Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Kergo Autonomous Zone (5)
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His friends' expressions were also grim. The only ones whose emotions remained unchanged were Canis and Arin.
“This is why the Kergo Autonomous Zone cannot be opened. The only one who can open the door in the underground is the one who has inherited the angel's power. That is why we have been waiting for you.”
The gate to heaven. It wasn't an entirely absurd notion. Shirone had experience traveling to Miro's dimension through the Immortal Function.
But this time, the scale was different. A world created by a mage was different from heaven. Kadum was talking about the place where God resides.
“For a long time, angels have been the intermediaries connecting God and humans. They have transcended time and space to convey God's will. I understand that an Unlocker is one who has inherited the power of an angel. Please, I beg you. Restore the glory of Kergo. For that, the tribe is prepared to make any sacrifice.”
Shirone couldn't answer. To go and meet God. What could he possibly do by going to a star floating in the sky?
“Throughout its history, Kergo has faced numerous crises. We've endured the disaster of a volcanic eruption and even a civil war. We've also suffered all sorts of humiliation from outsiders. The tribe is on the brink of ruin. Our people are starving. But we believe that the descendant of the angel will revive Kergo.”
Amy pointed a finger and asked.
“Why don't you buy food? Relying on faith when you're perfectly capable of being self-sufficient is like gambling with your lives. We know that the income from smuggling Loof is beyond imagination.”
“Kergo's situation is more dire than you know. The income from the ruins, which we share with the Galliante government, isn't enough to feed twenty thousand people. Even if we survive by selling Loof, we will end up being encroached upon by outsiders, just like a hundred years ago. As the chief, I have stockpiled a large sum of money while praying for God's blessing.”
“Even so, money and women? Did you really think you could persuade God's messenger that way?”
“I do not know about that. I merely sought a method through our records. According to Kergo's history, one messenger of God demanded 100 million gold as a condition for going to heaven.”
Shirone was startled to hear that someone had already gone to heaven. Moreover, to demand 100 million gold like some merchant—it was something one could only say if they valued money more than their own life.
No, perhaps they were so skilled that even the prospect of going to heaven didn't frighten them. But was such a thing even possible?
“What happened to that person? Did they return safely?”
“Of course. Two hundred years ago, the messenger of God departed for heaven with his companions, and from there, he returned after hearing the will of the great Ra.”
“How did they return? Did they come out through the entrance?”
“That's impossible. As you might have guessed, the gate to heaven operates with the Immortal Function. The Immortal Function is possible because the gate exists. However, since there is no medium in heaven to activate the Immortal Function, one must use another method to return.”
“What method is that?”
“I have no knowledge of that. However, there is a record stating that upon their return, they said it was not a profitable venture.”
A heavy silence fell.
For powerhouses capable of traversing even an unknown space where God exists as if it were a business transaction to say it wasn't a profitable venture meant that returning on their own power was impossible.
Canis's words finally made sense. In a way, not being able to return was a more serious problem than death.
This wasn't like taking a ship to a distant land. It was a matter of passing through spacetime to reach a star somewhere out there.
“I am being honest with you. I know it is a dangerous task. But the fate of our tribe is at stake. If you help Kergo, we will do everything we can. If you want gold, we will give it to you. If you want the women of Kergo…”
“No, I don't want anything. I don't think I can accept any reward.”
At the banquet, he had agreed with the intention of just hearing them out, but the situation was different now.
Honestly, his mind wouldn't change even for a fortune. However... he did feel a powerful curiosity that rivaled his fear of death.
Thinking of the best possible answer, Shirone spoke without needing to ask his friends for their opinions.
“I'll think about it.”
@
Left alone on the altar, Kadum gazed at the stars.
The servile demeanor he had shown Shirone's group was gone. Standing with his chin held high, befitting the ruler of Mount Toa, he sensed a presence and turned his gaze.
An old man walked from the entrance of the altar, coughing. It was the elder, Hasid.
“Are you truly going to send them?”
As Hasid spoke formally, Kadum's expression contorted.
“Father, that is no way to speak to your son.”
“Son? You know full well that my son is no longer of this world, Father.”
It was a strange situation where they called each other 'Father.' Of course, the sight of the white-haired Hasid calling the robust Kadum 'Father' was even more bizarre.
Kadum revealed his true colors. In the glint of his eyes, one could glimpse the experience of a man who had lived for over 200 years.
“Hmph, are you still misunderstanding? Kadum's death was an accident. I didn't kill him.”
“Of course, you would say that. But if my son hadn't died, a father named Kang wouldn't have been able to borrow Kadum's name and become the chief again.”
Kadum turned toward Hasid.
“What is it you want to say?”
“Father, they cannot succeed. Even if that boy is a messenger of God, he will not be able to bring back what our tribe desires.”
“Even so, it doesn't matter. The treasure will remain here anyway. If they return with what we want, I don't care how much I have to give them, but if they fail, I'll just dispose of them. Everything is for the sake of Kergo.”
“Is that really so? Father, 200 years ago, you gained 300 years of life through a messenger of God. Does that have anything to do with Kergo?”
Hasid glared at Kadum with contempt.
The son was so old and feeble he could barely walk, yet the father was enjoying his youth with hard muscles and a sleek physique.
After gaining 300 years of life, the chief went on a rampage. He sought out Unlockers from all over to extend his lifespan, spending a vast fortune. When the tribe's wealth dwindled, he even sold Loof to outsiders.
On the other hand, he also felt it was inevitable.
Eternal life. Eternal youth. If one could obtain that, what in the world wouldn't be worth sacrificing?
“Isn't it enough now? Since that day, countless Unlockers have departed, but not a single one has returned. Obsessing over eternal life will make you lose your humanity. Lady Miro realized this long ago and gave a warning.”
“Silence! There is no chief who can lead the tribe as strongly as I can. Have you forgotten how miserable Kergo was when you were chief? You are nothing but a failed leader. Kergo needs me. I am Kergo itself!”
Watching Kadum roar at the sky, Hasid could say nothing.
His father was strong. He was a cunning old fox over two hundred years old, equipped with powerful martial prowess. As he boasted, he might indeed be able to raise the tribe up.
But perhaps... with him as the last, Kergo would vanish from the world.
@
Shirone's group headed to their lodgings.
The cave extending northwest from the plaza was complex, but to Shirone, who navigated Istas as if it were his own home, it was merely an area with many annoying forks.
The lodging was a large room with unexpected beds. Moreover, there were even storage cabinets next to the beds.
It was a room exclusively for outsiders. How many people had stayed here until now? Had they departed for heaven? Or had they now vanished from the world?
The chief's words had been so shocking that everyone remained silent even after arriving at their lodgings.
After unpacking and organizing their belongings in the cabinets, the group turned to Canis. The messenger of God, heaven, Kergo's situation. It was now his turn to reveal what he knew.
“I kept my promise. Now, explain.”
“It's just as he said. You heard everything.”
Amy sat down next to Shirone. Then she faced Canis and snapped.
“Heaven? Does such a place really exist? How long have you known?”
“Honestly, I'm not sure either. Besides, for that question, it would be faster to hear from Shirone. Hasid asked you, didn't he? What did you see in Miro's dimension?”
Amy turned to Shirone and asked.
“That's right. Shirone, tell us. What did you see?”
“Not what, but where, I'd say.”
Canis's guess was correct. Shirone meekly nodded and continued his explanation.
“That's right. It was a place somewhere.”
There was a sea, and I could see a forest. A spire stood in the center of a city surrounded by a circular wall.
Shirone was pulled into the light above the spire, and by the time he came to his senses, he was already back at the altar.
“That's everything I saw. If that place is heaven, then Kadum's story might not be so far-fetched. So before I make a judgment, I want to hear what you have to say, Canis. Just how much did you know?”
Harvest, who had been standing guard at the door, returned to Canis. He was a man who usually spewed vulgarities without rest, but now he was maintaining only silence.
“My master, Arcane... seems to have been to a place called heaven.”
Shirone stood up from the bed.
Arcane had been to heaven. Since he had been cooped up in a dungeon for 50 years after being betrayed by Alpheas, the timing must have been much earlier.
“Are you saying Arcane came to the Kergo ruins too?”
“No. It must have been a different place. As Kadum said, the ruins scattered across the world seem to be connected to heaven in some way. Of course, they're controlled by their respective nations now, but 80 years ago, it seems their existence wasn't even known. In that sense, the Kergo ruins are unique.”
Eighty years ago, Arcane would have been only 60 years old. While not a young age by human standards, considering how powerful the 149-year-old Arcane was, his magical prowess could be considered to have been at its peak.
“What's in heaven? What kind of place is it?”
“I don't know that either.”
Shirone narrowed his eyes.
Saying he didn't know made no sense. If Arcane had experienced heaven, Canis should have known about it. After all, Harvest had inherited Arcane's knowledge.
Harvest added to the explanation.
“What Canis says is true. Arcane erased his memories of heaven. The only fact we know is that he went there once.”
“He erased his own memories?”
“Yes. Wiped them completely. So we don't know what he did there. It seems he probably didn't want the story of heaven to be known to the world.”
Knowing Arcane's character, Shirone found it hard to believe. What secret could a Class 3 Archmage, recognized by the world, have needed to hide to the point of erasing his own memories?
“Canis, what is heaven? Is it really a place where God lives?”
“Nothing is certain. That's why I'm going. I have to see it with my own eyes. So take me there.”
“No, I've had a change of heart. You were right. It's too dangerous. It's not a place you can go to out of curiosity.”
“No, your thoughts don't matter. The deal I proposed was for you to send me and Arin there. No matter what, we are absolutely going to enter heaven.”
“Honestly, I don't want to send you two either. You heard him say you can't return through the original gate once you enter. Besides, if I don't go, they won't allow the use of heaven's gate. The chief seemed desperate.”