The Believer's Tale
“…This concludes my report. Your Majesty.”
Delphin bowed, and the Emperor could not suppress his laughter.
He would never have been able to endure it otherwise.
“The Lind Kingdom really carried out such an act.”
“We have already handed over the deserters. More detailed information will arrive as time passes.”
“What audacious fellows. They spoke of peace in front while preparing daggers behind.”
It was ridiculous. Ridiculous, yet thinking about it made my spine tingle.
Although they were called an empire and a kingdom, their military strength was comparable.
The Lind Kingdom only needed to manage the border with the Empire.
But the Empire shared borders with multiple nations.
In that situation, the Lind Kingdom had attempted a surprise attack.
It was not on the existing border, but to shake the interior.
If this operation succeeded, the Empire would have been helpless.
“You have performed a great service, Sir Delphin.”
“It is all because I discovered one deserter late. Your Majesty.”
“Modest… I wanted to say that, but it is not the case.”
The report Delphin had given was not only about the Lind Kingdom.
More importantly, far grander matters lay ahead.
“According to the deserter’s words, the enemy had already entered Nosland. In the midst of that, according to their claims, they were exposed to the Red Wyvern’s attack and decided to retreat in haste.”
“We failed to prepare defenses against flying monsters. Who could have imagined encountering a wyvern.”
After the short exchange, silence enveloped the two.
Both Delphin and the Emperor were lost in thought and refrained from speaking.
“Your Majesty. The enemy refers to that existence as the Red Wyvern.”
“Delphin seems to share the same thought as me.”
It was not a Red Wyvern. Not some monster.
A great being that protected life alongside flames.
The two who had directly witnessed that existence were certain.
“Such an existence protected the Crown Princess before stopping the Empire’s internal strife.”
The Emperor, staring blankly out the window, continued.
“What is the Empire’s reaction, Sir Delphin?”
“First, excluding the Imperial Palace, not much talk is circulating.”
“That is to be expected. If the Empire’s citizens were to be surprised and shaken, it was felt even from the far sky.”
“But eventually, some words about that day will spread.”
The Emperor was troubled. What should be done about this?
If proclaimed, the Church would never welcome it.
This was like the Empire believing in a new god.
It could cause misunderstanding with the Church.
They would be denying the Empire’s religious order face-on.
But keeping it secret was also difficult.
That day’s event had not been extremely insignificant.
Even considering what had happened in the process, it was even more so.
“Have you investigated the matter of the being called evil?”
“We have tried every avenue, but nothing has been found. If such an existence had entered the Imperial Capital, there should be traces no matter what, yet we have not even detected any. Your Majesty.”
Then the possibility was one of two.
The mentioned existence had been mistaken, or
The evil one had hidden its body very well.
Of course, the Emperor immediately discarded the former and pointed to the latter.
‘It is impossible for that existence to have been mistaken. No.’
The being that descended from the sky with flames.
The great being who personally came down to save the Crown Princess.
Could such an existence make a mistake? Impossible.
“Delphin. You have fought many evil existences until now. So, you should be most familiar with them.”
“At least within the Empire, I am the best at it.”
“So, I trust only you. It is impossible for that great existence to have spoken lies or been mistaken. Is that not so?”
“I think so too.”
The gigantic red bird. Feathers wrapped in flames. Eyes that pierced souls with iridescent light.
Delphin recalled its appearance and agreed with the Emperor’s opinion.
“First, I will check the servant’s corpse again. If I find even the slightest trace of energy there, I can obtain a clue.”
“I trust only you, Delphin.”
The serious topic was discussed and concluded.
Afterward, the Emperor and Delphin shared a cup of tea for a moment.
“Delphin.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Ah. About the north. It seems we should build a shrine there and show our gratitude to that existence. What do you think?”
“…”
The Emperor cleared his throat several times as memories of that time came to mind.
Who could have imagined this would happen.
“That existence is the Empire’s Guardian Deity. Having repelled foreign invasions and calmed internal chaos with a glance, he is worthy of the name Guardian Deity.”
“I agree, but seeing that existence disappear back to the northern sky again…”
It was frightening to judge a great existence with human hearts.
The Emperor and Delphin could not find their footing on what to do.
In the midst of this, the door opened and the page delivered a message.
“Your Majesty. We have received news from the personnel we dispatched to the Church earlier.”
“What is it? Could it be that the Church has officially decided to investigate this matter?”
“It is… similar but different.”
The Emperor examined the report handed over.
“…They will not listen even if we try to persuade them.”
“Probably. Since the gathered ones are the Church’s own, their will seems firm.”
All twelve Divine Generals had been summoned by the Pope’s order.
Their destination was undoubtedly the Empire’s north, Nosland.
The reason for the summons and visit was not yet known.
‘I think I know the reason. The Pope. No, Cardinal Caelum.’
The Emperor slowly placed the report on the table.
The matter was flowing in an unusual direction.
*
No more Blue Sky appeared.
As before, he would immediately question why he had intervened.
He deliberately let him fly slowly to give time.
But throughout the path crossing the sky.
The being who was the god of this world did not appear.
‘Is it because there was no direct intervention?’
Anne had completely revived my feathers through her.
Blue Sky strongly objected to that.
But this time was different from before.
I had not personally revived the dead.
I had removed the cause so they would not reach death.
In a way, that might be the same.
Reviving or preventing death was no different.
But conversely, I could cling to it as much as I wanted.
‘Enough. Even after giving sufficient time, he did not come. He must have judged that intervening in this is ambiguous.’
I decided to forget about Blue Sky.
There were more important matters before me.
Since I had come this far, I might go somewhere else.
The north was too cold. And the day was also very short.
For me, it was never a good region.
Until now, because I did not know the geography well, I had stayed.
I was worried that if I flew up, I might be misunderstood.
If I let my tail be caught, it could become troublesome.
All those parts vanished perfectly at this time.
Following the fire road made by humans, I confirmed the general geography.
At least at this moment, I would not be misunderstood as an evil existence.
Even if my tail was caught, there was a possibility of turning back if explained well.
‘What should I do.’
I circled the sky for a while, pondering and pondering.
After all, there was no one in the world who could catch me.
If I wanted, I could do it. Even the gods had annoyed me.
Deciding where to live next was not a problem.
But when I tried to make a decision, something held me back.
Its identity was none other than ‘the past’.
It was harsh, but the north that had lived for over a hundred years.
It was not only filled with happy and good things.
However, conversely, there had been no bad things.
The moment I saw the new bird’s body and was surprised, falling down.
The days when my wings did not adapt and I flailed.
Some morning when I fully accepted my new self.
Looking back, all those memories were now memories.
The feeling of leaving while discarding those memories kept coming.
It may sound strange, but that was how it was for me.
‘Many things happened in the north.’
Starting from killing the demonic dragon and saving the village.
Meeting Anne and reviving that child.
Even the first encounter with the existence called god.
I was no longer human, but I had not discarded human hearts.
No, it might be more accurate to say I could not discard them.
If so, today’s events would not have happened from the beginning.
All existences in the world eventually returned to the beginning.
They instinctively yearned for and sought the place they were born.
I was not born in the north.
But the beginning could be said to be the north.
Even if I left later, for now it was on hold.
‘What if I went to another place and could not find large mountains like the north where people were few and living was good.’
Yes. Thinking about it, that part was quite important.
Even if it had become smaller, it was still much larger than people.
If I reached another region and my body suddenly grew?
Conversely, if I could not find an appropriate place for a new nest?
I had been told to look around several times and decide wisely.
I did not remember who had said it now.
But since I was still remembering it, there must have been a reason.
“…Let us go back.”
Suddenly, I wanted to meet Anne.
Of course, but I could not go directly to the village.
So, what should I do? A good idea came to mind.
Like last time, I decided to go to the lake and wait.
After all, time was infinitely remaining for me.