Chapter 543: It's Easy, Right?(3)
Chapter 543: It's Easy, Right?(3)
In my opinion, there are three indispensable elements to any myth.
Gods. Heroes. Prophecies.
Among these, the Gods are the Alpha and Omega, while the Heroes serve as the bridge connecting the divine to the common folk.
Finally, the Prophecy symbolizes 'Destiny,' something neither God nor Hero can escape. A fate that remains unavoidable no matter how much one struggles.
The most famous of these are undoubtedly Greek-style prophecies. In Greek mythology, a prophecy is practically a death sentence.
It follows a pattern where, in attempting to avoid a dire prediction, one inadvertently brings it to fruition.
Classic examples include the story of Oedipus from Greco-Roman mythology and Ragnarok, the end of the world in Norse mythology.
In this world, prophecies—or rather, the oracles delivered by the Gods—are close to the Greek style.
The Gods can glimpse the future, and if they issue a prophecy based on that vision, it is guaranteed to hit the mark. It’s a case of utilizing the time paradox in reverse.
Of course, the Gods rarely grant detailed oracles. They prefer to deliver them ambiguously and let mortals interpret the meaning for themselves.
[Are you talking about those godforsaken prophecies?]
And it seemed that King Morgan, the last king of the Kingdom of Gerios, was also one of their victims. I wore a puzzled expression upon hearing his words.
The era when the Kingdom of Gerios flourished was at least 3,000 years ago. That was a time when neither Luminous nor Mora exerted direct influence.
To put it plainly, it was a period when not only oracles but even Divine Power could not be properly used. Records state that mana had only just been discovered back then.
However, the moment King Morgan heard the word 'prophecy,' his face contorted violently. His expression was thick with loathing and contempt.
"...From what I understand, the Gods were hardly active back then?"
[They weren't. They needed rest after cleaning up a world that had already been destroyed once.]
"Then who delivered the prophecy?"
If that were the case, there shouldn't have been anyone capable of giving one. At my question, King Morgan let out a sigh and spoke in a heavy tone.
[Explaining that would take some time. First, do you know how the Kingdom of Gerios developed?]
"I heard you utilized the sea."
[And?]
"And..."
One of the reasons the Kingdom of Gerios was able to seize hegemony over the West.
"...Sorcery?"
It was sorcery.
A power used in an era when it was difficult to manifest even mana, let alone magic.
Unlike magic, which guarantees a certain result for a specific price, it was a power whose floor and ceiling fluctuated wildly.
[Correct. The Kingdom of Gerios grew wealthy and powerful through sorcery. And sorcerers held a powerful position within the kingdom.]
"Did the sorcerers also serve as prophets?"
King Morgan nodded at my guess. If one were to stop there, it would sound like a common way of life in ancient times.
However, unlike Earth, this was a world where things that defied common sense occurred in rapid succession.
With a complex expression, King Morgan explained what had happened back then.
[At the time, sorcery was an indescribable power, as if bestowed by the Gods themselves. Is sorcery still used today?]
"Nowadays, most people use magic. Sorcery is a power used only very rarely."
[As I expected. Then, do you know the origin of sorcery?]
I shook my head. Unlike magic, sorcery is an ability used by only a tiny minority.
Even if one wanted to study it, the materials are woefully insufficient.
The Animus—that is, the Beastkin—primarily use sorcery, but it isn't as widespread as it was in the Kingdom of Gerios.
[It’s only natural. Since most records disappeared after the Great War, no one knows where it originated. If magic is an ability created directly by Luminous and Mora, then sorcery was an ability created by the God of the Sea and the Goddess of Nature for the sake of communication.]
"For communication?"
[Yes. For offering sacrifices to the Gods, performing rituals, and so on. For worship or communication, sorcery was the only way.]
"Hmm..."
Come to think of it, on Earth, performing rituals or offering sacrifices to communicate with the divine was a common occurrence.
I don't know if the Gods ever actually answered back then, but people must have continued because there was some perceived 'efficacy.'
It was closer to a sort of placebo effect, but ancient people believed in it with all their hearts.
[Though it lacks versatility, because it is a power created by the Ancient Gods, it is several levels higher than magic. Perhaps this is why Demon Worshippers are able to escape the eyes of the Gods even now.]
"Then during the Demon War as well..."
[No. Back then, Luminous was just being a son of a bitch. He knew and didn't stop it.]
"..."
Hearing a God called a 'son of a bitch' in such a nonchalant tone gave me a bit of cognitive dissonance. Is he allowed to say that?
Fearing that divine punishment might strike at any moment, I instinctively edged away from King Morgan.
King Morgan chuckled at my reaction and continued.
[From the Gods' perspective, our kingdom was more than an eyesore; it was a headache. If they left us alone, the power of sorcery would become too strong, and they didn't know what might happen. If they tried to suppress us, we wouldn't listen.]
"You wouldn't listen?"
[The pointy-ear—no, the Elves.]
King Morgan almost habitually said 'pointy-ears' before correcting himself to 'Elves.' I suppose that nickname is quite catchy.
[The Elves are the descendants of Angels, the representatives of the Gods. From the moment Albenheim was founded, they were a nation that used magic and Divine Power. However, the Kingdom of Gerios was located at the western edge, and Albenheim was at the eastern edge, making it difficult for us to meet.]
"..."
[In that situation, Elven pilgrims visited the kingdom.]
Albenheim was established approximately 3,500 years ago.
Hailed as the first civilization, Albenheim steadily built up many things.
Among them, the most remarkable achievement was undoubtedly 'religion.'
While the founding of the Holy Kingdom of Savior was caused by the Demon War, it was the Elves who spread the religion.
People had already witnessed the power of the Gods; it wouldn't have taken much for silver-tongued believers to incite their faith.
The same went for the Demon Clan. According to recent findings, records have surfaced showing that Dark Elf pilgrims secretly helped the demons when they were wandering aimlessly.
I could immediately understand why Helium adopted Mora as its state religion. It’s ironic, considering the Dark Elves were actually expelled from Albenheim.
[The Elven pilgrims said they reached the kingdom after receiving an oracle. They then asked us to stop using sorcery and use magic and Divine Power instead. Of course, we refused everything.]
"They were just ordinary missionaries."
[Yes. But the power they possessed was the problem. Unlike unstable sorcery, magic and Divine Power were so stable, so alluring. And those Elves cunningly tempted us, saying that if we learned these things, we could become as strong as they were.]
The decisive reason sorcery died out today is its lack of stability. Magic was a technology that guaranteed power if one could only learn it.
However, hearing that raised a question. Humans only acquired magic during the Race War.
Before that, they developed science, and records show that sorcery was used only very rarely.
There are no records of Elves openly teaching magic like they did with the Kingdom of Gerios.
"Those Elves? They must have been in quite a hurry."
[The last time the Elven pilgrims warned us was during my reign.]
"Hmm..."
Then there was only one possibility. Religion.
As the saying goes, 'religion is the opium of the people.' I had heard that even if they didn't know magic, they used Divine Power.
It was highly likely they used religion to prevent sorcery from gaining influence. They were calculating in many ways.
The reason most of the citizens of the Kingdom of Gerios became demons was likely because sorcery had permeated so deeply into their daily lives.
The Gods probably just watched from the sidelines, thinking, 'I told you so.' And they likely eradicated the power of sorcery in the process.
"So, what does that have to do with the prophecy?"
[I ignored all the oracles delivered by the Elven pilgrims. The same went for the prophecies given by the sorcerers. Managing conquered territories was a higher priority than listening to such nonsense.]
"Then..."
[My son—the Slave—was captivated by the sorcerer's prophecy.]
Oh boy.
I think I understand why he reacted with such loathing at the mention of a prophecy.
[The sorcerer cunningly left this prophecy: 'Discard your heart. If you do, the empire shall become a great conflagration and cover the world.']
"It turned out exactly as the prophecy said."
[Yes. It turned out exactly like that goddamned prophecy. I had no intention of becoming a conflagration, nor of discarding my heart. If only we had talked a little more back then...]
King Morgan left those self-deprecating words with a lonely smile.
In reality, the Kingdom of Gerios became a massive wave of fire that swallowed the world.
And just as fire turns to ash and vanishes once its purpose is served, the Kingdom of Gerios followed the same path.
"That's different from the kind of prophecy I was thinking of. That sounds less like a prophecy and more like a temptation."
[You are right. Then, what kind of prophecy were you thinking of?]
"The kind where..."
I told him about the self-fulfilling prophecies commonly found in Greece.
The most famous among them was undoubtedly the story of Oedipus. It’s a narrative that anyone who has read Greco-Roman mythology can never forget.
As the story progressed, King Morgan listened with an intrigued expression. Seeing him with his arms crossed, he seemed completely absorbed.
"...And so, King Oedipus gouged out his own eyes and wandered the world until he died. Everywhere he went, he was insulted by the public as a man who committed the ultimate sin against his family."
[A tragic but fascinating tale. To think that the very struggles to escape a prophecy were actually part of the prophecy itself.]
King Morgan stroked his chin, thinking deeply, before glancing at me.
Then, in a tone tinged with mischief, he asked me.
[Come to think of it, aren't you also being praised as a prophet, whether you like it or not?]
"That's all nonsense. I'm not a prophet."
[Hear me out. I'm suggesting we use the kind of prophecy you just described in reverse.]
"What do you mean by that?"
Instead of making a prophecy, use it? I didn't understand what he meant at all.
At this, King Morgan let out a subtle laugh and began to explain.
[I'm telling you this just in case, but the choice is entirely yours. I'm merely offering advice on how to lure in more Demon Worshippers.]
"Tell me first."
[This is how you do it...]
My reaction upon hearing the explanation was quite simple.
"...Well, now."
Truly.
"That is a shitty idea."
An absolutely idiotic thought.
"I'll try it out soon."
[A wise choice.]
I think I'll be able to put it to fantastic use later.