the full picture.
'If I had known it would be like this, should I have brought Isaac along even if I had to push him?'
It wasn't that Cindy was incompetent. It was just that Isaac was so outstanding that the thought occurred to her.
He dismissed it as mere coincidence, but he possessed a vast amount of knowledge for his age.
He even had thoughts that an ordinary person could never imagine. Sometimes, she even got the strange feeling that he was from another world.
Elena thought that if he had come here, he would have offered all sorts of opinions.
Ssh—
"Hm? Honey?"
"I came because I have something to say."
Just then, Iker, who had stepped away for a moment to look around, approached. Elena looked up at him with a questioning expression.
Whatever he had seen, his face was stiff and set. If he had such an expression, it meant it was no ordinary matter.
At this, Elena also stood up and faced him. However, she left Cindy, who was dazed from the heat, where she was.
"Did something happen?"
"It's not that, but there's something I'd like you to see..."
Iker trailed off and glanced to the side. As if something were there.
Elena turned her head in the direction he was looking. But nothing entered her sight.
There was only the feeling of the space being distorted like a heat haze, perhaps due to the sweltering heat. Since it was the Grey Desert where mirages appeared at every opportunity, she didn't suspect anything in particular.
"What exactly am I supposed to see—"
Sss—
Just as Elena was about to speak, a woman with bronze skin slowly revealed herself from the distorted space.
As everyone might have expected, it was the dark elf who had been tailing Deimos's group, Siris.
Elena was startled by Siris's unexpected appearance and stepped back for a moment, then asked Iker demandingly with an absurd look.
"Who is this dark elf? Is she the person the Queen mentioned earlier?"
"She is. The Savior does so many shady things, after all."
"Hah..."
She knew about the existence of dark elves, but meeting one like this... how should she put it? It didn't quite sink in.
Rumors occasionally circulated that Queen Arwen was in dialogue with the dark elves, and it seemed those rumors were true.
Still, since there would be no personnel as capable as a dark elf for infiltration, Arwen's choice could be seen as appropriate. Elena acknowledged this and nodded.
"...I see. Since the Queen chose her, I suppose I should follow along."
"..."
"So, you have something to give me?"
"Here."
Siris handed over a scroll with a blunt tone. Elena looked at Siris even as she took the scroll.
Whether she had dipped herself in the sea or not, traces of salt remained all over her body due to magic. She herself didn't seem to realize it.
The scroll was the same. Although it had dried, there were salt stains here and there.
Still, the state of preservation was good, so it wasn't unreadable. Elena unfurled the scroll and began to read slowly.
Since it was a record brought back through secret infiltration, it had to be important.
"...Is this really true?"
"I only brought what was there."
"No. Even so, this is..."
And just like the archaeologists from before, she couldn't help but fall into extreme confusion. She was unsure whether this was truly the truth or a lie.
At this, Siris looked at her, who was alternating her gaze between the scroll and herself with trembling eyes, and spoke quietly.
"It was the scroll located in the deepest part. It's a record written by the last scribe right before his death, so the probability of it being the truth is high."
"..."
"Cardinal Deimos threw this into the sea so it could never be found again. I'm the one who brought it back."
"If that were the case, he could have just burned it. Why go to the trouble of the sea..."
Elena shook her head vigorously mid-sentence. That wasn't what was important.
What mattered was whether the words recorded in this scroll were true. But it was such a preposterous story that people wouldn't believe it.
At this, she stared at the scroll with a serious expression and then rolled it up without a word. After putting it in her bag, she spoke in a low, grounded voice.
"...For now, it would be best to keep this in a place where no one knows about it for a while. Even if I revealed it now, no one would believe it."
"Then when...?"
At Siris's question, Elena thought long and hard before speaking in a serious voice.
"Just one person. There is just one person."
*
"When was... the Dunkirk Evacuation again?"
And the person Elena mentioned was currently organizing World War II.